EFFECTS OF WATER SPRAY ON BODY SURFACE TEMPERATURE, MILK PRODUCTION, HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL METABOLITES OF EGYPTIAN BUFFALOES (BUBALUS BUBALIS) DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS IN EGYPT
Keywords:
water spray, heat stress, milk production, haematological metabolites, Egyptian buffaloesAbstract
Low milk yield and impairment of reproduction and production performances of dairy buffaloes is still a major problem in tropical areas as a result of high environmental temperature. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of water spray on milk production, haematological and biochemical parameters of Egyptian buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) during the summer season. Twenty Egyptian buffaloes were divided into two groups of ten animals each on the basis of body weight and lactation stage. The first group was housed in a stable without water spray (control group), while the second group was housed in a stable where a system of water tubes was provided at 1.5 meters over the animals, ended with nozzles (2 meter apart from each other) to allow spraying water over the animal body surface for 15 minutes per hour from 14:00 to 9:00 hour daily for 4 months during the summer (cooled group). Our results revealed that the rectal, udder, and milk vein temperatures were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced as a result of water spray treatment. Daily milk yield in buffalo cows significantly (P < 0.001) increased as a result of the water spray. Milk fat, lactose, and total solids were significantly increased, while milk protein was not affected. Buffaloes' blood metabolites were also affected by water spray. The results of this study suggest that providing the Egyptian buffaloes with water spray for cooling their bodies reduced the adverse effect of heat stress during the period of highest temperature humidity index, and increased the milk yield.
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