6.1: Back Ground:
The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is an important animal of livestock species. It has an essential role in the economy of developing countries. Buffalo is being used as dairy, beef and draught purpose. Despite so many qualities, the reproductive potential of the buffalo is lower than cattle. One of the reasons for low reproductive potential is smaller ovaries and low number of ovarian follicles. Due to these reasons superovulation and embryo transfer has not been much successful in buffaloes. There is no tool through which reproductive performance of buffaloes can be phenotyped. Antral follicular count can be a tool on the basis of which reproductive performance of buffaloes can be phenotyped
6.2: Hypothesis:
Higher the antral follicular count higher will be the fertility in Nili-Ravi buffaloes.
6.3: Methodology:
Ten Nili-Ravi heifers were used in the study to measure repeatability of antral follicular. Each heifer was scanned on alternating days from day 1 of estrous cycles to day 9 of the successive estrous cycle. Antral follicles were counted in different follicular waves and repeatability of antral follicles was assessed. In the 2nd experiment of the study 10 heifers were used to count antral follicles from day 1 to day 10 of the estrous cycle, on the basis of antral follicular count animals were divided into three groups, Low (1-4), Intermediate (5-8) and High (?9).Blood sampling was done on 7th day of estrous cycle to measure progesterone concentration of 3 animals from each group and an association was developed between antral follicular count and progesterone concentration. In the 3rd experiment, 25 Nili-Ravi buffaloes were used to antral follicles from day 1 of estrous cycle to day 10 of estrous cycle. , on the basis of antral follicular count animals were divided into three groups, Low (1-4), Intermediate (5-8) and High (?9). In the next heat animals were artificially inseminated and were checked for pregnancy on 36th and 60th day by using ultrasound. Animals pregnant on 60th day were considered as pregnant. After that association was developed between antral follicular count and fertility.
6.4: Results:
Buffalo can be phenotyped on the basis of antral follicular count. Follicular counts are highly repeatable in different follicular waves of same estrous cycle (0.83) and different estrous cycles (0.85) within individual animals. Follicular counts are highly positively correlated (0.91) with progesterone concentration. Higher the antral follicular count, higher should be the progesterone concentration. Antral follicular count is highly positively associated with (0.99) with fertility. Higher the antral follicular count higher will be the fertility.