Changes in colostrum of Murrah buffaloes after calving

Colostrum samples were collected from 8 Murrah buffaloes on days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 after calving. Levels of IgG averaged 54.0 mg/ml at calving, then decreased significantly (P < 0.01). IgA and IgM on day 1 were 3.22 mg/ml and 5.22 mg/ml, respectively; both decreased during the first five days after calving. Values of IgA and IgM were higher than those reported in cows. SCC values, which were high at calving (500 000 per ml), reduced significantly (P < 0.01) on day 2, then decreased slightly until day 5 (180 000 per ml). At calving, macrophages were the most prominent cells in buffalo colostrum, followed by lymphocytes and neutrophils. Phagocytic activity was 23% at calving and reduced significantly (P < 0.01) to 14% on day 5. Phagocytic index was highest in the first colostrum, and then decreased non-significantly.     

Comparative studies on temperature threshold for heat shock protein 70 induction in young and adult Murrah buffaloes

To know the temperature threshold for heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) induction in lymphocytes and to assess physiological changes, if any, in relation to HSP70 induction in young and adult Murrah buffaloes, this study was divided into two parts: I. In vivo study: where assay of HSP70 was performed in blood samples collected from acutely exposed young and adult Murrah buffaloes (n = 6) inside a climatic chamber at 40, 42 and 45 °C for 4 h and thermoneutral temperature (22 °C). Physiological parameters viz., rectal temperature, respiratory rate, pulse rate and skin temperature of different body parts were monitored to assess magnitude of stress in the animals owing to thermal exposure II. For in vitro study, equal numbers of lymphocyte cells were separated from blood collected from young and adult buffaloes and were subjected to four temperature treatments (38, 40, 42 and 45 °C) for 4 h. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in all the physiological parameters in both young and adult buffaloes was observed after exposure to 40, 42 and 45 °C for 4 h as compared to 38 °C. The average plasma HSP70 concentrations (ng/ml) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) at 40, 42 and 45 °C as compared to 38 °C in both young and adult and were higher in young than adult buffaloes at 38 and 45 °C. Heat shock protein 70 level in lymphocyte lysate showed highest concentration after 3-h exposure to all temperatures (40, 42 and 45 °C) in both young and adult buffaloes. The intensity of changes of all physiological parameters was more in young animals than in the adults indicating the greater susceptibility of younger animals to heat stress and was found to be changed at around 40 °C when animals were exposed to different temperatures, indicating the possibility that HSP70 production may be initiated at this temperature which is 2 or 3 °C higher than core body temperature.     

Random regression models to estimate genetic parameters for weights in Murrah buffaloes

This article reports genetic analysis of the weight at different ages of Murrah water buffaloes, using random regression models (RRM). Models ranging from third to sixth order polynomial were used to describe direct genetic and animal permanent environmental effects. Contemporary group was included as a fixed effect, and a cubic polynomial was used to model the mean curve of the population. The residual was modeled considering a log‐linear function. Two models were selected for study of genetic parameters. The first model included third and sixth order polynomials for direct genetic and animal permanent environmental effects (M36). The second model included sixth order polynomials for all random effects (M66). The estimates of heritability varied from 0.16 + 0.04 (44 days) to 0.38 + 0.04 (568 days) for model M36 and from 0.16 + 0.05 (33 days) to 0.42 + 0.05 (600 days) for model M66. Regarding estimates of the correlation for all effects, the magnitude tended to decline with the increase of the time span between measurements. These results indicate that the species has potential for genetic selection based on weight at different ages, since we found favorable genetic variability within the herd, with selection likely to be more efficient at ages near 600 days.     

Normal somatic cell count and subclinical mastitis in Murrah buffaloes

This study was conducted to investigate the normal somatic cell count (SCC) and to define subclinical mastitis in Murrah buffaloes. Data were collected from 60 clinically normal buffaloes stationed at five farms of Chitwan Nepal and Buffalo Research Center, Hissar, India. Somatic cell count was measured using the Newman-Lampert staining technique. The upper limit of SCC was determined >or=200 000/ml of milk based on the mean +/- 2SD of a total SCC. Abnormal data of the SCC was repeatedly removed, which lie beyond the values of more than mean + 2SD until all the data come to lie within (mean + 2SD). Averages of SCC of right front and right hind quarters were significantly higher than left front and left hind quarters. Nearly 94% of California mastitis test (CMT) negative quarters were having somatic cells >or=200 000/ml. The mean SCC of CMT positive quarter was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than CMT negative quarters. Subclinical mastitis was diagnosed on the basis of samples with SCCs >or=200 000/ml with positive bacterial cultures. Subclinical mastitis was found in 21.7% buffaloes and 8% of the quarter foremilk samples. Neutrophil counts were significantly higher in subclinical mastitis milk.     

促卵泡素对摩拉水牛超数排卵的试验初报

用20毫克促卵泡素（FSH）对河流型乳用水牛进行超数排卵，采用递减法连续注射4天（8次），可达到超排效果，共处理3头牛，其中屠宰1头经卵巢计数排卵14枚，闭锁卵泡2枚；直肠检查2头平均排卵5．15枚，闭锁卵泡2枚。在采用卵方法上，外科手术冲洗输卵管1头，共回收卵子2枚；非外科手术采卵2头，1头回收未受精卵子5枚，另一头回收32细胞胚胎2枚。     

Polymorphisms in major histocompatibility complex genes and its associations with milk quality in Murrah buffaloes

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Animal breeding programs have used molecular genetic tools as an auxiliary method to identify and select animals with superior genetic merit for milk...     

Chitosan associated with whole raw soybean in diets for Murrah buffaloes on ruminal fermentation,apparent digestibility and nutrients metabolism

This study aimed to investigate the effects of chitosan and whole raw soybean on nutrient intake, apparent digestibility, nitrogen utilization, microbial protein synthesis, blood metabolites, feeding behavior, ruminal fermentation, digesta kinetics, and reticular flow of nutrients of buffaloes. Four ruminally‐cannulated Murrah buffaloes (351 ± 15 kg of initial BW) were randomly assigned according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments were arranged as 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: the first factor was whole raw soybean (WRS), and the second factor was chitosan (CHI) with or without their inclusion in diets. Intake and apparent digestibility of ether extract (p < .01; p = .04, respectively), non‐fiber carbohydrates intake (p = .03) and apparent ruminal digestibility of dry matter (p = .01) were affected by diets. An interaction effect or tendency was observed for microbial nitrogen (p = .09), concentrations, ruminal ammonia nitrogen (p = .05), total volatile fatty acid (p = .03). Association of chitosan with whole raw soybean has potential effects as a modulator of rumen fermentation; therefore, chitosan can be applied as an alternative non‐ionophore for Murrah buffaloes.     

Effect of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes supplementation on milk production and nutrient utilization in Murrah buffaloes

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of commercial exogenous fibrolytic enzyme (EFE) mixture added at 1.5 and 3.0 g (cellulase 4,000 μM glucose/g/h + xylanase 7,990 μM xylose/g/min; 50:50 w/w) per kilogram of dry matter (DM) of feed on nutrient digestibility, milk production, milk composition, and some blood constituents in lactating Murrah buffaloes. Eighteen buffaloes were allotted to three dietary treatments, on the basis of milk yield (8.48, 8.52, and 8.53 kg/day) and days in lactation (68.5, 80.33, and 82.00) for 90 days. The buffaloes were fed a total mixed ration (TMR) comprising of 45% chaffed wheat straw, 15% chopped green maize, and 40% concentrate on DM basis (control group), the same TMR plus EFE at 1.5 g/kg DM (T-1 group) and the same TMR plus EFE at 3.0 g/kg DM (T-2 group) supplemented through the concentrate mixture. There was no effect of fortifying EFE mixture on DM intake and crude protein intake (grams per day) whereas total digestible nutrients intake (kilogram per day) was higher by (P < 0.05) 12.53% in T-1 group over that of control, and there was no significant difference between T-2 and control groups. The average daily milk yield and 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield was higher (P < 0.05) by 12.99% and 15.17% in T-1 group as over that of control, and there was no difference between T-2 and control groups. There was no (P > 0.05) difference in blood glucose and blood urea nitrogen concentration in different experimental groups. It is concluded that supplementation of cellulase and xylanase mixture at 1.5 g/kg of DM of TMR containing wheat straw (45%), green maize (15%), and concentrate (40%) on DM basis significantly increased (P < 0.05) the average daily milk yield and FCM yield in Murrah buffaloes due to improved dietary fiber digestion.     

Effect of rumen-protected nutrients on feed intake,body weights,milk yield,and composition in Murrah buffaloes during early lactation

The effect of rumen-protected nutrients (bypass fat, BPF; bypass protein, BPP; or their combination, BPPF) was investigated in Murrah buffaloes during the early stage of lactation. Forty Murrah buffaloes (BW 531.92?±?10.85 kg) just after parturition were randomly distributed into four groups according to parity and milk production. Buffaloes individually fed ration from day 0 to 90 postpartum according to feeding group and nutrient requirement. Control and BPF fed groups received a concentrate mixture, CM1 with 25% rumen-protected protein (using barley, wheat bran, and mustard oil cake), BPP and BPPF groups received a second concentrate mixture, CM2 with 40% rumen-protected protein (using barley, de-oiled rice bran, and cottonseed cake). Bypass fat fed groups (BPF and BPPF) additionally were supplemented with 15 g BPF (Ca salt of long-chain fatty acids) per kg milk yield in their respective concentrate mixtures. Dry matter intake, body weights, body condition score, and total milk yield were similar between groups (P?>?0.05). Fat-corrected milk (FCM) production was improved (14.5%, P?>?0.05) in groups fed BPP and BPPF, while significant (19.45%, P?<?0.05) improvement was observed in BPF-fed group. Overall mean values of milk fat, solid not fat, protein, lactose, and total solids were found to be high (P?<?0.05) in treatment groups as compared with control values. It may be concluded that supplementation with BPP or BPF either alone or in combination positively influences the quality of milk produced in Murrah buffaloes during early lactation and BPF additionally had improvement on the quantitative trait of milk as well.

     

Plasma hormones, metabolites, milk production, and cholesterol levels in Murrah buffaloes fed with Asparagus racemosus in transition and postpartum period

Ten dry and pregnant Murrah buffaloes were selected to investigate the effect of Asparagus racemosus feeding on hormones, metabolites, milk yield, and plasma cholesterol levels. The treatment groups of buffaloes were fed with A. racemosus (shatavari) @?150?g/day/animal during prepartum and @?300?g/day/animal during the postpartum period. Blood samples collected on ?6, ?4, ?2-week, day of parturition (0), and +2, +4, and +6-week postpartum were analyzed for plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), prolactin, cortisol, and blood metabolites. Milk samples collected at weekly intervals (+1, +3, +5, and 7?weeks) were analyzed for total milk fat cholesterol. Prepartum plasma cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in treatment group over the control (P?<?0.05). Mean plasma triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glucose, and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels varied nonsignificantly between groups. Plasma prolactin and cortisol concentrations were significantly (P?<?0.01) more in treatment group than in control group. On day of parturition, plasma prolactin, cortisol, LDL, and plasma total cholesterol were higher (P?<?0.01) in treatment group buffaloes in comparison to control group. A. racemosus feeding significantly (P?<?0.01) increased plasma prolactin, cortisol (P?<?0.01), and milk fat cholesterol (P?<?0.05) without affecting total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, glucose, and NEFA concentrations. The buffaloes of treatment group produced more milk (?@?0.526?kg/animal/day) suggesting thereby that A. racemosus is galactopoietic. It was concluded that feeding of A. racemosus increases plasma prolactin and cortisol and decreased plasma total cholesterol and LDL concentration.     

Relationship of temperament with oestrous behaviour,resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield in post‐partum Murrah buffaloes

This study was designed to investigate the relationship of temperament with oestrus, resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield in post‐partum buffaloes. For this study, 102 post‐partum Murrah buffaloes were observed for temperament in open paddock and during milking. Based on the temperament score (1–5 score), they were classified into docile, slightly restless, restless, aggressive and nervous. Oestrous behaviour was monitored twice daily in all the buffaloes along with milk yield (weekly), body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) at day 0, 30, 60 and 90 post‐partum. Based on the temperament score, the number of buffaloes classified as docile, slightly restless, restless and aggressive was 37 (36.27%), 28 (27.45%), 30 (29.41%) and 7 (6.86%), respectively, but none under nervous category. Number of buffaloes resuming cyclicity in various temperaments groups were as follows: docile (n = 35; 94.59%), slightly restless (n = 22; 78.57%), restless (n = 20; 66.67%) and aggressive (n = 7; 85.71%). Temperament was not correlated (p = .128; r=?.152) with oestrous behaviour. But, temperament was correlated (p < .0001; r = .384) with the resumption of cyclicity as docile and slightly restless buffaloes resumed cyclicity (p < .0016) earlier. Temperament of buffaloes was weakly correlated (p = .0017; r=?.306) with milk production with higher (p < .0358) total milk yield in docile (1022 ± 23.75 kg) and slightly restless buffaloes (948 ± 35.86 kg) as compared to other temperament groups. In summary, temperament of post‐partum buffaloes was related with resumption of ovarian cyclicity and milk yield, but not oestrous behaviour.     

Assessment of feeding varying levels of Metabolizable energy and protein on performance of transition Murrah buffaloes

Fifteen close up pregnant Murrah buffaloes of mean body weight (668.3 ± 24.03) kg, lactation number (2.8 ± 0.17) and expected producing ability (EPA) (2125.7 ± 46.34) were randomly distributed into three groups each of five animals to investigate the performance at different levels of metabolizable energy and protein. Control group was fed as per ICAR Nutrient requirements of animals (2013) recommendation whereas treatment group (1) high metabolizable energy and high metabolizable protein (HMEMP) and group (2) low metabolizable energy and low metabolizable protein (LMEMP) were offered with ration containing 15% more and 15% less ME and MP, respectively. The feeding trial was carried out for the period of 40 days before parturition and continued for 120 days after parturition. Intake of dry matter (DM) (%BW) was similar among experimental groups. Metabolizable energy (ME) (MJ/100 kg BW) and metabolizable protein (MP) (g/100 kg BW) intake was highest in HMEMP followed by control and LMEMP group, respectively. Digestibility trial of 7 days was conducted at 60 days post-partum and it was observed that apparent digestibility coefficients (%) of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extracts (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were similar among the experimental groups. Milk yield (kg/kg DMI) was similar among treatment groups whereas 6% fat corrected milk (FCM) was lower in LMEMP group as compared to HMEMP and control. No significant effect of dietary MP and ME levels on milk composition was observed among experimental groups. There were no significant difference in non esterified fatty acid (NEFA), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), growth hormone (GH) and insulin like growth factor-1(IGF-1) concentration among different experimental groups whereas concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG) (μg/ml) was found to be lower in LMEMP. The study results indicate that nutrient digestibility and lactation performance was not affected with 15% variation in intakes of ME and MP in lactating Murrah buffaloes.     

Effect of pre‐partum supplementation of vitamin E to Murrah buffaloes on immune functions and viability of calves

This study was undertaken in buffalo neonates born to vitamin E (dl ‐ alpha ‐ tocopherol acetate) ‐ supplemented and non‐supplemented Murrah buffaloes. Calves from vitamin E‐supplemented buffaloes (n = 10; vitamin E ‐supplemented calves [VeC]) and non‐supplemented buffaloes (n = 10; control calves [CC]) constituted the treatment and control groups respectively. Two colostrum samples were taken at the first post‐partum milking and again after 12 h from dams for IgG estimation. Sampling of blood was performed on days 0 (before colostrum feeding), 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112 and 126 post‐birth and analysed for apparent efficiency of absorption (%) of IgG and various immune parameters. Colostral IgG level was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in vitamin E‐supplemented buffaloes. The calves in both groups were born hypogammaglobulinemic with IgG level <5 g/l. However, first colostrum feeding resulted in significantly elevated IgG levels (>10 g/l) in calves of both groups at 24 h, which remained high afterwards. Apparent efficiency of absorption (%) of IgG at 24 h was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in VeC than in CC. Plasma Nitric Oxide (NO) levels were significantly elevated in the calves of either group at birth, which declined significantly (p < 0.01) afterwards. Vitamin E feeding to dams had no added effect on NO levels in experimental calves. Total leucocyte counts did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, lymphocyte and neutrophil counts changed significantly between groups (p < 0.01) and days (p < 0.01), with lymphocytes increasing and neutrophils declining with age. This study revealed that the calves were immunologically immature at birth. Ante‐partum supplementation of vitamin E did not influence plasma NO or IgG but had a significant effect on colostral IgG (p < 0.05). It also improved the apparent efficiency of absorption (%) of IgG at 24 h in VeC as compared to CC.     

Efficacy of different methods for detecting the onset of ovarian cyclicity in post-partum Murrah buffaloes

This study was designed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of three methods for detecting the onset of cyclicity in post-partum Murrah buffaloes. The methods investigated were visual signs, transrectal ultrasonography, and serum progesterone (P₄) assay. For this study, 102 post-partum Murrah buffalo cows were grouped for monitoring their ovarian activity. The first group of buffaloes was between 26 and 35 days post-partum. Thereafter, the buffalo cows that calved were grouped after every 10 days for the study sample. Thus, the study animals were adjudged between 26 and 35, 36–45, 46–55, 56–65, 66–75, 76–85, and 86–95 days post-partum with an average of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 days post-partum, respectively. Visual estrus signs were monitored twice daily, and simultaneously, ultrasound examination was carried out at 10 days interval for accessing the presence of corpus luteum (CL). Serum P₄ was estimated in the animals which were adjudged cyclic by ultrasound examination, and the assay was repeated after 10 days. The buffalo cows in estrus were inseminated artificially, and pregnancy status was assessed after 30 days post-insemination. In this study, the sensitivity and specificity of visual observation were low (39.37 and 70.73%, respectively) when compared to P₄ assay (98.80 and 96.47%) and ultrasound examination (single, 97.59 and 97.59%; double, 100 and 100%), respectively. Furthermore, the sensitivity and specificity of single and double ultrasound examination and P₄ assay were comparable. In conclusion, this study reports that single and double ultrasound examination and P₄ assay are more efficient than visual observation in detecting the onset of ovarian cyclicity in post-partum Murrah buffaloes.