EFFECT OF BETAINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON IMMUNITY, ENERGY, AND LIPID METABOLITES OF GROWING MURRAH BUFFALO CALVES

This study aimed to observe the effect of betaine (BET) supplementation on the growth, immunity, energy, and lipid metabolites of Murrah buffalo calves. Twenty-one Murrah buffalo calves were taken and randomly distributed into three groups (n=3) after blocking by body weight (98.70±1.31 kg) and age (8.12±0.55 months). The feeding regimen was the same in all the groups except that the Treatment groups were supplemented additionally with 0.0 (B0), 7.0 (B7), and 14.0 (B14) g/d BET in three respective groups for 90 d of the experiment period. Total leukocytes (TLC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, total immunoglobulin (TIG), total antioxidant activity (TAA), energy, and lipid metabolites were observed at fortnightly intervals during 90 d experimental periods. Adding BET up to 14 g/d did not exert (P>0.05) any effect on total leukocytes and neutrophils concentration. Lymphocytes, TIG, and TAA were increased significantly (P<0.05) in BET received groups either dose 7 or 14 g/d than in the control. No effect of dietary addition of BET was observed on the glucose, non-esterifies fatty acid (NEFA), total cholesterol (TCH), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-CH). The results of our study indicate that supplemental BET may play a role in regulating the immunity of growing Murrah buffalo calves.