Dairy Cow Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

2025, Animals

Dairy cow lameness is considered one of the most important animal welfare and economic concerns for the dairy industry. Cow-based risk factors for lameness are not well described, especially in comparison to herd-level risk factors such as housing environment and roadway condition. This study investigates the use of routinely gathered herd health data as cow-based risk factors for lameness in dairy cows. A total of 1715 cows in 10 pasture-based Irish dairy herds were monitored for lameness during the spring and summer of 2013 and 2014 as part of the University College Dublin herd health programme. Herd health monitoring data analysed to identify potential risk factors for lameness consisted of milk production data, genetic merit information, calving details, peri-parturient disease records and body condition scores. This analysis showed a significant effect of increasing parity, lower body condition score at calving and excessive body condition loss after calving on the risk of cows being diagnosed as lame during the lactation. In conclusion, routinely gathered herd health monitoring data can be used to identify cows at increased risk of being lame and to implement lameness control strategies.

2025, Animals

Herd-level risk factors related to the cow’s environment have been associated with lameness. Uncomfortable stall surface and inadequate depth of bedding as well as abrasive alley way surface are contributing factors to increased levels of lameness. Access to pasture has been found as having a beneficial effect on cows’ locomotion. However, dairy cattle managed under grazing conditions are exposed to a different set of risk factors for lameness, mainly associated with cow tracks. Cow-based risk factors for lameness are not as clearly defined as the herd level risk factors. The objective of the present study was to use routine herd health monitoring data to identify cow-based risk factors for lameness and utilise this information to indicate cows at risk of developing lameness in the first 150 days of lactation. Lameness data were gathered from 10 pasture-based dairy herds. A total of 1715 cows were monitored, of which 1675 cows were available for analysis. Associations between lamene...

2025, Irish veterinary journal

The effects of lameness on fertility have been documented frequently but few data are available from seasonally breeding, pasture-based herds (such as those used in Ireland) where cows are housed during the winter months but managed at pasture for the remainder of the year. This study determined the prevalence of lameness in a group of 786 cows in 10 pasture-based Irish dairy herds before, during and after the breeding season and assessed the relationship between lameness and the reproductive performance in these herds through serial locomotion scoring during the grazing period. Lameness prevalences of 11.6 % before, 14.6 % during and 11.6 % after the breeding season were found and these compared favourably to results from housed cattle and are similar to other studies carried out in grazing herds. A Cox proportional hazards model with locomotion score as time varying covariate was used. After controlling for the effect of farm, month of calving, body condition score at calving, bod...

2025, Irish veterinary journal

2025, Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

2025, Animals

Knowing the body weight (BW) of a cow at a specific moment or measuring its changes through time is of interest for management purposes. The current work aimed to validate the feasibility of predicting BW using the day in milk, parity, milk yield, and milk mid-infrared (MIR) spectrum from a multiple-country dataset and reduce the number of predictors to limit the risk of over-fitting and potentially improve its accuracy. The BW modeling procedure involved feature selections and herd-independent validation in identifying the most interesting subsets of predictors and then external validation of the models. From 1849 records collected in 9 herds from 360 Holstein cows, the best performing models achieved a root mean square error (RMSE) for the herd-independent validation between 52 ± 2.34 kg to 56 ± 3.16 kg, including from 5 to 62 predictors. Among these models, three performed remarkably well in external validation using an independent dataset (N = 4067), resulting in RMSE ranging fr...

2025

A rumen model is described, by which parameters as rate constant of degradation, rate constant of passage and intake can be integrated to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative values of these rate constants or to identify knowledge gaps with regard to aspects of processes of rumen degradation, rumen turnover and microbial protein and volatile fatty acid production. Applying the rumen model to data of rumen evacuation studies shows that estimates of rate of degradation derived from nylon bag studies and of rate of passage derived from marker studies were not quantitatively describing feed intake and rumen degradation. It is further described, how by use of a model approach, end products of rumen fermentation as microbial protein, volatile fatty acids and undegraded feed protein can be estimated.

2025, Staff Papers

South Dakota dairy industry has shifted toward large operations to offset declining numbers of dairy cows and milk production stemming from rapid exodus of smaller (<100-cow) dairy farms. This study examines the regional and state level economic impacts of expansion by large and medium size modern dairies. Whole-farm budgets were constructed from producer panel and secondary data. Based on IMPLAN results, the 1000-head dairy generally had higher output, employment and value added multipliers resulting from increased feed and wholesale purchases. The 150-head dairy, which raised its own feed and replacement heifers, had higher amounts of value added.

2025

In several areas with a high density of animal production, manure is no longer exclusively considered as a fertiliser. In order to limit the production or a more environmental friendly use, efforts are done to reduce the mineral excretion. In such a context, both from governmental side as for the producer a reliable calculation of the on farm production is useful. Based on the input (feed) output (produced rabbits, dead rabbits) balance, the nitrogen and phosphorus farm excretion is calculated for different production systems. For a closed farm (breeding + fattening) the most convenient expression of mineral excretion is per female on average present in the farm. The excretion amounts 7.56 kg N and 4.72 kg P 2 O 5 per doe/year in a commercial rabbit farm based on an average production/doe of 45 fatteners of 2.5 kg. In an exclusively fattening unit (between 0.8 and 2.5 kg weight and a feed conversion ratio of 3.25), the excretion amounts 88 g N and 60 g P 2 O 5, per produced rabbit.

2025, Uludağ Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi

Tannins are polyphenolic compounds. Tannins are chemically divided into two main groups as hydrolysable tannins and condensed tannins. Tannins are used in ruminants in order to prevent ruminal tympani and the formation of high methane gas. In the present study, it was aimed to determine the effects of tannin on of negative energy balance metabolism in dairy cattle. Animals, after the physical examination, were divided into 2 groups as study (test group n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Herbal extract (Quebracho Colorado) of tannin (Unitan Saica Inc., Argentina) which is appropriate for animal use, was applied 90 gr per animal daily for 6 weeks (each 3 weeks in pre and postpartum period) to animals in study group. While no any tannin or other additive was given to the animals in control group. Faeces, blood and milk (only after parturition on days 7, 14 and 21) samples were collected from both group on 21 st day before parturition, during parturition and 7 th , 14 th , and 21 st day from parturition. Beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB), albumin, calcium, phosphorus, total protein, BUN, GGT, cholesterol and triglycerides from blood samples and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) levels from milk samples were evaluated. Difference between the groups for BUN, MUN, calcium, phosphorus, triglycerides, albumin, total protein and GGT was not detected. However, a decline was detected for BHB levels during parturition, 7 th , 14 th (not statistically significant) and 21 st (statistically significant) days after parturition in the study group compared to the control group. As a result; in animals, as detected lower BHB levels in animals applied tannin in study group compared to the control group, tannin can be used for the protection against negative energy balance.

2025

This study was initiated with the objective of examining the existing production, consumption and marketing of milk, identify problems of milk supply shortfall and estimate the benefits that an investor can get from milk investment in Jima town. Descriptive statistics and chain ratio method were used to analyze the data. The result indicated that the existing annual supply of 1.3 million liter from 200 producers couldn't satisfy the huge demand from the large number of consumers. Shortage of feed, dairy cow disease, absence of improved production technologies and shortage of capital were the major constraints of dairy production in the town. Determination of TEPU and revenue indicated that a maximum per unit revenue of 175,000 Birr/10,294 USD can be achieved at an optimal price 7 Birr or 0.41 USD/liter and 100% of the consuming households are capable to subscribe to the supply at this optimal price. The result of demand projection also indicated that the current aggregate demand...

2025, Grass and Forage Science

Sodium fluorescein (SF) was evaluated and validated as an internal marker in cattle for the location of urine patches in pastures. Three trials were carried out aiming at the following: evaluating the effect of dilution and volume of application on SF fluorescence on the environment; testing dosages and duration of excretion of SF administered orally to cattle; and validating the methodology for SF use on the location of cattle urine patches in pastures. The marker was tested in beef cattle kept on pastures under three grazing systems: degraded pasture under extensive management (De), intensively managed dryland pasture with high stocking rate (Id) and intensively managed irrigated pasture with high stocking rate (Ii). Besides the localization of urination sites, the number of urinations/ animal/d and the area covered by urine were also determined. The residue of SF remained fluorescent in the pasture foliage up to 34 h after urination events, allowing the location of urine patches by a black-light flashlight. There was no difference between grazing systems in the number of urine patches/animal/d during the rainy and dry seasons. The average number of urine patches was approximately 11/animal/d. As expected, the estimated volume and area covered by urine varied according to the stocking density. The chosen SF dose (50 mg kg À1 LW) did not adversely affect the animals when administered once daily during 2 d. However, the same SF dose administered during four consecutive days caused urinary disorder in the animal. The distribution of urine patches was spatially dependent on specific characteristics of the paddock.

2025, Ruminant Science

How to cite this manuscript: Tiwari S, Singh Y, Sirohi R, Mamta, Kumar A, Singh DN, Yadav BK and Kushwaha R (2024). Determining the right time of insemination based on physiological, endocrine and biochemical fluctuations in Sahiwal cows.... more

2025, Ruminant Science

How to cite this manuscript: Chourasiya Mona, Chouksey Shivika, Shastri Shriya, Sharma Pushkar and Shukla Satya Nidhi (2024). Effect of seasonality on reproductive parameters in sirohi bucks reared under environmental conditions of Madhya... more

2025, Ruminant Science

How to cite this manuscript: Singh Pawanjit, Nigam R, Pandey Vijay and Sharma Ambika (2024). Serum mineral and metabolic profile of healthy, subclinical and clinical mastitic Sahiwal cows in different stages of lactation. Ruminant Science... more

2025, Ruminant Science

How to cite this manuscript: Vandana, Kansal Garima, Kumar Brijesh, Chandra Pradeep, Bharati PK and Pandey Hariom (2024). Trends of reproductive performance of Muzaffarnagari sheep reared under an intensive management system at an... more

2025

Forty cows of the Black-and-White breed at 2 nd to 5 th lactation were divided into 4 groups (10 in each group) and were fed according to 4 different regimes during the dry period and the first 84 days of lactation. Nutrition levels for both periods were: moderate-moderate (MM); moderate-abundant (MH); abundant-moderate (HM) and abundant-abundant (HH). The abundant feeding during

2025, HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)

Livestock is the main source of methane (CH 4 ) emissions. It is important to accurately determine emissions from ruminants that meet standardized international guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories. A new method to improve the accuracy of CH 4 emissions that complies with IPCC rules for a Tier 3 method is described and evaluated. This method, developed by INRA (French Institute for Agricultural Research), was applied to the French inventory of CH 4 emissions by ruminants and compared with the IPCC Tier 2 method. For enteric CH 4 , depending on the animal category, the INRA CH 4 emission estimates lay between 88% and 114% of IPCC's. The INRA/IPCC ratio for enteric emission was close to unity and did not differ between methods (P = 0.43) for adult cows (i.e. most cattle). In France, feedlot manure is stored in aerobic conditions, and so the INRA/IPCC fit for manure emission was poorer (P < 0.05). The INRA/IPCC fit for enteric CH 4 was very close between methods to that for total CH 4 (P = 0.39), enteric CH 4 representing 93% of total emissions. The main improvement is the use of a robust equation (from numerous data and diets), based on digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) corrected for the digestive interactions, to predict CH 4 consistently from enteric and manure sources. It was developed for the French livestock inventory but is customizable for other countries. This new improved CH 4 estimation method, based on equations from a large literature database, complies with IPCC rules for a Tier 3 method.

2025, Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences

2025, HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)

2025

Main messages: Feeding behaviour is highly variable between animals. Feeding behaviour modifies rumen pH pattern and occurrence of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). Avoiding SARA increases animal welfare, milk production and therefore... more

2025, Tropical Animal Health and Production

The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence and losses associated with subclinical mastitis (SCM) caused by Staphylococcus aureus in Ethiopian crossbred dairy cows. A split-udder trial was carried out to determine milk yield losses in udder quarter with S. aureus-caused SCM. Each quarter of the study cows was examined using the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and quarter milk production was measured over a period of 8 days. Milk yield losses for CMT positive quarters were estimated by comparing production of quarters with CMT score 0. Mean milk yield for uninfected healthy quarters was 1.66 kg per milking (95% CI, 1.66-1.55 kg per milking), and the rate of milk reduction for quarters with CMT scores of 1+, 2+, and 3+ was 25%, 33%, and 48%, respectively. Economic losses at different farm-size levels were calculated by multiplying the prevalence of CMT scores with milk yield losses associated with respective CMT scores. In Debre Ziet dairy herds, a quarter with SCM due to S. aureus lost an average of 34.5% of its potential milk production while the total milk yield loss per cow was estimated at 6.8%. Losses were highest in large-scale (13%) farms and lowest (3.7%) in small-scale. Based on the prevalence, the overall financial loss for each cow per lactation was 984.64 Eth Birr (US$78.65) and losses in large farms (1,882.40 Eth Birr or US $150.35) were over 3.5 times the loss in small-size farms. These figures possibly underestimate the potential benefits of mastitis control program as they do not include other direct and indirect costs.

2025, HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)

In PDO Comté cheese area, especially in the Jura Mountains, grass from pastures is the main feed of dairy cows during the grazing season. To maintain the high nutritive value of grass, farmers have to cut grass refusals after the exit of cows from the paddock. An alternative is to use horses to eat these grass refusals, thanks to complementary feeding behaviours between these 2 herbivorous species. Thus, some farmers associate draught horses to dairy cattle on pastures. The aim of our study is to analyse the farmers' practices about grazing management when they associate horses and dairy cows on the same pastures. A survey was performed in 14 mixed (draught horses + dairy cattle) farms producing PDO Comté cheese. The results highlighted three types of associations between horses and lactating cows on pastures: (i) successive grazing, (ii) simultaneous grazing, (iii) winter grazing of horses. Moreover, three managements of grass refusals by cows were identified: (i) horses only, (ii) mowing only, (iii) both horses and mowing. In view of these 14 farms, the use of horse grazing to manage grass refusals could depend on the type of horse grazing, the equine stocking rate and the value of horses/cows ratio.

2025, Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Lameness affects dairy cows worldwide and is usually associated with pain. Behavioral differences in lame compared to non-lame tie-stall-housed dairy cows might be less pronounced than in free-stall-housed, since the principle demands to a cow's locomotor system and thus the impact of lameness on behavior seem to be lower in tie stalls. Behavioral differences between lame and non-lame cows might be used to estimate the impact of lameness on the well-being of tied dairy cows. In the current study, lame cows were categorized as locomotion scoring between 2.25 and 3.25 on a 1–5 scale. The aim was to compare the eating, rumination and lying behavior of lame cows against non-lame tied dairy cows, in order to draw conclusions on the association of lameness, behavior and well-being in tied dairy cows. The eating and rumination behavior of 26, the lying behavior of 30, and the relative upright and lying activities of 25 matched case-control pairs were analyzed, considering the matching ...

2025, Journal of Dairy Science

As left-displaced abomasum (LDA) often occurs in cows with high contents of fat in the liver (fatty liver), a postpartum fatty liver-inducing regimen was applied to 16 cows. The main interest of the study was whether there were productive or metabolic changes in cows prior to LDA. Therefore, feed intake and milk production were monitored and blood samples were collected from the cows. The LDA occurred in 4 out of 16 dairy cows that were included in the feeding regimen. Compared to cows not developing LDA, LDA-cows had a significantly lower feed intake, 6.5 kg/d less, and milk production, 8 kg/d less, prior to clinical diagnosis of LDA. In the 10-d period preceding clinical diagnosis of LDA, blood concentrations of calcium, glucose, and insulin were significantly lower, whereas blood concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate, as well as aspartate aminotransferase activities were significantly elevated compared to cows not developing LDA. These preclinical changes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of LDA. It is not certain, however, whether there is a causal association between these parameters and LDA.

2025, Journal of Clinical Microbiology

A set of 84 Staphylococcus aureus isolates collected from the milk of cows with subclinical mastitis in Asturias (a cattle region of Spain) and six control strains were tested for sequences of genes encoding hemolysins ( hla , hlb , hld , hlg , and hlg-2 ), leukotoxins ( lukPV , lukM , and lukED ), toxic shock syndrome toxin ( tst ), and enterotoxins ( sea to see , seg to ser , and seu ) by conventional and multiplex PCR. It was found that 84, 83, 11, and 39 isolates carried some type of hl , luk , tst , or se gene, respectively, which were arranged in 14 exotoxin genotypes. All of the isolates were negative for lukPV , hlg , sea , sed , see , sej , sek , sep , seq , and ser . Two gene groupings could be related with pathogenicity islands—[ lukED , seg , sei , sem , sen , seo ± seu ] with Saβ-1 and [ tst , sec , sel ] with SaPIbov, present in 45 and 13.1% of the isolates, respectively—while 11.9% of them carried both islands. Only one contained seb (together with υSaβ-1), and anothe...

2025, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two experiments were conducted with Holstein-Friesian cows in the Republic of North Macedonia and with Holstein cows in Kansas. We hypothesized that a single standard dose of PGF 2α injected on day 8 instead of day 7 in the standard Ovsynch program would increase the proportion of cows with complete luteolysis and increase the synchronization risk compared with control cows receiving a standard dose on day 7. Cows were treated with the standard program (Ov-7x1) or with Ov-8x1 experimental program in experiment 1, using only a single dose of PGF 2α . In experiment 2, a third treatment was added (Ov-7x2), in which a second dose of PGF 2α was administered 24 hours after the first dose. Overall, the results in experiment 1 demonstrated a greater percentage of multiparous cows in the OV-8x1 treatment had complete luteal regression compared with multiparous Ov-7x1 cows, whereas treatments were equally effective in primiparous cows. In contrast, results in experiment 2 revealed nearly 100% of cows in the Ov-7x2 treatment receiving the second dose of PGF 2α had complete luteolysis. In both experiments, when the status of luteal function before PGF treatment was examined, the treatments were equally effective in causing complete luteal regression. Pregnancy rates, however, did not differ among treatments indicating that any of the three treatments will likely produce similar pregnancy outcomes with the flexibility of applying either the 7-vs. 8-day treatments.

2025, Journal of Dairy Science

Production responses obtained w i t h supplemental protein from expeller soybean meal or corn by-products, relative to solvent soybean meal, were determined in three replicated 4 x 4 Latin square trials. Dietary forage (54 to 58% of DM) was solely alfalfa silage containing 30 to 55% DM and 21% CP (DM basis). Main concentrate ingredient was either ground shelled or high moisture corn; diets were fed as total mixed rations. In Trials 1 and 2, supplements were: control (0 CP), .6x (60% of the supplemental CP of the l x treatment) solvent soybean meal, .6x expeller soybean meal, and l x solvent soybean meal. In Trial 1 (DM intake = 24.4 kgld), supplement had no effect on production but increased weight gain; expeller soybean meal increased production of milk and lactose relative to either amount of solvent meal. In Trial 2 (DM intake = 20.0 kgld), supplement increased production of milk and milk components; milk production on .6x expeller soybean meal was greater than .6x solvent soybean meal. In Trial 3 (DM intake = 22.4 kgld), distillers dried grains plus corn gluten meal replaced .6x solvent soybean meal; supplement increased production of milk, 3.5% FCM, protein, and fat with no dif-~~

2025, Journal of dairy science

Holstein cows housed in a modified tie-stall barn were used to determine the effect of feeding diets with different forage-to-concentrate ratios (F:C) on performance and emission of CH(4), CO(2) and manure NH(3)-N. Eight multiparous cows (means ± standard deviation): 620 ± 68 kg of body weight; 52 ± 34 d in milk and 8 primiparous cows (546 ± 38 kg of body weight; 93 ± 39 d in milk) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 air-flow controlled chambers, constructed to fit 4 cows each. Chambers were assigned to dietary treatment sequences in a single 4 × 4 Latin square design. Dietary treatments, fed as 16.2% crude protein total mixed rations included the following F:C ratio: 47:53, 54:46, 61:39, and 68:32 [diet dry matter (DM) basis]. Forage consisted of alfalfa silage and corn silage in a 1:1 ratio. Cow performance and emission data were measured on the last 7 d and the last 4 d, respectively of each 21-d period. Air samples entering and exiting each chamber were analyzed with a photo-acoust...

2025, Journal of dairy science

Adding sugar to the diet has been reported to improve production in dairy cows. In each of 2 trials, 48 lactating Holsteins (8 with ruminal cannulas) were fed covariate diets for 2 wk, blocked by days in milk into 12 groups of 4, and then randomly assigned to diets based on alfalfa silage containing 4 levels of dried molasses (trial 1) or liquid molasses (trial 2). In both studies, production data were collected for 8 wk, ruminal samples were taken in wk 4 and 8, and statistical models were used that included covariate means and block. In trial 1, experimental diets contained 18% CP and 0, 4, 8, or 12% dried molasses with 2.6, 4.2, 5.6, or 7.2% total sugar. With increasing sugar, there was a linear increase in dry matter intake (DMI), and digestibility of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM), but no effect on yield of milk or protein. This resulted in linear decreases in fat-corrected milk (FCM)/DMI and milk N/N-intake. There was a linear decrease in urinary N with increasing sug...

2025, Journal of Dairy Science

Three ruminally and duodenally cannulated cows were assigned to an incomplete 4 × 4 Latin square with four 14-d periods and were fed diets supplemented with urea, solvent soybean meal, xylosetreated soybean meal (XSBM), or corn gluten meal to study the effects of crude protein source on omasal canal flows of soluble AA. Soluble AA in omasal digesta were fractionated by ultrafiltration into soluble proteins greater than 10 kDa (10K), oligopeptides between 3 and 10 kDa (3-10K), peptides smaller than 3 kDa (small peptides), and free AA (FAA). Omasal flow of total soluble AA ranged from 254 to 377 g/d and accounted for 9.2 to 15.9% of total AA flow. Averaged across diets, flows of AA in 10K, 3-10K, small peptides, and FAA were 29, 217, 50, and 5 g/d, respectively, and accounted for 10.3, 71.0, 17.5, and 1.6% of the total soluble AA flow. Cows with diets supplemented with solvent soybean meal had higher flows of Met, Val, and total AA associated with small peptides than those whose diets were supplemented with XSBM, whereas supplementation with corn gluten meal resulted in higher total small peptide-AA flows than did XSBM. Averaged across diets, 27, 75, and 93% of soluble AA in 10K, 3-10K, and peptides plus FAA flowing out of the rumen were of dietary origin. On average, 10% of

2025, Journal of Dairy Science

This study evaluated the impact of some methodological factors on the flows of nutrients at the omasal canal and duodenum of dairy cows fed corn-based diets. Three ruminally and duodenally cannulated cows were assigned to an incomplete 4 × 4 Latin square with four 14d periods and fed diets formulated to contain different amounts and ruminal degradabilities of crude protein. Samples from the omasal canal and duodenum were obtained and processed according to methodologies routinely used in our laboratories and elsewhere. Methodological factors that were evaluated included microbial references and markers, digesta markers, and sampling sites (techniques). Considerable variation was found for the compositions of microbial references and their impact on the intestinal supply of microbial nonammonia nitrogen. Likewise, it appears that variation in measuring the ruminal outflow of nitrogen fractions of microbial and dietary origin could be reduced by using 15 N rather than purines as microbial markers. Sampling from the omasum and duodenum resulted in differences for ruminal outflow and site of digestion as well as digestibility of some nutrients, particularly nitrogen fractions and starch. A sizable portion of this variation was associated with deviations from the assumed ideal behavior of digesta markers and collection of samples that were unrepresentative of true digesta. Collectively, outcomes from this study indicate that more research

2025

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different maturation systems on oocyte resistance after vitrification and on the phospholipid profile of the oocyte plasma membrane (PM). Four different maturation systems were tested: 1) in vitro maturation using immature oocytes aspirated from slaughterhouse ovaries (CONT; n = 136); 2) in vitro matu-ration using immature oocytes obtained by ovum pick-up (OPU) from unstimulated heifers (IMA; n = 433); 3) in vitro maturation using immature oocytes obtained by OPU from stimu-lated heifers (FSH; n = 444); and 4) in vivo maturation using oocytes obtained from heifers stimulated 24 hours prior by an injection of GnRH (MII; n = 658). A sample of matured oocytes from each fresh group was analyzed by matrix associated laser desorption-ioniza-tion (MALDI-TOF) to determine their PM composition. Then, half of the matured oocytes from each group were vitrified/warmed (CONT VIT, IMA VIT, FSH VIT and MII VIT), while the other half were u...

2025

After calving, cows may lose up to 0.7 kg of their corporal weight daily. This is why the experience was made with cows after 90-100 lactation days, and the use of peas in the cows’ rations has a much better forage efficiency in this lapse of time.The average milk production for the control lot was 34.7 kg / day / cow ±1.36 kg standard deviation, and for the experimental lot 35.4 kg / day / cow ±1.04 kg standard deviation. It is found an extra quantity of 0.7 kg milk for the experimental lot in report to the control lot. The milk production standardized to 3.5% fat, was for the control lot 34.61 kg/ day / cow , ± 1.30 kg standard deviation, and for the experimental lot, 35.89 kg/ day / cow ± 1 kg standard deviation. We obtained an extra quantity of 1.280 kg milk

2025, Acta Veterinaria Hungarica

Activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, and concentrations of serum metabolites [beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA)] of primiparous (n = 83) and multiparous (n = 213) Holstein cows were studied as possible predictors of retained fetal membranes (RFM), grade 2 clinical metritis (CM) and clinical endometritis (CEM). A logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) for the prevalence of CM diagnosed between 0–5, 6–10 and 11–20 days in milk (DIM) and for the prevalence of CEM diagnosed between 22–28 and 42–49 DIM. The activities of the examined serum enzymes did not show significant associations either with CM or with CEM. For NEFA sampled on days 0 and 5, an OR of 2.38 for CM 0–20 DIM and an OR of 2.58 for CM 11–20 DIM was found. For BHB sampled on days 0 and 5, an OR of 8.20 for CEM 22–28 and 42–49 DIM and an OR of 1.98 for CM 6–10 DIM were found. The prevalence of RFM was higher in ≥ ...

2025

The Wageningen UR Library Catalogue contains bibliographic data on books and periodicals held by the libraries of Wageningen University and Research Centre and some 15 associated libraries. Holding data are added to each record.

2025

ABST RACT Trueperella pyogenes (formerly Arcanobacterium pyogenes) is a commensal bacterium present on the upper respiratory and urogenital tract mucosa of domestic and wild animals. It is also the most common opportunistic pathogen and isolated from the infections of cattle such as mastitis, metritis, arthritis and pneumonia. The aim of this study was to determine virulence genes (plo, nanH, nanP, cbpA, fimA, fimC, fimE, fimG) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), biofilm production by modified microplate test and antibiotic susceptibilities by disc diffusion methods in 44 T. pyogenes isolated from various samples of cattle. Plo and fimA genes were detected in all isolates. CbpA, nanH, and nanP genes were determined in 6.8%, 61.3%, 84.1% of the isolates, respectively. FimC, fimE and fimG genes were found in 81.8%, 81.8% and 34.1% of the isolates, respectively. While all T. pyogenes isolates were found to be susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, 97.7% were susceptible to cefoper...

2025, Domestic Animal Endocrinology

Our objective was to determine the effects of calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids (CLFA) and rumen-protected methionine (RPM) on plasma concentrations of ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36) amide (GLP-1) and pancreatic hormones in lactating cows. Four midlactation Holstein cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square experiment in each 2-wk periods. Cows were fed corn silage-based diets with supplements of CLFA (1.5% added on dry matter basis), RPM (20 g/d), CLFA plus RPM and without supplement. Jugular blood samples were taken from 1 h before to 2 h after morning feeding at 10 min intervals on day 12 of each period. CLFA decreased DMI, but RPM did not affect DMI. Both supplements of CLFA and RPM did not affect metabolizable energy intake and milk yield and composition. Plasma NEFA, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (T-Cho) concentrations were increased with CLFA alone, but increases of plasma TG and T-Cho concentrations were moderated by CLFA plus RPM. CLFA increased plasma ghrelin concentration and the ghrelin concentration with CLFA plus RPM was the highest among the treatments. Plasma GLP-1, glucagon and insulin concentrations were decreased with CLFA, whereas adding RPM moderated the decrease of plasma glucagon concentration by CLFA. These results suggest that the addition of Met to cows given CLFA increases plasma ghrelin and glucagon concentrations associated with the decrease in plasma TG and T-Cho concentrations.

2025

In order to know choline chloride effect on blood serum's hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), glucose (GLU), insulin (INSUL), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (T-CHO) concentration of dairy cows, we did research in one of Lithuania's milk farm. The research took place in the "X" farm and Cathedral of non-infectious disease of LUHS in 2015. 40 cows were selected using analogical reasoning in their 3 or 4 lactation period. All cows 3 weeks before calving were divided into two groups -experimental (n=20) and control (n=20). Calving feeds of experimental cows were added with cholin supplement (dose -100g/d) before 30 days. Control group cows were given its usual feeds according to the balanced diet ratio. The research results were assesed 21 d.p.p of following parametres: urea (BUN), triglycerides (TG) cholesterol (T-HO), insulin (INSUL) of cows who were fed with cholin supplement (100g/d). It was determined that urea's concentration after 21 days from the beginning of the research increased from 2,92±0,04 mmol/l to 5,47±0,06 mmol/L of experimental group, while control group's were increased from 2,74± mmol/l to 6,02±0,1 mmol/L. Triglyceride level in the control group from the beginning to the end decreased by 0.036 ± 0.002 mmol /L, compared with the experimental group triglyceride level decreased from 0,306 ± 0,023 mmol/L to 0.281 ± 0,016 mmol/L. Insulin level in the experimental group from the beginning increased from 1.748 ± 0.023 μU/ml to 2,435 μU/ml, in the control group decreased from 3.245 ± 0.016 μU/ml to 2,993 ± 0.01 μU/ml. Beta-hydroxybutyrate in the experimental and control groups from the beginning increased equally by 0.87 mmol/L.

2025

2025, Indian Journal of Animal Research, Volume 59 Issue 6 (June 2025)

Background: This study was taken up to assess the effect of time of sowing and number of irrigations on the yield of maize cultivar J-1006 and to see their impact on the nutritive value of fresh and ensiled fodder. M ethods: Maize cultivar J-1006 was sown at 50 cm row to row and 10 cm plant to plant spacing at 10 days interval in quintuplicate. The crop was harvested after 80-85 days of sowing. The J-1006 on the first date of sowing (B1) was given one irrigation and rest of the sowings (B2-B5) received two irrigations till harvest. The nutritive value (NV) of fresh and ensiled maize fodder was assessed by in vitro gas production (IVGP) technique. Result: Highest biological, DM and protein yield was recorded in B2 maize fodder while the lowest was recorded in B5. The cell wall constituents were the highest (P<0.01) in B1 and the lowest in B5 fodder resulting in highest (P<0.01) microbial biomass production (MBP) and the NV in B5 maize fodder. Irrespective of time of sowing, OM, NDF and hemicellulose contents were reduced (P<0.01) in ensiled maize fodder. The net gas production (NGP; P<0.01) and ME (P<0.05) were depressed and the total and individual VFAs and MBP were improved (P<0.01) in the ensiled maize. Irrespective of processing, the maize given two irrigations resulted in higher (P<0.01) MBP and NV as comparison to that given single irrigation. It was concluded that B5 maize fodder with the lowest yield given two irrigations had the best nutritive value.

2025, Italian Journal of Animal Science

RIASSUNTO -Variazioni del cortisolo ematico in bovine da latte a seguito di varie operazioni di stalla. Con lo scopo di meglio chiarire le interferenze sulla cortisolemia dovute alle tecniche di prelievo, alla manipolazione degli animali ed all'interazione uomo/bovina, sono state realizzate 4 prove per valutare l'effetto delle seguenti operazioni: prelievo ematico in bovine abituate o meno alla presenza umana, pulizia, mungitura, pesata e mascalcia. I valori basali di cortisolo hanno evidenziato l'usuale variabilità. Dopo 15 minuti dall'inizio delle operazioni la cortisolemia ha mostrato generalmente un picco. L'aumento è stato maggiore negli animali non avvezzi all'interazione con l'uomo ed in rapporto alla "invasività" delle operazioni; anche tra quelli assuefatti si è peraltro riscontrata una notevole variabilità della risposta. La valutazione della cortisolemia nella bovina da latte richiede grande cautela e una meticolosa standardizzazione metodologica.

2025

Il sistema di allevamento zootecnico della Valle d'Aosta è imperniato sull'utilizzo delle risorse foraggere locali sia sotto forma di foraggi affienati sia mediante pascolamento diretto. L'importanza della qualità dei fieni disponibili viene accresciuta dal fatto che, essendo i parti concentrati prevalentemente nel periodo tardo autunnale e invernale, la parte iniziale e centrale della lattazione viene svolta con gli animali stabulati e alimentati prevalentemente con foraggio secco integrato da mangime concentrato, in quantità spesso contenute. Per il ...

2025, Livestock Science

The intensive breeding is often considered a risk of low welfare in dairy cows. Namely, the high yield has been suggested to be per se a cause of well-being reduction. Conversely, we have in many farms demonstrated that high milk yielding cows are not necessarily in a bad welfare condition, while many environmental and management problems can cause a distress situation and a reduced milk yield. To confirm these results, in an average yielding dairy farm affected by several problems, the welfare was assessed according to an Integrated Diagnostic System which considers health status, milk yield and quality, feeding strategy, blood profiles etc. The same check-up has been repeated a year later, after some attempts to correct main mistakes previously observed: dry and lactating cow diets, n8 of cubicles, hygiene conditions, preparation and milking procedures etc. In one year only part of the mistakes have been fully corrected; nevertheless, the animal response was definitively improved suggesting a better welfare situation: improvement of teat and body condition (BCS) scores and reduction of open days, of legs and feet lesions and of somatic cell count (SCC : 283 vs. 456 cells/Al) as well as an increase of milk yield (25.2 vs. 20.1 kg/d). Results confirmed that better breeding techniques can optimise the animal welfare and optimise milk yield in the intensive systems.

2025, Journal of dairy science

The relationship between inflammation and general health conditions in dairy cows and the link between inflammation, liver function, and fertility are poorly understood. To clarify these relationships, 120 multiparous dairy cows were followed throughout an entire lactation. Blood samples were collected during the first month of lactation for a metabolic profile, and milk yield, disease occurrence, and fertility parameters were monitored during the entire lactation. Twenty-four cows were culled, and another 19 were excluded because they had serious problems after 30 d in milk (DIM) and before the first insemination. The remaining 77 cows were pregnant at the end of lactation and were retrospectively grouped into quartiles based on liver activity index (LAI), which is based on plasma negative acute phase proteins. Cows in the lower (LO) and intermediate lower (INLO) quartiles of LAI had more severe inflammations with high concentrations of haptoglobin (0.77 and 0.61 g/L) and globulin ...

2025

Escherichia coli is an environmental bacterium frequently implicated in bovine mammary infections. Although specific virulence factors are unknown, biofilm-forming bacteria are associated with persistent infections, and motile bacteria exhibit increased virulence. An analysis was done of the genetic relationship, biofilm formation capacity and motility of bovine mastitis-associated E. coli, as well as the in vivo virulence of representative bacterial isolates. Of the 34 isolates, 67.7 % belonged to phylogenetic group A, 17.6 % to group B1 and 14.7 % to group D. Genetic relationship analysis done with (GTG)5-PCR indicated that the analyzed bacteria are diverse, with only two isolates exhibiting 100 % similarity, and the remaining 32 being grouped into seven main clusters with more than 70 % similarity. Biofilm formation capacity ranged from strong to moderate and weak in 76.5 % of the isolates. The Rev Mex Cienc Pecu 2020;11(1):167-182 168 csgA and fimA genes were detected in 52.9 % ...

2025, Tropical Animal Health and Production

This study, with the objective of assessing the e¡ect of risk factors on dairy cow mastitis in the central highlands of Ethiopia, was undertaken between February and September 2001 in the urban and periurban areas of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A prevalence study and questionnaire survey were carried out simultaneously. Clinical examination of lactating udders and California mastitis test (CMT) determined clinical and subclinical mastitis, respectively. Risk factors for subclinical and clinical mastitis were identi¢ed from data on animals and farm management by chi-square analysis and subsequent logistic regression. Cows aged at least 8 years, with poor body condition, with at least 8 parities and in at least the eighth month of lactation had a signi¢cantly higher risk for subclinical mastitis (p50.05). The risk was reduced for cows up to their third parity in good body condition and for cows receiving dry cow therapy. Cows aged at least 4 years, or with at least 8 parities, cows in at least the fourth month of lactation, cows with poor body condition, leaking milk or previous udder infections had a signi¢cantly higher risk of clinical mastitis (p50.05). The risk was reduced by the use of separate towels for udder cleaning and by drying o¡ at the end of lactation. Most of the risk factors were in agreement with previous reports. However, stage of lactation and drying-o¡ style were in contrast to others. Further research is needed to identify the interrelationship between production level, speci¢c pathogens and management risk factors.

2025, Journal of Dairy Science

There has been a rapid rise in the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens in the past 10 to 15 yr and some bacteria are now resistant to most antimicrobial agents. Antibiotic use is very restricted on Swiss organic dairy farms, and a purely prophylactic use, such as for dry cow mastitis prevention, is forbidden. A low prevalence of antibiotic resistance in organic farms can be expected compared with conventional farms because the bacteria are infrequently or not exposed to antibiotics. The occurrence of antibiotic resistance was compared between mastitis pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, nonaureus staphylococci, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis) from farms with organic and conventional dairy production. Clear differences in the percentage of antibiotic resistance were mainly species-related, but did not differ significantly between isolates from cows kept on organic and conventional farms, except for Streptococcus uberis, which exhibited significantly more single resistances (compared with no resistance) when isolated from cows kept on organic farms (6/10 isolates) than on conventional farms (0/5 isolates). Different percentages were found (albeit not statistically significant) in resistance to ceftiofur, erythromycin, clindamycin, enrofloxacin, chloramphenicol, penicillin, oxacillin, gentamicin, tetracycline, and quinupristin-dalfopristin, but, importantly, none of the strains was resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid or vancomycin. Multidrug resistance was rarely encountered. The frequency of antibiotic resistance in organic farms, in which the use of antibiotics must be very restricted, was not different from conventional farms, and was contrary to expectation. The antibiotic resistance status needs to be monitored in organic farms

2025, Journal of Dairy Science

Choline is important for assembly of very low density lipoproteins to export triglyceride from liver; however, studies to assess the effect of rumen-protected choline (RPC) supplementation on blood lipid metabolites in periparturient dairy cows have not been conducted. Thirty-two multiparous Holstein and 10 multiparous Jersey cows were randomly assigned to control or RPC treatments. A close-up diet was fed from approximately 3 wk before parturition through parturition, followed by a lactation diet from parturition through 49 d postpartum. For RPC, diets were topdressed once daily with 60 g of a RPC product (25% choline as choline chloride) from 21 d before expected parturition through 21 d postpartum. Treatment did not affect dry matter intake either prepartum (12.0 vs. 12.1 kg/d for RPC and control, respectively) or during the first 3 wk postpartum (14.8 vs. 15.7 kg/d, respectively). Daily yields of 3.5% fat-corrected milk (39.4 vs. 37.4 kg/d), fat (1.46 vs. 1.38 kg/d), and protein (1.09 vs. 1.05 kg/d) did not differ statistically by treatment (RPC vs. control, respectively). Jersey cows in the control group had lower concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate in plasma during d 1 to 10 postpartum than did other breed and treatment combinations. Cows fed RPC tended to have greater serum triglycerides prepartum (17.0 vs. 14.7 mg/dL) and lower plasma phospholipid at parturition (65.2 vs. 78.1 mg/dL) than control cows. Treatment did not affect cholesterol and phospholipid at other time points, but concentrations followed patterns of dry matter intake pre-and postpartum. Cows were in moderate body condition score (mean = 3.3) at the start of the study and did not lose excessive condition by 3 wk postpartum (mean body condition score loss = 0.5);