Abstract
In order to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms of environmental adaptation in buffaloes, an experiment was conducted at the Agricultural and Forestry Research Center, University of Tsukuba. The effects of seasonal air temperature on the physiological responses and characteristics of blood in buffalo-cows were compared with those of Holstein cows during a period of one year.
The rectal temperature, respiration rate and heart rate of buffaloes were lower than those of Holsteins during the experiment. Buffaloes showed significantly lower erythrocyte counts and a higher haemoglobin concentration than Holsteins. Since the haematocrit values were similar in both species, it is likely that buffaloes have larger erythrocytes than Holsteins. Furthermore, buffaloes showed significantly higher contents of serum glucose, total protein, calcium, creatinine and a higher alkaline phosphatase activity than Holsteins. Blood viscosity and haematocrit values in buffaloes significantly increased along with the decrease of seasonal air temperatures, whereas no marked changes were observed in Holsteins.
