## 4 Discussion
Although SCC difference was not significant and the patterns appeared similar for both the considered breeds, the Nera Verzasca goat had a lower SCC than the Alpine goat when considering the breed, DIM class and age class. These data showed that the Verzasca breed can maintain lower levels of mastitis maker, suggesting a better resistance against the mammary gland pathogen. This breed has already shown interesting traits regarding the resistance against pathogens, especially concerning gastrointestinal parasites [34; 35]. The fat/protein ratio was considered a valuable variable to monitor the nutrient balance [22], mainly in early postpartum; [PERSON] et al. and [PERSON] et al. report the fat/protein ratio is, in cattle, a reliable predictor for several diseases, fertility problems and variation in milk yield [22; 36]. [PERSON] et al. refer that cows with a higher milk fat/protein ratio (over than 1.5) have a higher probability of disease and culling [22]. [PERSON] et al. evaluated the milk fat/protein ratio also in goats and resulted significantly influenced by the month of kidding, stage of lactation, herd size, parity and milk production volume [9]. Our data suggest a parallelism of the fat/protein ratio behavior; among examined goats, the Alpine subjects had a fat/protein ratio above 1.5, making difficult an evaluation of the phenomenon, considering that the cutoff was established for the bovine species. Another interesting parameter to evaluate the energy balance was the fat/lactose ratio in milk which was indicated in cattle as a valid indicator for mastitis and ketosis [23; 37]. Our data showed an increased ratio for both breeds around the 31-50 days in milk, which was the period associated with the most elevated energy requirement necessary to cope with the elevated milk yield. Another peak was visible at the end of the lactation; this was due to the physiological reduction in lactose associated with the moderate elevation of fat which was physiological at the end of lactation [37; 38]. Correlations between milk traits in Alpine goats vary in literature; [PERSON] et al. report a lower fat/lactose correlation with respect to our results (r = 0.14 vs. 0.41, respectively) [25]. Protein/lactose correlation is sensibly higher in the data referred by [PERSON] et al. comparedto our results (r = 0.25 vs. 0.02, respectively) [25]. Additionally, the protein/SCC and protein/milk yield correlations in our samples were sensibly higher than those reported by [PERSON] et al. (protein/SCC correlation r = 0.17 vs. 0.27 and protein/milk yield correlation r = 0.04 vs. \(-\)0.31 in [PERSON] et al. data and our samples, respectively) [25]. The SCC/milk yield correlation differs between results reported by [PERSON] et al. and our data (r = \(-\)0.09 vs. \(-\)0.40, respectively) [25]. These correlations appeared overall stronger in our data; this could be due to different management methods and different feeding systems from the standing point of each breed. However, also the study by [PERSON] et al. investigated the same correlation and shows many results in agreement with ours [26]. In particular, the positive correlation between the milk yield and lactose could be due to the osmotic activity of the latter, which is responsible for a higher milk production when present at higher concentrations. Obviously, because of a sort of dilution effect, milk yield was negatively correlated with the fat percentage, protein percentage and SCC.