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The reasons for declining fertility in dairy cattle and buffaloes are being investigated intensely to improve the productivity. The present study was conducted to assess the extent of reproductive disorders and possible causes in cattle and buffaloes. Data on various managemental aspects and reproductive status were recorded. The blood samples were collected from the animals without reproductive problems and reproductively problematic animals. The plasma was separated and analyzed for minerals, hormones and biochemical status. The study revealed that21% of the animals had reproductive disorders, of which, repeat breeders were predominantly high (51.5%), followed by post-partum anestrus (22.8%), delayed puberty (15.74%) and silent heat (2.4%). Based on history, rectal examination and the plasma progesterone levels, silent estrus was observed in 18% (3/16) of the postpartum anestrus animals and luteal insufficiency was observed in 54% (6/11) of the repeat breeders. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level was higher in repeat breeders and normal animals as compared to silent heat. Overall, 50% (77/155) of the animals showed a negative energy balance irrespective of the reproductive status. The 55.5% of the postpartum anestrus (10/18) and silent heat (5/9) animals were in negative energy status. The HDL cholesterol was lower in animals with delayed puberty than in normal animals. The plasma levels of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) were lower in the silent heat as compared to normal animals. The present study revealed the importance of HDL cholesterol in attaining puberty and essential role of Mg in maintaining optimum reproductive efficiency in dairy animals.

Seasonal and sexual variations as well as the effect of dry feed supplement on total drinking water intake and its utilization were observed in mithun (Bos frontalis) — a semi-wild animal found in North Eastern Hill Region (NEHR) of India. In a completely randomized design, twelve adult mithuns (B. frontalis) as per their sex and body weight were assigned in two different rearing systems (free grazing and free grazing with dry concentrate feed supplementation), and ten growing male mithuns as per their body weight assigned in two different levels of dry concentrate feed supplementation (1.0 kg and 2.0 kg dry concentrate feeds on green forage based diet) and in two different seasons (summer and winter). It was observed that the environmental temperature had a significant effect on drinking water intake by mithuns. Drinking water consumption (per unit of body weight) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in summer than in winter. Supplementation of concentrate feed on free grazing animals resulted in increase in water consumption. Total water consumption (drinking as well as performed water) was found to be 15.18 litres per 100 kg body weight by growing mithun. Feed dry matter and digestible nutrient intakes by growing mithun were observed to be increased with the increase of supplementation of dry concentrate feed. Roughage to concentrate ratio did not affect the nutrient digestibility. Mithun calves drank an average of 4.30 litres water for each kg of dry matter intake. Metabolic water was significantly (P

Pal, D.T., Kamra, D.N., Pathak, N.N. and Bisht G.S. 1998. Influence of rumen ciliate protozoa and protein level on rumen fermentation, enzyme activities and blood metabolites in crossbred cattle calves. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 13: 153–159. The influence of ciliate protozoa in the rumen on fermentation and enzyme activities in rumen fluid and blood metabolites of crossbred (Bos taurus X Bos indicue) cattle calves was studied in animals fed at two levels of protein. Sixteen crossbred male calves, separated from their dams at 24h to 48h of birth, were divided into two groups—faunated and defaunated and given a diet of normal protein or lower protein (75% of the requirement). The calves were reared in isolation stalls to avoid contact with faunated calves. On 3 months of age ruminal contents from all calves were collected at 4h post feeding and analysed The pH, total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), carboxymethylcellulase (CMC), xylanase and protease activities were similar in both faunated and fauna-free c...

A comparative study of growth rate and feed intake and its utilization in male and female Mithun calves was carried out in hilly tracts of Nagaland. The animals of both sexes were fed fresh jungle grasses ad libitum and 2.0 kg of rice bran fortified with 1% mineral mixture and 1% salt daily. Growth rates of 369.50 and 305.67 g/day were observed in male and female calves, respectively. Sex-related differences in feed and nutrient intakes were statistically significant, whereas no significant difference was found in digestibility coefficients of nutrients between the groups as well as among the animals. Dry matter, digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrient intakes were recorded to be 107.81, 8.08 and 74.73 g/kgW0.75 per day, respectively, irrespective of sex. Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and nutritive value of the ration were similar in both male and female calves. Results obtained from the study indicate that the growth rate and nutrient intakes were higher in male than female calves but the sex of the animal did not have any significant effect on nutrient utilization.