IMPACT OF PROTEIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTATION DURING TRANSITION PERIOD ON PUERPERAL EVENTS AND POSTPARTUM FERTILITY IN BUFFALOES

Abstract

Eighty-five advanced pregnant (~8 mo) pluriparous buffaloes at farmer’s doorstep in tribal villages were
selected and randomly divided into basal feeding (n=45, routine feeding by farmer) and basal + supplemental
feeding (n=40, daily 1.5 kg concentrate mixture and 50 g chelated Area Specific Mineral Mixture) groups. The
buffaloes received supplemental feeding for two months each pre- and post-partum. In addition, 15 buffalo of
each group received injectable micro-mineral (5 ml, i.m.; each ml containing Se, Zn, Cu and Mn @ 5, 40, 15
and 10 mg, respectively) about two month before calving and on the day of calving. The micro-mineral injection
appreciably reduced the incidence of retained placenta (p>0.05) as well as the placenta expulsion time (p<0.05)
over non-injected buffalo. The period for involution of uterus was longer (p>0.05) in basal fed group compared
to supplemented buffalo. Also, the interval to first postpartum estrus and service period were shorter with higher
conception rate and lesser number of services per conception in supplemented buffalo than in buffalo reared
on basal feeding (p<0.05->0.05). Injectable micro-mineral further improved all these traits in both the groups
(p<0.05->0.05). Overall subfertility in terms of true anestrus, subestrus and repeat breeding was reduced in
supplemented buffalo compared to basal fed buffalo (p>0.05). In brief, nutrient supplementation in terms of high
protein concentrate and minerals (oral + injectable) during transition period prevented periparturient complications
and improved the postpartum reproductive performance in buffalo under field conditions.