Milk composition and its seasonal variation in Theni Malaimadu cattle under traditional management practices in Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Theni Malaimadu cattle, an indigenous breed of Tamil Nadu, India, are traditionally maintained for agriculture purposes and cultural events. Milk production in this breed remains poorly documented due to semi-wild rearing practices and the prioritization of calf suckling. Methods: A total of 53 cows were evaluated for initial milk yield across four seasons. Additionally, milk samples from 30 cows were analysed for fat, solids-not-fat (SNF), and protein content across early, mid, and late lactation stages. Seasonal variations were assessed using principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis. Results: The average initial milk yield remained low in all seasons, ranging from 0.443±0.022 L in summer to 0.491±0.021 L in winter, highlighting the breed’s semi-wild traits and traditional management practices. Fat percentage increased significantly from early (2.18±0.77%) to late lactation (4.82±0.33%). Protein levels showed a modest rise across lactation stages. Principal component analysis showed winter had the highest impact on milk composition, accounting for 48.56% of variation. Conclusion: This study provides the first systematic insights into milk yield and composition of Theni Malaimadu cattle under traditional management. The findings underscore low initial milk yield and significant lactation-stage impacts on fat content, with indications of seasonal effects, particularly during winter. These insights serve as baseline data for conservation and selective breeding strategies targeting this important indigenous breed.