Assessment of alteration in metabolic profile and milk composition of buffaloes with subclinical mastitis

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the metabolic status and milk composition of buffaloes with subclinical mastitis. Forty buffaloes in early lactation from local buffalo dairy farms of Mathura district Uttar Pradesh (India) and instructional livestock farm complex of DUVASU, Mathura, found positive for subclinical mastitis at the quarter level by California mastitis test (CMT) (++ score) and high somatic cell counts (SCC) (>5 lakh cells per ml) were included in the present study. Another 20 clinically healthy buffaloes in early lactation and free of mastitis were used as healthy control group. Blood samples (5 mL) were collected from the both healthy and subclinical mastitic buffaloes and were used for estimation of serum metabolites including glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, urea, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P). Further, milk samples were obtained from each affected quarter of buffaloes having subclinical mastitis as well as from healthy group and used for assessment of milk composition. To evaluate the milk quality, milk lactose, protein, fat, solid-not-fat (SNF), salt, specific gravity and depression in freezing point were estimated. Statistical differences between groups were evaluated by using using ANOVA with general linear models. Significantly lower serum glucose (P≤0.01), Ca (P≤0.05) and P (P≤0.05) levels were revealed by buffaloes with subclinical mastitis as compared to healthy control group. Whereas, serum urea level of buffaloes with subclinical mastitis was significantly higher (P≤0.01) than healthy control group. However, significant alteration in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein and magnesium contents was not revealed by buffaloes with subclinical mastitis in comparison with the healthy controls. Milk samples obtained from buffaloes with subclinical mastitis revealed significantly higher (P≤0.01) total protein and salts contents as well as depression in freezing point as compared to that of the healthy control group. However, significantly lower lactose (P≤0.01), fat (P≤0.01), SNF (P≤0.01) contents and specific gravity (P≤0.05) was estimated in mastitic milk as compared to nonmastitic milk (healthy control group). Therefore, it can be concluded that remarkably altered metabolic status of buffaloes could be associated with subclinical mastitis. In tandem, subclinical mastitis could result in marked alteration in the milk composition conferring the poor milk quality of buffaloes.