Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.24099/vet.arhiv.0697

The effect of response to heat stress, parity, breed and breeding region on somatic cell count in dairy cattle

Vesna Gantner ; Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnology Osijek, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer of Osijek, Croatia
Božidarka Marković orcid.org/0000-0001-6644-4630 ; Department of Livestock Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
Mirna Gavran orcid.org/0000-0002-9158-7825 ; Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnology Osijek, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer of Osijek, Croatia
Marcela Šperanda ; Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnology Osijek, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer of Osijek, Croatia
Denis Kučević orcid.org/0000-0002-1932-7156 ; Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Maja Gregić orcid.org/0000-0001-7495-6329 ; Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnology Osijek, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer of Osijek, Croatia
Tina Bobić orcid.org/0000-0001-9975-1258 ; Department for Animal Production and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agrobiotechnology Osijek, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer of Osijek, Croatia

Abstract

With the aim of determining the effect of response to heat stress, parity, breed and breeding region on somatic cell count (SCC) in dairy cattle, the individual test-day records of dairy cows collected from 2005 to 2012 in regular milk recording (AT4 / BT4 method) in Croatia were used. The proportional differences in log somatic cell count, and logSCC (in %) in subsequent milk recordings (1st, and 2nd) were determined in cows with a significant decrease in daily milk yield at a set temperature-humidity index, THI threshold (68, 72, and 76). The results indicate high variability in somatic cell count due to the animal’s response to heat stress (heat stressed at THI in 68, 72, and 76), parity (1, 2, and 3+), breed (Holstein, and Simmental) and breeding region (Central, and Eastern Croatia). Also, it could be pointed out that Holsteins, especially cows in higher parities (2, 3+) reared in Eastern Croatia were shown to be more sensitive to environmental stress, even in the period after heat stress (1st, and 2nd subsequent milk recording). Since SCC is not only an indicator for mastitis, but also reflects a cow’s immune response to general stress situations, the high variability determined may be explained by the individual adaptation capabilities of these two breeds to breeding conditions in the analysed regions.

Keywords

dairy cattle; Holstein; Simmental; somatic cell count; heat stress

Hrčak ID:

245816

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/245816

Publication date:

10.11.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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