Selenium and vitamin E are important antioxidants for cells and tissues protection acting directly as a support for the udder health. This experiment was aimed at evaluating the influence of prepartum selenium and vitamin E supplementation on milk somatic cell counts of Holstein cows during summer period. Eighty animals were allocated into four treatments: control; supplementation with 2.5mg Se day-1; supplementation with 1000 UI vitamin E day-1 and supplementation with 2.5mg Se day-1 + 1000 UI vitamin E day-1. The supplementation started thirty days before the probable parturition date until parturition. Forage and concentrate samples were taken every fifteen days for chemical and selenium analyses. Blood samples were taken before starting supplementation, right after parturition, thirty and sixty days after it to determine the selenium serum levels. Milk samples were taken to determine somatic sell count (SCC). Selenium supplemented cows had higher serum selenium concentration compared with control group (P<0.05). The selenium and vitamin E did not decrease (P>0.05) SCC up to 12th week of lactation.
antioxidants; milk quality; prepartum; subclinical mastitis
