Silent oestrus is an unsurmountable problem in the management of buffalo reproduction. In addressing this issue, we have earlier reported variation in the levels of urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) through the different phases of oestrous cycle with an extended window during the mid-oestrous phase. Based on this report, the present study is designed to assess the salivary LH levels in buffalo during the different phases of oestrous cycle. Bovine LH ELISA kit was used to determine the level of salivary LH. We observed a notable variation in salivary LH levels during the different phases of oestrous cycle. The maximum LH level, 39.07 mIU/ml, observed during oestrus, which was significantly (p < .05) higher than other consecutive phases. Altogether, the results showed a significant (p < .05) fold variation during oestrus compared with other phases. Therefore, the study convincingly shows that salivary LH has the potential of application in development of a modality for non-invasive oestrous detection in buffalo.
Keywords: ELISA; artificial insemination; non-invasive; oestrous cycle; oestrous detection; ovulation; saliva; silent heat.
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