National Dairy Research Institute, Kamal - 132001.
Ten crossbred cows were selected from the cattle herd of National Dairy Reserach Institute for this study. Before starting the experiment, the body condition of the animals was scored and on this basis the animals were divided into two groups of medium and high BCS. The blood samples were collected at 20,10 and 5 days before calving, on the day of calving and 5,10 and 20 days after calving. The body weight and body condition score of all the experimental animals was recorded. After calving milk yield of the experimenta animals was recorded till 42 days in milk (DIM). Reproduction disorders such as retained placenta, metritis and metabolic disorders like milk fever were recorded. The decline in body weight was more in high BCS cows as compared to medium BCS cows. Glucose levels were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in high BCS cows than medium BCS cows. Plasma NEFA levels increased up to day 5 after calving, the increase being significantly (p < 0.05) higher in high BCS cows than medium BCS cows. Then the NEFA levels declined on day 20 after calving. Milk yield up to 42 days in milk was 18.80 and 15.67 litres in medium BCS and high BCS cows, respectively. Two cases of retained placenta were found in high BCS cows and one case in medium BCS cows. From the study it has been observed that high BCS cows lost more body condition than medium BCS cows and productivity was more in medium BCS cows than high BCS.
