Effect of estrus on somatic cell count, protein and fat contents in milk of nili-ravi buffaloes

The present study was conducted with the objective to study the effect of oestrus on somatic cells count, fat and protein contents in milk of Nili-Ravi buffaloes. The research was carried out on twenty lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes during October to November 2007 at Buffalo Research Institute, Pattoki, District Kasur. All buffaloes were in their second lactation and were above sixty days postpartum. Estrus was recorded daily for 8 week in experimental buffaloes. Once weekly, during the morning milking, 100 ml of milk was sampled from all animals for the determination of somatic cell count, protein and fat. There was significant difference (P less than 0.01) in the somatic cell count during proestrus/ estrus (383 plus minus 39 x 10(3) cells/ml) as compared to met estrus (241 plus minus 65 x 10(3)) and diestrus plus minus 44 x 10(3) cells/ml) stages while a non-significant difference was observed between somatic cell count during met estrus and diestrus stage of estrus cycle. Protein contents were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) during proestrus/ estrus (3.7 plus minus 0.10%) compared with met estrus (3.4 plus minus 0.16%) and diestrus (3.4 plus minus 0.12%) while nonsignificantly differ between met estrus and diestrus stages of estrus cycle. There was non-significant difference (P greater than 0.01) in fat contents during proestrus/ estrus (4.8 plus minus 0.16%), met estrus (4.7 plus minus 0.13%) and diestrus (4.8 plus minus 0.18%) stages of estrus cycle. It was concluded that somatic cell count and protein percentage in milk of Nili-Ravi buffalo were affected by stage of estrus cycle. The somatic cell count in milk could be used to identify the animals in estrus.