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Body Condition, Energy Balance and Immune Status of Periparturient Murrah Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) Supplemented with Inorganic Chromium

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Abstract

Periparturient Murrah buffaloes were used to determine whether body condition, energy balance and immune status are affected by inorganic Cr supplementation. Twenty-four Murrah buffaloes were blocked into four groups having six animals in each group and fed for 60 days pre-partum to 150 days post-partum. Feeding regimen was same in all the groups except that these were supplemented with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 of Cr per kilogram of dry matter (DM) in the four respective groups. Buffaloes were weighed at fortnightly intervals. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein at days −60, −30, −15, −7, 0, 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 of experimental feeding for the estimation of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), Cr level, lymphocyte proliferation, neutrophil phagocytic activity, plasma total immunoglobulin (TIg), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and cortisol levels. Results revealed that with approaching parturition, dry matter intake (DMI), immune response and plasma Cr level decreased (P < 0.05) gradually and minimum values were observed on the day of parturition in all groups. In contrast, body condition score (BCS), plasma NEFA and BHBA concentrations showed increasing (P < 0.05) trends towards calving and level decreased after calving. Dietary Cr supplementation did not have any effect on DMI and BCS, but immune response and plasma Cr concentration showed a positive correlation with dietary Cr supplementation. Buffaloes supplemented with 1.5 mg/kg Cr had significantly (P < 0.05) low plasma NEFA and BHBA concentrations. The results of present findings indicated that dietary inorganic Cr supplementation reduced lipid mobilization and improved immune response in periparturient buffaloes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express sincere thanks to the Director of NDRI, Karnal, for providing necessary facilities for this work. The authors wish to extend their sincere thank to Dr. Ajay Kumar Dang for his excellent technical assistance during the lymphocyte proliferation and neutrophil phagocytic assays. The financial assistance for the research was provided by Department of Physiology through National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.

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  1. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhemaji, 787059, India

    Rijusmita Sarma Deka

  2. Dairy Cattle Nutrition Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, 132001, India

    Veena Mani, Zade Satish Shiwajirao & Amrish Kumar Tyagi

  3. Animal Nutrition Department, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura, 281001, India

    Muneendra Kumar

  4. Agricultural Extension Division, Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan-I, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Harjit Kaur

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Deka, R.S., Mani, V., Kumar, M. et al. Body Condition, Energy Balance and Immune Status of Periparturient Murrah Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) Supplemented with Inorganic Chromium. Biol Trace Elem Res 161, 57–68 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0069-6

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