Composition of Skin Secretions from Three Indian Breeds of Cattle Under Thermal Stress

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Six heifers from each of the Harina, Tharparkar and Gir breeds were used to determine composition of skin surface secretions produced under hot, humid conditions (dry bulb temperature, 40.5 C and wet bulb, 35.0 C). Secretions were collected from shaved areas on the rump by absorption into filter paper placed over the body surface. Color ranged from dark gray to brown indicating the presence of the pigment, melanin. All samples gave uniformly high alkaline reactions (average pH 7.8). The fluids were hypotonic to blood plasma but contained inorganic P, total and nonprotein N, reducing sugars, and lactic acid in concentrations much higher than for whole blood or plasma. Similar to horses, cattle sweat has high contents of total protein N and inorganic salt and a relatively high urea content. The low chloride secretion indicates that under hot conditions cattle do not have need for large amounts of salt replacement in the diet. On the other hand, the high losses of total protein nitrogen could be a factor in the poor performance of cattle under thermal stress. The composition of the secretions from the 3 Indian breeds agrees with that found for European breeds of cattle and horses.

This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit: