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Currently, approximately 20,000 buffaloes are raised in Romania, of which 11% are found in the Făgăraș area. The present study was carried out to estimate the capacity of milk synthesis by 205 buffaloes cows raised in this area, which achieved 1059 lactations, with the rank of lactations from 1 to 14, in an observation interval of 15 years, by determining the correlation between the indicators of milk production and reproduction (lactation duration, total amount of milk of a lactation, total amount of fat, total amount of protein, interval between calvings and service period). The variability analysis shows a lack of homogeneity of the milk production and reproduction characteristics, regardless of the lactation rank, their average being moderately representative, except for the interval from calving to the fertile mount where the average is not representative. Reducing the variability of milk production and reproduction indicators can be achieved over time through management. Increasing the potential of milk production, in buffaloes cows, can be done through a simultaneous selection that takes into account the duration of lactation, the milk production from the control days and the service period. Based on the correlation between some measurable indicators of the synthesis potential of milk, the value of other characteristics of milk production can be predetermined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, approximately 20,000 buffaloes are raised in Romania, of which 11% are found in the Făgăraș area. The present study was conducted to observe the effect of season on the components of raw milk obtained from buffaloes cows reared in this region. 320 milk samples were collected during the morning milking, during the grazing and stalling seasons, from 80 buffaloes cows in different stages of lactation. The fat, protein, lactose, non-fat dry matter (NFS), density and pH content were determined from the collected samples. Microbiological determinations mainly considered somatic cell count (NSC) and total germ count (NTG). The individual analysis of milk samples from buffaloes revealed significant differences in terms of the variation of these parameters, the researches carried out highlighted differences determined by the breeding system of the animals involved in the study, the feeding regime, as well as the reference season. Therefore, the results of the present research indicated that the season and stage of lactation influence the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of milk and could be minimized by better management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metabolic profile test in animals is used to assess their nutritional status, to diagnose disease and assess fertility. The aim of this paper was to investigate the metabolic profile in buffalo cows. Forty buffaloes from the Research and Development Station for Buffaloes Secaia -Romania, were divided into two groups (20 heads/group). Estrus induction protocols were applied to the first group (G1), while the second group consisted of buffalo cows that express natural oestrus (G2). When the artificial insemination was performed, blood samples were taken and the following parameters were determined: hemoglobin, total serum protein, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, glucose, lipase, urea. G2buffalocows had significantly higher concentrations of hemoglobin, serum protein, glucose and inorganic phosphorus, while the serum calcium levels were lower in the group. The concentration of magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, lipase and urea did not differ significantly between the buffalo groups (p>0.05). The Ca:P ratio for G2buffaloes was lower (1.94:1) compared to G1buffaloes (2.89:1). It can be concluded that the level of hemoglobin, serum protein, glucose, calcium and inorganic phosphorus plays a major role in the reproduction of buffaloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of reproductive biotechnologies, such as oestrus synchronization (OS) associated with artificial insemination (AI) in buffaloes, could have a significant impact on milk yields obtained at farm level. The aim of this paper was to study the effects of OS and fixed-time AI in buffaloes. Thirty buffalo cows with anoestrus were divided into three groups L1, L2 and L3 (10/group) at the Research and Development Station for Buffaloes Sercaia. The following protocols were applied: L1 - GnRH on day 1, prostaglandins on day 7, GnRH on day 9, followed by AI at 10 days (resulted in 50% pregnancy rate); L2 - GnRH was administered on day 1, prostaglandin was administered on day 7, GnRH was administered on day 9, AI was performed at 48 hours after the prostaglandin administration (resulted in 80% pregnancy rate); L3 - prostaglandin was administered on day 1, GnRH was administered on day 12, prostaglandin was administered on day 19, GnRH was administered on day 21, within 17-24 hours after last administration of GnRH AI was performed (resulted in 50% pregnancy rate). The use of OS techniques in buffaloes can overcome some of the difficulties of detecting oestrus and increase the efficiency of AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large calving intervals in water buffalo cows is attributed to the existence of periods of the year when sexual activity is absent. It is considered that if fertilization did not occur before the buffalo cows entered in the winter season, when kept indoors, then it will take a significant longer time until they enter again in heat and the calving interval will be negatively influenced. The work was conducted over 4 years and consisted of the evaluation of ovarian response following administration of a prostaglandin hormone (PGF2α) during the winter period for a number of 61 buffalo cows, between 5 and 14 years of age. In 22 buffalo cows that showed oestrus within 5 days of PGF2α administration, two artificial inseminations were performed at 12 hours intervals. In 39 buffalo cows that did not show any signs of oestrus, a second dose of PGF2α was administrated 11 days after the first administration, after which they were artificially inseminated at 48 and 78 hours, respectively. Of the 22 buffalo cows that showed oestrus, 19 cows became pregnant, and out of the 39 buffalo cows with prolonged treatment, only 20 heads remained pregnant. The treatment of sexual inactivity in water buffalo cows during indoor hosing by hormonal methods with PGF2α leads to the shortening of the calving interval, the cost of hormonal treatments being balanced by the increase in the number of calves obtained and the milk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of GnRH and PGF2α administration on the manifestation of estrus and on the conception rate in Romanian buffalo dairy buffaloes. Twenty-eight dairy buffaloes from the Şercaia Buffalo Breeding Research and Development Station, aged between 5 and 12, in the postpartum period, were divided into four batches of seven heads each, as follows: Lot I (between 25 and 30 postpartum days), Lot II (40 to 45 days postpartum), Lot III (55 to 60 days postpartum) and Lot IV (75 days postpartum). Dairy buffaloes were given intramuscularly GnRH (2.5 ml Receptai) on day 0, followed by intramuscular injection of PGF2α (2.5 ml Alfabedyl) on day 7 after GnRH injection. Estrus was observed 24-48 hours after PGF2α injection. Artificial insemination was performed 12-18 hours after visible signs of estrus. The results of the study showed that there were no differences (p> 0.05) between estrus treatments (100%), estrus onset (35.8 to 36.4 hours), estrus duration (17 to 18 hours) and conception rate (100%). In conclusion, in Romanian buffalo dairy buffaloes, estrus can be synchronized from 25-30 days after calving using a combination of GnRH and PGF2α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy rates obtained after artificial insemination following Ovsynch in lactating dairy cattle are currently around 40-45%. Therefore, various fertility programs have been established in an attempt to increase these percentages. The aim of the present research was to use a simple and cost-effective presynchronization protocol, that would allow maximization of ovulatory response after the first GnRH of Ovsynch, and therefore improve fertility of treated animals, in comparison to those in which Ovsynch was used alone. A total of 240 non-pregnant and lactating dairy cows were divided in two groups (n = 120). Group 1 was synchronized with Ovsynch alone, while in group 2, PGF2α and GnRH were administered almost simultaneously, in different injection sites, 7 days before the initiation of Ovsynch. Ovarian structures were observed by ultrasonography on the day when the first GnRH injection of Ovsynch was made and 4 days later. Results showed a 42.5% pregnancy rate in group 1 and a 57.5% pregnancy rate in group 2. Therefore, presynchronization treatments allowed an improved pregnancy rate of 15%, which totally covers the supplemental costs implied by such measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]