Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ondokuz Mayis, 55139-Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey.
*For correspondence: Tel: 90-362-3121919-1363, Fax: 90-362-4576034, E-mail: satasev@omu.edu.tr
1Part of the Ph. D. dissertation of the first author.
This investigation was conducted to determine mastitis risk levels and milk production traits of Holstein cows (169) raised in farms (24) enrolled to Cattle Breeders Assocation (CBA) of Samsun, Turkey, on 70±14, 140±14 and 210±14 days in milk in 4 parities and 4 seasons. Somatic cell count (SCC), electrical conductivity (EC) and catalase (CAT) were used as mastitis risk markers. High correlations were found (P<0.01) among mastitis markers and also milk yield parameters, except for EC and daily milk yield (dMY). The results of the study shown that mastitis risk levels and milk production losses increase with advancing parity and lactation stage and also in winter and spring calving seasons.
Mastitis risk, somatic cell count, milk yield, Holstein
