IMMUNITY RESPONSE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF ‎LACTATING FRIESIAN COWS TREATED WITH BENTONITE

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Cattle breeding department, Animal production institute, Agriculture research center

2 Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of bentonite on the immune status and reproductive performance of lactating Friesian cows. A total of 30 pregnant Friesian cows (4-6 years of age) were divided into three groups (10 cows in each). In the 1st group; G1, animals were fed the control diet, while those in the 2nd; G2 and 3rd; G3 groups were fed the control diet supplemented with 20 or 40 g bentonite/kg concentrate, respectively, from 60 days prepartum up to 120 days postpartum. Blood samples were taken at estrus and 120-d postpartum. Results show that calf weight at calving and placental drop time improved (P<0.05) in G3, while uterine horn symmetry and cervical closer improved in G2 and G3 compared with G1. Plasma immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, and IgA) increased (P<0.05) in G3 than in G1 and G2. Count of RBCs and WBCs, hemoglobin, and PCV improved (P<0.05) by both treatments, being the highest (P<0.05) in G3. Interval to first estrus, service period, and days open were the best (P<0.05) in G3. Concentration of P4 was the lowest at estrus, and the highest at 120-d postpartum in G3. Number of services/conception and pregnancy rate were 1.4 and 50% in G1, 1.6 and 80% in G2, and 1.4 and 100% in G3.

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