| dc.description.abstract | Mastitis, endometritis and retentio secundinarum are common health events in our current dairy cow and are responsible for high costs and decreased welfare of cows. Trace elements, in particular selenium, cobalt, copper and zinc, have become of particular interest of several authors in relation to these health events.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between the incidence of mastitis, endometritis and retentio secundinarum on herd-level and the quantities of the trace elements cobalt, copper, selenium and zinc in the diet on herd-level.
In 2012 and 2013 the cases of mastitis, endometritis and retentio secundinarum of 22 Dutch dairy herds were collected and transformed into 6 dependent variables. The trace element content in the diet of 2012 was calculated and transformed into 18 independent variables, difference was made between the 4 trace elements, summer and winter period and lactation and dry period. Subsequently multivariate regression analysis was performed, with two significant (p < 0,05) models. An increased content of copper with 1% during summer >200 days into lactation, copper during summer in dry period and zinc during winter during lactation resulted in +0,017, -0,015 and -0,027 cases of mastitis per 10 cows in 2012 respectively (p = 0,015). An increased copper content in the diet of 1% resulted in -0,020 cases of mastitis, endometritis and retentio secundinarum in 2013 per 10 cows (p = 0,041).
Little variation was seen between the trace element content between the herds, most herds had above or far above advised levels of trace elements in the diet, this could be the result of the small study size. However, the results of this study provided us essential information about the trace element content in Dutch dairy herds and new comprehension for future studies. | |
