THERMOREGULATORY PARAMETERS OF LACTATING FRIESIAN X BUNAJI COWS AS AFFECTED BY FEED GRADE SELENIUM AND VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTATION

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on lactating Friesian x Bunaji cows. Twenty (20) lactating Friesian x Bunaji cows were used. The study consisted of four treatments with five animals per treatment in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Treatment I served as control without selenium or vitamin E supplementation, Treatment II was supplemented with 3 mg of feed grade selenium; Treatment III, with 20 mg of feed grade vitamin E; and Treatment IV was administered a combination of 3 mg feed grade selenium and 20 mg of vitamin E. The treatments were given once a week, while the animals were given free access to grazing and water provided ad libitum. Thermoregulatory parameters of respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT) and pulse rate (PR) were measured monthly for three months. The respiratory rate was higher (P<0.05) in the control treatment for lactating Friesian x Bunaji cows than other treatments. Rectal temperature and pulse rate for lactating Friesian x Bunaji cows were higher (P<0.05) in the control and selenium treatments, respectively than any other group. It can be concluded that selenium and vitamin E as antioxidants were effective in maintaining thermoregulatory parameters within the normal ranges thereby ameliorating heat stress.