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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of different glycerol concentrations on freezing of buck semen
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Prasanth, V; KAU; Mathai, E
    With the object of studying the effect of different concentrations of glycerol on post-thaw motility and fertility of frozen buck semen, five Malabari crossbred (Alpine x Malabari) bucks maintained at Artificial Insemination Centre and 75 does in heat, brought to the A. I. centre, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur were used. The average volume of semen was 0.71 ± 0.02 mI. Semen volume varied significantly between bucks. The average colour index was creamy, density was DDDD and the mass activity was ++++. The average pH of semen was 6.85 ± 0.01. The average sperm motility percentage was 85.83 ± 1.05. Motility percentage varied significantly between bucks. The average sperm concentration was 2842.33 ± 153.93 millions/mI. Highly significant difference in sperm concentration was noted between bucks. The average live sperm percentage was 91.03 ± 0.56. There was highly significant difference in live sperm percentage between bucks. Significantly higher percentage of sperm motility was noted in spermatozoa with seminal plasma than in spermatozoa without seminal plasma at 60 minutes of incubation. Slight increase in motility percentage was noted for spermatozoa with and without seminal plasma at 10 minutes of incubation. From 10 minutes to 60 minutes motility was gradually decreasing. Between bucks there was highly significant difference in sperm motility of incubated spermatozoa. Live sperm percentage was significantly higher for spermatozoa without seminal plasma at all time periods of cold shock. There was a rapid reduction in live sperm percentage at five minutes of cold shock. The live sperm percentages between bucks were significant at different time periods except at 10 minutes and 30 minutes of cold shock. The average time taken for reduction of methylene blue by spermatozoa with and without seminal plasma were 173.16 ± 8.77seconds and 197.00 ± 9.97 seconds respectively. Significant difference was noted in methylene blue reduction time between bucks. Average percentage sperm motility after washing was 76.71 ± 0.79. Maximum percentage motility after glycerolisation was obtained in six per cent glycerolated semen (67.85 ± 1.39). There was highly significant reduction in motility percentage after glycerolisation. Maximum post-thaw motility was obtained in six per cent glycerolated extender (42.00 ± 1.84). Highly significant reduction in motility percentage was noted after freezing. The conception percentage and kidding percentage were 47 .36 and 43. 85 respectively. Average gestation length was 149.85 ± 4.45 days. The number of kids per kidding averaged 1.7. Percentage of male and female kidsborn were 51.16 and 48.83 respectively. From this study it could be inferred that Tris extender with six per cent glycerol was superior to Tris extender with four per cent, five per cent or seven per cent glycerol for better post-thaw motility and fertility of frozen buck semen.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Reproductive performance of cows under homoeothermal disturbances
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Athman, K V; Sudarsanan, V
    Based on the data on the maximum minimum temperature and humidity for a period of two years a year of study was divided into four seasons of JJA SON DJF and MAM The mean maximum environmental temperature of the seasons were 29 56 31 52 32 73 and 34 88°C respectively Two thousand two hundred and ninety eight cows brought to the AI centre from the homesteads of Mannuthy were grouped into 11 treatments of pre and post insemination rests and no rests They were bred by artificial insemination and results of insemination were assessed on the basis of non return Mean conception rate of the seasons were statistically analysed to know the effect of environmental temperature and the effect of pre and post insemination rests to the animals There was no significant difference m conceptions between seasons between the post insemination rests and no rests and between pre insemination rests of 30 and 60 minutes and no rest Conception per cent was significantly higher in the animals those were given pre insemination rest for 90 and 120 minutes Animals with light coat colour had a significantly higher conception rate than those with dark colour irrespective of the seasons Animals inseminated m the afternoon were generally found to have a better conception rate than those inseminated m the forenoon There was no significant difference in the conception rate of heifers and cows both between seasons and between themselves So also there was no significant difference in conception rate of parity groups both between seasons and between themselves Statistical analysis of seasonal mean weight of foetal membranes mean number of cotyledons and mean area of cotyledons and mean birth weight of calves did not show any correlation to suggest influence of seasonal environmental temperature on placental development and birth weight of calves
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Intra-uterine infusion of homologous plasma in the treatment of endometritis in cows
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Venugopal, R; KAU; Prabhakaran Nair, K
    The present study was undertaken on infertile cows with uterine infections, with the objective to evaluate the beneficial effect of intra – uterine infusion of homologous plasma as a non antibiotic alternate therapy for bovine endometritis. The luminal secretions of cows with clinical endometritis allotted to group 1 (n = 13) and 11 (n = 10) were aseptically collected at the time of oestrum and subjected to plate count to assess the uterine bacterial load prior to treatment. Cows belonging to group 1 were given 25 to 35 ml of homologous plasma as intra – uterine infusion on the day of oestrum whereas in control group (group 11) the cows were given 25 to 35 ml of sterile normal saline as intra – uterine infusion. Luminal secretions of all the cows were collected aseptically at the succeeding oestrus following treatment and the uterine bacterial load was estimated. Cows which showed recovery in terms of clinic – gynaecological findings were bred artificially. Following plasma therapy definite improvement as evidenced by clear uterine discharge, higher uterine tone and intensity of oestrum was noticed in the treatment group. These changes were not pronounced in the control group. The mean uterine bacterial load showed reduction after intra – uterine treatment in both group 1 and 11, however the reduction was statistically insignificant. The mean duration from intra – uterine treatment to succeeding oestrus was prolonged in group 1 (28.23 + 4.67 d) as against normal in group 11 (20.3 + 0.4 d). The first insemination conception rate recorded in group 1 was 53.85 per cent as against 40 per cent in group 11 showing that there was definite improvement was in conception rate following plasma treatment. Repeat breeder cows with subclinical first degree endometritis allotted to group 111 were administered 25 to 35ml homologous plasma 24 h after insemination whereas repeat breeders (group IV) were left untreated following insemination. The mean conception rate for group 111 was 36.36 as against 20 per cent for group IV. This result also signifies the beneficial effect of plasma treatment in improving conception rate of repeat breeders. An in vitro test to study the antibacterial effect of plasma was carried out by measuring the reduction in turbidity of a bacterial suspension on addition of plasma. It was found that the reduction in turbidity was significant (P < 0.05) in plasma tubes compared to saline tubes. Maximum reduction had occurred within 0 to 1 h interval in plasma tubes. This indicated an immediate antibacterial effect of plasma It could be inferred from the above findings that homologous plasma drawn from the cow at the time of oestrum has significant bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties and when infused into the uterus of cows affected with endometritis helps in quicker clinical recovery and better conception rate. Post insemination plasma infusion into the uterus also improved conception rate in repeat breeders. Hence plasma treatment is recommended as an effective less expensive and non antibiotic alternate therapy for endometritis and repeat breeding in cows.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Phosphorus and trace element status of anoestrus and repeat breeder crossbred cows
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Joy, George; KAU; Prabhakaran Nair, K
    The role of phosphorus, copper, zinc, manganese and cobalt in reproductive function was evaluated on the basis of serum values of these elements in fertile, anoestrum and repeat breeder cows. Serum samples drawn from seventeen cows each of fertile, anoestrum and repeat breeder cows were analysed for serum inorganic phosphorus and trace elements namely copper, zinc, manganese and cobalt. Cows and heifers which conceived with one or two inseminations were considered as fertile animals. Anoestrus and repeat breeder cows were selected based on the breeding history and clinico – gynaecological examination. Serum inorganic phosphorus was estimated by modified metol method using kits. The levels of serum inorganic phosphorus was 7.526 + 0.5304 mg% in fertile cows as against 6.082 + 0.337 mg% for anoestrus cows and 6.345 + 0.4474 mg% in repeat breeder cows. The level was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in anoestrus cows than in fertile cows. It can be surmised that hypophosphataemia might be the cause for anoestrum. Though inorganic phosphorus level in serum was lower in repeat breeders than in fertile cows it was not statistically significant. Hence the effect of hypophosphataemia in repeat could not be established with certainty. Serum copper, zinc, manganese and cobalt were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry by perkin Elmer – 2380 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Among these trace elements the serum level of copper only was found to significantly vary among fertile, anoestrus and repeat breeder cows. The serum copper in fertile cows registered a value of 0.733 + 0.0511 ppm which was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than those recorded for anoestrus (0.509 + 0.0591 ppm) and repeat breeder cows (0.542 + 0.415 ppm). Since liver is a storage organ for copper the serum levels of copper will drop only after depletion of liver storage. It is therefore reasonable to assume that hypocuprosis as evidenced by lower serum values might have contributed to anoestrum and repeat breeding. The serum zinc, manganese and cobalt levels in fertile cows were respectively 1.337 + 0.1555 ppm, 0.0553 + 0.0095 ppm and 0.0702 + 0.0100 ppm. The corresponding values for anoestrus cows were 1.028 + 0.0984; 0.0339 + 0.0052 ppm and 0.0641 + 0.0052 ppm. These values did not vary significantly from those of fertile cows. Similarly the corresponding values for repeat breeders were recorded to be 1.017 + 0.0654 ppm, 0.0429 + 0.0033 ppm and 0.0795 + 0111 ppm which did not differ significantly from values of fertile cows. Therefore the role of zinc, manganese and cobalt in anoestrum and repeat breeding could not be established.