Evaluation of Body Condition, Rumen Fill and Quantitative-Qualitative Milk Parameters in Primiparous Anatolian Buffalo Cows Housed with or without Access to Pasture

Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) are typically raised in pasture-based production systems. However, production systems where buffaloes are confined permanently in barns (no grazing) or have access to pasture (pasture-grazing) have become more common recently. Therefore, differences in the production systems provided to buffalo cows may alter the welfare parameters and productivity of cow. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pasture-grazing (PG) and no grazing (NG) management practices on certain welfare assessment criteria (body condition score (BCS) and rumen fill score (RFS) and quantitative-qualitative milk parameters in primiparous Anatolian buffalo cows. This study was conducted on a total of 72 buffalo cows in two barns on a farm in Samsun, Türkiye: the first barn was pasture-grazing (PG, n=36) and the second barn was non-pasture-grazing (NG, n=36). Body condition and rumen fill were scored on a scale ranging from 1 to 5 to subjectively assess the nutritional status of cows. Additionally, milk samples were collected to determine quantitative-qualitative milk parameters test-day milk yield (TDMY), dry matter (DM), fat, solids non-fat (SNF), protein, fat-to-protein ratio (FPR), lactose, density, freezing point (FP), somatic cell count (SCC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC). The milk components were analysed using an automatic milk analyser. Milk EC and pH were measured using a calibrated EC meter and pH meter, respectively. The SCC was determined using a somatic cell counter device. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. The BCS, RFS and quantitative-qualitative milk parameters of the PG and NG groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test and t-test, respectively. BCS and RFS of NG cows were higher than those of PG cows. Additionally, TDMY and milk protein content of NG cows were higher than those of PG cows, but fat content, FPR, EC and SCC were lower. TDMY was positively correlated with BCS and RFS. Milk hygiene and udder health indicators (SCC and EC) showed negative correlations with BCS and RFS. These results indicate that PG cows have low BCS and RFS, which can negatively affect some quantitative-qualitative milk parameters.