Abstract
Abstract. Aiming at the determination of the metabolic disorder prevalence as well as the effect of subclinical disorders on daily milk traits of Holsteins, over 1 million (1 962 831) test day records were analysed. The metabolic disorder (ketosis or acidosis) prevalence was indicated by the fat-to-protein (F ∕ P) ratio, while subclinical disorder was indicated by the F ∕ P ratio and cows' daily production. The effect of subclinical disorders on daily milk traits was tested by Scheffe's method (SAS/STAT). The highest ketosis prevalence occurred in early lactation. In first-parity cows ketosis prevalence was highest in the first 15 days of lactation, while in cows in higher lactations, the prevalence peak occurred on the 25th day. A higher ketosis prevalence during the entire lactation was observed in multiparous cows compared to first-parity cows. Regarding the acidosis prevalence, high values were determined at the beginning of the lactation with a decreasing trend until mid-lactation, when the prevalence increased up to 22 %. The highest decrease in daily milk yield as a consequence of subclinical ketosis was determined as 4.21 and 3.72 kg day−1 in first-parity cows and those with more than four lactations, respectively. A significant negative effect of subclinical acidosis on daily milk yield (2.79 kg day−1) was highest in cows in the third lactation. A production decline in subsequent milk controls due to subclinical ketosis or acidosis in all cows was also determined. Subclinical disorders also significantly alter daily milk quality. This indicates that the test day records could be used as a cost-effective and non-invasive method for monitoring herd health.
Highlights
Efficient dairy cattle production requires gravidity and parturition each year
A similar declining trend after the prevalence peak was noticed in first-parity cows and characterized cows in higher lactations
As the results of this study show, a significant decrease in daily milk quantity and variation of daily milk quality in Holsteins could be expected in cases when the F /P ratio ≥ 1.5 in cows that yielded between 33 and 50 kg day−1 as well as when F /P < 1.0 in cows that yielded between 20 and 43 kg day−1
Summary
Efficient dairy cattle production requires gravidity and parturition each year. The transition from the pregnant, nonlactating state to the non-pregnant, lactating state is too frequently a stressful experience for the cow. LeBlanc (2010) observed that most of the metabolic disorders (up to 50 %) of dairy cows occur within the first 2 weeks of lactation. The transition from the pregnant, nonlactating state to the non-pregnant, lactating state is too frequently a stressful experience for the cow. LeBlanc (2010) observed that most of the metabolic disorders (up to 50 %) of dairy cows occur within the first 2 weeks of lactation. Dairy cows are predisposed to various disorders during the transition period as a result of a variety of factors, such as dietary changes, a negative energy balance, decreased feed intake, weight loss, hypocalcemia, etc. Cows can experience environmental stressors such as regrouping (Mulligan and Doherty, 2008) and inadequate climatic conditions (Broucek et al, 2007) and body condition score (BCS). One of the most common disorders in lactating dairy cows is ketosis as well as acidosis
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