EFFECT OF OXYTOCIN ADMINISTRATION BEFORE MILKING ON MILK PRODUCTION, SOMATIC CELLS COUNT AND FAT CONTENTS IN MILK OF NILI-RAVI BUFFALOES

Published: November 20, 2011

By: M. S. Akhtar, A. A. Farooq, L. A. Lodhi, M. M. Ayaz, M. Hussain, M. H. Lashari, Z. I. Chaudhary

Summary

The present project was escorted to determine the effect of oxytocin administration before milking on milk production, somatic cells count and fat contents in milk of Nili-Ravi buffaloes. The research was accompanied during July to September 2011 at Buffalo Research Institute, Pattoki, District Kasur. Twenty lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes were randomly divided into two groups. Group A (n = 10) buffaloes were treated intramuscularly with 30 IU of oxytocin daily before the start of milking for the period of 7 days, whereas group B (n = 10) buffaloes were given no treatment and served as control. Milk samples were collected from all buffaloes 7 days before (Phase I), during (Phase II) and 7 days after (Phase III) the treatment for the determination of milk production, somatic cell count and fat percentage. There were non-significant (P>0.05) differences in mean milk production between group A and B during phase-I and III whereas significantly higher (P<0.05) milk production was recorded during phase-II in group A buffaloes in comparison with group B. Somatic cells count varied from 72.96 to 97.01 × 103 and 71.86 to 77.14 × 103 cells per ml in group A and B, respectively. Mean somatic cells count were significantly higher (P<0.05) in group A as compared to group B during phases II of study whereas there were non-significant difference in somatic cells count between group A and B during phase-I and II. The mean fat percentage ranged 5.36-5.39 and 5.34-5.39 in group A and B buffaloes. During phase I, II and III, there were non-significant differences (P>0.05) in fat percentage between two groups of buffaloes. It was clinched that somatic cell count in milk of Nili-Ravi buffalo were affected by oxytocin injection before milking whereas there was no effect of oxytocin on fat percentage in milk and milk production. Keywords: buffalo, oxytocin, milk production, somatic cells count, fat

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