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Effects of climate on the thermoregulatory responses of male buffalo (Bubalus-bubalis) calves supplemented with different levels of testosterone and TDN

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Abstract

The present work was undertaken to study the changes in the thermoregulatory responses due to changing climate, androgen and TDN percent in 12 buffalo male calves from 4 months of age for a period of two years. The results obtained were: (1) The amplitudes of the diurnal cycles in rectal temperature (Tre) in each month of the experiment were very similar but longer in summer months as compared to winter months, (2) The correlation between Tre and ambient temperature (Ta) was high in all months. (3) Buffalo calves without testosterone supplementation on 70% TDN showed maximum rise in Tre by 0.076 0‡C per degree of ambient temperature, indicating more strain, (4) Highest respiratory frequencies occurred at 10:00 h during summer months. Subgroup 2 of group 1 showed the maximum rise by 311% in respiratory frequency in summer over winter due to least acclimatization, (5) The mean daily increase by 9.94‡C in ambient temperature doubled the respiratory frequency of male buffalo calves from January to April, and (6) Androgen therapy and higher TDN percent level helped the male buffalo calves to adjust better and sooner than the other calves to changing climates.

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  1. Department of Animal Sciences, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab), India

    P. C. Gangwar

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  1. P. C. Gangwar
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Gangwar, P.C. Effects of climate on the thermoregulatory responses of male buffalo (Bubalus-bubalis) calves supplemented with different levels of testosterone and TDN. Int J Biometeorol 26, 73–79 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02187620

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02187620

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