Induction of Lactation and Reproductive Response in Non-producing Buffalo Heifers Following Steroid Hormone Treatment

Buffalo heifers weighing from 400 - 500 kg and having a history of reproductive problems like anestrus, irregular estrus or failure to conceive after repeated inseminations were administered subcutaneously with estradiol-$17{\beta}$ and progesterone in two dosage rate 0.1 mg and 0.25 mg, respectively, per kg body weight per day for 7 days in experiment-I and 0.1 mg and 0.125 mg, respectively, per kg body weight per day for 7 days in experiment II. In experiment-I, 9 out of 10 buffaloes responded positively to the hormonal treatment. Milk secretion started between 14-20 days after the start of the treatment. The total milk yield in the successfully induced animals varied from 471.98-625.40 kg. The average daily milk yield varied from 2.08-2.76 kg and peak yield from 3.6-5.3 kg. The time taken to reach peak yield varied from 12-14 weeks. In experiment - II, the established lactation response was absent, although milk secretion process was initiated, the yield could not reach more than 50 - 100 gm at each milking. In experiment - I, the first estrus occurred between days 87 - 231 following the hormonal treatment. Four animals in which lactation was established successfully got pregnant after one or two services. In experiment - II the first estrus occurred between 85 - 173 days following the treatment and only one animal got pregnant.