The Effect of Selenium, Vitamin E and Copper Injection on the Somatic Cell Count and Milk Compositions in Dairy Cows

 Akbar Pirestani,*, Mohammad Javad Bagheri, Sayed Mahdi Hashemi, Amir Hossine Asgarishahi   Department of Animal Science, Khorasgan (Isfahan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran     *Corresponding author: Email: [email protected]     Received: 20 July 2013   Accepted: 21 November 2013       ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of Se+Vit E and Cu injection on milk somatic cell count and milk composition of dairy cows. Eighty Holstein cows, with approximately the same milk production and parity were randomly assigned to one of the  4 experimental treatments including: control group (saline: 5 ml/day/cow), Se+Vit E (10 ml/day), Cu (2 ml/day) and Se+Vit E + Cu. These vitamin and minerals were intramuscularly injected daily, from one week prior to the predicted parturition date to one week after parturition. Milk samples were taken 3 times: in the beginning, at the end of the first week and at the end of the second week of the trial to analyze the concentration of fat, protein, lactose and solid not fat (SNF) and four times on days 3, 7, 11 and 14 of the trial for somatic cell count (SCC) determination. Cu injection resulted in higher milk production and fat content than other treatment groups. However protein, lactose and SNF concentrations were elevated in Se+Vit E treated cows, milk production wasn’t significantly influenced. Se+Vit E +Cu injection markedly reduced SCC as compared to other experimental treatments. These findings indicated that Se+Vit E and Cu have a favorable effect on udder immune system and milk compositions.