Abstract

PHYSIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES VERSUS SCALING OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS IN MURRAH BUFFALOES FROM ARID TRACTS OF RAJASTHAN

Ruchi Maan* and Nalini Kataria

Abstract

Environmental phenomena in arid tracts can produce immense stress on animals and scaling of stress can help in evaluating physiological modulations. Scarcity of research on this aspect in buffaloes tended to initiate the present exploration to assess physiological consequences along with scaling of environmeal stress in Murrah buffaloes from arid tracts of Rajasthan during extreme ambiences. Environmental factors were evaluated on the basis of temperature humidity index and heat load index values. Physiological consequences were assessed by measuring serum cortisol and serum glutathione reductase. Apparently healthy female buffaloes were screened during moderate, extreme hot, rainy and extreme cold ambiences. The overall mean values of serum cortisol and glutathione reductase were significantly (p≤0.05) higher during rainy, extreme hot and extreme cold ambiences as compared to respective moderate mean value. During rainy ambience, the per cent variation was found to be utmost for serum cortisol and glutathione reductase. It can be explained on the basis of serum cortisol that between heifers, pre-pubertals divulged higher effect of extreme ambiences. Amongst another group of female buffaloes, non-pregnant milch and primipara revealed greater thrust of extreme ambiences. Modulations in serum glutathione reductase revealed the existence of oxidative stress in all the buffaloes screened and the bang was greatest during rainy ambience. The essence of the present investigation was that rainy ambie nce produced the progression of greater scale of stress in the buffaloes with modulations in the physiological reactions to a level which can institute upsetting of health of buffaloes. Environmetal factors during extreme ambiences caused stress to the buffaloes of all physiological states. Physiological consequences were of utmost magnitude during rainy ambience. Rainy ambience divulged maximum values of heat load index and temperature humidity index exhibiting peak effect. Upshots of present study insinuated that the ration of buffaloes must be enriched with sufficient antioxidants in the form of vitamins and minerals. Marginal owners must be persuaded to monitor the health of buffaloes from arid tracts frequently.

Keywords: Ambience, cold, cortisol, glutathione reductase, rainy.