Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T05:20:45.305Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effect of spray cooling and wallowing on potassium concentration of erythrocytes in buffaloes (Bos bubalis) during summer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

P. C. Gangwar
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences
C. S. Bahga
Affiliation:
Department of Processing and Agricultural Structures, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India
R. K. Srivastava
Affiliation:
Department of Processing and Agricultural Structures, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India
D. P. Dhingra
Affiliation:
Department of Processing and Agricultural Structures, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, India

Summary

Forty-five normal lactating buffaloes from Punjab Agricultural University, Dairy Farm herd, were used for this study and were divided into three groups as group I (control), group II (showers) and group III (wallowing). The study was conducted from May to September in two periods, May–June as period I (hot and dry) and July–September as period II (hot and humid). Potassium concentration was estimated on a flame photometer. The overall average values (m-equiv/l) were found to be lowest in the control group (21·5 ± 1·27) and highest in wallowing (24·3 ± 1·20). Lower values were obtained in period I than in period II. Different correlations of potassium concentration in red blood corpuscles with climatic variables are discussed. Erythrocyte potassium concentration may act as an index of heat tolerance in buffaloes.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Benjamin, M. M. (1962). Outline of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 2nd edn.Ames., Iowa, U.S.A.: Iowa State University Press.Google Scholar
Evans, J. V. (1954). Electrolyte concentration in red blood cells of British breeds of sheep. Nature 174, 931932.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Evans, J. V. (1963). Adaptation to sub-tropical environment by zebu British breeds of cattle in relation to erythrocyte characteristics. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 14, 559571.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, E. J. & Wootten, I. D. P. (1956). Microanalysis in Medical Biochemistry, 3rd edn.New York: Grune and Stratton.Google Scholar
Mehta, S. N., Gangwar, P. C., Seivastava, R. K. & Dhingra, D. P. (1979). Effect of cooling on reproductive behaviour in buffaloes (Bos bubalis). Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 93, 249251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pandey, M. D. & Roy, A. (1968). Potassium and sodium distribution in erythrocytes and plasma of buffalo cows. Current Science 37, 256.Google Scholar
Rowlands, G. J., Little, W., Manston, R. & Dew, S. M. (1974). The effect of season on the composition of the blood of lactating and non-lactating cows as revealed from repeated metabolic profile tests on 24 dairy herds. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 83, 2735.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sengupta, B. P. (1974). Red cell electrolyte distribution and its possible significance in zebu cattle. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 83, 711.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Snedecor, G. W. (1961). Statistical Methods, 5th edn.Ames, Iowa, U.S.A.: Iowa State University.Google Scholar