The effect of periparturient period problems and negative energy balance on udder health in cows

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of periparturient period problems and negative energy balance periparturient period in dairy cows on udder health at the end of the voluntary waiting period in dairy cows. The animal material of the study consisted of 44 Holstein and 59 Simmental cows. In the periparturient period, animals that experienced dystocia, retention of the placenta, uterine prolapse, metritis, ketosis, hypocalcemia, lameness were determined as the Group-I (n=48), and healthy animals without any problems were determined as the Group-II (n=55). Blood and milk samples were collected on ≤42 and 43-80 days in milk. Negative energy balance was determined by β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) analyzes in blood samples. In milk samples, udder health was evaluated by somatic cell count (SCC) and microbiological analysis. Mastitis was observed in 32 (30,8%) of 103 cows in the study. In the study, eleven (22,9%) of 48 animals in the Group-I, and 21 (38,1%) of 55 animals in the Group-II were detected as mastitis. Microbiological analysis results were positive in only 14 of 33 animals with mastitis. When the udder health status of 48 animals with pathology in the periparturient period was evaluated, no significant difference was found in which udder health was negatively affected. As a result, there was no significant difference in terms of adverse effects on udder health in cows with metabolic and reproductive diseases compared to healthy cows (p>0.05). However, it was concluded that more comprehensive udder health evaluation studies, which would be planned specifically for each disease or by increasing the number of samples with these reproductive and metabolic diseases, would be productive.