HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Interpretive Summary Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Roche, J. R. Articles by Berry, D. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Roche, J. R. Articles by Berry, D. P.

Periparturient Climatic, Animal, and Management Factors Influencing the Incidence of Milk Fever in Grazing Systems

J. R. Roche^*,1 and D. P. Berry

^* Dexcel Ltd., Hamilton, New Zealand
Teagasc, Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland

¹ Corresponding author: john.roche{at}dexcel.co.nz

The objective of the present study was to quantify the climatic, animal, and management factors influencing incidence of milk fever (MF) in cows exposed to grazing systems. Data were extracted on 4,469 calvings of multiparous cows in a seasonal calving research herd between 1970 and 2000. Climatic data during the calving period also were extracted for these years. Poisson regression was used to investigate the effect of climate on frequency of MF within year; the offset variable was the number of cows at risk for MF at that time. Generalized estimating equations, with cow included as a repeated effect, were used to quantify the effect of parturition-associated cow and management factors on the logit of the probability of MF. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Explanatory variables investigated included time of calving relative to the herd-year calving period, parity, body weight, breed of cow, body condition score at calving, weight and gender of the calf, incidence of twin calves, calving inductions, and calving assistance. Odds of recurring MF within cow, as well as the timing of MF relative to day of calving, was quantified using generalized estimating equations with cow included as a repeated effect. Results show significant effects of evaporation, minimum grass temperature, difference between ambient maximum and minimum temperature, and rainfall on the odds of MF occurring, with a greater incidence at greater evaporation, larger diurnal variation in air temperature, greater rainfall, and lesser grass minimum temperature. Cow factors, such as age, excessive or poor body condition score, and requirement for calving assistance increased the odds of MF; a lesser odds ratio was observed in cows hormonally induced to calve and those that had twin births. Results indicate that herd managers may identify the day of greatest risk for MF and cows that are at greatest risk of MF based on climatic, cow, and management factors.

Key Words: transition cow • pasture • milk fever • climate

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. R. Roche, N. C. Friggens, J. K. Kay, M. W. Fisher, K. J. Stafford, and D. P. Berry Invited review: Body condition score and its association with dairy cow productivity, health, and welfare J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2009; 92(12): 5769 - 5801. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Bewley and M. M. Schutz Review: An Interdisciplinary Review of Body Condition Scoring for Dairy Cattle Professional Animal Scientist, December 1, 2008; 24(6): 507 - 529. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. A. Macdonald, J. W. Penno, J. A. S. Lancaster, and J. R. Roche Effect of Stocking Rate on Pasture Production, Milk Production, and Reproduction of Dairy Cows in Pasture-Based Systems J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2008; 91(5): 2151 - 2163. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Roche, D. P. Berry, J. M. Lee, K. A. Macdonald, and R. C. Boston Describing the Body Condition Score Change Between Successive Calvings: A Novel Strategy Generalizable to Diverse Cohorts J Dairy Sci, September 1, 2007; 90(9): 4378 - 4396. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Roche, J. M. Lee, K. A. Macdonald, and D. P. Berry Relationships Among Body Condition Score, Body Weight, and Milk Production Variables in Pasture-Based Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2007; 90(8): 3802 - 3815. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. McCarthy, D. P. Berry, P. Dillon, M. Rath, and B. Horan Influence of Holstein-Friesian Strain and Feed System on Body Weight and Body Condition Score Lactation Profiles J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2007; 90(4): 1859 - 1869. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. P. Berry, J. M. Lee, K. A. Macdonald, K. Stafford, L. Matthews, and J. R. Roche Associations Among Body Condition Score, Body Weight, Somatic Cell Count, and Clinical Mastitis in Seasonally Calving Dairy Cattle J Dairy Sci, February 1, 2007; 90(2): 637 - 648. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]