EFFECTS OF PREGNANCY ON THE METABOLIC AND HAEMATOLOGICAL PROFILES OF FRIESIAN X BUNAJI AND BUNAJI COWS
EFFECTS OF PREGNANCY ON THE METABOLIC AND HAEMATOLOGICAL PROFILES OF FRIESIAN X BUNAJI AND BUNAJI COWS
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Date
2012-12
Authors
DAVID, Christiana Chinedum
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Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the body condition, metabolic and haematologic
profiles reflecting the metabolic energy status prior to artificial insemination, during the
different trimesters of pregnancy and at postpartum period (PP), in Friesian x Bunaji
(FR x BJ) and Bunaji (BJ) cows, placed on the same feeding regimen. Twenty eight
cows comprising of 11 FR x BJ and 17 BJ were observed for normal cyclicity. Only 8
cows (4 FR x BJ and 4 BJ) that showed normal cyclicity were used for the study. They
where synchronized using a single intramuscular injection of 25 mg of PGF2α and
inseminated using Friesian semen. Body condition score (BCS) was obtained every
morning before feeding during pre–insemination, pregnancy and PP at 30 days interval.
Blood samples were similarly obtained, processed for serum and assayed for
metabolites, electrolytes and calcium. Also, blood samples in sodium salt of
ethylenediaminetetraacetate containing bottles were used for the determination of
haematological parameters. The body condition score of the BJ cows was significantly
(P < 0.05) higher than that of the FR x BJ cows in the second trimester of pregnancy
(3.79 ± 0.10 vs 3.29 ± 0.07). The pre–insemination (control) values (range) for
metabolic parameters for both breeds were glucose (GL) (2.17 ± 0.44 – 2.29 ± 0.32
mMol/L), tryglycerides (TRG) (0.61 ± 0.07 – 0.74 ± 0.08 mMol/L), cholesterol (CHL)
(4.85 ± 0.77 – 5.15 ± 0.58 mMol/L), urea (UR) (7.41 ± 0.97 – 10.46 ± 2.68 mMol/L),
creatinine (CRT) (188.68 ± 15.32 – 135.13 ± 23.05 mMol/L), sodium (Na+) (152.38 ±
7.43 – 152.75 ± 5.53 mMol/L), potassium (K+) (4.30 ± 0.29 – 4.31 ± 0.29 mMol/L)
chloride (Cl–) (103.38 ± 5.16 – 106.25 ± 3.69 mMol/L), bicarbonate (HCO3
2–) (17.23 ±
2.72 – 23.00 ± 2.49 mMol/L), total protein (TP) (55.19 ± 5.16 – 59.54 ± 6.05 g/l) and
albumin (ALB) (27.69 ± 3.10 – 29.02 ± 5.27 g/l). There was increase in GL, TRG,
CHL, HCO3
2–, Ca2+, TP, and ALB levels in the two breeds, with onset of pregnancy,
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but CRT, UR, Na+, K+, and Cl– levels decreased with onset of pregnancy. There were no
significant differences (P > 0.05) in the levels of GL, UR, CHL, Na+, K+, HCO3
2–, Ca2+,
TP and ALB of the two breeds, throughout the reproductive stages. However,
significant differences were obtained in other metabolic parameters at different
reproductive stages. The control values for haematologic profiles for both breeds were
Packed cell Volume (PCV) (37.38 ± 3.24 - 27.20 ± 5.34), Haemoglobin Concentration
(Hb. Conc.) (13.10 ± 0.90 - 27.23 ± 5.27) and White blood cell count (WBC) (11.19 ±
2.01 - 14.67 ± 2.24). There was an increase in white blood cell count with onset of
pregnancy in the FR x BJ, but a continuous drop throughout pregnancy, in the Bunaji
cows. The present research has provided a baseline data on especially metabolic
parameters of FR x BJ and BJ cows prior to insemination, during the different trimesters
of pregnancy and at postpartum period, valuable in future clinical and experimental
applications.
Description
A THESIS
SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF
SCIENCE IN THERIOGENOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF THERIOGENOLOGY AND PRODUCTION
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
DECEMBER, 2012
Keywords
EFFECTS, PREGNANCY, METABOLIC, HAEMATOLOGICAL PROFILES, FRIESIAN X BUNAJI, BUNAJI COWS