Effects of trisodium citrate and reduced levels of nanominerals supplementation on subclinical mastitis affected dairy cows

Abstract

Trisodium citrate (TSC) and trace minerals like Zn (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) plays an important role in maintenance of bovine udder health and immunity. Present  study evaluated the effect of co-administration of TSC and reduced levels of nanominerals (Zn, Cu, Mn) on the recovery of Subclinical Mastitis (SCM) affected Holstein Friesian (HF) crossbred cows. Nanominerals were synthesized by chemical reduction methods and characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray and Spectroscopy (EDS) methods. Cows diagnosed as SCM, based on milk Somatic Cell Count (SCC; ≥200×103 cells/ml; n=8), were additonaly co-administrated (orally) with TSC (30 mg/kg/day) and half of the recommended levels of nanominerals (Cu: 6.5 ppm, Mn: 8.75 ppm and Zn: 30 ppm/kg DMI/day) for 28 days and the effects were compared with SCM affected cows (n=6) and apparently healthy cows (SCC ≤ 200×103 cells/ml; n=8) provided with only basal diet. Data were analyzed by mixed-model procedure and McNemar test. The particle sizes of the nanominerals were < 100 nm. Co-administration of TSC and nanominerals had no significant effects on milk yield, its composition and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels but, marginally reduced milk SCC and Californian Mastitis Test (CMT) score. Similarly, co-supplemented cows had more cure rate against Streptococcus spp.-mediated infections, but not reduced the Staphylococcus spp.- or Coliform-mediated intra mammary infections. It is concluded that co-administration of TSC with half of the recommended levels of nanominerals had no biologically convincing effects on recovery of SCM affected HF crossbred cows.