Open Access
Research (Published online: 26-09-2020)
36. Influence of pre and postpartum alpha-tocopherol supplementation on milk yield, milk quality, and udder health of Jersey crossbred cows at tropical lower Gangetic region
Amit Kumar Singh, Champak Bhakat, Tripti Kumari, Dilip Kumar Mandal, Anupam Chatterjee, Muthupalani Karunakaran and Tapas Kumar Dutta
Veterinary World, 13(9): 2006-2011

Amit Kumar Singh: Livestock Production Management Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, Kalyani, West Bengal, India.
Champak Bhakat: Livestock Production Management Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, Kalyani, West Bengal, India.
Tripti Kumari: Livestock Production Management Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, Kalyani, West Bengal, India.
Dilip Kumar Mandal: Livestock Production Management Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, Kalyani, West Bengal, India.
Anupam Chatterjee: Animal Nutrition Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, Kalyani, West Bengal, India.
Muthupalani Karunakaran: Animal Reproduction Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, Kalyani, West Bengal, India.
Tapas Kumar Dutta: Animal Nutrition Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Eastern Regional Station, Kalyani, West Bengal, India.

doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.2006-2011

Share this article on [Facebook] [LinkedIn]

Article history: Received: 20-05-2020, Accepted: 28-08-2020, Published online: 26-09-2020

Corresponding author: Amit Kumar Singh

E-mail: amitkumarsingh5496@gmail.com

Citation: Singh AK, Bhakat C, Kumari T, Mandal DK, Chatterjee A, Karunakaran M, Dutta TK (2020) Influence of pre and postpartum alpha-tocopherol supplementation on milk yield, milk quality and udder health of Jersey crossbred cows at tropical lower Gangetic region, Veterinary World, 13(9): 2006-2011.
Abstract

Background and Aim: Alpha-tocopherol supplementation influences milk yield, milk quality, and udder health of dairy cows, which needs to be investigated for Jersey crossbred cows at hot-humid climate. Therefore, the present study was framed with an objective to study the effect of pre and postpartum Alpha-tocopherol supplementation on milk yield, milk quality, and udder health status of Jersey crossbred cows at tropical climate.

Materials and Methods: For this study, 19 similar parity, body condition score, and production level dairy animals were separated randomly into three groups, namely, Control, T1 and T2. Control group (no supplementation) was compared with two treatment groups, namely, T1 and T2. Supplementation of Alpha-tocopherol was done in concentrate fed to the animals (at 1 g/cow/day) 30 days prepartum to 30 days postpartum in T1 and 30 days prepartum to 60 days postpartum in T2 groups. Observations were taken for different parameters up to 5 months of lactation.

Results: Statistically analyzed data revealed that overall significantly (p<0.01) more milk production was found in T2, followed by T1 than the control group. Overall significantly (p<0.01) lower somatic cell counts and modified California mastitis tests were recorded in T2, followed by T1 than the control group. Overall significantly (p<0.01), better milk quality in terms of methylene blue reduction test was found in T2, followed by T1 than control groups. Differences in the milk composition of all three groups were non-significant (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Supplementation of Alpha-tocopherol during prepartum to initial lactation period may enhance milk yield, milk quality, and udder health status of Jersey crossbred cows at the tropical lower Gangetic region.

Keywords: alpha-tocopherol, hot-humid region, jersey crossbred, milk production, udder health.