The prevalence, temporal and spatial trends in bulk tank equivalent milk fat depression in Irish milk recorded herds
Abstract Background Milk fat is important in terms of economic value and in its potential to provide information concerning cow diet and health. Under current milk payment schemes in Ireland farmer income is directly linked to milk fat production. Methods A descriptive analysis of milk fat depressio...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-05-01
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| Series: | Irish Veterinary Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13620-017-0092-y |
| _version_ | 1818971554286927872 |
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| author | Catherine I. Carty Alan G. Fahey Morgan R. Sheehy Steve Taylor Ian J. Lean Conor G. McAloon Luke O’Grady Finbar J. Mulligan |
| author_facet | Catherine I. Carty Alan G. Fahey Morgan R. Sheehy Steve Taylor Ian J. Lean Conor G. McAloon Luke O’Grady Finbar J. Mulligan |
| author_sort | Catherine I. Carty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Milk fat is important in terms of economic value and in its potential to provide information concerning cow diet and health. Under current milk payment schemes in Ireland farmer income is directly linked to milk fat production. Methods A descriptive analysis of milk fat depression (MFD) as calculated from test day milk recording data across all milk recording herds from 2004 to 2014 was undertaken. A dataset of 17 million test day records was used to calculate the prevalence of MFD in Irish milk recorded herds and to create a graphical description of the major descriptive epidemiological trends in milk fat depression in time and space in Ireland. The bulk tank equivalent (BTE) for test day milk fat was calculated for each herd and for cohorts of cows within herds using the formula; BTE milk fat = sum test day fat kg/sum test day milk kg. Milk fat depression was defined as BTE <3.3% milk fat and BTE > 3.2% milk protein. Results The annual prevalence of MFD decreased significantly over time in a linear manner until 2014. Across all years the highest prevalence of MFD occurred in April or May. The highest prevalence occurred most commonly in May, with 9.1% of herds experiencing MFD in 2014. The highest prevalence of MFD in autumn calved cohorts occurred at 181–210 days in milk whereas it occurred at days 61–90 in milk in spring calving cohorts. The stage of lactation for the most common occurrence of MFD in both the spring and autumn cohorts corresponded with the month of May. There were some notable spatial patterns regarding variations in prevalence of MFD across the country. Cohorts of cows with the highest genetic values for milk yield had the highest prevalence of MFD whereas cohorts of cows with the highest breeding values for milk fat percent had the lowest prevalence of MFD. Conclusions A subpopulation of Irish herds experienced the condition of MFD. Descriptive analysis suggested spatial, temporal and animal level associations. This condition warrants further investigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:54:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7500baea72cb43de8e471d2e8c356c35 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-0481 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:54:13Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Irish Veterinary Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-7500baea72cb43de8e471d2e8c356c352022-12-21T19:36:55ZengBMCIrish Veterinary Journal2046-04812017-05-0170111410.1186/s13620-017-0092-yThe prevalence, temporal and spatial trends in bulk tank equivalent milk fat depression in Irish milk recorded herdsCatherine I. Carty0Alan G. Fahey1Morgan R. Sheehy2Steve Taylor3Ian J. Lean4Conor G. McAloon5Luke O’Grady6Finbar J. Mulligan7School of Veterinary Medicine, University College DublinSchool of Agriculture and Food Science, University College DublinDevenish NutritionDevenish NutritionScibus ConsultancySchool of Veterinary Medicine, University College DublinSchool of Veterinary Medicine, University College DublinSchool of Veterinary Medicine, University College DublinAbstract Background Milk fat is important in terms of economic value and in its potential to provide information concerning cow diet and health. Under current milk payment schemes in Ireland farmer income is directly linked to milk fat production. Methods A descriptive analysis of milk fat depression (MFD) as calculated from test day milk recording data across all milk recording herds from 2004 to 2014 was undertaken. A dataset of 17 million test day records was used to calculate the prevalence of MFD in Irish milk recorded herds and to create a graphical description of the major descriptive epidemiological trends in milk fat depression in time and space in Ireland. The bulk tank equivalent (BTE) for test day milk fat was calculated for each herd and for cohorts of cows within herds using the formula; BTE milk fat = sum test day fat kg/sum test day milk kg. Milk fat depression was defined as BTE <3.3% milk fat and BTE > 3.2% milk protein. Results The annual prevalence of MFD decreased significantly over time in a linear manner until 2014. Across all years the highest prevalence of MFD occurred in April or May. The highest prevalence occurred most commonly in May, with 9.1% of herds experiencing MFD in 2014. The highest prevalence of MFD in autumn calved cohorts occurred at 181–210 days in milk whereas it occurred at days 61–90 in milk in spring calving cohorts. The stage of lactation for the most common occurrence of MFD in both the spring and autumn cohorts corresponded with the month of May. There were some notable spatial patterns regarding variations in prevalence of MFD across the country. Cohorts of cows with the highest genetic values for milk yield had the highest prevalence of MFD whereas cohorts of cows with the highest breeding values for milk fat percent had the lowest prevalence of MFD. Conclusions A subpopulation of Irish herds experienced the condition of MFD. Descriptive analysis suggested spatial, temporal and animal level associations. This condition warrants further investigation.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13620-017-0092-yMilk fatMilk fat depressionMilk solidsDairy cows |
| spellingShingle | Catherine I. Carty Alan G. Fahey Morgan R. Sheehy Steve Taylor Ian J. Lean Conor G. McAloon Luke O’Grady Finbar J. Mulligan The prevalence, temporal and spatial trends in bulk tank equivalent milk fat depression in Irish milk recorded herds Irish Veterinary Journal Milk fat Milk fat depression Milk solids Dairy cows |
| title | The prevalence, temporal and spatial trends in bulk tank equivalent milk fat depression in Irish milk recorded herds |
| title_full | The prevalence, temporal and spatial trends in bulk tank equivalent milk fat depression in Irish milk recorded herds |
| title_fullStr | The prevalence, temporal and spatial trends in bulk tank equivalent milk fat depression in Irish milk recorded herds |
| title_full_unstemmed | The prevalence, temporal and spatial trends in bulk tank equivalent milk fat depression in Irish milk recorded herds |
| title_short | The prevalence, temporal and spatial trends in bulk tank equivalent milk fat depression in Irish milk recorded herds |
| title_sort | prevalence temporal and spatial trends in bulk tank equivalent milk fat depression in irish milk recorded herds |
| topic | Milk fat Milk fat depression Milk solids Dairy cows |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13620-017-0092-y |
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