This study was performed to explore the effect of drenching propylene glycol (PG) and calcium propionate (CP) as a source of energy to primiparous Egyptian buffalo cows (Bubalus bubalis) on milk production and some blood biochemical parameters. Eighteen primiparous buffalo cows (8 weeks before calving) with an average live body weight (LBW) of 500±25kg and aged 35±5 months were used. Animals were classified to three comparable groups (6, each) based on (LBW), body condition scores and expected calving date. Animals in the 1 st group served as a control (C), were drenched 3L of saline solution (NaCl 0.9%) without any additives, the animals in the 2 nd group (PG) were drenched 300 mL of propylene glycol dissolved in 3L of a saline solution. In the 3 rd group (CP), animals were drenched 335g of calcium propionate dissolved in 3L of a saline solution. Milk production and milk composition of primiparous buffalo cows were measured. Blood samples were collected from all buffalos for biochemical analysis. Results showed significant effects on average daily and total milk yield but no significant difference on milk composition. All blood biochemical parameters revealed no significant variation between treated and control groups except for plasma beta-hydroxy butyrate (BHB) and both T 3 and T 4 hormones concentrations. The overall mean of BHB in treated (PG) and (CP) was also lower (17.67 and 14.67 vs. 26) than control group. Overall mean of T 3 concentration hormone was the lowest in control group represented 3.13 vs. 5.28 and 4.99 ng/ml) for (PG) and (CP) treated group. The highest overall mean of T 4 concentration hormone was recorded in (CP) treated group represented 19.55 ng/ml. Concisely, the present results indicate that drenching (PG) and (CP) have a positive effect on the productive traits of primiparous Egyptian buffalo cows while, did not affect the blood biochemical parameters.

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of administration of zincmethionine and selnomethionine to Friesian bulls during hot summer conditions in Egypt on physiological thermoregulatory response, sexual desire, some physical and chemical semen characteristics and blood metabolites. Twenty sexually mature Friesian bulls were divided into five similar groups (4 bulls/ each). Bulls in the 1 st group were unsupplemented and served as a control, while those in the 2 nd ,3 rd ,4 th and 5 th groups were orally supplemented with zincmethionine (Z-Met) at a levels of 2 and 4 mg/kg of BW/day and selenomethionine (Se-Met) at a levels of 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg of BW/day, respectively, for two months as preliminary period and other three months as a main collection period. Rectal and skin temperatures, pulse rate (PR) and respiration rate (RR) were measured once each week through the experimental period. During the main collection period, semen was collected twice weekly and evaluated for semen-ejaculate volume (SEV), percentage of progressive sperm motility (PSM), live sperm (LS) and sperm abnormalities (SAB), sperm-cell concentration (SCC/ml) and total-sperm output (TSO/ejaculate). Blood samples were collected pre-treatment and monthly during the main collection period to determine concentration of total proteins (TP), albumin (AL) and globulin (GL); thyroxin (T 4 ), triiodothyronine (T 3 ), cortisol and testosterone hormones and zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) levels in blood plasma. Also, activity of ALT, AST, ALP, ACP, SOD and GSH enzymes, as well as concentration of fructose, zinc and selenium were estimated in seminal plasma.The obtained results revealed that reaction time (RT) was shorter (P<0.05) and blood plasma testosterone concentration was higher (P<0.05) in all treated groups than the control group, begin the shortest (P<0.05) and highest (P<0.05) values of RT and testosterone concentration were recorded for bulls treated with Z-Met, especially in G3 group. Physical semen characteristics (SEV, PSM, LS, SCC/ml, TSO/ejaculate and SAB) were improved (P<0.05) in all treated groups as compared with the control one, being the best (P<0.05) values for bulls treated with Z-Met, especially in G3 group. Also, bulls treated with Z-Met in G3 group showed the lowest (P<0.05) activity of ALT, AST, ALP and ACP enzymes, highest (P<0.05) activity of SOD and GSH enzymes, and fructose, Zn and Se concentrations in seminal plasma as compare to other treated groups and control one. Bulls treated with Z-Met and Se-Met showed increased (P<0.05) levels of AL, T 4 , T 3 , Zn and Se, while GL and cortisol levels decreased (P<0.05) in blood plasma as compared to control one. In conclusion, orally administration of zincmethionine and selenomethionine to Friesian bulls had a valuable impact on sexual desire, semen quality and blood metabolites. Therefore, it can be recommended to treating the Frisian bulls with zincmethionine at a level of 4 mg/kg of BW/day during two preliminary months and three main semen collection months for improving the ...

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The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of treating Egyptian buffaloes with some immunopotentiators as selenomethionine and levamisole HCl separately or in combination, during the late stage of pregnancy and early lactation period, on immune and health status and blood constituents of the dams and their offspring as well as growth performance of their calf. Total of 28 Egyptian buffaloes weighing 600 ± 50 kg in 2 nd-4 th lactation season at late stage of pregnancy (60 days before parturition) were selected to carry out this study. All experimental animals were randomly allocated in randomized design to four similar experimental groups (7 buffaloes / each). Animals in the 1 st group were without treatment and served as a control group, while those in the 2 nd group were orally administrated with 0.9 mg/kg of DM twice weekly of selenomethionine (Se-Met). The 3 rd group were subcutaneously injected with 0.5 mg/kg of BW/week of levamisole HCl (LEV) and the 4 th group were orally administrated with 0.9 mg / kg of DM twice weekly of selenomethionine plus 0.5 mg/kg of BW/week, subcutaneously of levamisole HCl (Se-Met+LEV) respectively, during 60 days pre-and post-partum. The obtained results showed that blood plasma TP, AL, T 3 and T 4 hormones, selenium and glucose concentrations as well as activity of transferases enzymes (ALT and AST) and antioxidant enzymes (GSH and SOD) were improved (P<0.05) in dams that administrated with Se-Met, LEV and Se-Met+LEV and their calf compared with untreated dams and its calves. The best (P<0.05) values recorded with dams received Se-Met+LEV together and their newborn calves. Administration of Se-Met, LEV and their combination Se-Met+LEV to dams achieved significantly (P<0.01) enhanced levels of immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and IgG, and significantly (P<0.01) reduced levels of nitric oxide and cortisol in blood plasma of dams and their newborn calves as compared to the control dams and their offspring. The greatest (P<0.01) values of immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and IgG and least (P<0.01) values of nitric oxide and cortisol were detected in dams administrated with Se-Met+LEV together and their calf. Also, dams treated with a combination of Se-Met+LEV (G 4) recorded significantly (P<0.01) increased concentrations of all immunoglobulins fractions (IgA, IgM and IgG) in their colostrum as compared to the control dams or dams treated with Se-Met (G 2) or LEV (G 3) separately. Moreover, there were no recorded cases of newborn affection between calves delivered from all administrated dams compared with calves delivered from the control dams that shows more severe pneumonia and enteritis as a result of which two calves (28.57%) died in the first month of life. Average birth and weaning weights and daily gain of buffalo calves were significantly (P<0.05) higher by Se-Met, LEV and Se-Met+LEV administration to their dams, begin the highest (P<0.05) values of birth and weaning weights and daily gain of calf produced from buffalo dams received Se-Met+LEV together (G 4). In conclusion, admin...