Dry cow therapy and early lactation udder health problems—Associations and risk factors

Mastitis remains the most expensive disease of dairy cows, and antibiotic dry cow therapy (DCT) at dry-off is an important part mastitis control. Regardless infection status, blanket DCT administered to all quarters which controversial due worldwide problem antimicrobial resistance. Even though selective only infected cows a more sustainable approach, choosing animals for treatment not always straightforward. Our aim was evaluate whether herd-level approach associated with early lactation udder health problems, taking into account characteristics. The information source 2015–2017 Dairy Herd Improvement data 7461 multiparous from 241 Finnish herds. Information on obtained farmers' questionnaire responses in 2017, three different approaches were DCT, no DCT. statistical tool analysis generalized linear mixed model random herd effect binary outcomes continuous outcome. two odds having high milk somatic cell count (SCC ? 200 000 cells/mL) first test-day within 5–45 days (DIM) up 45 DIM. third outcome mean lnSCC (× 1000 120 Selective prevailing practice our data. Blanket lower SCC after calving. Cows likely have calving older average during previous lactation, yield near dry-off. A if, had SCC, peak production, or findings indicate that still effective yield, especially dry-off, persistently require attention when considering next health.