Parenteral Cu Supplementation of Late-Gestating and Lactating Iberian Red Deer Hinds Fed a Balanced Diet Reduces Somatic Cell Count and Modifies Mineral Profile of Milk

Abstract

This study describes the effects that Cu supplementation of late-gestating and lactating females (hinds) of Iberian red deer fed a balanced diet have on milk production, composition, and somatic cell count (SCC). Experimental hinds (n = 9) were subcutaneously injected every 42 days with Cu (0.83 mg Cu/kg body weight) from day 202 of gestation until the end of lactation (week 18). Control hinds (n = 8) were injected with a physiological saline solution with the same volume and at the same frequency as the experimental group. Copper supplementation decreased the SCC from 1.64 to 1.36 log 10/mL (p = 0.003) and modified the milk mineral profile. In particular, milk from hinds supplemented with Cu had more Ca (p = 0.02), Mg (p = 0.06), and K (p = 0.03) than milk from control hinds. However, Cu supplementation did not influence the Cu content of milk. Therefore, it can be concluded that Cu supplementation of hinds fed a balanced diet from late-gestation to the end of lactation could be a good strategy to reduce SCC and modify the mineral profile of milk increasing its Ca content.

Physicochemical, Microbiological and Technological Properties of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Milk during Lactation

“…Table 1 presents the mean values and lactation period effect for daily milk production (DMP) and the gross composition of the raw milk collected from five individual red deer hinds over the period from May to October 2016. DMP decreased significantly ( p < 0.000) during lactation, with mean values similar to those reported by other authors at the same lactations times [ 29 , 33 ]. Mean red deer milk values were 10.4, 7.1, 5.1, 4.3 and 24.2% for fat, protein, CN, lactose and DM, respectively.…”

“…Regarding the somatic cell count, the data revealed that animals had good sanitary conditions during the study period ( Table 3 ). Studies about SCC in red deer milk are scarce and limited to a few individuals [ 24 , 33 ]. During the interval being studied, an increase in SCC at the end was not observed, unlike the slight increase noticed for a similar period by Pérez Serrano [ 33 ].…”

“…Studies about SCC in red deer milk are scarce and limited to a few individuals [ 24 , 33 ]. During the interval being studied, an increase in SCC at the end was not observed, unlike the slight increase noticed for a similar period by Pérez Serrano [ 33 ]. Nevertheless, further studies with a higher number of individuals or bulk milk are necessary to have better knowledge of the physiological values for this species.…”

“…Protein, fat, lactose, casein (CN), dry matter (DM) content and urea concentration were measured in duplicate in raw milk at the Interprofessional Dairy Laboratory of Castilla-La Mancha (LILCAM, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain) by using an infrared spectrophotometer (MilkoScan 4000, Foss, Hillerød; Denmark) calibrated for cow, goat and sheep milk and subjected to quality controls and interlaboratory trials with the Spanish network of official Dairy Laboratories. Samples were diluted by 50% with distilled water to adjust their composition to the calibration range of the analyzer [ 33 ]. These parameters are expressed as g/100 g. Additional information of somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacteria count (TBC) was also obtained in duplicate from the LILCAM analysis using a Fossomatic 5000 and BactoScan FC, respectively.…”