Clinical analysis of reproductive failure among female buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) under village management in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Analysis of the clinical data of 20, 439 infertile graded Murrah female buffaloes ( Bubalus bubalis ) of small and marginal farmers in Andhra Pradesh, examined over a period of two years, revealed that 2.50, 73.77 and 23.73 percent of the animals had reproductive disorders which were of anatomical, functional and non-specific infectious nature, respectively. Highest frequencies were of infantile tracts, ovarian quiescence and endometritis in each group, which together constituted 79.13 percent. The average gross incidence of various conditions encountered in order of frequency was: ovarian quiescence (56.36%), endometritis (20.68%), silent ovulations (5.3%), anovular heats (4.35%), sub-oestrus (3.48%), luteal persistency (3.37%), genital infantilism (2.09%), vaginitis (o.99%), salpingitis (0.98%), cystic ovarian degeneration (0.91%), bursal adhesions (0.75%), cervicitis (0.3%), hypoplasia of the ovaries and tracts (0.24%), paraovarian cysts (0.15%) and hydrosalpinx (0.03%). The incidence of quiescent ovaries followed seasonal trend with significant differences between seasons of the year both in heifers and cows. Between herds and between years, no marked difference in the incidence of different reproductive disorders was observed. It was estimated that 2.93 percent of the animals had disorders which rendered them unfit for breeding and, hence, sterile. Freemartinism was recorded in four cases. The comparative clinical features of freemartinism and cystic ovarian dgeneration in buffalo cows were described. The factors predisposing for higher incidence of endometritis in the species were also discussed.