Abstract

The present study was undertaken to analyse the somatic cell count (SCC) and milk composition viz., total solids (TS), fat and solid-not-fat (SNF) in crossbred dairy cows maintained on different bedding systems.Twenty-four crossbred cows with six animals in each group at Cattle farm of the Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, Pookode was selected for the study from February 2018 to January 2019, spread over three seasons such as summer months (Feb-May), monsoon months (June-Sep) and post monsoon months (Oct-Jan). In control group (T₁) was maintained in concrete floor without any bedding materials. In (T₂) rubber mats were provided on concrete floor. In (T₃) coir pith and (T₄) dried solid manure (DSM) on concrete floor was provided as bedding.The milk of cows maintained on concrete floor and coir pith had the mean SCC values of 164.25 ± 0.25 and 164.39 ± 0.28(x10³ cells/ml) respectively, with significant difference (P< 0.01) between them. The TS and SNF had the lowest value in cows maintained on concrete floor while the cows on coir pith had the highest values. The rubber mat and DSM had the mean milk fat values of 3.74 ± 0.17and 3.82 ± 0.17, respectively. The values of TS, fat and SNF were higher during summer followed by post monsoon season.

Keywords : Crossbred cows- bedding systems -somatic cell count-milk composition