SERUM DYNAMICS OF SOME REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES IN POSTPARTUM ANOESTRUS FRIESIAN X BUNAJI COWS TREATED WITH TWO DOSAGE REGIMENS OF OVSYNCH PROTOCOL
Keywords:
Serum, Follicle Stimulating, Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone, Plasma Progesterone, Friesian Bunaji CowAbstract
Fertility of the Post-partum period in dairy cattle is negatively influenced by the incidence of anoestrus. This condition is characterized by the absence of eostrus behaviour which may be due tophysiologic or pathologic factors. This study therefore, was aimed to compare the serum profiles of follicle stimulating hormorne (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and progesterone (P4) in response to the administration of two doses of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH, Lecirelin®) in combination with prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α, Synchromate®) ovsynch protocol in apparently healthy, post-partum anestrous Friesian x Bunaji cows. Fifteen (n=15) animals were randomly divided into three groups and treated as follows: Group I (n=5) animals (control); Group II (n=5) animals received ovsynch 50 µg GnRH treatment; Group III (n=5) animals received 100 µg GnRH ovsynch treatment. Blood samples were collected at 15 to 30 minutes intervals for 6 hours to determine serum concentration of FSH and LH and once daily for 12 days after the injection of the first GnRH to determinate the concentration of plasma P4 using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits. Peak values of FSH and LH were significantly (p<0.05) different on days 0 and 9.The plasma P4 levels increased among treated cows following injection of GnRH reaching a peak on day 7 compared to the control group. It was therefore concluded that the ovsynch protocol at the dosages indicated enhanced FSH, LH and P4 profiles compared to control cows and could initiate the onset of ovarian activity in the post-partum anoestrus Friesian x Bunaji cows.