Influence of Environmental Temperature on Postpartum Reproductive Potential of Kundhi Buffaloes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of various reproductive disorders and effect of calving seasons on postpartum estrus, uterine involution and service period and their relation on fertility of Kundhi buffaloes. For this purpose, 1000 advanced pregnant pluriparous buffaloes from 16 villages in the rural and peri-urban areas of district Hyderabad Sindh Pakistan were selected. These animals were divided into two main groups, group I had normal unassisted parturition (n=743) and group II with certain peri and post parturient complications (n=257). The retention of placenta, milk fever, dystocia, vaginal prolapse, uterine prolapse, endometritis, uterine involution, first postpartum estrus, service period and fertility rate were determined to evaluate the physiological effects of temperature on the complete suite of reproductive cycle during various seasons in a single year.It was revealed that among reproductive disorders the retention of placenta was highest (7.5%) followed by milk fever (6.7%), dystocia (5.2%), vaginal prolapse (2.5%), uterine prolapse (2.2%) and endometritis (1.6%). The time required for uterine involution was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in group I compare to group II (40.35 vs. 45.95 days), in both of the groups the lowest and highest time required were in calving during winter and summer months respectively. The average days required for the first post-partum estrus in group I was significantly (p < 0.05) shorter (113 days) than group II (155 days), in group I the earliest (61.33 days) time period was recorded in month of August and longer time (171 days) was required during March, in group II the minimum time required was (131 days) in October month and was maximum (193 days) during March. The average time required for the service period in group I was significantly (p < 0.05) lower (115.84), than group II (163.56 days). In group I, the minimum (61.33 days) and maximum (170.87 days) were required when calved in months of December and June respectively. In group II the minimum i.e. 132.50 days and maximum (200.25 days) were required when calved in month of November and January respectively. In group I, the fertility rate was highest (72%) when calved during August month and was lowest (33%) in May, in group II the highest (53%) and lowest (6%) fertility rates were observed during calvings months of December and July respectively. In conclusion, it was found that Kundhi buffaloes were more prone to postpartum reproductive disorders with environmental temperature. The processes of postpartum ovarian activity, the uterine involution were adversely affected during calving in hot summer months and parturition related disorders adversely affect the reproductive efficiency which consequently hampered the fertility of buffaloes.