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A study was conducted to assess the rhythmic changes of antioxidant and oxidative stress profiles (antioxidantand oxidative stressors together is called as oxidative stress biomarkers: OSBs) to understand their flow pattern in24 h during different seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn) in intact adult mithun bulls (n=6; 5–6 years).Antioxidants [total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathionereductase (GSHR) and catalase (CAT)] and oxidative stressor [malondialdehyde (MDA)] were estimated at 4 hinterval for a whole day in different seasons. Analysis was done in two different ways with respect to time (0800,1200, 1600, 2000, 2400 and 0400 h) and day time (0800 to 1600 h) and night time (2000 to 0400 h) collections. Thelevels of OSBs differed significantly among the seasons, among the collection times and between day and nighttimes. Winter and spring had recorded significantly higher antioxidants and lower MDA than summer. Levels ofantioxidants were higher and MDA was lower during night as compared to day time collections. It was concludedthat spring and winter seasons had greater beneficial effects than summer on health and wellbeing of the mithun.

Present study was designed to evaluate the effect of slow release exogenous melatonin on endocrinological profiles in 24:00 hours in adult mithun bulls during different seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn). Mithun bulls (n=12) were selected and divided into two groups, Gr I: Control (n=6) and Gr II: Treatment (n=6; melatonin implant @ 18 mg/50 kg bwt). Endocrinological profiles such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, cortisol, thyroxine (T4), insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), prolactin and melatonin (MT) were estimated at 04:00 h interval (08:00, 12:00, 16:00, 20:00, 24:00 and 04:00 h) for one whole day in four seasons. Melatonin treated group had significantly higher FSH, LH, testosterone, IGF-1 and MT than control group; and MT significantly reduced the level of T4, cortisol and prolactin in different seasons at different collection times. The study concludes that MT has significantly improved the endocrine profiles in different seasons and collection times. MT treatment and spring and winter season had significantly greater beneficial effects on reproduction and artificial breeding programs in mithun species in the semi-intensive management in the present location.

Mithun (Bos frontalis) is a unique domestic free-range bovine species available in North Eastern hilly (NEH) regions of India and is reared for its protein rich meat. Mithun suffers severe non-cyclical population fluctuations; however, it is not yet declared as endangered species. Mithun follows some sort of seasonality based on the calving trend and semen production, although it is a perennial breeder. However, there is need to study the rhythmic changes of endocrine profiles to understand the hormone flow pattern in mithun to select the suitable time for blood collection to assess the exact endocrine profiles and to select the suitable time for natural breeding or semen collection by artificial methods for further research, conservation and propagation of its germplasm. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the reproductive as well as metabolic endocrinological profiles in 24:00 h in intact adult mithun bulls during different seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn) to know the rhythmic changes and flow pattern of the endocrinological profiles to improve its reproductive efficiency. Experimental mithun bulls (n = 6; age: 5–6 years; body condition score: 5–6 out of 10, classified as good) were selected for the study. Endocrinological profiles, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone/interstitial cell stimulating hormone (LH/ICSH), testosterone, cortisol, thyroxine (T4), insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), prolactin and melatonin (MT) were estimated at 04:00 h interval for one whole day in four seasons. The analysis was completed in two different ways as different times of collection (08:00, 12:00, 16:00, 20:00, 24:00 and 04:00 h) and day (08:00 to 16:00 h) & night time (20:00 to 04:00 h) collections. Repeated measures ANOVA analysis revealed that the bulls in winter and spring had significantly (p < 0.05) higher FSH, LH, testosterone, T4, IGF-1 and MT than those in summer whereas the bulls in summer had significantly higher cortisol and prolactin than those in winter and spring seasons. Similarly FSH, LH, testosterone, T4, IGF-1 and MT were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in night than in day time collections whereas cortisol and prolactin were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in day than in night time collections in different seasons. Correlation analysis revealed that FSH, LH, testosterone, T4, IGF-1 and MT had significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation with each other whereas these had significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation with cortisol and prolactin. The study concludes that season and time of blood collection had significant effect on the endocrinological profiles in mithun bulls. Estimation of FSH, LH, testosterone, T4, IGF-1 and MT during night time and cortisol and prolactin during day time was more appropriate to get correct value of the endocrinological profiles. Spring and winter have significantly greater beneficial effects than summer on reproduction and artificial breeding programs in mithun species in the semi-intensive management in the present location. • Follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, thyroxine, Insulin like growth factor-1 and melatonin were positively correlated with each other whereas these hormones were negatively correlated with cortisol and prolactin in different seasons. • Season and time of blood collection had significant effect on the endocrinological profiles in mithun bulls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]