Losing a Herd Mate: Negative Effects on Milk Yield and Udder Health Indicators in Loose-Housed Dairy Cattle

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00027014%3A_____%2F24%3A10006150" target="_blank" >RIV/00027014:_____/24:10006150 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/23/3459" target="_blank" >https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/23/3459</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani14233459" target="_blank" >10.3390/ani14233459</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Losing a Herd Mate: Negative Effects on Milk Yield and Udder Health Indicators in Loose-Housed Dairy Cattle

Original language description

Extensively managed and feral domesticated cattle (Bos taurus) live in a stable, complex social environment. Herds comprise members of various ages, genders, and sexual maturity. Under intensive farm management, dairy cows experience frequent and routine regrouping, which can disrupt affiliative bonds and induce social stress. This study explores the impact of changes in herd composition on milk yield and udder health traits in resident dairy cows that experience the removal of familiar herd members and the introduction of new individuals into the group. Data on milk yield (production trait), electrical conductivity, and blood presence in milk (indicators of udder health) were monitored over 9 years using precision dairy sensors in a sample of 798 cows. Milk yield dropped after the loss of familiar herd members while introducing new cows had no effect. The higher number of withdrawn cows (up to 10 at once) resulted in lower daily milk yield, increased milk conductivity, and a higher probability of blood presence in milk. Thus, besides lowering milk production, social stress is linked to potential udder health issues. Holstein Friesian cows and primiparous and early-lactation cows were more affected by herd changes than Czech Simental and multiparous cows in later lactation stages. These findings highlight the importance ofsocial stability for dairy cow welfare and productivity, emphasising the need for strategies to reduce stress during necessary herd adjustments.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

40201 - Animal and dairy science; (Animal biotechnology to be 4.4)

Project

<a href="/en/project/QK1910242" target="_blank" >QK1910242: Elimination of risk factors for dairy cow health and reproduction using systems of automatic measurement and collection of data</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)<br>I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2024

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Animals

ISSN

2076-2615

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

14

Issue of the periodical within the volume

23

Country of publishing house

CH - SWITZERLAND

Number of pages

12

Pages from-to

1-12

UT code for WoS article

001376873300001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85211943548