88 research outputs found
Standardization of procedures for nitrogen fractionation of ruminant feeds
Abstract The Cornell Net Carbohydrate Protein Model (Chalupa et al., 1991; Sniffen et al., 1992) has developed the need for uniform procedures to partition feed nitrogen into A, B, and C fractions (Pichard and Van Soest, 1977). While carbohydrate fractions are relatively standardized (based on NDF, ADF with corrections for ash, protein, and lignin), the fractionation of plant nitrogen has been open to considerable variation in procedures. This has led to non-uniformity among reported values for nitrogen fractions. This paper recommends reliable procedures for nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) and buffer-soluble protein. These procedures have been examined for reproducibility and relevance to biological expectations. Procedures for acid-detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN), and neutral-detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN) are also included as they are required for the model. Some alternatives in certain procedures are offered
Body condition assessment using digital images.
This project assessed the ability to assign a body condition score (BCS) to a dairy cow from digital photographs or videos. Images were taken from the rear of the cow at a 0 to 20 degrees angle relative to the tail head. Four observers assigned a BCS to each of 57 cows at a farm visit (live, farm 1) and later from a photograph (photo). Means +/- standard deviations of BCS by method and observer were as follows: live = 3.25 +/- 0.51, 3.42 +/- 0.49, 3.32 +/- 0.58, 3.13 +/- 0.62; photo = 3.36 +/- 0.52, 3.32 +/- 0.43, 3.44 +/- 0.62, 3.14 +/- 0.6 for observers 1 to 4, respectively. Body condition score means differed across observers for live (observer 2 higher and observer 4 lower, compared with observers 1 and 3) and photo methods (observer 3 lower, compared with observers 1, 2, and 3); however, within observer, the mean live BCS did not differ from the mean photo BCS. Correlation coefficients between BCS assigned live and from photos were 0.84, 0.82, 0.82, and 0.90 for observers 1 to 4, respectively. Subsequently, observer 1 visited 2 farms, assigned a live BCS, and digitally photographed 187 cows (56 and 131 cows from farms 2 and 3, respectively). Observers 2, 3, and 4 assigned a BCS from the photographs. Means +/- standard deviations of BCS by observer (method) were 1 (live) 3.35 +/- 0.55; 2 (photo) 3.33 +/- 0.49; 3 (photo) 3.60 +/- 0.54; and 4 (photo) 3.26 +/- 0.62. The mean BCS for observer 3 was higher and that for observer 4 was lower than for observers 1 and 2. Correlation coefficients between observer 1 and observers 2 through 4 were 0.78, 0.76, and 0.79, respectively. Observer 1 assigned a BCS to 41 cows at a farm visit and 3 wk later assessed the BCS of cows from a video taken at a farm visit by a different individual. Cows were restrained in headlocks at a feed bunk when assessing BCS and for video production. No difference was detected for the mean BCS, for the standard deviation of the mean BCS, or in the distribution of BCS between the live and video assessments. Mean and SD for 17 groups of Holstein cows from 20 farms were used to generate 10,000 random samples of BCS. Groups of 25, 50, 100, and 150 cows were created from the random samples, and estimates of mean BCS were determined by sampling 3 to 80% of the group. Estimates of mean BCS with a sample size of 30% or more from a group of cows fell within the 95% confidence limit of the true mean more than 98% of the time. Digital photographs provide adequate imaging for assessment of BCS. Sampling 30% of a group should be adequate to assess the mean BCS. Video imaging allowed a rapid assessment of BCS but did not permit identification of individual cows
Quantification of Some Heavy Metals in Hair of Dairy Cows Housed in Different Areas from Sicily as a Bioindicator of Environmental Exposure—A Preliminary Study
Simple Summary: Heavy metals are considered one of the most critical pollutants that contaminate
the environment through anthropogenic or natural activities. Animals are very good indicators of
environmental pollution as they inhabit the same space as humans and are exposed to the same
pollutants. The levels of selected heavy metals in hair samples of Holstein dairy cows are evaluated
in this study. The gathered results would emphasize the usefulness of hair samples as possible
bioindicators of heavy metal exposure that, in the long term, could be harmful to the final consumer.
Moreover, this study gives an overview about the scenario of anthropogenic activity effects on heavy
metal accumulation in dairy cows from Ragusa, a peculiar Sicilian province particularly dedicated to
cow breeding for milk production.
Abstract: The objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate the levels of selected heavy metals in
hair samples of Holstein dairy cows reared on agricultural soils characterized by grassland subjected
to anthropogenic impacts. Ninety Holstein-Friesian cows were enrolled in the study and divided
into six groups according to farm origin. From each animal, hair samples were collected in order
to determine the content of aluminum, chromium, iron, copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, and lead.
One-way analysis of variance was applied to assess statistically significant differences in the studied
heavy metals among the six groups. A significant effect of groups (p < 0.05) on all tested heavy metals
was observed. In this study, the low concentration of heavy metals in the hair of the studied animals
led us to think that the cows were subjected to low levels of these compounds, preventing them from
bioaccumulating. Although the current study provides only preliminary results, it highlights the
importance of investigating the concentration of heavy metals in cow hair to improve the health and
welfare of both humans and animals
Early Prediction of Corpus Luteum Functionality Using an Imaging Software
The present study aimed to assess the applicability of luteal blood flow data acquired
through the use of color Doppler ultrasonography and a post-processing analysis
tool (ImageJ) for predicting pregnancy in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). The experiment
was carried out on 59 multiparous Italian Mediterranean buffaloes that underwent
synchronization of estrus and fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI). Corpus luteum
features (size: CLS and blood flow: BFA) were taken from Day 5 to 10 after TAI and
retrospectively measured with ImageJ. In the same period, blood samples were taken to
assess progesterone (P4) concentrations. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out on Day
45 by ultrasound and confirmed on Day 70 post-TAI. Differences in CLS, BFA, and P4
concentrations from Day 5 to 10 after TAI measured between groups were analyzed by
ANOVA repeated measures as were differences within each day of measuring. Buffaloes
that established a pregnancy (n = 29; 55%) had larger CLS (2.2 ± 0.1 vs. 1.9 ± 0.1 cm2;
P < 0.01), higher BFA (0.6 ± 0.0 vs. 0.4 ± 0.0 cm2; P < 0.01), and higher P4 blood level
(1.8 ± 0.1 vs. 1.4 ± 0.1; P < 0.01) during Day 5–10 as compared to not-pregnant
buffaloes (n = 22). Throughout the entire period, the first feature that changed between
groups was P4 blood concentration at Day 7 (1.7 ± 0.1 vs. 1.2 ± 0.1; P < 0.05) followed
by BFA at Day 8 (0.6 ± 0.0 vs. 0.5 ± 0.0; P < 0.05), respectively, in pregnant and
not-pregnant animals. The ROC analyses indicated that P4 was able to predict pregnancy
since Day 5 (P < 0.05) although a more reliable result could be obtained from Day 8
(P < 0.01). At Day 10, it was possible to set a cutoff value for every parameter taken
into account. The logistic regression analysis showed that pregnancy was positively
influenced by P4 concentration (odds ratio 534.127; P < 0.01) and BFA (odds ratio
744.893; P < 0.01). In conclusion, the use of color Doppler ultrasonography, together
with ImageJ, identified different patterns of BFA between pregnant and not-pregnant
buffaloes starting from Day 8 post-TAI
Management Factors Influence AnimalWelfare and the Correlation to Infectious Diseases in Dairy Cows
Simple Summary: To investigate the relationship between some infectious diseases (Mycobacterium
avium subsp. paratuberculosis, Chlamydiophila abortus, Neospora caninum, bovine viral diarrhea virus,
and the bovine herpesvirus) and the dairy farms’ welfare scores, 36 dairy farms were monitored using
the Italian National AnimalWelfare Reference Center (CreNBA) checklist. Farms and their animals
were scored in five different areas, namely: Area A, “Farm management and personnel”; Area B,
“Facilities and equipment”; Area C, “Animal-based measures”; Area D, “Inspection of microclimatic
environmental conditions and alarm systems”; and Area E, “Biosecurity”. The recorded scores were
compared between two farming conditions (access to pasture and indoor housing) and correlated
with the serum data. Our results indicated that an accurate application of the checklist could be an
instrument to prevent and control the spread of infections in dairy farms.
Abstract: The present study assessed dairy cow welfare through the application of the Italian National
Animal Welfare Reference Center (CReNBA) checklist in 36 dairy farms located in Ragusa (Italy)
subjected to two different management conditions, housing with free access to pasture (Group 1,
farms n = 17) and indoor housing (Group 2, farms n = 19). Five areas of investigation were considered:
Area A, “Farm management and personnel”; Area B, “Facilities and equipment”; Area C,
“Animal-based measures”; Area D, “Inspection of microclimatic environmental conditions and alarm
systems”; and Area E, “Biosecurity”. Blood samples were collected by coccygeal venipuncture from
all animals (4081 cows). The specific antibodies against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis,
Chlamydiophila abortus, Neospora caninum, bovine viral diarrhea virus, and the bovine herpesvirus
were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) serological test. Group 1 (access to
pasture) showed a lower value of percentage score recorded in Area A (p = 0.02) and E (p = 0.01)
than Group 2 (indoor housing). Herpesvirus (Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis - IBR - detection of
gB antibodies/IBR-gB) blood concentrations were higher in the cows housed indoor versus those
with access to pasture (p = 0.01). Farm management and personnel (score A) was correlated with the
level of bovine viral diarrhea virus ( = 0.3754) and bovine-herpesvirus-specific antibodies (IBR-gB)
( = 0.4159). “Biosecurity” percentage score showed a significant correlation with Chlamydiophila
abortus ( = 0.4621) in the cows with access to pasture and IBR-gB ( = 0.3435) in the cows housed
fully indoors. Group 2 showed a significantly reduced level of antibodies against Neospora caninum.
In conclusion, differences in the welfare assessment score were observed in the “Farm management
and personnel” and “Biosecurity” between the two management conditions. It had an effect on
the prevalence of herpesvirus, which occurred more in cattle with access to pasture. Therefore, an
accurate application of the checklist could be an instrument to prevent and control the spread of
infections in farms
Composition of Ragusano Cheese During Aging
Ragusano cheese is a brine-salted pasta filata cheese. Composition changes during 12 mo of aging were determined. Historically, Ragusano cheese has been aged in caves at 14 to 16 degrees C with about 80 to 90% relative humidity. Cheeses (n = 132) included in our study of block-to-block variation were produced by 20 farmhouse cheese makers in the Hyblean plain region of the Province of Ragusa in Sicily. Mean initial cheese block weight was about 14 kg. The freshly formed blocks of cheese before brine salting contained about 45.35% moisture, 25.3% protein, and 25.4% fat, with a pH of 5.25. As result of the brining and aging process, a natural rind forms. After 12 mo of aging, the cheese contained about 33.6% moisture, 29.2% protein, 30.0% fat, and 4.4% salt with a pH of 5.54, but block-to-block variation was large. Both soluble nitrogen content and free fatty acid (FFA) content increased with age. The pH 4.6 acetate buffer and 12% TCA-soluble nitrogen as a percentage of total nitrogen were 16 and 10.7%, respectively, whereas the FFA content was about 643 mg/100 g of cheese at 180 d. Five blocks of cheese were selected at 180 d for a study of variation within block. Composition variation within block was large; the center had higher moisture and lower salt in moisture content than did the outside. Composition variation within blocks favored more proteolysis and softer texture in the center
Assessment of the Dairy Production Needs of Cattle Owners in Southeastern Sicily
This study was undertaken to investigate research and outreach priorities for Progetto Ibleo (Project Ibleo), a center created in 1990 with tripartite government funding to serve dairy producers in the Hyblean region of Sicily. Data comprised values for production and composition of milk from 1984 to 1989 from 35 herds of Modicana cows on a system based on pasture and that from 69 input-intensive herds of Holstein cows, associated lactation and reproduction measures, and yield and composition of forages from 4 of these farms in 1988. Season had a large effect on the neutral detergent fiber and crude protein composition of forages, production and composition of milk, and predicted yield of fresh Ragusano cheese manufactured from the milk of these cows. The poorest forage quality and the poorest cow performance were observed in summer and fall months (May to October). Lactation curves that were flat, without a discernible peak, or convex were observed for both systems, especially for cows calving in spring and in the dry summer seasons (March to July). These abnormalities, signifying substantial sacrifices in production potential, probably had a complex etiology that stemmed from low nutrient intake and high neutral detergent fiber and low crude protein composition of the grazed and preserved forages. Research and outreach priorities to support the Hyblean dairy industry should include chemical evaluation of forages and other feedstuffs, low moisture ensiling of high quality winter forages, better formulation of diets that are dense with nutrients, and the shifting of calving patterns to better exploit high quality winter forages
Objective estimation of body condition score by modeling cow body shape from digital images.
Body condition score (BCS) is considered an important tool for management of dairy cattle. The feasibility of estimating the BCS from digital images has been demonstrated in recent work. Regression machines have been successfully employed for automatic BCS estimation, taking into account information of the overall shape or information extracted on anatomical points of the shape. Despite the progress in this research area, such studies have not addressed the problem of modeling the shape of cows to build a robust descriptor for automatic BCS estimation. Moreover, a benchmark data set of images meant as a point of reference for quantitative evaluation and comparison of different automatic estimation methods for BCS is lacking. The main objective of this study was to develop a technique that was able to describe the body shape of cows in a reconstructive way. Images, used to build a benchmark data set for developing an automatic system for BCS, were taken using a camera placed above an exit gate from the milking robot. The camera was positioned at 3 m from the ground and in such a position to capture images of the rear, dorsal pelvic, and loin area of cows. The BCS of each cow was estimated on site by 2 technicians and associated to the cow images. The benchmark data set contained 286 images with associated BCS, anatomical points, and shapes. It was used for quantitative evaluation. A set of example cow body shapes was created. Linear and polynomial kernel principal component analysis was used to reconstruct shapes of cows using a linear combination of basic shapes constructed from the example database. In this manner, a cow's body shape was described by considering her variability from the average shape. The method produced a compact description of the shape to be used for automatic estimation of BCS. Model validation showed that the polynomial model proposed in this study performs better (error=0.31) than other state-of-the-art methods in estimating BCS even at the extreme values of BCS scale
Morphological and Immunohistochemical Examination of Lymphoproliferative Lesions Caused by Marek's Disease Virus in Breeder Chickens
Simple Summary
The poultry industry is the most intensive and fastest growing among all livestock production systems, and, in the last decades, it has expanded exponentially due to an increasing demand for meat and eggs. Marek’s disease is a highly contagious and rapidly progressive lymphoproliferative disease. It is one of the most dangerous diseases of those affecting the sector because it causes important economic losses. Although widely controlled by vaccination programs, sometimes chickens are not totally protected, and the presence of virulent field strains can allow outbreaks. This case describes the occurrence of Marek’s disease observed in a breeder chicken flock that reported an increase in mortality rate (+0.4–0.6%) after the 32nd week. Histological analysis has highlighted severe lesions on visceral organs of chickens caused by Marek’s disease, especially in the intestinal tract of a hen that had a tumor mass in the distal part of the cloaca. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the disease-associated tumor. The aim of this study was to underline the importance of vaccine administration related to the maintenance of proper biosecurity practice, especially in the first week of the raising cycle. In addition, monitoring for disease even after vaccination is crucial to minimize economic loss.
Abstract
Marek’s disease is widely controlled by vaccination programs; however, chickens are not totally protected, especially immediately after the vaccination when a strong challenge could interfere with the effectiveness of vaccination in the absence of proper biosecurity practice. This case report describes the occurrence of Marek’s disease (MD) observed in a breeder chicken flock reared southeast of Sicily. MD outbreak occurred from 32 to 47 weeks with an increase in weekly mortality rate (+0.4–0.6%). Overall, mortality rate related to Marek’s disease was about 6% at the end of the cycle. Carcasses of chickens found during the occurrence of disease underwent necropsy, and tissues were collected to confirm the infection. Gizzard, cecal tonsil, intestine, spleen and tumor mass were collected and analyzed from a carcass of one hen, 32 weeks old and apparently asymptomatic. Multiplex real-time PCR performed on spleen tissues detected the presence of MD virus pathogenic strain. Macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of the rest of the samples confirmed the neoplastic disease. Moreover, the immunophenotype of the tumor cells was identified as CD3 positive by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The vaccinated flock had become rapidly infected with the MD virus, which proves that the challenge of the MD virus was too strong in the rearing house at the beginning of the cycle, causing the outbreak
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