Reproductive Performances and Management Effects on Productions of Indigenous Dairy Cows Raised at Char Areas in Northern Bangladesh

The study was conducted to assess the existing reproductive performances and the effect of nutritional supplementation on productions of indigenous cows in Char areas (remote river Jamuna sand islands) in northern part of Bangladesh from October 2009 to March 2010. The study also projected the frequency and determinants of long calving interval (LCI), retention of foetal membrane (RFM), dystocia (D), and abortion (A) in indigenous cattle and explored production trends. Fifty seven dairy households (average breedable cows = 2, range 1 to 3) were visited and data on reproductive, breeding and management histories were collected and statistically analyzed. Overall, 125 breedable indigenous cows were observed to be alive at different stages. The mean (±SE) calving interval were 492 ± 15days and the interval between calving and the initiation of ovarian activity were 143 ± 6.7 days. Birth rate was 53.7 per 100 cows year, with birth been reported to occur in all over of the year. Of the 87 cows that were reported to have calved more than once in their lifetime, 6(6.9%) and 5(5.7%) were associated with abortion and dystocia, respectively. Eight (9.2%) of the animals suffered RFM. All cows were dewormed and supplemented with vitamin-mineral premixes. The body weight of 125 cows and the milk yield of 71 lactating cows were recorded. The mean (± SD) body weight and daily milk yields of the cows during initial and end of veterinary interventions were 121.1 ± 21.0 kg, 1.5 ± 0.1 litres; 165.0 ± 14.0kg and 2.3 ± 0.02 litres, respectively. After productive veterinary interventions, there was an apparent effect of improved health on body weight gain (80g/cow/day) and the average milk yield increased from 1.5 to 2.3 litre/cow. It was concluded that, the present estimate of LCI, birth rate, prevalence of peripartum disorders attributes as the indicators of poor reproductive performances of cows and the productive veterinary health care services improved the general health and production status of the dairy cows in char areas

Effects of Proportion of Egg Yolk and Preservation Time on Chilled Semen from Indigenous Rams

The study was set out to determine the effects of different percentages of egg yolk on quality of chilled semen in Indigenous Rams. Different percentages of egg yolk were used to preserve semen from indigenous rams in Tris based extender at 4°C. Nine 2 to 3 years old rams, weighing 21.5±1.2 kg, body condition score 3.9±0.1 with scrotal circumference of 22.4 ±0.4 cm were selected for collection of semen once a week using artificial vagina. Each ejaculate was divided into four portions, and extended with Tris based diluents containing 5, 10, 15, and 20% egg yolk and kept chilled at 4 to 5°C for up to 48h. Motility, viability, functional integrity and morphology were evaluated before and 24h and 48h of preservation. The results showed significantly (p<0.05) better motility, viability and functional integrity with 10% egg yolk compared to other concentrations of egg yolk during preservation. However, the proportion of egg yolk did not affect spermatozoa quality before preservation and normal morphology in any time during preservation. Time of preservation decreased (p<0.01) the rate of motility, viability, functional integrity, and normal morphology of spermatozoa. Positive correlation coefficient observed between spermatozoa motility, viability, and functional integrity. Functional integrity of spermatozoa positively correlated to morphologically normal spermatozoa. It is concluded that 10% egg yolk in Ttris based diluents may be best for chilled Indigenous ram semen

Baseline Study of Reproductive Performances of Indigenous Rams in Bangladesh

9 , respectively. The rate of motility: 89. 0±0.2, 72.4±0.2, 62.0±0.6, viability: 91.8±0.1, 75.6±0.2, 64.8±0.6, functional integrity: 87.3±0.2, 69.1±0.2, 50.2±0.5 and normal spermatozoa were 94.0±0.1, 77.3±0.1 and 75.0±0.2 in fresh, chilled and frozen semen, respectively

Morphometric traits with reproduction and production performances of indigenous and exotic sheep breeds of Bangladesh

The purpose of this study was to review the existing literature on some important morphological traits associated with reproductive and productive performance in Bangladeshi indigenous and exotic cross sheep. Sheep as small ruminants are essential parts of the crop-livestock of the mixed agricultural farming system playing a crucial role in the livelihood of smallholders in Bangladesh. They are considered risk averters for farmers in a family crisis and seasonal needs through quick sale by direct cash income. Furthermore, their physical products have socio-economic, cultural, and nutritional values: meat, milk, skin, manure, etc. In the past, a number of researchers investigated the relationship between morphometric features and reproductive and productive performance of the referred sheep. Any compilation report is yet not available. Therefore, an update database on Bangladeshi indigenous and exotic cross-breed sheep is required to identify for management and production strategy program. This paper reviewed, discussed, summarized, and compared all articles on morphometric traits and the reproductive and productive performances of sheep in Bangladesh

Effects of duration of preservation and glycerol percentages on quality of frozen ram semen

ABSTRACT The aims of the present study were to determine the effectiveness of the undertaken freezing technique of indigenous ram semen (with different percentages of glycerol and different thawing times) by observing the post thaw motility at 24, 48 and 72 hours of preservation. Nine ejaculates were collected from each 6 mature rams using artificial vagina method. The ejaculates were frozen using Tris-citric acid egg yolk media having different percentages of glycerol (3, 5, and 7) in two step dilution method. The post thaw motility was observed in different temperature (37 0 , 40 0 and 45 0 C) and time (12, 12 and 10 seconds). The motility percentages after freezing for 24, 48 and 72 hours of duration varied from 8-50%, 8-50% and 4-45%. The significantly highest (P&lt;0.01) motility (35.3 ± 7.8%) was observed after 24 hours of preservation compared with 48 and 72 hours (30.6 ± 8.0%, 28.8 ± 7.9%). The normal morphology percentages after freezing of ram semen for 24, 48 and 72 hours of duration varied from 63-89%, 60-85%, and 58-80%. The significantly highest (P&lt;0.05) normal morphology (79.9 ± 4.0%) was observed after 24 hours of preservation compared with 48 and 72 hours (75.8 ± 4.4%, 73.3 ± 4.6%). The significantly highest (P&lt;0.01) sperm motility (39.1 ± 5.8%) was observed with 5% glycerol, at 40 0 C for 12 seconds thawing temperature and time compared with 37 0 C for 12 seconds and 45 0 C for 10 seconds, respectively. The study revealed a preliminary data which deserve further study to optimize the measures for sustainable freezing of indigenous ram semen