Effects of Age, Calving Season and Specific Gravity of First Milking Colostrum on Milk Components and Somatic Cell Count in Early Lactation Anatolian Buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis) Cows

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the milk components and somatic cell count (SCC) of Anatolian buffalo cows at different stages of lactation (days 15th, 30th, 45th and 60th of lactation) by determining the effects of the age of the cow, calving season and specific gravity of colostrum (SGC) on these milk quality traits. The experiment was conducted using 62 healthy lactating primiparous and multiparous Anatolian buffalo cows at two private farms in Samsun, Türkiye. The SGC values at the second hour (first milking) after birth were measured using a colostrometer, and the milk components were analyzed using a milk analyser. In addition, the SCC in milk was measured with a portable cell counter. The data are divided into three groups: age (≤80 mo and >80 mo), calving season (spring and summer) and SGC (<1.070 g/l and ≥1.070 g/l). The age and calving season of the cows affected some milk components in different lactation periods. The dry matter (DM), solids-non-fat (SNF) and protein percentage of the cows in the group with high SGC (≥1.070 g/l) were higher than those of cows in the group with low SGC (<1.070 g/l) on day 15 of lactation. Similarly, the DM and fat percentage of the milk of the cows in the group with high SGC (≥1.070 g/ml) were higher than those of the milk from the cows in the group with low SGC (<1.070 g/l) on day 45 of lactation. In contrast, on day 60 of lactation, the log SCC value of the milk of cows with high SGC was lower than that of the milk from those with low SGC in other lactation periods. Among the environmental factors in this study, only the SGC can be partially controlled by herd management practices. Management of the dry period, a sensitive period for buffalo cows, has an important effect on increasing colostrum and milk quality at the beginning of lactation.