Some physiological responses of pregnant Egyptian buffalo to niacin supplementation

Eighteen pregnant buffaloes in the third and fourth parities were used ire this study. The animals were divided into three equal groups, according to their body weight. Animals of the first (G1) and second (G2) groups were gi ven daily 6 and 12 g of niacin/head, respectively. Supplementation was give n 4 weeks antipartum and continued until week 12 postpartum Animals of the third group (G3) served as controls. The results showed that buffaloes whic h were given niacin had an increase (P < 0.05) in plasma glucose, hemoglobi n, and total protein concentrations. Plasma sodium and cholesterol concentr ations decreased as a result of niacin supplementation as compared with the control group, with no difference due to the level of niacin. The results indicate that animals in G1 and G2 groups consumed more (P < 0.01) food and more (P < 0.05) metabolizable energy. They produced more (P < 0.05) fat co rrected milk and tended to have a shorter (P < 0.01) interval from calving to detected estrous. They also required less (P < 0.01) services per concep tion and had shorter (P < 0.01) days open as compared with the control. It was concluded that supplementation of niacin at 6 g/h/day led to improvemen t of the productive and reproductive performance of pregnant buffaloes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.