Effect of Summer Heat Stress on Physical Characteristics of Cervico-vaginal Mucus in relation to Conception in Murrah buffaloes

Material and method: The study was conducted on 16 apparently healthy Murrah buffaloes, maintained at dairy farm GADVASU, Ludhiana. Study was conducted in two phases i.e. Pre-summer and Summer season. Cervico-vaginal mucus samples were taken from all the animals at the time of artificial insemination during both the seasons. Various physical parameters of CVM viz, Transparency, Viscosity, Fern pattern, pH and Spinnbarkeit were observed. Results and Discussion: CVM samples of the buffaloes during pre-summer were more transparent with typical fern pattern, low viscosity, higher pH and spinnbarkeit value as compared to summer stressed buffaloes. Further when the data was compared according to the conception status the parameters were found to be favourable in conceived animals as compared to non-conceived ones. Data so obtained was analyzed between the two seasons and according to the conception status of the animals. Conclusion: It is concluded that physical parameters of CVM at the time of insemination may alter due to heat stress in buffaloes. Higher transparency, more typical fern pattern, lesser viscosity, higher pH and more spinnbarkeit are favorable for conception in Murrah buffaloes. Thus these physical properties of CVM at the time of insemination in summer season influence the chances of conception and can be used as an important indicator for prediction of conception in Murrah buffaloes.