Table 6.
Effect of the stage of lactation (early lactation, EL, 2–4 weeks in milking; medium lactation, ML, 5–10 weeks in milking; and late lactation, LL, 11–30 weeks) on the plasma mineral and metabolic profile of Saanen breed, Mediterranean medium production level breeds (MPLB: Maltese and Jonica breeds), and low production level breeds (LPLB: Rossa Mediterranea, Girgentana, and Garganica breeds).
| Saanen | MPLB | LPLB | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trait | EL | ML | LL | MSE | EL | ML | LL | MSE | EL | ML | LL | MSE |
| Serum Electrolytes | ||||||||||||
| Cl, mEq/L | 111.14 a | 112.99 b | 113.52 b | 0.51 | 111.76 | 111.63 | 111.80 | 0.34 | 112.62 a | 113.06 a | 111.29 b | 0.35 |
| Na, mEq/L | 144.84 | 144.86 | 145.34 | 0.70 | 147.95 a | 146.13 b | 145.37 b | 0.45 | 147.85 a | 146.89 | 145.47 b | 0.52 |
| K, mEq/L | 4.53 | 4.60 | 4.54 | 0.08 | 4.28 a | 4.12 b | 4.13 b | 0.04 | 4.35 | 4.22 | 4.20 | 0.05 |
| Mg, mg/dL | 3.00 a | 3.35 b | 3.30 b | 0.05 | 3.10 a | 3.31 b | 3.20 c | 0.03 | 3.08 a | 3.34 b | 3.38 b | 0.04 |
| iP, mg/dL | 6.70 | 6.75 | 6.58 | 0.26 | 6.33 a | 5.69 b | 5.83 c | 0.13 | 6.22 | 5.85 | 6.07 | 0.18 |
| Ca, mg/dL | 8.95 a | 10.08 b | 10.87 c | 0.20 | 9.46 a | 9.85 b | 10.19 c | 0.08 | 9.95 a | 10.20 a | 11.16 b | 0.13 |
| Chemical parameters | ||||||||||||
| NEFA, mmol/L | 0.85 a | 0.80 a | 0.38 b | 0.02 | 0.73 a | 0.47 b | 0.33 c | 0.01 | 0.65 a | 0.52 b | 0.35 c | 0.02 |
| Cholesterol mg/dL | 89.15 | 89.52 | 87.76 | 1.78 | 93.43 a | 92.40 a | 88.40 b | 0.92 | 93.70 | 91.10 | 92.87 | 1.34 |
| Triglycerides, mg/dL | 33.55 | 36.56 | 32.30 | 1.28 | 38.35 a | 37.30 a | 31.66 b | 0.72 | 37.18 a | 34.38 a | 30.06 b | 0.94 |
| Glucose, mg/dL | 59.75 a | 61.41 a | 66.90 b | 1.60 | 60.10 a | 61.71 a | 67.07 b | 1.42 | 62.55 | 60.66 | 62.84 | 1.00 |
| Creatinine, mg/dL | 0.80 | 0.85 | 0.79 | 0.02 | 0.84 a | 0.87 a | 0.72 b | 0.01 | 0.90 a | 0.88 a | 0.72 b | 0.02 |
| Acid uric, mg/dL | 0.49 | 0.56 | 0.58 | 0.04 | 0.40 a | 0.48 b | 0.39 a | 0.01 | 0.42 a | 0.53b | 0.58b | 0.02 |
| BUN, mg/dL | 22.78 a | 20.75 a | 18.21 b | 0.75 | 21.96 a | 22.19 a | 19.31 b | 0.39 | 22.28 | 21.96 | 21.02 | 0.48 |
| Total bilirubin, mg/dL | 0.14 a | 0.17 a | 0.22 b | 0.01 | 0.19 a | 0.24 b | 0.19 a | 0.01 | 0.16 a | 0.20 b | 0.18 | 0.01 |
| Serum Proteins | ||||||||||||
| Total protein, g/dL | 7.0 a | 7.23 b | 7.18 | 0.07 | 7.18 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 0.03 | 7.08 | 7.12 | 7.15 | 0.04 |
| Albumin, g/dL | 2.79 a | 2.93 b | 2.93 b | 0.04 | 2.83 a | 2.93 b | 2.92 b | 0.02 | 2.75 a | 2.96 b | 2.90 b | 0.03 |
| Globulin, g/dL | 4.23 | 4.32 | 4.26 | 0.76 | 4.42 a | 4.19 b | 4.23 b | 0.39 | 4.38 a | 4.15 b | 4.24 | 0.48 |
| Alb:Glob | 0.67 | 0.69 | 0.70 | 0.02 | 0.65 a | 0.70 b | 0.70 b | 0.01 | 0.64 a | 0.72 b | 0.69 b | 0.01 |
| Serum Enzymes | ||||||||||||
| ALT, IU/L | 10.46 a | 10.89 a | 12.07 b | 0.30 | 10.71 | 10.57 | 10.22 | 0.17 | 11.08 | 11.03 | 11.75 | 0.23 |
| AST, IU/L | 247.77 | 230.34 | 212.67 | 14.41 | 199.11 | 203.07 | 208.11 | 2.90 | 237.92 a | 252.20 a | 286.94 b | 6.83 |
| ALP, IU/L | 134.92 | 132.57 | 137.16 | 11.20 | 213.25 | 179.45 | 187.38 | 21.85 | 169.08 | 179.50 | 193.38 | 13.04 |
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. a, b, c Different letters in the same line for each breed cluster indicate a significant difference (p < 0.05) between means.