Blood biochemical metabolites of Post-Parturient goats under different management systems in Himalayan Region

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different management systems on the blood biochemical metabolites of post-parturient crossbred goats (Boer x Bhakarwal) during winter season (January to March, 2017) in Kashmir valley. Thirty healthy post-partum does were randomly divided into five groups (G1 to G5) of six animals each with similar weight and parity. G1 (control) was reared inside the shed and G5 in open and both the groups were neither provided any bedding material nor were they offered any additional concentrate supplement. Groups G2, G3 and G4 were kept inside the shed during the study period. G2 was provided with a straw bedding of 5 cm thickness and no additional concentrate supplement. G3 was supplemented with additional pelleted concentrate feed @ 100 g/head/day but no straw bedding. G4 was provided both straw bedding of 5 cm thickness and additional pelleted concentrate feed @ 100 g/head/day during the study period. The results indicated that minimum temperature during the study period ranged from-2.50±0.38ºC to 3.23±0.61ºC in the open shed and 4.83±0.41ºC to 10.13±0.68ºC inside the shed with lowest thermal humidity index (28.30±0.54) in January in open shed. Blood glucose, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) hormones were significantly (P<0.05) higher in group (G5) kept outside as compared to other groups (G1 to G4) at the final stage of the experiment. Highest levels of total protein (6.53±0.12 g/dl) and triglycerides (29.33±0.91 mg/dl) were found in G4 at the end of the trial. It can be concluded that goats are susceptible to cold and may be protected from cold by providing concentrate supplementation to combat stress during peak winter months when temperature dips below zero in Kashmir valley.