ISSN:
1432-1254
Keywords:
Water buffalo
;
Supplemental light
;
Prolactin
;
Progesterone
;
LH
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geography
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Fifty non-pregnant Surti buffalo heifers aged between 17 and 42 months (n=24, 〈24 months;n=26, 〉24 months) were randomly assigned to groups subject to either natural daylight +4h supplemental light (n=25) or natural day light (n=25), to study changes in growth, serum prolactin (Prl), progesterone (P4) and luteinizing hormone (LH) to supplemental lighting. Ambient temperatures (T) and relative humidity (RH) generally were 〉27° C and 〈70% during the day-time, respectively. Light-supplemented heifers had 16.2 kg net body weight (BW) gain at 9 weeks compared to 20.8 kg for controls, but higher mean Prl after 6.5 weeks (P〈0.01), and higher P4 (0.41 vs 0.19 ng/ml;P〈0.06) than control heifers. Older heifers had 39.7% greater BW (P〈0.01), but a net 4.3% BW gain compared to a 10.1% gain for younger heifers at 10 weeks. Older, light-supplemented heifers had higher mean P4 (0.63 vs 0.19 ng/ml;P〈0.07) than the other groups. These weight and hormonal changes suggest that 4 h supplemental light can alter growth and endocrine function in buffaloes under similar planes of nutrition. While light supplementation did not have a positive effect on body wieght during the 10 week study, body weight and endocrine changes due to supplemental light may be important factors for initiation of reproductive cyclicity.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01686284
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