EFFECT OF MILKING MACHINES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC QUARTER-TAKE-OFF DEVICES ON MILK QUALITY AND HEALTH OF THE UDDER

1972 ◽  
Vol 35 (9) ◽  
pp. 544-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. N. Philpot

A commercial herd of approximately 550 lactating dairy cows was divided into two groups: one was designated as the Control Group and was milked in a routine fashion with conventional milking machines; the other was designated as the QTO Group and was milked with machines equipped with automatic quarter-take-off devices. Certain tests and observations were made on each animal in both groups at approximately 5-week intervals for 22 weeks. The QTO Group of animals was, by chance selection, at a slight disadvantage in terms of health of the udders at the outset of the study. The disadvantage was overcome quickly and, during the balance of the study, the QTO-milked animals maintained an advantage over the control animals. The advantages in favor of the animals milked with the QTO devices included fewer quarters infected with mastitis pathogens, reduced intramammary irritation as evidenced by lower scores for the California Mastitis Test, and fewer teats showing erosions or other abnormalities of the orifice. The differences were significant (P <0.01). Operators of the machines equipped with QTO devices walked 26.6% less during a routine milking than the operators of the conventional milking machines. The difference was significant (P <0.05).

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Ciancio ◽  
Stefania Volpinari ◽  
Maria Fotinidi ◽  
Federica Furini ◽  
Ilaria Farina ◽  
...  

Objective. To evaluate the involvement of the bursa located next to the head of the 5th metatarsal bone in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in comparison with the other seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA).Methods. All patients with PsA seen during a period of 24 months were enrolled. The control group included healthy subjects and patients with the other SpA. All subjects underwent clinical and ultrasound (US) examination of the lateral surface of the 5th metatarsal.Results. 150 PsA patients (88 M; 62 F), 172 SpA (107 M; 65 F), and 95 healthy controls (58 M; 37 F) were evaluated. Based on clinical and US evaluation, bursitis was diagnosed in 17/150 (11.3%) PsA patients but in none of the SpA (P<0.0001) and healthy (P=0.0002) controls. In detecting bursitis, US was more sensitive than clinical examination, although the difference did not reach statistical significance (P=0.09).Conclusion. The bursa of the 5th metatarsophalangeal joint appears to be involved in PsA more frequently than by chance. If confirmed by other studies, this finding could be considered as a distinctive clinical sign of PsA, useful for differential diagnosis with the other SpA. In asymptomatic patients, US proved to be more sensitive in the detection of bursitis.


1970 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Rahman ◽  
MMU Bhuiyan ◽  
MM Kamal ◽  
M Shamsuddin

Identification of risk factors is important for the design of control programmes for mastitis in cows. Information about farms and management was collected at a farm visit. California Mastitis Test (CMT) was performed to assess sub-clinical mastitis, and cows, udder and milk were examined for clinical mastitis. A total of 347 lactating cows from 83 farms in the dry season (November - February) and 388 lactating cows from 89 farms in the wet season (June - October) were studied. The overall prevalence of mastitis was 19.9% and 44.8% in dry and wet seasons, respectively. The prevalence of mild mastitis was 17.3% and 40.7%, whereas that of moderate mastitis was 2.6% and 4.1% in dry and wet seasons, respectively. The prevalence of mastitis was higher (P<0.01) in wet than in dry season. On average, 18.7% quarters had mastitis during the wet season and 6.9% in the dry season. In the dry and wet seasons, respectively, 63.9% and 11.2% had completely dry floors, and the prevalence of mastitis was 22.6% and 30.0%. On the other hand, 88.8% and 36.1% of 83 farms had partly or completely wet and soiled floor and the prevalence of mastitis was 40.0% and 59.5% in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Udder cleanliness, milk yield and peri-parturient diseases significantly (P<0.01) increased the risk of mastitis. The prevalence of mastitis is regarded as quite high. Dry and clean floor to keep cow's udder and teat clean would help control mastitis in the dairy farms of Bangladesh. DOI: 10.3329/bvet.v26i2.4951 Bangl. vet. 2009. Vol. 26, No. 2, 54-60


Author(s):  
D. Tristant ◽  
C. A. Moran

SummaryThe following trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of feeding Yea-Sacc® (YS; Alltech Inc, USA), a zootechnical feed additive based on a live probiotic strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to lactating dairy cows over a 12 week period. Sixty-four primiparous and multiparous Holstein dairy cows, grouped to give similar range of parity, physiological and milk production stages, were selected for the study. Cows were equally allocated to either a control feed group or a diet supplemented with YS (32 cows per treatment). The test diet was formulated to include YS (Yea-Sacc® Farm Pak) incorporated in the total mixed ration (TMR), supplying a target dose of 5 × 107 CFU/kg feed dry matter (DM). This target dose delivered 1 × 109 CFU/cow/day, for a cow consuming 20 kg feed (DM basis) daily. Each cow was considered a replicate unit. Cows were fed a nutritionally adequate total TMR plus hay and a supplementary protein/energy concentrate (calculated according to milk yield) for 12 weeks, supplied once a day after the morning milking. Weigh backs of feed were recorded daily, with refusals being maintained at 3% of the total intake. During the 12 week study period, YS had significant beneficial effects on milk production (+0.8 kg/day; P = 0.003), energy corrected milk production (+1.4 kg/day; P < 0.0001), synthesis of milk protein (+36 g/day; P = 0.001), milk protein content (+0.3 g/kg; P = 0.009), and milk urea content (−0.09 mg/l; P = 0.004). The synthesis of milk fat was similar between treatments but milk fat content was lower for the YS group compared to the control group (−1.1 g/kg; P = 0.0002). Lactose content was always higher (+0.8 g/kg; P < 0.0001) for the YS group, indicating enhanced energy utilisation. In general, the effect of YS was higher during the first study period (one to seven weeks), when cows were in early lactation and the production potential was higher. YS cows produced significantly more milk during the study, and an additional 220 kg milk per cow was sold from this group from the output measured from the beginning of the study to two weeks post-trial. However, the statistical analysis including the post-study period did not show a significant effect. The 305-day simulated milk production was higher for the YS group (+400 kg/cow) but again the difference was not significant. In conclusion, YS at a target dose of 5 × 107 CFU/kg DM improved milk production and milk quality in healthy dairy cows. In addition, when the data were included in a whole-farm model, feeding YS reduced methane emissions by 4%, reduced the number of animals required for the desired milk production by 4% and increased overall farm margins by 1.4%.


1977 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. BRUHN ◽  
G. D. REIF ◽  
H. TOONE ◽  
J. H. EVANS

A double reversal trial with three, 4-week periods was used to determine the effect on milk quality of feeding dehydrated poultry waste to lactating dairy cows. Fifteen cows were fed a control ration for 4 weeks (Period 1), followed by an experimental ration containing dehydrated poultry waste for 4 weeks (Period 2), and then by the control ration for 4 weeks (Period 3). Milk was collected daily and scored by five judges using the ADSA milk flavor scoring guide. Milk compsition (fat, protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat) was determined on alternate days. During Periods 2 and 3 weekly composite samples were collected to determine concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, and tocopherol. No significant differences were found in any of the milk quality factors studied.


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Moate ◽  
C. Grainger ◽  
D. E. Dalley ◽  
K. Martin ◽  
J. R. Roche ◽  
...  

Many farmers in southern Victoria grow fodder turnips as a summer feed for lactating dairy cows. This paper reports on 2 experiments that measured the milk yields and liveweight changes of cows offered a basal forage diet and combinations of turnips, barley and protein supplements (cottonseed meal or lupins). A stall feeding experiment was conducted over 26 days with 40 Friesian cows in mid lactation offered 1 of 5 dietary treatments. All cows were offered 10 kg DM/day of a basal diet comprising pasture, pasture hay and pasture silage which is similar to that available on many southern Victorian dairy farms during summer. Cows in a control group did not receive additional feed supplements. Cows in the other 4 groups were offered a supplement of 5 kg DM/cow.day of either turnips, barley or a mixture containing 3 kg DM/cow.day of turnips and 2.0 kg DM/cow.day of either crushed lupins or cottonseed meal. The marginal milk responses from barley, turnips, turnips + lupins and turnips + cottonseed meal were 0.80, 0.92, 1.15 and 1.00 L/kg DM of supplement eaten. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the liveweight changes of the supplemented groups. Samples of the feeds used in this experiment were placed in nylon bags and incubated in the rumen of non-lactating dairy cows. The ‘&Oslash;rskov’ protein degradation parameters for these feeds are compared with the published values for a range of Australian feeds. The rate and extent of degradation of protein from the turnip leaves, turnip bulbs and crushed barley were all similar. A grazing experiment was conducted over 65 days with 56 Friesian cows in mid lactation, offered 1 of 4 dietary treatments. All groups were allowed to graze pasture (5 kg DM/cow.day), were offered 3 kg DM/cow.day of pasture silage and were fed different combinations of barley, cottonseed meal and lupins. In addition, 3 of the groups separately strip-grazed turnips (about 5 kg DM/cow.day). The group fed a supplement of 8.0 kg/cow.day of barley yielded similar quantities (18.3 L/cow.day) of milk and milk constituents as another group fed 4.0 kg DM/cow.day of barley and 4.5 kg DM/cow.day of turnips. Furthermore, when either 1.5 kg DM of cottonseed meal or 2.0 kg of lupins were fed in place of barley, milk yield increased by 1.4 L/cow.day. Dietary treatment had no significant (P>0.05) effects on liveweight changes. From this grazing experiment it is concluded that turnips can be used as a cheaper alternative to barley in order to maintain high levels of milk production in summer–autumn. We estimate that if the above quantities of protein supplement were fed with turnips, at 1997–98 prices, lupins would increase profits by 12 cents/cow.day, but there would be no financial benefit from the cottonseed meal. The findings from both experiments show that supplements of rumen-degradable protein (lupins) can produce an economic milk response when fed to cows on typical summer diets (pasture/silage/barley and turnips) in southern Victoria.


2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (9) ◽  
pp. 902 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. M. Reed ◽  
J. L. Vaughan ◽  
L. J. Cummins ◽  
D. D. Moore

Liveweight gain, animal health and the effectiveness of a mycotoxin deactivator were studied on an old pasture that contained 61% perennial ryegrass. Sixty-seven percent of the ryegrass population was infected with endophyte (Neotyphodium spp.). The pasture was fenced into two halves and two groups of 28 alpaca male weaners were rotated between the two plots. Nine to 10 Suris and 18–19 Huacayas were allocated to each group. One group was fed a concentrate supplement (100 g/head per day) and the other was fed the same supplement to which was added the toxin deactivator, Mycofix® Plus (5 g/100 g). Mean liveweight gain on the low-quality pasture over late summer and early autumn was not significantly (P > 0.05) different between the groups. For the control group it was 41 g/day but individual rates of gain ranged from 67 to 0 g/day, depending on the severity of signs of perennial ryegrass toxicosis (r = 0.82, P < 0.001). Liveweight gain was independent of neurotoxic signs in the Mycofix® Plus treated group. Ergovaline concentration in perennial ryegrass varied from 0.43 to a peak in early autumn (March) of 1.05 mg/kg. Mean urine lysergol alkaloid concentration peaked in mid-summer (January) at 109 ng/mg creatinine (control group) and was consistently lower in the Mycofix® Plus group, although the difference approached significance (P = 0.06) only in March. Lolitrem B concentration in perennial ryegrass varied from 0.78 to 1.57 mg/kg. Neurotoxic signs in alpacas were observed throughout the study and peaked in early autumn, coinciding with peak lolitrem B concentration; at this time, 84% of alpacas exhibited neurotoxic signs. Over the 145-day study, the Mycofix® Plus treated group exhibited a lower mean rating of perennial ryegrass toxicosis signs (P < 0.05). Variation in liveweight gain and signs of toxicosis were not associated with significant differences in liver enzyme activity.


1989 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Thurmond ◽  
J. W. Tyler ◽  
D. M. Luiz ◽  
C. A. Holmberg ◽  
J. P. Picanso

SUMMARYThe study was conducted to determine whether pre-enrichment would increase sensitivity of detectingStreptococcus (Str.) aqalactiae, Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, and mycoplasma in bovine milk. Two procedures were followed, one involving direct inoculation of milk on bovine blood agar, and the other involving preenrichment in broth followed by inoculation on agar. Logistic regression was used to predict the probability of isolation as a function of culture procedure and two additional covariates. the California Mastitis Test (CMT) score of the milk and the type of sample (indicating sample storage temperature and herd mastitis status). A total of 13778 milk samples was cultured for each of the three bacteria. By using results of both direct inoculation and pre-enrichment, the probability of isolation compared to use of direct inoculation only and adjusted for effects of other variables was increased 3·6-fold forStr. agalactiae, 1·6-fold forS. aureusand 1·7- fold for mycoplasma. The probability of isolation for all three bacteria increased as the CMT score increased. ForStr. agalactiae, there was a statistical interaction predicting that enrichment improved the odds of isolation more from milk with high CMT scores than from milk with low scores. Results indicate that preenrichment can substantially increase the sensitivity of bacteriological screening of dairy cows for mastitis caused byStr. agalactiae,S. aureus, and mycoplasma.


2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1699
Author(s):  
T. Sugino ◽  
A. Tateno ◽  
G. Ueno ◽  
K. Kawashima ◽  
T. Okimura ◽  
...  

To elucidate the effects of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) on milk production and plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations in early lactating dairy cows, 10 multiparous Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to two dietary treatment groups after parturition. One group was fed a diet supplemented with calcium salts of MCFA (MCFA-Ca) for 8 weeks after parturition, while the other group was fed the same diet without the supplement (control). MCFA-Ca, containing 60% caprylic acid and 40% capric acid, was added to a total mixed ration (TMR) at 1.5% of the dietary dry matter (DM). Cows were offered the TMR ad libitum. DM intake, daily gain in bodyweight, milk yield, milk fat content and milk protein content did not differ between the two treatment groups. The MCFA-Ca diet decreased plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations (P < 0.05), while plasma concentrations of total and free cholesterols tended to increase (P < 0.10). Plasma ghrelin was maintained at a higher concentration (P < 0.05) in cows fed the MCFA-Ca diet than in the control group. Relative to the control diet, the MCFA-Ca diet decreased plasma insulin concentration (P < 0.05) and numerically increased plasma glucagon concentration, resulting in a lower insulin : glucagon ratio (P < 0.05). In conclusion, plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations were affected by the MCFA-Ca diet, suggesting that MCFA-Ca supplementation may change endocrine functions and nutrient metabolism in early lactating cows, ultimately resulting in an enhanced catabolic state.


1952 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Dinsmoor

Twelve white rats learned to press a bar or lever when this act was intermittently followed by pellets of food. Once a stable rate of pressing had been established, the animals were subjected to electric shock as a punishment for each response during alternate five minute periods within the experimental session. A difference in rates during the safe and punished phases was manifested both by the experimental group (8 rats), who were provided with a light as a signal when it was safe to respond, and also, contrary to expectation, by the control group (4 rats), who continued in darkness throughout the session. The differential responding by the control group was greatly reduced, however, when the duration of each phase was reduced from five minutes to one. The investigation was then continued to determine the role of some of the other factors in the situation. Increasing the severity of the shock increased the difference between the light and the dark rates. Withholding the pellets of food reduced the overall rates but did not affect the light-dark discrimination. Withholding the shock, on the other hand, permitted an increase in rate and caused the animals to lose their discrimination; when food had previously been withheld, however, so that the rate of response was relatively low, this deterioration in the discrimination was not as rapid as before. Restoration of the discrimination training under a lower hunger drive confirmed the finding that the formation of the discrimination was quite rapid and showed that the level of drive did not affect the proportionality between the rates in the light and in the darkness. These findings were interpreted by comparing the current procedure with those previously used in studies of avoidance reactions and conflict.


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