Preference of veterinarians to select an udder health programme for milk producers

This investigation was carried out to gain more insight about the preference of veterinarians on the implementation of an udder health programme (UHP) in a dairy farm. Methods A choice experiment was designed to elicit the preferences of the participants. The study population consisted of 36 veterinarians from Argentina specialised on milk quality. The choice experiment offered several UHPs, which were combinations of some of the interventions included in the so-called five-point plan. To reduce bias among the participants, the UHPs offered were unlabelled and considered two farm contexts: One was on a pasture system and the other was on a dry-lot with pasture access system. The basic criteria (the so-called attribute) to describe veterinarians' preferences for each UHP proposed were efficacy on clinical mastitis (CM) and bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) reduction, cost and technical support. The data collected were analysed using conjoint analysis. Results UHP cost and UHP efficacy on BMSCC and CM had a significant influence on veterinarians' ranking decisions under both dairy production contexts. The efficacy on CM was the most important attribute to prefer a particular UHP, while technical assistance was the least important attribute considered. The attributes related to efficacy on both BMSCC and CM explained over 60 per cent of the total importance of all attributes. Conclusion To the authors' knowledge, this is the first research in South America focused on studying veterinarians' preferences to suggest a UHP. The cost and efficacy attributes were the veterinarians' top priority attributes to decide the best UHP.Fil: Vissio, Claudina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Richardet, Melina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Chaves, Javier. Lactodiagnóstico Sur; ArgentinaFil: Larriestra, Alejandro Jose. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Villa María. Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas; Argentin

Caracterização da gestão de novilhas em rebanhos leiteiros do oeste de Buenos Aires, Argentina

The replacement program in a dairy farm represents the second or third largest cost in a dairy operation. This study aimed to characterize and typify the practices related to the dairy heifer replacement program and describe the growth, development, and health parameters during this period in commercial dairy herds in Trenque Lauquen. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out, including 54 randomly selected dairy farms that were visited once to collect data about facilities and management through a semi-structured survey. Cluster and principal coordinates analysis were applied to classify the farms based on all variables collected, grouped in four main areas: pre-fresh cows, colostrum management, pre-weaning calf ’s management, and personnel. Additionally, growth, development, and health status were also recorded and described for calves and breeding heifers. Two similar-sized farm clusters were identified with differences in management and facilities in different areas of calves rearing. In one cluster there was a greater proportion of farms having a pre-fresh group, implementing appropriate health (colostrum, vaccination) and feeding management. Also, differences in personnel and technical support were relevant. The estimated body gain was 452 and 774 g/d for calves younger or older than 60 d of age, respectively. The age and weight farm averages in breeding heifers were 21.0 mo (range: 16.7-27.5) and 416.3 kg (range: 336.7-519.3), respectively. Diarrhea and respiratory affections were the major problems in pre-weaning calves and heifer rearing, respectively. The median mortality was 7.3, 7.6, and 2.9% at the calving, pre-weaning, and heifer rearing period, respectively. The results showed an improvement opportunity for producers, the design of precise and high impact programs that could lead to an improved replacement program.Nos rebanhos leiteiros, o programa de reposição representa o segundo ou o terceiro maior custo da atividade de produção de leite. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi caracterizar e tipificar as práticas relacionadas ao programa de reposição de novilhas leiteiras e descrever o crescimento, desenvolvimento e parâmetros de saúde durante este período em rebanhos leiteiros comerciais localizados em Trenque Lauquen, oeste de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Foi realizado um estudo observacional transversal incluindo 54 fazendas de produção de leite selecionadas ao acaso e visitadas uma única vez para a colheita de dados relacionados a instalações e manejo empregando-se um questionário semi-estruturado. Foi efetuada a análise dos agrupamentos e das coordenadas principais para classificar as fazendas com base em todas as variáveis colhidas e agrupadas em quatro principais áreas: vacas pré-parto, manejo de colostro, manejo pré-desmame de bezerros e recursos humanos. Os dados referentes ao crescimento, desenvolvimento e estado de saúde dos animais também foram registrados e descritos para bezerros e novilhas. Dois grupos de fazendas de tamanho semelhante foram identificados com diferenças no manejo e instalações em distintas áreas de recria de bezerros. Em um grupo houve uma maior proporção de fazendas que tinham um grupo de vacas pré-parto, com implementação de adequada manejo de saúde (colostro, vacinações) e manejo alimentar, também, foram relevantes as diferenças em termos de pessoal e suporte técnico. O ganho de peso estimado foi de 452 e 774 gramas por dia, respectivamente, para os bezerros jovens e os com idade superior a 60 dias. As médias das fazendas da idade e do peso das novilhas de reprodução foram, respectivamente, 21,0 meses (variação de 16,7 a 27,5) e 416,3 kg (variação de 336,7 a 519,3). A diarreia e as afecções respiratórias foram os maiores problemas de saúde, respectivamente, nos bezerros em pré-desmama e novilhas em recria. A média de mortalidade foi de 7,3; 7,6 e 2,9%, respectivamente, ao parto, na pré-desmama e durante a recria de novilhas. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram a existência de oportunidades de melhoria para os produtores, com o delineamento de programas precisos e de alto impacto que poderão propiciar um programa de reposição aprimorado.Fil: Demateis Lllera, Federico. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Norte. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria General Villegas. Agencia de Extension Rural Trenque Lauquen.; ArgentinaFil: Vissio, Claudina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Turiello, María Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Producción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Herrero, Alejandra. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Larriestra, Alejandro Jose. Universidad Nacional de Villa María. Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; Argentin

Mastitis in Holstein cows and associated factors in dairy farms in Córdoba, Argentina

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar la incidencia de mastitis clínica (MC) en tambos e identificar factores individuales asociados a nuevos episodios. Nueve tambos del tipo semi- pastoril que aplicaban medidas de control y prevención de la mastitis, fueron incluidos y visitados dos veces con un intervalo de 15 días. Una muestra aleatoria de vacas fue seleccionada en la primera visita y monitoreada durante los 15 días posteriores para la identificación de los nuevos casos de MC. La incidencia fue determinada como el cociente entre el número de casos nuevos de MC durante el período de seguimiento y el número de vacas sanas en la primera visita. Los factores de riesgo evaluados a nivel de vaca fueron: suciedad de la ubre, distancia al piso de la punta del pezón anterior, número ordinal de partos y días en lactancia. A nivel de cuarto se evaluó la presencia de pérdida espontánea de leche, condición del pezón considerando estado de la piel, presencia de anillo e hiperqueratosis. El grado de mastitis subclínica se valoró utilizando el California Mastitis Test (CMT). Un modelo lineal generalizado mixto fue ajustado para evaluar la asociación entre los factores relevados y la presentación de un caso nuevo de MC. Un total de 990 vacas fueron analizadas identificándose 62 (6,7%, intervalo de confianza-IC 95% 5,0-8,3) casos nuevos de MC. Los factores asociados a la presentación de un caso nuevo de mastitis clínica en el modelo final fueron días en lactancia, suciedad de la ubre y grado de CMT. Vacas con ubres muy sucias (grado 4) y resultado de CMT >2 en al menos un cuarto, mostraron valores de odds ratio (OR) de 2,56 (1,19-5,50) y 3,29 (1,5-7,2), respectivamente. Los atributos de la vaca identificados como asociados pueden ser indicadores de riesgo para el manejo especifico de la salud mamaria en el tambo.The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of clinical mastitis (CM) in dairy farms and identify individual factors associated with these new episodes. Nine semipastoral dairy farms applying mastitis control and prevention measures were included and visited twice with an interval of 15 days. A random sample of cows was selected in the first visit and monitored during the following 15 days for the identification of new cases of CM. The incidence was determined as the ratio between the number of new CM cases during the follow-up period and the number of healthy cows at the first visit. The risk factors evaluated at cow level were udder hygiene, distance to the floor of the anterior quarter teat, parity and days in milk; at quarter level was evaluated the leaking milk, teat skin condition, presence of ring and hyperkeratosis and subclinical mastitis using the California Mastitis Test (CMT). A generalized mixed linear model was adjusted to evaluate the association between the factors surveyed and a new CM case. A total of 990 cows were analyzed and 62 (6.7%, 95% CI 5.0­ 8.3) new cases of CM were identified. The factors associated to a new case of clinical mastitis in the final model were days in milking, udder hygiene and CMT level. Cows with very dirty udders (level 4) and CMT result >2 in at least one quarter showed odds ratio (OR) values of 2.56 (1.19-5.5) and 3.29 (1.5-7.2), respectively. Cow attributes identified as associated may be risk indicators for specific mammary health management in the dairy herd.Fil: Vissio, Claudina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Pereyra, Myriam Elma. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; ArgentinaFil: Lamberti, Maximiliano José. Universidad Nacional de Villa María. Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Bonetto, Cesar Celestino. Universidad Nacional de Villa María. Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Larriestra, Alejandro Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Villa María. Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; Argentin

Milking machine and udder health management factors associated with bulk milk somatic cell count in Uruguayan herds

This paper describes the findings of static milking machine tests and milking observations on Uruguayan dairy farms. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between both milking machine performance and udder health management factors and bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) in Uruguayan dairy herds. Data from 907 visits were used for the analysis. The farm visits were made between April 2006 and November 2015 and farms were located in 17 of the 19 departments of Uruguay. Each visit involved a short static machine test and observation of the milking process; the use of blanket dry cow therapy was also recorded. The BMSCC was the variable of interest. Univariable analysis was applied to explore the best set of predictors to be included in the multivariable model. A multivariable linear regression model was fitted. The median BMSCC over the years was 376 thousand cells/mL (interquartile range = 280,000–500,000 cells/mL). The final model showed a lower BMSCC for herds that used post-milking teat disinfection, applied the teat cups to dry teats and maintained the pulsation system in good working order. There was no significant association between BMSCC and blanket dry cow therapy in the final model. The association of these milking machine and udder health management factors with the BMSCC under Uruguayan conditions is relevant information for a dairy industry that needs low BMSCCs to compete on the world market.Fil: Vissio, Claudina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Bouman, Mette. Lactodiagnóstico Sur; UruguayFil: Larriestra, Alejandro Jose. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Villa María; Argentin

Cow and herd predictors of udder health status in a random sample of argentinian dairy herds

The objective of this observational study was to evaluate the relationship between cow- and herd-level factors and cow udder health status, measured by composite milk sample somatic cell count (CSCC) in dairy herds from Córdoba, Argentina. The study population was dairy farms of a size of 100 to 250 cows; 48 randomly selected dairy herds were visited during 2007. Each visit involved a milking routine inspection, an interview to the dairyman and the collection of 45 milk composite samples from cows selected by a random systematic procedure. Parity and days in milk were recorded for each cow sampled. The somatic cell count was determined with a Somacount 300, and then a natural logarithmic transformation of SCC values was used. A general linear mixed regression model looking at herd as a random effect was fitted. The mean of somatic cell count in 2,140 cows was 5.38 (SD=1.56). Dry cow therapy, milk strip and dairymen age as herd factors, lactation days and parity as cow factors, were associated with somatic cell count. The incremental effect on somatic cell count for cow attributes was greater than herd factors. This information will help to device herd programs to improve udder health in Argentina. Fil: Vissio, Claudina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Richardet, Melina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Dieser, Silvana Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Odierno, Liliana Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Larriestra, Alejandro Jose. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria; Argentin

Impact of age at first calving on performance and economics in commercial dairy herds in Argentina

Dairy herd efficiency depends on an adequate replacement program, and one of the main management factors affecting the replacement cost is age at first calving (AFC). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of AFC on performance and economic results in commercial dairy herds in Argentina. A retrospective study was conducted to analyze data from a total of 26,614 first lactation cows from 290 argentinian dairy farms calved for the first time during the calendar year 2016. Milk yield for first lactation cows having at least 5 milk test days was used to analyze production (n=15,181). Records were stratified by AFC into 5 groups: 1) 18–21 mo (n=202), 2) 22-25 mo (n=5,569), 3) 26-29 mo (n=5,579), 4) 30-33 mo (n=2,389), 5) 34-37 mo (n=1,442). The overall median of AFC was 27 mo. Although milk yield at the beginning of the lactation was lower for lower AFC categories, the differences between categories 2, 3, and 4 disappeared by the fourth test day at approximately 113 days in milk. No effect of AFC category was detected for milk fat and protein content and for SCC. Considering AFC categories, cows calving for the first time at 22–25 mo of age needed the shortest period after calving to conceive. The lower income associated with the mild milk losses may be compensated by the cost of more than 80 extra d in the rearing period and the increment in days open estimated for the upper categories.Fil: Turiello, María Paula. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Producción Animal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Vissio, Claudina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Heinrichs, Arlyn Jud. State University of Pennsylvania; Estados UnidosFil: Issaly, Liliana Cristina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Larriestra, Alejandro Jose. Universidad Nacional de Villa María. Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; Argentin

Gliotoxinogenic Aspergillus fumigatus in the dairy herd environment

The potential association between hygienic conditions in the environment of lactating cows and the presence of gliotoxinogenic Aspergillus fumigatus strains was studied. Milk samples (individual cow’s milk [ICM], bulk tank milk [BTM]) from 44 dairy farms were sampled. In ICM samples, eight different species of Aspergillus were identified. A. flavus and A. fumigatus were predominant, with 37.8 % and 26.1 % relative densities, respectively. A. fumigatus strains were isolated from 61.4 % of the BTM samples, and 34 % of these strains were able to produce gliotoxin. Principal component analysis was used to associate the presence of A. fumigatus with some hygienic and sanitary practices. A significant and positive correlation was observed between dry cow therapy and forestripping. The presence of A. fumigatus gliotoxin producers in milk was associated with high somatic cells count (SCC) samples. Good hygienic and sanitary practices were associated with absence of A. fumigatus and relatively low SCCs of <250,000 cells/ml. In general, a high percentage of dairy farms were positive for A. fumigatus in BTM samples. This is the first work that indicates the positive effects of adequate hygienic and sanitary practices in dairy herds on the control of A. fumigatus and related species. By reducing the frequency of Aspergillus spp. in the dairy environment, the risk of farm handlers’ exposure and the risk of intramammary fungal infections would also be reduced.Fil: Pellegrino, Matias Santiago. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Alonso, Veronica Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vissio, Claudina. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomia y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Larriestra, Alejandro Jose. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Agronomia y Veterinaria. Departamento de Patología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Chiacchiera, Stella Maris. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bogni, Cristina Ines. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Cavaglieri, Lilia Reneé. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin