Biochemical and trace minerals profile in fertile and infertile postpartum Surti buffaloes

Abstract

Blood biochemical and trace minerals profile of 26 suckled postpartum Surti buffaloes (18 fertile,
8 infertile by day 90 pp) was studied at weekly intervals from the day of calving to at least 91 days
postpartum and the findings were correlated to reproductive status. The levels of total protein and
total cholesterol did not differ significantly between fertile and infertile buffaloes at postpartum stages.
Only cholesterol increased significantly from the day of calving (109.86±15.46 Vs 125.76±8.14 mg%)
to 4-6 weeks postpartum (199.97±13.63 Vs 207.62±20.13 mg%) in both the groups. The weekly profile
of all macro minerals was higher in fertile than in infertile groups throughout the post-partum period
studied with significant differences in the levels of calcium (total and ionized) and Ca:P ratio, which
were significantly higher in fertile than the infertile group from 1st to 6th weeks postpartum, but not
the inorganic phosphorus, and none of them differed significantly between different weeks postpartum.
Plasma iron levels were highest on the day of calving in both the groups, which declined
significantly by 1-2 weeks postpartum and again, rose to significant level by 11-12 weeks postpartum
in fertile group. Zinc, copper and manganese levels did not show any specific trend or difference at
any stage postpartum in either of the groups, and the values were higher at most intervals in fertile
group as compared to infertile group, except copper, which was significantly higher in fertile than
infertile group at 7-8 weeks post-partum. Moreover, none of the constituents showed significant
variation between different days (0,7,14 & 21) of estrous cycle. The cholesterol had significant negative
associations with total proteins, inorganic phosphorus and manganese. Total protein had positive
relation with zinc and copper and negative relation with ionized calcium. Iron was positively correlated
with zinc and copper had negative correlation with manganese.