Intensity of Oestrus Signalling Is the Most Relevant Indicator for Animal Well-Being in High-Producing Dairy Cows

Full signalling of oestrous behaviour is vital for proper timing of AI and good reproductive performance, currently jeopardized by shorter observations of oestrus behaviour. Alternative indicators including progesterone (P4) recordings on-farm are tested. Oestrous intensity of 37 heifers (H) and 30 1st-parity dairy cows (C1) either Swedish Red (32) or Swedish Holstein (35) with high genetic potential for milk production, was studied in relation to AI. P4-levels in blood or milk were monitored on-farm at 0, 7, and 20 d post-AI with a portable ELISA reader (eProCheck800). Avoidance distance and body condition were scored at day 7, and pregnancy diagnosed by P4 (day 20) and trans-rectal palpation (day 50). More heifers (46%) than C1-cows (10%) showed standing oestrus (strongest intensity, P < 0.05), leading to higher pregnancy rate at d50 (72% versus 37% for C1, P < 0.01) and calving rate (H: 64%, C1: 33%, P < 0.05). Avoidance distances were short (<1 m), reflecting good human-animal interaction. Visually-recorded standing oestrus yielded 4.8 fold higher odds of pregnancy, respectively 4.6-fold higher odds of calving. On-farm P4-recordings had complementary value yet less accuracy. Intensity of oestrus signalling relates to animal well-being, reflected in pregnancy-to-term being a good indicator for optimal welfare in high-producing dairy cattle

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Full signalling of oestrous behaviour is vital for proper timing of AI and good reproductive performance, currently jeopardized by shorter observations of oestrus behaviour. Alternative indicators including progesterone (P 4 ) recordings on-farm are tested. Oestrous intensity of 37 heifers (H) and 30 1st-parity dairy cows (C 1 ) either Swedish Red (32) or Swedish Holstein (35) with high genetic potential for milk production, was studied in relation to AI. P 4 -levels in blood or milk were monitored on-farm at 0, 7, and 20 d post-AI with a portable ELISA reader (eProCheck 800 ). Avoidance distance and body condition were scored at day 7, and pregnancy diagnosed by P 4 (day 20) and trans-rectal palpation (day 50). More heifers (46%) than C 1 -cows (10%) showed standing oestrus (strongest intensity, P &lt; 0.05), leading to higher pregnancy rate at d50 (72% versus 37% for C1, P &lt; 0.01) and calving rate (H: 64%, C1: 33%, P &lt; 0.05). Avoidance distances were short (&lt;1 m), reflecting good human-animal interaction. Visually-recorded standing oestrus yielded 4.8 fold higher odds of pregnancy, respectively 4.6-fold higher odds of calving. On-farm P4-recordings had complementary value yet less accuracy. Intensity of oestrus signalling relates to animal well-being, reflected in pregnancy-to-term being a good indicator for optimal welfare in high-producing dairy cattle

Turvallista talousvettä : Terveydelliset riskit ja niiden hallinta

Syventävien opintojen opintoprojekti on tehty kirjallisuuskatsauksena, ja sen tarkoitus on perehdyttä&aum l;lukijaa talousveden käsittelyn tarpeisiin ja käsittelyn seurauksiin. Aluksi perehdytään raakaveteen ja sen aiheuttamiin käsittelyvaatimuksiin. Tässä osassa käsitellään myös vedessä esiintyviä tekijöitä joista saattaa aiheutua terveydellistä haittaa käytettäessä vettä talousvetenä Seuraavaksi käsitellään tavallisimpia puhdistus- ja desinfektiomenetelmiä. Työn viimeisessä osassa punnitaan käsittelyn aiheuttamia riskejä ja verrataan käsittelemättömän vedenriskeihin

Oestrous intensity is positively associated with reproductive outcome in high-producing dairy cows

his study tested whether strong oestrus symptoms are linked to low lameness score, acceptable pregnancy and calving rates in heifers and first parity dairy cows with a high genetic potential for milk production. In a single Swedish nucleus herd for genetic selection and testing, oestrous intensity was determined by detailed observations of 67 females, balanced in terms of age and breed (37 heifers and 30 first-parity cows; 32 Swedish Red cows and 35 Swedish Holsteins). Animals were inseminated with semen of proven quality on the day of detected oestrus. Pregnancy was diagnosed on day 50 by trans-rectal palpation. More heifers than cows exhibited a strong standing oestrus (46 vs. 10%, Pandlt;0.05). The pregnancy rate at day 50 was higher among heifers than cows (72 vs. 37%. Pandlt;0.01), as well as the calving rate (64 vs. 33%, Pandlt;0.05). Standing oestrus was associated with 4.6 to 4.8-fold higher odds of pregnancy and calving, compared to weaker or solely secondary oestrous signs. Lameness decreased the odds of pregnancy 5.1 times and of calving 3.5 times, but no significant association between lameness and oestrus intensity was found. In conclusion, intensive oestrus signalling and non-lameness relate to high reproductive performance in high-producing dairy cattle.Original Publication: Emanuel Garcia, Jan Hultgren, Pontus Fallman, Johanna Geust, Bo Algers, George Stilwell, Stefan Gunnarsson and Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez, Oestrous intensity is positively associated with reproductive outcome in high-producing dairy cows, 2011, Livestock Science, (139), 3, 191-195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2011.01.004 Copyright: Elsevier http://www.elsevier.com