Effect of Supplemental Feeding with Glycerol or Propylene Glycol in Early Lactation on the Fertility of Swedish Dairy Cows

The aim of this field study was to evaluate the effect of supplemental feeding with glycerol (GLY) or propylene glycol (PG) during early lactation on the fertility of Swedish dairy cows. Within 17 commercial dairy herds, 798 cows were randomized to three groups that were daily fed supplements with 450 g GLY, 300 g PG or nothing (control, C). The supplements were given twice daily during 0–21 days in milk as a top dress on concentrates. Data on calving date, insemination dates, gynaecological examinations, as well as breed, parity and monthly milk yield were collected. From a subset of 308 cows in seven herds, milk samples for progesterone analysis were taken twice weekly and used to determine the time for onset of luteal activity. The effects of supplements on the intervals from calving to first luteal activity (FLA), first AI (FAI) and conception (CON), respectively, were analysed using semi‐parametric survival models (Cox proportional hazards models) controlling for the effect of parity, breed, calving season, milk yield and the clustering effect of herd. There was no difference in time to FLA between the cows in group C and in group GLY or PG. No differences in time to FAI or in time to CON were found between cows in group PG and group C. However, cows in the GLY group tended to get their FAI later compared with cows in the control group but without at subsequent delaying of time to CON.     

Quarter-milking-, quarter-, udder- and lactation-level risk factors and indicators for clinical mastitis during lactation in pasture-fed dairy cows managed in an automatic milking system

Objectives To identify risk factors and indicators at quarter‐milking and other levels for clinical mastitis during lactation in pasture‐fed cows managed in an automatic milking system. Design A retrospective nested case–control study using data collected over a 31‐month period. A total of 803,948 quarter‐milkings from 249 cows were available for analysis, of which 245 were selected as clinical mastitis quarter‐milking cases and 2450 unaffected quarter‐milkings were selected as controls. Most of the diagnoses of clinical mastitis had been made after clinical assessments of quarters following automated alerts by the milking system. Potential risk factors and indicators were assessed using univariable and multivariable multilevel logistic models. Results Quarters that are milked infrequently and have low yield, fast peak milk flow rates, blood in the milk and/or elevated milk conductivity are at increased risk of clinical mastitis. Quarters were also at increased risk between days 10 and 29 of lactation, and during higher parity lactations. Milk fat and protein concentrations and the fat : protein ratio were not significantly associated with the development of clinical mastitis. Neither quarter position (fore or rear) nor side (left or right) was associated with clinical mastitis occurrence. Quarters that had been clinically affected more than 30 days previous in the current lactation were not at increased risk of redeveloping clinical mastitis. Conclusions Under the study conditions, the risk of clinical mastitis increased for quarter‐milkings in quarters that were milked less frequently in the previous 7 days, were low‐yielding, had fast peak milk flow rates and had more milkings in which blood was detected in milk and/or the milk conductivity was elevated. Risk was also increased in days 10–29 of lactation and in higher parity lactations.     

Direct effects of induced parturition on subsequent reproductive performance of dairy cows from commercial herds in south-western Victoria

SUMMARY Reproductive performance was compared between cows whose previous parturition was induced and non-induced cows with similar calving dates, in 49 winter-calving, pasture-fed, commercial dairy herds in south-western Victoria. Parturition was induced in winter when most cows were between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Reproductive performance was assessed during the next mating period after induction which was mainly in spring of the same year. Percentages of cows in induced and untreated groups that were not pregnant after the mating period (9.0% and 7.2%, respectively) did not differ significantly. Induction tended to increase the percentage of cows of unknown pregnancy status. Mean percentages for induced and untreated groups were 11.5% and 7.9%, respectively. Induced and untreated groups calved at similar intervals after the planned start of calving in the following year, and the percentages of groups that required induction in that year did not differ significantly. The direct effects of induced parturition on reproduction were therefore concluded to be minimal. In seasonal calving herds, improvements in reproductive performance could be expected among cows whose calving dates were altered substantially by induction, due to increased intervals from calving to mating start date .     

The effects of induced parturition on the incidence of clinical disease and mortality in dairy cows from commercial herds in south-western Victoria

SUMMARY The effects of induced parturition on clinical disease and mortality of cows were studied in 51 winter-calving, pasture-fed, dairy herds in south-western Victoria. Parturition was induced when most cows were between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Control groups were selected from herdmates that were not induced to calve. The incidence of retained placenta was much greater among induced cows of all ages. The proportion of cows affected by any clinical disease other than retained placenta, and the incidence of mortality were much greater after induction among cows aged over 6 years but not among cows aged 3 to 6 years.