A study of the reproductive performance, milk yield, milk constituents, and somatic cell count of Holstein-Friesian and Montbeliarde cows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the reproductive performance, milk yield, milk constituents, and somatic cell count of Montbeliarde (M) and Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows. The number of data points used for the first calving age (FCA), calving interval (CI), milk traits, and milk constituents were 87, 264, 270 and 108 for M cows and 167, 450, 491, and 114 for HF cows. The effects of herd on FCA, CI, 305-day milk yield (305-dMY), and protein content (PC) were determined to be statistically significant (P < 0.05), as were the effects of breed on FCA, 305-dMY, fat content (FC), and somatic cell count (SCC). For M cows, the average FCA, CI, 305-dMY, FC, PC, and SCC were found to be 952.2 ± 14.67 days, 391.6 ± 5.75 days, 5956.5 ± 84.73 kg, 3.55 ± 0.07%, 2.93 ± 0.04%, and 138,644 cells/mL, respectively. When determined for HF cows, the average values of the same characteristics were shown to be 909.1 ± 13.66 days, 399.6 ± 5.93 days, 6655.3 ± 109.57 kg, 3.26 ± 0.10%, 2.85 ± 0.06%, and 199,022 cells/mL, respectively. M cows had lower 305-dMY values but higher milk constituents and SCCs than the HF breed. The high temperatures and humidity observed in the summer season caused a significant decrease in the reproduction and milk constituents of cows subject to Mediterranean climatic conditions.