Association among metabolic status, oxidative stress, milk yield, body condition score and reproductive cyclicity in dairy buffaloes

The aim of this study was to determine the metabolic status, stress and ovarian activity through progesterone profile in dairy buffalo as influenced by post-partum days, body condition score (BCS) and lactation number. A total of 45 dairy buffaloes were involved and divided into three factors based on their BCS (2.5, 3.0 and 3.5, respectively), lactation number (1, 2 and 3, respectively), and post-partum intervals (14, 28, 42 and 56, respectively). Based on findings, from day 14 to day 56 after parturition, blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels increased significantly (p <.01), while malondialdehyde (MDA) and cortisol levels decreased significantly (p <.05) on day 56 of the trial. With increased BCS levels, milk yield, blood metabolites and progesterone improved significantly (p <.05), whereas stress indicators decreased significantly (p <.01). Blood metabolites, progesterone and milk production were significantly (p <.01) higher and stress indicators (MDA and cortisol) were significantly (p <.01) lower in lactation stage. Buffaloes with a greater lactation stage and growing post-partum stage had better blood metabolite and progesterone concentrations and less stress. It was concluded that better BCS and increased lactation stage have significant impact on milk yield, stress reduction and restoration of ovarian activity in buffaloes during post-partum period.