Effect of season on dairy buffalo reproductive performance when using P4/E2/eCG-based fixed-time artificial insemination management

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the reproductive efficiency of dairy buffaloes subjected to TAI protocols based on progesterone, estrogen, and equine chorionic gonadotrophin (P4/E2+eCG) during the fall/winter (n = 168) and spring/summer (n = 183). Buffaloes received an intravaginal P4 device (1.0 g) plus estradiol benzoate (EB; 2.0 mg im) at a random stage of the estrous cycle (D-12). Nine days later (D-3), the P4 device was removed and buffaloes were given PGF2α (0.53 mg im sodium cloprostenol) plus eCG (400 IU im). GnRH (10 μg im buserelin acetate) was administered 48 h after P4 device removal (D-1). All animals were subjected to TAI 16 h after GnRH administration (D0). Frozen-thawed semen from one bull was used for all TAI, which were all performed by the same technician. Ultrasound examinations were performed on D-12 and D-3 to ascertain cyclicity (presence of CL), D-3 and D0 to measure the diameter of the dominant follicle (ØDF), D+10 to verify the ovulation rate and diameter of the corpus luteum (ØCL), and D+30 and D+45 to detect pregnancy rate (P/AI 30d and 45d, respectively) and embryonic mortality (EM). Fetal mortality (FM) was established between 45 days and birth, and pregnancy loss between 30 days and birth. There were significant differences between fall/winter and spring/summer only for cyclicity rate [76.2% (128/168) vs. 42.6% (78/183); P = 0.02]. The others variables did not differ between the seasons: ØDF on D-3 (9.6 ± 0.2 mm vs. 9.8 ± 0.2 mm; P = 0.35); ØDF on D0 (13.1 ± 0.2 mm vs. 13.2 ± 0.2 mm; P = 0.47); ovulation rate [86.9% (146/168) vs. 82.9% (152/182); P = 0.19]; ØCL on D+10 (19.0 ± 0.3 mm vs. 18.4 ± 0.3 mm, P = 0.20); P/AI on D+30 [66.7% (112/168) vs. 62.7% (111/177); P = 0.31]; P/AI on D+45 [64.8%% (107/165) vs. 60.2% (106/176); P = 0.37]; EM [1.8% (2/111) vs. 3.6% (4/110); P = 0.95]; FM [21.9% (18/82) vs. 8.0% (7/87); P = 0.13]; and PL [23.8% (20/84) vs. 12.1% (11/91); P = 0.13]. In conclusion, dairy buffaloes present similar reproductive efficiency in fall/winter and spring/summer when subjected to P4/E2/eCG-based protocol for TAI.