Veterinary Archives, Vol. 76 No. 5, 2006.
Original scientific paper
Ovarian morphology and estradiol-17beta concentrations in serum and follicular fluid of slaughtered zebu cattle in Ibadan, Nigeria
Maxwell N. Opara
Charles I. Okoli
Udo Herbert
Oyewole Adeyemo
Abstract
Over a period of three months (January to March), ovarian morphology and estradiol-17β concentrations in
serum and follicular fluid were studied in 110 Bunaji (Bos indicus) cows slaughtered at Bodija abattoir, Ibadan,
Nigeria, in order to determine the reproductive state and history of such cattle. Macroscopic examination of the
ovaries revealed that 70 (63.6%) of the cows were undergoing active oestrous cycle. Of these, 42 (60.0%) had
large ovarian follicles of greater than 3 mm diameter, while 22 (31.4%) had corpora lutea (CL). Six animals (8.6%)
had corpora haemorrhagica. Of the 22 animals exhibiting CL, 12 (54.5%) had CL of pregnancy and were with
calf, while 10 (45.5%) others had those of normal oestrous cycle. Corpora albicans (CA) counts showed that 90
(81.8%) of the cows had calved at least once, the mean being 4.5 calves per cow. Fifty-eight cows (52.7%) had
calved 0-2 times, 34 (30.9%) 3-5 times and 18 (16.3%) 6-8 times. The mean estradiol-17β levels in follicular
fluid (1669.6 ± 9.7 pg/mL) were significantly higher than that of the serum (85.5 ± 0.8 pg/mL). The non-pregnant
cyclic with corpus luteum group had the highest follicular estradiol concentration (2558.8 ± 8.9 pg/mL), while
the pregnant group had the lowest (858.5 ± 6.8 pg/mL). The mean serum estradiol level among pregnant cows
was 115.7 ± 1.2 pg/mL. Low levels of serum estradiol-17β were consistently recorded among animals having
active ovaries and good volume of follicular fluid, indicating that they were reproductively active and were being
sold for reasons other than infertility.
Keywords
ovaries; serum; estradiol-17b; zebu cows; Nigeria
Hrčak ID:
5149
URI
Publication date:
20.10.2006.
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