A comparison of production, reproduction, and animal health for pastured dairy cows managed either conventionally or with use of organic principles

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.A.E. Mullen ◽  
E.H.A. Dings ◽  
R.R. Kearns ◽  
S.P. Washburn
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Organic Principles

scholarly journals Molecular characterization of virulence factors in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine subclinical mastitis in central Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Desiye Tesfaye Tegegne ◽  
Gezahegne Mamo ◽  
Hika Waktole ◽  
Yohannes Equar Messele
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Subclinical Mastitis ◽  
Biochemical Tests ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Genomic Study

Abstract Purpose Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the most important pathogen involved in bovine mastitis in dairy production. S. aureus produces a spectrum of extracellular protein toxins and virulence factors which are thought to contribute to the pathogenicity of the organism. The aim of this work was to isolate and molecular characterize S. aureus associated with bovine subclinical mastitis in the central part of Ethiopia. Methods A total of 265 lactating dairy cows from various dairy farms in four different geographical locations were screened by the California mastitis test (CMT) for bovine subclinical mastitis. One hundred thirty CMT-positive milk samples were collected and transported to the laboratory. Different biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for the identification of S. aureus isolates. Finally, PCR was performed for molecular detection of virulence genes. Results From a total of 265 lactating dairy cows screened, 49% (n = 130) were positive for bovine subclinical mastitis. One hundred thirty mastitic milk samples were subjected to bacterial culturing, and one hundred (76%) S. aureus isolates were identified based on phenotypic characters. Sixty-eight confirmed S. aureus isolates were obtained using PCR. The confirmed S. aureus isolates were tested for six virulence genes (tsst-1, hlb, eta, sea, clfA, and icaD) using PCR. Of the six virulence genes screened from all the isolates, only two (clfA and eta) were detected in the isolates. Out of 68 isolates, 25% and 22% were possessed the eta and clfA genes, respectively. Conclusion The presence of Staphylococcus aureus having virulence genes (eta and clfA) revealed that mastitis is a major concern nowadays affecting animal health, milk quality, and yield. Further genomic study of these isolates will provide broad new insights on virulence.

scholarly journals A Review of Lignan Metabolism, Milk Enterolactone Concentration, and Antioxidant Status of Dairy Cows Fed Flaxseed

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Brito ◽  
Yu Zang
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Dietary Manipulation ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Health It ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Secoisolariciresinol Diglucoside ◽  
Major Site ◽  
Ruminal Microbiota

Lignans are polyphenolic compounds with a wide spectrum of biological functions including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities, therefore, there is an increasing interest in promoting the inclusion of lignan-rich foods in humans’ diets. Flaxseed is the richest source of the lignan secoisolariciresinol diglucoside—a compound found in the outer fibrous-containing layers of flax. The rumen appears to be the major site for the conversion of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside to the enterolignans enterodiol and enterolactone, but only enterolactone has been detected in milk of dairy cows fed flaxseed products (whole seeds, hulls, meal). However, there is limited information regarding the ruminal microbiota species involved in the metabolism of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside. Likewise, little is known about how dietary manipulation such as varying the nonstructural carbohydrate profile of rations affects milk enterolactone in dairy cows. Our review covers the gastrointestinal tract metabolism of lignans in humans and animals and presents an in-depth assessment of research that have investigated the impacts of flaxseed products on milk enterolactone concentration and animal health. It also addresses the pharmacokinetics of enterolactone consumed through milk, which may have implications to ruminants and humans’ health.

scholarly journals Economic impact of polyherbal mixtures containing choline, lysine and methionine on milk production and health of dairy cows

2020 ◽  
pp. 864
Author(s):  
Nora Idolina Ortega Alvarez ◽  
Germán David Mendoza Martínez ◽  
Ricardo Barcena Gama ◽  
Pedro Abel Hernández García ◽  
Enrique Espinosa Ayala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Economic Impact ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Lower Number ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Health Cost ◽  
Immune Stimulants ◽  
Economic Improvement

The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic impact of supplementing dairy cows with mixtures of polyherbal products supplying conjugates of choline (BioCholine, BC), lysine (OptiLysine, L) and methionine (OptiMethionine, M), considering the costs of veterinary treatments, the nutraceutical effects of the mixtures, the partial cost and returns of milk production. Eighty postpartum Holstein cows were randomly assigned to individually receive. The pellets no containing (Control, 20 cows) and containing polyherbal products (g/d) (BC20, 19 cows; BC40, 17 cows; BC20+L40+M20, 12 cows, and BC40+L80+M40, 12 cows) were offered to cows during the milking through automatic feeders in the course of 90 days in a commercial farm. Treatment costs were grouped in terms of antibiotics, healing, anti-inflammatories, glucogenics, hormonal, intra-mammary treatments, restorative and vitamins. Milk production was not affected (P>0.05) by polyherbal additives but there were numerical differences in the number of treatments and costs; animal health cost per cow showed a high variation coefficient (average 347%). Cows receiving BC40 and BC20+L40+M20 had reduced animal health cost per cow but only the treatment BC40 showed residual effects post experiment with an economic improvement of 2.1% over the control group, showing benefits associated to a reduction in the number of doses with antibiotics and doses of immune-stimulants. Cows receiving BC40 had the best milk yield numerically in combination with the lower number of animal health costs which resulted in the highest income.

Rumen digesta and products of fermentation in cows fed varying proportions of fodder beet (Beta vulgaris) with fresh pasture or silage or straw

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 524 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Pacheco ◽  
S. Muetzel ◽  
S. Lewis ◽  
D. Dalley ◽  
M. Bryant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Microbial Growth ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Fodder Beet ◽  
Ruminal Ph ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Feeding Regimes ◽  
High Yields

Context Fodder beet (FB) is a popular feed for dairy cows in temperate climates due to its high yields, high digestibility, low nitrogen (N) content in the dry matter (DM) and convenience of feeding (grazing in situ). However, the risk of ruminal acidosis requires research to design feeding regimes that capture these benefits without compromising animal health. Aims To understand aspects of rumen function when FB is offered in conditions representative of practical feeding in temperate pastoral systems. Methods Two indoor experiments were undertaken; one with cows in late lactation fed fresh perennial ryegrass with three proportions of FB (0, 0.23 and 0.45) and another with non-lactating cows fed pasture silage with 0.65 FB or barley straw with 0.86 FB. Measurements included rumen pH, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and ammonia concentrations determined at 2-h intervals, as well as daily individual cow intakes, estimates of microbial growth and rumen dynamics. Key results The inclusion of 0, 0.23 and 0.45 FB with fresh pasture in the did not affect daily DM intakes (~14.6 kg), milk yield (~10.7 kg), microbial synthesis (129 g of N/d) or fractional outflow rates of digesta (0.16/h; 11.2 L/h) of lactating cows. The non-lactating cow ration comprising 0.86 FB with straw was inappropriate and resulted in low intakes and insufficient dietary N. Microbial growth was approximately one-third of that in cows fed pasture silage with 0.65 FB. The ruminal pH reached lower values in all treatments where FB was offered. Rumen ammonia concentrations averaged 4.4 mmol/L in cows fed pasture but was sometimes undetectable in lactating cows fed 0.45 FB and in non-lactating cows. The amount of FB in the diet affected the extent of the circadian changes in molar proportions of SCFA. Conclusions Based on the results presented here, feeding fresh FB to dairy cows should not exceed ~0.4 of their DMI with pasture (late lactation), or ~0.6 of their intake with silage (non-lactating). Implications These findings could support evidence-based recommendations for FB use, considering its effects on aspects of rumen function, such as microbial protein synthesis and pH.

298 COMPARISON OF THREE DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS FOR SUPERSTIMULATION OF DAIRY CATTLE

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 246 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Steel ◽  
J. F. Hasler
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Bovine Embryo ◽  
Transfer Program ◽  
Frozen Semen ◽  
Pfizer Animal Health ◽  
Estradiol 17Β

Traditionally, successful superstimulation of cattle depended on initiating injections of gonadotrophin at mid-cycle, approximately at second follicular wave emergence. This approach limited the convenience of scheduling donors for superstimulation. With the use of intravaginal progesterone-releasing devices and estradiol 17β, superstimulation can be initiated successfully at any time of the estrous cycle. However, because estradiol cannot be legally injected into cattle in an increasing number of countries, the efficacy of GnRH as an estradiol substitute was investigated. A retrospective analysis was performed on data collected in a commercial bovine embryo transfer program over a period of several years. All donors were lactating dairy cows at least two years of age; approximately 75% were comprised of Holstein and the remainder of Jersey, Guernsey, or Brown Swiss breeds. The three treatments employed were (1) Controls injected twice daily for 4 days with a total of 240 to 400 mg of porcine FSH (Folltropin-V, Bioniche Animal Health, Inc.) in decreasing doses starting between day 7 and day 14 of diestrus, with PG (Lutalyse, Pfizer Animal Health) given at the time of FSH injections no. 5 (35 mg) and 6 (25 mg); (2) Estradiol females received a CIDR (Pfizer Animal Health), 5.0 mg estradiol 17β and 100 mg progesterone in oil on random days of the estrous cycle; FSH was initiated 4 days later as described for controls with CIDR removal at the time of FSH injection no. 6; (3) GnRH females received a CIDR on random days of the estrous cycle and 100 μg GnRH on day 1.5 following CIDR insertion; FSH was initiated 60 h after GnRH injection as described for controls with CIDR removal at the time of FSH injection no. 6. All donors were inseminated with one straw of frozen semen 12 and 24 h after the onset of estrus. Embryos were nonsurgically recovered 7 to 8 days after onset of estrus. Only embryos of grades 1 to 3 (IETS classification) were included in the data. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey’s hsd test was used to distinguish significance among means as shown in Table 1. Estradiol females produced approximately 2 more ova/embryos per procedure than Control and GnRH groups and an average of 0.8 more embryos per female than did the Control group, but there was no difference compared to the GnRH group. Similar to what has been shown in other commercial embryo transfer data sets, nearly 25% of the donors in each group failed to produce at least one good embryo. Clearly, all three treatments resulted in efficacious superstimulation. In light of the legality issues surrounding the use of estradiol, this study shows that GnRH can be used quite successfully to superstimulate dairy cattle at random times of the estrous cycle. Table 1.Average numbers of ova and embryos recovered from dairy cows superstimulated with three different protocols We thank G.E. Seidel, Jr. and S.C. Purcell for assistance with statistical analysis.

43 COSTS RELATED TO ESTRUS SYNCHRONIZATION AND AI PROTOCOLS IN CROSSBRED HOLSTEIN-ZEBU DAIRY COWS

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
L. D. P. Sinedino ◽  
B. T. Gerhardt ◽  
A. P. Dourado ◽  
L. A. G. Nogueira
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Estradiol Benzoate ◽  
Estrus Synchronization ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Estrus Detection ◽  
The Cost

The objective of this paper was to compare 3 bovine AI protocols, evaluating the cost of each treatment and the pregnancy rates obtained, to demonstrate the importance of routine utilization of estrus synchronization techniques. The experiment was conducted in the Farm School of Cachoeiras de Macacu of the Federal Fluminense University, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, during the period from 2006 to 2007 (August to June). One hundred sixteen crossbred female Holstein-Zebu dairy cows in cycle, with body condition between 2.5 to 4 (on a scale from 1 to 5), were selected and divided randomly in 3 groups (G). Animals in G1 [n = 60; 21 heifers (H), 13 primiparous (P), and 26 multiparous (M)], with palpable corpus luteum, received 25 mg of prostaglandin F2 intravulvar, and AI was done 12 h after estrus detection. For animals in G2 (n = 30; 11 H, 6 P, and 13 M) an intravaginal progesterone device (CIDR®, Pfizer Animal Health, New York, NY, USA) was inserted and 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) was administered i.m. on Day 0. On Day 8 the device was removed and 25 mg of prostaglandin was administered i.m. on Day 9, 2 mg of EB was administered, and 30 h later, timed AI of all animals was performed. For G3 (n = 26; 9 H, 5 P, and 12 M), the protocol used was similar to that for G2, except that on Day 8 400 IU of eCG was administered (in addition to the removal of the device) and on Day 9 the dose of EB was reduced to 1 mg and timed AI was done 27 h later. AI was done with semen from 2 sires with proven fertility, by the same technician. The pregnancy diagnoses were done on Day 45 by palpation per rectum and transrectal ultrasonography. The cost-benefit relation was calculated according to the cost of pharmaceuticals multiplied by the number of animals in each experimental group divided by the number of pregnancies obtained in each one, without considering the manual labor costs in all the groups and considering 3 uses of the CIDR. The statistical analyses were done using chi-square test. The pregnancy rate obtained in G2 (60%, 18/30) was superior to that in G1 (30%, 18/60) (P < 0.05), demonstrating the efficiency of the treatment that utilized progesterone. G3 (53.85%, 14/26) was similar (P > 0.05) to G2, despite the fact that the eCG was added in this group. In reference to cost-benefit, considering only the pharmaceuticals costs and the value for pregnancy obtained in each group, the costs found, respectively, were G1 U$7.02 and U$23.66; G2 U$28.57 and U$47.59; and G3 U$47.96 and U$89.05. The lowest cost in the estrus synchronization was based on the use of prostaglandins alone; the use of progesterone increased the synchronization cost, but also increased the pregnancy rate and eliminated the need for estrus observation. The addition of eCG in cows that are cycling does not necessarily demand a increase in pregnancy rate. Failure in estrus detection, using prostaglandin alone, increased the interval from calving, causing a daily loss in milk production, which justified the investment in protocols of estrus and ovulation synchronization, contributing to increase the reproductive efficiency of a dairy cow herd.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Acute Phase Proteins in Clinically Healthy Dairy Cows in Perinatal Period and During Lactation

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Dębski ◽  
T. Nowicki ◽  
W. Zalewski ◽  
M. Ochota ◽  
J. Mrowiec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Acute Phase ◽  
Acute Phase Proteins ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Good Method ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Stage Of Lactation ◽  
West Part ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation

Abstract The estimation of acute phase proteins (APP), which are recognized as inflammation markers is a good method for animal health monitoring. Several factors such as obesity, age and sex are also known to modulate APP status. We evaluated the influence of pregnancy and lactation in 65 clinically healthy dairy Holstein-Friesian dairy cows, 2nd÷4th lactation, chosen from 3 different dairy farms located in South West part of Poland. Bovine C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin and fibrinogen were assayed using commercial ELISA kits. The highest values of CRP and haptoglobin were observed in cows during the first month after calving. The highest concentrations of fibrinogen was found in a group of cows prior to expected date of parturition and the level of this protein in blood plasma was decreasing during lactation. The significant differences of analyzed APPs among cows before delivery, during first month after calving and in lactation (1-3 months after delivery) suggested that factors like pregnancy and stage of lactation would have an influence on their concentration.

scholarly journals Effect of pregnancy and stage of lactation on energy processes in isolated blood cells of dairy cows

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-215
Author(s):  
Bogdan Dębski ◽  
Tadeusz Nowicki ◽  
Wojciech Zalewski ◽  
Agnieszka Bartoszewicz ◽  
Jan Twardoń
Keyword(s):  
Blood Plasma ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Energy State ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Fatty Tissue ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
In Blood Plasma

AbstractIntroduction: The transition period is the most challenging time for dairy cattle, which is characterised not only by negative energy balance but also by fatty tissue mobilisation.Material and Methods: The efficiency of energy pathways, β-oxidation in WBC and glycolysis in RBC (based on deoxyglucose transmembrane transport) were estimated. Insulin in blood plasma was determined using ELISA.Results: After calving and up to one month after delivery, a significant drop in blood plasma level was noticed, simultaneously with a rise in β-oxidation from 18.93 ±3.64 to 30.32 ±5.28 pmol/min/mg protein in WBC. A strong negative correlation between these two indices (r = −0.68) was found. During the period of transition to lactation an increase in glucose cross-membrane transportation from 41.44 ±4.92 to 50.49 ±6.41 μmol/h/g Hb was observed. A strong positive correlation between glucose transportation in RBC and β-oxidation in WBC (r = 0.71) was noticed. These data are in agreement with results of studies on dairy cows using liver slices from dairy cows in late pregnancy and different stages of lactation, in which changes in gene expression were analysed.Conclusion: It seems that measuring fatty acids oxidation and glycolysis using isolated blood cells may be an adequate and relatively simple method for energy state analysis to estimate the state of dairy cow metabolism and animal health.

Towards practical application of sensors for monitoring animal health; design and validation of a model to detect ketosis

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Machteld Steensels ◽  
Ephraim Maltz ◽  
Claudia Bahr ◽  
Daniel Berckmans ◽  
Aharon Antler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Model Validation ◽  
Model Calibration ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Selection Effect ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Explanatory Variables

The objective of this study was to design and validate a mathematical model to detect post-calving ketosis. The validation was conducted in four commercial dairy farms in Israel, on a total of 706 multiparous Holstein dairy cows: 203 cows clinically diagnosed with ketosis and 503 healthy cows. A logistic binary regression model was developed, where the dependent variable is categorical (healthy/diseased) and a set of explanatory variables were measured with existing commercial sensors: rumination duration, activity and milk yield of each individual cow. In a first validation step (within-farm), the model was calibrated on the database of each farm separately. Two thirds of the sick cows and an equal number of healthy cows were randomly selected for model validation. The remaining one third of the cows, which did not participate in the model validation, were used for model calibration. In order to overcome the random selection effect, this procedure was repeated 100 times. In a second (between-farms) validation step, the model was calibrated on one farm and validated on another farm. Within-farm accuracy, ranging from 74 to 79%, was higher than between-farm accuracy, ranging from 49 to 72%, in all farms. The within-farm sensitivities ranged from 78 to 90%, and specificities ranged from 71 to 74%. The between-farms sensitivities ranged from 65 to 95%. The developed model can be improved in future research, by employing other variables that can be added; or by exploring other models to achieve greater sensitivity and specificity.

scholarly journals Effects of effluent and urea application on groundwater, soil and pastures at WTARS

2000 ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.G. Roach ◽  
G. Stevens ◽  
D.A. Clark ◽  
P. Nicholas
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Nitrogen Application ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Dairy Effluent ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Magnesium Status ◽  
Health Application

encouraged by many regional councils, and the use of urea fertiliser on dairy farms has increased over recent years. A 3-year trial was started in September 1997 to investigate the effects of urea and dairy effluent applications on pastures, soils and groundwater quality. Twenty-one 0.25 ha paddocks received urea or dairy effluent at rates of 0, 100, 200, or 400 kg N/ha/yr, and were grazed by dairy cows. Increasing nitrogen application rates resulted in increased pasture production and ryegrass content, and nitrate leaching to ground water. Nitrate leaching was estimated to be 14, 18, 26 and 56 kg N/ha/yr for the 0, 100, 200 and 400 kg N/ha/yr application rates respectively. No differences in these responses were measured between urea and effluent when applied at the same rate of nitrogen. Application of dairy effluent resulted in increased average pasture potassium levels from 3.65%DM to 4.00%DM, which may have implications for animal health. Application of dairy effluent also decreased soil sulphur levels and increased soil magnesium status. Keywords: dairy effluent, groundwater, nitrate leaching, nitrogen, pasture, soil, urea

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