Molecular Marker for Thermoregulation of Pasundan Cattle in Different Ambient Temperature
A. Mushawwir, J. Arifin, R. Permana and N. Suwarno

Animal Science Faculty, University of Padjadjaran

Abstract

Global climate change directly affects the physiological behaviour of local livestock in Indonesia. One of Indonesia^s local livestock that is growing well in West Java is Pasundan Cattle. Changes in environmental temperature have forced these cattle to adapt to continue to survive and breed. This condition encourages changes in the expression of specific proteins in response to environmental changes. For this purpose, research was conducted in various locations in West Java to study molecular markers related to thermoregulation of Pasundan cattle. One hundred and fifty Pasundan cows, 2-3 years old, spread over three areas: 1) along the North Coast of West Java (37 to 410C), 2) Purwakarta and Pengandaran (29 to 350C), and 3) Sumedang (<250C). The blood collection was carried out each by fifty animals twice at each location. Blood was collected using a 5 mL syringe through the tail vein- the blood samples collected into a 5 mL EDTA tube. The spectrophotometer technique based on the Biolabo and Randox KIT protocols, was used to measure the cardiac and blood plasma marker molecule.
In contrast, the thermoregulatory behaviours ware determined using a clinical thermometer and a stethoscope. The results showed that heart rate and respiration rate increased (P <0.05) at high ambient temperature (37 to 410C), as did High Sensitivity CRP activity, H-TFABP, Homocysteine, &#61543--Glutamyl Transpeptidase, sPLA2-IIA. Similarly, for blood plasma molecular markers (Creatinine, Creatine Kinase, Transferrin, and Soluble Transferrin Receptor (sTfR). In conclusion, specific proteins related to thermoregulation can be a marker of adaptation of Pasundan cattle to high ambient temperatures.

Keywords: Thermoregulation, Cattle, Temperature

Topic: Biodiversity and Climate Change