Whole blood optimization and genetic association of ex vivo TNF-α responsiveness to killed E. coli in Danish Holstein cows

Relatively consistent inter-individual cow differences in the TNF-α response ex vivo were observed from week 3 to week 8. No statistically significant association were found between the ex vivo TNF-α responsiveness and the two E. coli associated mastitis QTLs which may be due to the low number of animals (n=) in the study.