Vol. 9, Issue 1, Part K (2025)

The present study was planned to study the variations in the somatic cell count at different physiological stages of lactation in local buffalo of the Jammu region. The milk somatic cells (SCC) are one of the most illustrative of mammary gland tissues and can be used to study the expression kinetics of mammary gland specific genes. The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of different physiological stages of lactation on the amount of milk somatic cells of local buffaloes of Jammu region. Milk was collected from 300 multiparous healthy local buffaloes, which were divided into various groups according to their stage of lactation. i.e. early (60±30 days), mid (120±30 days), late lactation (180±30 days) buffalo of Jammu. The selection was based on health status, parity and on average lactation length of about 290 days. Early morning milk sample were collected in a sterile container by discarding the first few milk streams of milk. We soaked the teats in 0.5% iodine or 4% hypochlorite for at least 20 to 30 seconds while the udder received lukewarm water preparation prior to milking. The preparation of milk sample smears for SCC, analysis were done immediately following collection during the first hour to avoid somatic cell degradation. A version of the SCC determination method used for milk samples followed Schalm et al. (1971) ^[1] after slight modification. The results obtained revealed that the mean values of somatic cell count were 5.85 ± 2.05,6.47 ± 1.95 and 10.85 ± 3.07 x 10⁵cells / ml during mid, early and late lactation respectively. The values of somatic cell count followed no trend. The results suggested an increase in the early lactation, then it decreased in mid lactation with a further increase in late lactation stage.