Effect on blood biochemical parameters
Glucose (mg/dl)
It was observed that glucose level is significantly lower at pre-treatment state in all anoestrus cows (G0, GI, GII, GIII and GIV) as compared to normal cyclic cows (GV). The glucose level in group G0, GI, GII, GIII and GIV at post-treatment state shows increasing trend and differ significantly (P<0.05) (Table 2). Likewise,
Agrawal et al., (2015) reported significantly lower mean serum glucose level in post partum anoestrus cow than those of cyclic cow (42.58±6.73 g/dl vs 73.7±10.69 g/dl).
Many researchers have suggested that lower serum glucose level is responsible for subfertility, anoestrus
(Yadav et al., 1995), nutritional anoestrus (
Kumar and Saxena, 2010) and reflects energy status and reproductive activity of animals. Glucose may be a metabolic signal providing information for control of GnRH secretion and appears to be centrally involved in the release of LH and this presumably reflects its role in modulating GnRH release. Available reports suggests that lower glucose level might be a cause of clinical syndrome of anestrus.
Cholesterol (mg/dl)
The pre-treatment cholesterol level is significantly (P<0.05) lower in all anoestrus cows (G0, GI, GII, GIII, GIV) than those of normal cyclic cows (GV). The cholesterol level in untreated anoestrus cows (G0) at periodic sampling did not differ significantly but significantly lower than normal cyclic cow (GV). The cholesterol level in pre-treatment sampling of group GI, GII, GIII, GIV was significantly (P<0.05) lower than post-treatment sampling, which suggest positive effect of given therapy on cholesterol level (Table 2). Similarly,
Kumar et al., (2009) reported lower cholesterol concentration in anoestrus, suboestrus and repeat breeder crossbred cows as compared to normal cyclic cows. However,
Virmani et al., (2011) reported declined in cholesterol levels as animal approached towards cyclicity. The utilization of cholesterol for optimum steroid hormone biosynthesis to maintain the cyclicity may be correlated with lower level of cholesterol in cyclic animal. Unlike present findings,
Bhoraniya et al., (2012) and
Virmani et al., (2011) reported higher cholesterol level in non-cyclic than those of cyclic one. Reduced level of steriodogenesis may be attributed to low levels of cholesterol.
Kumar et al., (2009) observed high level of cholesterol in normal cyclic than the repeat breeder cows without any significant difference between conceived and non-conceived groups. Moreover,
Singh et al., (2006) observed significantly higher level of serum cholesterol at induced estrus.
However,
Mahour et al., (2011) reported lower cholesterol level at induced oestrus as compared to anoestrus cows (118.90±10.2 mg/dl vs 125.01±9.65 mg/dl).
Total protein (gm/dl)
The mean value of total protein did not vary significantly in periodic sampling of group G0. Moreover, mean total protein values of periodic sampling in group GV also did not vary significantly, though the values are significantly higher (P<0.05) as compared to group G0. The mean total protein values at pre-treatment did not differ significantly between group GII, GIII and GIV but their corresponding values are lower at induced oestrus (Table 2). Thus, when animal moves towards cyclicity total protein level increased as compared to anoestrus cows.
Like our findings
Kumar et al., (2013) reported higher total protein level in cyclic cows as compared to anoestrus cows. Likewise,
Virmani et al., (2011) reported lower protein level in anoestrus cows than those at induced oestrus (6.52±0.57 g/dl vs 8.61±0.64 g/dl). Similarly,
Agrawal et al., (2015) reported higher serum protein concentration in cyclic than anoestrus animals (8.20±1.09 g/dl vs 6.58±1.04 g/dl). However,
Mahour et al., (2011) reported higher serum total protein in anoestrus cow against induced estrus cows (7.29±0.31 gm/dl vs 6.36±0.48 gm/dl; P<0.05).
Bhoraniya et al., (2012) observed lower total protein level in anoestrus cows than normal cyclic cow (5.89±0.23 vs and 6.20±0.20 gm/dl). Moreover,
Pariza et al., (2013) reported lower mean total serum protein in anoestrus cows than control one (3.4±0.8 vs 5.2±0.8 gm/dl; P<0.05).
Albumin (g/dl)
The mean value of albumin in periodic sampling of normal cyclic cows (GV) did not differ significantly (P<0.05). Moreover, periodic value of albumin in also did not vary significantly in positive control (G0) but significantly (P<0.05) lower than negative control cows. The mean albumin values at induced oestrus (post-treatment sampling) in cows of GI, GII, GIII and GIV group were significantly higher than corresponding pre-treatment values (Table 2). Thus, when animal attains cyclicity the mean albumin level increased significantly in treatment group (GI, GII, GIII and GIV). However,
Virmani et al., (2011) reported slightly elevated serum albumin in postpartum anoestrus cow than control group. Moreover,
Mahour et al., (2011) reported significantly higher (P<0.05) serum albumin in anoestrus cows than induced estrus cows (3.25±0.12 gm/dl vs 2.61±0.18 gm/dl).
Calcium (mg/dl)
The mean calcium level in periodic sampling of negative control (GV) and positive control (G0) did not vary significantly (P<0.05) but significantly lower in positive control cows. The mean calcium values at induced oestrus (post-treatment sampling) in GI, GII, GIII and GIV were significantly (P<0.05) higher than corresponding pre-treatment values (Table 2). Thus, when animal attains cyclicity the mean calcium level improves significantly (P<0.05). Similarly,
Agrawal et al., (2015) reported significantly higher (P<0.01) mean serum calcium concentration in normal cyclic cow than anoestrus cow. Unlike present findings,
Virmani et al., (2011) and
Bhoraniya et al., (2012) reported of lower serum calcium level in normal cyclic cow against anoestrus cow as 7.50±1.21 vs 9.27 mg/dl and 8.01±0.79 vs 9.67±0.23 respectively. Calcium sensitizes tubular genital tract for action of hormones
(Kumar et al., 2020b) and plays a key part in improving the number and size of ovarian pre ovulatory follicles as well as the ovulation rate.
Phosphorus (mg/dl)
The mean value of phosphorus in periodic sampling of G0 and GV did not vary significantly (P<0.05) within group but corresponding periodic values in positive control (G0) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than negative control (GV). The mean phosphorus values at induced oestrus (post-treatment sampling) in cows of GI, GII, GIII and GIV group were significantly (P<0.05) higher than corresponding pre-treatment values (Table 2). Thus, when animal attains cyclicity the mean phosphorus level increased significantly in treatment group
i.e. GI, GII, GIII and GIV group. Similar trends reported by
Agrawal et al., (2015). Moreover, the mean serum phosphorus value in anoestrus animals were similar to the observation of
Agrawal et al., (2015) but lower than that recorded by
Virmani et al., (2011) and
Bhoraniya et al., (2012). Furthermore,
Kumar et al., (2009) reported significantly higher the phosphorus level in conceived group against non-conceived one.
Oestrus induction response and conception
The oestrus induction response was highest in GIV followed by GIII, GII and GI respectively while none of cow exhibit oestrus in Go (untreated anoestrus cows) during course of study which shows importance of different therapeutic regimen in induction of oestrus in anoestrus cows (Table 3). Return in cyclicity in GI might be attributed to supplementation of mineral mixture containing iron, manganese, selenium, zinc, cobalt and iodine and various essential amino acids which are known to normalize the reproduction function
(Rabbie et al., 2010). Like our findings in GI,
Sahatpure et al., (2016) reported similar oestrus induction response (50%) by using herbal heat inducer Prajana HS (3 capsule/day for 2 days orally) and trace mineral supplement tablet CoFeCu (1 tab/day for 20 days orally). The findings of oestrus induction responsein GI and GII is corroborated well with
Chaudhiry et al., (2019) who reported similar oestrus induction rate in anoestrus buffalo heifers. However,
Kumar et al., (2011) reported higher oestrus induction response (76.92%) with use of lugol’s iodine 0.25% solution 10 ml on os cervix and supplementation of injectible phosphorus, injectible vitamin A and oral cyclomin -7 bolus with mean oestrus induction interval of 26.70±4.52 days.
Singh et al., (2006) reported 60% and 80% oestrus induction response by using injectible sodium acid phosphate (Inj. Urimin, 10 ml, im, alternate days for days) and Bolus Minerex (2 boli, daily for 6 days) respectively.
Mathur et al., (2005) reported 80% and 66.66% oestrus induction rate with oestrus induction interval of 10.25 days and 21.00 days in Frieswal heifer and Sahiwal heifer respectively by using injectible vitamin A (6 lac IU per week for 2 week) and injectible phosphorus (injTonophosphan @ 2 g /heifer for 5 alternate days.
Dutta et al., (2019) observed 83.33 oestrus induction response in anoestrus crossbred cows with nutritional supplementation of bypass fat @ 150 g/day/animal for 20 days (Fatomax, Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited, Ahmedabad, India), mineral mixture @ 30 g/day/animal for 30 days (Minfa Gold, Intas, Pharmaceuticals, Ahmedabad, India), injectible phosphorus @ 2 g, im, for three occasions at alternate days (Tonophosphan Vet, containing sodium salt of 4-dimethyl amino-2-methyl phenyl phosphinic acid, MSD-Animal Health, Pune, India) and injectible vitamin A @ 5 ml, im, alternate days for three occasions (Intavita H, Intas, Pharmaceuticals, Ahmedabad, India).
The oestrus induction response in GII are in agreement with findings of
Pugashetti et al., (2009). Janova (ingredient:
Citrullus collocynthus,
Piper longum,
Piper nigrum,
Zingiber officinale) is known to exert gonadotropin like action and synchronizes the release of FSH, LH and estradiol for inducing ovulatory estrus. Feeding of janova appears to stimulate the hyopthalmus- hypophyseal ovarian axis there by synchronizing the hormonal release and inducing estrus in early postpartum anoestrus period with comparatively higher conception rate (
Singal, 1995). Unlike findings in GII,
Sahatpure et al., (2016) reported lower oestrus induction response with use of herbal heat inducer estroform powder (7.5 g/day, 2 days) and trace mineral tablets Mintrus (1 tab/day, 20 days) orally.
Unlike present findings in GIII, higher and lower oestrus induction response was reported by
Kumar et al., (2004) and
Rajkumar et al., (2006) respectively which is suggestive of promising effect of homeopathic remedy in the management of anoestrus in cows. In contrast to present findings in GIV, higher resumption of cyclicity was reported by
De Jarnette et al., (2001). Variable response to ovsynch protocol was also reported by
Naikoo et al., (2016). These differences resumption of cyclicity and conception rate might be due variation in breed, climate, method and frequency of estrus detection, presence of large follicle at the time of treatment, body condition and milk yield of the animal.
The conception rates at induced or first heat in GI, GII, GIII and GIV group were 25, 20, 16.66 and 14.28 per cent respectively with corresponding pooled conception rates of three cycles were 75, 80, 66.66 and 57.13 per cent (Table 4). In negative control cows (GV) the pooled conception rates were 75% and none of the cow in positive control resumed oestrus cycle and conceived. Conception rate in GI and GII is in consonance with
Sahatpure et al., (2016) who reported comparable conception rate as 75% by using estroform powder and mintrus tablet and 66.67% with use of capsule Prajana HS and tablet CoFeCu. Unlike present findings in GIII with use of sepia (62.5% oestrus induction and 80% conception rate),
Rajkumar et al., (2006) reported 100% oestrus induction response in anoestrus cows with treatment to oestrus induction interval of 27.5±5.3 days and 54.5% overall conception rate with 1.83 services per conception with use of homeopathic complex (Calcarea phosphoric 30c, Aletris farinose 30c, Pulsatilla 30c, Aurum muriaticum natronatum 30c, Sepia 30c and Phosphorus 30c ) in equal proportion, 15 pills, twice in day for ten days.
Williamson et al., (1995) also reported beneficial effect of Sepia 200c for prevention of post-partum anoestrus in dairy cows and lowering calving to conception interval.
Chandel et al., (2009) also observed significantly higher oestrus induction response (71.42% vs 20%) and conception rate (78.95% vs 0.00) against control with treatment to oestrus induction interval of 8.36 days by using homeopathic combination “Heat-O-Gen” (Alteris Farlnosa 1M, Folliculinum 1M, Oophorinum 1M, Pitutry 1M) two tablets twice a day in anoestrus buffaloes.
Bhoraniya et al., (2012) and
Dhami et al., (2015) reported comparable conception rate with ovsynch protocol.