| Livestock Research for Rural Development 26 (12) 2014 | Guide for preparation of papers | LRRD Newsletter | Citation of this paper |
Animal feeding is a major factor in the success of cattle farming especially in Rwanda where livestock remains a pillar of the national economy. The study was designed to assess the nutritional status of cattle in the District of Huye through biochemical parameters that can be measured. We conducted the study during the period of June until August 2012.
Glucose, total protein, calcium, urea and cholesterol were measured in a sample of 100 cattle randomly selected in the said District. The energy parameters (glucose and cholesterol) showed values in the range of physiological values considered with 2.83 + 0.53 mmol /l and 2.21+ 1.15 mmol /l respectively. Regarding the nitrogen parameters (urea and total protein), the study showed they were below physiological values of 2.55 + 1.63 mmol /l for urea and 44.61 + 17.39 g /l for total protein. The only mineral parameter measured (calcium) showed no change over the physiological range, with 2.4 + 0.87 mmol /l. In conclusion, this situation reflects the state of undernourishment in the study area which can be detrimental to productivity and health of cattle.
Key words: calcium, cholesterol, cow, glucose, nitrogen, pregnancy rate, protein
Agriculture and livestock keeping represent the main activity of the rural population in Rwanda. The cattle represent the largest percentage of livestock (NSIR 2013) and constitute a source of protein and revenue for the population. Many programmmes to improve the cattle breeds have been initiated by the Rwandan government to optimize the production, in order to fight against poverty, malnutrition and providing manure (Minagri 2014).
Despite all efforts, the livestock sector is lagging behind because it is essentially based on a herd consisting largely of local indigenous breeds with weak growth performance (Asizua et al 2009). The productivity of indigenous cattle is low as a result of poor genetic potential, poor management practices, harsh environmental conditions, nutritional inadequacies, and diseases (Obese et al 2013, Wakhungu et al 2006, Bishop and Pfeiffer 2008).
The other major obstacle to the development and intensification of animal production in developing countries is an inadequate feed supply (Westhuizen et al 2004), aggravated by the partial and imperfect knowledge of certain physiological norms of animals (Habtamu et al 2010).
Diet is a major factor of success or failure in reproduction because it provides the cow all the energy, protein and minerals needed to meet its maintenance needs during gestation and production (Obese et al 2013).
Like in other regions of Africa, the principal source of feeds is pasture with feed supplementation often limiting in quality and quantity (Ocen 1999) that result into poor body condition, weight loss, low milk yield and perturbation of resumption of ovarian cycle (Damptey et al 2014 ).
There is a real need to assess the nutritional status of these indigenous cattle. Some blood metabolite can be used as indicators of health status (Ndlovu et al 2007, Ate et al 2009, Gwaze et al 2010). Blood glucose, α_-hydroxy butyrate, non-esterified fatty acids and cholesterol are indicators of energy status. Total proteins and urea can be also used for measuring protein status in cattle on different feeding regimes and seasons while calcium, phosphorus and magnesium have a high diagnostic value in determining the nutritional status of animals due to their low variability in blood (Ndlovu et al 2007).
Measurement of these parameters provide a practical diagnostic tool for evaluating pathological conditions in live animals or for monitoring the health status of animals (Verheyen et al 2007).
This study aims at investigating the influence of age, lactation and gestation on nutritional status of cattle in Huye District, a rural area, located in the Southern province of Rwanda using blood variables as indicators for nutritional status of grazing cattle.
The determination of these blood metabolites could then provide an understanding of the impact of nutritional status on health status, and thus guide in the development of management strategies for livestock production improvement.
The District of Huye is one of eight Districts in the Southern Province of Rwanda. It is composed of fourteen sectors with approximately 265,446 inhabitants in an area of 581.5 Km2. The cattle population increased from 3,700 in 2004 to about 60,000 heads in 2007 as a result of the "One cow per poor family one" programme. The semi-intensive system is predominating in which the use of agricultural and forage crops products is important. There are also some intensive farms where animals are kept in pens and also benefit from the forage at will and concentrate. (Monographie de Huye 2007).
The study included 100 cows selected randomly from the eight sectors of the District including 39 local breeds and 61 cross breeds. Fourteen cows were pregnant while 86 were not during the period of June until August 2012. Young were cows considered as those who have less than 18 months and adults, more than 18 months.
The blood sample was taken by puncture either at the jugular vein or on the caudal vein after confining the animal and disinfection at the place of sampling.
The collected blood was put in an icebox while waiting to be transported to the laboratory at ISAE-Busogo. Once in the laboratory, the blood was centrifuged at 3500 rev / min for 15 minutes and then decanted serum was collected using a pasteur pipette and placed in hemolysis tubes and stored frozen at -80 ° C until at the time of analysis. The kits used in all dosages obtained from ROCHE COMPANY ND. The analyses were performed according to Lambert-Beer's law and the resulting colouration was measured by spectrophotometry.
Pregnancy was diagnosed by rectal palpation after 3 months of gestation by the veterinarian of the district.
All the collected data were recorded and processed in SPSS 15.0 for the statistical analysis of the results. The test of Pearson Chi Square was used to find statistical significance of differences (P<0.05). The reference values used in this work were reported by Sawadogo (1998).
The general nutritional status
The general nutritional status as shown in Table 1 demonstrates that urea and total protein were below the physiological value considered while cholesterol, blood glucose and calcium are within the reference standards used.
|
Table 1 : The nutritional status of all cattle sampled |
||
|
Blood component |
Average |
Reference values |
|
Urea Total Proteins Cholesterol Glucose Calcium |
2.55 + 1.63 mmol/l 44.6 + 17.4 g/l 2.21 + 1.15 mmol/l 2.83 + 0.53 mmol/l 2.4 + 0.87 mmol/l |
3.8 – 6.5 mmol/l 59.5 – 80 g/l 2.3 – 6 mmol/l 2.6 – 4.9 mmol/l 2.22 – 2.7 mmol/l |
Table 2 shows the number of pregnant and non-pregnant animals (including young cows) and the metabolites whether the level is below, within or above the range of the reference value considered. P compares the number of pregnant and non-pregnant between low, normal and high for each category of parameter.
|
Table 2 : the influence of nutritional status on gestation of all animals |
|||||
|
Parameter |
|
Pregnant |
Non Pregnant |
p |
|
|
Urea |
Low (< 3.8 mmol/l ) |
11 |
65 |
0.92 |
|
|
Normal(3.8-6.51 mmol/l ) |
3 |
21 |
|||
|
Total |
14 |
86 |
|||
|
Cholesterol |
Low (< 2.3 mmol/l) |
8 |
53 |
0.98 |
|
|
Normal (2.3-6 mmol/l) |
6 |
33 |
|||
|
Total |
14 |
86 |
|||
|
Glucose |
Low (<2.6 mmol/l) |
4 |
41 |
0.001 |
|
|
Normal (2.6-4,9 mmol/l) |
8 |
45 |
|||
|
High (>4.9 mmol/l) |
2 |
0c |
|||
|
Total |
14 |
86 |
|||
|
Total
|
low (<59.5 g/l) |
9 |
66 |
0.50 |
|
|
Normal (59.5-80 g/l) |
5 |
20 |
|||
|
Total |
14 |
86 |
|||
|
Calcium |
Low (<2.22 mmol/l) |
5 |
31 |
0.94 |
|
|
Normal (2.22-2.7 mmol/l) |
4 |
28 |
|||
|
High (>2.7 mmol/l) |
5 |
27 |
|||
|
Total |
14 |
86 |
|||
The number of animals depending on the number of lactation and the corresponding levels of metabolites are shown in Table 3.Three categories of lactation number were chosen with 0 (no milk), 1 (first lactation), 2 (second lactation) and 3 (third lactation and older). P compares the number of lactation between low, normal and high for each category of parameter.
|
Table 3 : The influence of nutritional status on number of lactation |
|||||||
|
Parameter |
Number of lactation |
Total |
p |
||||
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
||||
|
Urea |
Low (< 3.8 mmol/l ) |
39 |
24 |
9 |
4 |
76 |
0.21 |
|
Normal (3.8-6.51 mmol/l ) |
18 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
22 |
||
|
Total |
57 |
27 |
11 |
5 |
100 |
||
|
Cholesterol |
Low( < 2.3 mmol/l) |
43 |
11 |
6 |
1 |
61 |
0.004 |
|
Normal (2.3-6 mmol/l) |
14 |
16 |
5 |
4 |
39 |
||
|
Total |
57 |
27 |
11 |
5 |
100 |
||
|
Glucose |
Low (<2.6 mmol/l) |
25 |
14 |
5 |
1 |
45 |
0.14 |
|
Normal (2.6-4.9 mmol/l) |
32 |
13 |
6 |
4 |
55 |
||
|
Total |
57 |
27 |
11 |
5 |
100 |
||
|
Total
|
Low ( <59.5 g/l) |
48 |
19 |
6 |
2 |
75 |
0.04 |
|
Normal (59.5-80 g/l) |
9 |
8 |
5 |
3 |
25 |
||
|
Total |
57 |
27 |
11 |
5 |
100 |
||
|
Calcium |
Low (<2.22 mmol/l) |
23 |
10 |
3 |
0 |
36 |
0.54 |
|
Normal (2.22-2.7 mmol/l) |
19 |
8 |
3 |
2 |
32 |
||
|
High (>2.7 mmol/l) |
15 |
9 |
5 |
3 |
32 |
||
|
Total |
57 |
27 |
11 |
5 |
100 |
||
Table 4 the nutritional status as affected by age. P compares the age of cow (+/- 18 months) between low, normal and high for each category of the parameters measured.
|
Table 4 : the influence of the nutritional status on the age of animal |
|||||
|
Age |
Total |
p |
|||
|
<18 months |
>18 months |
||||
|
Urea |
Low (<3.80 mmol/l ) |
17 |
59 |
76 |
0.11 |
|
Normal (3.8-6.51 mmol/l ) |
10 |
14 |
24 |
||
|
Total |
27 |
73 |
100 |
||
|
Cholesterol |
Low (< 2.3 mmol/l) |
19 |
42 |
61 |
0.09 |
|
Normal (2.3-6 mmol/l) |
8 |
31 |
39 |
||
|
Total |
27 |
73 |
100 |
||
|
Glucose |
Low (<2.6 mmol/l) |
8 |
37 |
45 |
0.09 |
|
Normal (2.6-4.9 mmol/l) |
19 |
36 |
55 |
||
|
Total |
27 |
73 |
100 |
||
|
Total protein |
Low( <59.5 g/l) |
23 |
52 |
75 |
0.33 |
|
Normal (59.5 – 80 g/l) |
4 |
20 |
24 |
||
|
High (>80 g/l) |
0 |
1 |
1 |
||
|
Total |
27 |
73 |
100 |
||
|
Calcium |
Low (<2.22 mmol/l) |
10 |
26 |
36 |
0.95 |
|
Normal(2.22-2.7 mmol/l) |
8 |
24 |
32 |
||
|
High (>2.7 mmol/l) |
9 |
23 |
32 |
||
|
Total |
27 |
73 |
100 |
||
Glucose is an essential molecule, providing energy for cellular metabolism and milk production (Vagneur 1992). Cattle derive their energy needs from volatile fatty acids produced as a result of microbial fermentation in the rumen. The mean glucose of all the analyzed samples was 2.83 + 0.53 mmol / l (Table 1) and it was within the range of the reference value considered (2.6 to 4.9 mmol / l) as reported by Sawadogo (1998). In pregnant cows, the average blood glucose was comparable to that found by other authors (Mouliom et al 2013 and Amahoro 2005) but lower than that obtained by Sawadogo(1998). This is due probably to the increasing glucose utilization by developing fetus (Miettinen 1991). The cholesterol reflects the capacity of the animal to mobilize body fat reserves (Miettinen 1991). The reference values considered are between 2.3 to 6 mmol/l (Sawadogo 1998). In this study, there was hypocholesterolemia (with a mean of 2.21 + 15 mmol/l) in all animals sampled. According to some authors (Ndlovu et al 2007, Bergman 1990, Adamu et al 2008) there is a relationship between the level of total cholesterol in the blood and the energy deficit (Vagneur 1992). This state of generalized hypocholesterolemia in this study could be explained by a reduced nutrient intake (Rosenberger 1979). The same situation can be further explained largely by the investigation period which was from June to August characterized by a dry season with little or no-concentrate supplementation. During this period, pasture, the only food source available, is often deficient in many nutrients. The low nutrient content of tropical forages limits the growth of heifers and delays puberty compared to heifers receiving 100% of the recommended protein intake (Kaur and Arora 1995).
Blood urea nitrogen is the best biochemical parameter to monitor the nitrogen nutritional status (Moubi 2004). The concentration of urea is a specific and sensitive indicator of the nitrogen as it varies instantaneously regardless of the physiological state of the animal (Manston et al 1975). The mean urea was 2.55 + 1.63 mmol /l in all the samples analyzed (Table 1), less than 3.08- 6.5 mmol/l of the reference values considered (Sawadogo, 1998). This hypo-uremia is also indicative of the investigation period characterized by dryness and lack of food availability. The values of crude protein in grasses decrease from on average 90-110 g crude protein/kg of grasses to 40-50g/kg during the dry season (Kamalzadeh et al 2009).
The mean total protein in our study was 44.61 + 17.39 g/l (Table 1), which is below the physiological limit considered (59.5 to 80 g/l) (Sawadogo 1998). The total protein is dependent on the values of albumin and total globulins. It will therefore be low or high depending on the concentrations of these two parameters. Unfortunately, albumin could not be assayed during this study.
Kanyandekwe (2005) noted a positive correlation between ketosis and significant hypo globulinemia reflecting a reduced immunity in ketotic cows. Other authors have found that clinical ketosis is associated with depressed immunity in animals (Weaver 1987). With the hypo proteinemia noted during this study, this would mean that animals sampled had probably immune deficiency.
Calcium is a component of the skeleton and cofactor of many enzymes; it is also involved in muscle contractility. It allows the transmission of nerve impulses. Calcium concentrations from this study indicate an average of 2.40 + 0.52 mmol/l for all animals sampled (Table 1). These average values for calcium are consistent with those of other authors (Ndlovu et al 2007, Rosenberger 1979). Calcium is one of the constituents of the body that is subject to homeostasis; and the existence of bone calcium reserves explains the late onset of signs of calcium deficiency. The results of the study (36.8 % of cows had hypocalcemia) are consistent with those of Habumuremyi study (2007) who found that 34% of cows had hypocalcemia.
The parameters that are subjected to homeostasis (glucose and calcium) did not show a significant difference between pregnant and non-pregnant cows (Table 2). Nevertheless, the observed energy deficit leads to reduced steroidogenesis, and thus a reduction in circulating levels of progesterone and estrogen, causing impaired reproductive performance (Beam and Buttler 1997, Villa-godoy et al 1988). Nitrogen deficits occurring in early gestation penalize the survival of the embryo and fetal development due to a deficiency of essential amino acids (Kaur and Arora 1995).
The survey showed that the majority of samples were young animals (57%) compared 43% who were lactating with 27% in first lactation. This confirms a dietary deficiency discussed above and which has many implications for the reproductive performance of cows. However, an overall protein deficiency delays the onset of first estrus and first postpartum ovulation and decreases the insemination success rate (Paragon 1991), plus a predisposition to metabolic diseases due to negative energy balance. In cows with negative energy balance, only 16.7% of first ovulations are accompanied by manifestations of estrus, against 60% for cows in positive balance (Spicer et al 1990).
Both young and adult animals had a situation of reduced nutrient intake. A poor diet, particularly a diet deficient in energy causes growth retardation in heifers because the onset of puberty is strongly linked with body weight, rather than age. Nitrogen deficiency during the growth of heifers results in a low average daily gain (ADG) and a later puberty. In addition, a post-pubertal weight loss substantially affects conception rates (Paragon 1991).
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Received 17 October 2014; Accepted 16 November 2014; Published 1 December 2014