PSV-15 Influence of the temperament of water buffaloes on the serum lipid levels

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of the temperament of 75 water buffaloes of three genetic groups (GG: Jafarabadi, Mediterranean, and Murrah; n = 25 for each GG) on serum lipid levels. The animals were classified for temperament through the temperament score (TSc) obtained by the mean of the sum of the scores of the entry time into the squeeze chute (1 to 5: 1=greater time spent for entry, and 5=less time spent for entry) and the exit velocity score (1 to 5: 1=lower speed, and 5=higher speed) calculated after the period of adaptation to the feedlot (d0). The animals were categorized into adequate (ADQ; TSc≤3) or excitable (EXC; TSc >3) temperaments. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein on days -28, 0, and 84, and evaluated for serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) using colorimetric enzymatic analyses performed by commercial kits. Data were analyzed using MIXED procedure in SAS, considering the GG, temperament, day, and the resulting interactions as fixed effects. The term day was used for repeated measures in time. Correlations were estimated using the CORR procedure in SAS. There were no interactions for the variables evaluated (P ≥ 0.11). ADQ animals showed lower levels of total cholesterol (65.95 vs 70.96mg/dL for ADQ and EXC, respectively; SEM=2.33; P = 0.04) and LDL (26.74 vs 30.40mg/dL for ADQ and EXC, respectively; SEM=1.57; P = 0.02) than EXC animals. There was no effect of temperament for the triglycerides (P = 0.41), HDL (P = 0.47), and VLDL (P = 0.46). Positive correlations were verified between both the TSc and triglycerides (r=0.32; P < 0.01), and TSc and VLDL (r=0.33; P < 0.01). Tendency for a positive correlation was detected between TSc and LDL (r=0.20; P = 0.09). In conclusion, there are differences in serum lipid levels between water buffalo temperaments which deserves further investigation. Supported by FAPESP (#2018/25939-1; #2014/05473-7).