The role of niacin and sprinkling in improving functions of the heat stressed Friesian cows
Abstract: The main objective of this research was to study the role of niacin supplement in the ration and sprinkling the animal body with tap water and physiological techniques as well as their interaction in alleviating the effects of heat stress conditions of summer season on lactating Friesian cattle in Egypt. Thirty-two Friesian lactating cows at third lactating and 84 postcalving in Sakha Experimental Station at Kafr El-Sheikh, were used in the present study. The animals were maintained under shading during the experimental period (4 weeks) during summer season (34.6?C) at August 2000. Cows were divided randomly into two equal groups (16 in each), the first was sprinkled with tap water once each 2 hour, 3 times daily at 12.00, 14.00 and 16.00 hr while the other group was not sprinkled. Within each group, the animals were also assigned randomly to four equal subgroups (4 in each) and each head was supplemented in the diet with 0,10,20 and 30 g niacin daily, respectively. Individual daily milk yield was recorded and milk samples were taken once weekly. In the last day of the experiment, one blood sample from each cow were withdraw to assay most of biochemical body functions.
Supplementing the heat stressed Friesian cows with niacin improved milk yield and by increased milk protein, fat and ash contents T3, glucose, total protein, albumen, globulin, urea-N and creatinine concentrations as well as the activities of alanine-transaminase, aspartic-transaminase and alkaline phosphatase enzymes were significantly higher in cows received niacin than those not supplemented, especially with the high level of niacin. The opposite was found in concerning the concentrations of cortisol hormone, total lipids and total cholesterol.
Sprinkling heat stressed cows with tap water improved their milk yield with significant increase in its major components. Sprinkling also caused significant increase in the concentrations of T3, total protein, albumen and globulin and significant decrease in cortisol level, urea-N and creatinine concentrations as well as serum transaminase, alkaline and acid phosphatase enzyme activities.
In addition, there are a significant interactons between niacin and sprinkling on milk yield, composition and most blood coponents.
Keywords: heat stress, milk, T3, cotisol, niacin, sprinkling.
Publication year 2001
Pages 285-299
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
serial title Egyptian Journal Nutrition and Feeds
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    السيد النعيمى حبيب هيئة الطاقة الذرية
Publication Type Journal
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