The objective of this study was to analyze the associations of body condition score (BCS) and BCS change (∆BCS) during the dry period and the first 100 d of lactation with daily milk yield. The involvement of health status in these associations was also evaluated. The relationship between BCS and ∆BCS with milk yield was more evident for nadir BCS (nBCS; defined as the lowest daily BCS from calving to 100 d in milk [DIM]) and for the ∆BCS occurring between calving and nBCS. Cows categorized in the lowest nBCS category and cows with greater loss in BCS from calving to nadir had the greatest average milk yields at 60 DIM and 305 DIM. In agreement, clear patterns for lactation curves were identified when the study cows were categorized by nBCS and ∆BCS for the calving to nBCS period. There was no evident association of health status with the reported relationships between BCS and milk yield.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.