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Administration of antioxidants at parturition in Italian Mediterranean lactating buffaloes: findings in the postpartum.

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Title: Administration of antioxidants at parturition in Italian Mediterranean lactating buffaloes: findings in the postpartum.
Authors: Frattina L; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, S.P. per Casamassima km. 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy., Carbonari A; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, S.P. per Casamassima km. 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy., Burgio M; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, S.P. per Casamassima km. 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy. matteo.burgio@uniba.it., Bramante G; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, S.P. per Casamassima km. 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy., Andriulo OM; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, S.P. per Casamassima km. 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy., Ceci E; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, S.P. per Casamassima km. 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy., Galdieri C; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, S.P. per Casamassima km. 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy., D'Onghia A; Associazione Regionale Allevatori Puglia, Strada Comunale San Nicola 2, 70017, Putignano, BA, Italy., Cicirelli V; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, S.P. per Casamassima km. 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy., Rizzo A; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, S.P. per Casamassima km. 3, 70010, Valenzano, BA, Italy.
Source: Tropical animal health and production [Trop Anim Health Prod] 2026 Jun 12; Vol. 58 (5). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 12.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Springer Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 1277355 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1573-7438 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00494747 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Trop Anim Health Prod Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: 2005- : Heidelberg : Springer
Original Publication: Edinburgh, Livingstone.
MeSH Terms: Buffaloes*/physiology , Lactation*/drug effects , Antioxidants*/administration & dosage , alpha-Tocopherol*/administration & dosage , Milk*/chemistry , beta Carotene*/administration & dosage, Injections, Intramuscular/veterinary ; Animals ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Italy ; Vitamin A
Abstract: The transition period is an extremely critical phase for the Mediterranean lactating buffaloes, characterized by a state of oxidative stress. Oral administration of antioxidants is common. However, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the intramuscular administration of a vitamin combination, containing α-tocopherol and β-carotene, could improve both milk quality and reproductive performance. The animals were divided into two groups: a group treated, at 24 h postpartum, with a vitamin combination (group D) and a control group (C). For milk quality, concentrations of retinol, α-tocopherol, fat, protein, lactose, Somatic Cell Count (SCC), non-fat dry matter (NFDM), casein, urea, pH, satured fatty acids (SFA), unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and poliunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in milk were assessed at 7 and 30 days post-treatment. Reproductive performance was evaluated using two parameters: pregnancy rate and the calving-conception interval. Retinol concentrations did not differ significantly between groups or across time points. α-tocopherol levels were significantly higher in group D compared to group C at T30 (0.35 ± 0.016 vs. 0.27 ± 0.015 mg/100 g; p < 0.05), whereas in group C exhibited a significant decrease over time. Fat, SFA, UFA, MUFA, and PUFA levels were significantly elevated in group D relative to group C (p < 0.05), while SCC showed a significant reduction in the treated group than the control one (104.4 ± 20.12 vs. 136.6 ± 32.24 × 10³ cells/mL; p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in pregnancy rates; however, the calving-conception interval was significantly shortened in group D (62.23 ± 6.17 vs. 72.88 ± 5.49 days; p < 0.01). The obtained results indicate that the parenteral administration of the vitamin combination was associated with changes in selected milk quality parameters and with a shorter calving-conception interval.
(© 2026. The Author(s).)
Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: None of the authors of this paper has a financial or personal relationship with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.
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Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Buffaloes; Postpartum; Reproductive performance; α-tocopherol; β-carotene
Substance Nomenclature: 0 (Antioxidants)
H4N855PNZ1 (alpha-Tocopherol)
01YAE03M7J (beta Carotene)
11103-57-4 (Vitamin A)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260612 Date Completed: 20260613 Latest Revision: 20260922
Update Code: 20260922
PubMed Central ID: PMC13263305
DOI: 10.1007/s11250-026-05137-z
PMID: 42283949
Database: MEDLINE
Description
ISSN:1573-7438
DOI:10.1007/s11250-026-05137-z