The experiment has been carried out with 10 lactating buffaloes (Bulgarian Murrah breed) in an interval of two successive days. They were kept in shade(first day) and exposed to direct solar radiation (second day) with ambient temperature not less than 30 0 C for 12 h. Rectal temperature(RT) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Both RT and RR increased significantly at temperature – humidity index (THI)- 77.83, showing that the lactating buffaloes are sensitive to heat stress and are not able to maintain their core temperature within the thermoneutral zone. The same THI had no significant effect on rectal temperature elevation when the buffaloes were kept in the barn. These data demonstrate that lactating buffaloes need protection against direct solar radiation. Plasma cholesterol and total protein levels tended to be lower during the exposure to direct solar radiation compared to the morning levels. Plasma urea level increased and plasma indol level remained unchanged when the buffaloes were exposed to sun. It is suggested that the level of the first three parameters is closely related with the dynamic of cortisol and blood volume fluctuation in animals under heat

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Subject of investigation were 565 buffalo cows from the Bulgarian Murrah breed, raised at the Agricultural Institute – Shumen for the period 1989-2003. The reasons for culling included: sclerosis of ovary, nymphomania, tumors of uterus, occlusion of cervix, concrescence of uterus, endometrites, low productivity (below 200 kg for 120 lactation days), gastrointestinal disorders, old age (over 12 years), short lactation period (below 120 days), respiratory diseases, prolepses and upset metabolism. It was established that the average longevity of buffaloes was 2636 days. The part of buffalo cows culled for gynecological reasons was the biggest -41 %, followed by low productivity -19 %, prolapses -11 %, short lactations -7 % and old age -9%. The most animals were culled at first lactation -25.9 %

The objective of this study were 2 fold: to determine whether the weaning (abrupt transition from liquid to solid diet) at the age of 90 days causes stress in buffalo calves, and if so, to alleviate the negative effect of stress by chromium picolinate supplementation (400 μg daily). All buffalo calves were separated from their mothers immediately after birth. Chromium supplementation started 3 days before the weaning and was terminated 5 days later. Plasma cholesterol and indol levels declined significantly after weaning in both groups. Both the weaning and supplemental chromium had no effect on plasma urea level. Our results indicate that when the negative emotional arousal, caused by the interruption of the physical contact mother – calf, is avoided, as it is in our case, then the abrupt transition from liquid to solid feed at 90 d of age has no stress-inducing effect. Supplemental chromium reduced plasma cortisol levels both before and following the weaning, but had no significant effect on the determined metabolites since its effect is more pronounced during extreme stress load

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