To assess various immunological and oxidative stress markers during transitional period in bovine

Abstract

The transition period, defined as the three weeks before and after calving, is a highly vulnerable stage for dairy animals. During this phase, dairy cows and buffaloes undergo major metabolic and endocrine adjustments to initiate lactation, which often impairs immunity and predisposes them to oxidative stress, metabolic imbalances, and infectious disorders. The present study was undertaken at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, SVPUAT, Meerut, and ICAR- Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, with the objective of assessing immunological, oxidative stress, protein, lipid, mineral, and liver profiles during the transition period and evaluating the effectiveness of herbo-mineral supplementation. In Experiment I, 48 animals (24 Murrah buffaloes and 24 Sahiwal cows) were used in the study. The animals were further divided in two groups that is transitional animals (n=12) and mid lactating non-pregnant animals (n=12) from each species. Transitional animals were sampled at six time points (and#8722;21, and#8722;7, 0, +7, +14, +21 days relative to calving), while mid-lactating, non-pregnant animals were sampled once and served as baseline controls. In Experiment II, 48 animals (24 Murrah buffaloes and 24 Sahiwal cows) in transitional phase were further subdivided into two groups each control (n=12) and treatment (n=12), the latter receiving a herbo-mineral mixture (100 g/animal/day) from and#8722;21 to +14 days around calving. All animals were sampled six time and#8722;21, and#8722;7, 0, +7, +14, +21 days relative to calving. Results of the study showed significant alterations in metabolic, mineral, immune, and oxidative stress markers during transition, particularly at calving both in cattle and buffaloes when compared with Mid lactating non-pregnant animals. Supplementation with the herbo-mineral mixture improved protein and lipid metabolism, maintained mineral balance, supported liver activity, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced immune competence, leading to better postpartum recovery. This study highlights the complex challenges of the tr