Publikationsdatenbank

ZellDiX:
a new approach to assess udder health by using DHI results and cell differentiation (2019)

Art

Poster

Autoren

Gass, Eva

Bartel, Alexander (WE 16)

Onken, Folkert

Baumgartner, Christian

Querengässer, Friederike (WE 16)

Doherr, Marcus G. (WE 16)

Kongress

IDF Mastitis Conference 2019

Copenhagen, Denmark, 15. – 16.05.2019

Quelle

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3239093

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3239093

Kontakt

Institut für Veterinär-Epidemiologie und Biometrie

Königsweg 67
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 56034
epi@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Management of udder health is a challenging aspect on every dairy farm. Checking the somatic cell count (SCC) routinely in the course of DHI testing is the best way to indirectly assess udder health of dairy cows. In Germany, six udder health scores are being computed based on the monthly cell count results. Provided in a monthly report, they have been proven to be a useful tool in order to reflect the current udder health status. However, to our knowledge, there are no standardized indicators available based on DHI results to predict the individual status of udder health in the future.

The German ZellDiX project aims to enhance the informative value of DHI results by evaluating the additional value of differential somatic cell count (DSCC) and by establishing prognostic key figures for udder health. Since the introduction of a new generation of high throughput devices, SCC and DSCC can be analyzed simultaneously, allowing the assessment of the so called cell differentiation index (CDI). The CDI essentially reflects the proportion of macrophages of the total SCC. Throughout the project, cell differentiation was routinely performed from DHI samples taken over a period of 1.5 years from approximately 627,000 animals in Bavaria as well as from 139,000 animals partly from robot farms in North Rhine-Westphalia. Additionally, an experiment including 2,800 animals in Berlin-Brandenburg was conducted over a period of 5 months: DHI samples were analyzed with regard to SCC and CDI. Simultaneously, SCC, CDI, and the bacteriological status were assessed from udder quarter level samples of the same animals.

Based on the collected DHI data, two key figures were established in regard to different initial SCC. In the case of currently > 100,000 cells/ml, the probability for elevated cell counts in the next two months can be predicted. Whereas in the case of currently < 100,000 cells/ml, the probability for stable udder health with low cell counts in the next two months is predicted. By providing the probability for different outcome scenarios, farmers would be able to rank their animals according to high or low risk and prioritize their effort. Results from the current data evaluation of quarter milk samples, will serve as reference to DHI samples and give detailed insight into actual processes in the udder and the value of CDI.