author(s)
Randhir Singh, SNS Randhawa, CS Randhawa, Sushma Chhabra and Gagandeep Singh

abstract
Twenty-six crossbred cows from two different dairy farms (farm 1 and farm 2) of Punjab were grouped according to transition stage i.e., Far off dry (FOD), Close up dry (CUD) and Fresh (F). Blood samples were collected during each stage for evaluation of various hemato-biochemical parameters, plasma mineral profile and parameters of oxidative stress viz. lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxidase dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Significant decrease was observed in mean Hb and PCV in farm 1 between FOD and F period. Between farms no significant difference was found in Hb and PCV during all three stages. Significant decrease in mean TEC was observed in farm 1 between CUD and F period. Significantly high levels of total plasma protein (TPP) were observed in farm 2 as compared to farm 1 at FOD period. In farm 1 significantly low level of albumin were observed at fresh period as compared to FOD and CUD. Between farms significantly low levels of blood glucose were observed in farm 2 during CUD and fresh period as compared to farm 1. Within farms glucose level tend to decline significantly from CUD to fresh period in farm 1, whereas in farm 2 a significantly decreasing trend was observed throughout the transition period. Beta hydroxyl butyric acid (BHBA) level tend to increase significantly from FOD and CUD to fresh stage in farm 1. In farm 2, the BHBA level at fresh stage was significantly higher than FOD stage. Significantly high levels of NEFA were observed in farm 2 during fresh stage as compared to farm 1. Within farms non esterified fatty acid (NEFA) level tend to increase significantly from FOD to CUD and fresh period in farm 1. The mean LPO level increased significantly, whereas the mean SOD and GSH levels decreased significantly throughout the transition period from FOD to F stage.