<div>Bornean orangutans (<em>Pongo pygmaeus</em>) are a critically endangered species. Proper monitoring of the menstrual cycle is important in breeding programs. Hormonal cycle tracking was performed in this study by collecting female urine. Metabolites of estrogen (estrone glucuronide, E1g) progesterone (P4) were measured using enzyme immunoassay. E1g tracking was carried out for 8 animal-months during normal cycling to obtain an average hormonal profile. P4 was tracked throughout normal cycling to obtain a baseline and over 1 successful pregnancy to obtain a reference for pregnancy monitoring and parturition anticipation. This study concludes that this non-invasive hormonal cycle monitoring using urine is an acceptable method. A recommended mating guideline of introducing the male after an estrogen increase of 1.5 times the baseline is proposed based on the results. This minimizes coerced mating and increases chances of pregnancy, which would benefit animal welfare and greatly assist in the conservation of the species.</div>


<div>A Proposed Mating Guideline for Bornean Orangutans (<em>Pongo pygmaeus</em>) using Urinary Hormonal Tracking Methods</div>


<div><strong>Background: </strong>Early detection of pregnancy can perk up the reproductive competence of dairy animals and decreasing the interval between two successive AI. Several methods of pregnancy diagnosis both direct and indirect are being practiced; but to date, none of these technologies qualifies as the ideal pregnancy detection method due to its limitation. The present study was designed to learn about the changes of hormonal and blood metabolites during early bovine pregnancy.<br />
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<strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 30 numbers of crossbred cows at 2<sup>nd</sup> to 5<sup>th</sup> lactation was selected for the study. Clinico-gynaecological examination was carried out in all the cows and those have devoid of ill health, having a regular estrous cycle and estrus period were inseminated at mid to late estrus. Ten milliliter&nbsp; of blood samples were collected aseptically from all the cows (6 samples from each cow and a total of 180 samples) on day 1, 10, 20, 30, 60 and 90 of post-A.I. From the obtained serum, levels of glucose, cholesterol, BUN, total protein and hormonal profile estrone sulphate, progesterone were analysed. All the cows were observed for the absence of external signs of estrus after AI and pregnancy was confirmed by using ultrasonography and per rectal examination on day 30 to 40 of post insemination.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Result: </strong>It was observed that level of glucose, BUN, cholesterol and progesterone was significantly increased during early pregnancy (P&lt;0.01). While, the serum level of estrone sulphate significantly decreased while advancing the pregnancy. There was positive correlation&nbsp;between the level of progesterone (P&lt;0.01) and negative correlation of estrone sulphate (P&lt;0.05) with serum glucose, BUN, cholesterol at different days of post A.I. The blood biochemical constituents i.e. glucose, BUN, cholesterol and hormone estrone sulphate, progesterone possibly will used as an ideal marker of early pregnancy in cattle. Thus blood biochemical constituents like glucose, BUN, cholesterol and hormone estrone sulphate, progesterone possibly can be used as a tool for diagnosis of non pregnant dairy cattles with very high accuracy at around 30 days of post insemination.&nbsp;</div>


A Proposed Mating Guideline for Bornean Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) using Urinary Hormonal Tracking Methods

A Comparative Study on Certain Blood Metabolites and Hormonal Indices for Detection of Pregnancy of Crossbred Cows of High Altitude: Mizoram