Effect of exogenous progesterone implants in postpartum cattle with an extended postpartum anestrus interval.
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Date
2021-02-05
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Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Jammu (J&K)
Abstract
Exogenous progesterone implants were evaluated in cattle with an extended postpartum anestrus interval (>70 days) with four standard hormonal protocols (Gr. I: Crestar implant + Crestar injection + eCG 600 IU; Gr. II: CIDR implant + eCG 600 IU; Gr. III: TRIU-B implant + eCG 600IU; and Gr. IV: P4 Sponge + eCG 600 IU n=10 each) and were compared with 10 untreated anestrus cattle (Gr. V) in which placebo sponge was used intravaginally. The cattle were kept under observation for estrus detection and blood was collected to evaluate the clinical and biochemical response. Pregnancy diagnosis was made by per rectal examination at 60 days post insemination followed with ultrasonographic examination. The vaginal bacterial isolates and load were evaluated before insertion, at the time of removal and 48 hours later (bacterial load only) after removal of P4 implants and placebo sponges in animals of Gr. II, III, IV and V. All the 40 (100 %) cows in Gr. I, II, III and IV exhibited induced estrus with prominent, moderate or weak estrus signs within mean intervals of 45.45±2.59, 48.60±1.82, 50.07±1.60 and 51.33±1.70 hrs, respectively from eCG injection. The respective duration of estrus for the said protocols were 30.23±1.80, 28.00±1.33, 26.59±1.67 and 26.47±1.94 hrs. The respective conception rates on induced estrus and overall, of three cycles were 80, 70, 60, and 50%; 90, 80, 70 and 70%, respectively. In Gr. V no cow exhibited spontaneous estrus within 90 days of follow up. 75% cervico vaginal mucus of cows at induced estrus exhibited Typical fern pattern, while majority of fertile estruses (80%) exhibited typical fern pattern and there were no cows at estrus in all the four estrus induction protocols which showed nil fern pattern. There was significant (P< 0.05) association between conceived and typical fern pattern, and between non-conceived and atypical fern pattern for Gr. I, II, III, IV and V. The mean serum progesterone (ng/ml) concentrations were low (less than 1 ng/ml) towards basal values on day 0 in Gr. I, Gr. II, Gr. III, Gr. IV and Gr. V. The values on day 5 and 9 were significantly (P<0.01) higher than other two periods in three (Gr. II, III and IV) groups, but not in other two groups (Gr. I and V). The mean serum progesterone concentrations were non-significantly (P>0.05) higher in conceived than non-conceived group on day 11/12 in all the groups. The mean total serum cholesterol, total protein, albumin and globulin concentration, albumin globulin ratio, blood glucose, serum calcium and phosphorus level, serum copper, zinc and iron had nonsignificant effect by the treatment with all four estrus induction protocols. The levels/ratios differ non-significantly with sampling days, different protocols and between conceived and non-conceived subgroups. All (100%) of the vaginal swabs (Insertion/removal) in Gr. II, III, IV and V, yielded growth of bacteria. E. coli, Staphylococcus and Proteus spp. were the commonest isolates throughout the treatment period. The total bacteria count on the day of implant/sponge insertion (day 0) showed no significant difference between the Gr. II, III, IV and V while as on the day of implant/sponge removal (day 9) the total bacterial count increased significantly (P<0.01) compared to day 0 in all the groups (Gr. II, III, IV and V). After 48 hours of implant removal (day 11/12), total bacteria count obtained showed no significant difference with that obtained before implant insertion in all the groups except Gr. V, wherein the total bacterial count remained significantly (P<0.01) higher even 48 hours after the implant removal. The results inferred that all the 4 hormonal protocols used are recommended to the practicing veterinarians to treat postpartum true anestrus cows. P4 Sponge protocol is farmer friendly as it puts less burden on the pocket of farmer. Crestar protocol proved to be best in improving conception rate as compared to other protocols.