Natural resistance of marals of Altai-Sayan breed during the process of adaptation under the environments of the Republic of Tyva

Abstract

The Republic of Tyva is a region in the geographical center of Asia, which located at the junction of the Siberian taiga and Central Asian desert-steppe landscapes, in a wide band of mountains and intermountain plains. The mountain-forest area of Tyva has long been considered a natural habitat for antler deer, one of which is the maral (Cervus elaphus sibiricus). In order to restore maral breeding and increase the number of marals in the former limits, marals of the Altai-Sayan breed have been imported to the Republic of Tyva from the Republic of Altai. The preservation of productive traits, reproductive function and the realization of the genetic potential of animals introduced to new climatic conditions largely depends on the ability of these animals to adapt to existing environments. We have assessed in this paper the natural resistance of the marals of Altai-Sayan breed during introduction in the Tyva Republic in comparison with the indicators of the marals have been bred in the Altai Republic. The researches have been carried out in 2019. The research material was blood samples of marals of Altai-Sayan breed imported to the Republic of Tuva (n=27) and marals of the same breed bred in the Republic of Altai (n=17). Studies have shown some deviations in the blood leukogram of imported marals, such as a decrease in the number of eosinophils and rod nuclear neutrophils (P < 0,001), the increase in the number of segmented nuclear neutrophils and lymphocytes (P < 0,05). The number of monocytes have been increased in 18,6 times compared to the Altai marals. The change in the number of monocytes exceeded the physiological norm by 24,7 %. The indicator of adaptation evaluation in imported marals had higher values (6,8), which were in 1,7 times higher than in marals bred in the Altai Republic (4,1), which indicates the intensity of adaptive mechanisms in imported animals during adaptation. Analysis of phagocytic activity and phagocytic index revealed intensive phagocytosis in imported marals: phagocytic activity – by 12,4 % (P < 0,05), phagocytic index – by 5,1 %, and the increase in the content of lysosomal and cationic proteins by 12,8 % (P < 0,05). Analysis of the bactericidal activity of blood serum has shown its lower level in imported animals (45,97±1,36 %), compared with marals of the same breed bred in the Altai Republic (52,19±2,15 at P < 0,05). Thus, according to most indicators of natural resistance marals of Altai-Sayan breed imported to Tyva have a fairly high level of natural protection, which indicates that they can be adapted to the natural climatic and feeding conditions of the Republic of Tyva.