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Effect of Supplementing Selenium Yeast and Vitamin E on Performance of Lactating Buffaloes

A. G. Pagdhune B. N. Ramteke G. M. Gadegaonkar S. D. Jagadale
Vol 9(5), 160-167
DOI- http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/ijlr.20181224115121

To assess the effect of supplementing selenium (Se) yeast and vitamin E on milk yield, milk composition and milk somatic cell count (SCC), twenty four lactating Murrah buffaloes were selected and divided into four groups of six each viz. T0 (control) and T1, T2, T3. Buffaloes under T1 were supplemented with Se (0.3 mg / kg DMI), while those under T2 were supplemented with vitamin E (40 IU / kg DMI); the group T3 were supplemented with a combination of Se (0.3 mg / kg DMI) and vitamin E (40 IU / kg DMI) during trial period of 90 days. Milk yield of the experimental animals was recorded daily; milk samples were collected weekly for milk composition (fat, protein, lactose and solid non-fat) and SCC was done fortnightly. The results indicated that the DM, TDN, DCP intake, milk yield, FCM yield and milk composition i.e. protein, fat and total solids were non-significant among experimental groups. However, milk SNF percent was significantly (P≤0.05) higher in T3 group. Milk lactose percent was significantly higher (P≤0.01) in supplemented groups than control. SCC was significantly (P≤0.01) lowered in T3 group. Thus, in the present study Se yeast and vitamin E supplementation to Murrah buffaloes had non-significant effect on DMI, TDN, DCP intake and milk yield, whereas milk SNF and lactose percent was significantly increased with reduction in SCC in the supplemented group.


Keywords : Buffaloes DMI Milk Yield Milk Composition Somatic Cell Count Selenium Yeast Vit. E

Se and vitamin E are essential micronutrients in ruminant’s nutrition. Se is a powerful catalytic element constituting the active centre of about 20 seleno-proteins (Behne and Kyriakopoulos, 2001). Also, Se and vitamin E can act on neutrophils and consequently reduces the incidence of inflammatory processes such as mastitis which is one of the challenges in dairy industry causing severe losses. The losses due to mastitis are not only economic but issues like animal health and welfare, quality of milk, antibiotic usage and the human health are also important reasons to focus on mastitis control programme. In ruminants, deficiencies of either vitamin E or Se have been associated with increased incidence and severity of intra-mammary infections and higher SCC in individual cows (Moeini et al., 2009). SCC is a primary indicator of mastitis and milk quality in dairy herd (Weiss, 2003).

In particular, there are a limited number of reports on the combined effect of vitamin E and Se on milk and milk composition and udder health. It was therefore proposed to study the effect of supplementation of Se yeast and vitamin E on milk yield and its composition, feed intake and efficiency of feed utilization and SCC in lactating buffaloes with its economics.

Materials and Methods                                                                                      

Experimental Animals and Feeding

The present research work was undertaken at Aarey dairy, Mumbai, and in the Department of Animal Nutrition, Bombay veterinary college, Parel, Mumbai. Twenty four lactating Murrah buffaloes in early stage of lactation were selected in this experiment on the basis of daily milk yield. Selected buffaloes were divided into four groups of six each. The first group of six buffaloes was kept as control; the other three groups were supplemented with Se (0.3 mg/kg DMI, as Se yeast; T1), vitamin E (40 IU/kg DMI, as DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate; T2) and both Se and vitamin E at the same levels (T3) and fed for 90 days. The supplemental level of Se and vitamin E was decided as per the recommendation of NRC, (2001). The buffaloes of all four groups had similar body weight (400±50kg) and milk yield. All buffaloes were fed as per standard feeding practices (NRC, 2001). The ingredients inclusion levels of concentrate mixture and daily feed consumption of buffaloes in four groups is given in Table 1 and 2 respectively. In control and treatment groups roughage feeding and all the management practices were the same.

Table 1: Ingredients inclusion level (%) of concentrate mixture on DM basis were as follows-

Ingredients (%) T0 T1 T2 T3
Ground maize 39.72 39.72 39.72 39.72
Cottonseed cake 22.37 22.37 22.37 22.37
Ground nut cake 8.82 8.82 8.82 8.82
Tur chuni 10.52 10.52 10.52 10.52
Cotton seed hulls 14.15 14.15 14.15 14.15
Bread 4.42 4.42 4.42 4.42
Total 100 100 100 100
Se (mg/kg DM) 0.3 0.3
Vitamin E (IU/kg DM) 40 40

 

 

 

Table 2: Daily feed intake of the experimental buffaloes

Experimental Groups T0 T1 T2 T3
Feed Intake (kg/day/animal)
Concentrate 7.54 7.54 7.26 7.5
Paddy straw 7.25 7.3 7.52 7.48
Para grass 9.38 9.45 9.38 9.66

Measurements

Feed intake after weighing feed refusals were recorded and DM intake were calculated daily. Milk yield of the experimental animals were recorded daily. Milk samples were collected weekly from all buffaloes for milk composition and SCC were estimated fortnightly. Representative samples of concentrate mixtures, paddy straw and para-grass used for feeding of animals were collected at fortnightly interval throughout the experimental period, oven dried and the pooled samples were analyzed. The analysis for proximate principles (Table 3) was undertaken as per A.O.A.C. (2005); calcium and phosphorus estimation were done as per Talapatra et al. (1940).

Table 3: Chemical composition (%) of concentrate mixture, dry and green roughage on DM basis were as follows-

Nutrient (%) Concentrate Mixture Paragrass Paddy Straw
Moisture 10.38 73.63 10.67
Organic matter 94.79 90.38 88.59
Crude protein 17.86 9.83 3.28
Ether extract 3.15 3.18 1.41
Crude fiber 16.22 25.34 33.73
Nitrogen free extract 57.56 52.03 50.17
Total ash 5.21 9.62 11.41
Calcium 0.87 0.22 0.32
Phosphorus 0.42 0.18 0.14

Milk Composition

Milking of buffaloes was done manually twice daily at 5 AM and 5 PM. The individual milk yields were recorded in kg at each milking. Milk composition i.e. fat, protein, lactose, SNF and total solids were determined weekly by using automatic milk analyser (Milko-scan, Made in Bulgaria, Serial No. 14 – 9417). About 100 ml of milk sample from individual animal of each milking was collected in a sterile milk sample bottles and pre-warmed at 400 C before analysis. The fat corrected (7%) milk yield was calculated by using following formula given by Raafat and Saleh (1962).

7 % FCM (kg) = (0.265 × milk yield in kg) + (10.5 × fat yield in kg)

 

Somatic Cell Count (SCC×105 / ml of Milk)

SCC of milk was calculated by DeLaval optical cell counter (Made in Sweden, Serial No. 10063, Manufacturing No. 70011176) by using stained cassette with a DNA specific fluorescent reagent.

Feed Efficiency

In the last week of the experiment a digestibility trial of seven days duration was conducted by total collection method. Four animals from each group were used for the trial. The animals were tied separately with sufficient space to avoid eating of feed/fodder of each other. During trial period, daily intake of the concentrate mixture and roughage was recorded individually. Total quantity of dung voided during 24 hours period by individual animal was recorded. Daily 1/200th   part of faces voided by each animal was oven dried to constant weight for moisture estimation and the pooled dried samples for seven days were used for proximate analysis. Daily 1/400th part of total fecal matter was preserved, animal wise, for nitrogen estimation. The fecal samples for nitrogen estimation were preserved in Sulfuric acid (5 % w/v) used at the rate of 10 ml/50 gm of fecal sample and animal wise pooled samples were used for crude protein estimation.

Economics

The economics of milk production was calculated on the basis of input costs and daily return from the sale of milk.

Statistical Analysis

Observations of various parameters recorded during experimental period were tabulated and data were statistically analysed as per Snedecor and Cochran (1994) by using Web Agri Stat Package (WASP-2) software.

Results and Discussion

DMI, Feed Efficiency and Milk Production

The present research indicated that the dietary Se or vitamin E and their combination had no significant effects among the treatment groups T0, T1, T2 and T3 on the DMI, milk production, FCM and feed efficiency in terms of DMI, TDN and DCP intake per kg FCM of the dairy buffaloes. The results supported the general view that the dietary Se source was unlikely to markedly affect either feed consumption or milk yield (Juniper et al., 2008). Gong et al. (2014) also reported non-significant effect on DMI and milk yield in dairy cows supplemented with Se @ 0.3 mg/kg DM intake. The non-significant effect of supplementation on DMI and milk yield may be attributed to sufficient level of Se and vitamin E in all the groups as the animals were fed well balanced ration. The well-known protective role of both the micronutrients predominantly observed in antioxidant status of animals. However, Moeini et al. (2009) reported non-significant effect on DM intake while significant increase in milk yield in Se and vitamin E supplemented groups in Holstein cows.

Milk Composition

In milk composition, the milk protein, fat and milk total solids showed no significant change. Similar results were reported by Juniper et al. (2008) who observed non-significant effect of Se supplementation on milk composition. However, milk SNF percentage (Table 4 and Fig. 1) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 group supplemented with Se and vitamin E. Likewise, the average milk lactose percentage (Table 4 and Fig. 2) significantly (P ≤ 0.01) higher values in T3 group than T0, T1 and T2 groups. The similar view was shared by Eulogio et al. (2012), who reported significantly (P<0.05) higher milk SNF and lactose percentage in the Se and vitamin E supplemented group in dairy cows.

Fig. 1: Weekly average milk SNF percentage

Fig. 2: Weekly average milk lactose percent

Table 4: Overall performances of buffaloes from the experimental groups

Parameters Groups Result of ‘CRD’  test
T0 (control)  T1 T2 T3
Dry matter intake (kg) 15.71±0.080 15.77±0.134 15.70±0.090 15.95±0.149 NS
TDN intake (kg) 10.42±0.053 10.49±0.089 10.51±0.061 10.63±0.100 NS
DCP intake (kg) 1.17±0.006 1.19±0.010 1.17±0.007 1.20±0.011 NS
Milk Yield (kg) 10.35±0.025 10.37±0.044 10.34±0.019 10.36±0.018 NS
FCM yield (kg) 10.89±117 10.90±099 10.93±104 10.94±0.015 NS
DM intake/ kg FCM 1.444±0.012 1.447±0.003 1.437±0.017 1.458±0.012 NS
TDN intake/ kg FCM 0.958±0.008 0.963±0.002 0.962±0.011 0.972±0.008 NS
DCP intake/ kg FCM 0.108±0.001 0.109±0.000 0.107±0.001 0.110±0.001 NS
Milk Protein % 3.54±0.008 3.52±0.003 3.54±0.011 3.53±0.009 NS
Milk Fat % 7.49±0.050 7.51±0.037 7.52±0.062 7.52±0.017 NS
Milk SNF % 9.62b±0.009 9.64ab±0.008 9.62b±0.007 9.66a±0.0125 *
Total solid % 17.12±0.046 17.15±0.043 17.14±0.059 17.18±0.024 NS
Lactose % 4.56a±0.012 4.67b±0.010 4.64b±0.007 4.81c±0.009 **
Somatic cell count  (SCC × 105/ ml milk) 3.36a±0.033 2.90a±0.200 3.27a±0.164 2.00b±0.367 **
Economics
Experimental Groups T0 T1 T2 T3
Total expenses (Rs/day) 211.3 212.8 207.39 213.52
Total cost of FCM production (Rs/kg) 19.4 19.52 18.97 19.52
Daily profit from per kg FCM yield (Rs/kg) 35.72 35.68 35.59 35.55

NS-Non- significance* – P ≤ 0.05; ** – P ≤ 0.01; abc Means different superscripts in a row differ significantly.

Milk Somatic Cell Count (SCC × 105 per ml)

The weekly average milk SCC of buffaloes from all experimental groups are presented in Table 4 and Fig. 3. The results showed that the treatment T3 had significantly (P≤0.01) decreased SCC of milk compared to control, T1 and T2. The result of the present study is in agreement with Moeini et al. (2009) who noted significantly (P < 0.05) decreased SCC in Se and vitamin E supplemented group compared with controls. The reported effect of Se and vitamin E supplementation on SCC in the present study may be due to consistently improved selenoenzyme i.e. glutathione peroxydase activity and neutrophil function. The anti-infective function of neutrophils evident as they are the first line of defense after a pathogen invades the body. In contrast, Bourne et al. (2008) reported that supplementation of Se and vitamin E had no effect on SCC.

Fig. 3: Fortnightly milk average somatic cell count (SCC × 105 / ml)

Economics

The total cost of feeding per buffalo has little variation as the feed ingredients were not altered in the ration. The total cost and daily profit per kg FCM yield of control and treatment groups also indicated negligible difference.

Conclusion

The supplementation of Se @ 0.3 mg/kg DMI along with vitamin E 40 IU/kg DMI significantly decreases the milk SCC and improves SNF and lactose in milk of dairy buffaloes. It also indicated no effect on DMI, milk yield and feed efficiency in lactating buffaloes. Thus, it is feasible to incorporate Se and vitamin E in the dairy ration to prevent or mitigate subclinical infections and improve milk quality without affecting the feed digestibility and production performance in lactating animals.

References

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