Effect of Poly-herbal mixture and butyric acid feeding on immune parameters of postpartum Murrah buffaloes

Abstract

The present study was conducted in 24 Murrah buffaloes to study the effect of supplementation of poly-herbal mixture and butyric acid with the objective to reduce parturition stress and to improve immunity. In this study, control group i.e T0 (n=6) was offered ration as per NRC requirement plus 10 % and the rest of three supplemented groups T1, T2 and T3 (n=6 for each group) were offered ration as per control group along with three different supplementations, (T1= poly-herbal supplementation for seven day post partum, T2= poly-herbal supplementation for seven day post partum + 200 ml butyric acid supplementation (30 day prepartum and 30 day postpartum) and T3= 200 ml butyric acid supplementation (30 day prepartum and 30 day postpartum). Total leukocyte count (TLC) values in all groups showed decreasing trend as observed on 1st, 2nd and 5th days of postpartum. On the 1st day of postpartum, blood neutrophil percentage was found significantly lower (p<0.05) in T2 and T3 group as compared to T0 group. On the 5th day of postpartum, blood neutrophil percentage were found significantly lower (p<0.05) in T1, T2 and T3 groups as compared to T0 group. On day one postpartum, the phagocytic activity (PA) and myeloperoxidase activity (MA) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the T2 and T3 group of buffaloes in comparison to T0 group. On the 5th day of postpartum PA and MA were found to be significantly higher (p<0.05) in the T1, T2 and T3 group of buffaloes in comparison to T0 group. These results indicate that supplementation of poly-herbal, poly-herbal + butyric acid and butyric acid during the transition period reduces the stress and improves immunity in Murrah buffaloes. Out of all the supplemented groups, maximum improvement was observed in the poly-herbal+butyric acid supplemented group.