Performance and some blood serum constit-uents of growing buffalo calves fed rations containing corn silage

Abstract EN

Twenty growing male buffalo calves with average body weight of 120 kgs and 6-9 month of age were used in this investigation and divided into two equal groups each of ten animals.

The first group was fed corn silage alone for three months, while the second control group received a control ration.

[ The first group showed clinical manifestations of Cu, Zn, Se and vitamin A deficiencies with prevalence particular signs of unthriftness, weight loss, rough hair coat, alopecia in some parts of the body and hypopigmentation, also diarrhea, bilateral ocular discharge and coughing be noticed in some animals may.

Chemical analysis of the diet revealed that, corn silage alone is not a balanced diet for growing calves.

Blood serum biochemical analysis of the diseased calves reflected these dietary deficiencies, as it revealed a significant reduction of the previous trace elements together with significant depletion in serum calcium, vitamin A and total proteins in comparison with the control animals.

Hematological picture of the diseased calves revealed hypochromic microcytic anemia, which is indicative for copper deficiency.

Diseased calves responded successfully to supplementation of concentrate feed mixture and parenteral injection of copper methionine and vitamin A together with dietary mineral supplementation as clinical signs disappeared and all examined blood parameters showed significant improvement towards the normal levels.