Correlation between milk parameters in CAEV seropositive and negative primiparous goats during an eradication program in Italian farm

Caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) represents an economic problem for goat farming in several European countries, including Italy. This study examined the effects of the caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus on lactational performance of goats on a farm in Northern Italy. Goat blood sera were examined for the presence of antibodies to CAEV by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blots (WB). The results of ELISA and Western blotting for antibodies against caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus were compared with milk production records. Mean values of milk production, protein, fat, lactose and somatic cell counts (SCC) were compared for primiparous goats that were negative and positive for presence of the virus. The results from 31 lactating goats suggested that milk production was similar for goats that tested seropositive and those that tested seronegative. Seropositive primiparous goats showed a slightly higher mean annual milk production and percentage of fat (P < 0.05), while negative primiparous goats had significant greater percentage of milk protein (P < 0.001) and decreased log10 SCC (P < 0.001). Seropositive primiparous goats had lactational averages of 2.94 kg/day for milk, 3.04%, 2.95% and 5.85 log10 cells/ml for concentrations of fat, protein and SCC, respectively. In contrast, seronegative goats were characterized by an average milk yield of 2.76 kg/day with concentrations of fat, protein and SCC of 2.77%, 3.48% and 5.38 log10 cells/ml, respectively. No significant difference in milk lactose concentration was observed between seronegative (4.54%) and seropositive (4.34%) goats.