Effect of High Somatic Cell Counts on Reproductive Performance of Chilean Dairy Cattle

Mastitis is caused by environmental or contagious bacteria related to poor milking procedures or hygiene, and continues as an economically important disease. Clinical mastitis may affect the interestrus interval and cause abortion by stimulating the release of inflammatory mediators and pyrexia. Subclinical mastitis results in lower reproductive performance, and a negative effect of a linear somatic cell count on embryo survival has been reported. Still, a paucity of research exists on the magnitude of the effect of subclinical mastitis on reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows. The hypothesis was that subclinical mastitis, diagnosed by an elevated somatic cell count (SCC), affects fertility and reproductive performance of dairy cattle by a reduction in conception and an increase on the risk of abortion. The objectives were to evaluate the effect of high SCC during early lactation on reproductive performance, and to determine the association between a high linear SCC (LNSCC) and the risk of abortion in a population of central-southern Chilean dairy cattle.