Mahmoud Ibrahim Al-Mohamed ^(1)*

(1). Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahim Al-Mohamed. E-Mail:

Mahmoud.lb.Almohamed@gmail.com)

Received  29/05 /2024                 Accepted  1/ 08/2024

Abstract: 

This research was conducted in 2022/2023, at the Jeb Ramla cattle station and the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Aleppo on 82 Holstein Friesian cows, with the aim of studying the effect of the length of the dry period on the proportion and production of some milk components, moreover to the health status of the udder represented by the level of somatic cell counts, and the incidence of mastitis in the subsequent lactation. The data was analyzed using SPSS26 software. The results showed a highly significant effect of the length of the dry period on the level of somatic cell counts, the percentage of fat, and the amount of production of fat, protein, lactose, and non-fat solid matter in the subsequent lactation. Shortening the dry period also led to negative effects on the content of fat, the amount of fat production, and the level of somatic cell counts, and the health status of the udder. While the percentage of protein, lactose, and non-fat solid matter was not affected by the length of the drying period.

Key words: dry period, somatic cell counts, SSC, mastitis, milk components.
 Full paper in Arabic: PDF