Changes in Total Body Water and Dry Body Weight with Age and Body Weight in Friesians and Water Buffaloes

Abstract

Ninety Friesian and 153 Water Buffalo cows, 6 to 60 months and 100 to 500kg body weight, were used in this study. Total body water was determined by 3H-radioisotope dilution technique and dry body weight deduced by subtracting total body water from live body weight. In Friesians and Buffaloes there were significant positive correlations (P < 0.01) between age and each of live body weight (r=0.7228, 0.8990), dry body weight (r=0.6728, 0.8305), and total body water in liters (r=0.3860, 0.6150), whereas there were significant negative correlations (P < 0.01) between age and total body water in liters/100kg live body weight (r=0.2968, −0.3795) and in liters/100kg dry body weight (r=−0.2427, −0.2990). Moreover, live body weights in Friesians and Buffaloes were positively correlated with dry body weight at P < 0.01 (r=0.8450, 0.9167) and with total body water in liters at P < 0.01 (r=0.8972, 0.9508). Linear regressions were made for each of live body weight, dry body weight, and total body water, in liters, liters/100kg live body weight, and liters/100kg dry body weight, on age, as well as for each of total body water in liters, and dry body weight on live body weight.