author(s)
Vijay D Domple, Amol R Padol, CD Malapure, Bhupesh P Kamdi and Roshan M Sarode

abstract
Present study was designed to assess the effect of Melatonin on skin surface temperature (SST) in buffalo calves under summer stress. Twelve healthy Murrah buffalo male calves of 6 month to 1 year age group were taken and divided into control (CG) and treatment (TG) group (n=6). In TG, Melatonin was injected @ 18mg/50 kg BW subcutaneously, twice at 1^st and 20^th day of experiment. The SST of definite sites was recorded twice daily using infra-red digital thermometer. Result of study showed that there was no significant (P>0.05) difference observed in SST of head, neck, foreleg, hindleg, thigh, flank, back and inner canthus of eye of buffalo calves between the control and treatment group. After noon values were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the morning, in both group of animals during the experiment. The SST of the head, neck, foreleg, hindleg, thigh, flank, back and inner canthus of eye was significantly (P<0.05) increasing in morning to afternoon. Within groups the average SST of head, neck, foreleg, hindleg, thigh, flank, back and temperature of inner canthus of eye observed to vary significantly (P<0.05) at some time points. Within and between the control and melatonin treated group water intake of buffalo calves did not differ significantly (P>0.05) during the experiment. In general the water intake was at higher side in treated animals as compared to control group. It could be concluded from the result of this study that melatonin injection in murrah buffalo calves during summer did not affect the SST.