Effect of weaning on some plasma metabolites in buffalo calves fed diets with or without supplemental chromium picolinate

Abstract

The objective of this study were 2 fold: to determine whether the weaning (abrupt transition from liquid to solid diet) at the age of 90 days causes stress in buffalo calves, and if so, to alleviate the negative effect of stress by chromium picolinate supplementation (400 µg daily). All buffalo calves were separated from their mothers immediately after birth. Chromium supplementation started 3 days before the weaning and was terminated 5 days later. Plasma cholesterol and indol levels declined significantly after weaning in both groups. Both the weaning and supplemental chromium had no effect on plasma urea level. Our results indicate that when the negative emotional arousal, caused by the interruption of the physical contact mother – calf, is avoided, as it is in our case, then the abrupt transition from liquid to solid feed at 90 d of age has no stress-inducing effect. Supplemental chromium reduced plasma cortisol levels both before and following the weaning, but had no significant effect on the determined metabolites since its effect is more pronounced during extreme stress load.

Key words:

• Buffalo calves
• Stress
• The weaning
• Cortisol
• Indol