Daily milk yield, non-fat dry matter content and somatic cell count of Holstein-Friesian and Brown-Swiss cows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting the Daily Milk Yield (DMY) per milking, Non-fat Dry Matter percentage (NFDM%) and Somatic Cell Count (SCC) from Holstein-Friesian (HF) and Brown-Swiss (BS) cows managed in the Mediterranean climatic conditions in Turkey. The farms considered in this study were visited monthly for two years to measure DMY and to collect milk samples from each cow during morning and evening milkings. A total of 1,415 sets of data from 67 HF and 16 BS cows for each trait were analyzed by using repeated measures. Breed, lactation month, milking time and the interaction between herd and lactation month were found to be statistically significant for all traits (P<0.05). The co-variable effects of NFDM% (P<0.05) and Log10SCC (P<0.01) on DMY, and DMY on Log10SCC (P<0.01) were significant. The averages of DMY, NFDM% and SCC for HF cows were 8.92±0.188 kg, 9.61±0.048% and 491,813 cells/mL and for BS cows were 7.09±0.367 kg, 10.12±0.093% and 312,464 cells/mL, respectively. For all traits some important differences were determined between the breeds, due to the different physiological mechanisms, milking characteristics and the morphological conformations of udders. In order to increase the quality and quantity of milk, additional measures need to be taken, such as improving milking management, hygiene, nutrition and barn conditions.