Effects of exogenous bovine somatotropin (rbST) on blood biochemistry of Kundhi buffalo calves

Abstract

Recombinant Bovine somatotropin (rbST) is one of the hormones potentially used as growth promoters in feedlot animals; however, limited data is available regarding its effects on blood biochemistry of Kundhi buffalo calves (KBC). Therefore, the current study was conducted to analyze the effects of rbST on blood biochemistry of KBC. For this purpose, selected calves were randomly distributed into three groups (A, B and C) with four calves per group. Group A was kept as control, while group B and C were treated with rbST @ 0.5 mg- and 1.0 mg/kg body weight (BW) fortnightly, respectively. After eleven weeks of treatment, blood samples were analyzed for blood metabolites i.e. glucose, protein and lipids, which are major metabolic substrates in the blood required for the growth and fattening of calves and used as fattening indicators. Our data revealed that blood glucose was increased significantly in group C (74.45 ± 0.71 mg/dl) and B (70.50 ± 0.28 mg/dl) as compared to control group A (62.17 ± 1.30 mg/dl). Protein level showed significant difference between rbST treated groups C (7.92 ± 0.07 g/dl) and B (7.44 ± 0.08 g/dl) and control group A (6.44 ± 0.11g/dl). Consistent with the increase in blood metabolites, body weight of group C was significantly (P