INFECTIOUS CAUSES OF INFERTILITY IN BUFFALO BULL (Bubalus bubalis)

The artifi cial insemination (AI) technique plays an important role in improvement of conception rate, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and transmission of genetic material to the next generation. The breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) plays an important role in selection of male buffalo for the said purposes. This evaluation is an effective, inexpensive and easy method for selection of breeding buffalo bulls. In buffalo breeding management programmes, seasonal variation, nutrition, congenital defect, hormonal changes and hereditary play critical roles in determining the reproductive effi ciency in buffalo bulls. The information regarding the reproductive health of buffalo bulls for breeding soundness evaluation is meager. The venereally transmitted infection causes early embryonic death, infection in the female reproductive tract and infertility or sterility in female animals and also infertility and disease condition in the male animals. To avoid such infective conditions, proper and careful investigation of all parts of the reproductive tract and evaluation of semen and treatment are important. So, a male buffalo calf being purchased for breeding purpose must be evaluated for breeding soundness.