ABSTRACT
This study compared the plasma progesterone concentrations from pregnant and non-pregnant buffaloes to identify non-pregnant females and submit cows earlier to oestrous resynchronization. Forty-four multiparous mix-breed Murrah buffaloes were selected for the study. The cows were subjected to hormonal oestrous synchronization and separated into 4 groups, P12 (pregnant, n = 8) and P18 (n = 8) at 12 and 18 days post-insemination; NP12 (non-pregnant, n = 7) and NP18 (n = 7) at 23 and 29 days after the onset of synchronization, respectively. The embryos and blood were collected, and the plasma was separated for centrifugation and used to determine progesterone concentration. Progesterone concentration was higher in P18 than P12 (p = .02) and NP18 groups (p < .001). The steroid was also increased in the P12 group compared with NP12 (p = .031). There was no difference between NP12 and NP18 (p = .906). We conclude that the plasma progesterone concentration can be an alternative to identify earlier non-pregnant buffaloes, advancing the oestrous resynchronization or natural service to improve productivity.
Subject(s)
Bison , Progesterone , Animals , Buffaloes , Cattle , Estrus Synchronization , Female , Insemination, Artificial/veterinary , PregnancyABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine the time required by different anthelmintic agents to reduce strongyle egg shedding in horses. Fifty horses were divided into five homogenous groups based on faecal egg counts (FECs). Treatment groups received either ivermectin; moxidectin; fenbendazole; piperazine; or no treatment (control group). Faecal examinations were performed 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48h after the anthelmintic treatment. After this period, faecal samples were taken every 24h over the next 12days and finally on alternate days (48-h intervals) for another 14days until the end of the experiment (28days post-treatment). The faecal egg count reduction (FECR) was calculated based on the post-treatment mean FECs in the controls and treated animals. Eggs were absent from the faecal examinations beginning at 72h and 4days, respectively, following treatment with moxidectin or ivermectin. Piperazine showed an FECR greater than 95% from 48h up to 9days post-treatment, with the highest FECR value recorded at 7days post-treatment (98.1%). However, the FECR was lower than 90% in the last two samplings (26 and 28days post-treatment). The febendazole group presented the lowest efficacy with FECR below 90% in all samplings. The faecal cultures showed that at the beginning of the trial, all of the groups presented with mixed infections and were predominantly composed of cyathostomins (92.8%), followed by Strongylus vulgaris (5.6%) and Triodontophorus serratus (1.6%). Only cyathostomin larvae were identified following treatment with fenbendazole or piperazine. In conclusion, horses in the present study had a segment of the cyathostomin population with resistance to fenbendazole and piperazine. The strongyle population was susceptible to macrocyclic lactones, with cessation in egg shedding three and four days after treatment with moxidectin and ivermectin, respectively.