Effect of positive dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) diet on blood biochemical and immunological parameters in crossbred calves in winter

Abstract

The present study was conducted for 120 days to examine the influence of varying dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) on certain biochemical and immunological parameters of crossbred calves in winter. Female crossbred Karan Fries (KF) calves (18) were grouped into 3 groups having 6 animals in each group on the basis of average body weight and fed either a basal diet or a +150 / +250mEq/kg dry matter (DM) DCAD diets (W1, W2) during winter. The overall dry matter intake (DMI) was significantly more in W2 group as compared to control. The growth rate per day averaged 410.42, 440.19 and 484.67 g in control, W1 and W2 groups, respectively which was significantly more in high DCAD diets. Blood was collected at fortnightly interval. There was no effect of varying DCAD diet on FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assay, SOD and catalase activity in winter. Immunity parameters and plasma concentration of cortisol were not affected by treatments. However, the T3 and T4 concentrations were significantly higher in W2 group compared to control. It was concluded that positive DCAD was not able to impose any effect on biochemical and immunological parameters but there is significant effect on the DMI and T3 and T4 concentrations .