Relationships among clinical mastitis test-day records, somatic cell counts, and linear udder conformation traits in Czech dairy cows

This study evaluated test-day records of clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell count, and nine udder conformation traits. Somatic cell count was log-transformed into somatic cell score (SCS) in 10 periods, each 30 days long and overall, for the first lactation. CM is a complex disease closely connect...

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Main Authors: Jan Vařeka, Ludmila Zavadilová, Matúš Gašparík, Miloslava Štípková, Luboš Vostrý
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2025-04-01
Series:Czech Journal of Animal Science
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Online Access:https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-202504-0001_relationships-among-clinical-mastitis-test-day-records-somatic-cell-counts-and-linear-udder-conformation-trai.php
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author Jan Vařeka
Ludmila Zavadilová
Matúš Gašparík
Miloslava Štípková
Luboš Vostrý
author_facet Jan Vařeka
Ludmila Zavadilová
Matúš Gašparík
Miloslava Štípková
Luboš Vostrý
author_sort Jan Vařeka
collection DOAJ
description This study evaluated test-day records of clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell count, and nine udder conformation traits. Somatic cell count was log-transformed into somatic cell score (SCS) in 10 periods, each 30 days long and overall, for the first lactation. CM is a complex disease closely connected with somatic cell count. The optimum udder conformation traits significantly affect dairy cattle health. The CM binary trait was monitored in seven periods throughout lactation, each 50 days long, and for the whole lactation. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the risk of CM. The model included a fixed effect of herd-year-season, age at first calving, and a fixed effect of the linear type traits of the random effect of the animal. The phenotypic correlations for udder conformation traits, CM, and SCS ranged from -0.13 to 0.69 and standard errors were 0.01-0.99. The highest CM incidence and SCS were observed for the medial ligament scores 1-2: convex base of the udder. According to the logistic regression assessment, the medial ligament scores 1-2: convex base of the udder and the CM incidence to 50 days in milk reported a 3.79 times higher probability of the CM incidence at the reference level (extremely deep medial ligament) at the same stage of the lactation. CM incidence and SCS significantly decreased with decreasing udder depth. Udder depth below the hock was associated with the highest risk of CM. For udder depth and the whole lactation, the CM ODDS ratio was 1.00-2.56, CM least squares means were 0.18-0.44, and SCS least squares means were 3.20-4.10. Our study confirmed that the start of lactation is critical for the onset of CM, and somatic cell count is manifested throughout lactation. The effect of the udder conformation is then observable in somatic cell count and CM during the whole lactation.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
record_format Article
series Czech Journal of Animal Science
spelling doaj-art-00267a5135bc468dbf9dba247c531f452025-08-20T03:11:09ZengCzech Academy of Agricultural SciencesCzech Journal of Animal Science1212-18191805-93092025-04-0170413013810.17221/12/2025-CJAScjs-202504-0001Relationships among clinical mastitis test-day records, somatic cell counts, and linear udder conformation traits in Czech dairy cowsJan Vařeka0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4353-9132Ludmila Zavadilová1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7124-2491Matúš Gašparík2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5607-4290Miloslava Štípková3Luboš Vostrý4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9778-980XDepartment of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animal, Institute of Animal Science Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Cattle Breeding, Institute of Animal Science Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicDepartment of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech RepublicThis study evaluated test-day records of clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell count, and nine udder conformation traits. Somatic cell count was log-transformed into somatic cell score (SCS) in 10 periods, each 30 days long and overall, for the first lactation. CM is a complex disease closely connected with somatic cell count. The optimum udder conformation traits significantly affect dairy cattle health. The CM binary trait was monitored in seven periods throughout lactation, each 50 days long, and for the whole lactation. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the risk of CM. The model included a fixed effect of herd-year-season, age at first calving, and a fixed effect of the linear type traits of the random effect of the animal. The phenotypic correlations for udder conformation traits, CM, and SCS ranged from -0.13 to 0.69 and standard errors were 0.01-0.99. The highest CM incidence and SCS were observed for the medial ligament scores 1-2: convex base of the udder. According to the logistic regression assessment, the medial ligament scores 1-2: convex base of the udder and the CM incidence to 50 days in milk reported a 3.79 times higher probability of the CM incidence at the reference level (extremely deep medial ligament) at the same stage of the lactation. CM incidence and SCS significantly decreased with decreasing udder depth. Udder depth below the hock was associated with the highest risk of CM. For udder depth and the whole lactation, the CM ODDS ratio was 1.00-2.56, CM least squares means were 0.18-0.44, and SCS least squares means were 3.20-4.10. Our study confirmed that the start of lactation is critical for the onset of CM, and somatic cell count is manifested throughout lactation. The effect of the udder conformation is then observable in somatic cell count and CM during the whole lactation.https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-202504-0001_relationships-among-clinical-mastitis-test-day-records-somatic-cell-counts-and-linear-udder-conformation-trai.phpdairy farmingholsteinphenotypic relationshipudder health
spellingShingle Jan Vařeka
Ludmila Zavadilová
Matúš Gašparík
Miloslava Štípková
Luboš Vostrý
Relationships among clinical mastitis test-day records, somatic cell counts, and linear udder conformation traits in Czech dairy cows
Czech Journal of Animal Science
dairy farming
holstein
phenotypic relationship
udder health
title Relationships among clinical mastitis test-day records, somatic cell counts, and linear udder conformation traits in Czech dairy cows
title_full Relationships among clinical mastitis test-day records, somatic cell counts, and linear udder conformation traits in Czech dairy cows
title_fullStr Relationships among clinical mastitis test-day records, somatic cell counts, and linear udder conformation traits in Czech dairy cows
title_full_unstemmed Relationships among clinical mastitis test-day records, somatic cell counts, and linear udder conformation traits in Czech dairy cows
title_short Relationships among clinical mastitis test-day records, somatic cell counts, and linear udder conformation traits in Czech dairy cows
title_sort relationships among clinical mastitis test day records somatic cell counts and linear udder conformation traits in czech dairy cows
topic dairy farming
holstein
phenotypic relationship
udder health
url https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-202504-0001_relationships-among-clinical-mastitis-test-day-records-somatic-cell-counts-and-linear-udder-conformation-trai.php
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AT matusgasparik relationshipsamongclinicalmastitistestdayrecordssomaticcellcountsandlinearudderconformationtraitsinczechdairycows
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