Impact of nutrition on serum percentage in heifers

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of nutrition on serum percentage of blood in crossbred heifers. The animals were grouped into four, and allocated to one of three groups, ie, T₀, a control group fed on 8 kg/day of green grass and 3 kg/day of concentrates, or a T₁ or a T₂ group fed on 40% (4.8 kg/day green grass and 1.8 kg/day concentrate per animal) and 60% (3.2 kg/day green grass and 1.2 kg/day concentrate per animal) restricted feeding. Blood samples were collected on the first day of treatment and then at three-day intervals for 63 days. Serum percentage increased significantly (P < 0.05) in Groups T₁ (by 49.1%) and T₂ (by 56.5%) compared with T ₀(by 41.5%). Significant (P < 0.01) decreases were found in total erythrocyte count (by 5.6 and 4.2 g%), hemoglobin content (by 8.0 and 6.5 g%), and packed cell volume (by 31.4% and 22.9%) in Groups T₁ and T₂, respectively, compared with T₀. It is suggested that the amount of feed given daily is important in maintaining the standard blood cell and serum percentage levels considered indicative of general good health in animals.

Keywords::

• restricted feeding
• crossbred heifers
• feeds
• serum percentage