SERUM ENZYME LEVEL IN CATTLE DURING DROUGHT CONDITION

The experiment was designed to assess the effect of drought on serum enzymes in 228 cattle of both sex aged 1 to 8 years belonging to farmer's stock of area in and around Jaisalmer district. The overall mean values of enzymes viz. serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase(AKP) were 175.245 +/- 5.892 IU/L, 59.981 +/- 1.853 IU/L and 33.738 +/- 0.894 IU/L, respectively. In present investigation all the transaminase viz., AST and ALT showed significant (P <= 0.05) change according to sex, the values were higher in male animals than female animals. A significant (P <= 0.05) age effect was noticed for AST, the values being higher in the animals of above 5 year of age. A non significant (P > 0.5) age effect was observed in the mean values of ALT. In the present investigation serum alkaline phosphatase activity increased with the age. The higher serum activity of AST has been reported to be associated with liver diseases in a variety of animal species.