Effect of bedding material on enzymatic and hormonal profile of Barbari kids during winters

The present study was conducted with the objective to compare the enzymatic and hormonal profiles of Barbari Kids raised on different bedding materials during winter season. Thirty post˗weaned Barbari kids of about three months age were selected from the institutional flock, which were divided into three groups viz. group I, II and III with ten kids in each group and were kept on plastic slats, soil and rubber mats, respectively. The mean values of triiodothyronine (T3) were 2.19, 1.82 and 2.23 (IU/L) in Gr-I, II and III, respectively and were comparable (P>0.05) among all the groups. The mean thyroxine (T4) values were 3.59, 2.68 and 2.58 (μg/dl) in Gr-I, II and III, respectively. The concentration of T4 was significantly higher (P 0.05) among Gr-I and II and also among Gr-I and III, whereas significantly different (P 0.05) among all the groups. The mean ALT values were 13.75, 11.57 and 20.45 (IU/L) in Gr-I, II and III, respectively and were significantly higher in Gr-III (P 0.05) among the groups. ALT increased whereas AST remain unchanged during stress. Levels of AST and ALT are helpful in diagnosis of comfort level to the animals. The increase in cortisol and T4 levels can be attributed to the increased energy requirement to augment gluconeogenesis due to lower surface temperature of slatted floor and more disease incidence on rubber floor.