Effect of trace element supplementation to suckling buffalo calves
Abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate supplementation of buffalo calves with trace elements up to weaning on performance, blood metabolites and trace element concentrations in blood and tissues. Twenty buffalo calves at the age of 7 days with an average body weight (BW) of 37.8 kg were assigned into two groups: 1) Control (C) received no supplement; 2) Trace elements (TE) supplemented group. The trace elements mixture supplied 100 ppm Fe; 100 ppm Cu; 40 ppm Zn; 40 ppm Mn (as sulfate compounds); 0.32 ppm Se (as sodium selenite) and 0.5 ppm I (as potassium iodide). Calves were fed on buffalo milk at the rate of 10% of birth weight from Ist - 4 weeks of age and then was reduced to 7.5% from 5th - 8 weeks, thereafter it was reduced to 5% from 9th to weaning at 15 weeks. Calf starter and berseem hay were available to animals ad libitum from 2nd week until weaning.
Daily gains were 0.41 and 0.44 Kg for C and TE groups, respectively without significant difference. Serum glucose in TE was greater (P<0.05) than C group (100.0 vs. 90.2 mg/dl). Serum albumin was lower and globulin higher in TE as compared to C calves (P<0.10 and P<0.05, respectively). Activity of alkaline phosphatase was higher (P<0.05) in TE than C group, whereas activities of either AST or ALT were not altered. Trace elements supplementation did not affect hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH and MCHC). Red blood cell counts (REC), white blood cell counts (WBC) and their fractions were not influenced by TE supplementation.
Serum Cu was higher (P<0.05) in TE than C, but serum Mn and Fe tended to decrease. In general, tissue contents of Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe tended to increase in TE group with significance only for liver Cu, spleen Zn and lung Fe. Hair TE content did not differ between groups. It can be concluded that TE supplementation to suckling buffalo calves had no added value growth rate, blood hematology or metabolites.
Whereas, Cu and Zn status were improved, as well as the immune status of calves.
Publication year 2006
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City القاهرة
serial title 13th Conference of the Egyptian Society of Animal Production
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    السيد احمد العيوطى جامعة المنصورة
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Copper sulphate. Ferrous sulphate. Manganese sulphate. Performance testing. Trace elements. Weaning. Zinc. Zinc sulphate.
Proposed Agrovoc buffalo calves;blood metabolites;tissues;sodium selenite;potassium iodide;
Publication Type Conference/Workshop
↑