Physiological response of gestating and non-gestating Jersey cows to a humid tropical environment

Abstract

In order to determine the physiological response of Jersey cows to the tropical environment of Ibadan, four Jersey cows aged 24.0±2.0 months at gestating and non-gestating phases were studied for their rectal temperature, pulse, heart and respiratory rates. Blood samples were also taken at both phases for haematological and serum biochemical analysis. Parameters were taken twice daily before and after grazing. Ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded for 5 months. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in pulse rate, heart rate and rectal temperature of Jersey cows during gestation and non-gestating period. Pulse rate, heart rate and rectal temperature for gestating periods were 58.4 beats/min, 57.24 beats/min and 38.4 ^oC respectively while that of non gestating were 57.3 beats/min, 57.94 beats/min and 38.3 ^oC respectively. However, respiratory rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher during gestation (52.2 beats/min) than non-gestating period (48.2 beats/min). Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and red blood cell count (RBC) did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) between the two periods although mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and white blood cells (WBC) were significantly lowered (P<0.05) during gestation compared to the non-gestating period. Values for MCV were 45.49 and 60.30 fl and WBC, 5.99 and 9.20 x 10³/μl during gestation and non-gestating periods respectively. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in total protein and albumin concentration in the serum while globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), urea and glucose levels varied significantly. Total protein values were 6.38 and 5.23 g/dl; urea, 16.75 and 11.88 mg/dl; glucose, 60.95 and 45.40 mg/dl for gestating and non-gestating periods respectively. The results showed that the health of Jersey cows at Ibadan was not compromised by the tropical environment or physiological state of the animal.