Relationship between health data and dairy performance traits in Fleckvieh and Vorderwaelder cattle

In Baden-Wurttemberg, a voluntary cattle health monitoring system (GMON) is in place since 2010. Aims of the present study were to identify if farm type (organic vs conventional) and breed (Fleckvieh vs Vorderwaelder) have an effect on health traits. Additionally, genetic relationship between health traits and dairy performance traits were analysed. Traits analysed were mastitis (MAST), ovary cysts (CYST), milk fever (MF+) and early reproduction disorders (EREPRO+). Farm type and breed had significant effects: cows on organic farms showed significant less diagnoses for MAST, CYST and EREPRO + than cos on conventional farms. Vorderwaelder cows showed significantly higher diagnosis frequencies than Fleckvieh. Genetic correlations between MAST and persistency were lightly negative and between EREPRO + and 305-day-lactation positive. This points to negative genetic relationships between dairy performance and udder health resp. fertility. Overall, opportunities and constraints of GMON could be shown. For being able to use GMON even more comprehensive as performance testing tool it is important to recruit more farms for the voluntary monitoring.