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Associations Between Housing, Management, and Morbidity During Rearing and Subsequent First-Lactation Milk Production of Dairy Cows in Southwest Sweden

Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 234, SE-532 23 Skara, Sweden

¹ Corresponding author: Catarina.Svensson{at}hmh.slu.se

Information regarding health, management, and housing from birth to first calving was collected for 1,029 Swedish Reds, 991 Swedish Holsteins, and 40 heifers of crossbreed or other breeds on bimonthly farm visits made by 3 project veterinarians to 107 dairy herds in southwest Sweden. Additional data were obtained from the official milk- and health-recording program. Milk production at first test day after calving [energy-corrected milk (ECM)1] and during the first 305 d of lactation (ECM305), respectively, were analyzed by 2-level (animal; herd) linear regression, after initial screening by univariable analyses of 67 potentially important predictors. The ECM1 ranged from 7.9 to 48.0 (median = 27.1) kg, and ECM305 ranged from 3,764 to 12,136 (median = 8,006) kg. In the final models, factors associated with ECM1 or ECM305 or both were age at first calving, body condition score at first service, breed, calfhood diarrhea, calving season, composite somatic cell count at first test day, daily weight gain from weaning to first service, housing system after calving, and increase in concentrate fed around calving. Higher age at calving was associated with higher production. Production also increased with higher daily weight gains from weaning to first service. Swedish Holsteins produced more than Swedish Reds, cows calving in May to September produced more than those calving during other months, and cows housed in short stalls after calving produced more than those in cubicles. Body condition scores 3.2 at first service were associated with lower ECM305 than scores 2.9. Animals that contracted mild diarrhea during their first 3 mo of life had lower ECM305 than animals without diarrhea, whereas animals receiving a high increase in concentrate pre- and postcalving had higher ECM305 than those subjected to a more moderate increase. Cows with a composite somatic cell count >1 million cells/milliliter at first test day produced less milk on the same day than cows with lower counts. It was concluded that rearing factors and calfhood health status can influence first lactation milk production.

Key Words: dairy cattle • management • morbidity • milk production