Four hundred and sixty two buffaloes were screened for pica, seventeen were found clinically positive indicating an overall incidence of 3.68%. Adult lactating or pregnant buffaloes maintained exclusively on dry roughages were found to be more affected during dry season. The most characteristic sign observed was the tendency of affected animals to lick/bite/chew/eat inanimate objects such as cloth, leather, polythene, stone, soil, bone and human faeces. Haematological parameters revealed highly significant decrease in Hb, non significant decrease in PCV, TEC, MCV and MCHC in affected cattle as compared to healthy control. Biochemically highly significant decrease in the mean calcium, phosphorus, potassium, total protein, iron, sodium and chloride was recorded. Analysis of etiological factors revealed maximum number of cases due to nutritional deficiency alone (70.59%) followed by nutritional deficiency plus worm load (23.53%) and bad vice (5.88%). The affected buffaloes were sucessfully treated with dewormer and mineral supplementation.
Buffalo, Nutritional deficiency, Pica, Worm load
