Zelnate on Arrival Could Decrease the Likelihood of Subsequent Pulls in Suspect Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex Cases

Antimicrobial metaphylaxis is an important tool used for the prevention of Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex; a disease with a large economic impact that typically affects newly-weaned beef calves that are marketed and transported a distance from their origin. There are questions involving the potential benefit of Zelnate, a novel non-antibiotic technology designed to activate an animal’s natural immunity to fight Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex, being used either solely or in combination with metaphylaxis at the time of initial processing of high risk calves. More knowledge is also needed regarding the possible effects of repeated use of Zelnate when subsequent therapy is required in individual Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex cases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Zelnate when used as part of an antimicrobial metaphylaxis treatment or when used in combination with an antibiotic when a calf is diagnosed with Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex

Effects of milk, pasteurized milk, and milk replacer on health and productivity of dairy calves

Dairy Research, 2014 is known as Dairy Day, 2014Our objectives were to determine the health and blood parameters before, during, and after weaning of 114 Holstein heifers fed either accelerated milk replacer (MR; 28% CP, 18% fat) or non-saleable milk (3.59 ± 0.28% true protein; 4.12 ± 0.37% fat) that was either pasteurized (PM) or raw (RM; refrigerated and fed <24 h after collection). Calves were randomly assigned to feeding treatments at birth. Colostrum (1 L) was fed less than 14 hours after birth (MR and PM = pasteurized colostrum; RM = raw colostrum). All calves were bottle-fed 1.8 ± 0.20 L, 3 times daily; all calves were provided fresh water and grain ad libitum throughout the experiment. Calves began step-down weaning at age 5 weeks and completed weaning at age 6 weeks. Blood samples were collected at ages 3, 5, and 7 weeks and were analyzed for complete blood counts (CBC) using a Procyte Idexx Analyzer (IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, ME). Fecal scores were observed twice daily, on a 1 to 3 scale (FS1 = normal, FS2 = loose, FS3 = scours). Results showed that MR-fed calves had more (P < 0.01) observations (%obs) with FS > 2 than the PM- and RM-fed calves (2.3 vs. 1.6 and 1.7 ± 0.2 %obs, respectively). In addition, there were no differences in body weight or shoulder or hip height between treatments, but a treatment × week interaction (P = 0.05) occurred for grain consumed, with a noticeably higher increase between 6 and 7 weeks of age for MR calves. When CBC was considered, there were no differences in blood cell types, but MR-fed calves had greater mean corpuscular volume (MCV) than the other calves (P < 0.01), leading to higher resistance for iron deficiency anemia. In conclusion, these findings suggest that calf performance and feed intake are not affected by the administration of raw milk, pasteurized milk, or milk replacer. Moreover, CBC health parameters showed no significant changes due to administration of the different types of milk sources

High Energy Digestible Fiber-based Diets Improve Efficiency in Growing Heifers

An inherent challenge of long hauled, highly stressed calves is decreased feed intake upon destination arrival. Highly stressed, newly received stocker calves not consuming adequate amounts of energy are prone to a variety of disorders such as Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex and decreased performance throughout the feeding period. One mechanism that can be used to increase energy intake upon arrival is to make the diet more energy dense. Often times, this is accomplished by the addition of cereal grains high in fermentable carbohydrate including starch. Unfortunately, this has also been linked to increasing morbidity due to metabolic disorders. The goal of this study was to analyze the effects of limit-fed diets containing increasing amounts of energy from highly digestible fiber in by-product feeds on health and performance of newly received stocker calves

Restricting Intake and Increasing Energy Improves Efficiency in Newly Received Growing Cattle and Zelnate Has No Effect

Objectives: Study effects of two limit-fed diets formulated to provide two levels of dietary energy and offered at two different intake rates to target similar gains and analyze the efficacy of a novel DNA-immunostimulant administered on arrival. Study Description: A 56-day pen study was conducted utilizing 370 Angus × Brahman heifers shipped from Florida (1,455 mi) to study the effects of limit-feeding at 2 intakes based on prior research conducted at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit, Manhattan, KS, to achieve similar gains and effects of Zelnate under the dietary conditions. The Bottom Line: Limit-feeding a higher-energy, lower-roughage diet at 2.2% of body weight daily is a more efficient feeding strategy than offering a higher-roughage, lower-energy diet at 2.4% of body weight daily to achieve similar gains, and Zelnate administered on arrival had no effect on performance or health

Increased Dietary Energy in Limit-fed Diets Does Not Affect Immune Function, Inflammation, or Stress, but Health Status Does

Objectives: Measure effects of limit-feeding high-energy diets on the immune system, stress, and inflammation as well as differences in these parameters between healthy and sick animals under the dietary conditions. Study Description: Heifers from 4 dietary treatments were used to study the effects of limit-feeding and increased dietary energy on immune function, inflammation (indicated by elevated levels of haptoglobin), stress, and differences in these parameters between healthy and morbid animals consuming the different diets. The Bottom Line: Limit-feeding high-energy diets does not negatively affect immune function, cause stress, or promote inflammation, and morbid animals have significantly higher haptoglobin levels

Programming a Variety of Gains Is Possible by Controlling Intake of a Single High-Energy By-Product-Based Diet Early in the Receiving/Growing Period Without Affecting Efficiency

Objective: Analyze the effects on performance when feeding a high-energy by-product-based diet to newly received growing cattle. Description: A total of 400 Angus × Hereford heifers originating from Montana were used to determine the effects on performance when intake of a high-energy corn by-product-based diet is increased to near ad libitum intake. The Bottom Line: One high-energy diet based on wet corn gluten feed can be offered to achieve a variety of gains efficiently by only altering the amount of feed offered

Wet Distiller’s Grains and Wet Corn Gluten with Dry-Rolled or Whole-Shelled Corn in High-Energy Limit-Fed Diets Do Not Affect Growing Cattle Performance

Objective: Compare wet distiller’s grains plus solubles and wet corn gluten feed with dry-rolled or whole-shelled corn in a novel programmed-feeding strategy being developed at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit. Description: A total of 320 crossbred steers were used to determine the effects of two corn by-products and methods of corn processing, utilizing a high-energy limit-fed feeding strategy. The Bottom Line: Kansas producers have the option of feeding corn by-product and whether or not to process corn in a high-energy limit-fed feeding strategy without the risk of negatively affecting performance

Total Tract Dry Matter Digestibility and Proportions of Ruminal Propionate Are Increased in High-Energy Limit-Fed Diets Based Primarily on Wet Corn Gluten Feed

Objectives: Study digestion and characteristics of digestion of high-energy limit-fed diets based primarily on wet corn gluten feed. Study Description: Six ruminally-cannulated Jersey crossbred steers were used to measure total tract diet digestibility, passage rate, volatile fatty acid, and ammonia production, and ruminal pH when limit-feeding high-energy diets based primarily on wet corn gluten feed. The Bottom Line: High-energy limit-fed diets based primarily on wet corn gluten feed are 15% more digestible and produce a higher concentration of energy yielding volatile fatty acid compared to low-energy full-fed diets without apparent disruptions in ruminal fermentation or health

Reviewing the integration of patient data: how systems are evolving in practice to meet patient needs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The integration of Information Systems (IS) is essential to support shared care and to provide consistent care to individuals – patient-centred care. This paper identifies, appraises and summarises studies examining different approaches to integrate patient data from heterogeneous IS.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The literature was systematically reviewed between 1995–2005 to identify articles mentioning patient records, computers and data integration or sharing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 3124 articles, 84 were included describing 56 distinct projects. Most of the projects were on a regional scale. Integration was most commonly accomplished by messaging with pre-defined templates and middleware solutions. HL7 was the most widely used messaging standard. Direct database access and web services were the most common communication methods. The user interface for most systems was a Web browser. Regarding the type of medical data shared, 77% of projects integrated diagnosis and problems, 67% medical images and 65% lab results. More recently significantly more IS are extending to primary care and integrating referral letters.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is clear that Information Systems are evolving to meet people's needs by implementing regional networks, allowing patient access and integration of ever more items of patient data. Many distinct technological solutions coexist to integrate patient data, using differing standards and data architectures which may difficult further interoperability.</p

User preferences for adaptive user interfaces in health information systems

An adaptive user interface requires identification of user requirements. Interface designers and engineers must understand end-user interaction with the system to improve user interface design. A combination of interviews and observations is applied for user requirement analysis in health information systems (HIS). Then, user preferences are categorized in this paper as either data entry, language and vocabulary, information presentation, or help, warning and feedback. The user preferences in these categories were evaluated using the focus group method. Focus group sessions with different types of HIS users comprising medical staff (with and without computer skills) and system administrators identified each user group’s preference for the initial adaptation of the HIS user interface. User needs and requirements must be identified to adapt the interface to users during data entry into the system. System designers must understand user interactions with the system to identify their needs and preferences. Without this, interface design cannot be adapted to users and users will not be comfortable using the system and eventually abandon its use