Relationships between udder characteristics, udder and leg cleanliness scores and somatic cell count of cattle raised in kırşehir province conditions: a case of külhüyük village

This study was conducted to determine the relationships between udder characteristics, udder and leg cleanliness scores and somatic cell count (SCC) in cattle raised in Külhüyük village conditions in Kırşehir province. The study was carried out on a total of 81 cattle; 40 Simmental and crossbred, 9 Holstein-Friesian and crossbred, 32 Brown Swiss and crossbred. The effects of breed, lactation order and body condition score on fore udder attachment (ÖMB), udder depth (MD), posterior udder height (AMY), udder center attachment (MMB) and anterior teat placement (ÖMBY) scores were found to be statistically insignificant (P>0.005). The effects of lactation order and body condition score (VKP) on teat length (MBU) scoring were statistically significant (P<0.05), while the effect of breed on MBU was found to be insignificant (P>0.005). The effects of breed, lactation order and body condition score on udder and foot cleaning were found to be statistically insignificant (P>0.005). The effects of breed on test day milk yield (TGSV) and somatic cell counts were found to be statistically insignificant (P>0.005). The effects of lactation order and body condition score on TGSV were found to be statistically insignificant (P>0.05), and the effects on somatic cell counts were found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). As lactation order increased, SHS value increased, while as body condition score increased, SHS value decreased. The effects of breed, udder and foot cleaning on TGSV and somatic cell counts were calculated to be statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The effects of body condition score on TGSV and somatic cell counts were found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). While the effect of MMB on TGSV and SHS values among udder characteristics was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05), the effect of other udder characteristics on test day milk yield and somatic cell counts was found to be statistically insignificant (P>0.05). In this study, a significant negative correlation (r=-0.331) was found between udder cleanliness and MBU (P<0.01). The correlations between VKP and ÖMB (r=0.339) and TGSV (r=0.381) were positive (P<0.01). Negative and statistically significant (P<0.01) correlations were found between Log10SHS and udder characteristics ÖMB (r=-0.225) and MMB (r=-0.237) (P<0.05) and VKP (r=-0.448) and TGSV (r=-0.773), and it was concluded that this situation should be taken into consideration in future studies. Key Words: Lactation, Udder, Cleanliness score, Somatic cell count