ELIMINATING SUBCLINICAL URINARY TRACT INFECTION AMELIORATES PRODUCTION AND REPRODUCTION PERFORMANCE IN BUFFALOES

Abstract

An organized Murrah buffalo farm with a herd strength of 180 was considered for the study. Forty-six apparently healthy buffaloes were included in the study excluding the pregnant animals and animal in estrus and screening was done to detect subclinical infection. Urine was collected in sterile container by catheterization. Bacteriological examination of urine was done along with routine urine analysis. Subclinical UTI was detected in 12 buffaloes (26.08%). Affected animals were divided into two groups in first group enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg b.wt was given intramuscularly for 5 days and in second group amoxicillin was given 10 mg/kgb.wt was given intramuscularly for 5 days. Animals were given treatment on the basis of pre-determined sensitivity. Bacteriological cure rate was 83.33% in Group 1 and 100% in Group 2. Retrospective analysis of  production and reproduction data was compared with post treatment data. Statistical analysis revealed significant increase in milk yield by a mean of 0.725 kg per head per day after the treatment. Five out of 12 treated animals who were repeated breeder, conceived with first AI post treatment. Data of affected animals revealed conception rate of 2.60±0.38 in normal animal as compared to 4.67±0.84 in affected animal group. Average service period was 117 days in normal animal group while it was 129 days in affected animal group. On the basis of present study, it can be concluded that subclinical UTI can be a cause of impaired production and reproduction performance in buffaloes