Follicular Dynamics during Estrous Cycle of Pubertal, Mature and Postpartum Crossbred (Nili Ravi × Jianghan) Buffaloes

Adili Abulaiti; Umair Riaz; Zahid Naseer; Zulfiqar Ahmed; Guohua Hua; Liguo Yang

doi:10.3390/ani12091208

Animals (May 2022)

Follicular Dynamics during Estrous Cycle of Pubertal, Mature and Postpartum Crossbred (Nili Ravi × Jianghan) Buffaloes

Adili Abulaiti,
Umair Riaz,
Zahid Naseer,
Zulfiqar Ahmed,
Guohua Hua,
Liguo Yang

Affiliations

Adili Abulaiti: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Umair Riaz: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Zahid Naseer: Theriogenology Section, Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan
Zulfiqar Ahmed: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Guohua Hua: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Liguo Yang: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12091208
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 9
p. 1208

Abstract

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The follicular dynamics is used as a reliable indicator for reproductive management in livestock. However, the follicular dynamics (follicle wave emergence, estrus cycle length, diameter of dominant follicle, follicular growth and atretic phases) during the estrous cycle of crossbred (Nili Ravi-Jianghan) buffalo is still unexplored. Therefore, the present study aimed to observe the follicular dynamics in estrous cycle of crossbred buffaloes at different physiological stages (pubertal; n = 28, sexual mature; n = 22 and postpartum; n = 18). In the present study, the follicular dynamics were ultrasonically examined at 12 h intervals throughout an estrous cycle during the breeding season. The results indicate that about 86.76% (59/68) crossbred buffaloes, irrespective of physiological stage, exhibited two follicular waves in estrous cycle with an average estrus cycle length was 20.7 ± 0.4 days. The estrus cycle length was significantly shorter (p < 0.05) in pubertal buffaloes (19.4 ± 0.4 days) compared with sexual mature (21.5 ± 0.3 days) and postpartum (21.9 ± 0.4 days) buffaloes. The first follicular wave emerged on same day during one- (pubertal vs. postpartum), two- (pubertal vs. mature vs. postpartum) or three-wave (mature vs. postpartum) estrous cycle buffaloes. The maximum diameter of dominant follicle (DF) in pubertal, sexually mature and postpartum crossbred buffaloes was 9.6 ± 2.0 mm, 10.6 ± 0.5 mm and 12.6 ± 0.7 mm with growth rate of 1.08 ± 0.04 mm/day, 0.92 ± 0.04 mm/day, and 0.9 ± 0.07 mm/day, respectively. In conclusion, similar to other buffalo breeds, Nili Ravi-Jianghan crossbred buffaloes showed the two-wave follicular pattern dominantly with an average duration of ~20 days estrous cycle. The observed follicular dynamics can be used as a reliable indicator for synchronization and fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) programs to improve the fertility of crossbred buffaloes.

Published in Animals

ISSN: 2076-2615 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture: Veterinary medicine; Science: Zoology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals/

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