Follicular dynamics in buffaloes

Abstract

Buffaloes show seasonality in their reproductive behaviour with diminished performance in the hotter months of the year. A group of eight cyclic healthy buffaloes was selected from breeding herd of buffaloes present at IVRI, Izatnagar. They were examined via trans-rectal ultrasonography to study the pattern of their ovarian activity during the months from April to June, 2021. The average length of the estrous cycle was 20.13±1.67 days with majority of buffaloes showing two-wave pattern followed by one-wave and three-wave pattern. The anovulatory dominant follicle attained maximum diameter 10.78±0.37 mm in duration of 7.60±0.45 days followed by its regression and the onset of a new wave. The ovulatory follicle grew at a faster pace and ovulated after achieving a maximum diameter of 13.18±0.35 mm and later transformed in a corpus luteum achieving a mean maximum diameter of 18.20±0.70 mm by day 12.20±1.26 post-ovulation. Later, the regression of this CL led to the onset of a new wave.