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Dry period cooling ameliorates physiological variables and blood acid base balance, improving milk production in murrah buffaloes

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of evaporative cooling during late gestation on physiological responses, blood gas and acid base balance and subsequent milk production of Murrah buffaloes. To investigate this study sixteen healthy pregnant dry Murrah buffaloes (second to fourth parity) at sixty days prepartum were selected in the months of May to June and divided into two groups of eight animals each. One group of buffaloes (Cooled/CL) was managed under fan and mist cooling system during dry period. Group second buffaloes (Noncooled/NCL) remained as control without provision of cooling during dry period. The physiological responses viz. Rectal temperature (RT), Respiratory rate (RR) and Pulse rate were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in group 2, with the provision of cooling. Skin surface temperature at thorax was significantly lower in cooled group relative to noncooled group. Blood pH and pO2 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in heat stressed group as compared to the cooled group. pCO2, TCO2, HCO3, SBC, base excess in extracellular fluid (BEecf), base excess in blood (BEb), PCV and Hb were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cooled group as compared to noncooled group. DMI was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cooled relative to noncooled animals. Milk yield, FCM, fat yield, lactose yield and total solid yield was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in cooled group of Murrah buffaloes.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are highly thankful to NICRA (National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture) for timely support and cooperation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dairy Cattle Physiology Division, National Dairy Research Institute Karnal-132001, Haryana, India

    Ovais Aarif & Anjali Aggarwal

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  1. Ovais Aarif
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  2. Anjali Aggarwal
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Correspondence to Ovais Aarif.

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Aarif, O., Aggarwal, A. Dry period cooling ameliorates physiological variables and blood acid base balance, improving milk production in murrah buffaloes. Int J Biometeorol 60, 465–473 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1044-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-015-1044-4

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