Detection Of Estrus By Measuring Progesterone Levels In Buffaloes During Post-Partum Period

Abstract

The commencement of early estrous cycle, estrus and pregnancy after calving is fundamental for sustainable buffalo farms, for which proper detection of estrus and correct time of Artificial Insemination (AI) is necessary. This study was conducted to detect estrus of buffalo cows during post-partum period by measuring progesterone levels in serum samples of buffalo cows by means of a commercial hormone analyzer named The ARCHITECT Progesterone assay. Twenty post-partum (45 days post-partum) buffalo cows were selected and serum samples were collected 4 times at 15 days apart. Progesterone level ≤ 0.1 ng/ml was observed for 4 buffaloes (45 days postpartum), for 6 buffaloes (60 days postpartum) and for another 4 buffaloes (75 days postpartum). Similarly, 12 out of 20 buffalo cows at 90 days postpartum were also found to have progesterone levels of ≤0.1 ng/ml. The progesterone concentration of ≤0.1 ng/ml gives an indication to the estrus. The progesterone levels were found significant (P<0.05) at 45, 60, 75 and 90 post-partum days. The first post-partum heat varies greatly with suckling, nutrition, body condition score at calving, milk yield, parity, and season of calving, breed and individual. Repetition of estrus was observed in some buffalo cows at 45 and 90 post-partum days due to not perform servicing and return regular estrus cycle. Acceptance of the male is considered as the most reliable estrus indicator in buffalo. Frequent urination, bellowing, vulval swelling, mucus discharge are salient estrus signs in buffalo, but their expression is weak and vary from season to season. This study suggests that the measurement of progesterone could serve as an indicator of the estrus in buffalo cows and to make the findings more accurate and effective further study is essential in buffalo cows with short intervals.