ETHNO-VETERINARY APPROACH OF AUGMENTING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN DAIRY CATTLE

ETHNO-VETERINARY APPROACH OF AUGMENTING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN DAIRY CATTLE

S.SATHESHKUMAR*

Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Veterinary College and Research Institute

Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

Orathanadu – 614625, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

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ABSTRACT

Reproductive performance of the dairy cow is directly dependent on three essential reproductive processes viz., Fertilizable quality oocyte, conducive oviductal and uterine environments for fertilization and embryonic development and endocrinologically competent corpus luteum (CL) for maintenance of gestation. Perusing through these processes, it is very clear that basics of bovine fertility rely on one individual factor i.e., ‘THE OVARIAN FOLLICLE’. Anoestrum and repeat breeding were found to be the major reproductive disturbance among the heifers and post-partum cows. Ultrasonographic monitoring of the follicular turnover in anoestrus crossbred cows revealed that ovaries exhibited follicular wave activity as that of normal cycles but the dominant follicle did not culminate in ovulation resulting in acyclicity. Murraya koenigii leaves, popularly known as curry leaves, has the potential to augment the ovarian function in terms of follicular development and steroidogenesis. About 64.0 per cent of anoestrus cattle treated with herbal combination viz., Raphanus sativus, Aloe vera, Moringa oleifera, Cissus quadrangularis and M. koenigii, returned to cycle and about 56.0 per cent of them conceived on insemination. The combination of these herbs has beneficial effects on clearing uterine infections, providing micro- and macro-nutrients and antioxidants. Further, they possess proteins simulating steroidogenic / gonadotrophic activity.  Thus the fresh herbal combinations have the potential for improving folliculogenesis, improving sero-concentrations of endocrine/growth factors and augmenting the fertility in anoestrus and repeat breeding dairy cattle.

Keywords: Dairy cattle; Infertility; Hormone therapy; Ethno-veterinary; Reproductive health

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Introduction

Success of a dairy enterprise relies on the production performance of the animal. However, reproductive performances of the animals provide the basis for their sustainable production, which is the prime requisite for undeterred income of the farmer. We have positively achieved the increase in production potential of the animals based on genetic selection. On the other hand, the reproductive performances of these high producing animals are increasingly jeopardised due to multiple factors. The current therapeutic approaches are concentrating on alleviating the infertility conditions, however we have to concentrate on an approach which can improve the overall reproductive health of the animal. Indigenous ethnic way of utilising the products of plant origin is found to be promising in improving the fertility status of the animals (McCorkle, 1986).

Reproductive performance of any farm animal is directly dependent on three essential reproductive processes viz., ovulation of fertilizable quality oocyte, infection free healthy oviductal and uterine environments for fertilization and embryonic development and endocrinologically competent corpus luteum (CL) for maintenance of gestation (Roberts, 1971). Perusing through these processes, it is very clear that basics of fertility rely on one individual factor i.e., the development of quality Graafian follicle. Healthy micro-environment of a developing and mature dominant follicle decides the quality of the oocyte. Steroidogenic capacity of a dominant follicle decides the subsequent ovulatory events and CL formation. Endocrine capacity of the luteal cells is decided by the quality of their precursors in the dominant follicles i.e., the granulose and theca cells. Thus the fertility in most instances is governed by the ovarian follicle. Folliculogenesis is a dynamic event that occurs continuously throughout the reproductive life of an animal and usually cease in senescence or severe debilitative disorders.  Any factor that affects the development and maturation of dominant follicle might hinder the fertility of the animal.

Anoestrum and repeat breeding were found to be the major reproductive disturbance among the heifers and post-partum cows. Ultrasonographic monitoring of the follicular turnover in anoestrus crossbred cows revealed that ovaries exhibited follicular wave activity as that of normal cycles but the dominant follicle did not culminate in ovulation resulting in acyclicity (Satheshkumar, 2021). Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) and progesterone based hormone therapies are the common approaches among the veterinary community to improve conception rate in farm animals. The efficacy of these therapies seems to be strongly associated with time-restricted expression of gonadotrophin receptors in follicular micro environment and hence the results are unpredictable. Most of the time the hormonal interventions to alleviate the infertility conditions in cattle turns futile due to indiscriminate usage, without knowing the actual utero-ovarian status of the individual animals. The hormones of natural or synthetic origin have their effect only if administered in the correct time, correct dosage and correct route. Otherwise they act as simple placebo or sometimes might lead to refractoriness. Additional cost towards hormonal therapies too hinders further progress.

Herbs of fertility enhancing properties

Ethno-veterinary mode of therapy could be approached positively with proper understanding of the basic reproductive physiology. Certain plants, their extractions and preparations are used in fertility regulation in traditional medicine. A few are listed here.

Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum) is an effective remedy for impotency in human. Bioavailability of its nutrients can be increased by soaking, sprouting and fermentation. Sprouts of Bengal gram are rich in fiber, Vitamin B6 and thiamine, thereby they improve metabolism and boost neurotransmitters.  Phytosterols present in sprouted gram are structurally analogous to mammalian cholesterol, with 50-85% being β-sitosterol (Kamboj and Nanda, 2017).

Aloe vera gel is rich in proteins, lipids, amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, inorganic compounds and different carbohydrates. Phyto-nutrient rich A. vera gel mainly contains phytosterols, polysaccharides, flavonoids and polyphenols (Radha and Laxmipriya, 2015). These phyto-components can act independently or synergistically at various targets in the reproductive organs. It causes reversion of oestrous cyclicity and improves steroid status (Kosif and Aktas, 2009).

Radish root (Raphanus sativus) has anti-inflammatory activity. The root of R. sativus contains ‘raphanin’ which is reported for its antibacterial and antifungal properties (Bettaieb et al., 2011). Raphanin has been found to be strongly active on Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas pyocyaneus, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci and Pneumococci .

Cumins (Cuminum cyminum) has been found to possess various pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant and immuno-modulatory. The volatile oil of C. cyminum was active against S. epidermidis, S. aureus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, E. coli, S. typhi, Klebsiella pneumonia (Chaudhary et al., 2014)

Drumstick (Moringa olifera) leaves are rich source of minerals and considered ‘Museum of trace minerals’. Specifically it contains insulin-like proteins. It is used as potential antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antimicrobial agent (Gopalakrishnan et al., 2016; Paula et al., 2017).

Cisuss quandrangularis is capable of improving sexual behaviour. Administration of Cisuss significantly improves the serum oestradiol and Vit.D3 concentrations in serum (Aswar et al., 2012).

Aegle marmelos possesses potential for augmenting immune activity by cellular and humoral mediated mechanisms. Leaf extracts have the potential to attenuate hepatic oxidative stress. Aegelin, a nitrogenous alkaloid rich in A. marmleos leaves possess insulin-like properties, anti-inflammation, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties (Dhivya et al., 2018).

Curry leaves (Murraya koenigii) is considered as ‘Queen of herbs’ among fertility boosting herbs, because of its prime effect at follicular level (Satheshkumar and Punniamurthy, 2010). These leaves contain genistein, which are groups of hormone like diphenolic phytoestrogens. These phyto-oestrogens structurally and functionally mimic the actions of mammalian oestrogen, more specifically 17β-oestradiol and bind weakly to oestrogen receptor and in this way influence sexual hormone metabolism (Nandini et al., 2010). M. koenigii leaves has the potential to augment the ovarian function in terms of follicular development and steroidogenesis (Mehrotra et al., 2004 and Kosif and Aktas, 2009). Curry leaves also have Girinimbiol and Girinimbine, the most active carbazole alkaloids which possess insulin like effect. Further the herb showed antibacterial effect against B. subtilis, S. aureus, C. pyogenes, P. vulgaris and Pasteurella multicida.

Based on the pharmaco-therapeutic properties of these plants, they can be used individually or in combination to augment the fertility of dairy cattle.

Herbal Combo therapy for alleviating infertility

Ultrasonographic monitoring of the ovarian dynamics in anoestrus crossbred cows revealed that both the ovaries exhibited follicular activity as that of normal cyclic animals. Eventhough the dominant follicles attained maximum diameters as that of normal cycles, the animal did not evince any symptom of oestrum which might be indicative of deficiencies in steroidogenic capacity in the follicular micro-environment affecting the oestrogen production (Satheshkumar et al., 2019). Thus absence of follicular maturation is considered the major setback and causes the anoestrus condition. Hence, improving the follicular maturation and its steroidogenic activity should be the prime target of therapeutic approach.  Based on the foregoing properties of commonly available herbs, the following ‘Herbal-Combo therapy’ can be followed sequentially as mentioned for a period of 20 days to restore cyclicity among anoestrus cows.

Field oriented research reported that around 65.0% of post-partum anoestrus cattle treated with this herbal combination returned to cycle with significant increase in follicular diameter and among them around 56.0% conceived on first insemination (Satheshkumar and Punniamurthy,  2009). These herbs would have augmented the ovarian function in terms of steroidogenesis and improved the uterine environment by clearing infectious agents. Further a significant improvement of serum Ca and P levels and Ca: P ratio in the anoestrus heifers supplemented with herbs was documented and contributed for the induction of ovarian activity in anoestrus heifers.

Repeat breeding condition in cattle is a multi-faceted syndrome. Ovulatory disturbances, subclinical infections, hormonal disturbances are considered to be the major causes for the infertility. As mentioned earlier, the ‘Herbal-combo therapy’ can be tried in repeat breeding cattle also starting from the day of observed oestrus to next oestrus. The fresh herbal combinations have the potential for improving folliculogenesis, improving sero-concentrations of endocrine/growth factors, cleansing the uterine environment and augmenting the fertility in repeat breeding dairy cattle. Sub-clinical uterine infection is found to be a ‘Silent killer’ of bovine fertility leading to repeat breeding. Intra-uterine antibiotic / antiseptic administration is the conventional approach for treating subclinical endometritis in cattle. As an alternate to this treatment, fresh herb or combination of herbs with proven anti-inflammtory and/or antibacterial actions like A. vera, Curcuma longa, R. sativus, C. cyminum etc., can be tried. A combination of wet grounded C. cyminum (10 g) and R. sativus (150-200 g) per day orally for five days is found to be a proven protocol to alleviate sub-clinical infections (Elamaran et al., 2018). A combination of A. marmelos and M. koenigii is also reported to improve fertility of repeat breeder cows.

Conclusion

Instead of attempting for treating the ailing animal, we should focus on augmenting the general fertility of the dairy animals, so that unwanted usages of hormones could be avoided. From the foregoing facts, it can be concluded that therapy with various combinations of locally available herbs involving A. vera, C. quandrangularis, R. sativus, M. olifera, A. marmelos, C. cyminum and M. koenigii improved the follicular maturation and fertility in infertile cattle. Most of these herbs could enhance the uterine defensive mechanism too. Rich mineral source, antioxidant property, rejuvenation of uterine environment and steroidogenic activity of these combinations of herbs could potentiate all the reproductive processes needed for enhancing the fertility of cattle. Thus the indigenous knowledge of utilizing ethnic herbal therapies can be followed in the field, thus improving the rural economy.

References:

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Bettaieb, I., Bourgou, S., Sriti, J., Msaada, K., Limam, F. and Marzouk, B. (2011). Essential oils and fatty acids composition of Tunisian and Indian cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seeds: a comparative study. J. Sci. Food Agri., 91: 2100-2107.

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Dhivya, C., Dhanalakshmi, S., Chitra, V. and Hawari, S. (2018). Alleviation of polycystic ovarian syndrome by hydroalcoholic leaf extract of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correra in letrozole-induced rat model. Drug invention today, 10:1246-1250.

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