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

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.

Supplemental chromium in cold-stressed buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis): effects on growth performance, nutrient utilization and cell mediated and humoral immune response

“…Increased neutrophil phagocytic activity in the buffalo calves fed a supplement of 1.5 mg Cr/kg DM is in accordance with the findings of DEKA et al (2014) who also reported increased neutrophil phagocytic activity in buffaloes fed 1.5 mg Cr/kg DM periparturient Murrah. A similar result was also reported by KUMAR et al (2015), who found that the addition of inorganic Cr to heat-stressed buffalo calves influenced neutrophil phagocytic activity.…”

“…Increased neutrophil phagocytic activity was also reported in Cr supplemented transition cattle (KAFILZADEH et al, 2012). However, no effect of dietary Cr supplementation on peripheral neutrophil phagocytic activity was reported by HALDAR et al (2009). The increase in humoral immune response in the 1.0 and 1.5 mg Cr/kg DM supplemented groups is consistent with the findings of KUMAR et al (2015) and DEKA et al (2014) who reported higher levels of TIg and IgG in Cr supplemented periparturient Murrah buffaloes and Murrah buffaloes calves, respectively. WANG et al (2007) stated that pigs supplemented with 200 μg/kg Cr as Cr-Nano had 13.2% and 20.6% higher serum concentrations of IgM and IgG.…”

“…Higher cell mediated immunity was obtained with inorganic Cr supplementation in the current study, which is consistent with the findings of KUMAR et al (2015) in heat-stressed buffalo calves. DEKA et al (2014) showed that periparturient Murrah buffaloes supplemented with 1.5 mg inorganic Cr/kg DM had higher B and T-cell proliferation. CHANG et al (1994) observed 70% increased lymphocyte blastogenesis in response to Con A in calves receiving 1.0 ppm supplemental chelated-Cr.…”

“…The findings of the present study on physiological variables are consistent with previous findings by KUMAR et al (2013), who also found no effect of Cr supplementation on the physiological responses of heat-stressed buffalo calves. DEKA (2014) conducted a feeding trial in Murrah buffaloes to study the effect of inorganic Cr supplementation on immune-endocrine parameters, nutrient utilization and productive performance in similar agro climatic conditions. She found no effect of feeding diets supplemented with 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg Cr as Cr-chloride/ kg DM on PR, RR, and RT.…”

“…FRANK et al (2003) reported increased feed intake and reduced feed:gain ratio in pigs housed at low temperatures compared to normal temperature. However, no effect of Cr supplementation on nutrient intake under optimum ambient temperatures was reported in periparturient Murrah buffaloes (DEKA et al, 2014) and Holstein calves (DEPEW et al, 1996). KRAIDEES et al (2009) in transportation stressed calves, and KUMAR et al (2015) also ascribed no effect of Cr supplementation on growth performance in heatstressed buffalo calves.…”