Negative effects of occurrence of clinical mastitis from calving to end of the voluntary waiting period on reproduction in Holstein cows

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the effects of clinical mastitis (CM) on reproductive performance in high-milk–producingcows before the service period. The data of Holstein Friesian cows (n = 550) in a commercial farm was retrospectively evaluated. Thediagnosis of CM was made by the presence of visible abnormalities in milk or symptoms of inflammation of one or more of the quarters.Cows were checked to detect CM prior to each milking. Calving to first service interval (CFSI), calving to conception interval (CCI), andservices per conception (SC) were evaluated as reproductive parameters. Calving to first service interval (83.68 ± 3.18 vs. 74.57 ± 1.08;P 0.05). In conclusion, CM inearly lactation has an adverse impact on reproductive performance in high-milk–producing dairy cows. The negative effects of CM onCFSI, CCI, and SC were not interrelated with calving season, the timing of CM, or parity.