Short communication: The main factors affecting somatic cell count in organic dairy farming

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research

Ruth Rodríguez-Bermúdez¹  Inmaculada Orjales²  Marta Lopez-Alonso³  Marta Miranda⁴ 

[1] Centro de Investigación y Formación Agrarias (CIFA), Héroes 2 de mayo 27, 39600 Muriedas, Cantabria;Dept. de Anatomía, Produción Animal e Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo;Dept. de Patoloxía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo;Dept. de Patoloxía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 LugoCentro TecnológicoAgroalimentario de Lugo (CETAL), 27003 Lugo

关键词: management factors;    udder health;    organic;    dairy production;    SSC;   

DOI  :  10.5424/sjar/2017154-11769

学科分类：农业科学（综合）

来源: I N I A

【 摘 要 】

Preventive management practices are essential for maintaining acceptable udder health status, especially in organic farming, in which the use of antimicrobials is restricted. The contribution of the following factors to somatic cell count (SCC) was assessed in 788 cows from 15 organically reared herds in northern Spain: milk production, lactation number, treatments applied, selective dry cow therapy and teat dipping routines. The data were examined by linear logistic regression. Lactation number was the main factor affecting logSCC (β= 0.339,p <0.001) followed in order of importance by milk production (β= -0.205,p <0.001), use of alternative treatments (β=0.153,p <0.001), selective dry cow therapy (β=0.120,p =0.005) and teat dipping routines (β=-0.076,p =0.028). However, the model only explained 17.0% of the total variation in SCC. This variable depends on factors other than those considered here, amongst which udder infection is probably one of the most important. Nonetheless, the study findings enabled us to determine the contribution of the main management factors that should be taken into account to improve udder health status on organic farms.

【 授权许可】

Free