Anna Balestrieri

Is a Delayed Treatment with GnRH, hCG or Progesterone Beneficial for Reducing Embryonic Mortality in Buffaloes?

The aims of this study were to verify the efficacy of delayed hormonal treatments performed on day 25 post-insemination on pregnancy rate at 45 and 70 days in buffalo. The trial was performed on 385 buffaloes synchronized by the Ovsynch/TAI protocol and submitted to artificial insemination (AI). Twenty-five days after AI, pregnant animals were assigned to four treatments: (1) GnRH agonist (n = 52), 12 microg of buserelin acetate; (2) hCG (n = 51), 1500 IU of human chorionic gonadotrophin; (3) Progesterone (n = 47), 341 mg of P4 intramuscular (im) every 4 days for three times; (4) Control (n = 54), treatment with physiological saline (0.9% NaCl). Milk samples were collected on days 10, 20 and 25 after AI in all buffaloes to determine progesterone concentration in whey by radioimmunoassay method. Statistical analysis was performed by anova. Pregnancy rate on day 25 after AI was 52.9%, but declined to 41.8% by day 45, indicating an embryonic mortality (EM) of 21%. If only control group is considered, the incidence of EM was 38.9%. Pregnant buffaloes had higher (p < 0.01) progesterone concentrations on day 20 and 25 after AI than both non-pregnant buffaloes and buffaloes that showed EM. The treatments on day 25 increased (p < 0.01) pregnancy rate, although in buffaloes with a low whey progesterone concentration on day 20 and 25 after AI (n = 22); all treatments were ineffective to reduce EM.

Strategies to reduce embryonic mortality in buffalo cows

Abstract The aim of the present study was to examine whether treatment with a GnRH agonist, hCG or P4 on Day 25 after AI increased P4 concentrations and reduced the incidence of embryonic mortality (EM) in pregnant buffaloes mated in mid-winter in a Mediterranean environment. The trial was carried out in two farms characterized, in previous years, by low (LEM Group), 153 buffaloes (DIM=150±7 days), and high (HEM Group), 284 buffaloes (DIM=163±5 days), incidence of embryo mortality. Animals were synchronized by Ovsynch-TAI Program and artificially inseminated. On day 25, pregnant buffaloes were randomly assigned to four groups: Control (no treatment), GnRH agonist (buserelin acetate, 12.6 µg), hCG (1500 IU) and P4 (341 mg of P4 i.m. every 4 days for three times). Progesterone (pg/ml) was determined in milk whey on Days 10, 20 and 25 after AI in all buffaloes and in Days 30 and 45 only in buffaloes pregnant on day 25 and assigned to four groups of treatment. Pregnancy diagnosis was undertaken on Day 45 by ultrasound. All treatments increased P4 milk whey and reduced embryonic mortality in buffalo cows bred in the farm characterized by high EM.

Fermentation characteristics of different grain legumes cultivars with the in vitro gas production technique

Abstract In the present trial the fermentation characteristics of some grain legumes were studied using the in vitro gas production technique with a view to using them as an alternative protein source to soybean in animal feeding. Three cultivars of lupine, six cultivars of faba bean and seven cultivars of peas were incubated at 39°C with buffalo rumen fluid for 96h. OM degradability and fermentation kinetics were studied. Few differences in fermentation characteristics were observed among the cultivars for each legumes grains. “Scuro di Torre Lama” showed significantly (P<0.01) lower values of dOM and OMCV than the other 5 faba bean cultivars; L had lower (P<0.01) OMCV than the other 2 lupine cultivars and “ ublanc” “Spirale” produced less gas and showed a faster kinetics than the other 6 peas cultivars. In vitro fermentation characteristics of the tested grain legumes were comparable to that obtained from soybean meal in our previous in vitro study. The pooled peas showed the significantly (P<0.01) higher gas production (OMCV: 394 ml/g) and faster fermentation kinetics (Rmax: 12.6 ml/h); the pooled lupine showed the lowest gas production (OMCV: 284 ml/g) and the slowest fermentation process (Rmax: 7.42 ml/h).

Nitrogen and phosphorus utilisation and excretion in dairy buffalo intensive breeding

The aim of this study was to quantify nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) utilisation and excretion in intensive dairy buffaloes. Italian Mediterranean buffaloes were divided into 4 groups (n=6/group) as follows: Groups M50, M125 and M225 at 50, 125 and 225 days of lactation, respectively, and Group NL which was non-lactating. Lactating buffaloes had greater (P<0.05) dry matter and organic matter intake than NL buffaloes. Buffaloes in Group M50 had a lower (P<0.05) crude protein (CP) apparent digestibility than buffaloes in Groups M125 and M225. Group NL had a higher (P<0.01) real CP digestibility than Group M50. Buffaloes in Groups M50 and NL had a negative N balance (-79 and -12 g, respectively) whilst buffaloes in Groups M125 and M225 had a positive N balance (26 and 16 g, respectively). Buffaloes in Group M50 had more (P<0.05) N in urine (204 g) than Group NL (87 g). Buffaloes in Group NL had less (P<0.01) P in both faeces (12.9 g) and urine (0.8 g) compared with the three groups of lactating buffaloes combined (25 g in faeces and 12 g in urine) and they also had greater (P<0.05) P digestibility (68%) than lactating buffaloes combined (43%). The present study has shown that buffaloes have a relatively high efficiency of N and P utilisation.

Ovary response and embryonic mortality in buffaloes treated with GnRH or hCG

Abstract The aim of the present study was to examine whether treatment with a GnRH agonist or hCG in pregnant buffaloes on Day 25 after AI induce ovulation and increased P4 concentrations. The trial was carried out on 98 pluriparous buffaloes (DIM = 163 ± 75 days) diagnosed pregnant by ultrasound on day 25 after AI, and randomly assigned in two treatment groups GnRH (12 µg of Buserelin Acetate i.m) and hCG (1500 I.U. i.m.) after measurements of follicular diameter and evaluated ovulation. Milk samples were collected on Days 30 and 45 after AI, to assess P4 concentrations in whey. Differences between the follicular diameters of ovulation and P4 were tested by ANOVA. The incidences of animals which responded to the two treatments were analysed by Chi square test. The treatments on day 25 after AI induced ovulation respectively in 68.6% (GnRH) and 57.4% (hCG) of the buffaloes. No differences were found between diameter of follicle ovulated. Ovulation increased milk whey progesterone levels and reduced embryonic mortality in buffalo cows.

Effect of diet with different energy content in growing Murrah buffalo heifers

Abstract The relationship between variations of weight and BCS was evaluated using growing buffalo heifers, fed diets with different energy level. 12 Murrah bred heifers (age: 790 days, LW: 400 kg), raised in Saint Paul (Brazil) were equally divided in group H and L fed diets with 5.8 UFL/day and 3.6 UFL/day, respectively. At the end of treatment, groups showed significant differences in weight and values of BCS. In this trial each point of BCS, in Murrah heifers, seems to be equivalent to an increase and/or a loss of about 50 kg of live weight. During this trial the mean value of daily weight gain (DWG) was significantly higher in group H (310 g. vs 0 g.; P<0.01). The heifers of group H required 5.4 UFL to increase the live weight, while group L showed a constant live weight in spite of the assumption of energy level of diet not sufficient to satisfy the requirements of weight maintenance. As it is known, buffalo heifers improves the efficiency of the diet utilization in case of deficiency and wastes energy when receiving diet with high energy content.

Dietary influence on primiparous and pluriparous buffalo fertility

Abstract The authors described the effects of diets characterized by different energy density and forages concentrations on reproductive activity of primiparous and pluriparous lactating buffalo cows, undergone the out of season breeding technique. Productive and reproductive data of a buffalo farm in Salerno were collected. Furthermore, the diets administered to the animals from 1998 to 2003 (6 years) were also recorded. The components of the diet were monthly analysed according to the method described by ASPA (1980). The fertility in primiparous buffaloes resulted significantly better (P< 0.01) during the last year when the diet were characterized by high energy and less quantity of forage. Differences were also recorded between primiparous and pluriparous buffaloes only in 2002 for milk production (P< 0.05) and in 1999 and 2002 for year’s milk production (P< 0.05). The utilization of diets characterized by high use of concentrates and high energy improved fertility and milk yield in primiparous.

Influence of a swimming-pool on fertility in buffalo species.

Abstract The aim of this study was to verify the effect of a swimming-pool on reproductive efficiency in buffalo species. The trial was performed in a commercial buffalo farm, where lactating buffaloes were divided into two groups (G1 and G2), and only in G1 a swimming-pool was available. Data of a 4-years period (1999–2002) were analysed. Statistical analysis of calving-conception interval (CCI) of a first 3-years period (1999–2001), after logarithmic conversion, was performed by “t” Student’s Test while the percentage data were analyzed by Chi-square test. Animals in G1 showed higher conception rate within 120 days post calving (53.7% vs. 39.9%; P<0.001) in both deliveries of January-March and April-August. During the first 2 years (1999–2000) the CCI of buffaloes that delivered in January-March period was longer (P<0.001) than that of April-August. Furthermore, on the total of the 3 years the CCI was longer (P<0.01) in buffaloes of G2 compared to G1. Because of the presence of a swimming-pool also for G2 from 2002 May, the conception rate of not pregnant subjects characterized by more than 40 days open in 2001 and 2002 was also calculated and the favourable effect was confirmed. These results highlight the beneficial effect of a swimming-pool on fertility in buffalo species.

Effect of consecutive re-synchronization protocols on pregnancy rate in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) heifers out of the breeding season

The combined effect of six consecutive timed artificial inseminations (TAIs) on pregnancy rates, following two different synchronization protocols on buffalo heifers, over a period of seven months typically characterized by low breeding performances, were investigated in this study. A total of 2189 TAIs were performed on 1463 buffalo heifers within a large buffalo farm in the south of Italy. Individual animals were allowed to undergo synchronization protocol (either a slightly modified Ovsynch or Progesterone treatment) and TAI until establishment of pregnancy or else for not more than six consecutive times. Semen of seven proven bulls was used throughout the study, which was carried out from March to September of the same year. Therefore, other than the effect given by consecutive TAIs over time, a monthly and a seasonal effect could also be tested, once the entire period was split into a Low Breeding Season (LBS) from March to June, and a Transition to Breeding Season (TBS) from July to September. From the data recorded in this study and the statistical analysis performed, it can be stated that the two protocols for the synchronization of ovulation were similar in efficiency in determining pregnancies with an overall fertility rate of 89.4% when the comparison was run both on a monthly basis or when months were grouped into two different seasons. In addition, an average of 1.83 AI/pregnancy was reported, slightly higher for the Ovsynch when compared to the Progesterone protocol: 1.91 vs 1.70, respectively. Finally, when considering the number of progressive synchronization treatments implemented over time as covariate, neither Ovsynch nor Progesterone treatment significantly affected pregnancy rates following the first of the six synchronization sessions. However, repeating the synchronization procedure, the progesterone based protocol resulted in significantly higher probability of success in terms of established pregnancies during the second and third re-synchronization sessions.

Influences of different space allowance on reproductive performances in buffalo

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two different conditions of space allowance on reproductive performance and oxidative parameters, biochemical and hormonal profiles in buffalo. The trial was carried out on one hundred pluriparous buffaloes divided into two different groups. Buffaloes in group HDG (high density group - n = 50) were maintained in open yards that allowed 10 m2 /head while those in group LDG (low density group - n = 50) were maintained in 22 m2 /head. After 60 days, 45 buffaloes in each group underwent synchronization of ovulation by Ovsynch and were artificially inseminated to assess the reproductive efficiency. On the day of AI blood samples were collected to evaluate oxidative stress, hormonal and metabolic profile. Furthermore, on the same day, blood, saliva and hair samples were collected to assess cortisol levels. Simultaneously, five buffaloes/group, were synchronized but not inseminated and on the day of the hypothetical timed artificial insemination (TAI), follicular fluid was recovered by OPU and blood samples were collected from each animal to evaluate the redox status on both plasma and follicular fluid. Conception rate on day 70 post-AI was similar between the two groups (57.5 vs. 62.5%, in LDG and HDG, respectively). No significant differences were found on redox status, metabolic and hormonal profile and cortisol levels between the groups. In conclusion, on the conditions of this experiment it was observed that the space allowance of 10 m2 /head did not affect reproductive efficiency in buffalo cows.