The impact of BRD: the current dairy experience

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter M. Guterbock
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Lactation Performance ◽  
Death Rates ◽  
Prevalence Studies ◽  
Age Range ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe primary source of data on bovine respiratory disease (BRD) prevalence in US adult dairy cattle is producer surveys, which estimate that 2.4–2.9% of cattle are affected. This estimate appears low when compared to calculations based on limited data regarding on-farm deaths due to BRD and the number of carcasses at slaughter with severe BRD. These calculations indicate that approximately 3% of dairy cows die on farm or go to slaughter with severe BRD. Not included in these data are cows that are treated for BRD and retained. The primary manifestation of BRD on dairy farms is in calves. Nationwide surveys have estimated that 12.4–16.4% of preweaned dairy heifer calves are affected with BRD, and 5.9–11% of calves are affected after weaning. More detailed prevalence studies have generally included a limited number of small farms, with limited calf age range studied. All studies relied on producer diagnosis. Prevalence in these studies ranged from 0 to 52%, with many cases occurring before weaning, and with BRD being associated with increased calf death rates. BRD affects heifer growth. It appears to have a small effect on age at first calving, and some studies have shown small effects on performance and herd life after calving. First lactation performance of heifers depends on many factors that can obscure the effects of calfhood BRD.

Microbiological Screening Tests to Detect Antibiotic Residues in Cull Dairy Cows

1987 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSEPH P. TRITSCHLER ◽  
ROBERT T. DUBY ◽  
STEPHEN P. OLIVER ◽  
ROBERT W. PRANGE
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Urine Samples ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Antibiotic Residues ◽  
Live Animal ◽  
Subsequent Investigation ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Microbiological Procedures

Two microbiological procedures were evaluated to detect antibiotic residues in dairy cows at slaughter. Inhibition of Bacillus subtilis growth was used for determining the presence or absence of antibiotic residues. The two tests differed only in the concentration of B. subtilis used. The Swab Test on Premises (STOP) was used to detect antibiotic residues in kidney and muscle tissue and the Live Animal Swab Test (LAST) was used to detect residues in urine of cull dairy cows. Kidney samples from 3% of cull dairy cows were positive. Confirmation by standard reference procedures and a subsequent investigation on antibiotic residues in urine from 317 cows and heifers with known antibiotic treatment histories suggest that a high percentage of false-positive readings occurred in urine. In addition, 23 % of urine samples were difficult to interpret in that B. subtilis growth surrounding Swabs dipped in urine was reduced. While producer response was generally favorable for an on-farm screening test for antibiotic residues detection in cows going to slaughter, interpretation problems, difficulty in collecting urine samples, and concerns over the complexity and sensitivity make it unlikely that the acceptance of the LAST will be widespread on dairy farms.

An evaluation of the effect of nutritional strategy in early lactation on reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 12-12
Author(s):  
H S Gilmore ◽  
F J Young ◽  
R A Law ◽  
A R G Wylie ◽  
D C Patterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Nutritional Strategy ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
On Farm

Poor fertility is a major problem on dairy farms. On-farm studies indicate than pregnancy rates to first service have declined from approximately 55% between 1975 and 1982 to 39% between 1995 and 1998 (Royal et al., 2000), illustrating a decline of approximately 1% per year during this period. The cause is multifactorial and influenced by many factors including genetics, management and nutrition. Previous studies have reported improved fertility through nutritional modification in early lactation (Gong et al., 2002). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutritional strategy in early lactation on reproductive performance.

scholarly journals Understanding Cows’ Emotions on Farm: Are Eye White and Ear Posture Reliable Indicators?

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Battini ◽  
Anna Agostini ◽  
Silvana Mattiello
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Adf Test

Understanding the emotions of dairy cows is primarily important in enhancing the level of welfare and provide a better life on farm. This study explored whether eye white and ear posture can reliably contribute to interpret valence and arousal of emotions in dairy cows. The research was conducted in five Italian dairy farms. Four hundred and thirty-six photographs of cows’ heads were scored (four-level), according to the eye white and ear posture during feeding, resting, pasture, and an avoidance distance test at the feeding rack (ADF test). Eye white and ear posture were significantly correlated and influenced by the context (P = 0.001). Pasture was the most relaxing context for cows (67.8% of half-closed eyes; 77.3% ears hung down or backwards). The excitement during ADF test was high, with 44.8% of eye white being clearly visible and ears directed forwards to the approaching assessor (95.5%). Housing and management mostly influenced emotions during feeding and resting (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively): where competition for feeding places and cubicles was low, the cows showed the highest percentages of half-closed eyes and ears backwards or hung down. This research supports the use of eye white and ear posture as reliable indicators of emotions in dairy cows.

Incidence of subclinical toxicity in goats and dairy cows consuming leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) in Thailand

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Phaikaew ◽  
W. Suksaran ◽  
J. Ted-arsen ◽  
G. Nakamanee ◽  
A. Saichuer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Leucaena Leucocephala ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Dietary Component ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Subclinical Toxicity ◽  
Leucaena Toxicity

A survey of the leucaena toxicity status in four major goat-producing provinces of Thailand where leucaena is fed as the principal dietary component was conducted. Three adjacent dairy farms in one province where leucaena silage was being fed were also sampled. Urine samples were collected from 63 animals on six goat farms and from 32 cows on three dairy farms. Samples were acidified, cleaned and analysed by high performance liquid chromatography for 3,4-DHP and 2,3-DHP concentrations, using a modified procedure developed at the University of Queensland. Total DHP concentrations varied from 375 to 3357 μg/mL on goat farms, and from 142 to 182 μg/mL on dairy farms. These concentrations are indicative of subclinical toxicity that might cause reduced feed intake and productivity. The impact of high DHP on productivity needs to be further studied because leucaena is a readily available source of high-protein forage for ruminant industries in Thailand.

The impact of agri-environment schemes on farm productivity: a DID-matching approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 1045-1093 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Mennig ◽  
Johannes Sauer
Keyword(s):  
Arable Land ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Contract Design ◽  
Scheme Design ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Unintended Effect ◽  
Matching Estimator ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Production Conditions

Abstract According to WTO standards, agri-environmental schemes (AES) payments should distort neither trade nor production but instead only compensate for income forgone and costs incurred. At the same time, contract design shall give farmers enough flexibility to react to changing market and production conditions. We apply a difference-in-difference propensity score matching estimator to test if AES have an unintended effect on farm productivity. Our results suggest that schemes designed for arable land overcompensate farmers and thus do fail to comply with WTO rules. For dairy farms, we find that AES participation reduces farm productivity, implying that action-based scheme design not considering changing market and production situations might be too restrictive, potentially preventing farmers from participating.

scholarly journals Animal Welfare Assessment: Can We Develop a Practical, Time-Limited Assessment Protocol for Pasture-Based Dairy Cows in New Zealand?

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1918
Author(s):  
Sujan Sapkota ◽  
Richard Laven ◽  
Kristina Müller ◽  
Nikki Kells
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Welfare Assessment ◽  
Assessment Protocol ◽  
Specific Protocol ◽  
Almost All ◽  
On Farm

Despite being a leading producer and exporter of dairy products, New Zealand has no industry-recognised welfare assessment protocol. A New Zealand-specific protocol is essential, as almost all dairy farms in New Zealand are pasture-based and housing is rarely used. Therefore, protocols developed for intensive cows are not suitable. The aim of this study was to develop a simple yet practical welfare assessment protocol that could be used to assess the welfare of a dairy herd during one visit timed to occur around milking. Six welfare assessment protocols and four studies of dairy cattle welfare assessments that had some focus on dairy cattle welfare at pasture were used, along with the New Zealand Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare, to identify potential assessments for inclusion in the protocol. Eighty-four potential assessments (20 record-based and 64 that needed assessing on-farm) were identified by this process of welfare assessments. After screening to exclude on-farm assessments that were not relevant, that had only limited practical application in pasture-based dairy cows or that required more time than available, 28 on-farm assessments remained, which were put together with the 20 record-based assessments and were tested for feasibility, practicality and time on two pasture-based dairy farms. Assessments were then identified as suitable, suitable after modification or not feasible. Suitable and modified assessments were then included in the final protocol alongside additional measures specific to New Zealand dairy farms. The final protocol included 24 on-farm assessments and eight record-based assessments. Further testing of these 32 assessments is needed on more dairy farms across New Zealand before the protocol can be used to routinely assess the welfare of dairy cows in New Zealand.

Revised greenhouse-gas emissions from Australian dairy farms following application of updated methodology

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 937 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Christie ◽  
R. P. Rawnsley ◽  
C. Phelps ◽  
R. J. Eckard
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Emission Intensity ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Enteric Fermentation ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact

Every year since 1990, the Australian Federal Government has estimated national greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions to meet Australia’s reporting commitments under the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (NGGI) methodology used to estimate Australia’s GHG emissions has altered over time, as new research data have been used to improve the inventory emission factors and algorithms, with the latest change occurring in 2015 for the 2013 reporting year. As measuring the GHG emissions on farm is expensive and time-consuming, the dairy industry is reliant on estimating emissions using tools such as the Australian Dairy Carbon Calculator (ADCC). The present study compared the emission profiles of 41 Australian dairy farms with ADCC using the old (pre-2015) and new (post-2015) NGGI methodologies to examine the impact of the changes on the emission intensity across a range of dairy-farm systems. The estimated mean (±s.d.) GHG emission intensity increased by 3.0%, to 1.07 (±0.02) kg of carbon dioxide equivalents per kilogram of fat-and-protein-corrected milk (kg CO2e/kg FPCM). When comparing the emission intensity between the old and new NGGI methodologies at a regional level, the change in emission intensity varied between a 4.6% decrease and 10.4% increase, depending on the region. When comparing the source of emissions between old and new NGGI methodologies across the whole dataset, methane emissions from enteric fermentation and waste management both increased, while nitrous oxide emissions from waste management and nitrogen fertiliser management, CO2 emissions from energy consumption and pre-farm gate (supplementary feed and fertilisers) emissions all declined. Enteric methane remains a high source of emissions and so will remain a focus for mitigation research. However, these changes to the NGGI methodology have highlighted a new ‘hotspot’ in methane from manure management. Researchers and farm managers will have greater need to identify and implement practices on-farm to reduce methane losses to the environment.

scholarly journals Dairy Woes in Wisconsin: What about the Amish?

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
John A. Cross
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
The State ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Impact

Wisconsin has steadily lost dairy farms for decades, yet the number of Amish dairy herds grew both numerically and proportionately into early 2018. Facing low milk prices, the overall rate of loss of dairy farms in Wisconsin accelerated since then. During 2019, the state lost over 1% of its dairy herds monthly, losing two to three herds daily. The expansion of Amish dairying also ended. Between April 1, 2018, when Wisconsin had 1,160 Amish dairy herds or 12.9% of the state's total, and November 1, 2019, the state lost 165 Amish herds. Losses are continuing.This paper focuses on the impact of the departure of many Amish farms from dairying, relying on examination of dairy producer licenses and a survey of bishops and ministers in Wisconsin's Amish church districts. The loss of Amish herds of dairy cows is greater than the overall departure of the Amish from dairying, inasmuch as the Amish have nearly doubled their milk goat herds over the past five years. Those settlements producing milk transported in cans have been more likely to leave dairying unless their community operates its own cheese factory. Yet dairying is declining in most Amish communities, other than in several recently established settlements. Expanding involvement in growing produce and in woodworking were seen.

scholarly journals On-Farm Anaerobic Digestion of Dairy Manure Reduces the Abundance of Antibiotic Resistance-Associated Gene Targets, and the Potential for Plasmid Transfer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tam T. Tran ◽  
Andrew Scott ◽  
Yuan-Ching Tien ◽  
Roger Murray ◽  
Patrick Boerlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Coliform Bacteria ◽  
E Coli ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Transfer Potential

The present study investigated the impact of on-farm anaerobic digestion on the abundance of enteric bacteria, antibiotic resistance-associated gene targets and the horizontal transfer potential of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes. Samples of raw and digested manure were obtained from six commercial dairy farms in Ontario, Canada. Digestion significantly abated populations of viable coliforms in all six farms. Conjugative transfer of plasmids carrying β-lactamase genes from manure bacteria enriched overnight with buffered peptone containing 4 mg/l cefotaxime into a β-lactam sensitive gfp-labelled E. coli as a recipient strain was evaluated in patch matings. Digestion significantly decreased the frequency of the horizontal transfer potential of ESBL genes. Twenty-five transconjugants were sequenced revealing six distinct plasmids with a size range of 40 – 180kb. A variety of ESBL genes were identified: blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-15, blaCTX-M-27, blaCTX-M-55, blaPER-1. The blaCTX-M-15 was the most prevalent ESBL gene detected on plasmids harboured by transconjugants. Various mobile genetic elements were found located proximal to resistance genes. Ten gene targets including sul1, strA, strB, ermB, ermF, intI1, aadA, incW, blaPSE and blaOXA-20 were quantified by quantitative PCR on a subset of 18 raw and 18 digested samples. Most targets were significantly more abundant in raw manure, however ermB and ermF targets were more abundant in digested samples. Overall, on-farm digestion of dairy manure abated coliform bacteria, a number of antibiotic resistance-associated gene targets, and the potential for in vitro conjugation of plasmids conferring resistance to extended-spectrum β-lactams and other classes of antibiotics into E. coli CV601. IMPORTANCE Using livestock manure for fertilization can entrain antibiotic resistant bacteria into soil. Manure on some dairy farms is anaerobically digested before being land applied. Recommending the widespread implementation of the practice should be founded on understanding the impact of this treatment on various endpoints of human health concern. Although lab-scale anaerobic treatments have showed potential of reducing antibiotic resistance genes, there are very few data from commercial farms. Anaerobic digestion of manure on six dairy farms efficiently abated coliform bacteria and E. coli and a majority of antibiotic resistance-associated gene targets. In addition, the conjugation potential of plasmids carrying ESBL genes into introduced E. coli CV601 was reduced. Overall, anaerobic digestion abated coliform bacteria, the genes that they carry and the potential for ESBL-carrying plasmid transfer.

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