Udder health - Performance testing and coverage of mastitis

A bleeding value for resistance to mastitis was calculated in Denmark in 19 92. Sources of information for breeding value estimation derive pal-try fro m milk recording and paltry from veterinary data fi om the Danish cattle da ta bank. Data are transmitted il om farmers and veterinarians to this data bank. Though heritability value of resistance to mastitis is low (0.04). farmers and A. I, stations take this value into account for selection of their bull s. An improved method for estimating the breeding value for resistance to mast itis was introduced in March 2000. This new index is called "udder health i ndex". The effect of this index in breeding was tested under farm condition s. In groups Of cows sired by bulls with a high udder health index frequenc y of mastitis proved to be half as high as in groups OF cows sired by bulls with a low index, This is valid for the first and third lactations.