Responses of Vitamin C Supplementation on Biochemical, Hormonal and Physiological Parameters of Pregnant Murrah Buffaloes during Hot-humid Conditions

The present study was conducted to study the physiological and biochemical changes in buffaloes during hot humid conditions supplemented with vitamin C. Twelve primiparous Murrah buffaloes in their late advanced stage of gestation were divided into two groups of six animals each. Group 1 was control and Group 2 was experimental i.e supplemented with ascorbic acid @ 10g/animal/day from day -45 to the day of calving. Blood samples were collected on days -45, -30, -7 and 0 (parturition day). Plasma was analyzed for total Ig, albumin, total protein, cortisol, T₃ and T₄. Physiological responses respiration rate (RR), pulse rate (PR) and rectal temperature rate (RT) were recorded on the same days before blood collection. Plasma albumin and total protein concentrations increased with advancement of pregnancy in both group 1 and group 2 and their concentrations were significantly lower in group 2 compared to group 1. Plasma cortisol concentration in group 1 and group 2 was significantly (P<0.01) higher on the day of parturition compared to day -45 and overall mean cortisol concentration was significantly (P<0.01) lower in group 2 than group 1. Total plasma T₃ and T₄ concentration decreased with advancement of pregnancy and decrease was more in group 1 (54.4% & 55.6%) compared to group 2 (48.7% & 44.1%) from day -45 to day 0. Overall mean concentrations of T₃ and T₄ were significantly (P<0.01) higher in group 2. Total Ig concentration decreased with approaching parturition in both groups and the overall mean concentration of group 2 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than group 1. RT, RR and PR increased gradually and the differences were statistically non-significant from day -45 to day 0 between group 1 and group 2. The results indicated that supplementation of vitamin C tended to shift the changes in biochemical, hormonal and physiological responses towards normalcy.