Hematological and Performance Parameters Trend in Steers and Heifers in Feed Lot and Supplemented with Palm Oil (Elaeis guineensis Jack)

Abstract

This study compares the daily weight gain (ADG) and the hematological profile of cattle in feed lot and supplemented with palm oil (POil). Overall, 20 male and 24 female Holstein-Cebu (5/8-3/8) cattle with an average weight of 249±43 kg were used. Three groups of eight animals each were formed with females, which were housed and received 0, 2, and 4% POil in the diet (FSWO, FS2O, FS4O). With males, only two groups were formed, one group that kept grazing and received 2% POil (MG2O, n=8) and one group stabled and received 4% POil (MS4O, n=12). Peripheral blood was obtained to determine the hematocrit (HCT), plasma protein concentration (TPP, g/dL), and eosinophil count (EOS), and a complete blood sample was processed in an automatic analyzer to determine the erythron and platelet formula. Analysis of repeated measures over time was performed. Stabled steers showed the highest ADG (1.5kg/d), whereas females received 2 or 4% oil had similar ADG levels (1.3 to 1.4kg/d) than grazing steers. At the first sampling, EOS counts were 1.5 x 103 cells/µL of blood, but they were reduced to 0.23 x 103 cells/µL of blood at the end of the study. The lowest HCT was obtained in grazing steers (32.8%). It is concluded that in stabled steers, the red formula is improved, and the EOS count reduced. Palm oil supplementation generated the highest daily weight gain in stabled steers.