Accessing drop in milk production in cattle due to cold climate and subsequent nutrient amelioration in temperate Kashmir

The preliminary study to quantify the drop in milk production in cattle due to cold climate and subsequent nutritional amelioration in temperate Kashmir where the temperature in the winter months ranges from -4 to 10 degrees C was conducted at Mountain Live stock Research Institute (MLRI), SKUAST-Kashmir and in various dairy farms in the vicinity. In the treatment group, the animals were provided with 150 grams of jaggery and 200 grams of crushed fenugreek daily in addition to normal feeding schedule. The data regarding milk yield and associated parameters were compared between winter (December to February) and spring (March to May) months. The milk yield was recorded daily for 15 days and then presented as an average. The average milk yield in treatment group (6.41 +/- 0.53 kg) was significantly (p<0.05) higher as compared to control group (4.48 +/- 0.21 kg) in the winter months. Similarly, the milk yield in the spring months was higher in treatment group (9.12 +/- 0.22 kg) as compared to control group (8.68 +/- 0.23 kg) but the difference was statistically non-significant. No significant changes were observed in milk composition in winter and spring months in both control and treatment groups. The overall milk production in the treatment group (7.76 +/- 0.49 kg) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in comparison to control (6.58 +/- 0.39 kg). Prolactin was higher in treatment group in both winter and spring months but the difference was significant (p<0.05) in winter months (7.20 +/- 0.38 and 5.67 +/- 0.13 ng/ml) only. Similarly, growth hormone in treatment group (5.53 +/- 0.16 ng/ml) was significantly higher as compared to control group (3.34 +/- 0.16 ng/ml) in winter months. Cortisol concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in control group (33.04 +/- 0.27 ng/ml) as compared to treatment group (24.33 +/- 1.84 ng/ml) in winter months.