TDK conference 2019

The successful management of the transition period is indispensable on large commercial dairy farms, since the occurrence of animal health disorders during this time has a great impact on the productive and economic performance. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of a complex prophylactic treatment on the milk production, culling and main animal health parameters on a Hungarian dairy farm.

Our study was carried out in a large dairy herd in Western Hungary. Cows of the treated group received a treatment combining probiotic bolus, propylene glycol and calcium bolus on the day after calving (n=122). Treated cows calved between 12 May 2019 and 12 June 2019. The control group consisted of cows that calved between 12 May 2018 and 12 June 2019 and did not receive the prophylactic treatment combination (n=92). The studied parameters of the cows were gathered from the farm management software. No major management changes were introduced on the farm in the study period that could affect our results. Linear and logistic regression models were applied in the statistical analysis.

The treated group produced 235.7 kg more milk in the first 100 days of lactation compared to the control group (95% confidence interval [CI]: -28.2-499.6 kg, p=0.0796). The treated cows had 0.41-times lower odds of having clinical mastitis in the first 60 days after calving compared to the cows of the control group (95% CI: 0.18-0.89, p=0.0242). The occurence of lameness among the treated cows was reduced by 79% (95% CI: 0.12-0.97, p=0.0326) and they were less likely to be culled within 60 days in milk compared to their control herdmates (odds ratio: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.12-0.55, p=0.0003). No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding the conception within 60 days in milk, the occurrence of metritis, and the fat and protein content of the milk produced on the first 100 days of the lactation.

Collectively, our results indicate that the combined probiotic, energy, and calcium supplementation is associated with higher milk production, decreased occurrence of mastitis, lameness and culling. Further research in needed to evaluate the efficiency of the treatment more thoroughly.