Md Saidur Rahman

Abstract: Buffalo plays an important role in livestock economy over Asia. Among other livestock species the Buffalo is the second most versatile component in relation to existing integrated agricultural farming system in Bangladesh. Reproductive management of buffalo is a foremost concern because of inaccuracy to detect oestrus and pregnancy and all are associated with significant economic losses. Nowadays application of assisted reproductive technologies resembling milk progesterone ELISA, Ultrasonography is successfully improves our understanding on Buffalo Reproduction of Bangladesh. Milk progesterone ELISA was first introduced by Khan et al, (2008) in Bangladesh through Field Fertility Clinic Laboratory (FFC), Bangladesh Agricultural University. Recently milk progesterone ELISA is one of the regularly practiced techniques in Bangladesh to evaluate ovarian cyclicity, oestrus, pregnancy and non-pregnancy status of buffalo, which helps the farmers to maintain the profitable dairy farming.

Abstract: Reproductive efficiency is the primary factor affecting productivity of farm animals. Among the various causes of subfertility, anoestrus is the major reproductive disorders (Pandya et al., 1989). Prolonged postpartum acyclicity and anestrum are major sources of economic loss to buffalo breeders (El-Wishy, 2007). Postpartum ovarian activity and subsequent pregnancy may be affected by several factors such as breed, nutrition plan, milk yield, suckling, uterine involution, season of calving (Arya and Madan, 2001; Baruselli et al., 2001; Campo et al., 2002). The present study was conducted to explore the cyclical status of apparent anoestrus postpartum buffaloes and to test the effectiveness of oestrus induction in cyclic and non-cyclic buffaloes at 60 or more days post-partum. Pre-ovulatory follicle (POF) is the prime structure behind the endocrinology of oestrus in buffaloes which produces substantial amounts of estradiol. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship of pre-ovulatory follicular (POF) diameter at estrus with subsequent luteal size and pregnancy in buffaloes.

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Abstract: The diameter of the preovulatory follicle (POF) and its effects on subsequent corpus luteum (CL) size and conception were studied in 38 lactating indigenous cycling buffaloes in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Body condition score (BCS) at estrus was estimated for the buffaloes. The buffaloes were synchronized with two injections of a synthetic analogue of PGF2<inf>α</inf> administered 11 days apart. Transrectal ultrasonography was carried out at estrus and on days 5, 9, 12 and 16 post ovulation to determine the POF and successive CL size. Pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasound examination on day 40-45 post ovulation. Twenty one (55.3%) buffaloes were diagnosed as pregnant. The conception rates of thin (BCS ≤2.0), good (BCS 2.5-3.5) and fat (BCS glt;3.5) buffaloes were 7.7, 88.2 and 62.5% (χ² = 19.54; P<0.05), respectively. The mean diameter of the POF at estrus was larger (P<0.01) in buffaloes that ultimately were diagnosed as pregnant compared with their nonpregnant counterparts (13.7 ± 0.3 vs. 11.2 ± 0.5 mm, respectively). The conception rates of buffaloes having small (9 to ≤ 12 mm), medium (>12 to ≤14 mm) and large (>14 to 16 mm) POFs at estrus were 9.1, 70.0 and 85.7% (χ² = 13.87, P<0.01), respectively. On day 5 post ovulation, CL size was positively correlated (CL: r=.74, P<0.01) with POF diameter. Retrospective analysis revealed that on day 5 post ovulation, the pregnant buffaloes had higher (P<0.01) post ovulation CL sizes than their nonpregnant counterparts (15.6 vs. 11.8 mm). Similarly, on day 9 post ovulation, the difference in CL size (14.3 vs. 13.6 mm) between pregnant and nonpregnant buffaloes was significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, the diameter of the POF in buffaloes has a positive impact on the size of the post ovulation CL and conception.

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Abstract: Anestrus is one of the most important production limiting disorders in dairy buffaloes and its underlying causes have been a current topic of studies. The objectives of this study were to explore the causes of anestrus in buffaloes with the application of ultrasonography. Two examinations were performed by transrectal ultrasonography at 12 days apart in buffalo cows that were not seen in oestrus at 60 or more days postpartum. As high as 54.5% buffaloes had silent ovulation and 45.5% suffered from the true anestrus with ovarian dysfunction. The duration of anestrus after calving was 60～90, 91～120, 121～180 and 181～365 days in 27%, 32%, 18% and 23% buffalo cows, respectively. Treatment with prostaglandin of cyclic buffalo cows with a corpus luteum (72.7%) resulted in higher estrous rate as compared with close observation of estrus (23.1%) by the farmer (p=0.021). Acyclic buffalo cows without any corpus luteum on ovaries were successfully treated with gonadotropin releasing hormone (70%), resulting in higher estrous detection rate than those treated with a vitamin-mineral mixture (20%) (p=0.035). In conclusion, poor heat detection due to silent ovulation is the most important cause of apparent anoestrus in buffaloes; however the percentage of the true anestrous is also quite high in postpartum buffaloes.

Abstract: This study was conducted among 120 mixed breed cows at selected sites of Sirajgonj district, Bangladesh to compare the reproductive performance of crossbred and Desi cows from March to July 2010. The climatic conditions of the study area are varied according to the seasonal alterations in Bangladesh. The primary data was collected via a questionnaire from farm levels and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. The results had shown that, the average daily milk yield of Desi, Sahiwal × Desi, Friesian × Desi and Jersey × Desi cows were 2.3 ± 0.2, 4.9 ± 0.9, 6.0 ± 1.0 and 5.7 ± 0.9 liters, respectively. The overall milk production in crossbreds (5.5 ± 0.6 liters/day) were significantly (P<0.01) higher rather than Desi (2.3 ± 0.2 liters/day). However, The average age at puberty of Sahiwal × Desi, Friesian × Desi and Jersey × Desi was significantly (P<0.01) lower than the Desi breed where as the crossbred cows showed significantly (P<0.01) lesser pubertal age (20.4 ± 1.2) than Desi (25.9 ± 1.1). Furthermore, age at first calving in Desi cows were significantly (P<0.01) higher (37.6 ± 1.1 month) compared to crossbred cows (31.2 ± 1.3 month). It was also demonstrated that average gestation length of Desi, Sahiwal × Desi, Friesian × Desi and Jersey × Desi were 289.9 ± 1.4, 285.0 ± 0.0, 285.0 ± 4.2, and 282.1 ± 2.4 days, respectively. In conclusion, Friesian × Desi and Sahiwal × Desi cows enhanced the overall reproductive performance than that of Desi cows.

Abstract: The present study was design to investigate the changes in milk progesterone concentrations at oestrus and after- artificial insemination (AI) for diagnosing of early pregnancy in water buffaloes. Ten water buffaloes were brought into project AI centre for insemination. Milk samples (10 ml) were collected on Day 0 (Day of AI), Day 12 and Day 22, and stored at 4°C and analyzed by the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA) after separation of fat by centrifuged at 2,000 rpm for 15 minutes. Rectal palpation (RP) was performed on Day 60-70 to confirm pregnancy. Three animals had elevated progesterone concentration at Day 12 and 22, however; pregnancy was confirmed in two of them by rectal palpation at Day 60 post-insemination and progesterone concentration were 2.2 ± 0.3 ng/ml and 2.6 ± 0.2ng/ml on Day 12 and 22 respectively. One buffalo was diagnosed non-pregnant with uterine infection during rectal palpation, although, she had progesterone of 1.41 ng/ml on Day 12 and 1.32 ng/ml on Day 22 but did not return to oestrus. Two buffaloes were diagnosed non-pregnant, which had milk progesterone concentration 1.7 ± 1 ng/ml and 0.7 ± 0.2 ng/ml on Day 12 and 22 respectively. The rest of the buffaloes (n = 5) showed low progesterone concentrations which were 0.5 ± 0.2 ng/ml on Day 12 and 0.5 ± 0.2 ng/ml on Day 22, meaning that farmers identified non-cyclic buffaoes as in oestrus for AI. Farmers’ accuracy of heat detection of buffaloes was only 50%. The accuracy of pregnancy and non-pregnancy detection by milk progesterone ELISA was 66.7 and 100%, respectively. Milk progesterone ELISA seems to be a good tool for monitoring success of AI in buffaloes.

Abstract: A total of 389 lactating cows were examined to collect mastitis related information by using a formal questionnaire. Mastitis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms and confirmed by California Mastitis Test (CMT). The prevalence of mastitis was 42.7% in the studied area. Among 166 positive cases 34.9% (n=389) were affected with mild, 5.4 % (n=21) with moderate and 2.3% (n=9) were severely affected. The prevalence of mastitis in Sahiwal cross, Friesian cross, Local Zebu were 47.4, 39.7 and 37.6%, respectively. There was significant difference among the breeds of cows affected with mastitis (P<0.01). The prevalence of mastitis in cows differed significantly between the age groups (P<0.01). The occurrence of mastitis in the cows of parity 1st - 2nd, 3rd - 4th and 5th - 7th was 32.9, 50.6, and 62.5%, respectively. The difference in the prevalence of mastitis between parity groups was significant (P>0.05) and the percentages of 3-4 parity affected cows were higher. Than other parities prevalence of mastitis at 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7-above months lactation was 31.5, 43.7, 59.7 and 57.9%. The difference in the prevalence of mastitis with lactation age differ significantly between groups (P<0.01). Prevalence of mastitis varied at different milk yield. The percentages of prevalence decrease with higher milk production. Percentages of mastitis in lactating cows having 1-5 and 6-10L milk productions were significantly higher (P<0.05) compared with lactating cows having 16-20L or more milk. There was significant difference among different types of quarter affected with mastitis (P>0.05), although the number of left rear quarter were higher. Among one, two, three and four quarter affected cows, the percentages of one quarter affected cows were significantly higher than others.

Abstract: Records of 1500 clinical cases of different types of cattle treated at Veterinary Clinic of Bangladesh Agricultural University were analyzed to asses and document important diseases. Duration of the recorded data was from 2007 to 2009. The results were analyzed into 11 major diagnostic groups. To observe seasonal differences, three major seasons- summer (mid February to mid June), rainy (mid June to mid October) and winter (mid October to mid February) were considered. The percentages of major diagnostic groups were parasitic (29.2%), general and systemic (28.7%) and reproductive (14.7%). Whereas, bacterial, congenital, fungal and surgical disease cases were found as 6.3%, 5.3%, 4.3% and 4.8% respectively. Influence of rainy season on disease occurrence was found evident. But there was no influence of specific year.