Table 3.
Effects of the treatment with melatonin on the DHI in cows with high somatic cell scores (SCS) during different seasons.
| Items | Treatment | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| somatic cell score | Before MT | 6.0 ± 0.08 α | 6.1 ± 0.12 α | 6.0 ± 0.11 α | 6.1 ± 0.11 α |
| After MT | 4.9 ± 0.15 aβ | 4.1 ± 0.20 cβ | 4.6 ± 0.16 bβ | 4.3 ± 0.17 bcβ | |
| milk yield (kg/d) | Before MT | 32.1 ± 1.04 ab | 34.1 ± 1.06 a | 32.9 ± 1.02 ab | 31.7 ± 1.11 b |
| After MT | 32.1 ± 1.15 | 32.7 ±1.00 | 32.1 ± 1.05 | 31.8 ±1.17 | |
| Protein (%) | Before MT | 3.5 ± 0.04 a | 3.5 ± 0.06 a | 3.5 ± 0.05 aα | 3.39 ± 0.05 b |
| After MT | 3.5 ± 0.04 ab | 3.5 ± 0.04 ab | 3.6 ± 0.05 aβ | 3.43 ± 0.05 b | |
| Lactose (%) | Before MT | 4.9 ± 0.02 bα | 5.0 ± 0.03 aα | 5.0 ± 0.03 aα | 4.7 ± 0.07 c |
| After MT | 4.9 ± 0.02 bβ | 5.1 ± 0.02 aβ | 5.1 ± 0.04 aβ | 4.8 ± 0.04 c | |
| fat (%) | Before MT | 5.2 ± 0.12 aα | 4.5 ± 0.16 c | 4.8 ± 0.11 b | 4.8 ± 0.10 b |
| After MT | 4.8 ± 0.14 aβ | 4.2 ± 0.12 b | 4.7 ± 0.13 a | 4.8 ± 0.11 a | |
| dry matter (%) | Before MT | 14.2 ± 0.14 a | 13.6 ± 0.17 b | 14.0 ± 0.13 a | 13.7 ± 0.10 b |
| After MT | 13.9 ± 0.15 b | 13.4 ± 0.13 c | 14.1 ± 0.14 a | 13.7 ± 0.12 b | |
| urea nitrogen (mg/dL) | Before MT | 13.1 ± 0.39 b | 16.6 ± 0.64 a | 12.1 ± 0.43 b | 17.4 ± 0.47 a |
| After MT | 14.4 ± 0.45 b | 14.2 ± 0.50 b | 11.7 ± 0.36 c | 15.9 ± 0.51 a |
All data are represented by the mean ± standard error, (n = 90 in the spring, n = 74 in the summer, n = 83 in the autumn and n = 81 in the winter). In the same rows, different letters represent a significance (p < 0.05). In the same columns, different Greek letters (α and β) represent a significance (p < 0.05).