SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF VITAMIN E AND SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON UDDER HEALTH IN COWS

Sub-clinical mastitis, a hidden form of clinical mastitis, is characterized by quantitative and qualitative functional alterations in the mammary gland (especially with an increase in SCC), without visible symptoms (Bergonier and Bertholet, 2003). Somatic cell counts (SCC) of milk are used as an index of udder health and quality of milk and for each doubling of SCC above 50,000 cells / ml, a loss of 0.4 kg and 0.6 kg of milk per day in first lactation and older cows has been observed (Hortet and Seegers, 1998). To control sub clinical mastitis, effective treatment is necessary. The residual effect of antibiotics in milk, have shifted the focus of research priorities on the use of antioxidants to combat diseases. Vitamin E and selenium (Se) have protecting ability for biological membranes, and act synergistically. Keeping in view, this work was conducted on crossbred cows for two seasons, to study the efficacy of vitamin E and selenium in reducing the incidence of sub clinical mastitis in tropical conditions.