This study was carried out to find the effect of both cold (December to March) and hot (April to July) seasons on the Dhofari cow’s milk components (fat, protein and lactose). The study was done at Salalah livestock research station located in Salalah city, south of Sultanate of Oman. A total of 640 milk samples from the indigenous Dhofari cow’s breed of 4 years old and 2 parities were taken by 20 samples per week for an average lactation period of 240 days. Cows were fed adlibitum Rhodesgrass hay (9% crude protein, Salalah livestock research station, Salalah, Oman) and a diet of a commercial concentrates (16% crude protein, Dhofar cattle feed company, Salalah, Oman) according to their weights and milk production. Water and mineral blocks were given adlibitum. Air temperatures and relative humidity during those seasons were acquired weekly to find the temperature humidity index (THI). Milk compositions of fat, protein and lactose percentages were analyzed. Statistical analysis of milk components and climate temperatures, relative humidity and THI during these seasons were done using SAS software version 6.12 using MIXED procedure showed significant effect (P < 0.05) of seasonal effect on fat and protein, while there was no significant effect (P > 0.05) on lactose. In conclusion, this change maybe due to the effect of heat stress of different seasons on the cows.

This study was carried out to find the effect of both cold (December to March) and hot (April to July) seasons on the Dhofari cow’s milk components (fat, protein and lactose). The study was done at Salalah livestock research station located in Salalah city, south of Sultanate of Oman. A total of 640...