Strategies to Minimize Infertility in Cattle and Buffaloes
Sumit Gangwar1*, Mohit Bharadwaj2, Ankit Sharma3, Gautami Sarma4 Sachin Dongre5 and Shashikant6
1345Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar- 263145, Uttarakhand
2Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar- 263145, Uttarakhand
6Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, GBPUAT, Pantnagar- 263145, Uttarakhand
*Corresponding Author Email – s.gangwar026@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION:
The success of the dairy industry is directly linked to breeding performance. One of the big economic challenges that veterinarians face is infertility in dairy farm animals. It is particularly prevalent in cattle and buffaloes. Infertility cases are multiple, varied, and complicated, which is why so many factors play a role in successful reproduction. The main restrictions on the sustainable life span of bovines are delayed maturity and infertility in heifers, horses, and buffaloes. In India, pleuriparous cattle and buffaloes have a high incidence of reproductive disorders. The current study was designed to elucidate the potential causes of infertility in cattle and buffaloes in rural areas.
NUTRITION MANAGEMANT:
The link between diet and reproduction is one of the most essential, but also one of the least understood, an element that influences reproductive success. The need of proper food during calf hood to achieve early puberty onset is the most important predictor for absolute gains in production potential. Prior to two months of breeding to calving, special attention should be devoted to calories, protein, micro nutrients, and vitamins. To overcome infertility in dairy cattle, this is the greatest reproductive management method. Animals with good nutrition have the best chances of being fertile. For appropriate reproductive function, the amount of energy used is more crucial. Adult animals with little calorie intake develop follicular atresia, which results in a lack of sexual drive and an estrus. Protein amount and quality are also critical for reproductive activities.
HEAT DETECTION:
Heat detection is a very important and important management aspect for cattle, especially buffalo. This applies to good reproductive performance and, as a result, the sustainability of modern dairy. There are several ways to improve heat detection.
The majority of buffaloes oestrus in the winter rather than the summer. During the summer, silent periods of oestrus and bad mounting are the most common oestrus aberrations. Shelters, baths, wallowing, and good drinking water have all been shown to help buffaloes avoid heat stress and enhance their reproductive performance.
INSEMINATION AT THE RIGHT TIME:
When a cow and a buffalo are inseminated at the end of standing oestrus or the beginning of the late oestrus season, good results are common. Early oestrus insemination is pointless. Insemination may be delayed until the next morning if oestrus is first seen in the afternoon or evening, or vice versa. During oestrus, double insemination at 6-8 hour intervals is recommended in buffaloes.
PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS:
Pregnancy diagnosis is an essential part of fertility management. Early detection of pregnancy allows early recognition and treatment of problems. Early pregnancy diagnosis would help to evaluate the therapies at an early date and devise alternative manipulations in the current systems of planned breeding. It is computed by dividing the number of pregnant cows by the number of cows who were eligible to become pregnant. It is a measurement of how quickly cows become pregnant following a voluntary waiting time. A successful breeding programme for the control of infertility requires an accurate and earlyPD. The ability of the practitioner and the method of pregnancy diagnosis have a role in confirming pregnancy on the first day. Non pregnant animals can be recognised after mating or insemination for management purposes, reducing production time loss.
OESTRUS AND SYNCHRONIZATION:
Oestrus synchronisation, a method used in Embryo Transfer Technology, may be used on its own to reduce the inter calving time significantly. Oestrus synchronisation is also a very useful technique for improving the reproductive performance of AI-bred dairy cows, where oestrus detection is a big practical problem. Implants containing prostaglandins and progestagens have been successfully used in the field to induce oestrus, synchronise oestrum, and increase fertility. Under Indian agro-climatic conditions, where heat detection, timely breeding, and early pregnancy diagnosis are not properly practised by farmers, widespread adoption of this technique would greatly help to reduce the inter calving cycle.
EXERCISE:
Regular animal exercise will increase the tonicity and physical fitness of the animal. The lack of activity caused by confining animals in pens for 24 hours at a time has a significant impact on their behaviour, and they may not display typical oestrus symptoms. Pre- and postpartum prolapse, torsion, uterine inertia, ROP, and postpartum infection are all prevalent genital problems in animals. As a result, releasing the animals for a few hours during the day is beneficial in overcoming the aforementioned issues.
FEMALE COUNTER-PART (BULL) SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT:
One of the most important conditions for producing excellent artificial insemination sperm is proper bull selection prior to sperm collection. Selection a valuable approach in enhancing breeding efficiency is the use of high pedigreed bulls with normal breeding soundness.
CONCLUSIONS:
Farmers and livestock producers are advised to follow ‘Synch protocols’ as routine management techniques in order to achieve effective reproductive performance and a higher economic return from their animals.
REFERENCES
Prasad, J. and Neeraj. (2010). Principal and Practices of Dairy Farm Management, 11: 273-285.
Gilmore, L.O. (1952). Dairy cattle breeding. J.B. Lippincott Co. Chicago, USA.
