Evaluation of naturogarbh-ethnoveterinary formulation for repeat breeders
Abstract
In cattle and buffaloes, repeated breeding is a common issue that reduces productivity by increasing culling rates and lowering the number of calves produced. A cow is considered a repeat breeder if it fails to conceive after three or more services despite showing normal oestrus cycles. In the present study, 23 cows and 7 buffaloes that were presented with the history of repeat breeding revealed subclinical endometritis. All these cattle were administered with 30 g of Naturogarbh (an ethnoveterinary preparation by Your farm) for ten days, starting from the day of estruses. Animals were closely monitored, and artificial insemination was performed at the next estruses. Pregnancy was confirmed in 25/30 animals by a per-rectal examination three months post-AI.
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Introduction
Repeat breeding in cattle and buffaloes is a common issue, leading to higher culling rates, fewer calves, and reduced productivity. A repeat breeder is generally defined as a cow that fails to conceive after three or more services despite exhibiting true estrus (Profit, 2008) [8] . High culling rates due to infertility/sterility in dairy animals have been reported in India (Kaylin, 2002) [2] . The causes of infertility are multifactorial, including reproductive tract abnormalities, faulty artificial insemination (AI), hormonal imbalance, poor nutrition, and improper management. Conditions such as delayed ovulation, anovulation, and luteal dysfunction can contribute to repeat breeding (Singh and Pant, 1998) [9] . Infections of the reproductive tract, particularly clinical and sub-clinical endometritis, may also lead to infertility and early embryonic death (Thakur et al., 2006) [10] . Ethnoveterinary medicines (EVM), traditionally practiced in India, are increasingly being recognized as effective alternatives in mainstream veterinary care. The present paper documents the efficacy of ethnoveterinary product, Naturogarbh in repeat breeding cattle.
Materials and Methods
The field study was conducted on 30 dairy cattle with the history of repeat breeding. 23 cows and 7 buffaloes were included in the study. All these cattle were having similar history of repeat breeding in spite of normal physical condition and normal physiological parameters. Per rectal examination was performed to identify the cause of repeat breeding. All these cattle were administered with 30 g of Naturogarbh (an ethnoveterinary preparation by Your farm) for ten days. All these animals were observed for heat.
Results and Discussion
All the 30 animals (23 cows and 7 buffaloes) were apparently healthy. No abnormality were detected on physical and clinical examination. Appetite, digestion and defecation and urination were within normal limits. A detailed perirectal examination of these cattle revealed mild endometritis with inflamed and thickened uterine wall. NaturoGarbh, an ethnoveterinary preparation by your farm was administered as electuary for 10 consecutive days orally, starting from the day of estrus. Animals were closely monitored for estrous signs, and artificial insemination was performed at the next estruses. Pregnancy was confirmed in 25/30 animals by a per-rectal examination three months post-AI. Results showed that 25 out of 30 cows conceived following NaturoGarbh administration, demonstrating its efficacy in managing repeat breeding cases. These findings suggest that NaturoGarbh, an ethnoveterinary product provide a promising, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative for addressing repeat breeding in cattle and buffaloes. Infertility in cattle is commonly linked to factors such as reproductive tract abnormalities, improper artificial insemination practices, hormonal imbalances, inadequate nutrition, and poor overall management. Conditions like luteal dysfunction, delayed ovulation, and anovulation can further impair the animal's ability to conceive and return to regular breeding cycles. Reproductive tract infections arising from both clinical and subclinical endometritis have been recognized as major contributors to early embryonic loss. Additionally, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in treating repeat breeding cases has led to concerns about antimicrobial resistance, while hormonal therapies have often yielded inconsistent results. Consequently, there is a need for alternative management approaches. In this context, ethnoveterinary medicines (EVM), which have a long history of use in India, are gaining attention as a viable standalone treatment option in modern veterinary practice (Saraswat and Profit 2020; Singh and Pant, 1999; Singh, 1998) [6,7,8] . Among the major ingredients of Naturogarbh viz., Azadirachta spp, Maringa spy, Osmium spp, Zingiber spp, Curcuminoids and Charta in botanical mineral base, Maringa (Moringa oleifera) helps manage repeat breeding in cattle by improving reproductive efficiency, stimulating follicle maturation, and offering antimicrobial properties to treat subclinical infections (Gopalakrishnan et al., 2016) [1] . Similar findings were reported by Ramakrishna and Shankar (2023) [5] in cattle that were treated with oral successive administrations of Maringa oleifera along with other herbs viz., Aloe vera, Cissus quadrangularis and Murray konini. The authors documented that feeding of these herbal ingredients revealed conception of 27/37 cows that were suffering with repeat breeding. Sarawak and Profit (2020) [6] reported that a variety of herbal medicinal plants are effective in managing reproductive disorders and related conditions in animals. These include Nevada pursoetha for uterine disorders, Mitres communist for uterine prolapse, Nigella saliva and Pendulum murex for puerperal and uterine diseases, Pendants odoratissimus for sterility and threatened abortion, Plant ago species for postpartum complications, Viburnum foetid for postpartum haemorrhage and threatened abortion, and Viola species for uterine prolapse. In another study by Kalaiyarasan et al., (2024) [3] , the combination of curry leaves and mooring leaves has shown a marked efficacy in dealing with delayed ovulation in cows. Similarly, Chiara generally relate to improving the overall metabolic and reproductive health of the animal to encourage conception (Ramakrishna and Shankar 2023) [5] .
Conclusion
From the present study it may be concluded that Naturogarbh, an ethnoveterinary formulation from yourfarm is an unique combination of selective herbs that helps in managing repeat breeding in cattle. However, further studies in large population is warranted.
References
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