INNOVATE TO IMPROVE BOVINE FERTILITY
(ROLE OF VETERINARIANS & LIVESTOCK SECTOR FOR “VIKSIT BHARAT@2047”)
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
‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ is the Government’s initiative to achieve the goal and vision of transforming India into a developed entity by 2047. Livestock enterprise is an important sector that can contribute significantly for the development of the Nation. The dairy industry is heavily reliant on fertility of cattle and buffaloes for sustained milk production. However, the fertility is compromised by many issues leading to reduced milk yield, lower reproductive performance and prolonged calving interval. Bovine reproductive diagnostics can be given importance towards development of new innovative imaging technologies to diagnose early pregnancy and infertility disorders in cattle. Further, to alleviate infertility novel therapeutic protocols based on metabolic needs has to be developed. Thus, innovations towards achieving better fertility by enhancing the diagnostic and therapeutic efficiency needs to be concentrated. concrete research towards innovating new diagnostic and therapeutic protocols by understanding the basics of reproductive physiology needs to be concentrated towards developing the profitable livestock sector of the Nation.
Keywords: Dairy cattle; Reproductive status; Innovations; Diagnostics and therapeutics
———————————————————————————————————————- * Professor and Head; Email: drsatheshkumar@rediffmail.com
INTRODUCTION
‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ is the Government’s initiative to achieve the goal and vision of transforming India into a developed entity by 100th year of independence for India – 2047. The Government aims at achieving all-round development of the country by empowering and improving the capabilities of people to achieve a Viksit Bharat i.e., ‘Developed Nation’. The vision encompasses various facets of development, such as economic growth, environmental sustainability, social progress and good governance.
Livestock enterprise is an important sector that can contribute significantly for the development of the Nation because, as per recent report, this sector supports approximately 30 million marginalised and rural community people of the country. Dairy sector is an integral component of Indian agriculture and is contributing five percent to the national economy. India is the largest global milk producer with overall production which increased from 165.40 million tonnes in 2016-17 to 230.58 million tonnes in 2022-23, contributing 25% of global milk production (BAHS, 2023). According the economic survey 2023-24 report of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, the allied sectors of Indian agriculture are promising sources for improving farm incomes. It stated that from 2014-15 to 2022-23, the livestock sector grew at an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.38 per cent at constant prices. The contribution of livestock to the total GVA (at constant prices) in agriculture and allied sectors increased from 24.32 per cent in 2014-15 to 30.38 per cent in 2022-23. Thus, veterinarians and the associated livestock sector could play a major role in the development of national economy.
The dairy industry, in general, is heavily reliant on fertility of cattle and buffaloes, for sustained milk production. Ensuring a calf a year is necessary for a profitable dairy enterprise with uninterrupted milk production. However, the fertility is compromised by many issues leading to reduced milk yield, lower reproductive performance and prolonged calving interval. Infertility remains a challenge for both farmers as well as veterinarians even with proper farm management and veterinary assistance, which turns a high yielder into a low producer, resulting in culling of the animals. Reproductive failure due to repeat breeding syndrome continues to be a major problem in cattle and buffalo breeding, with an overall incidence of 23.60 to 27.90 per cent, respectively (Aruna et al., 2021), inspite of improved diagnostics and therapeutics. Thus, innovations towards achieving better fertility by enhancing the diagnostic and therapeutic efficiency needs to be concentrated.
INNOVATIONS IN BOVINE REPRODUCTIVE DIAGNOSTICS
Reproductive diagnosis has a major role in detecting pregnancy status and fertility status.
Needs for innovations in early diagnosis of bovine pregnancy
Early diagnosis of pregnancy and non-pregnancy in cattle is an area which is being sought as a hot cake among the researchers. Early detection of non-pregnancy is a vital parameter in avoiding unnecessary delay in calving to conception interval and inter-calving interval. Delay in diagnosis of non-pregnancy leads to hidden economic loss per day.
With the advent of ultrasound imaging diagnostics, it is possible to diagnose pregnancy as early as 21 days post breeding based on luteal echotexture and vascularity (Palhao et al., 2020) and between 25 and 30 days after insemination based on utero-embryonic characters (Jaskowski et al., 2019). As per our experience, in the present scenario, ultrasound scanning is found to be efficient in diagnosing bovine pregnancy as early as 23 days post insemination (unpublished data). Eventhough we are introduced to many commercial kits with the claim of early detection of pregnancy, still there is no single product or technique to give 100 per cent confirmative diagnosis in this aspect. Hence, biotechnological research towards identifying a specific protein or pregnancy factor, just like chorionic gonadotropin in humans, has to be concentrated and more importance to be given in development of 100 per cent confirmatory result oriented product.
Needs for innovations in ultrasound imaging for diagnosing infertility
Early identification of reproductive disorders is one of the key management strategies in improving the reproductive efficiency animals. Selection of appropriate therapy for the infertile condition solely relies on perfect diagnosis of the reproductive status of that particular animal. Ultrasound scanning technique is noninvasive and relatively simple and facilitates immediate interpretation and diagnosis in most circumstances. Ultrasound enables confirmatory diagnosis on ovulatory disturbances and differential diagnosis on cystic degeneration, pregnancy simulating conditions etc.,. Detailed ultrasonographic studies of common uterine pathological conditions, such as endometritis, pyometra, mucometra, and mummified and macerated foetuses were reported. Ultrasonography has thus been found to be a useful clinical tool for diagnosing several kinds of ovarian and uterine pathological conditions.
Next to B-mode findings, it is also possible to obtain information regarding the structural tissue abnormalities in a non-invasive way through a US-based technique called ‘Sonoelastography’. In human medicine, sonoelastography, a non-invasive ultrasound-based technique is utilised to assess tissue stiffness between normal and diseased testis. This highly sensitive technology has shown promise in veterinary application, and hence needs concentration on utilising such technology for assessing the utero-ovarian tissue differences as a mode of diagnosing inflammatory and neoplastic disorders. The technology can also be utilised in semen stations to screen the testicular health among the breeding bulls and can be included in the array of tests assigned for breeding soundness examination of bulls.
INNOVATIONS IN BOVINE REPRODUCTIVE THERAPY
Further ultrasound-based therapy is an added advantage in the application of ultrasound technology among the farm animals, especially cattle. The new information that has been generated through imaging technologies has thrown light on therapeutic uses, thereby opening up new areas for field level applications.
Ultrasound guided folliculocentesis aids not only in research studies, but also as an effective therapy for follicular cyst conditions. In the recent years, we are experiencing more incidence (8-10%) of ‘Non-responsive follicular cyst’ cases among the cystic degeneration cases. These cysts are not responding to regular GnRH or hCG therapy and warrants mechanical ablation or aspiration. Thus, ‘Trans-gluteal follicular cyst evacuation’ technique was developed (Satheshkumar et al., 2022). However, research should be concentrated on developing such field oriented approaches to alleviate the pathological conditions.
The reproductive success of cows is influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including hormone patterns, ovarian dynamics, oestrus behaviour, uterine functions and breeding practices. Various reproductive disorders can be addressed using treatments that include hCG, GnRH, prostaglandins, or combinations thereof.
The application of Insulin to regulate reproduction is an re-emerging area of study. Eventhough few works were carried out two decades back, there is a long paucity in insulin based studies in bovine infertility. Research conducted in vitro has shown that insulin and a similar compound called insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) play crucial roles in various reproductive processes, such as follicular development, steroid production, oocyte maturation, and embryo development (Satheshkumar et al., 2021). It was reported that, when insulin was administered, it raises the levels of IGF-I both within the follicles and in the bloodstream of cattle (Jayaganthan et al., 2024).
Glucocorticoids also probably have their effect by stimulating proteolysis and inhibiting glucose use in muscle, thereby providing gluconeogenic precursors and stimulating the rate of gluconeogenesis (Jayaganthan, 2024). Hence extensive studies on the effect of exogenous administration of insulin and glucocorticoids on ovarian status, serum biochemical, metabolic and hormonal parameters and fertility of repeat breeding cows has to be carried out.
Progesterone deficiency associated with improper CL functioning during the luteal phase causes early embryonic mortality and conception failure in dairy cattle (Noakes et al., 2001). Effects of progesterone supplementation on during various stages of cycle in the post insemination period was reported to be a mode of improving fertility among repeat breeding cows (Mendonca et al., 2017). Satheshkumar et al. (2012) have reported that induction of accessory corpus luteum by administration of GnRH on Day 6 of the cycle post-insemination have improved the steroidogenesis. Thus research on developing therapy for improving the luteal competency to support the pregnancy has to be concentrated.
Early Resynchronization of oestrus among the non-pregnant cows was one of the possible ways to shorten the time interval between an unsuccessful insemination and the following attempt for breeding the same animal (Jaskowski et al., 2019). The concept of early resynchronization is gaining momentum with the possibility of early pregnancy diagnosis. This momentum should be given taken forward for the betterment of reproductive management of dairy cattle
CONCLUSION
It is clear that concrete research towards innovating new diagnostic and therapeutic protocols by understanding the basics of reproductive physiology needs to be concentrated towards developing the profitable livestock sector of the Nation.
REFERENCES
Aruna, S., Abdul, A. C. P., Promod, K., Lekshmi, B. K. and Ashokkumar, M. (2021). Occurrence of repeat breeding in crossbred dairy cattle. J. Vet. Anim. Sci., 52: 308-311.
Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (2023). Govt. of India, Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairying, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
Jaskowski, J.M., Gehrke, M., Herudzińska, M., Jaśkowski B.M. and Brussow, K.P. (2019). Resynchronisation as an element of improving cattle reproduction efficiency. J. Vet. Res., 63(1): 107-115.
Jayaganthan, P. (2024). Efficacy of insulin mediated therapy on ovarian status and fertility of repeat breeding crossbred cows. PhD dissertation, TANUVAS, Orathanadu, Tamil Nadu, India.
Mendonca, L.G.D., Mantelo F.M. and Stevenson, J.S. (2017). Fertility of lactating dairy cows treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone at AI, 5 days after AI, or both, during summer heat stress. Theriogenology, 91: 9-16.
Noakes, D.E., Parkinson, T.J. and England, G.C.W. (2001). Arthur’s Veterinary Obstetrics. 8th Eds., W.B. Saunders, Phildelphia, USA, pp: 402- 406 and 461-464.
Jayaganthan, P., Satheshkumar, S., Krishnakumar, K., Murugavel, S. and Jagadeesan, K. (2024). Insulin pretreatment during mid-cycle and programmed breeding on conception of repeat breeding crossbred cows. The Indian J. Anim. Reprod., 45(1): 44-47.
Satheshkumar, S., Subramanian, A., Devanathan, T.G., Kathiresan, D., Veerapandian C. and Palanisamy, A. (2012). Follicular and endocrinological turnover associated with GnRH induced follicular wave synchronization in Indian crossbred cows. Theriogenology, 77: 1144-1150.
Satheshkumar, S., Brindha, K., Srinivasa Prasad, Ch., Sakthivel, S., Namitha, B. and Meenambigai, T.V. (2021) Proteo-biochemical characterization of ovarian follicular cysts in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Ind. J. Vet. & Anim. Sci. Res., 50: 48-56.
Satheshkumar, S., Raja, S., Prabaharan, V. and Prakash, S. (2022) ‘Trans-gluteal’ follicular cyst evacuation: A successful technique to correct non-responsive follicular cysts in cows. The Haryana Veterinarian, 61(S1): 40-43.
