Influence of Subclinical Mastitis During Early Lactation on Reproductive Parameters

¹ Department of Animal Science, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996

Our objective was to determine the effects of mastitis during early lactation on the reproductive performance of Jersey cows. From 1986 to 1997, quarter foremilk samples were collected every 4 to 8 wk during lactation, at drying off, near calving, and when clinical mastitis was diagnosed and were evaluated microbiologically to identify causative bacteria. Services per conception, days open, and days to first service were obtained from DHIA records on 752 cows. Cows were separated by mastitis type (clinical, n = 186; subclinical, n = 240; control, uninfected or infected after confirmed pregnancy, n = 326). Cows were reclassified based on the time of clinical or subclinical mastitis as follows: period 1, before first service (n = 374); period 2, between first service and pregnancy (n = 52); and period 3, after confirmed pregnancy or uninfected (control; n = 326). Milk production did not differ for any group separations. Reproductive performance did not differ between gram-negative or gram-positive mastitis pathogens. Cows with clinical or subclinical mastitis before first service had increased days to first service (77.3 ± 2.7 and 74.8 ± 2.7 d), days open (110.0 ± 6.9 and 107.7 ± 6.9 d), and services per conception (2.1 ± 0.2 and 2.1 ± 0.2) compared with controls (67.8 ± 2.2 d, 85.4 ± 5.8 d, 1.6 ± 0.2; P < 0.05). Days to first service were not increased in cows with clinical or subclinical mastitis during period 2 (70.6 ± 3.3 and 61.2 ± 7.8 d). However, days open (143.6 ± 8.5 d) and services per conception (3.0 ± 0.2) were increased (P < 0.05) in cows with clinical mastitis during period 2, but not in cows with subclinical mastitis (90.9 ± 20.2 d and 2.1 ± 0.5). Cows initially diagnosed subclinical that became clinical during period 2 exhibited increased days to first service (93.9 ± 10.1 d), days open (196.0 ± 26.2 d), and services per conception (4.3 ± 0.7) compared with control animals (P < 0.05). In conclusion, subclinical mastitis reduced reproductive performance of lactating cows similar to clinical mastitis. Subclinical mastitis followed by clinical mastitis resulted in the most severe loss in reproductive performance.

Key Words: mastitis • reproduction • dairy cattle

Submitted on July 31, 2000
Accepted on January 2, 2001

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