Infection dynamics across the dry period using Dairy Herd Improvement somatic cell count data and its effect on cow performance in the subsequent lactation

• Published in: Journal of dairy science Vol. 102; no. 1; pp. 640 - 651
• Main Authors: Lipkens, Z., Piepers, S., Verbeke, J., De Vliegher, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Belgium; calving; Cattle; Cell Count - veterinary; confidence interval; cows; dairy herds; Dairying - methods; dry period; Female; herd improvement; Holstein; impact on cow's performance; infection dynamics; lactation; Lactation - physiology; Mammary Glands, Animal - physiopathology; mastitis; Mastitis - veterinary; Mastitis, Bovine - drug therapy; Mastitis, Bovine - epidemiology; Mastitis, Bovine - prevention & control; Milk - cytology; milk yield; risk; somatic cell count; therapeutics; udders; Belgium; impact on cow's performance; dry period; infection dynamics

In this study, we studied infection dynamics across the dry period using test-day somatic cell count (SCC) data from 739 Holstein cows from 33 randomly selected commercial dairy herds in Flanders, all of which applied blanket dry-cow therapy at dry-off. First, we determined infection dynamics, combi...