The present project had been designed to study the effect of heat stress on cattle calves and to evaluate the efficacy of electrolytes solution (Normal Saline and Ringer Lactate) on various blood parameters. Five groups of calves comprising 10 in each group were selected for experimental study. Group A: Affected calves with heat stress were provided shade after taking TPR and the effect of shade were checked after one hour. Group B: Heat stressed calves of same age group were given Normal Saline IV according to their body weight and the effect were checked through TPR, hematology and blood electrolyte. Group C: Heat stressed calves of same age group were given Ringer's Lactate IV according to their body weight and the effect were checked through TPR, hematology and blood electrolyte. Group D: calves of same age group affected with heat stress were taken as the positive control. Group E: calves of same age group were normal healthy calves (negative control). Temperature was taken at regular intervals of one hour daily. Respiration was observed by placing the hand in front of nostrils. Heart rate was observed by stethoscope daily in morning and evening. The blood sample of each calf was collected both for control and experimental animals through disposable syringe from jugular vein. The blood was shifted to University Diagnostic laboratory, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore. The samples were taken before and after therapeutic trials. Blood samples were taken for blood electrolyte examination and hematology. Serum of the blood was separated by centrifugation for electrolytes measurements. The flame photometer was utilized to measure the serum sodium (Na+) potassium (K+) Chloride (Cl+) and Bicarbonate (HCO3) concentration. The physical sign of experimental group before cooling were noted .sever sweating and panting were observed under physical sign. The pulse rate, respiration and rectal temperature of experimental group before cooling were increased. Changes found in CBC and blood electrolytes like sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate were measure by flam photometry.
These all observation showed that the animal of experimental group before cooling were suffering from electrolyte imbalance ,but it was not so serious which may result in death of the animal, however the persistence of that condition might result in heat stroke which is often lethal.
It is concluded that serum electrolyte concentration, CBC and pulse rate, respiration and rectal temperature help in accessing the condition of animal suffering form the heat stress. From the present study it can be concluded that heat stress cause changes in biochemical and Hematological parameters in calves. These changes can be overcome by giving animal's fluid therapy and by providing good shade in hot summer. Further studied are required to Conducted on other species of animals to understand the effect of heat stress .Other biochemical and hematological parameters should be studied in bovine calves and other animals for the better understanding the effects of heat stress.