Approaches to Identify Pregnancy Failure in Buffalo Cows

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Reproductive Biology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Pregnancy failure in buffalo herds impacts reproductive efficiency.
• Accurate and early diagnosis of embryonic mortality is crucial for effective herd management.
• Synchronization and artificial insemination (AI) programs require reliable methods for monitoring pregnancy outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the optimal diagnostic strategy for detecting pregnancy failures in buffalo.
• To compare the efficacy of progesterone (P4), pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs), and ultrasonography in diagnosing embryonic mortality.
• To establish reliable markers for early prediction of embryonic mortality in buffalo.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples were collected from 109 buffaloes post-AI for P4 and PAGs analysis using radioimmunoassay (RIA).
• Transrectal ultrasonography was employed to monitor pregnancy and fetal heartbeat from day 25 to 40 post-AI.
• Animals were categorized into pregnant (n=50) and embryonic mortality (n=12) groups for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) at a cut-off of 1.1 ng/mL significantly predicted embryonic mortality by day 25.
• By day 28, PAGs (cut-off 2.2 ng/mL) or absence of fetal heartbeat via ultrasonography were highly predictive of mortality.
• PAGs demonstrated superior predictive value (p < 0.05) for embryonic mortality between days 25 and 40 of gestation.

Conclusions:

• Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are the most effective marker for diagnosing embryonic mortality in buffaloes.
• Utilizing PAGs as a diagnostic tool can significantly improve reproductive management decisions in buffalo farming.
• Early and accurate diagnosis of pregnancy failures through PAGs analysis enhances herd productivity.