Decrypting bio-molecular variability in small ruminants and antioxidants to combat bio-meteorological stress in semi-arid tropics

Present investigation was conducted to unwind the effect of heat load index (HLI) and suitable nutrient supplement to combat the adverse effect using 24 Deccani females divided randomly into 4 groups (viz., Control (C), T1 (3ml of 10% Zinc Sulphate), T2 (1ml of 0.1% Selenium) and T3 (60mg Vitamin E daily)) at Hayathnagar Research Farm of ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, India. All environmental variables were recorded at 30 min intervals using automatic weather station and in sheep, physical, physiological, biochemical, hormonal and anti-oxidant profile was determined monthly. HLI was significantly correlated with various physiological, biochemical and biomolecular parameters, however, catalase and cortisol may be considered as best HLI indicators in the sheep (r=0.911** and 0.864**, respectively). Highly significant correlation between HLI and average daily weight gain (r=0.817**), suggest that HLI significantly controls the growth rate thereby affecting final body weight.