Short communication: Increased somatic cell count is associated with milk loss and reduced feed efficiency in
T L Potter1, C Arndt2, A N Hristov3
1Office of Chief Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund, San Francisco, CA 94105; College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
Journal of Dairy Science
|August 6, 2018
Summary
Higher somatic cell counts (SCC) in dairy cows negatively impact milk production and feed efficiency. Reducing SCC through mastitis control can improve cow performance and reduce economic losses.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Dairy Science
- Veterinary Medicine
Background:
- Somatic cell count (SCC) is a key indicator of udder health in dairy cows.
- High SCC is associated with mastitis, leading to economic losses in the dairy industry.
- Understanding the relationship between SCC and production parameters is crucial for herd management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) and key performance indicators in lactating dairy cows.
- To quantify the impact of SCC on milk yield, energy-corrected milk yield (ECM), dry matter intake (DMI), and feed efficiency (FE).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a database comprising 7 experiments (2009-2015) with 1,094 observations from 254 cows.
- Utilized a linear mixed model to assess the correlation between the natural logarithm of SCC and production parameters.
- Included lactation number, days in milk, and their interactions as fixed effects.
Main Results:
- A negative correlation was observed between natural logarithm of SCC and milk yield, ECM, DMI, FEMY, and FEECM.
- Cows with high SCC (250,000 cells/mL) produced less milk, consumed less DMI, and had lower feed efficiency compared to cows with low SCC (50,000 cells/mL).
- Specifically, higher SCC was linked to reduced milk yield, DMI, and feed efficiency per unit of milk or ECM.
Conclusions:
- Increased somatic cell count significantly reduces milk yield, dry matter intake, and feed efficiency in dairy cows.
- The findings highlight the economic and environmental importance of mastitis control in dairy herds.
- Reducing SCC offers a further incentive for implementing effective mastitis management strategies.
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