CONCEPTION RATE IN BULGARIAN MURRAH BUFFALOES AFTER A PRESYNCH/OVSYNCH PROTOCOL APPLIED IN NON-BREEDING AND BREEDING SEASON.

The aim of the presented study was to establish the conception rate in Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes submitted to estrus synchronization via Presynch/Ovsynch protocol applied in non-breeding and breeding season. The experiment was conducted in 24 buffaloes with at least 40 days postpartum, allotted into two groups according to the treatment season: Group I (n=8) - non-breeding season, Group II (n=16) - breeding season. On day 0 and day 35 after artificial insemination, the buffaloes were examined by transrectal ultrasound to identify ovarian structures and prove pregnancy, respectively. The initial ultrasound examination revealed the presence of a corpus luteum and a follicle with a diameter =10 mm in 33.33% (8/24) of all cases, solely a follicle =10 mm in 45.84% (11/24) and follicles with a diameter <10 mm in 20.83 % (5/24). The total conception rates between Group I (37.50%, 3/8) and Group II (43.75%, 7/16) did not differ significantly (P = 0.39), and the overall conception rate after estrus synchronization (41.67%, 10/24) was within the normal range for the species. The applied protocol leads to successful conceptions of buffaloes in both seasons. The high percentage of conception is registered in the hormonal treatment of buffaloes with follicle > 10 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]