• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.8
• /
• pp.1273-1276
• /
• 1999

Several reports have indicated that a rectal temperature of buffaloes is easily influenced by their surroundings. To clarify an effect of changing environmental temperature on thermoregulatory responses of buffaloes, an environment with diurnal temperature changes of $25^{\circ}C$ to $35^{\circ}C$ was created using an artificial climate laboratory. Three swamp buffaloes and three Friesian cows were exposed to three different experimental periods as follows: Period 1 (constant temperature of $30^{\circ}C$, Period 2 (diurnally changing temperature) and Period 3 (diurnally changing temperature and fasting). Heat production, rectal temperature, respiration rate, heart rate and respiration volume were measured during each period. Rectal temperature of the buffaloes fluctuated diurnally with the changing temperature (Periods 2 and 3), but remained constant in cows. Mean heat production was significantly lower in buffaloes than in cows in Period 2 and 3. However, the maximum rectal temperature and the increment of heat production were not always lower in buffaloes than in cows during Period 2. These results show that a rectal temperature and heat production in buffaloes are markedly influenced by the diurnal changes in temperature. Compared with Bos Taurus cows, the differences may be attributed to the physiological features of buffaloes including a high heat conductivity of their bodies and an lower heat production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.631-639
• /
• 2001

Two experiments were carried out concerning the effects of urea-molasses cake (UMC) and its separate components as supplements on rumen environment, in sacco feed degradability and intake of swamp buffaloes fed rice straw, grasses or a mixture of grasses and rice straw. Experiment 1 was a change-over design with 4 animals and 6 treatments. The buffaloes were fed rice straw ad libitum, and the experimental treatments were: no supplementation (R); 700 g of the complete urea-molasses cake (RUMC); 53.2 g urea (RU); 276 g rice bran and 52.5 coconut meal (RRC); 26.6 g salt, 26.6 g bone meal and 2.1 g trace minerals (RMi); and 25 g molasses (RMo). Experiment 2 was a Latin square design with four diets and four animals. The treatments were: rice straw ad libitum and mixed grass (RG) at 2.5 g dry matter per kg live weight (LW); RG plus 700 g urea-molasses cake (RGUMC); mixed grass ad libitum (G); and G plus 700 g cake (GUMC). In both experiments the supplements were fed once daily. In Exp. 1 although the rumen pH was significantly different (p<0.05) among diets, it varied only from 6.90 to 7.06. The ruminal ammonia was also significantly (p<0.05) different among the diets with RUMC significantly higher than R. Total bacterial and protozoal counts were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the RUMC, RU, RMo and RRC diets. Total feed and rice straw intakes were highest for RUMC (p<0.05) and lowest for the RMi and RMo diets, but in sacco degradability of four different roughages were not significantly different among diets. In Exp. 2, rumen pHs of the diets differed significantly and (p<0.01) ranged from 7.04 - 7.19. Ruminal $NH_3-N$ concentrations (mg/100 ml) were also significantly different (p<0.05), and higher for the RGUMC, G and GUMC diets. The total counts of bacteria and protozoa were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the RGUMC, G and GUMC diets. The total feed intake and roughage intake were significantly (p<0.05) higher for the RGUMC, G and GUMC diets compared to the RG diet. Correspondingly, LW changes also differed among treatments (p=0.06). It was concluded that there were significant increases in rumen $NH_3-N$ concentration, microbial populations and feed intake in the buffaloes by UMC supplementation, whereas the significant difference in in sacco DM degradation was not found by any type of supplementation. There seemed to be a need of a combination of urea, molasses, minerals and other protein nitrogen sources to enhance rice straw intake. Adding grass to the rice straw diet at 0.25% LW (DM) should also be considered to maintain buffalo rumen function and production with UMC supplementation, when rice straw is the main roughage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.886-890
• /
• 1999

From previous studies, there is a strong possibility in buffaloes that the marked increase in blood volume (BV) under hot conditions contributes to heat transportation from the rectum to the skin. The present study was done to clarify changes with environmental temperature on water-shift between blood and extracellular fluid (ECF), heat distribution between the rectum and the skin, and blood flow rates (BFR) at the hind legs (reflecting the skin surface). Four buffaloes and four Friesian cows were successively exposed to three different temperatures of $20^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. BV and ECF volume were measured with Evans' blue and sodium-thiocyanate dilution methods, respectively. Rectal and subcutaneous (as the skin) temperatures were measured by copper-constantan thermocouples. BFR were measured by a supersonic blood flow meter. With an increase in environmental temperature, skin temperature in buffaloes increased significantly than cows, but rectal temperature was not significantly different between two species. BV, especially plasma compartment, increased significantly in only buffaloes, while ECF volume did not change in both species. BFR increased significantly in buffaloes, but not in cows. From these results, the increased of BV may be caused by water flowing from ECF compartment. The water-shift may induce the increase of BFR and skin temperature. It is suggested in the present study that internal changes of blood compartment in buffaloes contribute to transfer of heat to the skin surface.