Morphometrical study of the reproductive tract in Boran (Bos indicus) heifers in Ethiopia

Abstract

Boran breed is the most suitable type of cattle breed for arid and semi-arid regions of Ethiopia due to their adaptive characteristics. Understanding their reproductive anatomy is important for successful reproductive management and has many implications for the application of assisted reproductive technology, and interpretation of physiological changes at different stages of their reproductive cycle. In this study, data of the anatomical structures of the reproductive organs of 20 Boran heifers were measured and characterized at different stages of reproduction. The mean (±SE) length (L) of the vagina, cervix, and body of uterus were 13.17±2.98 cm, 7.19±1.28 cm, and 6.70±1.08cm, respectively. The mean (±SE) length of the right uterine horn and oviduct was 18.47 ±2.54 and 18.17 ±1.27cm, respectively and that of the left were 18.05±2.73 and 17.45±1.80 cm, respectively. The mean ±SE weight (W) of right and left ovaries were 2.44±1.51 gm and 2.44±1.51 gm, respectively. The mean ±SE Length x Width x Thickness of the right ovary was 2.10±0.59 x 1.75±0.35 x 0.83±0.36 and that of the left was 1.97±0.41 x 1.58±0.29 x 0.67±0.33 cm. The mean (±SE) weight of the whole reproductive organ (without the vulva) was 301.35±66.34gm. The ovarian size was influenced by the presence of the corpus luteum(CL) usually larger with its presence.