Abstract
In order to lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of environmental adaptation in buffaloes, an experiment was carried out at Agriculture and Forestry Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Japan. The effects of seasonal air temperature on blood constituents and haematological traits of buffaloes was compared with those of cattle. Seasonal mean values of glucose, total protein, haematocrit, alkaline phosphatase activity and red blood cell count were greater in buffaloes than Holsteins. The increase of seasonal air temperature produced significant increase in calucium in buffaloes and Holsteins, decrease both in glucose and alkaline phosphatase activity in buffaloes and Holsteins, and decrease in haematocrit and red blood cell count in buffaloes. The increase of body temperature produced a significant increase in calcium in Holsteins, decrease in haematocrit and red blood cell count in buffaloes, and a decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity in Holsteins. The results obtained may suggest that buffaloes, compared with Holstein cattle, are physiologically less adaptable to hot climate.
