TITLE:
Influence of Concentrate in the Diet on the Metabolic, Biochemical, and Endocrine Profile of Buffalo Heifers
AUTHORS:
Caio Alves da Costa, Rafael Artur da Silva Júnior, Bruna Higino de Souza Silva, Rebeka Pontes Menezes, Ayna Arramis Apolinário Da Silva, Felipe Rosendo Correia, Emanuel Felipe de Oliveira Filho, Ricardo Alexandre Silva Pessoa, Cláudio Coutinho Bartolomeu, Pierre Castro Soares
KEYWORDS:
Animal Nutrition, Clinical Pathology, Bubalus Bubalis, Energy Profile
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine,
Vol.9 No.7,
July
16,
2019
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the
profile of the main serum biochemical variables in buffalo heifers receiving
diets with different concentrations of concentrate. Twenty buffalo heifers of
the Murrah breed, aged six to eight months, were randomly assigned to four
groups, with five replicates each, to be adapted to levels of 20%, 40%, 60%,
and 80% of concentrate in the diet, composed of sugarcane (bulk) and
concentrated feed based on wheat, corn, and soybean meal. The experimental
diets were constituted in the proportion “bulk: concentrate”, based on dry
matter, of “80:20” (Treatment 1), “60:40” (Treatment 2), “40:60” (Treatment 3),
and “20:80” (Treatment 4). Biomarkers were evaluated for energy, protein,
mineral, and endocrine profiles, as well as enzymatic activity. A positive
linear effect was observed for Final Body Weight. In the energy profile, there
was a positive linear effect for total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol and a
quadratic effect for plasma glucose. In the protein profile, a quadratic effect
was observed for the urea: creatinine ratio and a positive linear effect for
total protein and albumin. For the enzymatic activity, only the variable
gamma-glutamyltransferase presented a quadratic effect. In the mineral profile,
a quadratic effect was observed for calcium levels and a positive linear effect
for phosphorus levels and negative for chlorine levels. In the endocrine
profile, no statistical differences were observed. Diet with until 80% of
concentrate does not negatively influence biochemical parameters that represent
the profile of energy, protein, mineral and thyroid hormones for growing
buffalo heifers and favors the performance of the animals.