trial for detection of early pregnancy and fetal viability using hormone determination in buffalo-cow's milk

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to clarify the profile of milk progesterone during the early stages of pregnancy, as well as the profile of milk estrone sulfate during pregnancy. 15 buffalo-cows [aged 4-8 years] were used for this study. The obtained results showed that, milk progesterone levels on the 28th day of pregnancy significantly [P <0.01] increased in the non return females [18.18 ng/ml] when compared to the return ones [7.90 ng/ml]. For that, milk progesterone level can be used as a diagnostic tool for early pregnancy in buffalo-cows. The results also revealed that, estrone sulfate level in whey significantly increased during pregnancy when compared with its level for non-pregnant animals. Its levels in whey gradually increased with the advancement of pregnancy and reached its maximum level [720.24 pg/ml] during the 7th month of gestation. One buffalo-cow aborted due to fetal death, whey estrone sulfate level dropped to 53.62 pg/ml. The six of the fetus has no significant effect on the level of whey estrone sulfate. For that, estrone sulfate levels in whey were used as a tool for pregnancy diagnosis and for monitoring fetal viability during pregnancy in buffalo-cows