Relationship between lipid profiles, progesterone and postpartum fertility in buffaloes [with 3 tables and 9 figures]

ABSTRACT

Twenty normal parturient buffaloes, aged 4-8 years were used in this study to clarify any association between lipid profiles, progesterone and postpartum fertility in buffaloes. Based on the resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity, these animals were classified into three groups; buffaloes showing normal resumption of ovarian cyclicity at 65.18 +/- 19.90 days postpartum, buffaloes with delayed resumption of ovarian cyclicity at 138.33 +/- 16.50 days postpartum and buffaloes in anoestrus up to 210 days postpartum. The involution of the uterus averaged 35.4 +/- 7.6 days without any significant difference between the three groups. Highly significant [P<0.01] differences were recorded in the calving to conception interval-length between buffaloes with normal resumption of ovarian cyclicity and the others. A highly significant [P<0.0 1] negative correlation was recorded between the resumption of postpartum ovarian activity and serum levels of progesterone and total cholesterol. Also a negative correlation [P<0.01] was recorded between the calving to conception interval and these biochemical parameters. No association was found between resumption of ovarian cyclicity or calving to conception interval with serum triglycerides concentrations