Prevalence of pathogens causing subclinical mastitis in 15 dairy herds in the Republic of Ireland

: Milk samples from 285 cows in 15 dairy herds were collected for bacteriological analysis. Cows were selected on the basis of a somatic cell count (SCC) exceeding 200,000 cells per ml at the three most recent milk recordings prior to sampling. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus uberis were the predominant isolates accounting for 21% (n = 61) and 19% (n = 53) of isolates, respectively. Streptococcus uberis was more frequently isolated from split-calving herds than from spring-calving herds and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.005). Herds with suboptimal housing had a significantly greater prevalence of S. uberis than did herds where housing was adequate (P < 0.005). The isolation rates for S. aureus was significantly greater in herds where parlour hygiene was suboptimal (P < 0.05).     

Milk antibodies against Ostertagia ostertagi: relationships with milk IgG and production parameters in lactating dairy cattle

The present study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between milk optical density ratios (ODRs) from an indirect Ostertagia ostertagi ELISA, total milk IgG levels and milk production and then establish a correction factor to adjust ODR. Five hundred and sixty composite milk samples collected from 358 cows on four dairy herds in June and August 2002 were used in this analysis. The average ODR was 0.34. A positive correlation was found between ODR and IgG values in milk, days in milk, age and log transformed somatic cell counts (SCC). However, ODR was negatively correlated with milk production. The IgG levels and ODR values were constant from 30 to 200 days in milk. However, ODRs increased from 200 days until the end of the lactation. After controlling for age, season, herd and SCC, an increase in milk production of 13 kg/day was associated with a reduction in ODR values of 0.052. The results of the present study suggest that ODR values are not greatly influenced by production factors. ODR follow the same pattern as the IgG variation across lactation and could be adjusted in order to compare ODR values obtained from high producing cows with those obtained from low producing animals.     

Dry cow therapy with a non-antibiotic intramammary teat seal - a review

: Dry cow antibiotic therapy is used to eliminate existing intramammary infections and to prevent new infections in the dry period. It is implemented as part of a total management system known as the 'Five-Point Plan' for mastitis control. Recent public concerns over the widespread prophylactic use of antibiotics, coupled with an increasing interest in organic farming, have lead to a re-evaluation of the treatment of cows at drying-off. As a result, attention has focussed on the use of novel alternatives to antibiotic therapy at the end of lactation. One such therapy involves the application of a non-antibiotic bismuth-based intramammary teat seal designed for use in cows with low cell counts at the end of lactation. Like the keratin plug that forms naturally in teats of cows that have been dried-off, teat seal forms a physical barrier to invading pathogens. To date, a number of independent studies have shown that teat seal is as effective as traditional dry cow antibiotic products in preventing the occurrence of new infection during the dry period in cows with somatic cell counts of ≤200,000 cells ml-1 at drying-off. This paper reviews the efficacy of teat seal in preventing dry period mastitis in both conventional and organic dairying systems.     

缩宫素与氯化氨甲酰甲胆碱对奶牛胎衣不下的疗效观测

对自然分娩后8h内尚未排除胎衣的28头奶牛,分别应用缩宫素（14头,肌肉注射50IU／头）和氯化氨甲酰甲胆碱（14头,皮下注射25mL／头）进行治疗后。结果,用缩官素所治疗的14头奶牛中13例（92．85％）和氯化氨甲酰甲胆碱治疗的14例奶牛中11例（78．57％）均于12h内胎衣完全排出,其疗效显著（P〈0．05）。     

京都奶牛场蹄病研究报告

将患有蹄病的奶牛按病情严重程度分为三级,每级选12头,将36头牛随机分为4组,每组9头。第一组为对照组,第二组每头牛日粮中添加35%石粉18g,第三组每头牛日粮中添加硫酸锌1.2g,第四组每头牛日粮中同时添加35%石粉18g和硫酸锌1.2g。同样护理,每周对试验牛群进行修蹄或换药。经过一个月的治疗,第一组治愈1头、有效3头、无效5头;第二组治愈2头、有效6头、无效1头;第三组治愈3头、有效4头、无效2头;第四组治愈7头、有效2头、无效0头。经卡方检验,除第二、三组差异不显著外,其他各组之间差异显著。结果表明,在日粮中适量提高钙、锌含量,对奶牛蹄病有良好的预防和治疗作用。     

Genetic and Environmental Correlations Among Female Fertility Traits and Milk Production in Different Parities of Swedish Red and White Dairy Cattle

The main objective of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between fertility and production traits in first, second and third lactations as well as between fertility traits measured in the same way at different ages. The fertility traits studied were: number of inseminations per service period, number of treatments for reproductive disturbances, interval between first and last inseminations, interval between calving and first insemination, and interval between calving and last insemination. Early milk production was measured as the average of the energy-corrected milk yield at the second and third monthly testdays in a lactation. The number of records was approximately 450 000, 350 000, 180 000 and 75 000 in the heifer period, first, second, and third lactations, respectively. A linear, trivariate model that included the effects of herd-year, year, month, age and sire of the cow was applied. To reduce the effect of ongoing selection, 305-days kg protein production in first lactation was included as a variate in all of the analyses. Correlations between the herd-year effects indicated that factors of herd-year level conducive to increased production had a tendency to increase the number of inseminations as well as the number of reproductive treatments, although there was an earlier start and termination of the insemination period. Genetic correlations between fertility traits and production were in the range of 0.2-0.4, all of them unfavourable and higher at later parities. The genetic correlations between fertility traits in the heifer period and the same traits in first lactation were 0.7. Genetic correlations between the first and second lactation varied between 0.7 and 0.9, and between the second and third lactation they were all 0.9 or higher. In conclusion, fertility and production traits need to be selected for simultaneously if fertility is going to be maintained along further genetic improvement on production, and such selection should include fertility results from lactating cows.     

Chlamydia infection in cats in New Zealand

Conjunctival swabs collected in 1991-92 from 333 pedigree and non-pedigree cats were tested for the presence of Chlamydia spp. antigen using an ELISA antigen kit. Forty (18.4%) of the 217 samples from cats with conjunctivitis were positive. Seven (6%) of 116 samples from cats which were in contact with cats with conjunctivitis but which showed no clinical signs at the time of sample collection were positive. Positive-testing cats were frequently from multi-cat households. Chlamydia spp. is present and associated with conjunctivitis in cats in New Zealand. Infection may occur concurrently with viral diseases. Feline calicivirus was recovered from 27 (21 with conjunctivitis) of 37 cats tested in five catteries. Four cats (with conjunctivitis) were FIV-positive.     

采用“诱乳素”诱导空怀母牛泌乳的效果分析

试验选择6头500—800kg屡配不孕的荷斯坦母牛采用“诱乳素”进行诱导泌乳处理。结果表明,“诱乳素”在春季对母牛处理后开始出现泌乳的时间有差异,但到23天后,其产奶量可逐渐达到20kg。对体重大的母牛,虽然诱导泌乳处理时加大了药物的剂量,处理的时间延长,但开始出现泌乳的时间却推迟到8～9天,达到产奶高峰的时间也较晚。采用“诱乳素”处理除了对空怀母牛有明显的诱导泌乳作用外,对母牛的诱导发情亦有明显的作用。采用“诱乳素”处理空怀母牛,不仅可以在短期内达到诱导泌乳的效果,而且可以改善母牛的生殖功能,使不发情的母牛发情趋于正常,提高了其繁殖率。     

安徽省奶牛寄生蠕虫感染情况调查

对安徽省的１０个奶牛场８１４头奶牛寄生蠕虫的感染情况进行了调查。结果发现,有５６．３％的奶牛的粪样中含有寄生蠕虫卵,经鉴定为１３种蠕虫;有４８．３％的奶牛为混合感染（２～８种）。     

母牛流产原因分析及对牛黄曲霉毒素中毒病的诊治体会

母牛流产是奶牛养殖中普遍存在的问题,如果不采取积极预防和治疗措施,会导致母牛繁殖周期延长、产犊率降低,从而对养殖业的经济效益造成重大损害。本研究调查分析了2022年10月至2023年9月期间某牛场母牛的流产情况。统计结果显示,29头可繁殖母牛共产下29头小牛,其中9头新生小牛不幸死亡,流产率近1/3。为明确流产原因,本研究对环境、饲料、用药等多方面进行了调查和检测。经研究发现青贮饲料严重霉变,黄曲霉毒素B1含量显著超标。综合各项检查,初步判断母牛长期食入黄曲霉毒素污染饲料是导致流产的根本原因。此外,本研究提出了一系列有针对性的防控对策,包括监测动物健康、规范饲料管理、定期检测霉菌毒素等,以最大限度地预防和减少母牛的流产问题,并期望对广大奶牛养殖户提供一定帮助。