Hepatic lipidosis in transition buffaloes in relation to back fat thickness, hemato-biochemical and mineral profile

The study invoved 140 buffaloes, 125 (87.41%) with ultrasonography (USG) features of normal liver and 18 (12.58%) with features of hepatic lipidosis (HL). Among the later 7 had grade I, 6 grade II and 5 grade III USG features of HL. The grouping of animals according to transition stage and evaluation of body condition score (BCS) showed that buffaloes with moderate to severe HL lost BCS from Far off dry (FOD) to fresh stage by more than one (1.0) increment whereas, healthy buffaloes lost BCS from FOD to fresh stage by less than 0.5 increment. Significantly low levels of haemoglobin, packed cell volume and total erythrocyte count was observed in buffaloes with severe HL. Significantly low levels of total plasma protein, glucose, calcium, potassium, copper and zinc along with increased levels of plasma urea nitrogen, beta hydroxyl butyric acid, non esterified fatty acid, aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase and Glutamic dehydrogenase were observed in buffaloes with HL. A strong positive association exists between the severity of BCS and back fat thickness (BFT) reduction and occurrence of HL in transition buffaloes.