Comparison of Conception Rate of Frozen Semen from Two Extenders and Methods of Early Pregnancy Diagnosis Using Ultrasonography, And Progesterone Analysis in Dairy Cattle
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Date
2019-06
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Abstract
Semen extenders used in Ethiopia are imported and expensive. Pregnancy detection is mostly
through rectal palpation. This study was designed to compare conception rates of frozen semen
prepared by commercial (Bioxcell) and homemade (Tris egg yolk) extenders. Further, evaluate
advanced methods of early pregnancy diagnosis (18th to 22nd days post AI) using Progesterone
analysis and Ultrasonography. Post-thaw semen viability, forward motility, live percent and
morphological abnormality were 67±2.6%; 43.59±3.7%; 47.22±1.8% and 42.12±1.26% for TEY
preserved semen, respectively; while the same parameters were 68.11±2.6%; 40.83±4.0%;
46.52±1.7% and 41.64±1.1% for Bioxcell preserved semen, respectively. HOS test was higher
in TEY (8.87±0.72) extended semen than that of BioXcell extended semen (4.45±1.20%). A total
120 animals were included for both study, 48 animals for conception rate of semen extenders (14
heifers and 34 cows) were equally grouped and inseminated (24 by Bioxcell – G-I and 24 by Tris
egg yolk – G-II). First service conception rate was 50% for G-I and 70.8% for G-II. Though
conception rate was higher in G-II, there were statistically non significant but higher values
between the groups. Nevertheless, conception rate was higher for both heifers and cows within
G-II (71.42% and 70.58% in G-II compared to 42.85% and 52.94% in G-I). From a total of 72
animals inseminated for early pregnancy detection, pregnancy was confirmed on Days 18th and
22nd by RMPT and serum P4 analysis 42(58.4%) and 37(51.4%) respectively, and on Day 28th
Ultrasonography 32 (44.5%) post AI. Although pregnancy detection with RMPT was statistically
non significant but the values was higher between the tests. RMPT was the most sensitive
(88.9%) but less specific (72.2%) taking Ultrasonography as a gold standard. Pregnancy later
performed by transrectal palpation on Day 40 post AI showed 27 (37%) indicating the presence
of corpus luteum and early embryonic mortality. RMPT was found to be relatively cheaper, and
easier to apply under field condition. Results comparable to ultrasonography can be found if the
test is repeated 7-8 days later. In conclusion, semen extenders can be locally prepared to mitigate
the cost commercial extenders with even better conception results. Diagnosis of pregnancy can
also be made at an earlier stage using a RMPT under the field conditions of Ethiopia.
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Keywords
Conception rate, early pregnancy detection, Rapid milk test