Abstract

    The trial was conducted to assess anoestrous problem in Nili Ravi buffaloes kept under rural and peri-urban management around Islamabad, during the months of October to December. One hundred and three buffaloes under peri-urban management and 40 buffaloes under rural management belonging to six and 21 farmers, respectively, were included in this study. Buffaloes that did not show heat signs for 6-12 months postpartum were considered anoestrus in this study. For inducing heat, two injections of cloprostenol were administered in silent oestrous buffaloes, whereas gonadotropin releasing hormone followed by cloprostenol was administered in true anoestrous buffaloes. A higher proportion of buffaloes (35%) was noted in anoestrus under rural than under peri-urban management (17.5%, P=0.02). All the buffaloes diagnosed as silent oestrus responded to cloprostenol therapy by showing heat signs under both management systems. However 71% rural buffaloes diagnosed in true anoestrus showed heat symptoms compared to 100% peri-urban buffaloes followed by GnRH+cloprostenol therapy. Fixed time insemination (72 and 96 hours after 2nd cloprostenol injection) resulted in a conception rate of 58% and 67% in rural and peri-urban buffaloes, respectively. An overall 33% conception rate was observed in true anoestrous compared to 83% in silent oestrous buffaloes. It is concluded that cloprostenol could be used successfully to induce heat and achieve an optimum conception rate in silent oestrous buffaloes during peak breeding season.