Invited Review: Unique reproductive challenges for certified organic dairy herds

Abstract Background Negative energy balance during the transition period is a concern for both conventional and certified organic dairy systems. During early lactation, supplemental strategies are used to cope with nutrient deficiencies that are associated with impaired health, production, and reproduction. As organic certified dairies in the United States face restricted access to dietary supplements, the evaluation of products especially formulated for organic production is needed. Our objective was to assess the effect of supplementing 0.45 kg/d of an organic rumen-protected fat (RPF) on health, metabolic status, and productive and reproductive performance of organic certified Holstein cows from 1 to 150 days in milk (DIM). Two-hundred and two cows were enrolled in a randomized blocked controlled trial conducted from January to July, 2017 in a certified organic dairy located in Northern Colorado (USA). Two groups were randomly assigned to be individually supplemented with organic RPF (ORG; n = 100) or control pellets (CON; n = 102) once per day, in addition to the total mixed ration (TMR). Outcomes of interest included disease occurrence, culling, mortality, serum concentration of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), milk yield (kg/d) and milk components, resumption of cyclicity, time-to-first artificial insemination (AI), conception at first AI, and conception within 150 DIM. Results A significant effect for the inclusion of RPF was found in daily milk yield; RPF supplemented cows had greater milk yield (1.6 kg/d) compared to CON cows up to 150 DIM (P = 0.03). During grazing, multiparous (MP) ORG cows had greater milk yield compared to MP CON cows, whereas no effect was found in primiparous (PP) cows. Health outcomes, serum metabolite concentrations, and reproductive performance were not affected by the inclusion of RPF. Body condition loss was smaller in the ORG group up to 80 DIM; however, there was no effect on body condition during the grazing season and in the overall study period. Conclusions These results indicate that supplementation of RPF increased daily milk yield and prevented body condition loss during transition. However, RPF supplementation did not affect health, serum metabolite concentration, milk components, and reproductive outcomes.

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Modified 'Stable Schools' as a Consulting Tool for Organic Dairy Herds

Organic farming ◽

10.12924/of2020.06010013 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Verena K. Hansmann ◽

Otto Volling ◽

Volker Krömker

Keyword(s):

Dairy Herds ◽

Organic Dairy ◽

Stable Schools

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The effect of an organic rumen-protected fat supplement on performance, metabolic status, and health of dairy cows

BMC Veterinary Research ◽

10.1186/s12917-019-2199-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Diego Manriquez ◽

Liang Chen ◽

Pedro Melendez ◽

Pablo Pinedo

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Body Condition ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Organic Production ◽

Metabolic Status ◽

Organic Dairy ◽

Milk Components ◽

Certified Organic ◽

Daily Milk Yield ◽

Daily Milk

Abstract Background Negative energy balance during the transition period is a concern for both conventional and certified organic dairy systems. During early lactation, supplemental strategies are used to cope with nutrient deficiencies that are associated with impaired health, production, and reproduction. As organic certified dairies in the United States face restricted access to dietary supplements, the evaluation of products especially formulated for organic production is needed. Our objective was to assess the effect of supplementing 0.45 kg/d of an organic rumen-protected fat (RPF) on health, metabolic status, and productive and reproductive performance of organic certified Holstein cows from 1 to 150 days in milk (DIM). Two-hundred and two cows were enrolled in a randomized blocked controlled trial conducted from January to July 2017 in a certified organic dairy located in Northern Colorado (USA). Two groups were randomly assigned to be individually supplemented with organic RPF (ORG; n = 100) or control pellets (CON; n = 102) once per day, in addition to the total mixed ration (TMR). Outcomes of interest included milk yield (kg/d) and milk components, serum concentration of glucose, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), resumption of cyclicity, time-to-first artificial insemination (AI), conception at first AI, and conception within 150 DIM, disease occurrence, culling, mortality. Results A significant effect for the inclusion of RPF was found in daily milk yield; RPF supplemented cows had greater milk yield (1.6 kg/d) compared to CON cows up to 150 DIM (P = 0.03). During grazing, multiparous (MP) ORG cows had greater milk yield compared to MP CON cows, whereas no effect was found in primiparous (PP) cows. Health outcomes, serum metabolite concentrations, and reproductive performance were not affected by the inclusion of RPF. Body condition loss was smaller in the ORG group up to 80 DIM; however, there was no effect on body condition during the grazing season and in the overall study period. Conclusions These results indicate that supplementation of RPF increased daily milk yield and prevented body condition loss during at 90 DIM. However, RPF supplementation did not affect health, serum metabolite concentration, milk components, and reproductive outcomes.

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Prevalence of production disease related indicators in organic dairy herds in four European countries

Livestock Science ◽

10.1016/j.livsci.2017.02.015 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 198 ◽

pp. 104-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

M. Krieger ◽

K. Sjöström ◽

I. Blanco-Penedo ◽

A. Madouasse ◽

J.E. Duval ◽

...

Keyword(s):

European Countries ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Organic Dairy

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Animal welfare assessment benchmarking as a tool for health and welfare planning in organic dairy herds

Veterinary Record ◽

10.1136/vr.155.8.237 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 155 (8) ◽

pp. 237-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

J. N. Huxley ◽

D. C. J. Main ◽

H. R. Whay ◽

J. Burke ◽

S. Roderick

Keyword(s):

Animal Welfare ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Welfare Assessment ◽

Organic Dairy ◽

Animal Welfare Assessment

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Frequency of Traumatic Cow Injuries in Relation to Housing Systems in Swiss Organic Dairy Herds

Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A ◽

10.1046/j.1439-0442.2000.00283.x ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 221-229 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

A. Busato ◽

P. Trachsel ◽

J. W. Blum

Keyword(s):

Dairy Herds ◽

Housing Systems ◽

Organic Dairy

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Comparison of Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Campylobacter spp. Isolates from Organic and Conventional Dairy Herds in Wisconsin

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.70.3.1442-1447.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 70 (3) ◽

pp. 1442-1447 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

K. Sato ◽

P. C. Bartlett ◽

J. B. Kaneene ◽

F. P. Downes

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Tetracycline Resistance ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Erythromycin Resistance ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibilities ◽

Organic Dairy ◽

Conventional Farms ◽

Testing Susceptibility ◽

Large Farms

ABSTRACT The prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibilities of Campylobacter spp. isolates from bovine feces were compared between organic and conventional dairy herds. Thirty organic dairy herds, where antimicrobials are rarely used for calves and never used for cows, were compared with 30 neighboring conventional dairy farms, where antimicrobials were routinely used for animals for all ages. Fecal specimens from 10 cows and 10 calves on 120 farm visits yielded 332 Campylobacter isolates. The prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in organic and conventional farms was 26.7 and 29.1%, and the prevalence was not statistically different between the two types of farms. Campylobacter prevalence was significantly higher in March than in September, higher in calves than in cows, and higher in smaller farms than in large farms. The rates of retained placenta, pneumonia, mastitis, and abortion were associated with the proportion of Campylobacter isolation from fecal samples. The gradient disk diffusion MIC method (Etest) was used for testing susceptibility to four antimicrobial agents: ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. Two isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, and none of isolates was resistant to gentamicin or erythromycin. Resistance to tetracycline was 45% (148 of 332 isolates). Tetracycline resistance was found more frequently in calves than in cows (P = 0.042), but no difference was observed between organic and conventional farms. When we used Campylobacter spp. as indicator bacteria, we saw no evidence that restriction of antimicrobial use on dairy farms was associated with prevalence of resistance to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin, and tetracycline.

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The effect of an organic rumen-protected fat supplement on performance, metabolic status, and health of dairy cows

10.21203/rs.2.12926/v3 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Diego Manriquez ◽

Liang Chen ◽

Pedro Melendez ◽

Pablo Pinedo

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Body Condition ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Organic Production ◽

Metabolic Status ◽

Organic Dairy ◽

Milk Components ◽

Certified Organic ◽

Daily Milk Yield ◽

Daily Milk

Abstract Background Negative energy balance during the transition period is a concern for both conventional and certified organic dairy systems. During early lactation, supplemental strategies are used to cope with nutrient deficiencies that are associated with impaired health, production, and reproduction. As organic certified dairies in the United States face restricted access to dietary supplements, the evaluation of products especially formulated for organic production is needed. Our objective was to assess the effect of supplementing 0.45 kg/d of an organic rumen-protected fat (RPF) on health, metabolic status, and productive and reproductive performance of organic certified Holstein cows from 1 to 150 days in milk (DIM). Two-hundred and two cows were enrolled in a randomized blocked controlled trial conducted from January to July, 2017 in a certified organic dairy located in Northern Colorado (USA). Two groups were randomly assigned to be individually supplemented with organic RPF (ORG; n = 100) or control pellets (CON; n = 102) once per day, in addition to the total mixed ration (TMR). Outcomes of interest included disease occurrence, culling, mortality, serum concentration of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), milk yield (kg/d) and milk components, resumption of cyclicity, time-to-first artificial insemination (AI), conception at first AI, and conception within 150 DIM. Results A significant effect for the inclusion of RPF was found in daily milk yield; RPF supplemented cows had greater milk yield (1.6 kg/d) compared to CON cows up to 150 DIM (P = 0.03). During grazing, multiparous (MP) ORG cows had greater milk yield compared to MP CON cows, whereas no effect was found in primiparous (PP) cows. Health outcomes, serum metabolite concentrations, and reproductive performance were not affected by the inclusion of RPF. Body condition loss was smaller in the ORG group up to 80 DIM; however, there was no effect on body condition during the grazing season and in the overall study period. Conclusions These results indicate that supplementation of RPF increased daily milk yield and prevented body condition loss during transition. However, RPF supplementation did not affect health, serum metabolite concentration, milk components, and reproductive outcomes.

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