A. Srikandakumar

Effect of heat stress on milk production, rectal temperature, respiratory rate and blood chemistry in Holstein, Jersey and Australian milking Zebu cows

The effect of heat stress on changes in milk production, rectal temperature, respiratory rate and blood chemistry was evaluated in three groups of six mature Holstein, Jersey and Australian Milking Zebu (AMZ) dairy cows. These animals were subjected to a cool environment when the mean temperature–humidity index (THI) was 72±1.4 (dry bulb temperature of 22.2–24.4°C and relative humidity of 100–60%) during the month of December. This experiment was repeated during the hotter month of July of the following year, when the mean THI was 93±3.1 (dry bulb temperature of 35.6–43.9°C and relative humidity 95–35%). Holstein cows produced more (p<0.01) milk than AMZ and Jersey cows during the cooler months of the year and all the cows were dry during the hotter months from June until September. Heat stress increased (p<0.01) rectal temperature and respiratory rate in all three breeds. Heat stress had no effect on blood pH in Holstein and AMZ cows but lowered (p<0.01) blood pH from 7.42 to 7.34 in Jersey cows. In addition, heat stress lowered (p<0.01) blood pCO2 (kPa), bicarbonate (HCO3–, mmol/L), base excess (BE, mmol/L) and plasma chloride (Cl–, mmol/L) in all three breeds. The total haemoglobin (THb, g/dl) was elevated (p<0.01) in all three breeds when they were subjected to heat stress. Heat stress increased (p<0.01) oxygen saturation (O2SAT, %) in Jersey and AMZ cows but lowered it (p<0.01) in Holstein cows. On the other hand, heat stress increased (p<0.01) pO2 (kPa) in Holstein and Jersey cows but lowered it (p<0.01) in AMZ cows. Heat stress increased (p<0.01) plasma potassium (K, mmol/L) and calcium (Ca, mmol/L) only in Holstein and Jersey cows but lowered them (p<0.01) in AMZ cows. The plasma glucose (GLU, mmol/L) increased (p<0.01) with heat stress in Holstein and AMZ cows but decreased (p<0.01) in Jersey cows. Heat stress increased (p<0.01) plasma creatinine (CR, (mol/L) but lowered (p<0.01) plasma creatinine phosphokinase (CPK, IU/L), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, IU/L) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN, mmol/L) in all three breeds. These results indicate that heat-stressed Holstein and AMZ cows were able to maintain their acid–base balance with a marginal change in their pH of 0.02 when their rectal temperatures increased by 0.47 and 0.38°C, respectively. When heat stress increased the rectal temperature in Jersey cows by 0.70°C, the pH decreased (p<0.01) from 7.42 to 7.34. However, even with this decrease 0.08 the pH is still within the lower physiological limit of 7.31.

Comparative effect of low levels of dietary cobalt and parenteral injection of vitamin B12 on carcass and meat quality characteristics in Omani goats

The effect of low levels of dietary cobalt (Co) on carcass and meat quality characteristics were investigated in 36 male goats of three different Omani breeds namely Batina, Dhofari and Jabal Akdhar. Goats were randomly divided into two groups at 10 weeks of age, control (18 animals) and treated (18 animals). Goats from both groups were fed Rhodesgrass hay and a commercially prepared diet containing 0.10 and 0.12 mg Co/kg DM, respectively from 10 to 46 weeks of age. Animals in the treated group were supplemented with subcutaneous injections of 2000 μg of hydroxocobalamin (vitamin B(12)) on week 10 and thereafter for 46 weeks at 8-week intervals. At 46 weeks of age, the animals were slaughtered and their carcass and meat quality characteristics compared. Serum vitamin B(12) levels were significantly higher in goats from the treated group from week 16 till the end of the experiment. The final live and carcass weights were significantly higher (P<0.05) for the treated Batina group by 13.4 and 8.3% compared with the control group, respectively. Shoulder, rack, loin and leg cut weights were also significantly higher (P<0.05) for the Batina treated group compared with the control group by 14.7, 16.8, 12.8 and 13.1%, respectively. Carcass length, leg length, width behind shoulder, maximum shoulder width and longissimus muscle area were significantly higher (P<0.05) for the Batina treated breed than for the control group by 6.7, 5.8, 10.1, 10.1 and 28.5%, respectively. Four muscles (Mm. longissimus dorsi, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus) from treated and control groups were evaluated for ultimate pH, expressed juice, cooking loss%, colour (L*, a* and b*), and Warner-Bratzler shear force values. There were significant treatment effects on these muscle quality characteristics for the Batina breed only. Muscles from the treated group showed significantly lower (P<0.05) shear force values of between 15 and 27% than those from the control group. Moreover, the treated Batina goats tended to have significantly lower (P<0.05) ultimate pH, expressed juice, L* and higher a* values than those from the control group for longissimus dorsi and biceps femoris muscles only.

Assessment of Molasses–Urea Blocks for Goat and Sheep Production in the Sultanate of Oman: Intake and Growth Studies

The goal of this study was to develop a molasses–urea block (MUB) for purposes of supplementing trace minerals to domestic ruminant livestock in Oman. To accomplish this, the utility of molasses and date syrup as fermentable energy sources, of straw, date flakes and wheat bran as fibre sources, and of cement and lime as binders were evaluated. The proportion of cement needed for adequate hardening of the block was also studied. Molasses- and date syrup-based blocks hardened equally well. However, the higher cost of date syrup precluded its use. Wheat straw yielded a low-density block that hardened slowly. Date fibre retained moisture and hardened extremely slowly. Wheat bran-based blocks hardened quickly and yielded dense blocks. Hence, wheat bran was judged to be the superior source of fibre. Lime did not effectively bind the blocks. A cement content of 15% allowed hardening of the blocks within 2–3 weeks. A level of 10% cement in the block reduced the hardening rate by about 50%. Sheep and goats consumed both the straw- and wheat bran-based blocks but at different rates. Consumption of the straw-based block by sheep ranged from 50 to 179 g/head per day, whereas the denser wheat bran-based block was consumed at a rate of 8–20 g/head per day. Consumption of the straw-based block by goats was low (8 g/head per day) compared to that of wheat bran-based blocks (16–24 g/head per day). On the basis of the intake of the bran-based block by sheep, a block was designed that would provide approximately 50% of an animals trace mineral requirements per day. This block consisted of 45% molasses, 10% urea, 5% trace minerals, 2.5% NaCl, 22.5% wheat bran and 15% cement. Sheep consuming this block gained more weight than sheep fed a conventional mineral block or sheep receiving no mineral supplementation. MUBs are inexpensive (9.5 US cents/kg). We conclude that MUBs have utility for providing trace elements in ruminant diets.

Serum vitamin B12 levels in Omani goats.

Blood and faecal samples were studied from 200 Omani goats of both sexes and various age groups, within five different regions in Oman. Survey questionnaires were undertaken on each goat. The serum vitamin B12 values ranged from 105 to >2000 pg/ml, with a mean value of 723.1 pg/ml and a 95% confidence interval of 61–1507 pg/ml. Kids in the age group 1–3 months showed significantly lower levels of serum vitamin B12 than the older animals. Varying levels of serum vitamin B12 were found in different regions of Oman and on farms within the same region. Goats maintained on commercial feed showed higher levels of serum vitamin B12 than those maintained on pasture or fed on household leftover food, as commonly practised in Oman. Coccidial counts were highest in animals with lower levels of serum vitamin B12. The results of this study indicate that there is a wide range of serum vitamin B12 levels in Omani goats and suggests that younger animals, with lower levels of serum vitamin B12, might be more susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiencies than older animals.