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ClassyFarm and welfare indicators in dairy cattle farming
Michela Maria Dimuccio1, Edmondo Ceci1, Elisabetta Bonerba1
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, s.p. per Casamassima, km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research
|May 14, 2026
Summary
Plasma cortisol and Somatic Cell Count (SCC) show strong correlations, potentially serving as reliable real-time proxies for the ClassyFarm risk rank in dairy cattle health management.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Health
- Dairy Science
Background:
- The ClassyFarm risk rank is a farm-specific score used in dairy cattle management.
- Assessing herd health promptly is crucial for implementing corrective measures.
- Reliable real-time proxies for farm-specific risk scores are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate plasma cortisol, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Somatic Cell Count (SCC) as potential proxies for the ClassyFarm risk rank.
- To compare these Animal-Based Measures (ABMs) with the ClassyFarm risk rank across different dairy farms.
Main Methods:
- Three Animal-Based Measures (ABMs) were assessed: plasma cortisol, IL-6, and SCC.
- These ABMs were compared against the ClassyFarm risk rank on three dairy farms (A, B, C).
- Statistical correlations between ABMs and the ClassyFarm risk rank were analyzed.
Main Results:
- A strong positive correlation was observed between plasma cortisol and SCC across all herds (r > 0.70), notably on farm B (r = 0.92).
- Somatic Cell Count values generally met European Commission regulations.
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels did not demonstrate a statistically significant correlation with other ABMs (r < 0.6).
Conclusions:
- Plasma cortisol and SCC show promise as reliable real-time proxies for the ClassyFarm risk rank.
- These ABMs may facilitate quicker identification of necessary farm interventions.
- Further validation of these proxies in dairy herd health management is warranted.
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