Association of Sleeping Time with Determination of Estrus in Riverine Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

The present study was conducted on the Murrah buffaloes maintained at Livestock Research Centre of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal. The animals were classified into heifer, primipara and pluripara. For this experiment a total of 50 Murrah buffaloes were followed, out of which 8 were heifers, 12 were primipara and 30 were pluripara. Daytime was considered to be from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm and night from 6.00 pm to 6.00 am. It was confirmed that the mean daily sleeping time of buffaloes during the reference day in heifer, primipara, pluripara and overall of buffaloes was 76.63±1.80, 72.93±2.04, 74.64 ±1.44 and 74.40±1.06 min for heifer, primipara, pluripara and overall buffaloes, respectively. The total sleeping time decreased significantly (p<0.05) one day before estrus by 52.37%, 39.86%, 38.41% and 40.53% for heifer, primipara, pluripara and overall buffaloes, respectively compared to the day of reference. The difference between -1 d and day of estrus was significant (p<0.05) for all group except for heifers. The decrease in total sleeping time on estrus day was by 62.59%, 57.78%, 46.13% and 51.37% for heifer, primipara, pluripara and overall buffaloes, respectively compared to the day of reference. From the above study, it can be concluded that sleeping behaviour around estrus indicated their potential for useful markers in early detection of estrus. The changes in sleeping behavior of individual buffalo can be used for early detection of change of reproductive status as it is significantly affected by estrus and as the change in sleeping behavior.