Milk yield and survival analysis in Holstein dairy cows after removing a quarter from production

Abstract

Mastitis is a costly disease of dairy cattle due to therapeutic interventions, labor, and reduced premiums secondary to elevated bulk tank somatic cell counts. In addition to antibiotic treatments and supportive care, refractory cases of mastitis can be managed by removing the affected quarter from production. Currently, there is a paucity of data on the impact of a 3-teat event in lactating dairy cows. Inadequate record keeping likely contributes to this lack of information. Interestingly, one herd in northeastern Wisconsin has documented 3-teat events over the past several years. Therefore, the objective of this retrospective study was to describe the population of animals affected by a 3-teat event and the impact of this event on lactating cow performance and survival.