Effect of Induced Oxalate Toxicity by ad libitum Feeding of Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) on Health of Buffalo Calves Bajaj G.1, Dhaliwal P.S., Hundal J.S.2, Choubey M.* Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana-141004, India 1 Present address: Veterinary Hospital, Bhuuanigarh, Dist. Sangroor, Punjab, India
2 Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension
* Reprint request: M. Choubey, Division of Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243122, India, mahipalvet@gmail.com
Abstract The present study was taken up to evaluate the effect of oxalate toxicity on health of male buffalo calves. Oxalate toxicity was experimentally induced by ad lib feeding of overgrown Napier grass (above 125 cm) with deprivation of water. The haemato-biochemical, physiological and ruminal parameters were recorded at zero day of experiment were taken as control values. The crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and total oxalate content of overgrown Napier grass were varied from 6.69% to 4.35%, 63.0% to 69.8% and 1.80% to 2.43% respectively. Feeding of overgrown Napier grass declined rumen protozoa concentration from ++++ to + and decreased (P<0.01) rumen motility (2.80/2 min to 0.00/2 min) on 44th day of experiment in addition to the altered body temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate. The leukocyte count of calves increased (P<0.01) from 9.68 to 16.92x10/mm3 with significantly decrease in packed cell volume from 31.80 to 26.67 and slight increase in haemoglobin from 10.47 to 10.92 g/dl. Rise (P<0.01) in plasma creatinine from 0.81 to 1.79 mg/dl and blood urea nitrogen from 8.90 to 12.88 mg/dl were also observed with slight increase in aspartate amino transferase enzyme activity at the peak of experiment. The significant (P<0.01) decrease in plasma calcium level from 9.13 to 6.19 mg/dl along with decrease in inorganic phosphorus level (from 5.72 to 3.94 mg/dl) lead to hypocalcaemia. Hence, it was concluded that oxalate toxicity decreases rumen protozoa concentration, plasma calcium and phosphorus level leading to hypocalcaemia resulted in significant reduction of rumen motility and consequently develops rumen impaction in calves. Top Keywords Oxalate toxicity, Napier grass, Buffalo calves, Hypocalcaemia, Impaction. Top |