Total and Differential Somatic Cell Count in Italian Local Cattle Breeds: Phenotypic Variability and Effect on Milk Yield and Composition

Author:

Magro Silvia1ORCID,Costa Angela2ORCID,De Marchi Massimo1

Affiliation:

1. Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, 35020 Padova, Italy

2. Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40064 Bologna, Italy

Abstract

Milk differential somatic cell count (DSCC) represents the percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and lymphocytes out of the total somatic cell count (SCC) and has been proposed in recent years as a proxy for udder health in dairy cows. We investigated phenotypic factors affecting SCC and DSCC using 3978 records of 212 Alpine Grey and 426 Burlina cows farmed in Northern Italy. The linear mixed model accounted for the fixed effects of breed, parity, lactation stage, sampling season, and first-order interactions of breed with the other effects. Cow, herd-test-date nested within breed were random. Subsequently, four udder health status groups (UHS) were created by combining SCC and DSCC to assess the UHS impact on milk yield and quality. DSCC was greater in Alpine Grey (66.2 ± 0.8%) than Burlina cows (63.2 ± 0.6%) and, similarly to SCC, it increased with days in milk and parity regardless of breed. Milk yield and composition were affected by UHS in both breeds. These results suggest that also udder health of local breeds can be monitored on a large scale through SCC and DSCC for reduction in biodiversity loss and increased farm profitability. However, in addition to milk data, the introduction of mastitis recording and monitoring plans is advisable.

Funder

Breeders Association of Veneto Region

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

General Veterinary,Animal Science and Zoology

Reference38 articles.

1. (2022, May 23). National Association of Breeders of Grey Alpine Cattle. Available online: www.grigioaplina.it.

2. (2022, May 23). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS). Available online: www.fao.org/dad-is/.

3. Genetic characterization of the Burlina cattle breed using microsatellites markers;Dalvit;J. Anim. Breed. Genet.,2008

4. Relevance of the dairy cow biodiversity in the development of a profitable and environmentally sustainable livestock;Curone;CABI Rev.,2019

5. A 100-Year Review: Mastitis detection, management, and prevention;Ruegg;J. Dairy Sci.,2017

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