Impact of udder disorders on culling of dairy cows.

Data from a prospective longitudinal study carried out from 1986 to 1990 in 47 commercial Holstein dairy herds from western France were used to quantify the effects of udder health disorders on the risk of culling. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between 4 udder health disorders and early and late culling. Teat injuries were associated with an increased risk of early culling in the current and following lactations. Mastitis and high milk cell count were associated with an increased risk of late culling in the current and following lactations, respectively.