Bubaline Progesterone Concentrations in Serum, Fore-milk and Saliva During Different Phases of Oestrous Cycle

Radioimmunoassay technique was used to determine the concentrations of progesterone in serum, fore-milk and saliva of 40 Nili-Ravi buffaloes during pro-oestrus, oestrus, met-oestrus and di-oestrus. Progesterone concentrations during oestrus were uniformly lower in all experimental body fluids; the highest concentrations were found during the mid luteal phase. Although the hormonal trend was similar but salivary progesterone concentrations in general were lower during all phases of oestrus cycle. There was a positive correlation between the concentrations of progesterone in serum with those of fore-milk (r= 0.82) (P< 0.01) and saliva (r= 0.75) (P< 0.01).