Relationship between mastitis and body condition score in jersey cattle

Abstract

The usefulness, validity and precision of the body condition score has been proven by many studies to evaluate body energy reserves. In general, the body condition score decreases in early lactation because cows allocate energy from their body reserves to support milk production and begin to increase during the remainder of lactation. The excessive loss of energy reserves during early lactation often associated with cows with higher body condition scores at calving often results in impaired health and reproductive performance. A high or low body condition score is also associated with higher incidences of metritis, milk fever, lameness, and mastitis. Positive genetic correlations have been noted between body energy reserve changes and somatic cell count or clinical mastitis. In this study, the relationship between body condition score and mastitis in Jersey cattle was investigated.