Milk yield and composition, blood, and urinary parameters of Murrah buffaloes in different maturity stages during the transition period and early lactation

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate differences in productive performance between primiparous and multiparous Murrah buffaloes and the interrelationships between metabolic traits during the transition period and early lactation. Thirty pregnant buffaloes were monitored during the transition period and at the beginning of the lactation. Animals were randomly assigned within the two experimental groups considering the calving number and the estimated calving date: primiparous (n = 15) and multiparous buffaloes (n = 15). The buffaloes were monitored every week during the last 30 days of pregnancy, and the first 63 days postpartum. Buffaloes were kept in the same environment condition, and management practices. Multiparous buffaloes, at the postpartum period, showed higher milk fat, protein, lactose, total dry extract production, non-fat dry extract contents, and higher milk urea nitrogen and casein contents than primiparous buffaloes. Primiparous buffaloes showed higher urine pH and hematocrit concentration than the multiparous group at the prepartum period and higher leukocyte and lymphocytes concentrations at the postpartum. During the transition period, primiparous buffaloes exhibited negative interrelationships between metabolic traits and productive performance related to variations in their metabolic status. These results may indicate that multiparous buffaloes fewer sensitive to variations of metabolic status during the transition period.

Keywords

• calving order
• early lactation
• dairy buffalo
• metabolic status
• pregnancy
• transition period