Abstract
Aim of study: To investigate the effect of subclinical mastitis (SCM) before and after first artificial insemination (AI), characterized by a somatic cell count (SCC) higher than 200×103 cell/mL, on reproductive performance including first service conception rate (FSCR) and pregnancy loss (PL) in Holstein dairy cows.
 Area of study: The central area of Lugo, Galicia, Spain.
 Material and methods: This retrospective study was conducted on herd database of a population of 80 commercial Holstein dairy cow farms. A total number of 2053 lactations were included in this study. A binary logistic regression was carried out to analyse all data.
 Main results: The results of this study indicated that cows that registered a SCC lower than 200×103 cell/mL within 30 days after first AI were more likely to conceive pregnancy than cows with a higher SCC (31.2% and 25.1% FSCR, respectively; OR=1.285, 95% CI=1.000-1.653). Additionally, an increased SCC neither 30 days before nor 30 days after first AI had a negative effect on prevalence of PL in dairy cows.
 Research highlights: These findings revealed that SCM within 30 days after first AI negatively affected FSCR, whilst 30 days before first AI did not affect it. Therefore, it could be suggested that preventing subclinical mastitis after first AI, during a critical period of 30 days, is important to maximize the reproductive performance of dairy cows.
Highlights
Mastitis and infertility are the two main problems in the dairy cow industry
Main results: The results of this study indicated that cows that registered a somatic cell count (SCC) lower than 200×103 cell/mL within 30 days after first artificial insemination (AI) were more likely to conceive pregnancy than cows with a higher SCC (31.2% and 25.1% first service conception rate (FSCR), respectively; OR=1.285, 95% CI=1.000-1.653)
Research highlights: These findings revealed that subclinical mastitis (SCM) within 30 days after first AI negatively affected FSCR, whilst 30 days before first AI did not affect it
Summary
Mastitis is a worldwide-spread issue that negatively affects the farms’ economy by reducing milk production and increasing both the use of drugs and culling rates (Halasa et al, 2007; Pérez-Cabal et al., 2008). In the SCM-affected cows just an increased somatic cell count (SCC) and a decreased milk production are observed (Hansen et al, 2004). SCC is a useful and valuable diagnostic approach to detection of SCM (Ruegg & Erskine, 2014). To differentiate healthy cows from subclinical cows, a threshold of 200,000 to 250,000 cell/mL has been repeatedly considered as a cutoff point (Schepers et al, 1997; Schukken et al, 2003)
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