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Journal of Stress Physiology & Biochemistry, Vol. 10 No. 2 2014, pp. 214-227 ISSN 1997-0838 Original Text Copyright © 2014 by Hooda and Upadhyay
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Physiological Responses, Growth Rate and Blood Metabolites Under Feed Restriction and Thermal Exposure in Kids
O.K. Hooda* and R.C. Upadhyay
Dairy Cattle Physiology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001
Haryana (India)
*E-Mail: [email protected]
Received January 28, 2014
The study was carried out to study the cumulative effect of thermal stress and feed restriction in kids. Twelve kids of Alpine x Beetle cross were divided into two groups. Group 1 served as control and group 2 was put on restricted feeding and exposed at 40, 42 and 44oC. Body weights of both groups were similar before thermal exposure and feed restriction. Body weight of group 1 increased significantly and were higher than group 2 throughout the experiment. Body weight gain, average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were comparable in both groups after removal of thermal stress and switching over to ad libitum feeding (42-63 days). Body weights of group 2 remained lower than group 1, the losses in body weights of group 2 could not be compensated and there was approximately 25% loss in body weight at the end of experiment. Physiological responses of group 2 were significantly lower before exposure to high temperature but increased significantly after exposure at temperature 40, 42 and 44oC and the increase was in commensurate with the increase in exposure temperature. Blood glucose, total protein, albumin and serum enzymes decreased significantly on exposure at higher temperature and differences were higher in feed restricted group. T3, T4 and cortisol concentration were similar in both groups before feed restriction and thermal stress. T3, T4 concentration decreased while cortisol concentration increased significantly after exposure to high temperature. Variations in plasma enzymes, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, SGOT and SGPT were not significant before feed restriction and thermal stress. The activities of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase decreased whereas that of SGOT and SGPT increased significantly on exposure at temperature 40oC and subsequent changes at temperature 42 and 44oC were not significant. The study indicated that animals of group 2 experienced more stress as observed by significant alteration in body weights, physiological responses, serum enzymes, electrolytes, plasma hormones and blood metabolites and the losses occurred in body weights of group 2 could not be compensated after removal of thermal stress and switching over to ad libitum feeding.
Key words: Feed restriction, thermal stress, enzymes, physiological responses, blood parameter, kids
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Physiological Responses, Growth Rate and Blood Metabolites Under Feed Restriction and Thermal Exposure in Kids
O.K. Hooda* and R.C. Upadhyay
Dairy Cattle Physiology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001 Haryana (India)
*E-Mail: [email protected]
Received January 28, 2014
The study was carried out to study the cumulative effect of thermal stress and feed restriction in kids. Twelve kids of Alpine x Beetle cross were divided into two groups. Group 1 served as control and group 2 was put on restricted feeding and exposed at 40, 42 and 44 oC. Body weights of both groups were similar before thermal exposure and feed restriction. Body weight of group 1 increased significantly and were higher than group 2 throughout the experiment. Body weight gain, average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were comparable in both groups after removal of thermal stress and switching over to ad libitum feeding (42-63 days). Body weights of group 2 remained lower than group 1, the losses in body weights of group 2 could not be compensated and there was approximately 25% loss in body weight at the end of experiment. Physiological responses of group 2 were significantly lower before exposure to high temperature but increased significantly after exposure at temperature 40, 42 and 44oC and the increase was in commensurate with the increase in exposure temperature. Blood glucose, total protein, albumin and serum enzymes decreased significantly on exposure at higher temperature and differences were higher in feed restricted group. T3, T4 and cortisol concentration were similar in both groups before feed restriction and thermal stress. T3, T4 concentration decreased while cortisol concentration increased significantly after exposure to high temperature. Variations in plasma enzymes, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, SGOT and SGPT were not significant before feed restriction and thermal stress. The activities of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase decreased whereas that of SGOT and SGPT increased significantly on exposure at temperature 40oC and subsequent changes at temperature 42 and 44oC were not significant. The study indicated that animals of group 2 experienced more stress as observed by significant alteration in body weights, physiological responses, serum enzymes, electrolytes, plasma hormones and blood metabolites and the losses occurred in body weights of group 2 could not be compensated after removal of thermal stress and switching over to ad libitum feeding.
Key words: Feed restriction, thermal stress, enzymes, physiological responses, blood parameter, kids
Goats are considered highly suitable living Heat stress is one of the major constraints on
species for the hot and arid regions of the world. animal production in tropics (Marai et al., 2007,
Nardone et al., 2010). Physiological changes occur when goats are subjected to different stresses but paramount and fundamental are loss of weight, loss of performance and sometimes even loss of life. Browsing of goats to open fields during most of the day hours make them susceptible to heat stress despite of heat resistant characteristics (Al Tamini, 2007). There is evidence for deleterious effects on goat productivity when goats had been exposed over temperatures 34-36°C. Goats reared in arid and semi-arid environments are subjected to multiple stresses simultaneously. Hence apart from heat stress and physical strain of grazing activity, the sheep and goats are subjected to feed shortage (Hooda and Naqvi, 1990). Animals respond to adverse environment conditions in various ways in order to maintain homeostasis. There is clear evidence that animals subjected to prolonged periods of heat stress significantly reduce their dry matter intake (Abdel-Samee and Diel, 1998, Beatty et al., 2006). When exposed to hot environment domestic animals are found to show increased respiratory frequency and rectal temperature (Avendono- Reyes et al., 2011, Spiers et al., 2004), body surface temperature (Spain and Spiers, 1998, Martello et al., 2009), heart rate (Zahner et al., 2004) to maintain body temperature. The levels of blood parameters reflect the metabolic activities during stress. Concentrations of serum total protein and albumin have been used as indices for nutritional status. Serum total protein and albumin concentration decrease during thermal stress in goats (Dangi et al., 2012, Helal et al., 2010, Sejian et al., 2010b). Serum glutamic oxalo-acetate
transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), indicators of tissue damage, are involved in amino acid metabolism. Serum SGPT levels increase during heat stress in goats (Sharma
and Kataria, 2011) while no change was observed in SGOT concentration in heat stressed goats (Ocak et al., 2009, Sharma and Kataria, 2011). Alkaline phosphatase indicator of alkalosis and stress is involved in energy metabolism, its concentration decreased in goats during thermal stress (Helal et al., 2010). Blood glucose show greater differences in hot conditions and its levels increased significantly during heat stress in sheep (Al-Haidary et al., 2012). During stress various endocrine responses are involved to improve the fitness of the animals. One among such responses is the activation of hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis and secretion of cortisol is a classic endocrine response to stress (Kannon et al., 2000). The decrease in blood circulating T3 and T4 levels determine lower metabolic and thermogenic rates (McManus et al., 2009). Sivakumar et al. (2010) observed significant fall in T3 and T4 concentration in goats exposed to thermal stress. In arid and semi-arid regions feed shortage occurring in summer is associated with heat stress. Low levels of feeding which decreases the metabolic heat production reduce rectal temperature and respiration rate (Mohamad and Abdelatif, 2010). The review indicates that earlier studies have been carried out with a single stress at a time and information on multiple stresses are lacking. Since goats are subjected to multiple stresses, the aim of this study was to investigate the responses of Alpine x Beetle kids to induced feed restriction and heat stress for growth rate, physiological reactions and blood metabolites.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twelve male kids of Alpine x Beetle cross of approximately four months of age were used for this study. The kids were randomly divided into two groups based on their body weights so that the
initial average body weight of each group was almost equal. Both the groups were kept on preliminary feeding for two weeks and offered berseem ad libitum. Feed intake was recorded daily for both groups. Then the study was carried out in three phases of 21 days each (total 63 days). In the first 21 days the kids of group 1 and group 2 were kept in the goat pens. The environmental temperature in the pens varied between 19-22°C and relative humidity 40-45%. Group 1 was given ad libitum feeding whereas group 2 was put on restricted feeding and offered berseem 50% of their initial recorded intake. Further the quantity of feed offered to group 2 (restricted feeding) was adjusted weekly in such a way that their body weight remain almost stagnant. In the second phase (21 days), the kids of group 2 were continued restricted feeding and subjected to thermal stress in a climatic chamber for two hours daily for a period of 6 days at each exposure temperature of 40, 42 and 44°C with one day gap at each exposure temperature. At the end of thermal exposure period (second phase, 21 days), the animals of group 2 were shifted in goat pens with group 1 and switched over to ad libitum feeding and offered berseem ad libitum and concentrate @ 400 g per animal per day for the next 21 days (third phase). The kids of group 1 were given berseem ad libitum and concentrate @ 400 g per animal per day throughout the experimental period of 63 days (three phases). Water was made available freely to both groups. Concentrate mixture consisted of maize grain 32, mustard cake 11, ground nut cake 22, wheat bran 20, de-oiled rice 12 mineral mixture 2 and common salt 1% having 20% crude protein and 70% TDN. Physiological responses, respiration rate (RR), pulse rate (PR), rectal temperature (RT) and surface temperature (ST) were recorded in the morning at
7.00 AM and at the end of thermal exposure on alternate day during the period between 21-42 days of experiment. Feed intake was recorded daily. Body weights of kids were taken at weekly interval. RR was recorded by flank movement, PR by palpation of femoral artery, RT by digital thermometer and ST at the middle of flank by using a non-contact thermometer (Raytak R, Model Rayngen STRL) by keeping the instrument 3 inches away from the surface and directed towards the site of measurement. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein of each animal before thermal exposure and at the end of exposure at temperature 40, 42, 44°C in sterile heparin coated vacutainer tube to obtain plasma and in nonheparin tube to obtain serum. After collection the blood samples were transported to the laboratory in an ice bucket. Plasma was separated immediately by centrifuging the blood samples at 3000 rpm for 20 minutes and used for analysis of enzymes. Second non heparin tube containing blood allowed to clot at room temperature for few hours and serum was separated by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 20 minutes. Total protein, albumin, chloride and glucose were estimated by using kits supplied by Span Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd. (Surat India). Globulin was determined by subtracting the albumin values from total protein for each sample. Sodium and potassium were determined by a flame photometric method. Plasma enzymes SGPT, SGOT, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase were estimated by kits provided by Span Diagnostic Pvt. Ltd. (Surat, India). Plasma cortisol was estimated by cortisol EIA kit (Caymon Chemical Company, 1180 East Ellsworth road Ann. Arbour M 48108, USA). T3 and T4 were estimated by RIA assay kit provided by Beckman Coulter. The data was analyzed and
subjected to test of significance by Sigma Plot 11.0 software package (Systat software Inc., USA)
RESULTS
Body weights of group 1 and group 2 were similar at the beginning of experiment. It increased significantly in group 1 throughout the experimental period, little changed in group 2 during the period of restricted feeding and heat exposure (0-42 days) and increased significantly thereafter when switched over to ad libitum feeding (43-63 days). Changes observed in dry matter intake, weight gain, average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency of group 2 during the period of restricted feeding and heat exposure were less. On switching over to ad libitum feeding, weight gain and average daily gain was comparable in group 1 and group 2 (43-63 days), however, the average body weight of group 2 was 25% lower than group 1 (Table 1). Investigations into the effects of environmental temperature on average daily gain and feed efficiency identified a clear link between live weight gain, feed conversion ratio and environmental temperature. A decrease of body weights and growth rate at elevated temperature has been observed in sheep (Marai et al., 2007) and at a temperature greater than 30°C in lamb (Dixon et al., 1999). Animals fed with restricted diet exhibited compensatory growth during realimentation period as a result of increase in dry matter intake and increase in efficiency of feed utilization. Compensatory growth has also been recorded in ewe lambs (Villeneuve et al., 2010) and Malpura sheep (Maurya et al., 2004) with compensatory indices of 94 and 90 % respectively. In present study body weight gain, average daily gain, and feed conversion efficiency were comparable in group 1 and group 2 during the period 42-63 days and body weight loss of group 2
could not be compensated and there was approximately 25% loss in body weight at the end of experiment. The observed differences could be due to deteriorating quality of berseem fodder fed during this period (April- May). This fact is further authenticated as there was lower body weight gain, average daily gain and feed conversion efficiency between period 43-63 days compared to period 2142 days in group 1 (ad libitum fed).
Physiological responses, respiration rate (RR), pulse rate (PR) and rectal temperature (RT) have been presented in table 2. RR, PR and RT of group 1 and group 2 were similar before the animals were put on restricted feeding but these responses were significantly lower in group 2 (feed restricted) before exposure to thermal stress. On exposure to high temperature at 40, 42 and 44°C, RR, PR and RT of group 2 increased significantly. The proportion of increase in RR became higher with the increase in exposure temperature and RR reached up to 98.28 breaths per minute at 44°C. PR also increased with increase in exposure temperature but the deviations in PR from the pre exposure values were less than RR at 40, 42 and 44°C. RT increased significantly at temperature 40°C but further increase at 42 and 44°C was non significant. Rectal temperature of goats found to be elevated with high environmental temperature in earlier studies (Marai et al., 2007, Phulia et al., 2010, Manish et al., 2010). Increased RR is an attempt to increase heat loss by evaporative cooling. An increased RR in response to heat stress have been reported in goats (Manish et al., 2010, Sivakumar et al., 2010), sheep (Stochman, 2006) and dairy cows (Martello et al.,
2009, Titto et al., 2013). Increase in pulse rate increases blood flow to the surface and facilitate heat loss by sensible means (Marai et al., 2007). The findings of increased pulse rate in the present
study are in agreement with previous studies in goats (Manish et al., 2010, Sivakumar et al., 2010). The lower values of RR, PR and RT in group 2 animals during feed restriction in the present study may be an adaptation response and attributed to their lower metabolic rate during energy deficiency. Mohamad and Abdelatif (2010) reported that low levels of feeding which decreases the metabolic heat production reduce rectal temperature and respiration rate. The surface temperature of group 1 and group 2 were observed to be similar before the animals were subjected to feed restriction and exposed to elevated temperature. It increased significantly in group 2 at temperature 40, 42 and 44°C and the variations were significantly higher and different from group 1 (Table 2). The observed increase in surface temperature in this study may be attributed to exposure to heat stress, which has been reported to cause vasodilatation of skin capillaries bed and consequently increase the blood flow to the skin surface to enhance heat loss (Mc Manus et al., 2009, Al-Haidary et al., 2012).
Blood glucose level was 57.25± 1.24 and 56.83± 1.26 mg/dl before the kids were subjected to heat stress. Its concentration decreased significantly at temperature 40, 42 and 44°C. Plasma glucose levels showed greater differences in group 2 (feed restriction) and its levels decreased consistently with feed restriction (Table 3). The findings of this study are in agreement with earlier findings reported in sheep (Hooda and Naqvi, 1990, Ocak and Guey, 2010, Sejian and Srivastava, 2010). The changes in the nutritional status of goats and thermal environment may influence the composition of blood. The decrease in blood glucose could be related to decrease in availability of nutrients and lower rate of production of propionate (Mohamad, 2012) or due to increase in
plasma glucose utilization to provide energy for muscular expenditure required for high muscular activity associated with increased respiration rate (Sejian and Srivastava, 2010).
Serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentration of group 1 and group 2 were similar before the kids were subjected to feed restriction and thermal exposure. Total protein and albumin concentration of group 2 decreased significantly on exposure at 40°C and subsequent decrease at temperature 42 and 44°C was non-significant compare to concentration at 40°C. Total protein and albumin concentration of group 2 were significantly lower than group 1 throughout the experiment but there was no difference in globulin concentration of group 1 and group 2. Earlier studies in goats (Dangi et al., 2012, Helal et al.,
2010, Sejian et al., 2010b) have also reported significant decrease in total protein, albumin and globulin concentration under heat stress. The decrease in plasma protein could be due to decrease in protein synthesis as a result of decrease in anabolic hormone secretion (El-Masry and Habeeb, 1989) or due to protein catabolism to divert amino acids towards gluconeogenesis (Sejian et al., 2010b). The synthesis of plasma protein is markedly impaired when the supply of amino acids from the digestive process is not adequate. Mohamad (2012) observed significantly lower total protein and albumin in desert rams consuming low amount of Lucerne hay. Similar results were recorded in goats fed low level of Lucerne (Kheir & Ahmad, 2008). The lower level response could also be associated with an increase in water consumption and development of hemodilution (Bernabucci et al., 2010).
The serum concentration of electrolytes
(Sodium, Potassium and Chloride) in group 1 and
group 2 were similar before the kids were subjected to feed restriction and heat stress. Serum electrolytes concentration decreased significantly in group 2 at temperature 40°C but subsequent decrease in electrolytes concentration at temperature 42 and 44°C was non-significant. Na, K and Cl concentration of group 1 and group 2 were significantly different with lower values in group 2 throughout the experiment (Table 3). The serum electrolytes concentration in this study were within normal reference values established in goats (Ikhimioya & Imasuen, 2007, Ayo et al., 2009). Heat stress posed a significant threat to the homeostatic mechanism of goats. The decrease in electrolytes concentration in this study is supported by earlier findings reported in cattle (Beatty et al., 2006, Srikandakumar et al., 2003) and buffalo heifers (Singh et al., 2012). Heat stressed animals lost more potassium and chloride in sweat than non heat stressed animals (Mallone et al., 1985, Singh et al., 2012). The decrease in electrolytes concentration observed in this study may also be due to expanded blood volume where water is transported in the circulatory system for evaporative cooling as suggested by Al-Haidary (2004).
Thyroxine (T4), triidothyronine (T3) and cortisol concentration were similar in group 1 and group 2 before feed restriction and thermal exposure. T4 & T3 concentration decreased and cortisol concentration increased significantly in group 2 at 40°C but subsequent decrease in T3 and T4 concentration and increase in cortisol concentration at 42 and 44°C was non-significant. T3 & T4 concentration were lower while cortisol was higher in group 2 compared to group 1 throughout the experiment (Table 4). The findings of this study coincided with the earlier findings. (Sivakumar et al., 2010, Sejian et al., 2010 a, Helal et al., 2010)
who reported significant decline in thyroid hormone concentration in goats. Mader et al.
(2009) opined that animals activate coping mechanisms when challenged by environmental stressors and heat stress in general is associated with significant depression of thyroid gland activity, resulting in lowering of thyroid hormone levels. In addition, blood thyroid hormones are considered to be good indicator of nutritional status of an animal. The decrease in T3 and T4 concentration in this study could be a response to negative energy balance and heat stress might have extended the duration of negative energy balance and low levels of thyroid hormones as suggested by Mohebbi-Fani et al. (2009) and Todini (2007) in small ruminants. Hence the feed restriction and thermal stress could have elicited reduction in thyroid hormone concentration and might be an adaptive effort of kids to avoid additional heat load due to metabolic activity. The rise in plasma cortisol is due to activation of the adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) releasing mechanism in the hypothalamus by thermo-receptors of the skin (Minton, 1994). The increased cortisol level in heat stressed goat is well documented and our results coincided with earlier work (Kaushik et al., 1997, Sivakumar et al., 2010, Sejian et al., 2010a). Cortisol works as vasodilators to facilitate heat loss and have stimulatory effects on proteolysis and lipolysis, hence, providing energy to the animal to help to offset the reduction of feed intake (Cunningham and Klein, 2007). Respiratory evaporative cooling was more energy expensive, however, in this study there was very high rise in respiratory rate of feed restricted kids indicating that this group experienced more stress. The significant increase in cortisol levels might have facilitated to meet the energy requirement by diverting proteolysis derived amino acid towards
gluconeogenesis (Sejian et al., 2010a).
Variations in plasma enzymes activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, SGOT and SGPT of group 1 and group 2 were statistically non significant before feed restriction and thermal exposure. Acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activities decreased whereas SGOT and SGPT activities increased significantly at exposure temperature 40°C but subsequent change in the activities of these enzymes at temperature 42 and 44°C were non-significant. Activities of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase of group 2 was significantly lower whereas that of SGOT and SGPT were higher than group 1 throughout the experiment (Table 4). Decrease in acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in this study is in agreement with earlier studies on goats (Helal et al., 2010), sheep (Sejian et al., 2010b, Abdel-Samee et al., 2008) and in buffalo heifers (Singh et al., 2012). Alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase
are involved in energy generation in animal body. Decrease in the activities of these enzymes might be due to reduction in thyroid hormone concentration and reduced metabolic activity that occurred during feed restriction and heat stress in the kids. The observations of Brown-Brandal et al. (2003) that a metabolic shift occurred in heat stressed cows due to drop in maintenance requirement as a result of reduced feed intake also support this view. Serum level of SGOT and SGPT is helpful in diagnosis of welfare of animals. Sharma and Kataria (2011) also found increased plasma SGPT concentration while no change was observed in SGOT concentration of heat stressed goats (Ocak et al., 2009, Sharma and Kataria, 2011). SGOT appeared to be the best indicator for the assessment of thermal stress in animals. Singh et al. (2012) observed that hyperthermia resulted in significantly increased SGOT concentration in stressed susceptible buffalo heifers when exposed to elevated temperature in a climatic chamber.
Table 1 Body weight gain, DMI and feed conversion efficiency of kids subjected to feed restriction and thermal stress
Parameters Group Period of experiment (Days) Overall
Restricted feeding Ad libitum
0-20 21-42 43-63 0-63
Body Weight (Kg) 1 15.00±0.50Aa 16.56±0.31Ab 18.66±0.43Ac 20.28±0.46A
2 14.50±0.36Aa 14.86±0.22Ba 15.45±0.25Ba 16.14±0.31B
DMI/animal/day 1 0.694±0.92Aa 0.805±0.92Ab 0.617±0.8Ac 0.706±0.9A
(g) 2 0.222±0.6Ba 0.278±0.73Ba 0.581±0.9Ab 0.360±0.70B
Body weight gain 1 2.08±0.08Aa 2.41±0.27Ab 1.25±0.17Ac 1.91±0.17A
(Kg) 2 0.41±0.15Ba 0.50±0.22Ba 1.25±0.21Bb 0.72±0.14B
Average daily gain 1 99.00±4.00Aa 114.90±9.84Ab 59.00±8.20Ac 91.00±11.32A
(g) 2 19.33±7.20Ba 23.50±10.51Ba 59.30±10.19Ab 34.04±9.68B
Body weight gain/ 1 134.96±4.64Aa 146.76±8.55Ab 80.75±14.67Ac 120.92±16.25A
Kg feed intake (g) 2 39.03±22.43Ba 44.86±26.28Ba 93.43±15.28Ab 59.10±21.56B
Superscript a,b,c,d differ significantly in a row for individual parameter Superscript A, B, differ significantly between groups for individual parameter
Table 2 Physiological reactions of kids subjected to feed restriction and thermal stress
Parameters Group Before feed Before Exposure temperature (oC)
restriction thermal exposure 40 42 44
Respiration 1 14.5Aa 14.74Aa 19.50Ab 19.94Ab 20.44Ab
rate/minute ±0.18 ±0.21 ±0.23 ±0.26 ±0.28
2 14.10Aa 12.74Bb 53.89Bc 75.39Bd 98.28Be
±0.17 ±0.19 ±0.80 ±0.88 ±2.26
Pulse 1 55.8Aa 56.18Aa 57.39Ab 59.06Ac 60.05Ac
rate/minute ±0.31 ±0.27 ±0.26 ±0.26 ±0.26
2 55.2Aa 53.46Bb 58.28Bc 61.11Bd 64.00Be
±0.29 ±0.29 ±0.10 ±0.29 ±0.31
Rectal 1 101.2Aa 101.36Aa 101.40Aa 101.40Aa 101.40Aa
temperature (°F) ±0.12 ±0.11 ±0.18 ±0.17 ±0.20
2 101.0Aa 100.60Bb 103.00Bc 103.00Bc 103.2Bc
±0.11 ±0.16 ±0.14 ±0.19 ±0.15
Surface 1 29.5Aa 30.52Aa 30.48Aa 32.97Ab 33.14Ab
temperature (oC) ±0.31 ±0.27 ±0.15 ±0.15 ±0.23
2 30.2Aa 30.75Aa 38.94Bb 40.89Bc 41.44Bc
±0.32 ±0.28 ±0.13 ±0.19 ±0.35
Superscript a,b,c,d,e differ significantly in a row for individual parameter Superscript A, B, differ significantly between groups for individual parameter
Table 3 Blood biochemical of kids subjected to feed restriction and thermal stress
Parameter Group Before exposure Exposure temperature (oC) Overall mean
40 42 44
Sodium 1 143.08Aa 143.17Aa 143.17Aa 143.08Aa 143.12A
(m eq./l) ±1.04 ±0.75 ±0.99 ±0.87 ±0.99
2 143.50Aa 132.25Bb 131.67Bb 132.83Bb 135.06B
±0.75 ±1.28 ±1.36 ±0.61 ±1.40
Potassium 1 4.83Aa 5.00Aa 5.00Aa 4.92Aa 4.94Aa
(m eq./l) ±0.21 ±0.18 ±0.18 ±0.15 ±0.22
2 5.17Aa 3.58Bb 3.75Bb 3.58Bb 4.02Bb
±0.33 ±0.15 ±0.21 ±0.24 ±0.31
Chloride 1 102.92Aa 103.00Aa 103.33Aa 103.08Aa 103.80Aa
(m eq./l) ±1.07 ±0.53 ±0.69 ±0.65 ±0.74
2 102.67Aa 97.92Bb 98.00Bb 97.75Bb 99.08Bb
±0.67 ±0.71 ±0.53 ±0.92 ±1.05
Glucose (mg/dl) 1 57.25Aa 56.33Aa 56.58Aa 56.83Aa 56.75A
±1.24 ±0.95 ±0.99 ±1.42 ±1.15
2 56.83Aa 46.75Bb 44.08Bc 43.75Bc 47.35B
±1.26 ±1.04 ±1.33 ±0.87 ±1.63
Total protein 1 6.02Aa 5.92Aa 5.90Aa 5.83Aa 5.92A
(g/dl) ±0.15 ±0.09 ±0.07 ±0.15 ±0.12
2 5.93Aa 5.68Bb 5.40Bb 5.32Bb 5.51B
±0.13 ±0.15 ±0.14 ±0.08 ±0.18
Albumin (g/dl) 1 3.05Aa 3.08Aa 3.15Aa 3.15Aa 3.07Aa
±0.09 ±0.07 ±0.11 ±0.09 ±0.10
2 3.07Aa 2.75Bb 2.70Bb 2.62Bb 2.80B
±0.10 ±0.08 ±0.10 ±0.09 ±0.11
Globulin (g/dl) 1 2.97Aa 2.84Aa 2.75Aa 2.72Aa 2.85A
±0.08 ±0.10 ±0.09 ±0.10 ±0.12
2 2.86Aa 2.83Aa 2.60Ab 2.50Bb 2.71B
±0.08 ±0.09 ±0.08 ±0.10 ±0.09
Superscript a,b,c differ significantly in a row for individual parameter Superscript A, B, differ significantly between groups for individual parameter
Table 4 Plasma enzymes and hormone concentration of kids subjected to feed restriction and thermal stress
Parameter Group Before exposure Exposure temperature (oC) Overall mean
40 42 44
Acid phosphatase 1 2.28Aa 2.37Aa 2.30Aa 2.27Aa 2.30A
(KA units) ±0.10 ±0.05 ±0.14 ±0.09 ±0.08
2 2.28Aa ±0.09 1.77Bb ±0.07 1.67Bb ±0.03 1.65Bb ±0.04 1.84B ±0.12
Alkaline 1 17.40Aa 17.17Aa 17.50Aa 17.00Aa 17.27A
phosphatase ±1.23 ±0.87 ±1.18 ±1.18 ±1.55
(KA units) 2 18.42Aa ±1.42 13.63Bb ±1.02 13.98Bb ±1.04 13.83Bb ±0.63 14.97B ±1.09
SGOT (lU/l) 1 73.58Aa ±1.18 74.42Aa ±1.10 72.83Aa ±0.90 71.92Aa ±0.83 73.19A ±1.15
2 72.00Aa ±1.19 79.58Bb ±1.48 80.00Bb ±1.10 79.77Bb ±1.31 77.84B ±1.63
SGPT (lU/l) 1 27.33Aa ±1.55 28.92Aa ±0.65 27.25Aa ±1.26 26.33Aa ±1.40 27.46A ±1.25
2 27.33Aa ±1.26 31.08Bb ±1.05 30.33Bb ±1.08 30.95Bb ±1.48 29.93B ±1.76
Triidothyronine 1 5.42Aa 5.33Aa 5.42Aa 5.58Aa 5.44A
(p mol/l) ±0.40 ±0.40 ±0.37 ±0.55 ±0.36
2 5.17Aa ±0.33 2.72Bb ±0.28 2.65Bb ±0.17 2.53Bb ±0.16 3.27B ±0.50
Thyroxine 1 25.83Aa 25.25Aa 24.97Aa 23.42Aa 24.87A
(p mol/l) ±1.18 ±1.30 ±1.23 ±0.92 ±1.10
2 25.58Aa ±1.33 16.58Bb ±0.92 16.08Bb ±0.90 15.58Bb ±0.95 18.46B ±1.56
Cortisol 1 22.13Aa 22.66Aa 21.67Aa 22.92Aa 22.34A
(n mol/l) ±1.17 ±1.64 ±1.61 ±1.71 ±1.80
2 22.58Aa ±1.30 43.92Bb ±3.08 44.58Bb ±1.43 42.17Bb ±2.05 38.31B ±2.10
Superscript a,b differ significantly in a row for individual parameter Superscript A, B, differ significantly between groups for individual parameter
CONCLUSION
The study indicated that feed restriction and thermal stress had severe impact on kids as revealed by changes in physiological reactions, mineral balances, enzymes activities, hormone secretion and blood metabolites. The feed restricted and thermal exposed group experienced more stress and the losses incurred in body weights in this group could not be compensated during post stress period.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are grateful to Director NDRI, Karnal
for providing the necessary facilities to conduct the
study.
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