10 EFFECT OF USING PROTECTIVE AI COVER SHEATHS ON FERTILITY OF LACTATING DAIRY COWS

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
S. Bas ◽  
A. Hoet ◽  
P. Rajala-Schultz ◽  
D. Sanders ◽  
G. M. Schuenemann
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Reproductive Outcomes ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Herd Milk ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Moment

An adequate and clean artificial insemination (AI) technique is recommended to maximize reproductive outcomes in dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using protective sheaths (PS; Continental Plastic Inc., Delavan, WI, USA) to minimize contamination of the AI catheter (AIC) on pregnancies per AI (P/AI) in lactating dairy cattle. A previous study reported no improvement on cattle fertility when using PS during first service AI (King et al. 1984 Can. Vet. J. 25, 327). Lactating cows housed in free-stall barns on a commercial dairy farm with a rolling herd milk production average of 10.140 kg were presynchronized with 2 injections of PGF2α (25 mg; Lutalyse, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Kalamazoo, MI, USA) given 14 days apart (starting at 26 ± 3 d postpartum) followed by Ovsynch [OV; GnRH-7 d-PGF2α-56 h-GnRH-16 h-timed-AI(TAI)] 12 days later. Cows presenting signs of standing heat any time during the protocol received AI, whereas the remaining animals were subjected to TAI16 h after second OV GnRH (100 μg; Cystorelin, Merial, Duluth, GA, USA). At the moment of AI (one AI technician), 996 services from lactating dairy cows were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 groups; with (TRT, n = 487) or without (CON, n = 509) the use of PS. In the TRT group, the AIC protected with a PS was introduced into the vagina; once in the cranial portion of the vagina adjacent to the cervical os, the PS was pulled back and only the AIC was manipulated through the cervix into the uterine body for semen deposition. In the CON group, cows received AI without the PS. Additionally, sterile cotton swab (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) samples were taken from AIC (n = 51) after AI from both treatment groups. Pregnancy diagnosis was determined by ultrasonography 42 ± 3 d after AI. Data analyses were performed using GLIMMIX (P/AI) and FREQ (culture) procedures of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Cultured swab samples revealed that the use of PS was effective in minimizing contamination of the AIC (bacterial growth on AIC; TRT = 57.7% v. CON = 100%; P < 0.0002). Overall, the proportion of cows pregnant (all services) was greater (P = 0.03) for cows in TRT (42.7 ± 2.2%) compared with CON group (36.1 ± 2.1%). For first services postpartum, P/AI did not differ (P = 0.87) between CON (43.01 ± 4.4%) and TRT (43.8 ± 4.6%) groups. However, P/AI for second or greater services (≥2S) were greater (P = 0.007) in TRT (43.8 ± 2.9%) than in CON cows (32.3 ± 2.6%). Results from this study suggested that the use of PS during AI improved P/AI for ≥2S in lactating dairy cows. Performing a clean AI technique through the use of PS may be a cost-effective strategy to improve reproductive outcomes in dairy cattle. Further investigation is needed under various reproductive management conditions to confirm and determine the underlying mechanisms for these findings. Authors thank Coba/Select Sires Inc. (Columbus, OH, USA) for the donation of the AI protector sheaths, Meerland Dairy for providing the animals and Brian Alkire (Coba’s AI technician).

scholarly journals Evaluation of Precision Xceed® for on-site monitoring of blood ß-hydroxybutyric acid and glucose in dairy cows

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. PANOUSIS (Ν. ΠΑΝΟΥΣΗΣ) ◽  
M. KRITSEPI (Μ. ΚΡΙΤΣΕΠΗ) ◽  
I. KARAGIANNIS (Ι. ΚΑΡΑΓΙΑΝΝΗΣ) ◽  
E. KALAITZAKIS (ΕΜ. ΚΑΛΑΪΤΖΑΚΗΣ) ◽  
E. LAFI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Laboratory Method ◽  
Hydroxybutyric Acid ◽  
Subclinical Ketosis ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Site Monitoring ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Positive Correlations

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of the Precision Xceed® hand-held meter as an on-site method for determining blood ß-hydroxyboutyric acid (BHBA) and glucose concentrations, for the diagnosis of subclinical ketosis in dry and lactating dairy cows. A total of 163 clinically healthy Holstein cows (113 lactating, 8-50 days-in-milk; and 50 dry, 10-40 days pre-partum) from 5 farms located around Thessaloniki region, were blood-sampled once, from the jugular vein of each animal, 5 to 8 hours after the start of morning feeding. BHBA was determined in all 163 cows, whereas glucose only in 114 cows (50 dry and 64 lactating cows). These analyses were performed, for each cow, by both laboratory method (in serum) and Precision Xceed® meter (in whole blood, cowside). Using laboratory serum BHBA concentrations > 1.2 mmol/L as the cut-off point, 11/163 (6.7%) of the tested cows were considered as subclinically ketotic, whereas raising the cut-off to > 1.4 mmol/L, 9/163 (5.5%) cows had subclinical ketosis. All these cows (11 and 9, respectively) were lactating. None of the dry cows had subclinical ketosis at BHBA cut-off of > 1.4 mmol/L. One out of the 50 dry cows (2%) and 15/113 (13.3%) lactating cows sampled were classified as subclinically ketotic when the Precision Xceed® meter was set at BHBA concentrations > 1.2 mmol/L. Overall, mean BHBA and glucose concentrations were not statistically different (P>0.05) between the two methods. Significant positive correlations were found for BHBA (strong correlation: r=0.99; n=163; P<0.01) and glucose (moderate correlation: r=0.63; n=114; P<0.01) concentrations between Precision Xceed® and laboratory results. Precision Xceed® is less accurate for measuring glucose (glucometer) compared to BHBA (ketometer). The low percentage of false positive (<0.6%) and false negative (<4%) indicating that the Precision Xceed® meter is an accurate screening test and its results are highly reliable under field conditions. Precision Xceed® meter was highly sensitive (90.9%) and specific (96.05%) at cut off point of BHBA concentrations > 1.2 mmol/L and it had excellent test agreement for detection of subclinical ketosis when using a threshold of blood BHBA > 1.4 mmol/L.

scholarly journals PREVALENCE OF SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS IN DAIRY COWS IN SELECTED AREAS OF BANGLADESH

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Islam ◽  
MZ Islam ◽  
MA Islam ◽  
MS Rahman ◽  
MT Islam
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Subclinical Mastitis ◽  
Local Breed ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
California Mastitis Test ◽  
Lactation Stage ◽  
Late Stages

This research was carried out to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in lactating Dairy Cow of Bangladesh Agricultural University dairy farm (BAUDF) and rural areas of Tangail sadar upazila of Bangladesh during the period of July 2009 to April 2010. A total of 200 milk samples (40 from BAUDF and 160 from Tangail sadar upazila) were collected for this study which were subjected to physical examination and subsequently screened for subclinical mastitis using three indirect tests viz. White Side Test (WST), California Mastitis Test (CMT), and Surf Field Mastitis Test (SFMT). Overall prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in lactating dairy cows found in this study was 29%. Cows were infected with SCM 29.5%, 27.5% and 25.5% detection by CMT, WST and SFMT respectively. Higher prevalence of SCM was detected in milch crossbred cows (36.36%) in comparison to local bred cows (24.61%) maintained under extensive management system in Rural area of Tangail sadar upazila. The prevalence of SCM was recorded in 31.58%, 30.76% and 68.75% in cows of local area of Tangail sadar upazila, and 25.0%, 40.0% and 71.42% in cows of BAU,DF during the early, mid and late stages of lactation respectively. The highest prevalence of SCM was recorded during the early lactation stage in both the local breed cows (30.0%) and cows of BAUDF (45.83%) in comparison to their respective mid and late stages of lactation. The prevalence of SCM was highest in lactating cows having third lactation and high yielding (cows produced >10 liter milk per day) both in local breed and crossbred cows.DOI = http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v9i1.11216 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2011). 9(1): 73-78 

Effect of first 60-day cumulative milk yield on days open in Holstein dairy cows in Iran

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 148-148
Author(s):  
A. Heravi Moussavi ◽  
M. Danesh Mesgaran ◽  
T. Vafa
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Reproductive Efficiency ◽  
Root Cause ◽  
Principal Factors ◽  
Days Open ◽  
Holstein Dairy Cows

Reproduction and milk production are the principal factors that are influencing dairy farm profitability. The dairy industry in Iran has changed dramatically in the last decade. The shift toward more productive cows and larger herds in Iran is associated with a decrease reproductive efficiency (Heravi Moussavi et al., 2004). Increased knowledge about the principal causes of reduced fertility is essential. The root cause of the declining fertility is probably a combination of a variety of physiological and management factors that have an additive effect on reproductive efficiency. Dairy cattle are inseminated and pregnancy is established while dairy cows are lactating. Based on the analyses of large datasets, there is clearly an antagonistic relationship between milk production and reproduction in dairy cattle (Lucy, 2001). It was shown that the hazard ratio for cumulative first 60-day milk yield and conception in high producer cows was 8 percent less than the others and also high milk yield was a risk factor for several reproductive disorders (Grohn and Rajala-Schultz, 2000). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of first 60-day cumulative milk yield on days open in Iranian Holstein dairy cows.

Protein utilisation by the mammary gland in lactating dairy cows

1992 ◽  
Vol 1992 ◽  
pp. 1-1 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A Metcalf ◽  
D E Beever ◽  
J D Sutton ◽  
D J Humphries
Keyword(s):  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Output ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Protein Supply ◽  
Friesian Cows

Milk output has been manipulated by dietary methods for many years, however the underlying mechanisms for changes in milk composition are as yet unclear. In an attempt to further understand these mechanisms we have compared the mammary uptake of metabolites on two isoenergetic diets with different protein levels expected to provide different amounts of amino acid to the mammary gland.Early- to mid-lactation Friesian cows were used to examine the effect of increased dietary protein supply on the supply of metabolites to and uptake by the mammary gland in relation to milk protein synthesis. Two barley based concentrates were formulated to contain 20.8 (Cl) or 29.1 (C2) g N/kg DM, using fishmeal (Provimi 66, high UDP) as the supplementary protein and fed with grass silage (28.3 g N/kg DM) at a total dry matter intake of 17 kg/day. In Experiment 1 these diets were fed at 50:50 (concentrate:silage) to four lactating cows fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulae in a simple crossover design.

Improving reproductive performance in lactating dairy cows by synchronising ovulation or inducing oestrus

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gy. Gábor ◽  
J. P. Kastelic ◽  
S. Pintér ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Fixed Time ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Preliminary Trial ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Considerable Promise ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Prostaglandin F

Lactating crossbred Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n = 331) were started on an Ovsynch regimen 68 ± 8.2 days after calving; 200 µg GnRH intramuscularly (i.m.) on Days 0 and 9, and 35 mg prostaglandin F2a i.m. on Day 7. Thirty-eight and 31 cows (11.5 and 9.4%, respectively) were in oestrus on Days 0 to 6 and 7 to 8, respectively, and inseminated, and the remainder were fixed-time inseminated (on Day 10). For these three groups, pregnancy rates (60-65 days after breeding) were 31.6, 38.7 and 34.0%, respectively (P = 0.82) and calving rates were 100, 100 and 89.9% (P = 0.23). In a preliminary trial, twelve lactating cows (45 to 60 days postpartum) with inactive ovaries were given 1500 IU eCG i.m.; 10 were in oestrus within 10 days after treatment (and inseminated) and eight of these were pregnant (30 days after breeding). The Ovsynch program resulted in acceptable reproductive performance in cyclic cows and eCG treatment has considerable promise for inducing oestrus in anoestrous cows.

Feeding diets with fodder beet decreased methane emissions from dry and lactating dairy cows in grazing systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjan Jonker ◽  
David Scobie ◽  
Robyn Dynes ◽  
Grant Edwards ◽  
Cecile De Klein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Fodder Beet ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Carbohydrate Concentration ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows

Fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) has a very high readily fermentable carbohydrate concentration, which could affect rumen fermentation and reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions. The objective of the current study was to estimate CH4 emissions from dry dairy cows grazing either fodder beet supplemented with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-dominated pasture silage (6 kg DM/cow/day; FB+Sil) or forage kale (Brassica oleracea L.) supplemented with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw (3 kg DM/cow/day; kale+Str; dry cows, Experiment 1), and from dairy cows in early lactation grazing perennial ryegrass-dominated pasture alone (pasture) or supplemented with fodder beet bulbs (3 kg DM/cow/day; past+FB; lactating cows; Experiment 2). Methane measurements were performed using GreenFeed units (C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA) for 40 days in August–September 2015 (Experiment 1) and for 22 days in November–December 2015 (Experiment 2), from 45 and 31 Holstein–Friesian × Jersey dairy cows in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Dry cows grazing FB+Sil in Experiment 1 produced 18% less CH4 (g/day) and had 28% lower CH4 yield (g/kg DM intake; P < 0.001) than did cows grazing kale+Str. Lactating cows grazing past+FB in Experiment 2 produced 18% less CH4 and had 16% lower CH4 intensity (g/kg fat and protein-corrected milk production; P < 0.01) than did cows grazing pasture alone, while milk production and composition were similar for the two groups. In conclusion, feeding fodder beet at ~50% and 20% of the diet of dry and lactating dairy cows in pastoral systems can mitigate CH4 emissions.

Factors affecting fertilisation and early embryo quality in single- and superovulated dairy cattle

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Sartori ◽  
Michele R. Bastos ◽  
Milo C. Wiltbank
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Embryo Quality ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Embryo Yield ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
High Feed

Data on fertilisation and embryo quality in dairy cattle are presented and the main factors responsible for the low fertility of single-ovulating lactating cows and embryo yield in superovulated dairy cattle are highlighted. During the past 50 years, the fertility in high-producing lactating dairy cattle has decreased as milk production increased. Recent data show conception rates to first service to be approximately 32% in lactating cows, whereas in heifers it has remained above 50%. Fertilisation does not seem to be the principal factor responsible for the low fertility in single-ovulating cows, because it has remained above 80%. Conversely, early embryonic development is impaired in high-producing dairy cows, as observed by most embryonic losses occurring during the first week after fertilisation. However, in superovulated dairy cattle, although fertilisation failure is more pronounced, averaging approximately 45%, the percentage of fertilised embryos viable at 1 week is quite high (>70%). Among the multifactorial causes of low fertility in lactating dairy cows, high feed intake associated with low concentrations of circulating steroids may contribute substantially to reduced embryo quality. Fertilisation failure in superovulated cattle may be a consequence of inappropriate gamete transport due to hormonal imbalances.

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