Table 3.
Plasma mineral and metabolic profile (least squares means and mean standard error) of Saanen breed compared with Mediterranean medium production level breeds (MPLB: Maltese and Jonica breeds) and low production level breeds (LPLB: Rossa Mediterranea, Girgentana, and Garganica breeds) during early lactation (2–4 weeks in milking), medium lactation (5–10 weeks in milking), and late lactation (11–30 weeks in milking).
| Early Lactation | Medium Lactation | Late Lactation | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trait | Saanen | MPLB | LPLB | MSE | Saanen | MPLB | LPLB | MSE | Saanen | MPLB | LPLB | MSE |
| Serum Electrolytes | ||||||||||||
| Cl, mEq/L | 110.32 | 111.31 | 112.19 * | 11.49 | 144.72 | 146.02 | 146.60 * | 10.14 | 112.52 | 111.91 | 111.85 | 7.81 |
| Na, mEq/L | 145.34 | 147.84 * | 147.82 * | 13.86 | 144.72 | 146.01 | 146.59 * | 13.55 | 145.07 | 145.22 | 145.21 | 12.74 |
| K, mEq/L | 4.44 | 4.19 * | 4.35 | 0.22 | 4.58 | 4.11 * | 4.21 * | 0.15 | 4.55 | 4.10 * | 4.22 * | 0.12 |
| Mg, mg/dL | 3.01 | 3.08 | 3.11 | 0.10 | 3.34 | 3.32 | 3.37 | 0.08 | 3.32 | 3.23 * | 3.32 | 0.08 |
| iP, mg/dL | 6.64 | 6.28 | 6.14 | 2.01 | 6.76 | 5.71 * | 5.76 * | 1.55 | 6.18 | 5.61 * | 5.76 | 1.86 |
| Ca, mg/dL | 9.03 | 9.43 * | 9.88 * | 0.64 | 10.21 | 9.83 | 10.15 | 0.98 | 10.72 | 10.08 * | 10.91 | 0.84 |
| Chemical parameters | ||||||||||||
| NEFA, mmol/L | 0.84 | 0.71 * | 0.63 * | 0.02 | 0.79 | 0.47 * | 0.52 * | 0.01 | 0.38 | 0.36 | 0.38 | 0.01 |
| Cholesterol mg/dL | 90.51 | 93.52 | 94.53 | 12.64 | 88.86 | 92.47 | 91.44 | 9.34 | 87.81 | 88.21 | 90.34 * | 4.54 |
| Triglycerides, mg/dL | 33.57 | 38.85 * | 37.81 * | 3.49 | 36.55 | 37.59 | 34.15 | 4.27 | 31.00 | 30.58 | 29.45 | 5.78 |
| Glucose, mg/dL | 61.93 | 61.29 | 63.05 | 5.92 | 61.35 | 62.26 | 61.06 | 5.71 | 62.50 | 66.89 * | 62.76 | 5.78 |
| Creatinine, mg/dL | 0.80 | 0.84 | 0.88 * | 0.02 | 0.84 | 0.87 | 0.89 | 0.03 | 0.80 | 0.75 * | 0.76 * | 0.01 |
| Acid uric, mg/dL | 0.51 | 0.41 * | 0.42 * | 0.02 | 0.56 | 0.49 * | 0.53 | 0.03 | 0.49 | 0.38 * | 0.51 | 0.03 |
| BUN, mg/dL | 22.33 | 22.28 | 22.44 | 5.78 | 21.00 | 21.86 | 22.30 | 3.17 | 18.99 | 19.14 | 21.04 * | 1.24 |
| Total bilirubin, mg/dL | 0.16 | 0.19 * | 0.18 | 0.01 | 0.18 | 0.25 * | 0.20 | 0.01 | 0.22 | 0.20 * | 0.19 * | 0.01 |
| Serum Proteins | ||||||||||||
| Total protein, g/dL | 7.05 | 7.13 | 7.10 | 0.11 | 7.20 | 7.08 * | 7.12 | 0.07 | 7.21 | 7.10 * | 7.16 | 0.06 |
| Albumin, g/dL | 2.81 | 2.83 | 2.76 | 0.03 | 2.92 | 2.94 | 2.95 | 0.04 | 2.90 | 2.91 | 2.89 | 0.04 |
| Globulin, g/dL | 4.31 | 4.34 | 4.42 | 0.27 | 4.28 | 4.18 | 4.06 * | 0.18 | 4.37 | 4.21 * | 4.29 | 0.20 |
| Alb:Glob | 0.66 | 0.66 | 0.63 | 0.001 | 0.69 | 0.71 | 0.72 | 0.001 | 0.67 | 0.70 | 0.68 | 0.001 |
| Serum Enzymes | ||||||||||||
| ALT, IU/L | 10.19 | 10.47 | 11.13 * | 3.23 | 10.94 | 10.56 | 10.98 | 1.70 | 11.65 | 10.06 * | 11.69 | 2.49 |
| AST, IU/L | 246.90 | 198.64 * | 236.59 | 95.85 | 239.44 | 203.85 * | 253.58 | 81.33 | 213.83 | 210.01 | 278.90 * | 91.65 |
| ALP, IU/L | 148.76 | 200.27 | 171.28 | 42.97 | 132.61 | 187.07 * | 192.93 * | 26.79 | 121.75 | 192.06 * | 187.80 * | 26.74 |
MSE = mean standard error; iP = inorganic phosphorus; BUN = blood urea nitrogen, Alb:Glob = Albumin:Globulin; ALT = alanine aminotransferase; AST = aspartate aminotransferase; ALP = alkaline phosphatase, it was log 10-transformed to run the MIXED procedure of SAS, and then the least squares means were back-transformed to report the results. * The mean value significantly (p < 0.05) differs from the Saanen value at the same lactation stage.