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.

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.

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.

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.

scholarly journals Effects of Manure Bedding on the Rate of Claw Diseases in Dairy Cows

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 14-19
Author(s):  
P. Mudroň
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Digital Dermatitis ◽  
White Line ◽  
Inflammatory Disorders ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Claw Lesions ◽  
On Farm

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of claw diseases in dairy cows housed on two different bedding systems: deep straw bedding and unsterilized recycled manure solids. On the farm (farm A) with the straw bedding, 403 and on the farm (farm B) with manure solid bedding, 226 dairy cows were examined. The prevalence of cows with one or more claw lesions on the farm with straw bedding and with manure solids were 37 % and 69 %, respectively (P < 0.001). In both bedding systems, two claw lesions dominated: digital dermatitis and inflammatory disorders of corium (white line diseases, toe ulcer, and sole ulcer). The prevalence of the digital dermatitis housed in deep-bedded freestalls and in freestalls with manure solids were 17.8 % and 53.1 % (P < 0.001), respectively. The prevalence of the white line diseases and toe ulcer were 12.1 % and 15.7 % on farm A and 3.88 % and 2.59 % on farm B, respectively (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of the sole ulcer between farms. These data indicate a relatively high prevalence of claw lesions on the studied dairy farms. Moreover, a long-term contact of claws with manure (boxes and corridors) on the farm with unsterilized recycled manure solids seems to be associated with a higher prevalence of digital dermatitis.

scholarly journals Detection of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows using California and Draminski mastitis test

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-473
Author(s):  
Annamaria Galfi ◽  
Miodrag Radinovic ◽  
Ivana Davidov ◽  
Mihajlo Erdeljan ◽  
Zorana Kovacevic
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Subclinical Mastitis ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Bacteria Growth ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
California Mastitis Test ◽  
On Farm

Control of udder health is an essential element in the process of safe milk production. Thus through the mastitis control program dairy farms regularly conduct measures of detection and prevention of udder diseases. Subclinical mastitis is an important disease of dairy cows causing economic losses and physical and chemical changes in milk. The aim of this research was to evaluate the usefulness of the California and the Draminski mastitis test to detect the subclinical mastitis in dairy cows. The efficacy of indirect mastitis tests for diagnosis of the subclinical mastitis was determined by comparing results of mastitis tests with bacteriological findings. The experiment was conducted on two dairy farms (farm A and farm B) Holstein - Friesian breed. A total of 245 quarter milk samples were examined, 95 quarter milk samples with the California mastitis test from farm A and 150 quarter milk samples with the Draminski mastitis test from farm B. A quarter milk samples for bacteriological analysis were taken aseptically during the morning milking in sterile test tubes. On farm A, bacteria growth has not been detected in 46.32% (44/95) quarter milk samples, while on farm B negative bacteriological findings have been found in 50.67% samples (76/150). In present study, sensitivity of the California mastitis test (78.57%) is higher than sensitivity of the Draminski mastitis test (74.32%). The specificity of the California mastitis test and the Draminski mastitis test is 82.05% and 30.26%, respectively. Efficacy of the California mastitis test in detection of the subclinical mastitis in dairy cows is better than that of the Draminski mastitis test, since accuracy of the California mastitis test has been higher.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CHOICE OF MILKING INSTALLATIONS IN LOOSE HOUSING SYSTEMS OF COWS

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
В.В. ГОРДЕЕВ ◽  
В.Е. ХАЗАНОВ
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Economic Indicators ◽  
Technical Level ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Working Shift ◽  
Technical And Economic Indicators

При выборе типа доильной установки и ее размера необходимо учитывать максимальное планируемое поголовье дойных коров и размер технологической группы, кратность и время одного доения, продолжительность рабочей смены дояров. Анализ технико-экономических показателей наиболее распространенных на сегодняшний день типов доильных установок одинакового технического уровня свидетельствует, что наилучшие удельные показатели имеет установка типа «Карусель» (1), а установка типа «Елочка» (2) требует более высоких затрат труда и средств. Установка «Параллель» (3) занимает промежуточное положение. Из анализа пропускной способности и количества необходимых операторов: установка 2 рекомендована для ферм с поголовьем дойного стада до 600 голов, 3 — не более 1200 дойных коров, 1 — более 1200 дойных коров. «Карусель» — наиболее рациональный, высокопроизводительный, легко автоматизируемый и, следовательно, перспективный способ доения в залах, особенно для крупных молочных ферм. The choice of the proper type and size of milking installations needs to take into account the maximum planned number of dairy cows, the size of a technological group, the number of milkings per day, and the duration of one milking and the operator's working shift. The analysis of technical and economic indicators of currently most common types of milking machines of the same technical level revealed that the Carousel installation had the best specific indicators while the Herringbone installation featured higher labour inputs and cash costs. The Parallel installation was found somewhere in between. In terms of the throughput and the required number of operators Herringbone is recommended for farms with up to 600 dairy cows, Parallel — below 1200 dairy cows, Carousel — above 1200 dairy cows. Carousel was found the most practical, high-performance, easily automated and, therefore, promising milking system for milking parlours, especially on the large-scale dairy farms.

scholarly journals On-farm examination of sainfoin supplementation effects in dairy cows in a roughage-based feeding system: indicators of protein utilisation

2021 ◽  
pp. 104509
Author(s):  
Alexandra N. Kapp-Bitter ◽  
Uta Dickhoefer ◽  
Gerdine Kaptijn ◽  
Vasilisa Pedan ◽  
Erika Perler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Feeding System ◽  
Protein Utilisation ◽  
On Farm

Comparing the performance of Holstein and Friesian dairy cows on British dairy farms

2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 18-18
Author(s):  
G. E. Pollott ◽  
J. D. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Dairy Herds ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Friesian Cows

In recent years there has been an influx of Holstein genes into the UK dairy herd, largely achieved by a ‘grading up’ process using imported Holstein semen on Friesian cows. The research reported here investigates this process using performance records from UK dairy herds.

scholarly journals Recent Possibilities for the Diagnosis of Early Pregnancy and Embryonic Mortality in Dairy Cows

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1666
Author(s):  
Ottó Szenci
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Fetal Mortality ◽  
Reproductive Efficiency ◽  
Interferon Tau ◽  
Early Pregnancy Factor ◽  
Pelvic Inlet ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Protein Assays

One of the most recent techniques for the on-farm diagnosis of early pregnancy (EP) in cattle is B-mode ultrasonography. Under field conditions, acceptable results may be achieved with ultrasonography from Days 25 to 30 post-AI. The reliability of the test greatly depends on the frequency of the transducer used, the skill of the examiner, the criterion used for a positive pregnancy diagnosis (PD), and the position of the uterus in the pelvic inlet. Non-pregnant animals can be selected accurately by evaluating blood flow in the corpus luteum around Day 20 after AI, meaning we can substantially improve the reproductive efficiency of our herd. Pregnancy protein assays (PSPB, PAG-1, and PSP60 RIA, commercial ELISA or rapid visual ELISA tests) may provide an alternative method to ultrasonography for determining early pregnancy or late embryonic/early fetal mortality (LEM/EFM) in dairy cows. Although the early pregnancy factor is the earliest specific indicator of fertilization, at present, its detection is entirely dependent on the use of the rosette inhibition test; therefore, its use in the field needs further developments. Recently found biomarkers like interferon-tau stimulated genes or microRNAs may help us diagnose early pregnancy in dairy cows; however, these tests need further developments before their general use in the farms becomes possible.

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