Selection for mastitis resistance in dairy cattle: a review with focus on the situation in the Nordic countries

The literature concerning selection for mastitis resistance in dairy cattle is reviewed and the reasons for including mastitis resistance in dairy cattle breeding programs are described. The current situation in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden is described with emphasis on the data recording schemes and the choice of models used for breeding value estimation. The use of clinical mastitis data and somatic cell counts in selection for mastitis resistance as well as implications and prospects for the future are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.