# The Potential of Infrared Thermography for Early Pregnancy Diagnosis in Nili-Ravi Buffaloes

## TL;DR

This study explores using infrared thermography to detect early pregnancy in Nili-Ravi buffaloes by measuring body temperature changes in specific regions.

## Contribution

The study introduces infrared thermography as a novel, non-invasive method for early pregnancy detection in buffaloes.

## Key findings

- Infrared thermography detected higher surface temperatures in the left flank, left eye, and vulva of pregnant buffaloes.
- Muzzle temperature at maximum gradient was significantly higher in non-pregnant buffaloes.
- Thermal changes associated with pregnancy can be identified in specific body regions using IRT.

## Abstract

Early diagnosis of pregnancy in dairy buffaloes is of critical importance for harnessing their maximum production potential. Existing methods of early pregnancy diagnosis are highly technical, expensive, and laborious. Infrared thermography is emerging as a user-friendly, less laborious, and relatively simple technique that is capable of detecting variations in surface temperature associated with physiological changes in the animal’s body. The present study evaluated the potential of infrared thermography to detect thermal changes associated with early pregnancy in different anatomical regions (vulva, eyes, muzzle, flanks) in buffaloes. The results of the present study revealed that body-surface temperature as detected by infrared was significantly higher for the left flank (maximum, average, and minimum) and left eye and vulva (maximum and average gradients). The muzzle temperature at the maximum gradient was significantly higher for the non-pregnant as compared to pregnant buffaloes. The results indicated that various regions of the body tend to show differences in the surface temperature after pregnancy has been established and that infrared thermography could serve as a tool to measure such pregnancy-associated thermal changes.

This study was designed to explore the potential of infrared thermography (IRT) as an alternate approach for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffaloes. The surface temperature (ST) of different regions (eyes, muzzle, flanks, and vulva) was determined in 27 buffaloes using IRT from the day of artificial insemination (AI; Day 0), and measurement was repeated every fourth day until Day 24 post-AI. From all regions, the ST in each thermograph was recorded at three temperature values (maximum, average, minimum). Pregnancy status was confirmed through ultrasonography on Day 30, and animals were retrospectively grouped as pregnant or non-pregnant for analysis of thermographic data. In pregnant buffaloes, all three values of ST were significantly greater (p ≤ 0.05) for the left flank, while, in the left eye and vulva, only the maximum and average values were significantly greater. By contrast, the maximum ST of the muzzle was significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) in pregnant buffaloes compared to non-pregnant buffaloes. However, the ST of the right eye and right flank did not show significant temperature variation at any value. These findings suggest that IRT has the potential to identify thermal changes associated with pregnancy in buffaloes at an early stage.