Determination of Milk Somatic Cell Count in Buffaloes and its Relation to Udder Infection and Physiological States of Production
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Date
2019
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Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present study was conducted in buffaloes to determine the physiological levels of milk SCC, its phenotypic relation with udder infection, milk production and milk composition and variation over the parities, lactation stage and season. The milk average SCC in buffaloes was observed as 100×103 cells/ml at a quarter level and 105×103 cells/ml at the udder level. The 77 per cent of udders and 80 per cent of quarters had milk SCC ≤100× 103 cells/ ml. The mean values for EC, pH, and lactose were observed as 3.77 mS/cm, 6.77and 6.08 per cent respectively. The 20.88 per cent of buffaloes were having specific subclinical mastitis, when SCC threshold of ≤100×103 cell/ml was used for defining the quarter health. The quarter wise affections were 7.99 per cent specific, 11.57 per cent non specific, and 7.71 per cent latent mastitis. Among 57 quarter infections (specific or latent), 28 (49%) were coagulase-negative staphylococci, 16 (28%) S.aureus, 09 (16%) Streptococcus and 04 (7%) Corynebacterium spp. The QFM SCC was found significantly (p<0.05) higher in the infected quarter (356×103 cell/ml) than in healthy quarters (52×103 cell/ml).The streptococci resulted in highest milk SCC (710×103 cells/ml). The S.aureus resulted in a moderate rise (464 ×103 cells/ml) and CoNS mild rise (224 ×103 cells/ml). The corynebacteria initiated no significant reaction. The IMI with S. aureus and CoNS resulted in a significant difference (p < 0.01) for EC also. The parity showed significant associations (p<0.05) with SCC, EC and milk production, which increased from the 2nd parity onwards. The SCC showed (p< 0.05) a positive correlation with EC (0.38), fat (0.30), production (0.30) and pH (0.11), and negative correlation with SNF (-0.21) and lactose (-0.30). The season of calving revealed no significant effect on SCC and biochemical composition of milk. The EC, CMT and lactose were found significant parameters to differentiate healthy and mastitic quarters in buffaloes. The milk SCC and biochemical components showed significant variations over the lactation. The SCC was high at fresh calving (118×103 cell /ml), decreased significantly at 35-42 d (69 ×103cell/ml) and increased in the late lactation (94×103cell/ml). The EC (mS/cm) showed a continuous drop from stage I to IV (p < 0.05). The pH showed a rise up to stage III and then fell in late lactation (p<0.05). The fat, lactose, SNF and total protein were found more immediately post-calving, fell at 35-42 d, and rose in mid and late lactation (p< 0.05). The occurrence of quarter infections was lowest (10.25%) at calving, and maximum (31.03%) in late lactation (p < 0.01). The average BTM SCC for the whole herd under study was found as 263×103cell/ml. The BTM SCC for the whole herd was found highest in the hot-humid season (421×103cell/ml) and lowest (250×103cell/ml) in winter. In buffalo herd, it was highest in the autumn (232×103cell/ml) and lowest (106×103cell/ml) in winter (p < 0.01). In general, EC, pH, fat, SNF, total protein and lactose also showed significant differences over the seasons but no conclusive pattern could be defined.
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