Economics of using beef semen on dairy herds

In autumn calving dairy herds, treatment of cattle not observed in estrus prior to the breeding season is common. Routinely, a single prostaglandin or a modified Ovsynch (MOFT) protocol are used—without evidence of their relative effectiveness. This study compares the effects on conception, associated timing, and profitability of administering cows with prostaglandin or MOFT treatment. A hundred and ninety-two Holstein-Friesian cows from three herds without an observed estrus within 28-days before mating start date were randomly treated with d-cloprostenol (PGOD) or an 8-day MOFT protocol. The association of treatment and calving-breeding start-date interval (CBSI) on the risk of conception were investigated. Partial budget, sensitivity analysis, and Monte Carlo simulation was used to assess economic performance, identify critical input variables, and explore the effects of input uncertainties on model output. There was a significant association between MOFT treatment and conception during 21 and 84 days after mating start date, compared to PGOD. MOFT treatment was associated with a mean net benefit of £58.21 (sd £19.42) and £27.29 (sd £17.75) per cow for herds with a fixed or variable dry-off date, respectively. The relative profitability of an MOFT protocol is dependent on its effects on barren rate and herd dry-off strategy.

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Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and pattern of antimicrobial resistance in mastitis milk of cattle in Chitwan, Nepal

BMC Veterinary Research ◽

10.1186/s12917-021-02942-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Asmita Shrestha ◽

Rebanta Kumar Bhattarai ◽

Himal Luitel ◽

Surendra Karki ◽

Hom Bahadur Basnet

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

World Health ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Microbiological Analysis ◽

Biochemical Tests ◽

Methicillin Resistant ◽

Milk Samples

Abstract Background The threat of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) exists globally and has been listed as a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization. One of the sources of MRSA emergence is livestock and its products, often raised in poor husbandry conditions. There are limited studies in Nepal to understand the prevalence of MRSA in dairy animals and its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chitwan, one of the major milk-producing districts of Nepal, from February 2018 to September 2019 to estimate the prevalence of MRSA in milk samples and its AMR profile. The collected milk samples (n = 460) were screened using the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and positive samples were subjected to microbiological analysis to isolate and identify S. aureus. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to identify the presence of the mecA gene and screen for MRSA. Results In total, 41.5% (191/460) of milk samples were positive in the CMT test. Out of 191 CMT positive milk samples, the biochemical tests showed that the prevalence of S. aureus was 15.2% (29/191). Among the 29 S. aureus isolates, 6.9% (2/29) were identified as MRSA based on the detection of a mecA gene. This indicates that that 1.05% (2/191) of mastitis milk samples had MRSA. The antibiotic sensitivity test showed that 75.9% (22/29) and 48.3% (14/29) S. aureus isolates were found to be sensitive to Cefazolin and Tetracycline respectively (48.3%), whereas 100% of the isolates were resistant to Ampicillin. In total 96.6% (28/29) of S. aureus isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Conclusions This study revealed a high prevalence of S. aureus-mediated subclinical mastitis in dairy herds in Chitwan, Nepal, with a small proportion of it being MRSA carrying a mecA gene. This S. aureus, CoNS, and MRSA contaminated milk poses a public health risk due to the presence of a phenotype that is resistant to very commonly used antibiotics. It is suggested that dairy herds be screened for subclinical mastitis and treatments for the animals be based on antibiotic susceptibility tests to reduce the prevalence of AMR. Furthermore, future studies should focus on the Staphylococcus spp. to explore the antibiotic resistance genes in addition to the mecA gene to ensure public health.

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Comparison of Ketosis, Clinical Mastitis, Somatic Cell Count, and Reproductive Performance between Free Stall and Tie Stall Barns in Norwegian Dairy Herds with Automatic Feeding

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica ◽

10.1186/bf03548498 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 181-192

Author(s):

J. P. Valde ◽

D. W. Hird ◽

M. C. Thurmond ◽

O. Østerås

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Clinical Mastitis ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Norwegian Dairy

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Attempts at Preventing Further Spread of Bovine Virus Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) Infection in 5 Danish Dairy Herds in which BVDV had been Isolated

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica ◽

10.1186/bf03548202 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 139-144

Author(s):

H. Houe ◽

V. Palfi

Keyword(s):

Dairy Herds ◽

Bovine Virus Diarrhoea Virus ◽

Bovine Virus Diarrhoea ◽

Diarrhoea Virus ◽

Danish Dairy

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The Effect of Bovine Virus Diarrhoea Virus on Reproduction in Recently Infected Norwegian Dairy Herds

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica ◽

10.1186/bf03547811 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 99-108

Author(s):

B. Fredriksen ◽

S.A. Ødegaard ◽

T. Løken

Keyword(s):

Dairy Herds ◽

Bovine Virus Diarrhoea Virus ◽

Bovine Virus Diarrhoea ◽

Diarrhoea Virus ◽

Norwegian Dairy

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Design of Free Stalls for Dairy Herds: A Review

Ruminants ◽

10.3390/ruminants1010001 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 1-22

Author(s):

Frank van Eerdenburg ◽

Lars Ruud

Keyword(s):

Optimal Design ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

Animal Welfare ◽

Milk Yield ◽

High Impact ◽

The Body ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Productive Life ◽

To Come ◽

Available Information

Lying is an important behavior of dairy cattle. Cows should spend more than 50% of a day lying as it has a high impact on their milk yield and animal welfare. The design, size, and flooring properties of the free stalls influence the time cows spend lying, the way they lie down, and their rising movements. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the currently available information with the aim to assist farmers and advisors to come to an optimal design of the free stalls. The design of the free stalls should enable the cows to move and lie in positions as natural as possible. Cows should rest, with all parts of the body, on a clean, dry and soft bed, be able to stretch their front legs forward, lie on their sides with unobstructed space for their neck and head, and rest with their heads against their flanks without hindrance from a partition. When they stand, they should not be hindered by neck rails, partitions, or supports. A comfortable place for cows to lie down helps cows to stay healthy, improve welfare, and increase milk yield. Hence, the probability of a longer productive life for the cows increases and the number of replacements per year decreases.

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