Displaced abomasum and ketosis in dairy cows

High producing dairy cows struggle to meet energy demands and handle various transitional changes in late gestation and early lactation. Negative energy balance in early lactation is inevitable and metabolic disorders may follow as a consequence of a deep negative energy balance. This thesis studies associations between blood profiles and body condition score (BCS) in dairy cows, and displaced abomasum (DA) or clinical ketosis, and investigates risk factors for the two diseases at the herd level. In study I, blood profiles of cows with and without DA were compared. In studies II and III, blood of cows was sampled to investigate how blood profiles differed among herds with a high incidence of DA or clinical ketosis, and between cows in high-incidence and low-incidence herds, respectively. In study IV, associations between high or low incidence and factors related to housing, feeding, management and milk yield were studied to identify herd-level risk factors for DA and ketosis. The blood profiles included parameters with which to assess energy metabolism, hepatic cell damage, inflammation, and a metabolic index (RQUICKI)used in humans to assess insulin sensitivity. The cows with DA displayed blood profiles indicating a severely altered energy metabolism (NEFA, BHB, insulin, cholesterol, RQUICKI), liver cell damage (AST, GD) and inflammatory responses (haptoglobin). At the herd level, energy markers (NEFA, insulin, glucose, cholesterol, RQUICKI) indicated altered metabolism in cows in high-incidence herds compared with cows in low-incidence herds. The markers of liver cell damage and inflammation were not different between highand low-incidence herds. Among high-incidence herds, BCS and change in BCS, and one metabolic marker (NEFA) were found most useful to pinpoint herd problems. Large herd size, high individual milk production level, keeping all dry cows in one group, and not cleaning the feeding platform daily, were found to be risk factors for a high incidence of DA or ketosis at the herd level. In conclusion, the studies confirm a difference in blood profiles between cows with DA and healthy herd mates as well as a difference at the herd level between cows in herds with high versus low incidence of DA and clinical ketosis

Metabolic profiles in five high-producing Swedish dairy herds with a history of abomasal displacement and ketosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Body condition score and blood profiles have been used to monitor management and herd health in dairy cows. The aim of this study was to examine BCS and extended metabolic profiles, reflecting both energy metabolism and liver status around calving in high-producing herds with a high incidence of abomasal displacement and ketosis and to evaluate if such profiles can be used at herd level to pinpoint specific herd problems.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Body condition score and metabolic profiles around calving in five high-producing herds with high incidences of abomasal displacement and ketosis were assessed using linear mixed models (94 cows, 326 examinations). Cows were examined and blood sampled every three weeks from four weeks ante partum (ap) to nine weeks postpartum (pp). Blood parameters studied were glucose, fructosamine, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), insulin, β-hydroxybutyrate, aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, haptoglobin and cholesterol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All herds had overconditioned dry cows that lost body condition substantially the first 4–6 weeks pp. Two herds had elevated levels of NEFA ap and three herds had elevated levels pp. One herd had low levels of insulin ap and low levels of cholesterol pp. Haptoglobin was detected pp in all herds and its usefulness is discussed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>NEFA was the parameter that most closely reflected the body condition losses while these losses were not seen in glucose and fructosamine levels. Insulin and cholesterol were potentially useful in herd profiles but need further investigation. Increased glutamate dehydrogenase suggested liver cell damage in all herds.</p

Associations between Bovine Coronavirus and Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections and Productivity, Health Status and Occurrence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Swedish Dairy Herds

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and bovine coronavirus (BCoV) affect dairy herds worldwide. In this study, effects on herd health, morbidity, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) were assessed. Herds were considered free of infection (FREE), recently infected (RI) or past steadily infected (PSI) based on antibody testing of milk from primiparous cows. Data from farm records, national databases, and AMR of fecal Escherichia coli from calves were used as outcome variables. Compared to BRSV FREE herds: BRSV PSI herds had significantly higher odds of cough in young stock, a higher proportion of quinolone-resistant E. coli (QREC), but a lower proportion of cows with fever. BRSV RI herds had significantly higher odds of diarrhea in calves and young stock, a higher proportion of QREC and higher odds of multidrug-resistant E. coli. Compared to BCoV FREE herds: BCoV PSI herds had significantly higher odds of cough in all ages, and of diarrhea in young stock and cows, and a higher proportion of cows with fever. BCoV RI herds had significantly higher odds of diarrhea in young stock and cows and of cough in all ages. The results support previous research that freedom from BRSV and BCoV is beneficial for animal welfare and farm economy and possibly also mitigates AMR