Rumination Time and Physical Activity Monitoring, Milk Yield Changes Around Estrus and First Service Pregnancy Rate in Dairy Cows Assigned to Voluntary Waiting Period

YAZLIK, Murat Onur/0000-0002-0039-5597WOS: 000444016700003In high milk-yielding dairy cows, the energy balance challenges in early lactation and impact reproductive performance often affects estrus intensity, duration and detection. This study determined the role of a voluntary waiting period on rumination time, physical activity and milk yield changes during the peri-estrus period in the first service and further fertility in high-yielding dairy cows. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a relationship between voluntary waiting period and estrus-related parameters. This study was conducted on 145 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows aged 2 to 6 years of age. Cows were assigned a short voluntary waiting period, 45 to 70 day in milk (SVWP; n=73), and the long voluntary waiting period, 71 to 95 day in milk (LVWP; n=72). Rumination time, physical activity and milk yield changes around estrus in the first service were detected by an automated monitoring system. Artificial insemination procedures were performed between 45 to 70 days in milk for SVWP and 71 to 95 days in milk for LVWP. The barn's daily temperature and humidity index (THI) was recorded throughout the study period and was <72. Basal rumination time were significantly lower in SVWP (376.82 +/- 74.58 min/clay) than LVWP group at the day of estrus (352,07 +/- 68.90 min/day) (P<0.01). First service pregnancy rate was 23.72% and 38.46% in short and long voluntary waiting period, respectively (p<0.05). Physical activity intensity and milk yield changes were similar among groups during the peri-estrus period and on the day of estrus. The results indicated that the short voluntary waiting period was associated with the lower basal rumination time around estrus and lower first service pregnancy rate

Change from health center to family physician period in the Turkish health system: A qualitative study

Introduction Health care reforms in Turkey have been implemented resolutely in the last 12 years. The shift from health center (HC) to a family physician (FP) approach is 1 of the basic interventions of these reforms. The goal of the current study is to evaluate opinions of patients, health care workers, and managers, using qualitative methods. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with patients who received health care services in both the FP and the HC periods, and with health care workers and managers in health care facilities that served in both periods. The interviews were recorded after obtaining permission, and then transcribed. Both health care staff that worked in the 2 periods and the patients that received health care services in the 2 periods reported that FP system was superior to HC system in attention showed by the family physicians, being followed by the same physician, and having confidence in physicians. Results The current FP period is superior to HC in facilities such as patient records, computer, internet, and phone. The strengths of HC period include home visits, environmental health studies, and family planning services. According to health care workers who worked in the 2 periods, HC was superior to FP in team spirit, public service delivery, and surveillance of communicable diseases. Conclusion Public service delivery and environmental health studies and primary care practice in rural areas must be scrutinized in the context of the FP approach