THE OCCURRENCE, PERSISTENCE, AND COSTS OF ACIDOSIS-RELATED ISSUES IN DAIRY COWS CONCERNING PARITY

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the occurrence, persistence, and cost implications of acidosis-related issues in dairy cows concerning parity, utilizing over 8 million testday records of Holstein and Simmental breeds. The data analysis revealed that the analyzed issues in dairy cattle populations vary regarding the breed and parity. The Holsteins had a higher occurrence of acidosis compared to the Simmentals. Furthermore, Holsteins exhibited a more significant prevalence of acidosis in younger animals, while Simmentals demonstrated an increased incidence in older cows. The acidosis risk significantly reduced milk production in first-parity Holsteins, while older cows were more resilient. Among the Simmental breed, the effect of acidosis risk was limited to first-parity animals. The occurrence of acidosis in both breeds resulted in a significant and persistent reduction in milk production in older cows. Overall, results suggest the importance breed-specific management to minimize the occurrence of acidosis and maximize animal health and productivity.

Keywords

• dairy cows
• milk production
• acidosis
• occurrence
• persistence
• cost