Associations between postpartum diseases and milk yield and changes in body condition between drying off and parturition of dairy cows in Argentina

ABSTRACT

Aims: To assess the change in body condition score (BCS) during the early and late dry periods and its association with postpartum diseases and milk yield in grazing dairy cows from central Argentina.

Methods: BCS assessments during the dry period, and cow health and milk production records up to 90 days in milk (DIM), were collated for cows from 28 farms at monthly visits between 2007 and 2008. Cows were categorised into four groups; those in Group 1 (n=7,067) maintained or gained BCS during the early and late dry periods; Group 2 (n=2,615) maintained or gained BCS during the early dry period and lost BCS during the late dry period; Group 3 (n=1,989) lost BCS during the early dry period and maintained or gained BCS during the late dry period; and Group 4 (n=5,144) lost BCS during the early and late dry periods.

Results: Cows in Group 1 had reduced odds of having retained fetal membranes (RFM), metritis, and clinical mastitis up to 90 DIM than cows in Group 2 (p<0.001), but the odds of disease were similar to cows in Group 3. The odds of having RFM or clinical mastitis tended to be lower in cows in Group 1 than cows in Group 4 (p=0.08). The odds of cows being culled or dying during the first 90 DIM were lower for cows in Group 1 than for those in Groups 2, 3, and 4 (p≤0.05). Mean accumulated milk yield up to 90 DIM was higher in cows in Group 1 than Group 2 and Group 4 (p<0.001), but was similar to that of cows in Group 3 (p=0.28).

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Cows that lost BCS during the late dry period had increased odds of being diagnosed with several postpartum diseases and had decreased milk yield compared to cows that maintained or gained BCS during the entire dry period. Loss of BCS during any stage of the dry period was also associated with increased incidence of culling or death during the first 90 DIM. These results should raise awareness among dairy cattle producers of the importance of properly managing cow body condition during the dry period, especially during the late dry period.     

Advance in study of batokines

Brown adipose tissue is a type of adipose tissue and is present in all mammals. It is not only the main site for adaptive thermogenesis in vivo, but also secretes and releases many cytokines in the form of endocrine to regulate a variety of metabolic processes and prevent and treat obesity and metabolic diseases. Therefore, identification of the types and effects of brown adipocytokines (batokines) may be crucial for the treatment of a variety of obesity-related metabolic diseases. Based on the latest research progress, batokines and their functions are reviewed.     

茂兰自然保护区森林景观格局变化分析

本文以2011年和2017的森林调查成果化数据为基础,依据不同优势树种组,采用景观格局指数法,从组成结构、斑块特征、景观异质性和空间分布4方面分析2011年和2017年茂兰自然保护区的森林景观格局及其变化。结果表明：林地面积增加了654.08 hm²；森林优势树种数量从15种增加至30种；景观面积(CA)最大的均为阔叶混交树种组,增加了1286.33hm²；斑块平均大小(MpS)最大的均为阔叶混交树种组,增加了471.80 hm²；面积加权的平均形状指数(AWMSI)和面积加权的平均分形指数(AWMPFD)最大值均为阔叶混交树种组；景观斑块边缘密度(ED)最大值均为阔叶混交树种组；阔叶混交树种组的平均最小距离(ENN)减少。从2011年2017年研究区的主要优势树种组阔叶混交树种组得以保护,这与人为干扰的减少有关。     

泰州地区稻田综合种养模式水稻病虫害绿色高效防控技术

本文介绍了泰州地区稻田综合种养模式采用的水稻病虫害绿色高效防控技术,主要包括物理防治、化学防治、生物防治等措施,并结合当地生产实践情况,推荐出低毒安全高效的药剂使用组合,实现了稻田环境的可持续发展。     

川黔等西南地区李子主要病虫害及防治技术

李适应性广,耐瘠薄干旱,是四川、重庆等西南山区的特色经济树种。李果实外观亮丽,脆甜爽口、营养丰富,是深受人们喜爱的特色水果之一。近年来四川、贵州、重庆地区青脆李、空心李、蜂糖李等地方品种有了迅速发展,促进了贫困山区脱贫致富和产业结构调整。但由于管理粗放和防治措施不当,致使李子生产区域病虫害发生严重,影响了果实的品质和经济效益。为了促进李子产业化发展,结合主要产区生产实际,总结出西南地区常见的病虫害及其防治措施,为李子生产提供技术参考。     

Prevention and Controlling Effect of Intercropping on Pests and Diseases and Its Risk Control in Cotton Fields

Cotton is one of the major field crops which are seriously threatened by pests and diseases. In recent years, the ecological management of cotton pests and diseases with intercropping has become to be an interesting approach. Intercropping possibly increases the population of natural enemies and finally reduces the population density of pests as a result of changes in ecological structure and environmental conditions of farmland. Intercropping thus has been considered an important alternative in controlling pests and diseases. However, cotton field intercropping also has some limitations in controlling pests and diseases. Unreasonable intercropping system has many risks such as increasing labor input, increasing the difficulty of pests’ control, and aggravating pests and diseases. In this paper, the effects and the underlying mechanisms of cotton intercropping on cotton pests and diseases were reviewed. The possible risks and countermeasures used for ecological control of intercropping were also put forward, and the future and application of ecological management of cotton pests and diseases with intercropping were prospected.     

平凉地区近年常见玉米病虫害及防控方法

本文针对平凉地区近年来常见玉米病虫害及防控方法进行分析，旨在解决病虫害对玉米生产的影响，从而提高玉米产量和品质。     

Estimating the Sensitivity and Specificity of Real‐Time Quantitative PCR of Fecal Samples for Diagnosis of Rhodococcus equi Pneumonia in Foals

Background

Real‐time, quantitative PCR (qPCR) methods for detecting Rhodococcus equi in feces have been developed as a noninvasive, rapid diagnostic test for R. equi pneumonia, but have not been evaluated in a large population of foals.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of fecal PCR as a diagnostic test for R. equi pneumonia in foals using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) methods.

Animals

186 foals born in 2011 at an R. equi‐endemic ranch in Texas.

Methods

Fecal samples were collected at the time of onset of clinical signs for pneumonic foals (n = 31). Foals with pneumonia were matched by age and birth date to healthy (n = 31) and subclinical (n = 124) control foals; fecal samples were collected from these controls. DNA was extracted from feces using commercial kits and concentration of virulent R. equi in feces was determined by qPCR.

Results

Concentration of R. equi in feces differed significantly (P < .05) among groups. The area under the ROC curve for fecal qPCR for diagnosis of R. equi pneumonia was 89% (95% CI, 83–99), with a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 72%.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

qPCR of feces can be useful as an alternative to tracheobronchial aspiration for the diagnosis of R. equi in foals with clinical signs of pneumonia. Caution should be used in extrapolating results of this study to other populations because fecal concentration of R. equi might vary by geographic location or management practices.     

Application and mechanisms of metal-based nanoparticles in the control of bacterial and fungal crop diseases

Nanotechnology is a young branch of the discipline generated by nanomaterials. Its development has greatly contributed to technological progress and product innovation in the field of agriculture. The antimicrobial properties of nanoparticles (NPs) can be used to develop nanopesticides for plant protection. Plant diseases caused by bacterial and fungal infestations are the main types of crop diseases. Once infected, they will seriously threaten crop growth, reduce yield and quality, and affect food safety, posing a health risk to humans. We reviewed the application of metal-based nanoparticles in inhibiting plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and discuss the antibacterial mechanisms of metal-based nanoparticles from two aspects: the direct interaction between nanoparticles and pathogens, and the indirect effects of inducing plant resilience to disease. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Transmission ecology of rodent‐borne diseases: New frontiers

Rodents are recognized reservoir hosts for many human zoonotic pathogens. The current trends resulting from anthropocene defaunation suggest that in the future they, along with other small mammals, are likely to become the dominant mammals in almost all human‐modified environments. Recent intricate studies on bat‐borne emerging diseases have highlighted that many gaps exist in our understanding of the zoonotic transmission of rodent‐borne pathogens. This has emphasized the need for scientists interested in rodent‐borne diseases to integrate rodent ecology into their analysis of rodent‐borne pathogen transmission in order to identify in more detail the mechanisms of spillover and chains of transmission. Further studies are required to better understand the true impact of rodent abundance and the importance of pathogen sharing and circulation in multi‐host– multi‐pathogen communities. We also need to explore in more depth the roles of generalist and abundant species as the potential links between pathogen‐sharing, co‐infections and disease transmission.