Submit Manuscript

International Journal of Dairy Science

Year: 2008 | Volume: 3 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 105-111
Facebook Twitter Digg Reddit Linkedin StumbleUpon E-mail

Article Trend

Total views 68

Authors

A.A. Fadlelmoula

G. Anacker

R.D. Fahr

H.H. Swalve

Keywords

Research Article

Factors Affecting Test-Day Somatic Cell Counts and Milk Yield of Dairy Cows

A.A. Fadlelmoula, G. Anacker, R.D. Fahr and H.H. Swalve
This study evaluates the correlations between the management practices, Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) and milk yield in dairy farms of Thuringia, Germany. Milk performance data were collected from the national milk-recording database (VIT), Verden. Determination of the somatic cells was done at the milk laboratory of the TVL-Thuringia by means of Fossomatic device (Fossomatic-5000®, Fa. Foss. Electric., Denmark). Lactation records of 10742 dairy cows were included. Traits studied were test-day milk yield and SCC (log) with respect to health status of the udder. Results indicated that test-day milk yield as well as SCC was higher in multiparous cows and lower in primiparous cows. Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) was lower early in the lactation (4.85) and increased thereafter to reach 4.96 in the late stage of lactation. Daily milk yield reached the peak in the early stage of lactation (28.41 kg) and was lower in the late stage of lactation (19.52 kg). The study also found that test-day milk yield and SCC (log) were significantly (p<0.001) affected by season of the year, housing and milking systems. Hygienic measures practiced in the studied farms were found to be affecting the mean test-day milk yield and SCC (log) significantly.
PDF Fulltext XML References Citation

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *