Association of blood metabolites with reproductive disorders in postpartum Murrah buffaloes

Abstract

The present study was aimed to identify association of selected blood metabolites with postpartum disorders in buffaloes. For this, 25 Murrah buffaloes were selected from National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) livestock herd. Through clinical examination 5 buffaloes were found to be infected with metritis, 6 with endometritis and 8 exhibited Mastitis. Remaining 6 were apparently healthy. Blood samples were drawn by jugular venipuncture in sterile heparinised vacutainer tubes from each healthy buffalo at 6.00 AM in the morning on days +7, +14, +21, +28, +35, +42, +49, +56 postpartum. The blood samples were also collected from unhealthy buffaloes twice in sterile heparinised vacutainers on alternate day as and when the symptoms of reproductive abnormalities were noticed. Plasma NEFA and β-HBA level was significantly elevated (P<0.05) in buffaloes suffering from endometritis, metritis and mastitis whereas glucose level was significantly low (P<0.05). Calcium levels were low (P<0.05) in metritis and mastitis cases. The results indicated that deviations in plasma metabolites as against the normal range could be used to predict the health status and postpartum disorders in buffaloes.