EFFECT OF BODY CONDITION SCORE ON MILK YIELD AND COMPOSITION OF BOKANI DAIRY COWS

Abstract

The study was conducted on the Erbil Dairy Herd of the Erbil city, to evaluate the effect of body condition score of Bokani dairy cow on milk composition. Milk samples were examined weekly for milk yield and milk fat, protein percentage, fat / protein ratio, lactose, solids not fat (SNF) and freezing point for sixty days. Body condition score of individual cows was recorded in a 1-5 scale. Milk samples were collected from individual cow. Samples collected from cows having similar body condition score were mixed together to make composite sample. The results revealed that the body condition score was affected milk yield and fat percentage significantly (P<0.01). This score was also influenced the percentage of milk protein, fat/protein ratio, lactose, solids-non-fat (SNF) and freezing point (P<0.05). In conclusion, the body condition score is an important indicator to predict the milk yield traits in dairy cows and can be used as a marker for milk yield and milk quality in dairy cows.

Full text

Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences –2:53(2):-   Izzadeen
373
EFFECT OF BODY CONDITION SCORE ON MILK YIELD AND COMPOSITION OF
BOKANI DAIRY COWS
Shireen. I. Izzadeen
Assistant Lecturer
Dept. Animal Resources – Coll. Agric. Engine. Sci. Salahaddin University- Erbil / Iraq
E-mail: shireen.izzadeen@su.edu.krd
ABSTRACT
The study was conducted on the Erbil Dairy Herd of the Erbil city, to evaluate the effect of
body condition score of Bokani dairy cow on milk composition. Milk samples were examined
weekly for milk yield and milk fat, protein percentage, fat / protein ratio, lactose, solids not fat
(SNF) and freezing point for sixty days. Body condition score of individual cows was recorded
in a 1-5 scale. Milk samples were collected from individual cow. Samples collected from cows
having similar body condition score were mixed together to make composite sample. The
results revealed that the body condition score was affected milk yield and fat percentage
significantly (P<0.01). This score was also influenced the percentage of milk protein,
fat/protein ratio, lactose, solids-non-fat (SNF) and freezing point (P<0.05). In conclusion, the
body condition score is an important indicator to predict the milk yield traits in dairy cows
and can be used as a marker for milk yield and milk quality in dairy cows.
Key words: cow, body condition score, milk yield, milk composition, freezing point
-     





    

 (SNF) 


 (P <0.01) 
 (SNF) ( P <0.05)



.

Received:22/12/2020, Accepted:15/3/2021

Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences –2:53(2):-   Izzadeen
374
INTRODUCTION
Many dairy producers have cattle that are too
fat or too thin for their stage of lactation.
Failure to recognize these cows and take
action costs dearly for disease treatments,
losses in milk production, and decreased
fertility (14). As a preventive measure, body
condition scoring (BCS) has long been a
powerful tool reflecting the fat reserves carried
by the animals (2). Body condition score is a
subjective measure of the amount of
metabolizable energy stored in a live animal
(8, 20) and it has been widely accepted by
scientists and producers as the most practical
method for assessing changes in energy
reserves in dairy cattle (5). The breed
differences regarding body condition score is
widely investigated (5, 11). Higher BCS have
been found in Jerseys in comparison to
Holstein, it scores found a decrease in body
condition as the percentage of Holstein genes
increased in crossbred dairy cows. However,
change in body condition scoring reflects only
fat depletion in dairy breeds, while in dual-
purpose it reflects a change in muscle tissue
(17). One of the easiest and less expensive
methods of evaluating the nutritional status of
the dairy cows is the used of milk composition
variables (1, 22) especially fat-protein-ratio (6,
12). The body condition is usually judged
through a 5-point scale, with 1 equivalent to an
extremely thin cow, while 5 to a cow having
excessive fat reserves (16). Edmonson et al (8)
developed using 0.25 increments system in
dairy cows. The objective of this study
therefore was to determine the effect of body
condition score on milk yield and milk
composition of Bokani cows.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This experiment was carried out at the Erbil
Dairy Farm in the Erbil city. The data were
recorded from July to September in 2020. A
total 12 Bokani cows of first, second and
fourth calving were selected for the study. All
of the selected cows were individually scored
using a 5 item scoring system, according to the
body condition scoring system developed by
Edmonson et al. (8). In this system, the scoring
interval was 0.25 and the scores varied
between 1 (emaciated), 2 (thin), 3 (moderate),
4 (fat) and 5 (obese). All cows scored 40 - 45
days after calving, cows weigh between 450
and 500 kilograms. The dairy cows were
raised natural and paddock–shown alfalfa
pasture, while hay and barley supplemented,
were fed according to their body weight and
production. The water and salt blocks were
kept available to animals freely. The animals
were milked twice a day. Daily milk yield (kg)
was recorded once a week for this study
purpose. Approximately 250 ml milk samples
were collected in bottles stored in the icebox
and transported the laboratory. The milk
components include fat, protein, fat / protein
ratio, lactose, solids not fat (SNF) and freezing
point were studied in relation to body
condition scoring and determined by Lactostar
“FUNKE GERBER” Labortechnik (12/05)
machine (Germany) at the Food Technology
Laboratory of Agriculture Engineering
Sciences.All data were analyzed using CRD
(Completely Randomized Design) by the SAS
institute program (19). Duncan's multiple
range tests were used to compare differences
among the treatments.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results in Table 1 show the relationship
between body condition score and milk yield
in the selected herd. The milk yield was
significantly affected by body condition score
(P< 0.01). The overall highest average of milk
yield (16.68±1.25 kg) was recorded with fat
body condition score (4.00) followed by lower
(2.75 to 4.25) and higher (3.75 to 3.00). The
present findings were also similar to that of
Markusfeld et al (13) and Roche et al (18)
were reported a significant rise in milk yield
with an increase of body condition score at
calving.

Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences –2:53(2):-   Izzadeen
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Table 1. Effect of body condition score (BCS) on milk yield (kg) in Bokani dairy cows
(Mean±SE)
BCS
No. of Animals
Milk Yield (Kg)
Morning
Evening
Total
2.75
2
6.63±0.38 b
6.87±0.39 b
13.50±0.79 b
3.00
1
5.16±0.51 c
5.48±0.37 c
10.64±0.71 c
3.25
2
5.69±0.47 bc
5.84±0.40 bc
11.53±0.73 bc
3.50
1
4.44±0.39 d
4.64±0.37 d
9.08±0.82 d
3.75
2
4.77±0.35 cd
5.18±0.40 cd
9.95±0.74 cd
4.00
1
8.03±0.59 a
8.65±0.55 a
16.68±1.25 a
4.25
3
5.62±0.38 bc
6.01±0.36 bc
11.63±0.70 bc
S. L
**
**
**
a, b, c, d: values with different superscripts
vary significantly (P < 0.01)., BSC: Body
Condition Score
Body condition score significantly affected the
fat (P< 0.01), protein, fat/protein ratio and
lactose contents in dairy cows (P< 0.05) (
Table 2.). Highest fat (5.35±0.207%)
percentage was recorded with poor body
condition score (2.75). Protein contents
increased (3.63±0.112%) with increasing body
condition score up to (4.25), while lactose
showed an opposite trend and maximum milk
fat/protein ratio (1.737±0.102 and
1.631±0.100) in thin body condition score
(2.75 and 3.00 respectively). According to
Mushtaq et al (14) reported that the body
condition score of buffalo and cow correlated
positively with fat and protein and negatively
with lactose contents. Duchacek et al (7) stated
that the development of the fat to protein ratio
used as an indicator of negative energy
balance. Furthermore, Fahey et al (9) reported
that cows in negative energy balance will
show an increase in percentage milk fat and a
decrease in milk protein. In addition, Berry et
al (4) mentioned that cows with a more
extensive loss of body condition score
produced more milk with a higher fat to
protein ratio. The highest value of this ratio
(1.62) was observed in the first week of
lactation. Later, it decreased to 1.08 in the
seventh week, and then it slightly increased
and became stabilized around the value of 1.2.
Aysan et al (3) reported that the body
condition score was caused milk lactose and
urea significantly (P<0.05) in cows; but were
not affected milk fat, protein, urea nitrogen,
casein, total solid, density, solids-non-fat,
acidity, free fatty acids, citric acid, freezing
point (P>0.05). The results were also in
agreement with Hossain et al (10) stated that
the results, BCS significantly affected
(P<0.05) milk yield, milk fat and ash content
in crossbred Holstein Friesian dairy cows.
According to, Singh et al (21) reported that an
increase of body condition score at calving had
a significantly (P<0.05) effect on daily milk
yield and milk composition, with non-
significantly affect being observed on udder
health status of dairy animals. Thus, body
condition score at calving can be used as a
reliable criterion in the selection of crossbreed
cows and Buffaloes for higher milk production
with better udder health status.
Table 2. Effect of body condition score on compositions in Bokani dairy cows (Mean±SE).
BCS
No. of Animals
Fat%
Protein %
Fat / Protein Ratio
Lactose%
2.75
2
5.35±0.207 a
3.08±0.106 b
1.737±0.102 a
4.22±0.193 a
3.00
1
4.78±0.158 ab
2.93±0.110 b
1.631±0.100 a
3.98±0.155 a
3.25
2
3.97±0.138 b
3.24±0.112 ab
1.225±0.092 ab
4.45±0.191 a
3.50
1
4.08±0.135 ab
3.19±0.110 ab
1.279±0.096 ab
4.38±0.159 a
3.75
2
3.99±0.125 b
3.24±0.105 ab
1.231±0.090 ab
4.46±0.170 a
4.00
1
3.31±0.124 c
3.11±0.115 ab
1.064±0.072 ab
4.29±0.181 a
4.25
3
3.55±0.131 bc
3.63±0.112 a
0.978±0.055 b
4.47±0.182 a
S. L
**
*
*
*
a, b, c, d: values with different superscripts
vary significantly (P < 0.01), (P < 0.05).,BSC:
Body Condition Score
Figure 1. shows the relationship between body
condition and solid not fat (SNF) % in Bokani
dairy cows. The results showed a significant
(p<0.05) increases the percentage of SNF
(8.44, 8.40 and 8.35) in (3.75, 4.25 and 3.25)
body condition score respectively. Figure 2.
refers to the relationship between body
condition and freezing point in Bokani cows.
The results of freezing point percentages were
significantly (p<0.05) higher in (3.75, 4.25, 3.5
and 3.25) body condition score respectively
compared with the different body condition
score.

Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences –2:53(2):-   Izzadeen
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Figure 1. Relationship between body condition and solid not fat (SNF) % in Bokani cows
a,b, Mean values within a row having different
superscripts differ significantly at (p<0.05).
Figure 2. Relationship between body condition and freezing point in Bokani cows
a,b, Mean values within a row having different
superscripts differ significantly at (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The body condition scoring is a practical and
useful tool of management in dairy flocks; it
affects the productivity, reproduction, and
health of the animal. Each stage of lactation
has its recommended body condition score;
through, over and under conditioned dairy cow
may undergo a variety of dangers. Body
condition score is a simple but useful
procedure, which can help producers make
management decisions regarding the quality
and quantity of feed needed to optimize
performance, and routine scoring of the body
condition of dairy cows can help detect
potential problems that might cause a decrease
in milk production.
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