EFFECT OF WINTER MANAGEMENT-SYSTEMS ON PHYSIOLOGICAL STATUS OF FEMALEMURRAH BUFFALO CALVES

Winter management systems were studied in 3 to 6 months old Murrah buf falo female calves. Treatments comprising loose housing (T-1), loose h ousing + curtains during night (T-2), loose housing + bedding (T-3) an d conventional barn (T-4) with 5 animals in each group were applied to obtain physiological responses and blood parameters. The rectal tempe rature was significantly low in T-4 both in the morning and evening co mpared to T-1, T-2 and T-3. The calves subjected to loose and conventi onal housing (T-1 and T-4) had significantly lower respiration rate in the evening than those of T-2 and T-3. The pulse and respiration rate s in the morning were not influenced by the treatments. The serum prot ein level was significantly lower in T-1 (5.93 g/day litre) and signif icantly higher in T-4 (8.64 g/day litre). No significant differences w ere observed in serum protein levels of blood between T-2 and T-3. The values of cholesterol and potassium in serum, were riot significantly different between the treatments. The blood chloride was significantl y lower in calves raised in conventional barn than those housed in loo se house. However, the level of sodium was significantly higher in con ventional ham (T-4) as compared to T-1, T-2 and T-3.