Evaluation of vitamin e supplementation to control mastitis in crossbred cows during summer season

Mastitis is a common disease of dairy animals throughout the world. Prevalence of intramammary infections (IMI) increased due to high ambient temperatures with high relative humidity. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of vitamin E supplementation along with Iodine teat dip practices on prevalence of mastitis during the summer season. In this study, a total of 72 lactating cross bred cows of eight dairy farms of Faridkot district were randomly divided into three experimental groups (T1, T2, T3). Group T3 received 1000 IU/day of vitamin E orally along with teat dipping practice using Iodine (0.5%) after milking. In group T2, each cow received only teat dipping practice using Iodine (0.5%) after milking. T1 group was a control group. Relative risk and odds ratio was calculated using Epi info CDC 0.7. Oral administration of vitamin E with teat dipping practices was found more effective in reducing new IMI than alone teat dipping practice. Analysis revealed that group T3, T2, and T1 had 83.33, 79.16 and 66.66 per cent of no new IMI respectively, in their early lactation period. IMI was reduced by 37.57 per cent and 50 per cent in T2 and T3 groups, respectively as compared to control group. Risk of IMI was reduced by 1.6 and 2.0 times by using iodine teat dip solution and combination of iodine dip solution with Vitamin E supplementation, respectively. The findings of current investigation concluded that iodine teat dip therapy along with vitamin E supplementation in early lactating cross bred cows during heat stress period has more beneficial effect in preventing IMI in cross bred cows.