Exercise of tied dairy cows during the winter

The aim was to investigate whether tied dairy cows have a motivation to move per se when exercised during winter and whether they prefer to be outdoors or indoors when exercising. In the first experiment tied dairy cows were observed when exercised outdoors every day, twice a week or once a week. In the second experiment the preference of tied dairy cows for being indoors or outdoors during exercise was tested in two types of preference tests. Cows exercised at longer intervals walked and trotted more than did cows exercised at shorter intervals. The cows that were exercised once and twice a week explored the environment more during exercise than did cows that were exercised every day. The increase in movement with duration of confinement indicates that the cows’ motivation to move built up with time. An alternative explanation is that the walking and trotting was a response to the novelty of the exercise area. However, we did not observe a build-up of explorative behaviour with time. The cows did not show a preference for exercise either indoors or outdoors. Preference for being outdoors or indoors may therefore be independent of the motivation for movement. In future studies this preference may be assessed in a situation where the motivation for movement is controlled. In conclusion, tied dairy cows increased the amount of movement with increased length of indoor confinement. Also, the amount of explorative behaviour was greater for cows exercised less frequently than for cows exercised every day. Finally, tied dairy cows did not show a preference for indoor or outdoor exercise

Quantitative determination of fatty acids in the University of Vermont\u27s CREAM herd followed over the course of six months

Holstein and Jersey cows were used to determine how the fatty acid profile of their milk differed with regard to breed of cow and season over the course of six months. Milk was collected from each cow monthly between November 2011 and April 2012 and analyzed for components and fatty acid composition. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models with a repeated measures design with breed, month, and breed × month as the main effects. Holstein cows produced more milk than Jersey cows (79.98 vs. 50.48 lbs), and significant differences were seen between both breeds (P\u3c0.001) and months (P=0.014) of the study. Jersey cows produced more fat (5.20 vs. 3.91%, P\u3c0.001) and protein in their milk (3.83 vs. 3.12%, P\u3c0.001) when compared to Holstein cows. Jersey cows produced more saturated fatty acids than Holstein cows (72.9% vs. 70.7%, breed P=0.004, month P\u3c0.001). Vaccenic acid was produced in similar levels by both breeds, but Holsteins produced slightly higher levels (0.92%) than Jerseys (0.81%, breed P=0.0016, month P\u3c0.001). Holstein cows produced higher levels of conjugated linoleic acids in their milk (0.49%) when compared to Jersey cows (0.41%, P\u3c0.001). Holstein cows produced higher levels of linoleic acid (1.60% vs. 1.43%, P\u3c0.001, month P=0.005) when compared to Jersey cows. Linolenic acid levels produced by both breeds were similar for Holstein (0.31%) and Jersey cows (0.29%, month P=0.007). From the analysis of concentrations of both selected fatty acids as well as groups of major fatty acids, there is evidence that the fatty acid profile of milk differs with respect to both breed of cow, as well as month of the year

Omentopexy for correction of right abomasal displacement: results in 135 cows

One hundred and thirty-five cows were surgically treated for correction of right displaced abomasum (RDA) using the right flank omentopexy technique. In 33 cows an abomasal dilatation was diagnosed. Abomasal volvulus was found in 99 animals and omaso-abomasal volvulus in three. In-hospital mortality was 15% (n = 20). None of the cows with abomaso-omasal torsion survived. Ninety-seven percent (n = 32) of the cows with abomasal dilatation and 84% (n = 83) of the cows with abomasal volvulus were discharged from the clinic. Six months after surgery, respectively 94% of the cows with abomasal dilatation had survived. This percentage fell to 88.5% after another half year. For cows with abomasal volvulus, these survival rates were 74% and 62%, respectively. Regardless of the type of abomasal dislocation, 77% of the total group of animals survived after six months and 66% after one year. Six months after surgery, good milk production was reported in 67% (n = 58) of the surviving cows; this figure rose to 91% of the surviving cows (n = 63) after 12 months

Comparative study of lactation curves and milk quality in Holstein versus Swedish Red and White-Holstein Cross Cows

The objective of this study reported in this research paper was to compare the lactation curves of the production of milk, fat, protein, percentages of fat and protein, and somatic cell score in purebred Holstein (H) cows and Swedish Red and White (SRW) - Holstein (SxH) crossbred cows in the south-central region of the province of Cordoba, Argentina. The data set consisted of 32847 herd-test records from 1244 purebred H cows and 310 SRW x H crossbred cows, from three commercial dairy farms with cows of first to fifth or more lactations. The curves were modeled using the fourth-order Legendre orthogonal polynomials. In this study, the data of production of milk, fat production, protein production, percentage of fat, percentage of protein and somatic cell score (SCS) were analyzed. Purebred H cows had significantly higher milk production, more fat production and higher protein production levels than did SxH crossbred cows. However, SxH crossbred cows produced milk that had a higher percentage of fat and a higher percentage protein than did purebred H cows. In none of the lactations did somatic cell score differ significantly between the two breed groups. The results of our study showed that, SxH crossbred cows had significantly higher percentages of fat and protein; however, purebred H cows were significantly superior to SxH crossbred cows for the production of 305-d milk, fat, and protein. Mammary health, expressed in SCS, did not differ significantly between the two breed groups. Thus, suggest that crossbreeding Holstein purebred cows with SRW bulls can improve the composition of milk solids without affecting mammary health and, in this way, compensate substantially for any potential loss in the production and/or quality of the milk of the crossbred cows compared to H purebred cows.Fil: Pipino, Diego. Agroveterinaria Pipino; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Piccardi, Mónica Belén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Departamento de Desarrollo Rural. Area de Estadística y Biometría; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lembeye, Felipe. Soprole. Gerencia de Abastecimiento. Departamento Agropecuario; ChileFil: Lopez Villalobos, Nicolas. Massey University; Nueva ZelandaFil: Vazquez, Maria Isabel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Apoptosis and necrosis of blood and milk polymorphonuclear leukocytes in early and midlactating healthy cows.

Increased milk somatic cell counts (SCC) are used as an indicator for bovine mastitis. During mastitis, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) become the predominant cell type. Shortly after parturition, the severity of mastitis is increased and several PMN functions are downregulated. Apoptotic and necrotic processes of PMN could influence SCC and PMN functions. In this study, the percentages of apoptotic and necrotic PMN in blood and milk from early and midlactating healthy cows were compared. Apoptosis and necrosis of PMN were quantified using a dual-color flow cytometric procedure with fluorescein labeled annexin-V (green) and propidium iodide (red). Using this technique three different subpopulations of bovine PMN could be detected: apoptotic cells (high intensive green fluorescence), necrotic cells (high intensive green and high intensive red fluorescence) and viable cells (low intensive green and low intensive red fluorescence). Following a 4 h incubation of blood from both groups of cows at 37 degreesC to induce apoptosis, the mean percentage of apoptotic blood PMN was significantly higher (P<0.01) in early lactating cows (15.1%, n=9) compared with midlactating cows (5.3%, n=10). The mean percentage of necrotic PMN remained lower than 5% in all cows. In contrast to blood, no significant difference was found between the percentage of apoptotic PMN in milk from early (41.2%, n=7) and midlactating cows (34.0%, n=8). The percentage of necrotic PMN in milk from early lactating cows (25.9%, n=7) was significantly higher than that in midlactating cows (14.2%, n=8) (P<0.05). Higher percentages of apoptotic as well as necrotic PMN were consistently found in milk compared to blood in all cows. From these results, it can be concluded that spontaneously induced apoptosis was higher in blood PMN from early lactating cows than in blood PMN from midlactating cows. The higher percentage of necrotic milk PMN in early lactating cows than in midlactating cows could be explained by the induction of secondary necrosis

Behaviour of dairy cows on organic and non-organic farms

There is an increasing number of organic dairy farms in the UK. The aim of this study is to compare behaviour of dairy cows on organic and non-organic farms. Twenty organic and 20 non-organic farms throughout the UK were visited over two winters (2004/05 and 2005/06). Organic and non-organic farms were paired for housing type, herd size, milk production traits and location. The number of cows feeding was counted every fifteen minutes for 4.5 h after new feed was available post morning milking. Behaviour at the feed-face was recorded for 60 minutes and aggressive interactions between cows were quantified. Farm type had no effect on numbers of cows feeding. There were more interactions between cows feeding at open feed-faces compared to head-bale barriers. At open feed-faces, there were more interactions on organic farms than non-organic. It is possible that organic cows were hungrier than non-organic cows after the arrival of new feed

Differences in leukocyte profile, gene expression, and metabolite status of dairy cows with or without sole ulcers

peer-reviewedSole ulcers are one of the most severe pathologies causing lameness in dairy cows and are associated with abnormal behavior and impaired production performance. However, little is known about how or whether lameness caused by sole ulcers affects the cow systemically. This study compared hematology profile, leukocyte gene expression, and physiological responses [metabolite, cortisol, the endogenous steroid hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and haptoglobin concentrations] of cows with sole ulcers and healthy cows. Twelve clinically lame cows (lame) were identified as having at least one sole ulcer and no other disorder, and matched with a cow that had good locomotion and no disorders (sound), using days in milk, liveweight, body condition score, and diet. Blood samples were taken from all 24 cows within 24 h of sole ulcer diagnosis. Leukocyte counts were obtained using an automated cell counter, cortisol and DHEA concentration by ELISA, and plasma haptoglobin, urea, total protein, creatine kinase, and glucose were analyzed on an Olympus analyzer. Expression of 16 genes associated with lameness or stress were estimated using reverse transcription-PCR. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure in SAS software (version 9.3; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Lame cows had a higher neutrophil percentage, a numerically lower lymphocyte percentage, and tended to have a higher neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio than sound cows. Serum cortisol and DHEA concentrations were higher in lame than in sound cows. Lame cows also tended to have higher haptoglobin and glucose levels than sound, as well as higher protein yet lower urea levels. Sound cows tended to have higher relative expression of the gene coding for colony-stimulating factor 2 than lame, but in all other cases where differences were detected in cytokine gene expression (IL-1α, IL-1β, CXCL8, and IL-10), relative gene expression in sound cows tended to be, or was, lower than in lame. Relative expression of MMP-13, GR-α, Fas, haptoglobin, and CD62L were, or tended to be, higher in lame than sound cows. A high neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio in combination with higher cortisol levels in cows with ulcers is indicative of physiological stress. Moreover, increased DHEA and a higher cortisol:DHEA ratio, as well as a tendency for higher haptoglobin levels and increased haptoglobin mRNA expression, are indicative of systemic inflammation. Increased cytokine mRNA expression indicates activation of the immune system compared with healthy cows. Increased expression of MMP-13 mRNA has been found in cows with impaired locomotion and thus could be implicated in development of claw horn disorders.This study was funded by a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship (FP7-People 2009-IEF; grant agreement number: 252611) to Keelin O'Driscoll

Comparative grazing behaviour of lactating suckler cows of contrasting genetic merit and genotype

peer-reviewedThe objective of this study was to determine if differences in grazing behaviour exist between lactating suckler cows diverse in genetic merit for the national Irish Replacement index and of two contrasting genotypes. Data from 103 cows: 41 high and 62 low genetic merit, 43 beef and 60 beef x dairy (BDX) cows were available over a single grazing season in 2015. Milk yield, grass dry matter intake (GDMI), cow live weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) were recorded during the experimental period, with subsequent measures of production efficiency extrapolated. Grazing behaviour data were recorded twice in conjunction with aforementioned measures, using Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research headset behaviour recorders. The effect of genotype and cow genetic merit during mid- and late-lactation on grazing behaviour phenotypes, milk yield, BW, BCS and GDMI were estimated using linear mixed models. Genetic merit had no significant effect on any production parameters investigated, with the exception that low genetic merit had a greater BCS than high genetic merit cows. Beef cows were heavier, had a greater BCS but produced less milk per day than BDX. The BDX cows produced more milk per 100 kg BW and per unit intake and had greater GDMI, intake per bite and rate of GDMI per 100 kg BW than beef cows. High genetic merit cows spent longer grazing and took more bites per day but had a lower rate of GDMI than low genetic merit cows, with the same trend found when expressed per unit of BW. High genetic merit cows spent longer grazing than low genetic merit cows when expressed on a per unit intake basis. Absolute rumination measures were similar across cow genotype and genetic merit. When expressed per unit BW, BDX cows spent longer ruminating per day compared to beef. However, on a per unit intake basis, beef cows ruminated longer and had more mastications than BDX. Intake per bite and rate of intake was positively correlated with GDMI per 100 kg BW. The current study implies that despite large differences in grazing behaviour between cows diverse in genetic merit, few differences were apparent in terms of production efficiency variables extrapolated. Conversely, differences in absolute grazing and ruminating behaviour measurements did not exist between beef cows of contrasting genotype. However, efficiency parameters investigated illustrate that BDX will subsequently convert herbage intake more efficiently to milk production

Presynchronizing PGF2α and GnRH injections before timed artificial insemination CO-Synch + CIDR program

Fixed-time artificial insemination is an effective management tool that reduces the labor associated with more conventional artificial insemination programs requiring detection of estrus. The 7-day CO-Synch + controlled internal drug release (CIDR) insert protocol has been shown to effectively initiate estrus and ovulation in cycling and non-cycling suckled beef cows, producing pregnancy rates at or greater than 50% in beef cows. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injection that begins the CO-Synch + CIDR program initiates ovulation in a large proportion of cows, particularly anestrous cows. The CIDR, which releases progesterone intravaginally, prevents short estrous cycles that usually follow the first postpartum ovulation in beef cows. Our hypothesis was that inducing estrus with a prostaglandin injection followed 3 days later with a GnRH injection, 7 days before applying the 7-day CO-Synch + CIDR protocol, might increase the percentage of cycling cows that would exhibit synchronous follicular waves after the onset of the CO-Synch + CIDR protocol. We also hypothesized that the additional GnRH injection would increase the percentage of anestrous cows that would ovulate, thereby increasing pregnancy outcomes

Effect of suckler cow genotype on cow serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, colostrum yield, composition and Ig concentration and subsequent immune status of their progeny

peer-reviewedSurvival of the neonatal calf is largely dependent on humoral immunity. The objective of three experiments reported here was to compare cow serum immunoglobulin (Ig) concentration, colostrum yield, composition and Ig concentration and calf serum Ig concentrations at ~8- and 48-h post partum of spring-calving Charolais (C) and Beef × Holstein-Friesian (BF) cows and their progeny. Cows were individually offered a restricted allowance of grass silage pre partum in Experiments 1 and 2 and silage ad libitum in Experiment 3. In Experiment 1 calves were assisted to suckle after parturition. In Experiments 2 and 3, colostrum yield and Ig concentration were measured following administration of oxytocin and hand milking of half or the complete udder, respectively. It was intended to feed each calf 50 ml (Experiment 2) or 40 ml (Experiment 3) of colostrum per 1 kg birth weight via stomach tube. Following an 8-h period, during which suckling was prevented, a further colostrum sample was obtained. The decrease in cow serum IgG1 concentration pre partum was greater (P < 0.05) in BF cows than C cows. In comparison to BF cows, C cows had a lower colostrum yield (P < 0.001) and the colostrum had lower concentrations of dry matter (P < 0.01), crude protein (P < 0.05), fat (P < 0.05), IgG1 (P = 0.06), IgG2 (P < 0.01), IgM (P < 0.01) and Ig total (P < 0.05). The mass of IgG1, IgG2, IgM, IgA and Ig total in the colostrum produced was significantly lower for C cows than BF cows. Calves from C cows had significantly lower serum Ig subclass concentration at 48-h post partum than calves from BF cows. In conclusion, due to a lower Ig mass produced by their dams, calves from C cows had a lower humoral immune status than those from BF cowsTeagasc Walsh Fellowship Programm