Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Ward, Stephanie H.

Committee Member

Rude, Brian

Committee Member

Smith, Trent

Date of Degree

12-9-2011

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Nutrition

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences

Abstract

Objective 1 was to investigate effects of heat stress and breed on milk and component yield for Holstein and Jersey cows on the same farm. Objective 2 was to determine the effects of breed on udder health as measured by somatic cell count (SCC) during times of heat stress. Data were collected from DHIA records of 142 Jersey cows and 586 Holstein cows from the University herd at Mississippi State University. During heat stress Jersey milk yield and 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) increased (P<0.01). Holstein milk yield and FCM decreased during heat stress (P<0.01). Heat stress affected somatic cell count (SCC) although effects varied by intensity of heat stress. Breed did not have an affect on SCC. Milk fat and protein percentages declined for both breeds in heat stress conditions. Milk fat but not milk protein of Jersey cows increased as stress increased from mild to severe.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/19091

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