scholarly journals Influence of somatic cell count, body condition and lameness on follicular growth and ovulation in dairy cows

2009 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 801-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Morris ◽  
S.L. Walker ◽  
D.N. Jones ◽  
J.E. Routly ◽  
R.F. Smith ◽  
...  
2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 799-805 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Bortolami ◽  
E. Fiore ◽  
M. Gianesella ◽  
M. Corrò ◽  
S. Catania ◽  
...  

Abstract Subclinical mastitis in dairy cows is a big economic loss for farmers. The monitoring of subclinical mastitis is usually performed through Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in farm but there is the need of new diagnostic systems able to quickly identify cows affected by subclinical infections of the udder. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential application of thermographic imaging compared to SCC and bacteriological culture for infection detection in cow affected by subclinical mastitis and possibly to discriminate between different pathogens. In this study we evaluated the udder health status of 98 Holstein Friesian dairy cows with high SCC in 4 farms. From each cow a sample of milk was collected from all the functional quarters and submitted to bacteriological culture, SCC and Mycoplasma spp. culture. A thermographic image was taken from each functional udder quarter and nipple. Pearson’s correlations and Analysis of Variance were performed in order to evaluate the different diagnostic techniques. The most frequent pathogen isolated was Staphylococcus aureus followed by Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNS), Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae and others. The Somatic Cell Score (SCS) was able to discriminate (p<0.05) cows positive for a pathogen from cows negative at the bacteriological culture except for cows with infection caused by CNS. Infrared thermography was correlated to SCS (p<0.05) but was not able to discriminate between positive and negative cows. Thermographic imaging seems to be promising in evaluating the inflammation status of cows affected by subclinical mastitis but seems to have a poor diagnostic value.


2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 650-662
Author(s):  
L. Stádník ◽  
F. Louda ◽  
J. Bezdíček ◽  
A. Ježková ◽  
M. Rákos

Abstract. Dairy cows of 2 breeds, 74 Holstein (H) and 72 Czech Fleckvieh (C) cows in the 1st (H, n=38; C, n=38) and 2nd lactation (H, n=36; C, n=34) during the 1st period (n=74; H, n=40; C, n=34; to 150 days) and the 2nd period of lactation (n=72; H, n=34; C, n=38; above 150 days) were observed. Differences in external and internal proportions of teat closely before (the 1st measurement), immediately after (the 2nd measurement) and 3 h after milking (the 3rd measurement), udder conformation evaluated by linear description, somatic cell count, daily milk yield and the time of milking were evaluated in relation to the effect of breed and period of lactation. The length of the teat canal, area of the teat end, and wall thickness were measured from the axial picture recorded by ultrasound Aloka SSD500 (Aloka Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Significant interbreed differences were detected in external as well as internal teat proportions (P<0.05–0.001). Relative changes of teat diameter, comparing C and H cows, differed significantly between the 1st and the 3rd measurement (P<0.05). The length of teat increased during milking and didn´t achieve the beginning size during 3 h after milking. Significant diiference in the length of teat between the 2nd measurement and the 3rd measurement was determined in H cows only (P<0.001). The most significant changes of the length of the teat canal and the area of teat were found in both breeds between values measured closely before and immediately after milking (P<0.5–0.001). Wall thickness was strengthen in C cows (+15.6 %) during the 2nd measurement according to the 1st (P<0.05), while difference represented +18 % (P<0.001) in H cows. Non-significantly higher values of external proportions of teat were measured in the 2nd period of lactation except diameter of teat closely before milking. Internal proportions of teat were always significantly higher in the 2nd period of lactation in relation to the 1st period. Prolongation of teat canal by 0.15 cm (P<0.01) closely before, by 0.16 cm (P<0.001) immediately after, and by 0.13 cm (P<0.01) 3 h after milking was measured in the 2nd period of lactation. The area of teat end measured before milking was significantly larger in the 2nd period of lactation (P<0.01).


2019 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert M. Ferreira ◽  
Inge-Marie Petzer

Mastitis is the most costly disease of dairy cows. A pro-active approach includes insuring adequate levels of selective trace minerals. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of two different commercially available, injectable selenium products, (sodium) Na-selenite (inorganic) and (selenium) Se-methionine (organic), on milk composition and on serum and milk selenium concentrations in high-yielding Holstein cows on total mix ration. Sixty multiparous cows were randomly selected into three groups of 20, one control group and two groups supplemented with injectable trace minerals. Blood and milk samples were collected over a period of 60 days. No specific change was indicated in milk yield, lactose, milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and milk pH levels compared with baseline values. The Se-methionine supplemented group showed a numerical increase in total milk protein percentage. In the group injected with Se-methionine, a negative correlation was present for the initial 72 hours between serum selenium concentration and somatic cell count (SCC) and a highly significant (p 0.001) increase in milk selenium concentration for the initial 24 hours. Serum selenium concentration of Se-methionine-supplemented cows was however not significantly changed. Injection of Na-selenite led to a 60-day initial increase in serum selenium concentration above baseline levels and a significant milk selenium concentration on day 1 but to a negative correlation between serum selenium concentration and SCC. Differences in serum and milk selenium concentrations followed with the use of organic and inorganic selenium injectables. Injectable Na-selenite, as selenium, can be of important value for cattle farmers if supplemented on strategically physiological periods to improve production, reproduction and immunity.


2011 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.H.P. van den Borne ◽  
J.C.M. Vernooij ◽  
A.M. Lupindu ◽  
G. van Schaik ◽  
K. Frankena ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Wellnitz ◽  
Marcus G Doherr ◽  
Marta Woloszyn ◽  
Rupert M Bruckmaier

Determination of somatic cell count (SCC) is used worldwide in dairy practice to describe the hygienic status of the milk and the udder health of cows. When SCC is tested on a quarter level to detect single quarters with high SCC levels of cows for practical reasons, mostly foremilk samples after prestimulation (i.e. cleaning of the udder) are used. However, SCC is usually different in different milk fractions. Therefore, the goal of this study was the investigation of the use of foremilk samples for the estimation of total quarter SCC. A total of 378 milkings in 19 dairy cows were performed with a special milking device to drain quarter milk separately. Foremilk samples were taken after udder stimulation and before cluster attachment. SCC was measured in foremilk samples and in total quarter milk. Total quarter milk SCC could not be predicted precisely from foremilk SCC measurements. At relatively high foremilk SCC levels (>300×103 cells/ml) foremilk SCC were higher than total quarter milk. At around (50–300)×103 cells/ml foremilk and total quarter SCC did not differ considerably. Most interestingly, if foremilk SCC was lower than 50×103 cells/ml the total quarter SCC was higher than foremilk SCC. In addition, individual cows showed dramatic variations in foremilk SCC that were not very well related to total quarter milk SCC. In conclusion, foremilk samples are useful to detect high quarter milk SCC to recognize possibly infected quarters, only if precise cell counts are not required. However, foremilk samples can be deceptive if very low cell numbers are to be detected.


Author(s):  
Dagnachew Hailemariam ◽  
Ghader Manafiazar ◽  
John A. Basarab ◽  
Paul Stothard ◽  
Filippo Miglior ◽  
...  

This study compared the different residual feed intake (RFI) categories of lactating Holsteins with respect to methane emission, dry matter intake (kg), milk somatic cell count (SCC, 103/mL) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB, mmol/L). RFI was calculated in 131 lactating Holstein cows that were then categorized into –RFI (RFI<0) vs. +RFI (RFI>0) and low (RFI<-0.5 SD) vs. high RFI (RFI>0.5 SD) groups. Milk traits were recorded in 131 cows while CH4 and CO2 were measured in 83. Comparisons of –RFI vs. +RFI and low vs. high RFI showed 7.8% (22.3±0.40 vs. 24.2±0.39) and 12.9% (21.1±0.40 vs. 24.2±0.45) decrease (P<0.05) in DMI of –RFI and low RFI groups, respectively. Similarly, –RFI and low RFI cows had lower (P<0.05) CH4 (g/d) by 9.7% (343.5±11.1 vs. 380.4±10.9) and 15.5% (332.5±12.9 vs. 393.5±12.6) respectively. Milk yield was not different (P>0.05) in –RFI vs. +RFI and low vs. high comparisons. The –RFI and low RFI cows had lower (P<0.05) SCC in –RFI vs. +RFI and low RFI vs. high RFI comparisons. BHB was lower (P<0.05) in low RFI compared to the high RFI group. Low RFI dairy cows consumed less feed, emitted less methane (g/d), and had lower milk SCC and BHB without differing in milk yield.


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