A survey of northern Victorian dairy farmers to investigate dairy calf management: colostrum feeding and management

Objectives

To describe colostrum management practices carried out in northern Victorian dairy herds and to identify weaknesses in these areas that may affect calf health and welfare by comparing the results with the current industry recommendations

Methods

A questionnaire to obtain information about colostrum management and calf‐rearing practices was sent to commercial dairy farming clients of Rochester Veterinary Practice between June and September 2013. The questionnaire consisted of a general herd overview and colostrum harvesting practices.

Results

The response rate was 39% (58/150). Many dairy producers were not meeting the current industry recommendations in the following areas: (1) time of removal calf from the dam, (2) relying on calf suckling colostrum from the dam to achieve adequate passive transfer, (3) failing to supplement calves with colostrum, (4) feeding inadequate volumes of colostrum, (5) delayed colostrum harvesting, (6) pooling of colostrum, (7) failing to objectively assess colostrum quality or relying on visual assessment and (8) storing colostrum for a prolonged periods of time at ambient temperatures.

Conclusion

The results from this survey highlight the need for greater awareness of industry standards for colostrum management and feeding hygiene.

     

Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: current understanding and recommendations from the Australian and New Zealand Equine Endocrine Group

The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the current knowledge and opinions about the epidemiology, clinical findings (including sequelae), diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, particularly in the Australian context. This information and the recommendations provided will assist practitioners in making informed decisions regarding the diagnosis and management of this disorder.     

Litter Size and Vagina–cervix Catheter Penetration Length in Gilts

As in other species, the reproductive tract in pigs increases in size with age and body weight, and the development of the reproductive tract depends on a balance between development of the pituitary–ovarian axis and the influence of metabolic hormones. Two experiments were conducted in prepubertal Duroc gilts, 150–180 days of age, to determine whether litter size is related to vaginal–cervix catheter penetration length during insemination. In experiment 1, oestrus was induced in 452 gilts with a combined dose of 400 IU Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotrophine (PMSG) + 200 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The gilts were classified into three catheter penetration length groups: Ih, ≤ 21 cm; IIh, > 21 and < 28 cm; IIIh, > 28 cm. The litter size was lowest in group Ih (7.35 ± 0.15) compared with groups IIh (7.81 ± 0.12; p < 0.05) and IIIh (10.0 ± 0.36; p < 0.001). In experiment 2, first oestrus was induced in 162 gilts by boar exposure. The gilts were classified into three catheter penetration length groups at insemination during their second oestrus: In, ≤ 24 cm; IIn, > 24 and < 26 cm; IIIn, > 26 cm. As in experiment 1, the litter size was lowest in the group with the shortest catheter penetration length (8.32 ± 0.19). The litter size was not different among gilts of groups IIn and IIIn (8.84 ± 0.35 and 9.56 ± 0.46, respectively), but litter size was lower (p < 0.05) in group In than in group IIn. Based on the combined data from both experiments, the correlation between the catheter penetration length and total number of piglets born was expressed as: y=5.346 ± 0.104x; r=0.361 (p < 0.05). Fertility rate was not different among the groups of gilts induced into oestrus by hormone treatment or inseminated in the second oestrus; however, the total fertility rate of boar‐exposed gilts was higher (p < 0.0001) than PMSG/hCG treated animals. Thus, it is possible to conclude that litter size at first farrowing is associated with vaginal–cervix catheter penetration length during insemination of the gilt.     

Large round bale feeder design affects hay utilization and beef cow behavior

One hundred sixty beef cows (631 +/- 78 kg) were used to evaluate the quantity of hay loss and feeding behaviors from different round bale feeders. Twenty cows were allotted by weight and body condition score to one of eight pens with four feeder designs: cone, ring, trailer, or cradle. All feeder types provided approximately 37 cm of linear feeder space per animal. Alfalfa and orchardgrass round bales were weighed and sampled before feeding. Hay that fell onto the concrete surrounding the feeder was considered waste and was collected and sampled daily. At the end of a 7-d period, each feeder type was assigned to a different pen for a second 7-d period. On four consecutive days in each period, animal behavior was recorded using a time-lapse video system. Data were collected from 5-min observational intervals from the video tapes every 0.5 h each day. Feeder access, occupancy rate, and occurrence of agonistic interactions were recorded. Dry matter hay waste was 3.5, 6.1, 11.4, and 14.6% for the cone, ring, trailer, and cradle feeders, respectively. Calculated dry matter intake of hay ranged from 1.8 to 2.0% of body weight and was not different among feeder type (P < 0.05). Percentage of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and crude protein were all lower and acid detergent lignin was higher in the recovered waste compared to the hay fed (P < 0.05). Cows feeding from the cradle feeder had nearly three times the agonistic interactions and four times the frequency of entrances compared to cows feeding from the other feeder types (P < 0.05). Feed losses were positively correlated with agonistic interactions, frequency of regular and irregular entrances, and feeder occupancy rate (P < 0.05). Agonistic interactions by cows and frequency of feeder entrances differed among feeders and were correlated to feeder design induced feed losses.     

Season of the year influences testosterone secretion in bulls administered luteinizing honrmone

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the secretion of testosterone (T) in bulls in response to the administration of varying doses of bovine LH (bLH) during the four seasons of the year. Five adult bulls (4 yr of age) were treated with an amount of bLH that was estimated to induce a 5 ng/mL amplitude pulse of LH in blood serum on five consecutive days around the spring equinox, summer solstice, fall equinox, and winter solstice. Five hours after this dose, bulls were treated with bLH in amounts that were estimated to induce a 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 ng/mL amplitude LH pulse in blood serum in a Latin square design. Blood samples were collected for 5 h after administration of a dose of bLH that was estimated to induce the 5-ng amplitude LH pulse, and for 3 h after administration of the variable doses of bLH, and were then assayed for concentrations of T. Average concentrations and amplitude of T release after doses of bLH that were estimated to induce the 5-ng amplitude LH pulses were greater during the spring and summer than during the winter (P < 0.05). The area under the release curve (AUC) was greater during the spring than during the winter (P < 0.05). During the 3 h after treatment with the variable doses of bLH, T response was affected by dose (P < 0.001) and season (P < 0.001), but there was no dose x season interaction. Testosterone response increased in a dose-dependent fashion for all variables studied. The greatest average concentrations of T and AUC were observed in the spring compared with the fall and winter (P < 0.05). These data support our working hypothesis that testes of bulls are more responsive in releasing T in response to bLH stimulation in the spring and summer compared with the winter; however, there were no changes in sensitivity of the testes to LH during different seasons of the year as indicated by the lack of a dose of bLH x season interaction.     

GnRH antagonist inhibition of gonadotropin and steroid secretion in boars in vivo and steroid production in vitro

The hormone GnRH has a stimulatory effect on gonadotropin synthesis and secretion. The objective of the first study was to evaluate concentrations of FSH and LH in plasma of boars after successive treatment with SB75, a GnRH antagonist. Thirteen boars greater than 1 yr of age (eight White Composite [WC] and five Meishan [MS]) were injected once daily with SB75 (10 microg/kg of body weight) for 4 d. Plasma concentrations of LH and testosterone (T) decreased after 1 h from the first dose of SB75. After 12 h of treatment, LH gradually returned to pretreatment concentrations, but T remained suppressed (< 2 ng/mL) until after the last injection of SB75. There was a modest, but significant, reduction in FSH during treatment with SB75. The prolonged inhibitory effect of SB75 on suppression of plasma T concentrations, in the presence of pretreatment concentrations of LH, implied direct effects of SB75 at the testis. In the second experiment, testicular tissue from adult boars was incubated in the presence of three doses of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 0, .5, and 5 IU) with SB75 (250 ng/mL) or with Deslorelin, a GnRH agonist (500 ng/mL). Samples of media were collected every hour for 3 h, and concentrations of T and estrone (E1) were determined by RIA. Concentrations of T and E1 increased with time in response to treatment with hCG. Co-treatment with SB75 decreased media concentrations of T (P < .01) and E1 (P < .03) compared to controls (77.9 vs 85.7 +/- 2.0 and 4.7 vs 5.3 +/- .2 ng/g). In contrast, treatment with Deslorelin had no effect on the amount of T (P > .50) or E1 (P > .26) released with all dosages of hCG. These results indicate that a GnRH antagonist has a direct effect on the testis, decreasing amounts of T and E1 released from the Leydig cells; however, treatment with a GnRH agonist had no direct effect on release of these gonadal steroids. Thus, it remains unresolved whether the site of action of GnRH antagonist on testicular steroidogenesis is through a testicular GnRH receptor or through some other mechanism.     

Lymphoid neoplasia in the koala

Objective Correlation of immunophenotype with history, anatomical and morphological features of lymphoid neoplasia in the koala.
Methods Routine necropsies were performed on 51 koalas with suspected lymphoid neoplasia between 1986 and 1997 in New South Wales and Queensland. Immuno-phenotyping was by an immunoperoxidase method utilising species cross-reactive antibodies raised against human lymphocytes and an antibody raised against koala IgG. Cases were classified according to organs and tissues affected and the morphological features of neoplastic cells.
Results Twenty-six (51%) of the cases were of the T cell immunophenotype, 12 (24%) were of B cell immunopheno-type and 13 (25%) did not stain. The age and sex of koalas did not correlate with immunophenotype (P = 0.686 and P = 1.000, respectively). Thirty-two cases were leukaemic and 36 had multiple organ involvement, probably reflecting presenta tion of koalas at advanced stages of disease. Abdominal tissue involvement was most common (44 cases), followed by nodal (32), atypical (21) and cervicomediastinal (14). The T cell immunophenotype was over-represented among the leukaemic cases (P = 0.013). Generally, the T cell immunophenotype predominated except for many affected atypical tissues. Neoplastic cells were mostly of medium nuclear size with round to oval nuclei. No correlations were found for cell morphology, mitotic index and immunopheno-type.
Conclusion The prognostic value of an immunopheno-typic, anatomical and morphological basis for the classifica tion of lymphoid neoplasia in the koala currently is limited by the need to detect these neoplasms at an early age, the requirement for freshly fixed tissues and the restricted range of available cross-reacting antibodies.