Shynu, M.ANISHA, J. PERUMBILLY2019-06-292019-06-292017KVASU REFERENCE CITATIONhttp://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810110526Dairy cows are considered to be most prone to diseases during the period from late pregnancy to onset of lactation, i.e. during the transition period. The present investigation was carried out in blood/serum collected at fortnightly intervals from 15 crossbred dairy cows, from eight weeks before the predicted date of calving till eight weeks after calving, with the objectives of generating a metabolic profile and for evaluating the antioxidant status. Concentrations of glucose, NEFA, BHB, cholesterol, urea, albumin, ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin were determined; differential leukocyte count was done; and assessment of oxidative stress was also performed. The mean concentration of glucose (47.35±1.32 mg/dL) and cholesterol (95.83± 3.62 mg/dL) during transition period was significantly lower than pre and post-transition period. NEFA (0.576 ± 0.08 mmol/L) and BHB (0.638 ± 0.05 mmol/L) concentrations reported significant increase during transition when compared to pre-transition period. Concentration of indicators of protein status viz. albumin and urea were 3.39 ± 0.09 g/dL and 12.26 ± 0.66 mg/dL respectively during transition period and did not differ significantly from pre or post-transition period. Out of the two acute phase proteins measured, ceruloplasmin did not show significant variation during the study period, but a significant increase was shown by haptoglobin during transition period. The level of MDA, an indicator of oxidative stress was higher during transition period, indicating significant oxidative stress during the period. TAS did not show significant change but the antioxidant status of the animals could not be considered optimum, as eleven out of fifteen animals exhibited diseases albeit transient during the period. A significant increase in the number of neutrophils and monocytes and a highly significant decrease in the number of lymphocytes observed during transition period could be due to the influence of corticosteroids. A comprehensive study involving more number of transition animals, maintained under different managemental conditions shall help in establishing reference intervals for various analytes during period.ennullThesis