Effect of electrolyte supplementation on physiological responses in heat stressed male buffalo calves

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted in male buffalo calves to study the effect of electrolyte supplementation during hot-dry and hot-humid climatic conditions on physiological responses. Healthy male buffalo calves (8), 18 to 20 month-old, weighing 255±10 kg body weight were divided into control and treatment groups of 4 animals each. The treatment group was supplemented with electrolytes (NaHCO3, K HCO3 and KCl). The animals were maintained under uniform animal husbandry practices. The experiment was conducted in 2 phases, hot-dry (40°C with 30% RH) and hothumid (35°C with 70% RH). Both control and treatment groups were exposed to heat stress in psychrometric chamber on above described temperatures and relative humidity for 4 h daily for 21 days in each phase. Physiological responses were recorded at every day pre-exposure and post-exposure to heat stress. The physiological responses (rectal temperature, respiration rate/min and pulse rate/min) were increased significantly post exposure compared with pre-exposure in both groups during hot-dry and hot-humid conditions. But the increase was significantly higher in control group compared with treatment group. The increase in respiration rate and rectal temperature was significantly higher during hot-dry compared with hot-humid. Supplementation of electrolytes during heat stress helps in maintaining the physiological responses of male buffalo calves. Therefore electrolyte supplementation tends to reduce the heat stress in buffaloes during summer months.