Original scientific paper

Clinico-biochemical alterations in zero-grazed riverine buffaloes on dry roughage based ration.

Ramesh C. Patra ; Department of Medicine, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India; Division of Medicine, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
Ashok K. Pattanaik ; Division of Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
Puneet Kumar ; Division of Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
Rakesh Ranjan ; Division of Medicine, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
Artabandhu Sahoo ; Division of Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
Devendra Swarup ; Division of Medicine, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India

Abstract

The clinical signs of inappetance, poor body condition, pityriasis and decubital skin lesions in 22 stall-fed buffaloes of 18 to 20 months of age warranted the present clinical investigation. The animals were clinically examined and history was collected on feeding and management conditions. The animals had been held on wheat straw based diet supplemented with 0.5 to 0.8 kg concentrate (devoid of vitamin premix) without access to green forage for the last seven months. Six animals had skin sloughing, rough coat, abrasion and two buffaloes were on sternal recumbency and were unable to get up. Blood samples were collected by jugular venepuncture from eight randomly selected from the 22 affected buffaloes, with varying degrees of clinical signs, and from five control buffaloes of a similar age group, who were provided with ad lib green fodder to serve as control. Serum samples were analyzed for blood glucose, total protein, albumin, urea, uric acid, creatinine, calcium, and phosphorous. Aspartate animo-transferase (AST) and alanine amino-transferase (ALT) activities were significantly (P<0.01) lower in serum from affected animals, indicating reduced hepatic function. Alkaline phosphatase activities (AP), along with serum cholesterol level were also significantly (P<0.05) lower in zero-green fed animals compared to the controls. Blood copper and zinc concentrations were statistically comparable in both the groups, but the mean values for cobalt and iron were significantly lower in affected animals. Mean plasma level of vitamin A, ß-carotene and α-tocopherol was significantly (P<0.01) lower in affected animals than in the controls. This is the first report documenting the combined deficiency of vitamin A and its precursor ß- carotene along with α-tocopherol, and the affected animals had reduced hepatic function. The present investigation strongly suggests provision of green fodder or supplementation of vitamins in the diet of buffaloes to avoid poor health and clinical signs associated with deficiency.

Keywords

vitamin A; ß-carotene; α-tocopherol; micro-minerals; buffaloes

Hrčak ID:

69492

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/69492

Publication date:

20.6.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 1.463 *