Pregnancy rate in water buffalo following fixed-time artificial insemination using new or used intravaginal devices with two progesterone concentrations.

This study evaluated the pregnancy rate (PR) after timed artificial insemination (TAI) in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) during both non-breeding and breeding season, using either a new or reused intravaginal device (IVD) with two different progesterone concentrations. A total of 247 dairy buffalo cows were randomly assigned using a two-by-three factorial design and four replicates to the following groups: (1) new intravaginal device (IVD-New: DIB®, 1.0 g of P4, n = 51 or CIDR®, 1.38 g of P4, n = 55); (2) intravaginal device previously used once (9 days) (IVD-Used1x: DIB, n = 40 or CIDR, n = 51); or (3) intravaginal device previously used twice (18 days) (IVD-Used2x: DIB, n = 27 or CIDR, n = 23). On day 0, animals received the IVD plus 10.5 µg of buserelin acetate (GnRH) intramuscularly. On day 9, the devices were removed and 25 mg of PGF2α plus 500 IU of eCG was given intramuscularly. On day 11 (48 h after IVD withdrawal), animals received 10.5 µg of GnRH and were artificially inseminated 8-12 h later. Data were analyzed using Proc Logistic of SAS®. Animals that received IVD-New-DIB, had a significantly higher PR (62.7%; P = 0.0193) compared to animals that received IVD-New-CIDR (40%). Pregnancy rate was not negatively affected by reusing both types of IVD. Overall PR (new and reused devices) was higher (P = 0.0055) in the DIB group (62.7%) compared to the CIDR group (45%). In conclusion, PR was higher in buffaloes treated with devices containing 1.0 g of P4 (DIB®) compared to those receiving 1.38 g of P4 (CIDR®). Reusing the intravaginal devices did not affect negatively PR/TAI, suggesting that P4 concentrations within the TAI protocols in water buffaloes could be reduced, without impairing their fertility.