The relationship between milk production and antibody response to XXXX during the peripartum period.

@entity291 @entity12027 @entity1271
Suboptimal innate and immune mechanisms of host resistance during the peripartum period may contribute to increased incidence of @entity1271 . To evaluate associations between antibody response to @entity12027 and milk production during the peripartum period, 136 Holstein @entity291 and heifers from three herds with known antibody response profiles, were evaluated for projected 305-d milk, protein, and fat yield. Using a previously described index (Wagter et al., 2000), @entity291 were quantitatively classified based on their profile of antibody response to @entity12027 into high, average, or low antibody response groups. The single-effect antibody response group contributed significantly to variation in fat and protein yield, but not milk yield. The interaction between antibody response and parity significantly contributed to the variation in milk, fat, and protein yields; therefore the effects of group were reported on a within-parity basis. Among first-parity @entity291 , low responders had a higher fat and protein yield than high or average antibody responder animals. Among older @entity291 (parity 3 or greater) milk yield was significantly higher for those in the high antibody response group compared with average and low response groups. However, no significant differences in fat or protein yields were observed between high and low antibody response groups. These results suggest the possibility to select @entity291 for enhanced immune response with no adverse effects on yield. That first-parity @entity291 with low antibody response produce more fat and protein may be offset by the fact that @entity1271 occurrence was highest in this group in two out of three herds investigated. Selection for high immune response may prove beneficial to herd life by maintaining optimal yield, yet minimizing occurrence of disease.
