Effect of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) preparations on induction of estrus and fertility in buffaloes under field conditions in Haryana

Abstract

The study was carried out to test the efficacy of Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) protocols for induction of estrus and fertility in buffaloes. Impact of the GnRH preparations used by the field veterinarians to treat a total of 499 buffaloes with history of anestrus and infertility belonging to different agro-climatic zones of Haryana was analyzed during the period of study. The data of treated buffaloes so obtained was divided into two major groups depending upon the treatment protocol used, viz., GnRH group (n=300) and Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR) + GnRH group (n=399). GnRH group animals were subdivided into GnRH alone, GnRH-PG (Prostaglandin F2α) and GnRH-PG-GnRH (Ovsynch) protocols. CIDR + GnRH treated animals were categorized into CIDR + GnRH, CIDR + GnRH-PG and CIDR + GnRH-PG-GnRH (Ovsynch) protocols. The overall estrus induction rate was recorded to be 100% in animals treated with Ovsynch, followed by CIDR + GnRH (98.20±1.80%), then CIDR + GnRH-PG (96.87±3.12%) and CIDR + GnRHPG-GnRH protocols. However, the overall conception rate was observed to be significantly higher in animals of CIDR + GnRH group. It can be concluded that GnRH in combination with Progesterone based CIDR protocol subsequently improves the estrus induction and pregnancy rates in buffaloes under field conditions.