Current Concepts in Bovine Reproduction

This book provides updated information on the current concepts in bovine reproduction. It describes the complex issues associated with fertility and infertility in bovines and suggests strategies for achieving high reproductive efficiency. It discusses topics related to the fertility trend in bovines, estrus detection, controlled breeding, postpartum uterine health, uterine infections, and its therapeutic management. The essential roles of metabolic hormones on gonadal functions and fertility are also covered. Additionally, the book presents new insights in maternal recognition of pregnancy in bovines and suggest nutritional strategies to improve reproductive efficiency. The chapters on male fertility provide current information on semen cryopreservation, sperm quality assessment and measures to improve sperm fertility. A special chapter on intricacies in buffalo semen cryopreservation and measures to improve the quality of cryopreserved sperm is also included in this book. Lastly, the book introduces the immunobiological roles of anti-microbial peptides during sperm transport in reproductive tract and epigenetic bearing on fertility. 
This book is an invaluable resource for veterinary scientists, students and practitioners to understand the current developments in bovine reproduction for improving reproductive efficiency.

Dr. A. Kumaresan is as a Principal scientist at Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru. His specialization is in Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics. He is a post-Doc from Swedish Agricultural University, Sweden. His major area of research has been semen biology, sexing of semen, sperm-oviduct interaction and male fertility. He, along with his team, developed integrated livestock production models for hilly areas, area specific mineral mixture for dairy cattle, and indigenous cryopreservation method for boar semen and produced the country’s first litter of piglets through artificial insemination with frozen semen in 2009. His lab developed methods for in vitro culture of bovine spermatogenic and Sertoli cells, identified sperm fertility associated proteins and identified suitable combinations of sperm function tests for fertility prediction in cattle and buffalo bulls. In recognition to his significant contribution in research, Dr. A. Kumaresan has been awarded by ICAR with prestigious awards like Lal Bahadur Shastri Young Scientist Award (two times; one in 2007 and the other in 2015), Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Award in 2010 and Hari Om Ashram Trust Award in 2019. In recognition of his teaching skills, NDRI awarded him with the “Best Teacher Award” for post-graduate teaching in 2014 and ICAR awarded him with “Bharat Ratna Dr C. Subramaniam Award for Outstanding Teachers” in 2017. He is a recipient of BOYSCAST Fellowship by the DST in 2009, Dr. S. K. Sirohi Memorial outstanding researcher award in 2015 and Outstanding Research Faculty Award by Career 360 in 2018. He is a member of many scientific societies and organizations, fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, National Academy of Dairy Sciences and Indian Society for Study of Animal Reproduction. He has published more than 225 research articles in peer reviewed journals, 40 technical articles, 14 books and 9 bulletins besides several training manuals and book chapters. He has guided 17 Master’s students and 18 Doctorate students as major advisor.

Dr. A. K. Srivastava is currently a Member of Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board. Previously, he was the Director and Vice Chancellor at ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Dean Faculty of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry and Director Resident Instructions & Dean PGs at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technologies, Jammu and Head of the Department at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He is Post-Doc from G.S.F Institute of Toxicology, Munich (Germany) Prof. Srivastava is President, National Academy of Dairy Science (India), and Patron of Indian Dairy Association. He is President, Association of Mastitis and President of Probiotic Association of India. Earlier, Prof. Srivastava was Vice President of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), Secretary, NAAS, and also the President, Indian Society of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology. He is a distinguished Member of National Academy of Sciences, fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, fellow of National Academy of Dairy Sciences and fellow of National Academy of Veterinary Sciences,. He has been honored with numerous prestigious awards and honours including ICAR Jawaharlal Nehru Award; International NOCIL Award; National Alarsin Awards in 1987-88 and 1999-2000; ASET Gold Medal, German Academic Exchange Award, Gold Medals of Indian Science Congress Association, Dr. B.D. Garg Outstanding Pharmacologist Award-2018, National Education Award 2016, and many more. He has been conferred the “Life Time Achievement Award” by the Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction and Fertility, Society for Community Mobilization for Sustainable Development and Indian Society of Buffalo Development. He has also received the “Chellappa Memorial Oration Award” Mansinhbhai Memorial Oration Award, Dr. Sunderasan Memorial Award, Dr. M. Sabir Oration Award, Prof. S.C. Mandal Memorial Oration Award and “Dr. Rao Memorial Oration Award”, Dr. V. Kurien Memorial Oration Award and Prof. S. Kannaiyan Memorial Award-2019, by National Academy of Biological Sciences. He is honoured with Degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc. Honoris Causa) from Veterinary University, Mathura and Veterinary University Jabalpur. He has more than 250 research papers in his credit.