Physiological responses, energy metabolites and prolactin levels of buffaloes supplemented with dietary astaxanthin, prill fat and their combination during heat stress

Study was conducted to assess the effect of dietary supplementation of astaxanthin, prill fat and their combination on physiological responses, energy metabolites and prolactin levels in buffaloes during summer season. Twenty four lactating buffaloes were equally divided into four groups, viz. Gr I (control), Gr II (astaxanthin supplementation @ 0.25 mg/kg body wt/day), Gr III (prill fat @ 100 g/animal/day) and Gr IV (combination of both). The respiration rate was lower in treatment groups than control. Plasma glucose in combination group was higher than control. Plasma NEFA was lower in treatment groups compared to control. Prolactin level was lower in supplemented groups compared to control. Based on the results it can be concluded that astaxanthin supplementation helped in ameliorating effects of heat stress whereas prill fat worked as source of energy to maintain the energy balance in lactating buffaloes. The combinations of both the products are more effective as far as stress markers and increase in milk production is concerned but due to higher price of astaxanthin the cost benefit ratio is lower than prill fat supplementation alone. Therefore, farmers prefer to feed prill fat to their lactating buffaloes during summer conditions.