Comparative study of productive and reproductive parameters of Holstein Friesian cows in different agroecological zones under subtropical conditions of Pakistan
Masood Ur Rehman1, Syed Muhammad Suhail1, Iqbal Munir2, Rajwali Khan1*
1Department of Livestock Management, Breeding and Genetics, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, 25130, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
2Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, 25130, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Abstract
The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of three different agroecological zones on the productive and reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows, along with their comparative analysis of physiological and molecular markers under subtropical conditions of Pakistan. The productive (milk yield and composition) and reproductive (service per conception and calving interval) performance of genetically identical (n=210) HF cows placed across three agroecological zones: irrigated lowlands (Okara), wet (Abbottabad), and dry (Queta) highlands were analyzed. Additionally, heat stress markers (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, serum cortisol, bovine heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70), and blood glucose) from five cows in each location (n=15 in total) were also investigated in early and late summers using commercial ELISA and calorimetric kits. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of heat shock protein genes HSPA8 and HSP90AB1 were also quantified in three agroecological zones through qRT-PCR. The results revealed that cows raised in the wet highlands of Abbottabad exhibited significantly higher (P<0.05) milk production (daily and total lactational yield), and the lowest service period, calving interval and number of services per conception as compared to the cows from the other two agroecological zones. Furthermore, there was a significant effect (P<0.05) of agroecological zones on the heat stress indicators (SOD, GPX, cortisol, blood glucose, and HSP70) profiles and expression of heat shock protein genes in HF cows. The dairy cows from Abbottabad (Wet highlands) showed a significantly lower profile of heat stress indicators as compared to the cows from the other two agroecological zones. It can be inferred that HF cows function better in moderate agroecological zones of subtropical countries.
Keywords: Heat stress indicators, Subtropics, Holstein-Friesian cows, Agroecological zone
