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The objective of the present study was to examine if administration of oestradiol benzoate (OEB) after removal of control internal drug releasing device (CIDR) could enhance oestrous intensity and pregnancy rate in anovular nulliparous and multiparous Nili-Ravi buffalo. For this, a total of 298 nulliparous (n=91) and multiparous (n=207) buffaloes received a CIDR on Day 0, and were administered PGF2α on Day 6 followed by removal of CIDR on Day 7. At Day 8, OEB was administered in approximately half of nulliparous (n=45/91) and multiparous (n=100/207) buffalo. All animals were fixed time inseminated 48 and 60h after CIDR removal, respectively. The results showed that administration of OEB but not the parity, improved oestrous intensity (3.15±0.05 vs 2.99±0.05; P=0.0026) compared to those not received OEB, respectively. However, OEB did not affect (46.2 vs 44.1; P=0.8) pregnancy per AI (P/AI). In addition, P/AI was greater (50.7 vs 39.6; P=0.036) in multiparous compared to nulliparous buffalo, respectively. The oestrous intensity (P=0.025) and response to OEB (P=0.0002) was greater in buffalo having a greater body condition (>3.0). Though, non significant, timing of ovulation was more synchronous (62.9±1.8 vs 72.4±3.6h; P>0.05) and ovulation rate was greater (91% vs 64%; P>0.05) in buffalo after OEB administration. It is concluded that administration of OEB in conjunction with the CIDR improves oestrous intensity without affecting P/AI in nulliparous and multiparous anovular buffalo., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of the current study was to evaluate pregnancy‐associated glycoproteins (PAGs) based enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits utilizing whole blood, serum, or milk samples for diagnosis of early pregnancy status in lactating Nili‐Ravi buffaloes. Dairy buffaloes (n = 174) of mixed parity, 4–6 years of age, having mean (± standard deviation) days in milk 165 ± 87, and body condition score of 3.26 ± 0.34 were randomly enrolled in this study. Buffaloes were exposed to penile deviated bulls with 12 h interval for estrus detection during peak breeding season and eventually bred naturally at their respective standing estrus (day 0). Blood and milk samples were collected at days 24, 28, and 35 post‐breeding to run a rapid visual pregnancy test® (RVPT) as a buffalo‐side test or ELISA‐based assay in the laboratory to detect early pregnancy status. Transrectal B‐mode ultrasonography was performed to diagnose pregnancy at day 35 post‐breeding and used as a gold standard to validate results of RVPT or ELISA‐based tests. The RVPT is a visual readout test for pregnancy detection and had sensitivity (77.9 vs. 89.7 vs. 93.3%), specificity (77.9 vs. 89.7 vs. 93.3%), and accuracy (84.5 vs. 90.1 vs. 94.2%) at days 24, 28, and 35 post‐breeding, respectively. The PAGs were assayed using ELISA kits in serum and had sensitivity (77.9 vs. 89.7 vs. 93.3%), specificity (84.2 vs. 87.7 vs. 93.9%), and accuracy (82.1 vs. 88.4 vs. 93.7%) at days 24, 28, and 35 post‐breeding, respectively. Similarly, PAGs were also analysed using ELISA kits in milk samples and had sensitivity (77.6 vs 89.5 vs 95.0%), specificity (89.1 vs 91.9, vs 93.9%), and accuracy (85.1 vs 91.1 vs 94.3%) at days 24, 28, and 35 post‐breeding, respectively. Overall, the Kappa values in this study exceeded 0.85 at day 35 post‐breeding using RVPT or ELISA‐based test kits in serum or milk samples, indicating a high level of agreement between PAGs detection method and gold standard for pregnancy diagnosis. The pregnancy outcomes based on ELISA‐based PAGs detection at day ≥28 post‐breeding had a high negative predictive value, indicating that the probability of incorrectly administering prostaglandins to pregnant buffaloes would be low if these tests were implemented on a commercial dairy herd. Taken together, it is concluded that PAGs‐based determination of pregnancy using RVPT or ELISA in blood, serum, or milk samples can be used effectively for pregnancy diagnosis at ≥28 days post‐breeding with more than 90% accuracy in Nili‐Ravi buffaloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to higher fecundity rate over Beetal goats, it is assumed that Teddy goats have higher ovarian activity. Therefore, the current study tested the hypothesis that ovarian follicular population i.e. number of small (2-4 mm), medium (>4-6 mm) and large follicles (>6 mm), size of the ovulatory follicle, and ovulation rate (No. of CL/No of ovulated goats), using transrectal ultrasonography are different between Beetal and Teddy goats of Pakistani origin. Beetal (n=6) and Teddy (n=8) does were synchronized using double PGF2a injections 10 d apart and were scanned on Days -2, 0 (estrus) and +2. The onset of estrus was assessed by aproned bucks. Mean number of small follicles were higher (P<0.05) in Beetal goats, compared to Teddy goats, on days -2, estrus and +2. The ovulatory follicle diameter, and ovulation rate were found non-significant between Beetal and Teddy goats. It is concluded that Beetal goats have greater population of small follicles around estrus compared to Teddy goats. Future studies can be based on the follicle recruitment and atretic factors in Beetal goats to enhance the production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) on the estrous response, ovulatory follicle development, ovulation rate, corpus luteum (CL) diameter, concentrations of progesterone (P4) and pregnancy per AI (P/AI) in CIDR-EB treated lactating anovular Nili-Ravi buffalo during the breeding season. Buffalo ( n = 87), 60 to 200 Days postpartum were treated with CIDR at a random stage of the estrous cycle (Day 0) and assigned to two groups; with eCG (+eCG; n  = 44), or without eCG (-eCG; n  = 43). In both groups, each animal received 2 and 1 mg estradiol benzoate (EB) on Day 0 and then on Day 8, respectively. On Day 6, eCG and PGF 2α were administered. On Day 7, CIDR were removed and FTAI was performed at 48 and 60 h later and pregnancy was diagnosed 35 Days post AI. The results revealed that eCG treatment increased ( P  <  0.05) the CL diameter on 15, 18, and 21 after the ovulation that resulted from imposing the estrous synchronization protocol than when eCG was not administered. Similarly, treatment with eCG resulted in an increased ( P  <  0.05) mean concentration of P4 as compared with animals not treated with eCG on Days 18 and 21 after the ovulation that occurred subsequent to imposing the estrous synchronization protocol. The ovulation rate was greater in eCG-treated buffalo as compared with those not treated with eCG (93% compared with 74%, respectively; P < 0.05). The P/AI was greater in buffalo treated with eCG than those not treated with eCG (56% compared with 31%, respectively; P < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of eCG along with EB and P4 based treatments enhanced the estrous response, follicular and luteal function, ovulation rate, concentrations of P4, and P/AI in lactating anovular Nili-Ravi buffalo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]