Integrated effects of lactation stages and seasons on milk somatic cells and some haematological entities in healthy Tarai buffaloes

Tarai buffalo is a dual purpose indigenous buffalo breed of Uttarakhand state. The present study was conducted to investigate the integrated effect of lactation stages and seasons on milk somatic cells and some haematological entities in healthy Tarai buffaloes. Blood TLC value was significantly (p <0.05) higher in early lactation stage while PCV, TEC and Hb values remained unaffected due to lactation stages. Both TLC and PCV values were significantly higher during summer and rainy seasons. Milk SCC was significantly higher in early and late lactation stage and during summer to rainy seasons. Climatic conditions during summer and rainy seasons were at higher (THI <74 and 74 <THI <79). Pearson correlation coefficient found significant and positively correlation (r_p= 0.984, p <0.05) between THI and milk SCC (r_p= 0.995, p <0.01) and between milk SCC and blood TLC. It was concluded that increased number of milk SCC and blood TLC during lactation stage and hot-humid seasons might be an indication of immuno-protective mechanism against various infectious agents. THI can be used as climatic variant in predicting climatic environmental stress to Tarai buffaloes as significant correlation with increased seasonal milk SCC was found.