Blood Biochemical Profiles and Pregnancy Rate of Brahman Crossbred Cows Supplemented with Mineral Mixture

Abstract

The investigation was expected to assess various mineral mixture supplementation impacts on Brahman crossbred cows' blood biochemical, hematological profiles and pregnancy rate. This study used ninety Brahman crossbred cows divided into three dietary treatment groups (n = 30/group). The dietary treatments were: Concentrate and rice straw only as control treatment; control diet + mineral mixture A-formulation as MM-A treatment; and control diet + mineral mixture B-formulation as MM-B treatment. The concentration of MM-B (including calcium, phosphor, cobalt, copper, sulphur, potassium, zinc, manganese, magnesium, sodium, selenium and iron) was higher than MM-A. The mineral mixture was added to 0.5 kg/100 kg of diet. The concentrate mix and rice straw were restricted to 3 kg and 20 kg/day (as-fed basis). Feeding treatment was conducted until four months. Blood sampling and estrous synchronization were carried out after three weeks of dietary treatments. The estrous synchronization aimed to equate the estrous cycle of each cow by using 25 mg prostaglandin F2α (Lutalyse™) (injection via intramuscular). Estrous signs were observed two days after synchronization. Artificial insemination was conducted at ten to twelve hours from estrous detection, inseminated with post-thawed frozen Belgian Blue bull sperm. Transrectal palpation was used to diagnose the cow's pregnancy 90 days after artificial insemination. The serum samples were analyzed for blood biochemical, hematology and mineral status. The results showed that MM-B supplementation significantly increased (p<0.05) serum calcium, phosphor, selenium and iron. There were no significant differences in serum glucose, total protein, albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen and hematological profile. The pregnancy rate in MM-B treatment was higher than MM-A and control treatment. The pregnancy rate in the MM-B treatment (20.7%) was higher than control (6.67%) and MM-A treatment (3.33%). It was concluded that mineral mixture supplementation improved the pregnancy rate and several blood components on Brahman Crossbred cows.