Management practices associated with udder health of first-parity dairy cows in early lactation.
This study aimed at investigating associations between management routines including feeding, housing, and milking around calving, and udder health of first-parity cows in early lactation in Swedish large, high producing, low bulk-milk somatic cell count (SCC) dairy herds housed in free stalls. Seventy-two dairy herds participated and data concerning 1189 first-parity cows calving during the study period (October 2005-January 2006) was collected. Multivariable regression analysis were performed with three different outcomes; within-herd number of first-parity cows veterinary treated for clinical mastitis at days -10 to 60 after calving, within-herd number of first-parity cows with a SCC> or =200,000cells/mL at first test-day, and SCC of first-parity cows at first test-day. Cow factors significantly associated with good udder health of first-parity cows (few cases of clinical mastitis and or low SCC) were being of the Swedish Red breed, having a high milk yield at first test-day, and a milk-urea > or =5mmol/L at first test-day. Herd factors significantly associated with good udder health were having mattresses as flooring in the cubicles in the lactating cow housing, and to house the first-parity cows in tie stalls 1 month before calving. Cow factors significantly associated with poor udder health of first-parity cows were having a milk-urea <4mmol/L at first test-day. Herd factors significantly associated with poor udder health of first-parity cows were feeding first-parity cows sugar-beet pulp or corn silage, and to give silage from a different batch to pregnant heifers than to lactating cows. Moreover, to have sawdust or shavings in the calving pen, to be moved from the calving pen > or =2 days after calving, to milk first-parity cows at the calving site instead of in the parlor, and to rinse, clean or disinfect milking units before a first-parity cow was milked were also significantly associated with poor udder health of first-parity cows. The results indicate that different control measures must be taken depending on the nature of the udder health problem.
Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary Institute, SE-751 89 Uppsala, Sweden. ann.nyman@sva.se
A-K
AK
Nyman
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Emanuelson
A H
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Gustafsson
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K
Persson Waller
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002452:Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013732:Test Anxiety Scale