Effect of Time and Amount of Colostrum Feeding on Physiological Parameters and Health Scores in Surti Buffalo Calves

Background: Timely feeding of adequate colostrum to new born calf is important to ensure transfer of passive immunity to prevent several infections. Present study has evaluated effect of time and amount of colostrum feeding on physiological parameters and health scores in Surti buffalo calves. Methods: Based on amount and time of feeding colostrum after birth, 24 Surti buffalo calves were divided into four groups as T1 (7%; 0-4), T2 (7%; 4-8), T3 (10%; 0-4) and T4 (10%; 4-8). Physiological parameters (twice daily upto day 5) and naval, nasal, eye and faecal scores on day 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 were recorded. Lying behavior was recorded on day 2. Result: Significant (p less than 0.05) interaction between treatment and weeks and nonsignificant effect of treatment was observed. Calves that received colostrum late had significantly (p less than 0.05) higher faecal score as well as evening heart and respiration rate. Calves that received colostrum early had significant (p less than 0.05) higher lying time. Normal scores of naval, nasal, eye and faecal indicated good health of calves. It was concluded that early feeding of colostrum @ 7 or 10% body weight within 4 hours after birth is beneficial for optimum health in buffalo calves.

48 Transrectal color Doppler evaluation of umbilicus, placentomes, and uterine vascularity changes throughout pregnancy in Surti buffalo

With an objective to record the appearance, vascularity changes in umbilicus, placentomes, and blood flow to the uterus, adult (age 5-10 yr) Surti buffalo (parity=2-6; n=24) were inseminated during natural oestrus during the breeding season and scanned by transrectal B mode and colour flow mode ultrasonography every 3-4 days till Day 90 of gestation and then at an interval of 15 days for the complete gestation. The umbilical cord was first visible on Day 38; however, colour Doppler wave fronts could first be obtained on Day 46, which became increasingly distinct thereafter. The placentomes could first be identified at Day 76 of gestation. The placentome diameters increased from Day 76 until the month 7 with significant increases (P<0.05) during Day 80, and months 4, 5, and 6 of gestation; thereafter, the increase was not significant. The vascularity of placentomes could also be recognised at Day 76 and this increased with increasing months of gestation. The blood flow to the middle uterine arteries could be identified after month 2 of gestation. The resistive index values of the middle uterine artery ipsilateral to the gravid horn showed an almost linear decline with a significant (P<0.05) drop at months 4 and 9 of gestation. Similarly, resistive index values of the middle uterine artery contra-lateral to the gravid horn revealed a significant (P<0.05) decrease on month 3, 5, and 6. A significant decrease for pulsatility index values of the middle uterine artery ipsilateral to the gravid horn was observed in months 3, 6, and 8 of gestation. However, the pulsatility index values for the middle uterine artery contralateral to the gravid horn showed a nonsignificant decrease. It was concluded that the umbilicus and placentomes are first visible at 38 and 76 days of gestation and the vascularity of the umbilicus, placentomes, and middle uterine artery increases with advancement of gestation in Surti buffalo.

Gross Anatomy of Cerebral Ventricles and Septum Pellucidum of Brain of Surti Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The objective of the present work was to study the cerebral ventricles and its associated parts of brain of Surti buffalo (n=12), The cerebral ventricles included two lateral ventricles and third ventricle. The lateral ventricles were curved cavities presented large central part and three horns within the cerebral hemispheres. The third ventricle was an annular space on the periphery of inter-thalamic adhesion between two thalami. The mean length and width of central part of lateral ventricle were 4.78±0.07 and 1.49±0.07 cm, respectively. The septum pellucidum was thin translucent membrane of two laminae which separates two lateral ventricles. The mean values of length and height of septum pellucidum were 3.6±0.12 and 0.52±0.04 cm, respectively. The cavum septum pellucidum was a small space found between two laminae of septum pellucidum.

Effect of Yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae) Supplementation on Haematological Parameters in Surti Buffalo Calves

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on haematological parameter in 21 Surti young female buffalo calves (aged 6-12 months). They were divided equally into 3 groups (7 calves in each group) viz. Group I (control), II (supplementation of rumen specific yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 @ 4x109 cfu/animal/day) and III (supplementation of product of inactivated whole cell yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing elevated levels of L (+) selenomethionine @ selenium inclusion rate in feed at 0.3 ppm). Whole blood was collected at day 0, 45 and 90 and haematological parameters were studied. Except in Group II which showed significant decrease in TEC, all haematological parameters were found within normal physiological range. Thus it was concluded that in female Surti buffalo calves supplementation of yeast and selenized yeast did not cause any significant change in haematological parameters.

Gyrification Index and Encephalizaton Quotient of Brain of Surti Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The brain of Surti buffaloes presents many cortical foldings. These are called gyrification. In the present study on brain of 12 Surti buffaloes, the folded cerebral hemispheres presented various sulci and gyri of different sizes. Gyrification Index (GI) was measured by the sum of the complete exposed surface and superficially exposed surface of cerebral cortex. The overall mean value of gyrification index of both of cerebral hemispheres was 2.52±0.02. The Encephalization Quotient (EQ) is the ratio of brain mass to body mass, which gives rough estimate of the intelligence of the Surti buffaloes. The overall mean value of encephalization quotient of Surti buffaloes was found to be 0.74.