Somatic Cell Counts in Milk of Buffaloes Administered Oxytocin During Early Lactation

To find out the effect of oxytocin on somatic cell count and milk production, 12 primiparous and multiparous Murrah buffaloes were selected, immediately after the parturition, from the Institute's buffalo herd. These were divided into two groups of 6 each. Buffaloes of group I did not receive oxytocin injection (control); whereas, buffaloes of group II were administered oxytocin during early lactation (av. 42.50 days). The oxytocin injection was given in doses of 2.5 IU i.m. before the start of milking, to let down the milk, for a period of 5 days. Samples of milk from individual buffaloes were collected for 5 days before (Period I), during (Period II) and after (Period III) from both the group of buffaloes. Milk samples of A. M. and P. M. milking were composited in proposition to milk yields for analysis of milk constituents. Normal values of somatic cell counts in group I of buffaloes varied from 0.54 to $0.75{\times}10^{5}cells/ml$. Mean cytoplasmic particles and epithelial cells varied from 3.68 to $7.19{\times}10^{5}cells/ml$ and 0.13 to $0.54{\times}10^{5}cells/ml$. On percentage basis the epithelial and the total leucocyte count were 60 and 40. Total leucocyte count, in the study varied from 0.17 to $0.69{\times}10^{5}cells/ml$. The differential cell count of milk indicated presence of lymphocytes (16.50 to $61.16{\times}1000$), neutrophil (0.00 to $2.00{\times}1000$) and monocyte (0.00 to $18.16{\times}1000$). Somatic cell count (p<0.01) and epithelial cells (p<0.05) varied between buffaloes and between periods of study. Total leucocyte counts of milk were also significantly varied between periods (p<0.05). The change in fat, lactose, chloride, EC and NEFA concentrations during different periods of study, were highly significant, indicated diurnal variations in different buffaloes during different days of experiment. Administration of oxytocin resulted in increase in somatic cell counts of milk (p<0.01) due to the increases in total leucocyte count (p<0.01) during the treatment period. The differential cell count indicated that oxytocin administration increased lymphocyte number significantly (p<0.01). However, secretion of neutrophil, monocyte and cytoplasmic particles were not affected by oxytocin. Eosinophil and basophil cell, though present in few samples, remain unaffected by oxytocin administration. There was no effect of oxytocin on milk production, composition, pH, EC and NEFA concentration.