Twenty eighl buffaloes at late pregnancy period were divided into four equal
groups and subjected during prepartum (one month) and post-partum (two months)
periods to four treatments. The first group (TO) had no treatment (control group). group
Tl fed on shopped corn plants as partial replacement (20% as DM) of concentrate
feed mixture (CFM). whereas the other two groups were subjected to vitamin AD3E
inlramuscular injection (T2) or dietaty supplement treatment (T3). For each animal of
group T2, 7 ml weekly dosage of injected vitamin A03E contained 80,000 IU/ml,
40,000 IU/ml and 20 mg/ml of vitamins A, 03 and E, respeclively, while each animal in
group T3 received 10 ml weekly dosage of dietary supplement contained 50,000 IU/ml,
5,000 IU/ml and 20 mg/ml of the same vitamins, respectively. Immunoglobulin analysis
of colostrum indicated insignificant differences in Ig M fraction among treatments.
Fractions of 19 A and 19 G were relatively higher (P < 0.05) in vitamin AD3E injected
group T2 in comparison with other groups. The conlrol group TO had minimal (P <
0.05) concentration of Ig A and Ig G than other treated groups.
Buffaloes of group T2 had the least (P < 0.05) calving inlerval (367.2:t24.1 days)
due to the shorter intervals (or uterine involution, onset of the 1st postpartum heat and
days open. Group T2 achieved greater calf birth weight and weaning weight in
comparison with olher groups. Relative grow1h rate of weaned calves were almost
similar for all groups.
Group T1 exhibited greater (P < a.05) total milk production in comparison wilh other
groups. Supplementation of vitamin AD3E (in both groups T2 and T3) was not effective
to maintain milk. productivity over that of the control group. Days in milk were the
greatest in T1 group < /p>
Mean concentrations of blood total protein, globulin, calcium and AST activity of
group T2 were significanlly (P < O.05) higher than that of other groups. Group T1
characterized by a significant (P < O.OS) elevation of blood glucose. total lipids and
phosphorous. Concentrations of blood globulin of groups TO and T1 were significantly
(P < 0.05) less than that of vitamin AD3E treated groups during pre and postpartum
periods.