Effects of different load weights on the work performance and physiological and hematobiochemical responses in working water buffalo

Research (Published online: 27-11-2023)

22. Effects of different load weights on the work performance and physiological and hematobiochemical responses in working water buffalo

Visoky Paján-Jiménez, Fernando David Pazmiño-Rodríguez, Patricia Roldán-Santiago, Anna Dutro-Aceves, Luis Alberto de la Cruz-Cruz, and Cristian Larrondo

Veterinary World, 16(11): 2349-2357

Visoky Paján-Jiménez: Maestría en Producción Animal, Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Ecuador.

Fernando David Pazmiño-Rodríguez: Universidad Técnica del Norte, Ecuador, Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias Agropecuarias y Ambientales, Carrera de Ingeniería Forestal.

Patricia Roldán-Santiago: Departamento de Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad, Colonia, C.U. C.P. 04510 Ciudad de México, México.

Anna Dutro-Aceves: Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud, Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad del Valle de México-Coyoacán, Calzada de Tlalpan 04910, Ciudad de México, México.

Luis Alberto de la Cruz-Cruz: Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud, Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad del Valle de México-Coyoacán, Calzada de Tlalpan 04910, Ciudad de México, México; Preservación del Bienestar Animal/Manejo de la Fauna Silvestre, Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Ciudad de México, 04960, México.

Cristian Larrondo: Núcleo de Investigaciones Aplicadas en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Viña del Mar, Chile; AWEC Advisors S.L. Parc de Recerca Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, España.

Background and Aim: Working animals are important in agriculture because they play a role in various agricultural activities, including milk and meat production. Thus, they contribute to the development of rural communities. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of different load weights on the work performance and the physiological and hematological responses of working water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

Materials and Methods: The work performances of 12 buffaloes (average weight 782.16 ± 21.62 kg) transporting 200, 350, and 500 kg of African palm fruits in metal baskets placed on their backs were evaluated. Work performance variables evaluated immediately after work were as follows: total number of trips (n), total weight (kg), distance traveled (km/day), working period (h), stopped time (h), and average speed (km/h). In addition, we evaluated physiological, biochemical, and hematological variables at three different times: before the start of work, immediately after work, and on the rest day.

Results: Among the load weights, 500 kg (total load carried = 4,138.88 kg) improved work efficiency compared to 200 kg loads (total load = 3,322.22 kg) (p = 0.0281). However, 500 kg loads resulted in slower average speed (2.4 km, p = 0.0164), shorter working period (2.39 h, p < 0.0001) and distance traveled (7.29 km, p < 0.0001), and less total number of trips (8.27 trips, p < 0.0001) compared to 350 and 200 kg load weights (3.45 and 3.52 km/h, 2.55 and 2.79 h, 8.71 and 9.75 km, 10.94 and 16.61 trips, respectively); and the heaviest loads resulted in significantly higher (p < 0.005) respiratory rate, pulse, heart rate, rectal temperature, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, total protein, white blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. In contrast, was associated with lower levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit compared to lower loads. All differences were more pronounced in 500 kg (p < 0.005) compared to 200 kg loads.

Conclusion: Working buffaloes responded to work related to the transport of African palm fruits through various physiological, biochemical, and hematological changes. However, some variables remained close to the reference values reported in the literature for water buffaloes, and in general, all variables were reestablished during the rest day, indicating that these animals have adapted to working conditions.

Keywords: biochemical responses, draught buffalo, hematological responses, physiological responses.