Morphometric and haematological parameters in Italian

Morphometric and haematological
parameters in Italian Mediterranean
Buffaloes finished with different diets
S. Allegrini1, M. Mazzi1, C. Roncoroni2, L. Alfieri2,
M.C. Campagna2, A. Borghese1
1Istituto
2Istituto
Sperimentale per la Zootecnia, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Via Appia Nuova 1411 00178
Rome, Italy
Corresponding author: A. Borghese. Istituto Sperimentale per la Zootecnia Via Salaria 31 Monterotondo,
Rome, Italy - Tel.00390690090232 - Fax:0039069061541 - Email: [email protected]
abstract: Twenty four weaned male buffalo calves where randomly divided in two
groups: group 1 fed unifeed of corn silage, hay, maize meal and soybean meal until slaughter,
and group 2 fed the same diet until they reached 325 kg of body weight, then fed alfalfa hay,
maize meal, soybean meal and ruminal buffer. The animals were slaughtered once reached
420 kg of body weight. At the beginning of the trial the groups were homogeneous as for age
and body weight as for somatic measures, while all along the study, group 1 proved to have
higher body length and width of pelvis. Group 1, moreover, reached the slaughter weight at
an earlier time (496 days) than Group 2 (516 days). Regarding the haematological profile,
in the second period, group 1 evidenced higher blood cortisol and lower total protein and γ
globulins levels.
Key words: Buffalo young bulls, Diet, Growth, Haematological profile.
INTRODUCTION - Buffalo meat production has been performed in the past using culled buffalo cows and sires and it was therefore considered as a product characterised by
darkness, firmness and strong taste. It is necessary to modify the consumer conception
giving a new commercial image to such product. The nutritional qualities represented by
colour, tenderness, higher mineral-element, lower cholesterol and higher polyunsaturated
fatty acid content respect to the bovine meat and odour absence in the young animals, are
acquired knowledge. Some features are outlined in the production disciplinary (IGP Mediterranean buffalo meat) that also define the production area as well as animal breeding and
nutrition principles. The aim of this study is to compare two different diets in the finishing
phase of buffalo rearing for meat production, with or without corn silage, that could change
the final characteristics of meat.
MATERIAL AND METHODS - Twenty four weaned male buffalo calves have been divided in two groups homogeneous as for age (159.5 days) and body weight (109 kg) as well
as for somatic measures. The animals were raised in multiple pens on grilled floor. Group 1
during all the trial received unifeed of corn silage, hay, maize meal and soybean meal until
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VIII World Buffalo Congress
slaughter. Group 2 was fed the same diet (Table 1) until reaching 325 kg of body weight,
then the corn silage was completely replaced by hay, according to the IGP production proposals (Indicazione Geografica Protetta “Carne di bufalo mediterraneo”); the diet became
as follows: alfalfa hay, maize meal, soy bean meal and ruminal buffer (sodium bicarbonate)
(Table 2).
Table 1.
Daily intake during the first experimental period.
Daily intake/head
DM (kg)
Energy level (Meat FU)
Protein values (g)
Table 2.
Dec
3.23
2.65
478.0
Jan
3.41
2.80
493.0
Feb
4.04
3.16
556.1
Months
Mar
4.76
3.86
691.3
Apr
5.03
4.16
822.5
May
5.75
4.73
897.4
Jun
6.47
5.30
957.1
Jul
7.37
6.01
1223.9
Daily intake during the second experimental period.
Daily intake/head in group 1
Months
DM (kg)
Energy level (Meat FU)
Protein values (g)
Oct
9.15
8.05
1403.8
Aug
8.26
6.79
1312.7
Sept
8.71
7.35
1360.2
Daily intake/head in group 2
Months
DM (kg)
Energy level (Meat FU)
Protein values (g)
Oct
8.97
7.20
1791.6
Aug
8.10
6.54
1670.8
Sept
8.52
6.98
1712.4
Nov
9.60
8.12
1451.9
Dec/Jan
/
/
/
Nov
9.41
7.84
1835.3
Dec/Jan
9.86
8.37
2020.1
At the beginning of the trial (December) every calf was weighted, measured for body parameters: chest girth (CG), height at withers (HW), depth of chest (DC), width of pelvis (WP)
and body lenght (BL), and submitted to blood sampling from jugular vein for haematological profile. Every month the live weight was evaluated in order to adjust the diet to the
growth. Blood samples and somatic measures were repeated before slaughter at a mean
weight of 420 kilos. Data were statistically analysed using SPSS/PC statistics package.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS - Buffalo young bulls showed similar daily weight
gain (DWG) compared to previous trials carried in intensive systems (Romita et al., 1982;
Gigli et al., 1994; Di Lella et al., 1998; Zicarelli et al., 2005).
Considering the two periods of the trial characterized by the same (1st) and the different
(2nd) diets, it can be shown how in the first period there were no differences in daily gain
or in somatic measures; in the second phase group 1 reached significantly higher somatic
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VIII World Buffalo Congress
measures (table 3) even if the higher daily gain (1,12 kg) is not significantly different in
comparison with group 2 (1,05 kg).
Considering the parameters at slaughter in both groups for the whole period, we obtained
similar daily gains even if group 1 reached the slaughter weight at an earlier time (table 4).
Table 3.
Results subdivided in the two periods, for the two groups (G1 and G2), for
daily weight gain (DWG), chest girth (CG), height at withers (HW), depth
of chest (DC), width of pelvis (WP) and body length (BL).
1st period
G1
G2
DWG (kg)
0.88
0.84
C G (cm)
112.27
112.55
2nd period
Group 1
Group 2
DWG (kg)
1.12
1.05
C G (cm)
181.62 a
172.69 b
PARAMETERS
H W (cm)
90.69
91.22
D C (cm)
40.77
41.5
W P (cm) 27.41
27.14
B L (cm)
84.56
84.44
W P (cm) 47.95 a
44.84 b
B L (cm)
135.52 a
125.65 b
PARAMETERS
H W (cm)
123.5 a
119.93 b
D C (cm)
62.65
62.59
Values with different letters, on columns, mean significant differences at P<0.05.
Considering the haematological paraResults in both groups (G1 and
meters, serological enzymes proved to be Table 4.
G2), from the start until the
enhanced in both groups by tissues prolitime of slaughter.
feration and young animals’ bone growth
(Zicarelli et al., 1980; Pizzuti and Salvato- Group Age (days) Weight (kg) DWG (kg)
ri, 1993; De Luna et al., 1995). Some dif- G1
496.2
414.4
0.93
ferences were evidenced between groups: G2
515.9
424.2
0.89
in the first period there was no difference
apart for blood cortisol level that resulted
significantly higher in group 2 (1,25 vs 1,02 ng/ml), while in the second period it rose significantly in group 1; the other group proved higher in total proteins and γ globulines (Table 5).
Table 5.
Group 1
Group 2
Haematological parameters resulted different in the second period.
Cortisol (ng/ml)
Total protein (mmol/l)
g globulines (titre)
1,69 a
1,23 b
6,25 b
6,58 a
1,61 b
1,87 a
Values with different letters, on columns, mean significant differences at P<0.05.
Both diets did not affect animals metabolic balance. Group 1 reached sooner the slaughter
weight showing higher blood cortisol levels and lower immune specific defences.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS – Work supported by Italian Agricultural Ministry. Project
“Buffalo products improvement and valorisation. PROBUF”. Coordinator: Prof. A. Borghese. Paper n. 24.
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