Abstract
Background:Buffaloes are silent heat animals and lacunae in their estrus detection results a substantial economic loss in developing countries. Many advanced tools to aid heat detection have been developed but are neither affordable nor easily interpretable by marginal farmers.Aim:The present investigation was made to develop a cost-effective estrus detection model by combining several known estrus predicting parameters.Materials and Methods:Various signs of estrus were classified under major parameters such as visual, cow behavioral, bull behavioral, biochemical, and gyneco-clinical. Expression of those parameters was observed in buffaloes, and the percentage of positive estrus detection was calculated for each combination of estrus prediction parameters.Results:The present result concludes that the model comprises of five parameters group with several signals with twenty-six different combinations. It was observed that the expression of individual combinations and their corresponding estrus detection efficiency varies significantly, i.e., detection efficiency rises as the number of combination increases.Conclusion:Combination of three parameters would provide an estrus detection efficiency >70% and suggested for an easy estrus detection. This would be a cost-effective model for farmers and benefits in enhancing buffalo population/reproduction.
Highlights
Buffaloes are peculiar shy breeders otherwise called as “silent heat animals” [1]
It was observed that the expression of individual combinations and their corresponding estrus detection efficiency varies significantly, i.e., detection efficiency rises as the number of combination increases
Achieving an acceptable rate of estrus detection using visual and behavioral parameters depends primarily on the knowledge of the farmer or observer and the time invests on observing each individual animals
Summary
Buffaloes are peculiar shy breeders otherwise called as “silent heat animals” [1]. In spite of reproductively less active, it gained a lot of attention over dairy cows for its financial returns via milk, meat, and drought power, even in an adverse environment. Increased conception rate was not achieved satisfactorily even with advanced assisted reproductive techniques [4], which substantially resulted in their population decline. Each missed heat and lacunae in heat detection at any level create a loss to the farm owner. Many tools to aid heat detection have been developed, but a cost-effective and accurate method is still needed. Heat detection is the key for an effective breeding program and increasing the efficacy and accuracy of heat detection in this species is a pertinent need of the hour. Buffaloes are silent heat animals and lacunae in their estrus detection results a substantial economic loss in developing countries. Many advanced tools to aid heat detection have been developed but are neither affordable nor interpretable by marginal farmers
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