Effect of parity and season of calving on the postpartum reproductive activity of water buffalo cows

Hector Nava-Trujilloa, Robert Valeris-Chacinb, Adriana Morgado-Osorioa, Jhonatan Valero-Guerra

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of parity and season of calving on the probability of water buffalo cows to be mounted for first time before 60 and 100 days postpartum (dpp), and on the length of calving-to-first-mount interval. A retrospective analysis of reproductive records of 1,231 water buffaloes with 5,336 postpartum mounts (2,948 first mounts), was carried out. Probability of water buffaloes to be mounted for first time before 60 or 100 dpp was significantly lower in primiparous (0.165 vs 0.3 and 0.32 vs 0.527, respectively) and in those calving between March-August (0.134 vs 0.354 and 0.312 vs 0.536, respectively) in comparison with multiparous and those calving between September-February. Additionally, it was observed that primiparous water buffalo cows had lower odds (2.13 and 2.38 times lower) and those calving between September-February had higher odds (3.55 and 2.56 times higher) to be mounted ≤ 60 and ≤ 100 dpp, respectively, in comparison with multiparous animals and those calving between March-August. Most mounts (70.6%, P < 0.0001) were observed during September and February. Days to first mount were shorter in multiparous water buffalo cows (132.9 vs 162.8; P < 0.0001) and in those calving between September-February (140.1 vs 155.6; P < 0.0001). In conclusion, primiparous water buffaloes and those calving between March-August show a higher risk of a delay in the resumption of postpartum reproductive activity with a low probability to be mounted for the first time ≤ 60 or ≤ 100 dpp, which involves a longer calving-to-first-mount interval.

Keywords: anestrus; parity; postpartum cyclicity; season; water buffaloes

Date published: 2020-06-05