CONTRASTE LEITEIRO: FERRAMENTA DE MONITORIZAÇÃO PARA UMA MELHOR EFICIÊNCIA DAS EXPLORAÇÕES LEITEIRAS - β- HIDROXIBUTIRATO

Abstract

The interpretation of milk metabolites from milk recording, can be a possible nutritional and management tool for dairy farmers. Some nutrient and metabolic imbalances, can be diagnosed by β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in milk. A generalized linear mixed regression model (GLMM) was constructed to determine non-nutritional factors associated with BHB greater than 0.2mmol/L. This study analyzed 110,461 individual milk samples of 9,523 lactating dairy cows collected monthly from January 2015 to March 2017 from 27 herds of South of Portugal. The models show that milk production, the stage and number of lactation, the relation fat/protein, milk fat and somatic cells influenced the BHB concentration. In conclusion the GLMM application optimize the potential of milk recording to advise dairy farmers and non-nutritional factors should be considered.