Improved Reproductive Efficiency in Gilts by Intrauterine Infusion of Killed Boar Semen before Breeding

Capitan, Severino S.,Penalba, F.F.,Geromo, F.B.,Dalumpienes, J.M. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.6

Two separate trials were conducted to determine the effects of uterine priming prior to first breeding and quantify any changes in the reproductive efficiency of gilts. In trial I twelve (12) gilts were randomly assigned to 3 treatments:T1:infusion of distilled water (control), T2: single infusion of killed semen (KS1), and T3: double infusion of killed semen (KS2). Each treatment had 4 breeding gilts which were bred by natural insemination (NI). In trial II, another set of 12 breeding gilts were randomly allotted to the same treatments and were subsequently bred by artificial insemination (AI). Infusions, through the use of AI catheters, were done during the $2^{nd}$ estrous cycle for T1 and T2, whereas infusions for T3 were made during the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ cycles. Regular breeding was subsequently made during the $3^{rd}$ estrous cycle. All gilts that returned to cycle were rebred within the 30-day period. In trial I (natural breeding), total piglets born was higher (p<0.05) in T2 (12.75 piglets) and T3 (11.75 piglets) than in the control (10.5 piglets). T3 obtained the highest (p<0.05) litter size (10.25 piglets) and heaviest litter weight (74.12 kg) at 28 days weaning, followed by T2 (9.80 piglets and 65.0 kg, respectively). The control yielded the lowest (p<0.05) litter size (7.50) and the lightest litter weight (47.00 kg) at weaning. For Trial II gilts (artificially inseminated), T3 gave higher (p<0.05) litter size born alive (10.88 piglets), total piglets born (11.72 piglets) and live litter weight at birth (15.30 kg) than those of T2 and the control. These results indicate that prebreeding intrauterine infusion of killed boar semen, either single or double, improved the reproductive performance of gilts.

REACTION TIME, SEMEN OUTPUT AND SEMEN QUALITY OF BUFFALO BULLS AFTER PRE-COLLECTION INJECTION OF PROSTAGLANDIN F₂ ALPHA (PGF₂ ALPHA)

Capitan, S.S.,Antiporda, G.S.,Momongan, V.G. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1990 Animal Bioscience Vol.3 No.4

A study was conducted to determine the effect of prostaglandin $F_2$ alpha ($PGF_2$ alpha) on the reaction time and seminal characteristics of buffalo bulls. Semen was collected from three Murrah bulls in three periods: pre-treatment, treatment and post-treatment. During the treatment period each bull was administered 2 ml $PGF_2$ alpha (Synchrocept, Fenprostalene) im, 1 hour prior to semen collection. In the post-treatment, semen was collected 7 days after the last injection of $PGF_2$. Semen samples were evaluated immediately after collection. Pre-collection injection of $PGF_2$ alpha has no significant effect on reaction time, semen volume, percentage motility, sperm concentration and total number of sperms per ejaculate. Fluctuations in semen color and consistency were observed. There is a significant (p<0.05) increase in the mean percentage of normal spermatozoa during the treatment and post treatment periods. Likewise, administration of PG results into a significant (p<0.05) rise on the average percentage of live sperms but this effect was not manifested in the post-treatment period. Improvement in mass activity was observed during the treatment and post-treatment periods.

PREGNANCY RATES IN PHILIPPINE SWAMP BUFFALOES(CARABAOS) FOLLOWING CLITORAL STIMULATION DURING TIMED INSEMINATIONS

Capitan, S.S.,Momongan, V.G.,Obsioma, A.R.,del Barrio, A.N. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1992 Animal Bioscience Vol.5 No.2

One hundred sixty three (163) animals were used in $2{\times}2$ and $3{\times}2$ factorial experiment in randomized complete block design (RCBD) to determine the effect of clitoral stimulation during timed inseminations on the fertility of Philippine swamp buffaloes (carabaos). There were 3 separate trials conducted with two treatment groups per trial : control and with 30 second clitoral stimulation after each insemination. Parity, tone of uterus and site of semen deposition were also used as criteria in subdividing the main groups. The pregnancy rates of animals that received clitoral stimulation were significantly (p<0.05 or p<0.01) higher than those of control for both caraheifers (52.98 vs 31.41%) and caracows (52.68 vs 27.07%) ; under all uterine conditions : tone 1 (53.33 vs 31.75%), tone 2 (35.83 vs 22.82%) and tone 3 (75.65 vs 42.44%) ; and in both site of semen placement, cervix (43.99 vs 22.85%) and uterus (60.92% vs 37.81%). Fertility was also significantly (p<0.05) higher when semen was deposited in the uterus (49.37%) than in the cervix (33.42%). Interaction effect was insignificant. Clitoral stimulation should be utilized as a routine procedure following artificial insemination in carabaos.

Effects of Experimental Haemonchus contortus Infection on Red Blood Cells and White Blood Cells of Growing Goats

Howlader, M.M.R.,Capitan, S.S.,Eduardo, S.L.,Roxas, N.P. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1997 Animal Bioscience Vol.10 No.6

A uniform group of 12 upgraded growing goats aged between 6.0 and 7.5 months were used in this study. They were divided into three groups of $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$. Four animals were randomly allocated to each group. They were infected orally with three levels (0 larva, 5,000 larvae and 10,000 larvae) of infective Haemonchus contortus larvae. Before infection, all animals were housed in individual pens with concrete floors. They were provided with a uniform management. Total red blood cells (RBC) and total white blood cells (WBC) were measured by hemacytometric method. Results showed significant interaction effect of H. contortus infection and duration of infection on red blood cell counts. The RBC counts of animals in treatment groups 2 and 3 showed significantly lower values over the control group from the second fortnight to the end of the study. The overall mean RBC values of groups 1, 2 and 3 were 11.73, 9.70 and $9.12million/mm^3$ blood, respectively. H. contortus infection did not significantly influence the total leukocyte counts. Worm infection and duration of infection interaction was also absent on WBC counts. However, the time or duration of infection significantly influenced the WBC counts. Fecal egg counts showed patent infections in the infected animals which also indicated by postmortem worm counts.

EFFECT OF EXPERIMENTAL INFECll0N WITH STOMACH WORM (Haemonchus contortus) ON THE PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF DOES

Howlader, M.M.R.,Capitan, S.S.,Eduardo, S.L.,Sevilla, C.C.,Roxas, N.P. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1996 Animal Bioscience Vol.9 No.4

Comparison of body weight changes of does infected with Haemonchus contortus (treatment groups 2 &3) and uninfected does (control group) was made using weekly body weight measurements over 35 weeks. The animals in treatment group 2 weighted significantly (p < 0.05) less than animals in the control group from the 5th week to the end of the experiment. Does in treatment group 3 had significantly (p < 0.05) lighter body weight than control does from the 13th week to the end of the study. The animals in control group gained an average of 0.75 kg. On the other hand, animals in infected groups 2 and 3 lost an average of 3.90 kg and 4.13 kg body weight, respectively. The animals in groups 2 and 3 also had significantly (p < 0.05) lower preslaughter and hot carcass weights than the controls.

EFFECT OF EXPERIMENTAL Haemonchus contortus INFECTION ON HEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION AND PACKED CELL VOLUME OF DOES

Howlader, M.M.R.,Capitan, S.S.,Eduardo, S.L.,Roxas, N.P.,Sevilla, C.C. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1996 Animal Bioscience Vol.9 No.5

Twelve Philippine does of 3.5-5.0 years old were used in this study. They were divided into three groups, $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$. Four animals were randomly allocated to each group. Before infection, they were dewormed and housed in individual pens with concrete floors. They were provided with a uniform management. They were infected orally with a single dose of three levels (0, 15,000 and 30,000) of infective Haemonchus contortus larvae. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of each animal at fortnightly intervals for 17 fortnights. Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration was determined using hemoglobinometer and packed cell volume (PCV) by microhematocrit methods. Animals in infected groups showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower hemoglobin values than the control except during fortnight 1 for group 2 and fortnights 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 for group 3. Hemoglobin concentration did not significantly (p > 0.05) differ between the animals in infected groups throughout the sampling period except fortnight 2. The PCV values of animals in infected groups were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the control for most of the sampling periods. The PCV values of animals in group 2 did not significantly (p > 0.05) differ from group 3.

Performance of Growing Goats Experimentally Infected with Stomach Worm (Haemonchus contortus)

Howlader, M.M.R.,Capitan, S.S.,Eduardo, S.L.,Roxas, N.P.,Sevilla, C.C. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1997 Animal Bioscience Vol.10 No.5

A uniform group of 12 upgrade grower goats of 6.0 -7.5 months old were used in this study. They were equally divided into three groups of $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$ and were infected orally with three levels (0, 5,000 and 10,000 larvae) of infective Haemonchus contortus larvae. Before infection, all animals were housed in individual pens with concrete floor. They were provided with a uniform management. Comparison of body weight changes of infected and uninfected grower goats were done using weekly body weights. There was significant (p < 0.01) interaction between the effect of stomach worm infection and duration of infection on body weight. The infected groups (2 and 3) weighed significantly (p < 0.05) less than the control group from week 18 to 21. The animals of control group gained an average of 2.85 kg with 18.75 g average daily gain (ADG) in 152 days, which were significantly higher than those of animals in the infected groups. There was significant effect of H. contortus infection on the pres laughter weights of grower goats. The hot carcass weights of the infected goats were significantly lower than the uninfected group. No significant difference in dressing percentage of infected and uninfected groups was observed.

Effects of Stomach Worm (Haemonchus contortus) Infection on The Kids Born of Infected Mother Goats

Howlader, M.M.R.,Capitan, S.S.,Eduardo, S.L.,Roxas, N.P.,Sevilla, C.C. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1997 Animal Bioscience Vol.10 No.4

Twelve newborn goat kids born of philippine does (3.5 and 5 years old) were used in this study. Four mother (candidate) doe goats were randomly allocated to each group. The mother does were infected orally with three levels (0, 15,000 and 30,000 larvae) of infective Haemonchus contortus larvae. Before infection all animals were housed in individual pens with concrete floors. They were provided with a uniform management. Estrus of does were synchronized using PGF2 alpha. All the animals were bred naturally by the same buck. Baby goat born of infected mother goats were divided into three groups. $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$), respectively, from mother treatment groups. Birth weight and growth of goat kids born from H. contortus infected mother goats were determined. Birth weights of kids of $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$ were 1.9, 1.5 and 1.2 kg, respectively. No significant (p > 0.05) differences in birth weight of kids for the 3 treatment groups were found. However, significant (p < 0.05) effects of stomach worm infection and duration of infection on liveweight gain of kids were observed. After second and third week of birth, respectively, the kids of groups 3 and 2 registered lover liveweight gains than the kids in control group. However, no significant (p > 0.05) difference in liveweight gain was found between the kids of infected mother does. Fecal egg counts of the infected mother does showed patent infections which also indicated by postmortem worm counts. However, no worm egg was found in the feces of the test kids.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC INVESTIGATIONS ON THE SERTOLI CELLS OF PHILIPPINE CARABAOS AND THEIR CROSSBREDS

Nuneza, O.M.,Momongan, V.G.,Capitan, S.S. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 1993 Animal Bioscience Vol.6 No.2

A study was conducted to compare and determine the incidence of ultrastructural alterations in the testes of Philippine carabaos and crossbred buffaloes. Thirteen Philippine carabao bulls and twenty five crossbred male buffaloes were used in this study. Testicular biopsy was used to get tissue samples which were prepared for histologic evaluation using the electron microscopy method. There was no significant difference in Sertoli cell alterations between Philippine carabaos and crossbred buffaloes. However, more crossbred buffaloes (40%) had both Sertoli cell and spermatogenic cell alterations which were significantly higher compared to the 7.7% occurrence in Philippine carabaos. Sertoli cells of crossbred buffaloes exhibited intracavitary structures and exaggerated infoldings of the nuclear envelope (36%), nuclear bleb (16%), and intracytoplasmic vacuolations (16%). Philippine carabaos exhibited few ultrastructural alterations which were mainly intracytoplasmic vacuolations in Sertoli cells (15%).