Effect of Mastitis on the Reproductive Performance of Holstein Frisian Cows in Northern Gezira Dairy Project (Al Bagair)

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mastitis on reproductive performance of Holstein Frisian cattle reared in the farm of the Arab Company for Agricultural Production and Processing (ACAPP), about 40 km south of Khartoum at Al Bagair area. A total number of 4893 recorded cases of mastitis covering the period from 1990 to 1999 were studied for their effect on reproductive performance under the prevailing management and environmental conditions. The traits examined were calving interval (CI), days open (DO), and numbers of services per conception (NSC).Data were subjected to statistical analysis of variance. The results obtained showed that the overall mean (CI), (DO), and (NSC), were 394 ± 45.87 days, 110.21 ± 45.75 days, and 2.81 ± 1.1-63 respectively. The mean (CI) was highly significantly (P? 0.01) affected by the level of mastitis (MS). The results revealed were (403.00± 50.65, 399.03± 49.33, 388.40 ± 40.60) at high, medium, and low level of (MS) respectively. The effect of (MS) on (DO) was highly significant (P? 0.01) the results obtained for (DO) were (117.27± 50.75, 114.69± 49.25, and 104.70±40.54). The effect on (NS/C) was also highly significant (P? 0.01). The results obtained for (NS/C) were (3.07±1.89, 2.92± 1.74, 2.63 ± 1.41) at high, medium, and low level of (MS) respectively. It is concluded that mastitis had significantly affected the reproductive performance of Holstein Friesian cows in the farm under study.