THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

Series of experiment were conducted aimed at developing
least-cost and more effective synchronization scheme for
the carabaos in the villages. Experiment I focused on the
understanding of the occurrence of estrus and ovulation in
carabaos after prostaglandin F 2 alpha (PGF 2 alpha)
treatment. Result obtained from 36 cycling caracows
administered with two PGF 2 alpha injections (1 mg
fenprostalene, i.m./injection) 11 days apart indicated that
the onset of estrus was 60.8 + 13 hours. After the last
PGF 2 alpha treatment and estrus duration was 20.0 + 3.1
hours. Ovulation occurred 91.6 + 9.5 hours after the last
PGF 2 alpha treatment. In Experiment II, 28 cycling
caracows were assigned to 2 x 3 factorial experiment
involving two PGF 2 alpha preparations (fenprostalene and
dinoprost tromethamine) and three intervals of
gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) treatment after
PGF 2 alpha (60, 72 and 84 hours) to identify the more
appropriate PGF 2 alpha estrus synchronization and the
proper time of GnRH treatment for induction of ovulation.
All animals received two injections of PGF 2 alpha (1 mg
fenprostalene or 25 mg dinoprost tromethamine/injection).
GnRH (100 ug fertilerin acetate, i.m.) was given to
respective treatment groups at either 60, 72 or 84 hours
after the last PGF 2 alpha administration. There was no
difference in the estrus response of the animals after the
GnRH treatement. However, the incidence of abnormal
luteal phases was significantly higher (P