Influence of Bypass Fat and Mineral Supplementation during Transitional Period on Plasma Trace Minerals Profile and Postpartum Fertility in Jafarabadi Buffaloes

Abstract

This investigation was carried out on 40 advanced pregnant Jafarabadi buffaloes of 2–4 parity equally divided into two groups, viz., control and treatment groups. The control animals were maintained on standard routine farm feeding, and the animals of the treatment group received additional oral supplements of 50 g chelated mineral mixture and 150 g bypass fat daily along with concentrates for 6 weeks prepartum and 8 weeks postpartum. The bypass fat was given @ 15 g/liter of milk produced limiting up to 200 g/head/day from 15–60 days postpartum. Ten animals in each control and treatment group further received Inj. Stimvet 5 mL (micro-minerals) around day 45 prepartum and on day of calving. Half of these Stimvet treated and control subgroups also received ecbolic Exapar (n = 5) 2 boli/day for 4 consecutive days postpartum. Blood samples were obtained from all animals by jugular vein puncture on the day –45, –30, –7 and 0 (day of calving), 7, 15, 30, 45, 60 peripartum for estimation of plasma trace minerals, viz., zinc, iron, copper, cobalt, and manganese. The plasma zinc and copper concentrations were found to be higher on day 30 prepartum and again on day 7 postpartum in Stimvet injected groups.Moreover, the overall pooled mean concentration of zinc was significantly higher in nutrients supplemented than the control group. The plasma concentrations of iron, cobalt, and manganese did not reveal any specific trend or significant variations between groups or between periods within any of the groups. Further, the peripartum oral nutrients supplementation significantly shortened the periods of placental expulsion time and uterine involution, with early onset of postpartum first estrus, apparently shorter service period and enhanced pregnancy rate in comparison to control group. The influence of Stimvet and Exapar alone or in combination, however, did not show a significant beneficial effect on these traits, except shortened placental expulsion time and higher plasma zinc and cobalt status. Hence, the Jafarabadi buffalo keepers may be advised to provide additional oral nutrients supplementation in the form of bypass fat and chelated minerals over routine feeding to their animals during a transitional period for improved postpartum fertility.

Effect of Prepartum Dietary Energy Level on Production and Reproduction in Nili Ravi Buffaloes

“…First estrus expression, days open, and most importantly calving interval reduced in buffaloes fed the HE diet compared with buffaloes fed the ME or LE diet. These findings are supported by [53,58,59], who reported reduced open days in peripartum nutritional supplemented buffaloes. The current study reduced the calving interval through HE diet.…”

“…The BHBA concentration was lower in HE diet fed buffaloes compared with LE diet fed buffaloes. In addition, the results are supported by [59], who reported low concentration of BHBA during postpartum period in nutritional supplemented buffaloes.…”

“…In our study, apparently more milk production of HE diet might have exerted a positive influence on uterine involution, but no effect [63,64] has been reported in buffaloes. Uterine involution was 43.5 days for HE diet compared with [59,64,65], who reported uterine involution between 33 to 41 days in buffaloes. The difference might be due to the difference in breed, use of oxytocin, and interval (after 7 days) for measurement of uterine involution in their study.…”

Effect of Rumen Mega Mineral Bolus Insertion at Calving on Blood Biochemical and Minerals Profile and Postpartum Fertility in Kankrej Cows

“…Few scientists have reported significant improvement in postpartum reproductive health, with early onset of postpartum first estrus, shorter service period and enhanced pregnancy rate with some improvement in plasma mineral and biochemical status of cattle and buffaloes following peripartum oral and injectable minerals and other nutrients supplementation (Kalasariya et al, 2017;Crowe et al, 2018;Vala et al, 2019). But, we could not find any improvement in postpartum fertility or blood biochemical/ mineral profile in Kankrej cows following feeding long-acting single multi-mineral rumen bolus.…”