Reproductive performance and mineral profile of postpartum fertile and infertile Surti buffaloes

Abstract

The reproductive performance and plasma profile of macro-micro-minerals was studied in fertile (n=l2) and
infertile (n= 11) Surti buffaloes at weekly interval from the day of calving till 15 weeks postpartum. The occurrence of first
oestrus, service period and calving interval were significantly shorter (P < 0.01) in fertile than the infertile buffaloes. The
pooled mean plasma levels of calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium in fertile and infertile groups of buffaloes were
10.21±0.16 and 10. 15±0. I 7 mg/di; 6.23±0.19 and 6.35±0.21 mg/di, and 3.86±0.08 and 3. 70±0.09 mEq/1, respectively,
which neither varied significantly between groups nor between weeks postpartum. The overall mean plasma iron, copper
and manganese levels in fertile and infertile groups of buffaloes were found to be almost identical between groups (3.48±0.11
vs 3.69:t0. I I; 1.44:t0.03 vs 1.43±0.03 and 0.08:t0.01 vs 0.ll:!:0.01 ppm, respectively) whereas the mean zinc level was
significantly higher (1.95±0.06 vs 1.66:t0.06 ppm) and cobalt lower (0.52:t0.02 vs 0.61±0.02 ppm) in infertile than the
fertile group. The weekly profile for any of these traits did not vary significantly in any of the groups. The plasma calcium
had significant negative correlation with phosphorus (-0.71, -0.62) in both fertile and fertile groups, and with Cu (-0.62),
postpartum first oestrus, service period and calving interval (-0.67, -0.74, -0.74) only in fertile group. Inorganic phosphorus
and magnesium did not show significant correlation with any of the traits. Amongst trace minerals, significant correlations
were observed for Mn with Zn (0.61); and Cu with service period and calving interval (0.65, 0.63), and Fe with uterine
involution (0.59) only in fertile group.