Relationship between milk production and somatic cell count in dairy cows in East Gippsland

SUMMARY The analysis of records for 75 821 herd tests on 23 700 cows in the Macalister Irrigation District of East Gippsland, using a model that also included stage of lactation, herd and cow effects, found a strong relationship between somatic cell count and milk production. Unit increases in the natural logarithm of the somatic cell count were associated with decreases in production of up to 2.6% in the range 54 598 to 403 429 cells per mL. This is equivalent to a decrease of 1.9% for a doubling of cell count from 100 000 to 200 000 cells per mL. Subclinical mastitis was assessed to be a significant source of loss in milk production in the study area.     

Relationship between the somatic cell count in milk and reproductive function in peripartum dairy cows

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of the somatic cell count (SCC) in milk on reproductive performance, such as pregnancy status in the prepartum period and ovarian function in the postpartum period, in dairy cows. Blood samples were collected every week from one month prepartum to parturition in order to measure the concentrations of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF_2α (PGFM), estrone sulfate (E1S) and progesterone. Milk samples were collected three times per week in both the prepartum (for one month before the dry period) and postpartum periods (for 3 months immediately after parturition) to measure the SCC. Progesterone was also determined in the whole milk of postpartum cows to define the day of the first ovulation. In the prepartum period, the maximum SCC negatively correlated with the pregnancy period (r = –0.77), but not the calf birth weight. Positive and negative correlations were observed between the average SCC and PGFM or progesterone concentrations in plasma, respectively (r = 0.84 or –0.92, respectively), at 39 weeks of pregnancy. In the postpartum period, a correlation was observed between the day of the first ovulation and both the average and maximum SCC (r = –0.74 and –0.75, respectively), whereas days open was not related to the SCC. These results suggest that a high SCC in the prepartum period may advance parturition by increasing PGF_2α and decreasing progesterone and that the first ovulation in the postpartum period was affected by a high SCC.     

Relationship between test-day measures of somatic cell count and milk production in California dairy cows.

The relationship between test-day measures of milk somatic cell count and milk yield was evaluated using the November 1985 test data from 8352 Holstein cattle (2923 primiparous and 5429 multiparous cows) located in ten Tulare County, California dairies. Following correction for herd and stage of lactation effects, design variable regression was used to create separate models for primiparous and multiparous cows predicting the changes in milk production associated with milk somatic cell count class. Cell counts were stratified by 1/2 loge cell count (x1000 cells/mL) units, permitting comparisons with previous studies. Cell counts less than 148,000/mL were not found to be associated with significant reductions in milk yield when compared to the reference class (cell counts less than 20,000/mL). Consistent incremental decreases in milk production were not noted with increasing cell count strata, even following the natural log transformation. The most dramatic production losses were noted in the range of 148,000 to 665,000 cells/mL. Primiparous cattle in the 403,000 to 665,000 cell count strata experienced a 5.22 kg (19.72%) decrease in test-day milk yield. Multiparous cattle in the same class experienced 3.01 kg (7.82%) reductions in milk production. Primiparous and multiparous cows had similar production losses. The study population differed from previous studies on the basis of herd size, milk production and the level of udder health, measured by milk somatic cell count. These differences and the choice of experimental design may in part explain differences in study results and conclusions.     

体细胞数对牛奶品质及产量的影响

根据宁夏地区某奶牛场的DHI检测获得的体细胞数据(SCS),利用SAS软件实现单因素方差分析,探讨不同乳中SCS对产奶量和乳中主要成分的影响,并对它们之间的相关性进行分析。结果表明:乳中SCS与日产奶量呈显著负相关(P0.01);与乳糖和胎次呈正相关(P0.01);乳中SCS水平与乳脂率、乳蛋白率和尿素氮没有明显的相关性。本试验通过对SCS的研究为乳品质的测定提供一定依据和参考。     

Relationship between somatic cell count status and subsequent clinical mastitis in Dutch dairy cows

High composite somatic cell counts (CSCC) in dairy cows may develop into clinical mastitis (CM), suggesting that prevention or intervention of high CSCC may prevent CM later in lactation. The objective of this study was to quantify the relationship between high CSCC in dairy cows and the first subsequent case of CM in the same lactation. Farmer-diagnosed cases of CM and test day CSCC measurements during 1 year of 13,917 cows in 196 randomly selected Dutch dairy herds were available for analysis. Cows were followed in 1 lactation from the first test day postpartum until CM, drying off, culling or end of study. Cox proportional hazards models with time-varying CSCC levels were used to estimate the effect of high CSCC (≥200,000cells/ml) on the time until the first case of CM. A shared frailty effect was included to adjust for clustering of cows within herds. The proportion of cows developing CM after a CSCC measurement was 11%. Primiparae with a high CSCC had a 4-fold higher hazard for subsequent CM than primiparae with a low CSCC; multiparae with a high CSCC had a 2-fold higher hazard than multiparae with a low CSCC. Additionally, multiparae with a low CSCC had a 2-fold higher hazard for CM occurrence than primiparae with a low CSCC. Increasing the threshold for high CSCC showed that the risk for CM increased. If the last CSCC before CM was low, CSCC information of 2 preceding test days was more predictive than CSCC information from only the last test day. When the last CSCC was high, CSCC information of 2 preceding test days did not have added predictive value. This study identified that approximately 25% of first subsequent CM cases after a CSCC measurement can potentially be prevented when cows are prevented to get high CSCC or when high CSCC cows are removed from the population. This corresponded with a decrease in the proportion of lactating cows with CM after a CSCC measurement from 11% to 7%.     

Effect of somatic cell count on milk and protein yields and female fertility in Tunisian Holstein dairy cows

The effects of test-day somatic cell scores (SCS) variations on milk and protein yields, and calving to first service and calving to conception intervals were studied in Tunisian Holsteins. There were 34,129, 25,700, and 18,077 test-day production records collected on first, second, and third parity cows, respectively. Records were of cows calving between 1996 and 2004 in 160 herds. Somatic cell scores and milk and protein yields were analysed using a linear model that included herd-test-day date and herd–year interactions, calving season, calving age, and calving to conception interval. Reproductive trait model included herd–year interaction, calving season, calving age, and month of insemination. Effects of SCS on milk and protein yields were studied by regressing current test-day yields on corresponding and preceding test-day SCS, while effects of SCS on fertility traits were investigated by separately regressing calving to first service and calving to conception intervals corrected for environmental and management factors on SCS corrected for actual milk yield. A cow produced around 19.0 kg (SD = 8.0 kg) and 0.6 kg (SD = 0.3 kg) milk and protein yields on a daily basis and had an average of 3.8 (SD = 2.1) SCS in the first three lactations. SCS varied consistently (p < 0.05) with herd-test-day date and herd–year interactions in all lactations. Days in milk, calving age, and calving to conception interval were all together important sources of variation (p < 0.05) for SCS mainly in the first and second parities. Test-day milk and protein yields were unfavourably affected by high SCS recorded in the same test-day and with a lesser degree by SCS observed in the nearest preceding test-day. Reduction in milk and protein productions from increased SCS varied from 0.23 to 1.76 kg and from 6 to 75 g, respectively. Likewise, increased test-day SCS lengthened both calving to first service (mean interval = 94.9 days; SD = 49.1 days) and calving to conception (mean interval = 161 days; SD = 69.6 days) intervals by 1.3 to 2.0 days for each unit increase in SCS. Using SCS in addition to milk traits as a criterion to select semen and improving veterinary care should result in increased milk and protein yields and in satisfactory fertility measures.     

Associations between defensin polymorphism and somatic cell count in milk and milk utility traits in Jersey dairy cows

The aim of the study was to investigate associations between combined defensin genotypes (CDGs) and somatic cell count (SCC) in Jersey cows. The study included a herd of 184 dairy Jersey cows from Wielkopolska region in Poland. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis with TaqI restrictase established the existence of 12 CDGs with a frequency of over 1%. The most frequent were A1A2B1B2C1C2 and A1A2B1B2C1- genotypes with a frequency of 56.9783% and 12.5% respectively. The study also confirmed the existence of a statistically significant association between SCC and the year of study, season, lactation stage and cow. The highest SCC (transformed into a logarithmic scale) was found in the milk of cows with A1-B1-C1C2 genotype, whereas the lowest one in cows with A2-B1B2C1C2 genotype. Another aim of the project was to study the association between CDG and milk production traits, such as daily milk yield and fat and protein content. CDG was found to be a significant factor affecting daily milk yield and non-significant for fat and protein content. The highest daily milk yield was observed in cows with CDGs A1A2B1B2C2- and -A2-B1B2C1-, whereas the lowest one was characteristic of -A2-B1-C1C2 and A1A2B1-C1- animals. Fat content was found to be related to CDG genotype in the opposite way; the highest values were recorded in animals with -A2-B1B2C1- genotype, the lowest - in animals with -A2-B1-C1C2 genotype. Similar results were observed in protein content in milk -A2-B1B2C1-, the highest content and -A2-B1-C1C2, the lowest content. The results confirm the hypothesis of using CDG as an SCC marker. However, further studies should be conducted to confirm these results before CDG can be used as a marker in a mass selection of dairy cows.     

Quarter milk somatic cell count in infected dairy cows: a meta-analysis

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects associated with intramammary infection (IMI) by a bacterium or a group of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, coliforms, Staphylococci other than S. aureus, and Corynebacterium bovis) on the somatic cell count (SCC) in quarter milk of dairy cows. Papers selected for analysis had to provide SCC values associated with the natural infection in quarters by different bacteria. Sampling for measurement of SCC and determination of the infection had to be done on the same day. Only papers published in English or in French after 1971 were considered. Twenty-one papers fulfilled the selection criteria. The animals sampled, the measurement techniques for SCC and the bacteriological identification, as well as the definition of the infection, all differed widely among the selected studies. The meta-analysis method was used to estimate both the mean SCC (arithmetic and geometric) value and the average increase on SCC of each type of infection. The geometric mean SCC in bacteriologically negative quarters was 68 000 c/mL. In case of IMI, the retained SCC was 357 000, 857 000, 547 000, 1 024 000, 1 151 000, 138 000 and 105 000 c/mL in quarters infected by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, coliforms, staphylococci other than S. aureus and Corynebacterium bovis, respectively. The variation factors that could influence these SCC values and the bacteriological results are discussed.     

应用体细胞计数监测奶牛隐性乳房炎

奶牛乳汁中体细胞数的变化受多方面因素的影响。本文主要论述用体细胞计数检测奶牛隐性乳房炎技术、以及将体细胞数作为标记性状、选育具有乳房炎抗性奶牛的研究。     

Relationship between milk urea concentration and the fertility of dairy cows

The relationship between milk urea concentration and the fertility of dairy cows was examined in two studies. The first examined the relationship between bulk milk urea concentration and overall herd fertility, using data collected from 250 herds in the UK. There was no relationship either between bulk milk urea concentration and fertility, or between changes in bulk milk urea concentration and fertility. The second study compared the relationship between the milk urea concentration five days after service, and the fertility of individual cows on 11 UK dairy farms. There was no significant difference between the milk urea concentration of the cows that became pregnant and those that did not.     

Relationship between the first ovulation within three weeks postpartum and subsequent ovarian cycles and fertility in high producing dairy cows

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the first ovulation within 3 weeks postpartum and subsequent ovarian cycles and fertility in high producing dairy cattle in Hokkaido, Japan. In Experiment 1, 110 cows (44 primiparous and 66 multiparous) were used to determine the effects of the first ovulation within 3 weeks postpartum on subsequent ovarian cycles. Milk samples were collected twice weekly from 7 to 100 days postpartum. The first ovulation was identified by an increase in milk progesterone (P4) to more than 1 ng/ml within 3 weeks postpartum. The numbers of cows showing ovulation and anovulation within 3 weeks postpartum were 31 (70.5%) and 13 (29.5%) in the primiparous cows and 35 (53.0%) and 31 (47.0%) in the multiparous cows, respectively. The patterns of ovarian resumption after calving were classified into two types (normal ovarian cycles and abnormal ovarian cycles) on the basis of milk P4 concentrations. Initiation of normal ovarian function in cows ovulated within 3 weeks postpartum occurred earlier than in anovulated cows regardless of the number of calvings (primiparous, 27.8 days vs. 44.4 days; multiparous, 30.6 days vs. 55.7 days; P<0.01). Out of the multiparous cows that ovulated within 3 weeks postpartum, initiation of normal ovarian function followed by a normal luteal phase was earlier than when it was followed by an abnormal luteal phase (25.5 days vs. 40.4 days; P<0.05). Milk P4 concentrations after the first ovulation were lower than those after the second ovulation in both the primiparous and multiparous cows (P<0.05). In Experiment 2, 22 multiparous cows were used to determine the effects of the first ovulation within 3 weeks postpartum on subsequent fertility. Blood samples were collected once a week from 0 to 3 weeks postpartum. The interval from parturition to first service in ovulated cows was shorter than in anovulated cows (68.4 days vs. 94.8 days; P<0.05). The conception rate by 100 days after calving tended to be higher in ovulated cows than in anovulated cows (50.0% vs. 16.7%, P=0.09). In conclusion, our data strongly suggests that ovulation within 3 weeks postpartum is a crucial phenomenon for subsequent resumption of ovarian function and conception, and thus it can be used as an index of subsequent reproductive performance.     

中草药添加剂对奶牛产奶性能及牛奶体细胞数的影响

试验采用完全随机区组设计,将18头年龄、体重、产奶性能、胎次及泌乳阶段相似的中国荷斯坦奶牛,随机分为对照组、试验1组和试验2组3个处理组,6个区组每个处理组6个重复,饲养期120 d。各处理组的粗饲料相同,均由干草、玉米秸秆、玉米青贮构成,试验1组与试验2组的精饲料在对照组基础上分别添加0.4%与0.8%的中草药添加剂。试验结果表明,添加中草药添加剂对乳干物质、非脂乳固体、乳脂率、乳糖及乳蛋白含量无明显影响,但中草药对刺激奶牛产奶和预防奶牛乳房炎的发生有一定效果,试验2组产奶量显著高于对照组(P=0.046),相对于对照组增加了20.7%,并可降低体细胞数和乳房炎的发生率。     

The effect of polyethylene intramammary devices on the somatic cell count and milk production of dairy cows

SUMMARY Polyethylene intramammary devices (IMO) were inserted into all 4 quarters of 15 multiparous dairy cows. Fifteen cows, matched for parity and production, were controls. The insertion of IMD's was easily achieved and produced no adverse effects. Throughout the 150-day test period, the mean somatic cell count of cows with IMD's in situ was 216,000 cells per ml, compared with 119,000 cells per ml in controls (P<0.01). Total production of milk, butterfat and protein was not significantly different between the 2 groups. The new infection rate was too low to allow assessment of the value of the IMD for mastitis prevention.     

Relationship between rectal findings of corpus luteum and whole milk progesterone levels in postpartum dairy cows

The reliability of clinical ovarian findings was assessed as an indicator of luteal function in primiparous dairy cows. The postpartum period of 103 cows following their first parturition was studied by thrice weekly rectal palpation of ovaries and whole milk progesterone assay from 1 week after parturition to the first insemination. The relationship between milk progesterone levels and 1101 ovarian findings was compared during the follicular phases, short luteal phases and during the early, mid and late thirds of normal luteal phases. The compatibility between elevated progesterone and palpable corpus luteum was 71%, and between low progesterone and lack of corpus luteum 77%. In 10% of all rectal examinations the finding was unspecified; i.e. the clinician could not differentiate between luteal and follicular activity. During the acyclic period prior to the initiation of luteal function, the proportion of false corpus luteum findings was 11%. The corpora lutea of the short oestrous cycles were more difficult to palpate than those of normal cycles. During early dioestrus the corpus luteum was significantly more difficult to palpate than during the rest of dioestrus. The percentage of unspecified findings was highest during early dioestrus.The paper discusses the reliability of rectal examination as a method of diagnosing cyclicity and of evaluating the responsiveness of a cow to prostaglandin treatment.     

Composition and milk cell characteristics in quarter milk fractions of dairy cows with low cell count

Variation in milk composition and milk polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocyte (PMN) characteristics and functions among quarter milk fractions were investigated in order to evaluate the optimal fraction for the determination of local immune response. Five fractions were classified during milking: foremilk (I), cisternal milk (II), main milk (III), strippings (IV) and residual milk (V). Somatic cell count (SCC), fat, protein, lactose, sodium, potassium, chloride, polymorphonuclear leukocyte necrosis, apoptosis and oxidative burst were analysed in each fraction. The logSCC and fat concentration were highest in residual milk (P < 0.05), whereas protein and lactose concentration were highest in the earliest fractions (I, II, III) (P < 0.05). Polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocyte necrosis was lowest in strippings and residual milk (P < 0.05), and PMN apoptosis was lowest in residual milk (P < 0.001). The highest percentage of PMN with oxidative burst was found in residual milk (P < 0.05), and was associated with the highest mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, late fractions have more PMN and more active PMN. Nevertheless, it is suggested that each fraction is appropriate in the study of local immune response of the mammary gland, however the fraction used in the study has to be specified.     

Fate of cystic ovarian follicles and the subsequent fertility of early postpartum dairy cows

The fate of cystic ovarian follicles that developed spontaneously during the early postpartum period of 50 lactating dairy cows was traced by ultrasonography to characterise the follicular dynamics in relation to the fertility of the cows. The absence of postpartum ovulations caused by repeated waves of anovulatory large follicles was also characterised and evaluated. Fifteen of the 50 cows developed cystic follicles, and these follicles became follicular cysts in five of the 15 cows. Most of the cystic follicles emerged before the first postpartum ovulation of the cows. The transition from cystic follicles to follicular cysts delayed the cows' first ovulation, oestrus and insemination, but had less influence on their fertility after they had recovered spontaneously. In addition to the 15 cows that developed cystic follicles or follicular cysts, six of the cows had five to 13 waves of follicles before their first ovulation. These repeated waves of follicles caused a more severe delay in the early postpartum reproductive events but did not affect the cows' fertility.     

Association between milk production, somatic cell count and bacterial dermatoses in three dairy cattle herds

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlations between three bacterial dermatoses in cattle, milk production and bulk-milk somatic cell count (BMSCC). DESIGN: Field observations in three dairy cattle herds. METHODS: Milk production, BMSCC, fertility and all herd diseases were recorded by computerised dairy management systems. Each herd was visited twice weekly and the clinical signs, course of diseases and morbidity and culling rates were noted. Bulk-tank milk was sampled twice monthly and analysed for somatic cell count. Bacteriological and histological examinations were carried out from samples collected from affected animals in the respective herds. RESULTS: The acute exudative form of dermatophilosis was diagnosed only in first-calving cows. The morbidity rate was 53% and the culling rate was 16% of the affected animals. The BMSCC increased by a factor of 2.4 times, and there was an average loss of milk production of 30%/cow/day in affected animals. Ulcerative lymphangitis was diagnosed in first-calving cows (22%) and older cows (15%). The culling rate was 28%. The BMSCC increased by a factor of 17.3 times, and the average loss of milk production was 5.5%/affected animal/day. Papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD) was diagnosed in first-calving cows (25%) and in older cows (18%). The culling rate was 8%. The BMSCC increased by a factor of two times, and the average loss of milk production was 1.7%/affected animal/day. CONCLUSIONS: The correlations between three skin diseases (ulcerative lymphangitis, dermatophilosis, papillomatous digital dermatitis), milk production and BMSCC have been found to be unfavourable.     

Relationship of fertility to ovarian follicular waves before breeding in dairy cows

Cows with two waves of follicular growth during the estrous cycle yield follicles that are older and larger at ovulation compared with cows having three waves. The objectives of the current research were 1) to compare fertility in cows with two or three follicular waves and 2) to examine associations between luteal function, follicular development, and fertility after breeding. Follicular waves were monitored by ultrasonography during the estrous cycle before insemination in 106 dairy cows. Fewer cows had three follicular waves before next estrus and ovulation than two waves (P < 0.01; 30% vs 68%, respectively), but pregnancy rate was higher (P = 0.058; 81 vs 63%, respectively). Cows with two waves had shorter estrous cycles (P < 0.01), with the ovulatory follicle being both larger (P < 0.05) and older (P < 0.01). In cows with three waves, luteal function was extended (P < 0.05) and the peak in plasma progesterone occurred later (P < 0.05) in the estrous cycle compared to two wave cows. Considering cows that became pregnant, luteal phase length was shorter (P < 0.05) during the estrous cycle preceding insemination than for nonpregnant cows. In conclusion, fertility was greater in lactating cows inseminated after ovulation of the third-wave follicle that had developed for fewer days of the estrous cycle as compared with two-wave cows.     

Relationship between oxidant stress and milk productivity in dairy cows

An imbalance between formation and detoxification of oxygen radicals leads to oxidant stress that may increase in more intense oxidative metabolism caused by a high intake of metabolizable energy to provide metabolic intermediates for the milk synthesis and secretion. This hypothesis was tested using dairy cows and the concentration of hydroperoxides in lipids (LHP) extracted from circulative lipoprotein particles of low and very low density (LDL and VLDL/chylomicrons) as oxidant stress indicator. The particles were prepared by ultracentrifugation of serum obtained by coccygeal bleeding (13 cows, 1. parity, n=8 and 2. parity, n=5, lactation stage, 53 +/- 1.4 days post partum) and purified by precipitation. Concentrations of LHP-LDL/mg Lipoprotein correlated significantly with daily milk yield (r = 0.73, P = 0.004) or daily milk energy output (r = 0.77, P = 0.003) in contrast to LHP of VLDL/chylomicron particles. Thus, some evidence was obtained for an almost linear, positive relationship between milk productivity and oxidant stress occurring in LDL.