Effect of season on milk production in Murrah Buffaloes: THI a proven marker (original) (raw)
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Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of seasonal variation in Temperature Humidity Index (THI) on milk production and composition in Murrah buffaloes. Eight adult lactating Murrah buffaloes of 3-5 years of age and insecond to fourth lactation were selected in summer and winter season. Meteorological variables such as ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded and THI was calculated during the period of study. Milk samples were collected from Murrah buffaloes and evaluated for the concentration of milk fat, protein, SNF, lactose and salt. The data was analyzed using SPSS v.20. The results indicated that average milk production, milk fat, protein and SNF decreased significantly (p<0.05) in summer in comparison to winter, while lactose and salt did not differ significantly (p>0.05) in between seasons. From the present study it was concluded that high THI imposes significant heat stress and negatively affects milk production and composition in Murrah buf...
Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2019
The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of heat ameliorative measures (fans, foggers, green agro shadenet) on physiological, haematological, biochemical and milk production parameters in Surti buffaloes. Lactating Surti buffaloes (36) were equally divided into two groups and kept in two sheds. Group I animals were housed in a shed without any modification while Group II animals housed in a shed fitted with fans and foggers inside the shed and roof top white washed with microfine lime and open paddock was covered with green shade net and foggers were fitted. There were significant differences in the THI values of both inside and outside of the sheds at majority of periods during the hot-dry season. The floor and roof temperature of control shed at almost all-time intervals was significantly higher than the floor temperature of treatment shed. Significant difference in rectal temperature was observed at 14 and 28 days while respiration rate was significantly lower in animals of treatment shed. In treatment group, total erythrocyte count and haematocrit was significantly low at day 21 and mean platelet volume was significantly high at day 42. Significantly high levels of cholesterol, chloride and sodium at day 21 and glucose, protein, triglyceride, GSH, TAS and sodium at day 42 were observed in treatment group. Weekly milk yield (kg) during hot-dry season was significantly higher for treatment group than control group at 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th weeks of the experiment. Evening milk yield of treatment group was significantly higher than the control and the cumulative milk yield (for 42 days) was also significantly higher for treatment group than control group (180.08 vs.150.80 kg). It can be concluded that microclimate modifications help in reducing heat stress and has beneficial effect on physiological responses, blood biochemical parameters and total milk production in lactating Surti buffaloes during hot dry season.
Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2014
To find out the effect of heat stress alleviation on physiological response, metabolic hormone profiles, milk production and composition in lactating buffaloes during hot-dry (HD) and hot-humid (HH) seasons, 42 lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes were uniformly divided into 2 groups of 21 each. The treatment (T 1 ) group was supplemented with niacin, yeast, edible oil and provided with curtains, additional ceiling fans and mist fans in the shed. The feeding time, frequency and method for providing concentrate were altered. The control (T 0 ) group buffaloes were kept in separate shed without any nutrient supplementation, modification in microclimate and management. The rectal temperatures, recorded at 10 AM and 3 PM, were significantly lower in treatment group buffaloes than control group under both seasons. Similar trends in pulse rate and respiration rate were recorded among treatment and control group buffaloes in both seasons. Plasma cortisol, T 3 and T 4 values were almost similar in...
Evaluation of Environmental Heat Stress on Physical and Hormonal Parameters in Murrah Buffalo
Journal of Animal Health and Production, 2019
Buffaloes have poor heat tolerance capacity compared to other domestic ruminants and are more prone to heat stress due to scarcely distributed sweat glands, dark body color and sparse hair on the body surface. Thermal environment is a major factor that can affect milk production and reproduction in buffalo especially animals of high genetic merit. Therefore present study was undertaken to study the effect of seasonal stress on Murrah buffalo. Thirty healthy non-lactating Murrah buffaloes each around two years of age were selected for the experiment. Rectal temperature, respiration rate, heart rate and various hormones level were measured in different season to know the effect of heat stress in buffalo. Season had no significant effect on rectal temperature, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) level. However, it had significant effect on respiration rate(P≤0.05), heart rate(P≤0.01) and cortisol level (P≤0.05) in Murrah buffalo. They had lowest level of respiration rate, heart rate and cortisol level in winter season and highest level in summer. This indicates stressful condition of animal in summer.
IMPACT OF CLIMATIC PARAMETERS ON MILK PRODUCTION IN MURRAH BUFFALOES
The impact of climatic parameters on milk production in Murrah buffaloes were investigated using monthly milk production record of 379 lactations of Murrah buffaloes in Dairy Farm, College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani during the years from 1985-2009. Correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to investigate various sources of variation for milk yield. The calving of Murrah buffaloes were not equally distributed in all seasons of the year. However the maximum number of calving occurred in winter season (44.59 per cent) followed by rainy season (31.40 per cent) and summer season (24.01 per cent). The influence of environment factors on peak milk yield was significant (P< 0.01). It was observed that peak milk yield was highest (7.801 + 0.16 lit.) among the buffaloes calved during winter season as compared to rainy (7.35 + 0.14 lit.) and summer season (6.51 + 0.12 lit.). The influence of season of calving on lactation milk yield and lactation length was also significant. The highest milk yield and lactation length was also significant. The highest milk yield (1257.15 + 29.55 lit.) and longer lactation length (310.65 + 2.25 days) was observed among buffalo calved during winter season. The buffaloes calved during winter, rainy and summer season had lactation length of 1257.15 + 29.55 lit., 1088.00 + 18.41 lit. and 982.42 + 15.56 lit., respectively. It was also observed that buffaloes calved during winter season had longer lactation length (310.65 + 2.25 days). At the same time rainy and summer calved buffaloes show shorter lactation length (301.52 + 1.97 days) and (293.12 + 2.35 days) respectively, than winter calved. Both lactation yield and lactation length were low in summer calved buffaloes as compared to rainy and winter calved.
2021
The erstwhile developed temperature-humidity index (THI) has been popularly used to indicate heat stress in dairy cattle and often in buffaloes. However, scientific literature suggests differences in thermotolerance and physiological responses to heat stress between cattle and buffalo. Therefore, THI range used to indicate degree of heat stress (mild, moderate, and severe) in cattle should be recalibrated for indicating heat stress in buffaloes. The present study was carried out to delineate THI range to indicate onset and severity of heat stress in buffaloes based on physiological, biochemical, and expression profiling of heat shock response (HSR) genes in animals at different THI. The result indicated early onset of heat stress in buffaloes as compared to cattle. Physiological and biochemical parameters indicated onset of mild signs of heat stress in buffaloes at THI 68-69. Significant deviation in these parameters was again observed at THI range 73-76. At THI 77-80, the physiolog...
Responses of Dairy Buffalo to Heat Stress Conditions and Mitigation Strategies: A Review
Animals
Increases in temperature and the greater incidence of extreme events are the consequences of the climate change that is taking place on planet Earth. High temperatures create severe discomfort to animal farms as they are unable to efficiently dissipate their body heat, and for this, they implement mechanisms to reduce the production of endogenous heat (reducing feed intake and production). In tropical and subtropical countries, where buffalo breeding is more widespread, there are strong negative consequences of heat stress (HS) on the production and quality of milk, reproduction, and health. The increase in ambient temperature is also affecting temperate countries in which buffalo farms are starting to highlight problems due to HS. To counteract HS, it is possible to improve buffalo thermotolerance by using a genetic approach, but even if it is essential, it is a long process. Two other mitigation approaches are nutritional strategies, such as the use of vitamins, minerals, and anti...
Impact of weather variables on Milk Production of Buffaloes
Climate change poses formidable challenges to the development of livestock sector in India. The projected rise in temperature between 2.3 and 4.8°C over the entire country together with increased precipitation resulting from climate change is likely to aggravate the heat stress in dairy animals, adversely affecting their productivity and reproductive performance and hence reducing the total area where high yielding dairy cattle can be economically reared. The organ systems of animals respond to physical, chemical, biological and climatic stimuli from their surroundings and work in concert to perform the essential body functions. The performance, health and well being of the buffalo are strongly affected by climate both, directly and indirectly. The impacts that climate change will bring about are expected to exacerbate the vulnerability of livestock systems. The morphological and anatomical characteristics of buffaloes make them well-suited to hot and humid climates, but heat stress has detrimental effect on the reproduction of buffaloes. Global warming is likely to impact productivity of buffaloes due to their sensitivity to temperature changes. Air temperature, humidity, wind velocity and solar radiation are the main climate variables that affect buffalo production in tropical climate. The statistical models incorporating various weather parameters have been developed and used to analyze effect of climate change on milk productivity of buffalo. The study suggests that the milk productivity of Murrah will decrease by 12.78% during 2080s due to climate change.
Impact of Climate change on Milk production of Murrah buffaloes
Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2010
Global warming is likely to impact productivity of buffaloes due to their sensitivity to temperature changes. Air temperature, humidity, wind velocity and solar radiation are the main climate variables that affect buffalo production in tropical climate. In the present study sensitivity of lactating Murrah buffaloes to sudden temperature (Tmax, Tmin) change and THI have been analyzed from milk production and climatic records (1994-2004) of Karnal. Algorithms were developed and validated on lactating buffaloes during 2005-2006 at the Institute. A sudden change (rise or fall) in Maximum/Minimum temperature during summer and winter was observed to affect milk production. The decline in minimum temperature (>3°C) during winter and increase (>4°C) during summer than normal were observed to negatively impact milk production upto 30% on the next or subsequent days after extreme event. The return to normal milk production depended on severity and time period of thermal stress/ event occurrence. The R² was very low for cool period observed during Feb-April/Sept-Nov and actual effect on milk production was minimum. This indicated that low THI had a relatively small effect on milk production performance. The lactation period of animals are shortened during extreme summer when THI were more than 80 and reproductive functions were also adversely affected. Thermal stressed buffaloes did not exhibit estrus or exhibited estrus for short period. The potential direct effects of possible climate change and global warming on summer season milk production of Murrah buffaloes were evaluated using widely known global circulation model UKMO to represent possible scenarios of future climate. Both milk production and reproductive functions of Murrah buffaloes are likely to be affected due to warming effects.