Hg. Allore et Lr. Jones, AN APPROACH TO SUMMARIZE SOMATIC-CELL SCORE TRENDS FOR A DATA-DRIVEN,DECISION-SUPPORT SYSTEM, Journal of dairy science, 78(6), 1995, pp. 1377-1381
A set of analytical routines were developed to determine significant t
rends in values for herd DHI somatic cell scores. These trends were us
ed as input to a data-driven, decision support system to aid mastitis
management of dairy cattle. The trends of interest were those experien
ced over the last six DHI sample periods for the entire herd, for thre
e parity groups, and for three stages of lactation. First, cows within
the herd were split randomly into two equal groups to account for wit
hin-herd variation. For each group, linear regression was calculated f
or somatic cell score over time within each parity by stage of lactati
on group. The 18 slope estimates were then analyzed using a two-way AN
OVA to test for main fixed effects of parity, stage of lactation, and
their interaction. The results of the trend analyses were converted to
facts that were asserted to an embedded expert system for further eva
luation.