What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the impact of intramuscular vitamin combinations on milk quality and reproductive performance in postpartum Mediterranean lactating buffaloes.

June 14, 2026Tropical Animal Health and Production0 citationsOpen Access

Administration of antioxidants at parturition in Italian Mediterranean lactating buffaloes: findings in the postpartum

LFLorenza FrattinaUniversity of Bari Aldo Moro ACAlice CarbonariUniversity of Bari Aldo Moro MBMatteo BurgioUniversity of Bari Aldo Moro

Key Points

To evaluate the impact of intramuscular vitamin combinations on milk quality and reproductive performance in postpartum Mediterranean lactating buffaloes.
Animals were divided into treated (group D) and control (group C) groups.
Group D received a vitamin combination containing α-tocopherol and β-carotene at 24 hours postpartum.
Milk quality and reproductive performance were assessed at specified time points.
α-tocopherol levels increased significantly in group D (0.35 mg/100 g) compared to group C (0.27 mg/100 g; p < 0.05).
Significantly elevated fat, saturated, unsaturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in group D (p < 0.05).
Calving-conception interval was shorter in group D (62.23 days) compared to group C (72.88 days; p < 0.01).

Abstract

The transition period is an extremely critical phase for the Mediterranean lactating buffaloes, characterized by a state of oxidative stress. Oral administration of antioxidants is common. However, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the intramuscular administration of a vitamin combination, containing α-tocopherol and β-carotene, could improve both milk quality and reproductive performance. The animals were divided into two groups: a group treated, at 24 h postpartum, with a vitamin combination (group D) and a control group (C). For milk quality, concentrations of retinol, α-tocopherol, fat, protein, lactose, Somatic Cell Count (SCC), non-fat dry matter (NFDM), casein, urea, pH, satured fatty acids (SFA), unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and poliunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in milk were assessed at 7 and 30 days post-treatment. Reproductive performance was evaluated using two parameters: pregnancy rate and the calving-conception interval. Retinol concentrations did not differ significantly between groups or across time points. α-tocopherol levels were significantly higher in group D compared to group C at T30 (0.35 ± 0.016 vs. 0.27 ± 0.015 mg/100 g; p < 0.05), whereas in group C exhibited a significant decrease over time. Fat, SFA, UFA, MUFA, and PUFA levels were significantly elevated in group D relative to group C (p < 0.05), while SCC showed a significant reduction in the treated group than the control one (104.4 ± 20.12 vs. 136.6 ± 32.24 × 10³ cells/mL; p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in pregnancy rates; however, the calving-conception interval was significantly shortened in group D (62.23 ± 6.17 vs. 72.88 ± 5.49 days; p < 0.01). The obtained results indicate that the parenteral administration of the vitamin combination was associated with changes in selected milk quality parameters and with a shorter calving-conception interval.

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