scholarly journals Does Virtual Fencing Work for Grazing Dairy Cattle?

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Lomax ◽  
Patricia Colusso ◽  
Cameron E.F. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Dairy Industry ◽  
Welfare Cost ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Pasture Quality ◽  
Labour Costs ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
The Mean

Pasture management in Australia’s dairy industry requires the manual shifiting of temporary electric fences to maintain pasture quality and growth. Virtual fencing presents an alternative to save time and labour costs. We used automated virtual fence (VF) collars to determine the variation in learning of the virtual fence stimuli, and evaluated the success of the technology to contain cows in a predetermined area of pasture. Twelve Holstein-Friesian non-lactating multiparous dairy cows were fitted with the collars, and a VF was used to restrict cows to two grazing allocations (G1 and G2) across six days. Cows received an audio tone (AT) when they approached the virtual fence, and a paired electrical pulse (EP) if they continued forward. The VF contained cows within predetermined areas for 99% of time, but cows spent the least time near the fence (p < 0.01). The number of stimuli reduced through time, demonstrating the ability of cows to learn the VF (p = 0.01). However, the mean number of EP per day ranged from 1 to 6.5 between individuals (p < 0.01). Therefore, successful containment may have a welfare cost for some individuals. Further work should focus on this individual variation, including measures of welfare.

scholarly journals Coefficients of relationship and inbreeding among Finnish Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 338 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. VAHLSTEN ◽  
E. MÄNTYSAARI ◽  
I. STRANDÉN
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Pedigree Data ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Average Coefficient ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Coefficient Of Relationship ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Friesian Cows

Pedigree data from national breeding value evaluations were used in calculation of the coefficient and rate of inbreeding, average coefficient and rate of relationship and generation intervals for the Finnish Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle populations. The data had 1,366,555 Ayrshire and 377,869 Holstein-Friesian animals. The mean coefficient of inbreeding for Ayrshire and Holstein-Friesian animals born in the 1990s was 2.29% and 0.90%, respectively, and the trend was towards higher inbreeding values. The average coefficient of relationship, mean increase in inbreeding and generation interval was calculated for bulls born between 1976 and 1999, and for cows born between 1986 and 1999. The mean coefficient of relationship of Ayrshire bulls increased 2.22 %-units per generation and inbreeding increased 0.20 %-units per generation during the years studied. The mean coefficient of relationship of Finnish Holstein-Friesian bulls increased 0.96 %-units per generation and inbreeding 0.17 %-units per generation. The mean coefficient of relationship and inbreeding of Ayrshire cows increased 0.38 %-units and 0.31 %-units per generation, respectively. For Holstein-Friesian cows the mean coefficient of relationship and inbreeding increased 0.25 %-units and 0.11 %-units per generation, respectively. Results show that inbreeding is low and it is increasing slowly in both breeds. However, especially the coefficients of relationship of Ayrshire bulls are high in some age classes and this may lead into faster increase in coefficients of inbreeding.;

scholarly journals Genetic parameters and genomic breeding values for digital dermatitis in Holstein Friesian dairy cattle: host susceptibility, infectivity and the basic reproduction ratio

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Floor Biemans ◽  
Mart C. M. de Jong ◽  
Piter Bijma
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Genetic Effect ◽  
Host Susceptibility ◽  
Basic Reproduction Ratio ◽  
Reproduction Ratio ◽  
Genomic Breeding ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Genetic Standard Deviation

Abstract Background For infectious diseases, the probability that an animal gets infected depends on its own susceptibility, and on the number of infectious herd mates and their infectivity. Together with the duration of the infectious period, susceptibility and infectivity determine the basic reproduction ratio of the disease ($$ R_{0} $$R0). $$ R_{0} $$R0 is the average number of secondary cases caused by a typical infectious individual in an otherwise uninfected population. An infectious disease dies out when $$ R_{0} $$R0 is lower than 1. Thus, breeding strategies that aim at reducing disease prevalence should focus on reducing $$ R_{0} $$R0, preferably to a value lower than 1. In animal breeding, however, $$ R_{0} $$R0 has received little attention. Here, we estimate the additive genetic variance in host susceptibility, host infectivity, and $$ R_{0} $$R0 for the endemic claw disease digital dermatitis (DD) in Holstein Friesian dairy cattle, and estimate genomic breeding values (GEBV) for these traits. We recorded DD disease status of both hind claws of 1513 cows from 12 Dutch dairy farms, every 2 weeks, 11 times. The genotype data consisted of 75,904 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for 1401 of the cows. We modelled the probability that a cow got infected between recordings, and compared four generalized linear mixed models. All models included a genetic effect for susceptibility; Models 2 and 4 also included a genetic effect for infectivity, while Models 1 and 2 included a farm*period interaction. We corrected for variation in exposure to infectious herd mates via an offset. Results GEBV for $$ R_{0} $$R0 from the model that included genetic effects for susceptibility only had an accuracy of ~ 0.39 based on cross-validation between farms, which is very high given the limited amount of data and the complexity of the trait. Models with a genetic effect for infectivity showed a larger bias, but also a slightly higher accuracy of GEBV. Additive genetic standard deviation for $$ R_{0} $$R0 was large, i.e. ~ 1.17, while the mean $$ R_{0} $$R0 was 2.36. Conclusions GEBV for $$ R_{0} $$R0 showed substantial variation. The mean $$ R_{0} $$R0 was only about one genetic standard deviation greater than 1. These results suggest that lowering DD prevalence by selective breeding is promising.

The effects of raising post-oestrus progesterone concentrations on luteal activity in post-partum dairy cows

1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. O. Darwash ◽  
G. L. Ward ◽  
G. E. Lamming ◽  
J. A. Woolliams
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control ◽  
Phase Length ◽  
Friesian Cows

AbstractIn order to investigate the rationale of manipulating post-ovulation progesterone (P4) concentrations, luteal activity was measured in 10 Holstein-Friesian cows treated with a progesterone-releasing device (CIDR, 1·9 g P4) inserted on the morning of day 2 post-oestrus for a period of 7 days and compared with 10 untreated control animals. Milk samples were collected daily during afternoon milking from 7 days pre- to 24 days post-oestrus and P4 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). The milk P4 profiles were used to assess the effects of early post-oestrus P4 elevation on five intervals of the luteal phase. In the treated (T) and control (C) animals, the mean interval from oestrus to P4 rise (≥3 μg/l), was 2·38 (s.e. 0·18) and 4·90 (s.e. 0·28) days, respectively, (P < 0·01). The mean interval from oestrus to the attainment of peak P4 concentrations was not significantly different (P > 0·05) between the T (14·75 (s.e. 1-62) days) and С (14·30 (s.e. 0·70) days) animals, with cows in the T group showing a more variable (F7 9 = 4-30, P < 0·05) interval to the occurrence of the peak. The interval from peak P4 to corpus luteum (CL) regression (when P4 fell below ≥3 μg/l) was not significantly different between the T (4·13 (s.e. 1·30 days) and С (5·60 (s.e. 0·88) days) groups. Furthermore, CIDR insertion did not alter luteal phase length, number of days with P4 concentrations ≥3 μg/l (T = 16·50 (s.e. 0·80) v.C = 15·00 (s.e. 0·47) days) or the interval from oestrus to CL regression (T = 18·88 (s.e. 0·79) v.C = 19·90 (s.e. 0·41) days). We conclude that treatment with CIDR 2 days after oestrus successfully increased the availability of P4 to cows without significantly affecting luteal phase characteristics.

scholarly journals Dairy Cattle Response to a Virtual Fence When Pasture on Offer Is Restricted to the Post-grazing Residual

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia I. Colusso ◽  
Cameron E. F. Clark ◽  
Lachlan J. Ingram ◽  
Peter C. Thomson ◽  
Sabrina Lomax
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Small Area ◽  
Annual Ryegrass ◽  
Real Time Control ◽  
Exclusion Zone ◽  
Time Control ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Strip Grazing ◽  
Inclusion Zone

Pasture-based dairy systems rely on the accurate allocation of pasture to both meet livestock requirements and maintain the growth of herbage. Currently, physical fences are used to contain livestock however they can be labor-intensive to shift and maintain. Alternatively, virtual fence (VF) systems offer flexibility and real-time control of livestock location. Pre-commercial neckbands (eShepherd®, Agersens, Melbourne, VIC) emit a warning audio tone (AT) when a cow approaches a VF boundary, paired with an electrical pulse (EP) if the cow continues forward into the exclusion zone (EZ). However, the ability of VF technology to control animal location when pasture is restricted to the previous day's residual, remains unknown. Ten non-lactating Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were trained to use a VF system for 6 days before strip grazing a 1.2 ha paddock of annual ryegrass. Over 10 days the cows grazed eight pasture allocations at a pre-grazing pasture mass of 2,324 ± 81 kg DM/ha (mean ± SE) and post-grazing pasture-mass (post-grazing residual) of 1,649 ± 48 kg/DM/ha with a front VF. The allocations had a physical backing fence that included the fresh allocation and a small area of residual to cater for any GPS drift of the front VF. On each day, with the exception of days 5 and 10, the VF was moved forward, and the cows were provided a new pasture allocation. On days 5 and 10, the VF was not shifted, and cows were only offered the previous allocation's residual pasture. The location of each animal (inclusion, buffer, and exclusion zones) and number of stimuli (AT and EP) delivered were recorded. The number of stimuli delivered between the grazing and hold-off days was similar. Cows spent 89% of time within the inclusion zone (IZ), with significant peaks observed on day 5 and 10. Distance that cows traveled into the EZ reduced across time. There was also evidence of individual variation in the number of stimuli and thus time spent in each zone. Overall, the VF system was successful in containing the dairy cows during strip grazing even when only offered the previous days post-grazing residual.

Postpartum anovulatory intervals in two genotypes of pasture-fed Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 ◽  
pp. 28-28
Author(s):  
L.R. McNaughton ◽  
G.A. Verkerk ◽  
T.J. Parkinson ◽  
B. Dow ◽  
K.A. Macdonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Calving Interval ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Genetic Strains ◽  
American Genetic

In pasture-based dairying systems it is important to maintain a 365-day calving interval, which requires that cows have a rapid resumption of postpartum ovulatory activity and high conception rates. The major form of infertility in New Zealand (NZ) dairy cows is an extended postpartum anovulatory interval (ppai; Macmillan, 2002), a problem that can be exacerbated by low body condition score (BCS) at calving (McDougall, 1995). Furthermore, Holstein cows, originating from North American genetic strains (Overseas; OS), which have been widely used in NZ in recent years, have longer intervals to first mating and conceive later than do NZ strains, suggesting a possible delay in the initiation of postpartum cyclicity (Harris and Winkleman, 2000). Worldwide, there is concern over an apparent decline in the fertility of Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle (Butler et al., 1995; Royal et al., 2000). The purpose of this trial was to determine whether there was a difference in ppai and BCS between NZ and OS Holstein Friesians that may affect reproductive performance.

scholarly journals A three-year investigation of the performance of spring-calving dairy cows grazing ryegrass-based pastures of high or low endophyte toxin status in Northland

2001 ◽  
pp. 209-214
Author(s):  
R.G. Keogh ◽  
M.B. Blackwell
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Pasture Quality ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Ancillary Information ◽  
Milk Solids ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Measurement Period ◽  
Friesian Cows

On-farm milk production and ancillary information was monitored for spring-calving cows grazing high (HT) and low toxin (LT) pastures in Northland over three seasons from spring 1997 to autumn 2000. Two groups of 16 second-calving Holstein-Friesian cows, balanced for calving date and production worth, grazed HT or LT ryegrass pastures from October 1997 to May 1998. Milk production was monitored for 10 consecutive days each month culminating with a herd test. The LT group out-produced the HT group for each measurement period from December, and over the whole season, produced 20% more milk solids. The HT group had significantly higher serum lysergol levels and correspondingly lower prolactin levels than the LT group. As pasture quality was similar it was suggested that the differences in milk production were most likely due to differences in intake. At the start of the 1998-1999 season 25% of the farm was in low endophyte ryegrass or in ryegrass with the AR1 endophyte. The farm and herd were split so that milk production from HT and LT farmlets could be monitored. Milk from each group was collected into separate tanks and all cows were 'herd-tested' 4-weekly. Despite twothirds of the LT farmlet being conserved for silage, which resulted in a severe feed shortage that necessitated supplements being fed-out on this farmlet from January, the LT group out-produced the HT group by 5% per cow and by 10% per hectare for the season from October to late May. In the 1999-2000 season, the farm and herd split was 29% LT and 71% HT. The objective was changed to one of maximising production from each system and this required changes in management. The LT system was managed to encourage clover-dominance from mid-spring and this was achieved by lengthening the rotation out to 6 weeks and then reducing it back to 3.5 weeks by leaving higher residuals and conserving

The effect of positive and negative handling on the behaviour and stress response of Holstein Friesian heifers

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 18-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Breuer ◽  
P.H. Hemsworth ◽  
G.J. Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dairy Industry ◽  
Standard Test ◽  
Stress Physiology ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Human Animal

Extensive research into human-animal interactions, particularly in the pig industry, has led to the proposal that high fear of humans, through a stress response, can limit an animal’s growth, reproduction and welfare (Hemsworth et al., 1993). In a recent study in the Australian dairy industry, a significant negative between-farm correlation was found between the avoidance of an experimenter by cows in a standard test and milk yield of the farm, suggesting that fear of humans may also have implications for the productivity of dairy cows (Breuer et al., 2000). The behaviour of stockpeople is a likely factor affecting fear of humans in dairy cows (Breuer et al., 2000). It was the aim of this experiment to investigate the effects of handling on the stress physiology and behaviour of dairy heifers.

A function for live-weight change between two calvings in dairy cattle

1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Korver ◽  
J. A. M. van Arendonk ◽  
W. J. Koops
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Diet Group ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Maximum Decrease ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Level Scale

ABSTRACTA function to describe live-weight changes of dairy cows between two calvings is constructed. The following measurements were used: live-weight level (scale), pregnancy parameter, maximum decrease of live weight during the lactation and the time during lactation at which minimum live weight occurred.An analysis was carried out for each of 71 dairy cows of two genotypes, Dutch Friesian and Holstein Friesian crossbreds, given a high or a low concentrate diet. Data set 1 contained data of 40 weeks lactation and data set 2 data from calving to calving.The mean residual standard deviation per genotype-diet group ranged from 11 to 14 kg. The mean R2 ranged over the subgroups in data set 1 from 0·715 to 0·792 and in data set 2 from 0·857 to 0·906. Diet had a significant influence on the magnitude of the decrease in live weight during the lactation (71 v. 46 kg) and the mean time during the lactation at which minimum live weight occurred. The latter time ranged from day 58 to 100 over the four groups and a diet effect existed. The pregnancy parameter could not be estimated accurately based on measurements during the first 40 weeks of lactation. The correlation coefficient between the pregnancy parameter in data sets 1 and 2 ranged from +0·13 to +0·78. The other parameters showed coefficients from +0·82 to +0·99.

The use of sheep as a model to predict the relative intakes of silages by dairy cattle

1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Cushnahan ◽  
F. J. Gordon ◽  
C. P. W. Ferris ◽  
D. M. B. Chestnutt ◽  
C. S. Mayne
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Model System ◽  
Weight Basis ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations ◽  
The Mean

AbstractA study was carried out to determine if sheep could be used as a model for predicting the intakes of silages by cattle. Fifty ewes and 45 cows were offered five grass silages unsupplemented in two parallel randomized-block experiments over a 4-week period. Each silage had been made using the same equipment over a range of cutting dates (May, July, August 1991). The silages differed in fermentation characteristics, with lactic acid concentrations varying from 15·3 to 90·7 g/kg dry matter, and ammonia-nitrogen concentrations from 77 to 198 g/kg nitrogen. When expressed on a metabolic live-weight basis, the mean intakes of silages by cows were 2·25 times those of the sheep, with the mean intakes being 35·1 and 79·1 g/kg M0·75 for the sheep and cows respectively. However, there was no significant correlation between recorded intakes during the 4th week of the study by the two species (y (cows) = 0·62× (sheep) + 58·40; r2 = 0·03). It was concluded that sheep were not a useful model system to predict the intakes of a range of grass silages of similar chop length by dairy cows.

scholarly journals The incidence of Reproductive Disorders in Dairy Cows under Smallholder Farms

2020 ◽  
pp. 22-27
Author(s):  
Muhammad Yusuf ◽  
Abdul Latief Toleng ◽  
Djoni Prawira Rahardja ◽  
Su Thanh Long
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Reproductive Disorders ◽  
Smallholder Farms ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Reproductive Disorder ◽  
Smallholder Dairy ◽  
Smallholder Dairy Farms

The objective of this study was to know the incidence of reproductive disorders in smallholder dairy farms. The study was conducted in 12 small dairy farms in Enrekang Regency, Indonesia.  A total of 80 dairy Holstein Friesian cattle consisted of 51 dairy cows and 29 dairy heifers were used in the present study. All dairy cattle at each farm were housed in tie-stall barns.  Reproductive examination was conducted to determine the incidence of reproductive disorders both vaginoscopy and palpation per rectum. The incidence of reproductive disorders was 30.0%; 31.0% in dairy heifers and 29.4% in dairy cows. Uterine infection was the most reproductive disorder suffered to the dairy cattle (12.5%), followed by inactive ovaries and cyst (10% and 5%, respectively). The dairy cattle suffered from reproductive disorders increased the likelihood to mate (artificial insemination; AI) greater than three times as well as to become pregnant. In the population of dairy cattle, 48% AI was conducted greater than three times. The pregnancy rate for the dairy cattle suffered from reproductive disorders was only 20%, with interval from calving to conception was 550 days in average. It can be concluded that high incidence of reproductive disorders in smallholder dairy farms. The occurrence of reproductive disorders decreased the reproductive performance of the dairy cattle in smallholder farms.

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