Nine blood samples were taken to determine plasma melatonin in a 24h-period/month for a year. The six buffalo heifers used were kept at latitude 22° South. Plasma melatonin rose slowly, peaking at night (between 9 and 11pm) and maintained until 3 to 5am. Melatonin concentration decreased day-time to lower levels until sunrise. Nocturnal higher plasmatic melatonin did not vary with night length over the year. Diurnal melatonin concentrations were lower when estimated reproductive rate was the highest for the herd.
Buffalo; melatonin; seasonality
