Now an 'Udaipur Protocol' for treating bovine

infertility
UDAIPUR: Treating cattle for infertility had never been economic, time-saving and effective
before. After years of field trials and research, veterinarians here have developed a modified
technique from the prevalent hormonal therapy, which they call 'Udaipur protocol' for
treating infertility in cows and buffaloes. The modified technique tested among cattle in
many villages and 'gaushalas' has proved to be cheaper and faster with as high as 60%
conception rate. Encouraged by the achievement, a proposal for establishing a Center of
Excellence here has been moved by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Badgaon for treating,
training and research on bovine infertility.
In Rajasthan, more than about 50% breedable cattle and buffalo are infertile, nonproductive and non-pregnant. Infertility, anestrous, silent estrus, repeat breeding and low
production potential are the major problems which reduce conception rate, increases
intercalving interval and dry period. This is a major cause of worry for livestock owners.
Animal Husbandry department and KVK had been working on problems of infertility and
repeat breeding in cattle and buffalo since last 15 years. The KVK has a dairy with more than
150 cattle heads and provided a good platform for undertaking any innovative treatment
strategy. It made the task of systematic follow up, repeated examination of animals and
record keeping easier. During this period, thousands of animals were treated under field
conditions on various organized dairy farms as well as in scattered units. Infertility
treatment in cattle was then taken up in a few villages in last four years under various
projects of KVK in selected groups. The results were found to be highly encouraging.
"Contrary to the traditional bovine infertility treatment technique in which animals are
treated irrespective of their ovarian structure, the method we have developed is based on
prominent ovarian structure," said Bhupendra Bharadwaj, deputy director of Regional
Disease Diagnostic Center of the animal husbandry department. Thorough rectal palpation
is done to ensure that there is no abnormality and animal is non- pregnant. Based on
ovarian structures, selected animals are divided into two groups those having prominent
luteal structure and those not having one followed by treatment and insemination as per
protocol. After 18-21 days of insemination, animals are observed for sign of estrus and reinseminated.
"The modified technique is less time consuming as cattle in an entire village could be treated
within a span of one month," said ChandraShekhar Bhatnagar, a senior vet of the
department. "More than 800 vets across the state have been given training on the protocol
who are successfully implementing it in their respective areas benefitting thousands of
villagers," said Praful Bhatnagar of KVK.

Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.