Evaluation of antioxidant status in serum and milk of Jersey cross-bred in different seasons reared under high-altitude stress condition

Ladakh is the cold-desert high-altitude region located in the Trans-Himalayan region of India. This region is characterized by very harsh environmental conditions with hypobaric hypoxia-induced oxidative stress in domestic animals. In these circumstances this study has been carried out to analyze the effects of different seasons and high altitude stress on serum and milk antioxidant status of cow to monitor health and milk production. A total of 140 clinically healthy lactating Jersey cross-bred cows were used for the sample collection in the two successive season's viz. summer and winter. Blood lipid peroxidation was significantly (p < 0.05) higher during the winter season. Whereas, the blood and milk antioxidant capacity was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the winter season as compared to the summer season. Milk production showed significant (p < 0.05) higher in the summer seasons than the winter season. This study indicated unfavourable THI for dairy cattle which caused stress to Jersey crossbred cows. This physiological status was attributed to changes in antioxidant status in studied animals. This is also supported by the antioxidant capacity of milk samples. Hence, microenvironment management should be given utmost importance for the better cattle health management in this region for the better production level.