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Theses

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2001 - 20083
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Subject: Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics × End date: 2008 × Start date: 2000 × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of blood urea nitrogen,mineral status and uterine PH on fertility in dairy cows
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2008) Seena, N S; KAU; Athman, K V
    An investigation was carried out with the objective of studying the effect of BUN and uterine pH on fertility in dairy cows under farm and field conditions and also for correlating the mineral status with fertility using 40 crossbred dairy cows selected at random during oestrus, 20 each from those belonging to University Livestock Farm, Mannuthy (Group I) and those brought for insemination at Artificial Insemination Centres at Mannuthy and Kokkalai (Group II). All the cows in Group I were found to be maintained in a relatively high nutritious diet computed as per the scientific feeding standards compared to Group II animals. Detailed clinico-gynaecological examination was carried out and blood samples and uterine mucus were collected from all the selected cows during oestrus for estimation of biochemical parameters and uterine pH respectively. They were inseminated during the most appropriate period of oestrus and were subjected to pregnancy diagnosis at 60 days post insemination. Conception rates in both the groups were compared in relation to each parameter. The mean duration of oestrus was slightly higher in Group II (30.00 ± 2.11 hours) compared to Group I (26.10 ± 1.74 hours). Intensity of oestrus was high, medium and low in 40, 45 and 15 per cent of animals respectively in Group I and 50, 40 and 10 per cent in Group II. Physical changes of reproductive tract viz. degree of vulval oedema and hyperemia of vestibular mucous membrane were more pronounced in animals of Group II compared to Group I, where as degree of tonicity was high in Group I compared to Group II. Characteristics of cervical mucus were also found to be affecting fertility. Better conception rate was obtained in animals with clear and stringy cervical mucus exhibiting typical type of fern pattern. Spinnbarkeit value did not vary much between conceived and non-conceived animals. Uterine pH did not show a marked variation between groups, even though a slightly higher value was recorded in Group I. But, an inverse relationship could be obtained between BUN level in serum and uterine pH during oestrus. Correlation between uterine pH and BUN level was highly significant (P<0.01) with a correlation co-efficient of r = -0.896 and r = - 0.753 in groups I and II respectively. The mean blood urea nitrogen level in animals of Group I was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that in Group II. The BUN level also varied significantly (P<0.05) between conceived and non-conceived animals of both groups. A marginal increase in plasma glucose level could be noticed in conceived animals compared to non-conceived animals of Group I. The mean serum total protein was significantly higher (P<0.01) in Group I compared to Group II. The serum level of minerals viz. calcium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and copper were also correlated with fertility. The mean level of serum calcium and manganese varied significantly between groups I and II, but there was no significant difference in serum phosphorus, zinc and copper between two groups. Also, a slightly higher mean value was observed for serum calcium, phosphorus, manganese and zinc in conceived animals compared to non-conceived. But serum copper level did not vary between conceived and non-conceived animals. In light of these findings, it can be concluded that the elevation in systemic concentration of urea is likely to impair fertility in dairy cows as a consequence of alterations in uterine environment. The benefits of feeding excess dietary protein and urea to maintain peak milk production should be compared with potential negative effects on fertility. Hence, a good nutritional management is essential for improved fertility in dairy cows.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of boar semen extended in belt`s ville thaw solution
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 2001) Kantharaj, S; KAU; Athman, K V
    An experiment was conducted to study the effect of natural service and artificial insemination on reproductive performance of pigs and to assess the fertility and preservability of boar semen extended in Belt's ville thaw solution. Twenty-four Large White Yorkshire (LWY) gilts, twenty-four sows and six LWY boars were selected for the study. Out of six boars, three boars were used for natural service and the other three maintained for artificial insemination purpose. A total of 52 ejaculates were collected from boars maintained for artificial insemination purpose at weekly intervals by the gloved hand technique. Among these boars, no significant differences were found for most of the semen characteristics except proximal and distal protoplasmic droplets , which were significantly different between boars (P
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on in vitro maturation of porcine follicular oocytes
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2007) Deepa, S; KAU; Vijayakumaran, V
    A study was designed and carried out to evaluate the effect of different retrieval methods like aspiration, slicing, puncturing and post aspiration slicing on yield of different grades of oocytes and their in vitro maturation potential. The effect of cumulus oocyte complex morphology and culture duration on in vitro maturation of porcine oocyte was also studied. a total of 40 follicular and 36 luteal stage ovaries obtained from Large White Yorkshire, Landrace and Duroc pigs were used for the study. Each quality grade of oocyte obtained through four retrieval methods was subjected to maturation for 42 h in TCM-199 medium supplemented with LH, FSH, estradiol, pyruvate and foetal calf serum. Culture environment was set as 38.5°C temperature, 5 per cent CO2 and maximum humidity in standard water-jacketed CO2 incubator. Maturation changes were assessed by observing the degree of cumulus expansion at 24h, 36h and 42h of incubation. There was no significant difference in oocyte yield from follicular and luteal stage ovaries even though the surface follicle distribution was different significantly. Slicing, puncturing and post aspiration slicing did not differ significantly in the yield of total number of oocytes per ovary. But the yield from aspiration was significantly lower compared to other methods (7.64 vs.33.83, 33.43, 25.42). The percentage yield of good quality (A and B) oocytes was more from aspiration than slicing, puncturing or post aspiration slicing. The percentage yield of D grade oocyte was more from post aspiration slicing method. The percentage of maturation for aspiration, puncturing, slicing and post aspiration slicing were 68.07, 64.63, 64.17 and 45.56 per cent respectively. It was found that the maturation rate for post aspiration slicing was significantly lower than other methods. The maturation rate for A grade, B grade and C grade oocytes were found to be 66.67, 65.29 and 54.84 per cent respectively. A and B grade oocytes were not significantly different in the maturation rate. At zero hour culture all the oocytes were devoid of any detectable response of maturation. At 24h, 81.33 per cent oocytes showed minimum observable response. At 36 h, 72 per cent oocytes showed expansion limited to the outer layer of cumulus cells. At 42h, about 62.28 per cent COCs showed maximum degree of cumulus expansion. The over all cumulus expansion rates was found to be 64 per cent and nuclear maturation rate was 62 per cent. Slicing and puncturing were found to be good methods for the collection of oocytes from porcine ovaries. These two methods yielded higher number good quality oocytes with satisfactory level of maturation rate. Among A, B and C grade oocytes A and B grade oocytes showed a higher maturation rate indicating that the oocytes with more than three layer of cumulus cells are better for in vitro maturation. For the completion maturation process in porcine oocytes a minimum period of 42h was found essential.