Hepatic triacylglycerols and serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) variations in indigenous water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the province of Khuzestan, Iran

Fatty liver is a metabolic disorder of dairy cows in early lactation, and approximately half of multi-parous dairy cows experience a moderate to severe fatty liver at calving. Since the occurrence of fatty liver in buffalo is not known, the aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatic content of triacylglycerols (TAG) and total lipids (TL), and the serum content of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in native buffalo at different stages of productivity. The relationship between body condition score (BCS), age, serum NEFA content and hepatic TAG and TL content was also considered. A total of 119 blood and liver samples were randomly collected from indigenous buffalo immediately after slaughter. Buffalo were divided into six groups: male, heifer, non-pregnant lactating, 1-8 months pregnant lactating, late pregnant and immediately post parturient. Serum NEFA concentration in late pregnant and recently calved buffalo was significantly higher than that of males and heifers. Liver TAG content rose significantly in the first months after parturition, but liver TL content was not affected by the physiological status of the animals. Serum NEFA concentration was not associated with liver TAG or TL content. BCS had no significant correlation with either serum NEFA concentration or age of the animals. The results showed that an increase in liver TAG and serum NEFA was seen in late pregnancy and after parturition in buffalo, similar to results in cows. However, TAG and NEFA levels were much lower than in dairy cattle and it can therefore be concluded that there is no indication of fatty liver in buffalo.