Effect of health and reproductive disorders on milk yield and fertility in dairy cows

Abstract

Milk production, fertility and reproductive disorders were studied during 1153 lactations in Friesian cows on 5 Slovenian dairy farms. The average milk yield was 5631 ± 1775 kg/year. Mastitis was diagnosed in 42.1, lameness in 15.1, metritis in 23.9 and retained placenta in 16.1% of lactations. These 4 disorders represented 86.7% of all pathological findings in the herds. A significant influence of farm, lactation number and diseases on milk yield was found. Ketosis and parturient paresis was associated with higher milk yields and mastitis, retained placenta and abortion with lower milk yield. Fertility was negatively influenced by all diseases.