Early pregnancy diagnosis plays a key role for profitable and sustainable animal husbandry practices especially in the productive animal species like cattle and buffaloes. In this context, a study was undertaken to assess the utility of seed germination inhibition technique (Punyakoti test) for early detection of pregnancy in buffaloes. Thirty nondescript buffaloes were randomly selected from the different villages of Bangalore Rural district. The urine samples from selected buffaloes were collected while they were naturally micturating early in the morning on day 30, 45 and 60 after artificial insemination and the samples were subjected to seed germination inhibition test within four to six hours of collection. Wheat, green gram and ragi seeds were subjected for germination after diluting the urine sample with distilled water in the ratio of 1:4. The per cent seed germination after 48 hours and the extent of shoot length on the fifth day were recorded. The pregnancy status of each test animal was confirmed per rectally on day 60 after artificial insemination. There was no significant difference (P>) in seed germination inhibition per cent on day 30 between inseminated buffaloes and confirmed non pregnant buffaloes. The germination inhibition per cent of the seeds of wheat, green gram and ragi among inseminated pregnant, inseminated non pregnant, confirmed non pregnant and distilled water control group differed significantly (P ) in shoot length on day 30 between pregnant and non-pregnant buffaloes. However, the shoot length of all the seeds of wheat, green gram and ragi differed significantly (P | Utility of seed germination inhibition test for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffaloes
