Abstract
The aim of this research was to identify the relationship of calvin ease and level of in-line milk urea (MU) and other milk components, namely milk yield (MY), electrical conductivity (EC), milk fat (MF), milk protein (MP), milk fat/protein ratio (MF/MP), and somatic cell count (SCC) in dairy cows. The cows for the research were selected following such criteria: cows were tested within the period of up to the first 30 days after calving and had had a range of lactation numbers from two to four. Each selected farm housed more than 500 dairy cows and a total of 4712 calving cases from the eight dairy farms were studied and evaluated. The 4-point scale was used for the evaluation of the calving according to the point value meanings where 1 = easy, unassisted; 2 = easy, assisted; 3 = difficult, assisted; 4 = difficult, requiring veterinary intervention. A total of 4712 calving cases were researched and scored. The chemical properties of milk in all research cows were analyzed during the early phase of lactation (from the onset of calving to 30 days past calving) every day, during each milking. Cows were classified into groups according to the level of urea in milk: Group 1 had MU ≤ 15 mg/dL (12.6% of cows), Group 2 had MU 16–30 mg/dL (62.4% of cows), and Group 3 had MU > 30 mg/dL (25.0% of cows). We found that cows with milk urea levels between 16 and 30 mg/dL had the lowest incidence of dystocia, and also the highest concentration of milk lactose (ML ≥ 4.6%), the lowest mean value of milk electrical conductivity, and the lowest value of milk SCC. Dystocia increased the risk of somatic cell growth in cow’s milk above the herd average (OR = 1.364; 95% CI = 1.184–1.571, p < 0.001), and normal urea in milk reduced this risk (OR = 0.749; 95% CI = 0.642–0.869, p = 0.05). In all groups of cows, according to the level of urea in milk, the productivity of cows without dystocia at calving was higher (2.50–5.51 kg) as well as the milk protein % (0.13–0.21%) and milk lactose % (0.07–0.19%). We concluded that, in all groups of cows, according to the level of urea in milk, the productivity and milk lactose concentration of cows without dystocia at calving was higher, and lower somatic cells count and electrical conductivity values were found in the milk compared with cows diagnosed with dystocia at calving. We can state that dystocia has a negative effect on milk urea concentration and can increase the risk of mastitis.
Highlights
Calving is an important factor of a cow’s biological life cycle as it conditions new lactation, which is respectively determined by the mode of calving ease
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of calving ease on the level of in-line milk urea (MU) and to assess the relationship of these indicators with other characteristics of milk, such as milk yield (MY), milk fat (MF), milk protein (MP), milk lactose (ML), milk fat protein ratio (MF/MP), electrical conductivity (EC), and somatic cell count (SCC)
Fewer somatic cells (Figure 2F) were found in the milk of these cows, and the mean values of milk electrical conductivity (Figure 2G) were lower compared with cows diagnosed with dystocia at calving (p < 0.05)
Summary
Calving is an important factor of a cow’s biological life cycle as it conditions new lactation, which is respectively determined by the mode of calving ease. In the cases of dystocia, a lactation of a cow can start with a lower reading of milk production, and with various diseases and/or complications after calving, such as retained pla-centa, metritis, ketosis, mastitis, displaced abomasum, and fertility disorder [1,2,3,4,5]. According to Dematawena et al [6], dystocia causes damage to multiple parities and primary cows, and that damage has been reflected and evident in the lower and/or decreasing counts of milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein. The risks of dystocia [11] can be caused and increased by numerous factors-. Regardless of parity, calf’s sex, weight, body size, pelvic and dam measurements, such metabolic disorders as hypocalcemia and seasonal effects, as well as an impact of environmental stress at the time of or just before parturition have been identified as risk factors [12,13,14,15]
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