Response Of Buffaloes Research Articles

Evaluation of the immune responses in buffaloes vaccinated with a live-attenuated lumpy skin disease vaccine (Lumpi-ProVacInd).

Since 2019, Lumpy skin disease (LSD) has suddenly spread in many Asian countries, including India. LSD primarily occurs in cattle. However, recent LSD outbreaks in India have also revealed significant morbidity and production losses in buffaloes. This has raised concerns about the role of buffaloes in the epidemiology and transmission of LSD and necessitates the inclusion of buffaloes in the mass vaccination program for the prevention and control of the disease in the country. However, there is no significant data on the immune response in buffaloes following vaccination with the LSD vaccine. In this study, we evaluated antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses following vaccination with a newly developed live-attenuated LSD vaccine (Lumpi-ProVacInd). The detectable amount of anti-LSDV antibodies was observed at 1-2months following vaccination, with a peak antibody titer at 3months. Upon stimulation of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with the UV-inactivated LSDV antigen, there was a significant increase in CD8 + T cell counts in vaccinated animals as compared to the unvaccinated animals. Besides, vaccinated animals also showed a significant increase in IFN-γ levels upon antigenic stimulation of their PBMCs with LSDV antigen. In conclusion, the buffaloes also mount a potent antibody- and cell-mediated immune response following vaccination with Lumpi-ProVacInd.

Use of a commercial feed supplement based on diatom earth and yeast products on oxidative status and in vitro immune response in buffaloes during peripartum.

The transition period is a critical metabolic phase for dairy ruminants, especially those with high production levels. In spite of this, little is still known about dairy water buffalo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial feed additive based on diatomaceous earth and hydrolyzed yeasts on health status, milk quality, and immune response of buffalo cows during the transition period. Eighty healthy Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) of Italian Mediterranean breed were included in the trial. They were subdivided into two groups: one group received the additive (n = 40) while the control group (n = 40) received a placebo. The trial lasted 120d, from 60d before calving to 60d in milk. Blood samples were collected from each buffalo at -60 (60d from the expected calving), -30, 0 (calving), +15, +30, and +60 d (respectively, i.e., 15, 30, and 60d in milking). The biochemical as well as the oxidative profile, and the antioxidant power and enzymatic activity were evaluated in the samples obtained. Moreover, acute phase proteins, reactive proteins, and interleukin plasma levels were determined. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and monocytes were isolated and viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reactive nitrogen species were measured on PBMC and monocytes. The introduction of additives enhanced the total antioxidant capacity and enzyme activity, while no differences were observed in oxidation products throughout the trial. Additionally, it significantly reduced the synthesis of ROS in polymorphonuclear cells, supporting a potential positive response in animals experiencing inflammation. The impact of oxidation on the products was not evident. Despite higher enzyme levels in plasma, this did not necessarily correspond to significantly increased enzymatic activity but rather indicated a higher potential. From these results, it was evident that the transition period in buffaloes differs notably from what reported in the literature for cows, probably due to the absence of common postpartum production diseases in dairy cows and lower metabolic challenges linked to lower milk production in buffaloes. Few parameters exhibited notable changes during the transition period in buffaloes, notably certain antioxidant enzymes, PBMC viability, PBMC ROS production, and Hp levels.

Reproduction and Fertility of Buffaloes in Nepal.

Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Nepal contributes 57% of the total milk and 36% of the total meat production in the country. The productive efficiency of Nepalese buffaloes is quite low, due mainly to subfertility and infertility. Delayed puberty and prolonged inter-calving intervals, attributed mainly by anestrus due to silent cyclicity and ovarian acyclicity, are the major forms of infertility in Nepalese buffaloes. Moreover, buffaloes in Nepal show a distinct seasonal breeding pattern, with July to December as the active breeding season, and with April to June and January to March as the low and transitional breeding seasons, respectively. Endoparasitic infection and poor nutritional status, which are more severe during the low season, are found to be the major factors causing anestrus and compromising its treatment response in buffaloes. Various hormonal protocols for timed artificial insemination (TAI) have been attempted, with a varying pregnancy outcome. Recently, an integrated technique including anthelmintic treatment, nutritional supplementation and hormone-based fertility management programs for TAI has been developed and implemented successfully. A wider adoption of this technique as a package of practices could be key to improving the reproductive efficiency of buffaloes in Nepal.

Evaluation of the cytokines response in buffaloes focused on its milk as a newly emerging indicator tracing for toxocariasis.

This study aimed to evaluate the immune responses and oxidative stress provoked by Toxocara vitulorum infection in buffaloes with special reference to milk parameters as an emerging tool. The use of the milk tool was reported for the first time in tracing T. vitulorum infection in Egyptian buffaloes. Intestine, milk, serum, and liver samples were gathered from flocks in Cairo and Giza districts to evaluate buffalo immune responses provoked by T. vitulorum. The compositional items and somatic cells of milk were monitored. The intestine and milk were evaluated for interleukin IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction protocol and the analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA) as an oxidative stress marker. The mean percentages for the total solids, fats, proteins, lactose, salts, pH, and somatic cell count/ml in positive samples were 11.23±0.37, 5.1±0.17, 4.44±0.14, 3.9±0.14, 0.81±0.02, 6.8±0.22, and 4.23×106± 1.41×105cells/ml, respectively. A significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in the mean values of compositional items except for the total protein %, salts %, and pH. For T. vitulorum-contaminated samples, the milk IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA (nmol/ml) were 7±0.23, 18±0.6, 17±0.56, and 3.7±0.12, respectively (which were less than the values for intestinal cytokines). There is a statistical difference (p<0.05) between positive and negative samples in the intestinal, milk cytokines, and MDA. This study is an initial investigation of the utilization of intestine and milk cytokines in the evaluation of buffalo toxocariasis.

The relationship between circulating anti-mullarian hormone (AMH) and superovulatory response in buffaloes

The current study aimed to investigate the effect of using the superovulatory drug ‘follitropin’ on the follicular population and number of harvested buffalo embryos. At first, all animals were exposed to AMH analysis, Estrus was synchronized either by progesterone releasing intravaginal device (PRID) for 7 days or by double doses of cloprostenol sodium 11 days interval. A total dose of 40 IU of Follitropin was injected intramuscular for each animal as superovulatory drug (5 IU am and 5 IU pm for 4 consecutive days). AI was done using double straw/time for 3 times with 12 hours interval. Seven days later (day 0=ovulation day), embryos were recovered non-surgically. The results showed that total number of follicles/ animal was significantly increased in the group synchronized by PRID (7.4 ± 0.53) than the group synchronized by cloprostenol (4.8 ± 0.18), Number of the recovered embryos was significantly higher in the group synchronized by PRID (3.2 ± 0.71) than the group synchronized by cloprostenol (2.2 ± 0.37). In conclusion, AMH analysis is a crucial issue in expecting the superovulatory response in buffaloes, injection of follitropin as a superovulatory drug during diestrus phase in buffaloes that previously synchronized by PRID leads to a higher yielded embryo

Hormonal profile and follicular dynamics concurrent with CIDR and insulin modified Ovsync TAI programs and their impacts on the fertility response in buffaloes

Fifty one cyclic Egyptian buffaloes were used to study the hormonal profile and follicular dynamics concurrent with CIDR and insulin modified Ovsync TAI programs and their impacts on the consequent fertility responses. The buffaloes were randomly assigned into 3 ovulation synchronization protocols: Ovsync-alone (n = 13, control) CIDR-sync (n = 20) and Insulin-sync (n = 18). Ovsync-alone protocol consisted of two im injections of 20 μg bueserlin (GnRHa) on Day 0 (GnRH 1) and on Day 9 (GnRH 2) with an im injection of 500 μg of cloprostenol sodium (PGF2 α) on Day 7. The CIDR-sync protocol consisted of the same treatment protocol as in Ovsync in addition to intra-vaginal insertion of CIDR (contains 1.38 gm of progesterone) on Day 0 followed by removal on Day 7. The Insulin-sync protocol consisted of the same treatment protocol as in Ovsync plus 3 sc injections of insulin at a dose of 0.25 i.u/1 kg, on Days 7, 8, and 9. Buffaloes in all groups were inseminated 16 h after GnRH2 by the same inseminator using frozen semen in straws. Blood samples were collected on Days 0, 3, 5 for serum progesterone assay and on Day 9 to measure serum concentrations of estradiol, insulin and IGF-1. Transrectal ultrasonographic scanning of the ovaries was conducted on Days 7, 8 and 9 to record the diameter of the largest follicle. Pregnancy diagnosis was conducted on Day 30 post-TAI by trans-rectal ultrasonographic scanning of the uterus to calculate conception rate. The serum progesterone concentration showed an increase (p < 0.01) in pregnant compared with non-pregnant buffaloes in both Ovsync-alone and Insulin-sync groups, but not in CIDR-sync group (p > 0.05) on Days 3 and 5. The serum estradiol concentration on Day 9 showed an increase (p < 0.01) in pregnant compared with the non-pregnant buffaloes in all of the treated groups. In Insulin-sync and Ovsync-alone groups, the diameter of the largest follicle (LF) was larger (p < 0.01) in pregnant compared with non-pregnant buffaloes, but in CIDR-sync, the diameter of the (LF) was larger (p < 0.01) in non-pregnant compared with pregnant buffaloes. Also, the results showed that the greatest diameter of LF was observed in pregnant buffaloes in Insulin-sync compared with either pregnant or non-pregnant buffaloes in all groups.It is concluded that modified CIDR-sync and Insulin-sync could improve fertility response through modulating hormonal profile and follicular dynamics in buffaloes during low breeding season.

Characterization of leukocyte subsets in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) with cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies specific for bovine MHC class I and class II molecules and leukocyte differentiation molecules

Although buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) are a major component of the livestock industry worldwide, limited progress has been made in the study of the mechanisms regulating the immune response to pathogens and parasites affecting their health and productivity. This has been, in part, attributable to the limited availability of reagents to study immune responses in buffalo. As reported here, a set of cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), developed against bovine, ovine and caprine leukocyte differentiation molecules (LDM) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, were identified and used to compare expression of LDM in Italian and Egyptian buffalo. The results show most of the epitopes identified with the mAbs are conserved on LDM and MHC I and II molecules in both lineages of buffalo. Comparison of the composition of lymphocyte subsets between buffalo and cattle revealed they are similar except for expression of CD2 and CD8 on workshop cluster one (WC1) positive γδ T cells. In cattle, CD8 is expressed on a subset of CD2+/WC1- γδ T cells that are present in low frequency in blood of young and old animals, whereas, CD8-/CD2-/WC1+ γδ T cells are present in high frequency in young animals, decreasing with age. In the buffalo, CD2 is expressed on a subset of WC1+ γδ T cells and CD8 is expressed on all WC1+ γδ T cells. The availability of this extensive set of mAbs provides opportunities to study the immunopathogenesis of pathogens and parasites affecting the health of buffalo.

Transcriptomic responses of water buffalo liver to infection with the digenetic fluke Fasciola gigantica

BackgroundFasciola gigantica, the tropical liver fluke, infects buffaloes in Asian and African countries and causes significant economic losses and poses public health threat in these countries. However, little is known of the transcriptional response of buffaloes to infection with F. gigantica. The objective of the present study was to perform the first transcriptomic analysis of buffalo liver infected by F. gigantica. Understanding the mechanisms that underpin F. gigantica infection in buffaloes will contribute to our ability to control this parasite.MethodsWe challenged buffaloes with 500 viable F. gigantica metacercariae and collected liver samples through a time course at 3, 42 and 70 days post-infection (dpi). Then, we performed gene expression analysis on liver samples using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) Illumina technology and confirmed the RNA-Seq data by quantitative RT-PCR analysis.ResultsTotals of 496, 880 and 441 differentially expressed transcripts were identified in the infected livers at 3, 42 and 70 dpi, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that transcriptional changes in the liver of infected buffaloes evolve over the course of infection. The predominant response of buffaloes to infection was mediated by certain pathways, such as MHC antigen processing and presentation, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and the cytochrome P450. Hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes and bile secretion were also affected.ConclusionsFasciola gigantica can induce statistically significant and biologically plausible differences in the hepatic gene expression of infected buffaloes. These findings provide new insights into the response of buffaloes to F. gigantica over the course of infection, which may be useful in determining pathways that can modulate host-parasite interaction and thus potentially important for clearance of the parasite.

Study On the Perception of Farmers on Adoption of Strategic Supplementation of Mineral Mixture and Urea Molasses Mineral Block in Buffaloes

An on farm research was conducted in Bidar district to study the study the response of buffaloes to strategic supplementation of mineral mixture and Urea Molasses Mineral Blocks or in combination of both and also to assess the perception of farmers. Forty eight lactating buffaloes which were in first trimester of lactation were randomly divided in to 4 groups viz, T0, T1, T2 and T3. The animals in T1, T2 and T3, group were supplemented with mineral mixture, UMMB and both respectively. The animals of T0 were kept as controls without any supplementation. The results showed that the combination of mineral mixture and UMMB significantly (p≤0.01) improved the milk yield. The conception rate among T1 group buffaloes was higher than that of T2, T3 and control group. Three-fourth of the farmers appreciated the increase in milk yield and 70 per cent of the farmers appreciated the increase in consistency of milk.

The size of the primordial follicular population and the superovulation response in buffaloes and cows

The size of the primordial follicular population and the superovulation response in buffaloes and cows

The use of inflammatory markers as a prognostic aid for traumatic reticuloperitonitis in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic significance of selected inflammatory markers for prediction of clinical outcomes of traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Acute local TRP was initially diagnosed in 32 buffalo by clinical examination and confirmed by ultrasonography (USG), laparo-rumenotomy and/or necropsy findings in non-surviving cases. Ten clinically healthy buffalo were randomly selected and served as controls. Blood was drawn from all examined buffalo to measure the respective levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-&amp;alpha;), interleukin (IL)-1&amp;beta;, IL-6, IL-10 interferon gamma (INF)-&amp;gamma;, serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), fibrinogen (Fb), C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum sialic acid (SSA). Clinically, the heart rates, but neither respiratory rate nor rectal temperature, were significantly higher in non-survivors compared with survivors (P &amp;lt; 0.05). In addition, the non-surviving buffalo were more likely to have anorexia and weakness compared with survivors. However, rumen stasis, recurrent ruminal tympany, lacrimation, lordosis, bruxism, and decreased milk production were commonly observed in all diseased animals. Biochemically, TNF-&amp;alpha;, IL-1&amp;beta;, IL-6, IL-10, SAA, Hp, Fb, CRP, and SSA levels were significantly higher in diseased buffalo compared with controls, and were higher in non-survivors than survivors (P &amp;lt; 0.05). The data herein indicate an ongoing cascade of systemic inflammatory responses in buffalo with TRP with concomitant compensatory anti-inflammatory reactions and the overall degree of cytokine network disruption may be an important prognostic indicator. Medical strategies to modulate inflammation must take into account the complex of cytokine biology in buffalo with TRP. &amp;nbsp;

Progesterone supplementation during multiple ovulation treatment in buffalo species (Bubalus bubalis)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous progesterone supplementation on superovulatory response in buffaloes that has undergone a multiple ovulation program. Fourteen Mediterranean buffaloes were divided into two groups and received a 4-day decreasing dosage of an equal mixture of 500 IU of FSH and LH starting on day 8 of the cycle. In group A (n = 7) a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device was removed on day 8, whereas in group B (n = 7) it was left till day 10, when PGF2alpha was administered. Eighty hours later, buffaloes were artificially inseminated and after 6 days they undergone uterine flushing. A higher (P < 0.05) number of corpora lutea (8.3 vs. 5.7) and embryo/flushing/buffalo (2.3 vs. 1.3) were recorded in group B vs. group A if responsive buffaloes are considered (n = 12) and the number of corpora lutea was highly correlated with the number of embryos (r = 0.65; P < 0.05). In conclusion, progesterone supplementation during the first 2 days of the superovulation treatment seems to enhance the recovery rate in buffalo species. A high ovulation rate, associated with a high number of corpora lutea, can represent a parameter for estimating embryo recovery.

Effect of pretreatment with insulin on the response of buffaloes with inactive ovaries to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in summer

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a pretreatment with insulin on the response of buffalo cows with inactive ovaries to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment during hot summer months (July and August). Thirty-six Egyptian buffalo cows with inactive ovaries were randomly allocated into three groups: (1) group treated with GnRHa (G1, n = 16) in which each buffalo received an intramuscular injection of 250 mg of GnRHa (Day 0; gonadorelin, Fertagyl); (2) group treated with insulin before the GnRHa injection (G2, n = 8) in which each buffalo received a subcutaneous injection of biphasic insulin at a dose of 0.25 IU kg(-1) bodyweight once daily starting at Day -3 for 3 consecutive days, followed by an intramuscular injection of 250 mg of GnRHa on Day 0; and (3) the control group (G3, n = 12) in which each buffalo cow received an intramuscular injection of 2.5 mL of sterile saline on Day 0. The ovaries of all animals were examined by trans-rectal ultrasonography (5 MHz) on Days -7, -3 and 0 and continued thereafter at 4-day intervals until oestrus or the end of the experiment. On the same days that ultrasound examinations were performed blood samples were collected to measure the progesterone concentrations. Administration of insulin for 3 days before GnRHa injection (G2) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the diameter of the largest follicle from 6.85 +/- 0.64 to 12.4 +/- 0.88 mm. There was a significant (P < 0.01) increase in the oestrous induction rate in G2 compared with both G1 and G3 during the first 12 days after the treatment interval. It is concluded that pretreatment with insulin for 3 days before GnRHa injection increases the diameter of the dominant follicle and therefore the oestrous induction rate of acyclic buffaloes.

Cellular and humoral responses in liver of cattle and buffaloes infected with a single dose of Fasciola gigantica

The cellular components of the hepatic inflammatory infiltrate in cattle and buffaloes infected with a single dose of 1000 Fasciola gigantica were analysed by immunohistochemistry and histology. T and B lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils and mast cells were present in the hepatic lesions. It is proposed that both cellular and humoral immune responses were induced in the liver of cattle and buffaloes during infection with F. gigantica probably by antigens released by the developing flukes and by damage caused by the flukes during their migration in the liver. The local T cell response differed between these animals, with the response decreasing after 3 weeks post-infection in cattle in contrast to a gradually increasing response in buffaloes. Difference in the T cell response between cattle and buffaloes may be related to their differences in resistance and resilience to infection with F. gigantica.

Serum interferon-gamma and interleukins-6 and -8 during infection with Fasciola gigantica in cattle and buffaloes

This study investigated the presence of cytokines interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukins (IL) -6 and -8 in serum of cattle and buffaloes infected with Fasciola gigantica from one to 16 weeks post-infection to determine their T cell response during infection. The concentration of these cytokines was determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No IFN-gamma was detected in these animals while IL-6 was elevated from one to 16 weeks postinfection. Levels of IL-8 were also elevated in infected buffaloes from one to 16 weeks post-infection. A predominantly T helper (Th) 2 response which started early in the infection was apparently present in cattle and buffaloes in this study which was characterised by IL-6. IL-8 production could be another mechanism of immune response in buffaloes during infection with F. gigantica.

Evaluation of oxygen-dependent immunodefences of the polymorphonuclear cells of some tropical ruminants.

Activation of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) leads to the formation of superoxide, which is in turn dismutated to H2O2 by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and is partly responsible for oxygen-dependent microbicidal activity. However, no comparative information is available on the effect of SOD inhibition before PMN activation to allow simulation of the SOD defects that are known to occur in some ruminants. This paper attempts to examine the degranulative and phagocytic responses in buffalo, cattle and goat PMNs exposed to diethyldithiocarbamate, a known SOD inhibitor. The activity of glutathione peroxidase and reductase was increased in the presence of SOD inhibitor. On activation, H2O2 production increased significantly (p < 0.01), while SOD inhibition before the activation of PMNs caused a significant decline in the production of H2O2 (p < 0.05) in all the species studied. There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the phagocytosis of Candida albicans spores by buffalo PMNs activated with opsonized zymosan. Activation of bovine PMNs after exposure to the SOD inhibitor resulted in a significant decline (p < 0.05) in phagocytic activity; in the other species, the two values only approached significance. Among the activators, opsonized zymosan caused a significant increase in phagocytic activity as compared to lipopolysaccharide, particularly in the PMNs of buffaloes (p < 0.05). Increased fungicidal activity (p < 0.05) occurred with opsonized zymosan-activated PMNs of all the species studied. The fungicidal activity was found to decline in PMNs exposed to SOD inhibitor before activation (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the phagocytic activity of caprine PMNs was found to be lower than that of PMNs from cattle (p < 0.05).

Thermoregulatory Responses of Swamp Buffaloes and Friesian Cows to Diurnal Changes in Temperature

It is well known that the rectal temperature of buffaloes is easily influenced by their surroundings. In our previous observation, the rectal temperature of buffaloes fluctuated over a 1.4 2.0°C range in rest conditions with seasonal changes of air temperature, while that of cattle remained constant in the same conditions. Rectal temperature of buffaloes decreased to 36.8°C at an air temperature of 7.0°C. (Koga et al., 1991). It has been suggested that a fluctuation of rectal temperature is an adaptation to ambient temperature change in some species (Johnson, 1971) and a major indicator of the failure of this adaptability in beef cattle (Moran, 1973). Buffaloes which live in a hothumid climate and have a unique behavior, namely, wallowing, have a physiological mechanism supporting heat dissipation when they wallow, viz. an increase in the blood volume and rate of blood flow to the skin surface in hot conditions (Koga et al., 1998). Therefore the present study was undertaken to clarify the effects of a diurnally changing environmental temperature on thermoregulatory responses of buffaloes and to suggest their implication in the thermoregulation. Three female swamp buffaloes (estimated to be 13 to 19 years old) and three Holstein-Friesian cows (dry and non-pregnant, 2 years old) were used in this study. Their average body weight at the beginning of the experiment was 510 and 650 kg, respectively. The experiment consisted of three successive periods as follows: period-1, constant temperature (30°C, 60%RH), period-2, diurnally changing temperature when temperature fluctuated between 25°C and 35°C (mean 30°C) with a constant 60%RH and period-3, diurnally changing temperature and humidity as well as period-2 the animals were fasting. During period-2 and 3, the temperature changed sinusoidly from 25°C at 00:00 to 35°C at 12:00 and then back to 25°C at 24:00. Measurements were done 9 times every three hours on the last day on each period. Measurements of rectal temperature, respiration rate and heart rate were recorded using conventional methods. After recording physiological parameters, exhaled gas was collected through a face mask for the measurement of respiration volume and heat production. After each measurement, food was given one of nine equal meals equally spaced over the day, except for period-3. Water was supplied ad libitum throughout. In buffaloes a significant correlation between rectal temperature and diurnally changing temperature was observed (P<0.05), while no sure correlation were observed for cows. Although rectal temperature in buffaloes fluctuated markedly during period-2, mean values over 24 hours were not significantly different between species. This result in buffaloes was because of the greater amplitude and the lesser maximum value in the rectal temperature in comparison with cows. Heat production in buffaloes was lower than in cows throughout the three periods. In comparison between period-1 and 2, an increment of mean heat production was lower in buffaloes than in cows. This result in buffaloes resulted in a marked decrease of heat production at a lower environmental temperature. On the contrary, an increment of heat production was higher in buffaloes than in cows. As a result, the former might exceed the latter in a balance of heat production. These results have shown that the fluctuation of rectal temperature in buffaloes is a means of conservation of heat production, though it is not always associated with a decrease in the maximum value in rectal temperature. These results were caused by a high heat conductivity of their bodies and a low heat production. The feature of buffaloes may contribute towards heat dissipation during wallowing which increase sensible heat loss by water and mud. Therefore it is highly possible that the heat dissipation system is adaptable to a hot-humid climate and is supporting buffaloes in animal production in this area. The paper is awarded 5th (2000) AJAS Purina Outstanding Research and thanks to the AJAS and Purina Korea Inc.

Steroid hormone profile and superovulatory response following priming and GnRH treatment in buffaloes

Abstract The superovulatory response in buffaloes was studied when either early cycle priming with gonadotropins or GnRH was used in a superovulatory regimen with Folltropin. Twenty-four buffaloes were randomized into three groups and superovulated with FSH (Folltropin; total dose 25 mg) and Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF). Animals in Group A were primed with two doses of FSH (Folltropin; 2.5 mg each) on Days 3 and 4 of the estrous cycle prior to superovulation; those in Group B were given an injection of GnRH 48 h after first injection of (PGF); and those in Group C served as controls. Five or 6 days after estrus the number of corpora lutea (CL) and unovulated follicles (> 10 mm) were recorded. Daily blood sampling allowed estradiol and progesterone determination. The overall mean (± SEM) number of CL palpated on the ovaries of each animal was 2.69 ± 0.38 and this did not differ significantly among treatment groups. Progesterone levels on the day of initial FSH injections and on the day of palpation (per rectum) were positively correlated with ovulation rate. It was concluded that priming of donor buffaloes prior to superovulation or administration of GnRH on the day of estrus had no effect on the onset or duration of estrus, ovulation rate or steroid profile.

Administration of fenbendazole in urea molasses block to dairy buffaloes in India.

A trial was conducted in a semi-organised buffalo farm in western India with strategic long-term low-level administration of fenbendazole incorporated medicated urea molasses blocks to understand its nematocidal efficacy and production response in buffaloes. Results indicated that the anthelmintic delivery system could effectively remove already established adult parasites and prevent larval establishment. The treated buffaloes produced more milk (P < 0.01) from 45 days onward with a net gain of 1.20 litre per day.

Superovulatory response in buffaloes following single subcutaneous or multiple intramuscular FSH administration

Superovulatory response in buffaloes following single subcutaneous or multiple intramuscular FSH administration