Supra-nutritional copper influences blood parameters including antioxidant markers and immune response in Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves

Interaction of Antioxidant Trace Minerals Affecting Blood Picture Including Antioxidant Profile of Healthy Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Calves

Copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) are antioxidants and essential trace elements that have mutual interaction and are reported to have beneficial effects at supranutritional levels. The experiment was executed to evaluate the individual impact of supranutritional levels of targeted elements with the effect of their interactions in buffalo calves. Twenty male Murrah buffalo calves of about 8-9 months (bodyweight 112.1 ± 7.69 kg) were distributed into four groups of five calves in each group and fed either a control (C) diet or supplemented with supranutritional levels of Cu (T₁), Se (T₂), or combination of both (T₃) for 120 days. Higher (P = 0.015) values of packed cell volume were observed in group T₂ at day 120; otherwise, all other hematological parameters remained comparable among groups. Over the period (day 120 vs. day 0), an enhancement in the percentage of lymphocytes (P = 0.006) with a reduction in neutrophils (P = 0.028) and hemoglobin (P = 0.024) values was observed in the control group. An enhancement in the percentage of monocytes (P = 0.031), with a reduced percentage of neutrophils (P = 0.022), was reported in groups T₂ and T₃, respectively. Interaction of Cu and Se at supranutritional level (T3) dramatically reduced plasma Cu (P = 0.008) level against the control values, with an improvement in Se markers (i.e., plasma Se, P = 0.041 and enzyme glutathione peroxidase, P = 0.057) over the values in calves fed supplemental Se alone (T₂). Additionally, Cu (T₁ and T₃) was forced to decline (P < 0.05) Zn level in the plasma of buffalo calves. Cu (T₁, P < 0.05) and Se (T₂ and T₃, P ≤ 0.01) supplementation was able to improve their respective plasma levels. The interaction of two trace elements at the supranutritional level further helped in reducing the lipid peroxidation (P = 0.01) values as well. Though antioxidant vitamins and cell-mediated immunity remained unaffected, humoral immunity against antigen P. multocida was high (P = 0.005) in the group T₂. The conclusion may be drawn that supranutritional Cu and Se were capable to influence certain blood parameters with an additional interaction effect due to simultaneous supplementation in buffalo calves.

Pharmacological levels of copper and selenium augmenting good cholesterol in serum of healthy male buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves

Dietary pharmacological/supra-nutritional level of copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) was investigated in the ration of dairy buffalo calves. Male Murrah buffalo (20) calves (8–9 months, 112.1±7.69 kg body weight) were divided into 4 equal groups and fed basal diet (control, Cu =10.4 ppm and Se = 0.23 ppm) or basal diet supplemented with 10 ppm Cu (T1), 0.3 ppm Se (T2) or combination of 10 ppm Cu with 0.3 ppm Se (T3) for a period of 120 days. During experimental period blood samples were collected on days 0, 40, 80, and 120 and subjected for analysis of serum total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) for assessment of the pharmacological effect of trace minerals Cu and Se either alone or in combination. Supplementation of Cu alone (T1) or in combination with Se (T3) had reduced total cholesterol level from 80th day onward, whereas HDL remained high in all the supplemented groups at 120th day of observation as compared to control. It may be concluded that pharmacological level of Cu is helpful in reducing serum cholesterol levels, but Cu and Se was helpful for the augmentation of HDL levels of serum in buffaloes.