Effect of herbal vitamin E and organic selenium complex supplementation on oxidative stress, milk quality and somatic cell count in transition dairy cows

Twenty dairy animals were randomly grouped into 2 groups with 10 animals each in control and supplemented group to investigate the effect of E-Sel Power (natural vit-E and organic selenium complex) on oxidative stress, milk quality and somatic cell count (SCC) in cross bred transition cows. Supplemented group was fed E-Sel Power @ 7g / 100kg body weight per day per animal during transition period for 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after parturition. Animals were sampled thrice during different stages of periparturient period viz. (i) Being Dry (BD) - 15 days before drying off (ii) Far Off Dry (FOD) - >10 days following drying off (iii) Fresh - 3-30 days in milk. Serum biochemical parameters were estimated viz. Reduced Glutathione (GSH), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Lipid peroxidation (LPO) to assess the status of oxidative stress. Milk parameters viz.fat, solid not fat (SNF), lactose, density, California Mastitis Test (CMT), somatic cell count (SCC), pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were estimated. Plasma Selenium and Vit-E were also estimated, levels of which increased significantly in E-Sel Power supplemented group. Overall, E-Sel Power was found effective in reducing oxidative stress, preventing mastitis and improving production and quality of milk. Thus, the above study reveals that feeding herbal supplement E-Sel Power @ 7g/100 kg body weight during transition period in dairy animals helps prevent sub-clinical mastitis by marked reduction in oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation as well as increase in the blood levels of antioxidant enzymes viz. GSH and SOD, facilitating the lowering of the CMT, EC & SCC with increased% of fat, protein and SNF contents in milk along with improvement in udder immunity & health.