Breed- and sex-related variations in the number of incisors and morphometric-biochemical parameters in neonatal buffalo calves
Reproductive efficiency and neonatal survival are critical determinants of productivity in buffalo farming systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate incisor eruption and to assess morphometric, hematological, and biochemical parameters in neonatal buffalo calves during the first week of l...
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| Autores principales: | , , , |
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| Formato: | Artículo revista |
| Lenguaje: | Español |
| Publicado: |
Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
2025
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/vet/article/view/8741 |
| Aporte de: |
| Sumario: | Reproductive efficiency and neonatal survival are critical determinants of productivity in buffalo farming systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate incisor eruption and to assess morphometric, hematological, and biochemical parameters in neonatal buffalo calves during the first week of life. Twenty neonatal buffalo calves (1–7 days old), equally distributed by breed (Murrah and Mediterranean) and sex, raised in Corrientes, Argentina, were included. The number of erupted incisors, body weight, thoracic girth, and hematological and biochemical parameters were recorded using standardized methods. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, and the 5th–95th percentiles as well as 95% confidence intervals were calculated (p<0.05). Forty-seven percent of the calves had four erupted incisors, 37% had two, and 16% had six, with no significant differences between sexes or breeds. However, significant differences were observed: Mediterranean calves were heavier than Murrah calves (39.57 ± 1.45 vs. 33.56 ± 1.68 kg; p<0.02), and males showed greater body weight (37.56 ± 3.22 vs. 34.67 ± 2.14 kg; p<0.04) and thoracic girth (88.22 ± 2.33 vs. 85.33 ± 3.58 cm; p<0.02) compared with females. Regarding hematological and biochemical parameters, males had significantly higher values of hematocrit (38.03 ± 2.02% vs. 35.15 ± 2.19%; p<0.04), erythrocyte count (8.03 ± 0.47 vs. 7.28 ± 0.51106 μl-¹; p<0.03), alkaline phosphatase (613.01 ± 37.09 vs. 513.83 ± 29.52 U·L-¹; p<0.02), and LDH (261.32 ± 18.75 vs. 227.23 ± 17.60 U·L-¹; p<0.03). Conversely, females showed higher concentrations of total protein (7.07 ± 0.93 vs. 6.27 ± 0.67 g·dL-¹; p<0.03), albumin (1.89 ± 0.44 vs. 1.63 ± 0.39 g·dL-¹; p<0.04), and triglycerides (1.08 ± 0.18 vs. 0.76 ± 0.20 g·L-¹; p<0.04). These findings constitute the first report of sexual dimorphism in hematological and biochemical parameters during the first week of life in buffalo calves and provide valuable reference values for sex-specific neonatal management and the optimization of rearing protocols in subtropical production systems. |
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