Evaluation of the California Mastitis Test to determine under health status of early lactation dairy cows

Quarter milk bacteriology results of samples collected within the first week of calving were used to calculate the test characteristics of the California Mastitis Test (CMT) that estimate the udder health status of fresh dairy cows. Over 1,200 quarters were both cultured and had a CMT performed. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the CMT was 68.8% and 71.5%, respectively. Using a cutpoint of any CMT reaction as a positive test and examining the results by various days in milk, the highest sensitivity and specificity occurred at day four (82.4% and 80.6%, respectively). The CMT has the potential to be a useful tool for monitoring udder health in fresh cows.; Dairy Day, 2002, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2002

Association of cow and quarter-level factors at a dry off and new intramammary infections in the dry period

Data from 300 cows and 1,178 quarters were analyzed to determine factors associated with new intramammary infections (IMI). Teatends that were cracked and teats that did not close during the dry period were 1.7 and 1.8 times more likely to develop new IMI, respectively. The level of milk production on the last day of lactation significantly influenced new IMI and teat canal closure. More (P\u3c0.05) cows (36%) producing $21 kg of milk developed new IMI than cows (18%) producing less. When milk production was 21 kg or higher, teat canals were 1.8 times more likely to remain open.; Dairy Day, 2002, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2002

Impact of milk production and important management factors on the process of dry-off in lactating dairy cows

A study of 250 cows located in Canada and the United States revealed the rate of new mammary infections was 9.9% during the dry period. Average milk production on the day prior to dry-off was 13.2 ± 7.2 kg. The odds of a cow developing a new infection was three times greater if the cow was producing more than 5 kg of milk. After 6 weeks of the dry period, 25% of the teats still remained open. This research will serve as the foundation to investigate and implement management strategies prior to dry-off that might improve the overall udder health of dairy cows

Evaluation of the California Mastitis Test to determine under health status of early lactation dairy cows

Quarter milk bacteriology results of samples collected within the first week of calving were used to calculate the test characteristics of the California Mastitis Test (CMT) that estimate the udder health status of fresh dairy cows. Over 1,200 quarters were both cultured and had a CMT performed. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the CMT was 68.8% and 71.5%, respectively. Using a cutpoint of any CMT reaction as a positive test and examining the results by various days in milk, the highest sensitivity and specificity occurred at day four (82.4% and 80.6%, respectively). The CMT has the potential to be a useful tool for monitoring udder health in fresh cows

Association of cow and quarter-level factors at a dry off and new intramammary infections in the dry period

Data from 300 cows and 1,178 quarters were analyzed to determine factors associated with new intramammary infections (IMI). Teatends that were cracked and teats that did not close during the dry period were 1.7 and 1.8 times more likely to develop new IMI, respectively. The level of milk production on the last day of lactation significantly influenced new IMI and teat canal closure. More (P<0.05) cows (36%) producing $21 kg of milk developed new IMI than cows (18%) producing less. When milk production was 21 kg or higher, teat canals were 1.8 times more likely to remain open

A Perspective on Human Movement Variability With Applications in Infancy Motor Development

Movement variability is considered essential to typical motor development. However, multiple theoretical perspectives and measurement tools have limited interpretation of the importance of movement variability in biological systems. The complementary use of linear and nonlinear measures have recently allowed for the evaluation of not only the magnitude of variability but also the temporal structure of variability. As a result, the theoretical model of optimal movement variability was introduced. The model suggests that the develop-ment of healthy and highly adaptable systems relies on the achievement of an optimal state of variability. Alternatively, abnormal development may be characterized by a narrow range of behaviors, some of which may be rigid, inflexible, and highly predictable or, on the contrary, random, unfocused, and unpredictable. In the present review, this theoretical model is described as it relates to motor development in infancy and specifically the development of sitting posture