Eficiencia reproductiva de búfalas multíparas sometidas a implantes de melatonina fuera de la estación reproductiva

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of melatonin implants on reproductive function of buffaloes during spring and summer (long photoperiod). The efficiency of treatments was tested evaluating oestrus behavior, using teaser bulls with reproductive device markers. The experiment included 100 females distributed in three groups: Gl (control group, n=38), G2 (one melatonin implant, n=36) and G3 (three implants, n=26). Eighty six (86%) females were in cyclical activities in the long photoperiod. They were mated and 71 (82.6%) became pregnant. It was verified that 18 animals repeated heat totalizing 21 repetitions. Fourteen females remained in anestrous during all the experiment, being 6 of group Gl (15.8%), 6 of group G2 (16.7%) and 2 of group G3 (7.7%). From 38 females of Gl, 32 (84.2%) showed oestrus and were mated, being 26 (68.4%) pregnant in November and 6 (15.8%) in March. In G2 (n=36) 83.3% (n=30) were observed in oestrus, being 63.9% (n=23) pregnant in November and 19.4% (7) in March. In G3 animals (n=26) 92.3% (n=24) showed oestrus, being 84.6% (n=22) pregnant in November, and 7.7% (2) in March. The results showed reproductive activity in 86% of female buffaloes, with no differences (p>0.05) between groups, indicating that reproductive behaviour of this species prolongs almost until the end of the year. Consequently, reproductive behaviour was observed during the long photoperiod months, indicating that in Brazil the pattern of reproductive behaviour is different for this species. Moreover, the administration of melatonin implants did not affect reproductive pattern during this period.