scholarly journals Simulating the mechanics behind sub-optimal mobility and the associated economic losses in dairy production

Author(s):  
Francis Edwardes ◽  
Mariska van der Voort ◽  
Tariq Halasa ◽  
Menno Holzhauer ◽  
Henk Hogeveen
2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 53-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviani Gomes ◽  
Karina Medici Madureira ◽  
Sérgio Soriano ◽  
Alice Maria Melville Paiva Della Libera ◽  
Maiara Garcia Blagitz ◽  
...  

This study analyzed the influence of the number of milkings, number of births, and udder quarter in immunoglobulin (Ig) concentration in the colostrum of healthy Holstein cows. It was collected two samples of colostrum by manual milking, getting the first jets to completion of bacteriological examination and immunoglobulin levels by radial immunodiffusion test in agar gel. Positive samples for bacteriological examination were excluded from this investigation. Medians of immunoglobulin's G, A and M in the colostrum collected before the first and second milking were respectively 9,200 and 6,400mg/dL (p=0.0029); 400 and 200mg/dL (p=0.0018); 800 and 400mg/dL (p=0.0001). Median immunoglobulin concentration in animals that calved once, twice or three times or in cows that calved 4 to 6 times were 6,400; 6,400; 3,200 and 11,200mg/dL IgG; 100, 200, 100 and 800mg/dL IgA ; and 400, 400, 100 and 800mg/dL IgM, respectively. Concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM were greater in animals that calved more than 4 times (p<0.05). Medians of IgG, IgA and IgM in the right fore quarter (RF), right hind quarter (RH), left fore quarter (LF) and left hind quarter (LH) were, respectively, 7,800; 6,400; 7,800 and 6,400mg/dL; 200, 200, 200 and 200mg/dL; and 400, 400, 400 and 400mg/dL. Ig concentrations in the colostrum of Holstein cows were influenced by the number of milkings after delivery and number of lactations. These variations may be considered risk factors to passive immunity transfer to newborn calves, predisposing them to diseases and causing economic losses to dairy production.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Babatunde Sadiq ◽  
Siti Ramanoon ◽  
Wan Shaik Mossadeq ◽  
Rozaihan Mansor ◽  
Sharifah Syed Hussain

Lameness continues to be a welfare and economic issue for dairy cows. However, the consequences of lameness seem to be better understood by veterinarians and related personnel in comparison to dairy farmers. Prompt detection and treatment of lame cows is essential in reducing its negative impact on milk processing systems. To that end, understanding farmers’ perceptions regarding the significance of lameness to dairy cows is vital. One fundamental aspect is the underestimation of lameness prevalence by dairy farmers, which is as a result of different understanding of the problem. The same applies to their decision to treat lame cows and to adopt various detection and management practices. All of these shortcomings contribute to poor cattle welfare and economic losses in dairy production. This review summarizes the results of studies that have investigated dairy farmers’ perceptions of lameness and the associated implications on the wellbeing and productivity of dairy cows. Factors associated with farmers’ attitudes toward claw health and lameness management are also presented. Additionally, economic observations relating to lameness prevention, treatment and the adoption of lameness detection systems are also highlighted. To strengthen these points, interventional programmes requiring farmers’ participation are discussed as a promising approach in answering some of these challenges. A review of the literature indicates both the opportunities and barriers inherent in the tackling the lameness issue from the farmers’ perspectives. Such knowledge is crucial in identifying measures on how to motivate dairy farmers towards proper lameness management.


Author(s):  
B. L. Redmond ◽  
Christopher F. Bob

The American Elm (Ulmus americana L.) has been plagued by Dutch Elm Disease (DED), a lethal disease caused by the fungus Ceratocystis ulmi (Buisman) c. Moreau. Since its initial appearance in North America around 1930, DED has wrought inexorable devastation on the American elm population, triggering both environmental and economic losses. In response to the havoc caused by the disease, many attempts have been made to hybridize U. americana with a few ornamentally less desirable, though highly DED resistant, Asian species (mainly the Siberian elm, Ulmus pumila L., and the Chinese elm Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.). The goal is to develop, through breeding efforts, hybrid progeny that display the ornamentally desirable characteristics of U. americana with the disease resistance of the Asian species. Unfortunately, however, all attempts to hybridize U. americana have been prevented by incompatibility. Only through a firm understanding of both compatibility and incompatibility will it be possible to circumvent the incompatibility and hence achieve hybridization.


ENTOMON ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-86
Author(s):  
Mohammad Yosof Amini ◽  
Ahamad Shah Mohammadi ◽  
Srinivasa N ◽  
Onkarappa S

False spider mites are serious pests of pomegranate and frequently cause considerable economic losses in other fruit crops as well. A field experiment conducted to evaluate eleven acaricides against Tenuipalpus aboharensis infesting pomegranate plants, revealed that wettable sulphur at 2.5 g and dicofol at 2.5 ml per litre were very effective and other acaricides viz. propargite, fenpyroximate, chlorfenapyr and buprofezin were also found effective against T. aboharensis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 153-160
Author(s):  
S Peeralil ◽  
TC Joseph ◽  
V Murugadas ◽  
PG Akhilnath ◽  
VN Sreejith ◽  
...  

Luminescent Vibrio harveyi is common in sea and estuarine waters. It produces several virulence factors and negatively affects larval penaeid shrimp in hatcheries, resulting in severe economic losses to shrimp aquaculture. Although V. harveyi is an important pathogen of shrimp, its pathogenicity mechanisms have yet to be completely elucidated. In the present study, isolates of V. harveyi were isolated and characterized from diseased Penaeus monodon postlarvae from hatcheries in Kerala, India, from September to December 2016. All 23 tested isolates were positive for lipase, phospholipase, caseinase, gelatinase and chitinase activity, and 3 of the isolates (MFB32, MFB71 and MFB68) showed potential for significant biofilm formation. Based on the presence of virulence genes, the isolates of V. harveyi were grouped into 6 genotypes, predominated by vhpA+ flaB+ ser+ vhh1- luxR+ vopD- vcrD+ vscN-. One isolate from each genotype was randomly selected for in vivo virulence experiments, and the LD50 ranged from 1.7 ± 0.5 × 103 to 4.1 ± 0.1 × 105 CFU ml-1. The expression of genes during the infection in postlarvae was high in 2 of the isolates (MFB12 and MFB32), consistent with the result of the challenge test. However, in MFB19, even though all genes tested were present, their expression level was very low and likely contributed to its lack of virulence. Because of the significant variation in gene expression, the presence of virulence genes alone cannot be used as a marker for pathogenicity of V. harveyi.


Author(s):  
N.A. Thomson

In a four year grazing trial with dairy cows the application of 5000 kg lime/ ha (applied in two applications of 2500 kg/ha in winter of the first two years) significantly increased annual pasture production in two of the four years and dairy production in one year. In three of the four years lime significantly increased pasture growth over summer/autumn with concurrent increases in milk production. In the last year of the trial lime had little effect on pasture growth but a relatively large increase in milkfat production resulted. A higher incidence of grass staggers was recorded on the limed farmlets in spring for each of the four years. In the second spring immediately following the second application of lime significant depressions in both pasture and plasma magnesium levels were recorded. By the third spring differences in plasma magnesium levels were negligible but small depressions in herbage magnesium resulting from lime continued to the end of the trial. Lime significantly raised soil pH, Ca and Mg levels but had no effect on either soil K or P. As pH levels of the unlimed paddocks were low (5.2-5.4) in each autumn and soil moisture levels were increased by liming, these factors may suggest possible causes for the seasonality of the pasture response to lime


Author(s):  
R. Horrell ◽  
A.K. Metherell ◽  
S. Ford ◽  
C. Doscher

Over two million tonnes of fertiliser are applied to New Zealand pastures and crops annually and there is an increasing desire by farmers to ensure that the best possible economic return is gained from this investment. Spreading distribution measurements undertaken by Lincoln Ventures Ltd (LVL) have identified large variations in the evenness of fertiliser application by spreading machines which could lead to a failure to achieve optimum potential in some crop yields and to significant associated economic losses. To quantify these losses, a study was undertaken to calculate the effect of uneven fertiliser application on crop yield. From LVL's spreader database, spread patterns from many machines were categorised by spread pattern type and by coefficient of variation (CV). These patterns were then used to calculate yield losses when they were combined with the response data from five representative cropping and pastoral situations. Nitrogen fertiliser on ryegrass seed crops shows significant production losses at a spread pattern CV between 30% and 40%. For P and S on pasture, the cumulative effect of uneven spreading accrues, until there is significant economic loss occurring by year 3 for both the Waikato dairy and Southland sheep and beef systems at CV values between 30% and 40%. For nitrogen on pasture, significant loss in a dairy system occurs at a CV of approximately 40% whereas for a sheep and beef system it is at a CV of 50%, where the financial return from nitrogen application has been calculated at the average gross revenue of the farming system. The conclusion of this study is that the current Spreadmark standards are a satisfactory basis for defining the evenness requirements of fertiliser applications in most circumstances. On the basis of Spreadmark testing to date, more than 50% of the national commercial spreading fleet fails to meet the standard for nitrogenous fertilisers and 40% fails to meet the standard for phosphatic fertilisers.Keywords: aerial spreading, crop response, economic loss, fertiliser, ground spreading, striping, uneven application, uneven spreading, yield loss


Author(s):  
D.B. Wright

The physical features, climate and soils of the West Coast are described. Expansion since 1964 of dairy production, sheep and beef cattle numbers, and areas of improved grassland are highlighted, as is the role of the Crown in land development and settlement. While isolation and distance, development costs, river problems, and farmer attitude and knowledge are considered limitations, great scope exists for increased production by the adoption, of more intensive techniques, including horticulture on the best coastal soils, and by development of waste land.


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