• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.272-277
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• 2014

This retrospective study evaluated the effect of somatic cell count (SCC) in milk during early lactation on reproductive performance in dairy cows. Data were collected on 774 cows from six dairy farms, including cow parity, dates of previous calving, artificial insemination, pregnancy diagnosis, incidence of postpartum endometritis, reproductive performance (the intervals from calving to first insemination and conception), milk production and SCC. Data on 774 lactations were grouped based on the average first 3 months postpartum linear somatic cell score (SCS) as T1 (< 3.0, n = 521), T2 (3.0 ${\leq}$ and < 4.0, n = 113), and T3 (${\geq}$ 4.0, n = 140) groups. The odds ratio (OR) for the probability of endometritis increased 1.6 (p < 0.05) and 3.2 times (p < 0.0001) in the T2 and T3 groups, respectively, compared with that in the T1 group. The hazard of first insemination by 150 days in milk (DIM) was lower in the T3 group (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.76, p < 0.01) than in the T1 group. First insemination conception rate did not differ among the 3 groups (28.7-34.2%, p > 0.05). The hazard of pregnancy by 365 DIM in the T3 group was lower (HR: 0.75, p < 0.05 respectively) than in the T1 and T2 groups. The SCS during 4 to 7 months postpartum differed (p < 0.0001) among the 3 groups. Farm and cow parity were important risk factors for higher SCS (${\geq}$ 4.0). Multiparous cows were more likely to have a higher SCS (OR: 2.26, p = 0.0005) compared with primiparous cows. In conclusion, higher SCS (${\geq}$ 4.0) during early lactation was associated with decreased reproductive performance of dairy cows.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1251-1258
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• 2011

Multiparous Hanwoo cull cows have been generally regarded to have poor meat quality compared to young and primiparous Hanwoo in Korea, and there have been few studies attempting to understand various feeding programs for the multiparous Hanwoo cull cow. In this study, the effects of a feeding program consisting of two different diets for multiparous Hanwoo cull cows on meat production and quality were tested in comparison to a commercially used diet. Diets for treatment consisted of two levels of crude protein contents, 14.28% and 12.70% for early fattening and finishing, respectively. For a control, commercially used fattening feed (12.39% crude protein) was used. Feeding trials were performed at three different farms. In farm A, 29 herds of multiparous Hanwoo cull cows were used for the treatment group and 3 herds for the control. In farms B and C, the number of animal herds for treatment and control were 8 vs. 3 and 11 vs. 4 herds, respectively. Experiment diets were fed for an average of 211 days and in treatment, early fattening diet was fed for 4 months and then finishing feed was fed until slaughter. Average daily gains, thickness of back fat, area of Longissimus dorsi, carcass weight, index of carcass weight, intramuscular fat, meat color and texture were analyzed after slaughter. Random effect model [8] was employed in effect analysis. Positive effects of treatment were found in terms of average daily gain, back fat thickness, Longissimus dorsi area, carcass weight, and intramuscular fat. Carcass yield index, meat color and texture showed a negative effect. In this study, significant results were not found in all factors analyzed because the variance between experiment farms was large, however the 90% confidence interval of summary effects of ADG, back fat thickness, Longissimus dorsi area and carcass weight were significant and that of carcass yield index, intramuscular fat, meat color and texture were less so. Conclusively, a high protein diet fed early during the fattening period in multiparous Hanwoo cull cows could have positive effects on meat production.