Journal of Animal Research
  • Year: 2020
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 5

Effect of pre and postpartum alpha-tocopherol supplementation on body condition and some udder health parameters of jersey crossbred cows at tropical lower gangetic region

  • Author:
  • Amit Kumar Singh1*, Champak Bhakat1, Dilip Kumar Mandal1, Anupam Chatterjee2
  • Total Page Count: 7
  • Page Number: 697 to 703

1Livestock Production Management Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, ERS, Kalyani, West Bengal, India

2Animal Nutrition Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, ERS, Kalyani, West Bengal, India

*Corresponding author: AK Singh; E-mail: amitkumarsingh5496@gmail.com

Online published on 27 May, 2021.

Abstract

Alpha-tocopherol supplementation to dairy cows has beneficial effect on udder health and maintenance of body condition which needs to be studied for Jersey crossbred cows under tropical lower Gangetic region. Survey was conducted on a total of 191 respondents and out of which 19 healthy animals were selected for this experiment. This experiment was done to see the effect of pre and post Alpha-tocopherol supplementation for Jersey crossbred cows @ 1g/day/cow. Three comparable groups viz. T1 (30 days pre and post partum period; 7 dairy cows), T2 (30 days pre and 60 days post partum period; 6 dairy cows), however, no supplementation was done in control group (6 dairy cows) animals. Statistically analyzed data revealed significantly (p<0.01) lower body condition in control group than T1 and T2 group animals during post partum period, but T1 and T2 were statistically similar (p>0.05). However, animals of group T2 recovered body condition of cows numerically earlier followed by T1 and control group. There was no significant difference between body condition of dairy animals of all group during dry period (p>0.05). Statistically analyzed data revealed significantly (p<0.01) higher pH and electrical conductivity (EC) in control than T1 and T2 groups during post partum period but T1 and T2 were statistically similar (p>0.05). In addition to this correlation coefficient also suggested that better udder health (p<0.01) and reduced body condition loss post partum (p<0.01) can be achieved by Alpha-tocopherol supplementation @ 1g/day/cow for 30 days pre and 60 days post partum period for Jersey crossbred cows at tropical lower Gangetic region.

HIGHLIGHTS

We studied influence of Alpha-tocopherol supplementation during pre and postpartum period on body condition and udder health of dairy animals.

A significant (p<0.01) effect on postpartum body condition of dairy cows was observed in supplemented groups.

Electrical conductivity (mS/cm) and pH was significantly (p<0.01) improved in supplemented groups.

Keywords

Alpha-tocopherol, Body condition, Jersey crossbred, Lower Gangetic region, Udder health