Supplementation of Amla (Emblica officinalis) Powder During Summer Stress in Buffaloes

This study was carried out with 18 Murrah buffaloes during pre-summer and summer season. The animals were divided into 3 groups of 6 each as pre-summer group (G₁), summer group (G₂) and summer group supplemented with amla (Emblica officinalis) powder @ 200 mg/kg BW/day (G₃) for 30 days. The values of rectal temperature, respiration rate and pulse rate were higher (P<0.05) in group G₂ compared to G₁. Cortisol (15.46 vs. 9.48 ng/ml) and erythrocytic lipid peroxidation (356.28 vs. 213.94 nmol MDA/g Hb) levels were also higher (P<0.05) in group G₂ compared to G₁. Plasma thyroxin (34.61 vs. 41.78 μg/dl) and triiodothyronine (1.40 vs. 1.67 ng/ml) levels were lower (P<0.01) in group G₂ compared to G₁. There was a decrease in rectal temperature, pulse rate, cortisol and lipid peroxidation levels coupled with an increase (P<0.01) in the thyroid activity in group G₃ compared to G₂. There seemed a alleviation in adverse effects of summer stress in Murrah buffaloes due to amla powder supplementation.