Milk quality of Italian Mediterranean buffalo as affected by temperature-humidity index during late spring and summer

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. A total of 18 Italian Mediterranean buffalo cows were subjected to fortnightly milk sampling from May to July 2022. Air temperature and relative humidity were monitored throughout the trial. Temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated and ranged from 69 to 79, so that 3 classes were set to study the effect of different THI on milk quality: THI less than 72 (THI76). Individual milk samples from buffalo cows were analyzed for milk composition and coagulation traits, fatty acid and amino acid composition, and enzymatic and mineral profiles. The THI>76 class registered higher lactose content and poorer milk clot characteristics in comparison with THI