Physiological Response, Metabolic, Enzymatic, and Electrolytic Activities, and Milk Yield in Friesian and Friesian × Baladi Cows During Spring and Summer in Nile Delta of Egypt
Physiological Response, Metabolic, Enzymatic, and Electrolytic Activities, and Milk Yield in Friesian and Friesian × Baladi Cows During Spring and Summer in Nile Delta of Egypt
Al-Moataz Bellah Mahfouz Shaarawy1, Wael Mohamed Wafa1*, Ashraf Ali Mehany1, Reda Abdel Samee Ahmed Rezk2, Shereen Kamal Genena1, Mohamed Hamada El-Sawy1
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to assess the physiological responses, metabolic, enzymatic, and mineral activities, and milk yield of Friesian cows and their crossbreds with Baladi cows under various temperature-humidity indexes during spring and summer seasons in Nile Delta of Egypt. This study included a total of 10 cows (80-90 days in milk), 5 Friesian and 5 crossbred cows (Friesian x Baladi) aging 3.5-7 years and having 2-5 parities. Experimental cows were housed in semi-open sheds during spring and summer seasons. Rectal and skin temperatures, respiration (RR) and pulse (PR) rates, concentrations of cortisol and creatinine, and activity of AST and ALT in serum were significantly increased (P<0.05, 0.01 and 0.001), while TSH, T3, T4, total protein, glucose, cholesterol, Ca, P, Na, and K, ALP activity, and milk yield significantly decreased (P<0.05, 0.01 and 0.001) in summer than in spring in Friesian and crossbred cows. In summer season, Friesian cows showed significant increase (P<0.05, 0.01 and 0.001) in RR, PR, creatinine, K, ALT and AST, while T3, T4, glucose and milk yield showed significant reduction (P<0.05, 0.01 and 0.001) as compared to crossbred cows. In conclusion, Friesian×Baladi crossbred cows were more heat-tolerated than Friesian cows when they were housed loose in semi-open sheds during summer season in Nile Delta.
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