The toxicity of Temik (aldicarb) in Nubian goats

Single oral dosages of Temik (aldicarb 15%) given to Nubian goats at 150, 37.5 and 5 mg/kg caused toxic manifestations and death 5-180 min after administration. Daily dosing of the compound at 0.5 and 0.1 mg/kg caused death of goats between days 5 and 40. Death was preceded by clinical illness in which signs suggesting nervous system dysfunction consistently occurred. Pathological, haematological and biochemical changes are described.     

乳房炎乳与正常乳中六种微量元素含量测定与分析

为研究微量元素含量与乳房炎发生的相关性,采集健康荷斯坦牛与乳房炎奶牛的乳汁各15份,用火焰原子吸收光谱法（FAAS）测定了6种矿物元素铁（Fe）、铜（Cu）、锌（Zn）、锰（Mn）、镁（Mg）、钴（Co）含量,并进行了对比分析。结果表明患乳房炎乳汁中Cu、Fe、Co和Zn含量显著低于正常乳汁（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）,而Mn和Mg含量差异不显著（P〉0.05）。乳房炎与微量元素含量具有相关性。     

The incidence and aetiology of clinical bovine mastitis on 14 farms in Northland,New Zealand

AIM: To estimate the incidence of clinical mastitis and the frequency of isolation of mastitis-causing organisms from clinical cases in one lactation season (July 2005 to May 2006) on 14 dairy farms from the Northland region of New Zealand.

METHODS: Cases of clinical mastitis were determined by trained farm personnel who recorded the identity of affected cows. Pooled milk samples from affected quarter(s) were aseptically collected by the farm personnel, for microbiology. Mean numbers of affected cows and quarters were compared at the population and farm level per 305 cow-days-at-risk (DAR).

RESULTS: One or more cases of clinical mastitis occurred in 559/3,765 (14.8%) lactating cows. The average incidence of clinical mastitis was 0.19 cases per 305 DAR. The incidence in rear quarters (56.2%) was 1.3 times (p=0.027) that of front quarters (43.8%). The incidence of clinical mastitis and numbers of affected quarters were signifi cantly infl uenced by the stage of lactation (higher in early lactation), age (higher in older cows) and farm. At the cow level, the most common isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (23.7%) and Streptococcus uberis (23.3%). No causative organisms were identifi ed in 19.9% of the samples. Each cow had an average of 1.8 quarters affected during a case of clinical mastitis.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a higher incidence of staphylococcal clinical mastitis on dairy farms from Northland than has been reported in other regions of New Zealand.     

Antimicrobial usage and risk of retreatment for mild to moderate clinical mastitis cases on dairy farms following on-farm bacterial culture and selective therapy

AIMS: To assess antimicrobial usage for treatment of mild to moderate clinical mastitis, and risk of retreatment, following implementation of an on-farm bacterial culture system and selective therapy based on culture results, and to assess compliance with treatment decision tree protocols and the level of agreement between results from on-farm culture and laboratory-based microbiology methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Herdowners from seven dairy herds were asked to collect milk samples from cases of mild to moderate clinical mastitis between July 2015 and May 2016. All samples were cultured on-farm using a commercially available selective media and were also submitted for laboratory-based culture. Within sequential pairs of cows with mastitis, half were assigned to be treated without regard to culture results (Blanket group), and half were treated based on the on-farm culture results (Selective group) according to decision tree diagrams provided to the farmers. Culture results, treatments, and retreatments for clinical mastitis were recorded. The sum of the daily doses of antimicrobials used per cow, the number of retreatments and interval to first retreatment were compared between treatment groups.

RESULTS: The geometric mean sum of daily doses for quarters assigned to the Selective (1.72 (95% CI=1.55–1.90)) group was lower than for the Blanket (2.38 (95% CI=2.17–2.60)) group (p=0.005). The percentage of cows retreated for clinical mastitis did not differ between the Selective (21.7 (95% CI=10.5–25.9)%) and Blanket (26.1 (95% CI=20.9–31.3)%) groups (p=0.13), and there was no difference between groups in the hazard that cows would be retreated within 60 days of enrolment (hazard ratio=0.82 (95% CI=0.39–1.69); p=0.59). Compliance with the treatment protocols was higher amongst quarters assigned to the Selective (199/233; 85.4%) compared with the Blanket (171/249; 68.7%) group (p<0.001), and varied between farms from 64–94%. The overall agreement between results from on-farm and laboratory culture was 188/331 (56.9%; kappa=0.31; p<0.001), but varied between farms from 44.7–88.2% (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Use of on-farm culture with selective antimicrobial therapy resulted in approximately 25% lower antimicrobial usage, but was not associated with an increase in the proportion of cows retreated for clinical mastitis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study has demonstrated that on-farm culture and selective therapy based on culture results can be implemented on-farm. However, farms varied in their implementation of both the treatment protocols and microbiology procedures. Where such systems are to be used on-farm, specific training and on-going monitoring is required.     

奶牛人工授精的优缺点和技术要点

奶牛人工授精技术加速了奶牛品种改良进程,实现了将优秀种公牛精液跨区域、超时限的利用共享,极大地促进了养牛业的发展.以奶牛人工授精应用现状为出发点,介绍了人工授精技术的优点和不足,最后结合自身工作经验,从发情鉴定、适时配种、精液解冻、精液检测、输精、精液保存和妊娠检测等技术要点进行概述,以期更好地促进奶牛人工授精技术的应...     

热应激对干奶期奶牛甲烷排放量的影响

试验旨在研究不同程度热应激水平对奶牛甲烷排放量的影响。试验选用4头处于干奶期的经产中国荷斯坦奶牛,采用4×4拉丁方设计,利用环境控制舱检测温湿度指数(THI)在66、72、78和84条件下甲烷的产生量。结果表明,当奶牛处于应激状态时,CO₂和CH₄排放量均显著下降;单位饲料干物质所产生的甲烷量显著升高。因此,干奶期奶牛在热应激条件下,甲烷排放量显著下降。     

奶牛免疫功能的影响因素

影响奶牛免疫功能的因素复杂,围产期、能量负平衡以及饲料蛋白质、维生素、某些微量元素的缺乏会引起的奶牛出现免疫功能的降低,饲料中添加某些维生素、微量元素、壳聚糖、酵母细胞壁等添加剂可以增强奶牛的免疫功能,此外,某些中药也可增强奶牛的免疫功能。     

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in goats. IX. The effect of vaccination against natural infection

A vaccination trial was carried out in 10 infected herds. The trial included 247 female kids, the number of animals in each herd varying from 15 to 38. About half of the animals in each herd were vaccinated twice at 3 to 4 week intervals, the first vaccination being carried out before the age of 4 months. A combination of a crude filtrate of C. pseudotuberculosis toxoid with whole organisms, was used. Overall, the prevalence of animals with superficial swellings was higher in the unvaccinated than in the vaccinated group during the first 1-2 years following immunization. However, in some herds superficial swellings were as common in vaccinated as in unvaccinated animals. An antibody response following vaccination was demonstrated in the hemolysis inhibition test, but not in the bacterial agglutination test. Superficial swellings were more common in vaccinated animals which were negative than in animals which were positive in the hemolysis inhibition test at 1 1/2 months after vaccination. The vaccine used in the present study, was not sufficiently efficacious to be recommended as the only protective measure against caseous lymphadenitis in Norwegian goat herds.     

过瘤胃氨基酸在奶牛日粮中的应用

作者综述了过瘤胃氨基酸的类型、特点和过瘤胃性能的测定方法及近年来奶牛日粮中的添加效果和对奶牛的影响,分析了影响添加效果的因素,提出了今后的研究方向。     

The effect of feed barrier design on displacements during feeding of dairy cows in small herds

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of feed barrier design on displacements in dairy cows fed only roughage diets in the bunk in small commercial dairy herds. Six Norwegian dairy herds with open barriers (OB) and six herds with individual headspace barriers (IHB) were randomly selected. Number of displacements and withdrawals without physical contact was somewhat higher, but not significantly higher, in the IHB herds than in the OB herds but the variation between herds within the type of barrier were very large. The number of pushes and buttings directed towards the front part of the body of cows was significantly higher in the OB herds than in the IHB herds whereas pushes and butts directed towards the side of cows were significantly higher in the IHB herds than in the OB herds.     

Effects of increasing days of exposure to prepartum transition diets on milk production and milk composition in dairy cows

Objective To evaluate the effects of length of exposure to prepartum transition diets on milk yield, fat and protein production. Design Prospective cohort study. The number of days that the cows were fed the prepartum transition diets was the exposure of interest. Procedures Holstein and Holstein x Jersey cows (n = 1008) were enrolled. Diets given in the far-off dry period (from end of lactation until approximately 3 weeks before expected parturition) consisted of ad libitum access to perennial ryegrass pastures. Prepartum transition diets included perennial ryegrass pasture, ryegrass silage, cereal hay, grain, grain by-product, protein meals, BioChlor(R), sodium monensin, virginiamycin or tylosin, MgSO(4), trace elements and vitamins. On a dry matter basis, these contained 16.0% crude protein, 4.2% rumen undegradable protein, and 9.9 mJ metabolisable energy/kg. Diets provided an estimated metabolisable protein balance of 286 g/day and dietary cation anion difference of -150 meq/kg dry matter. Statistical models controlled for effects of herd, calving day, breed, age and gestation period. Results Increasing length of exposure to the prepartum transition diets significantly increased the 4.0% fat- and 3.2% protein-corrected milk yield and milk-protein yield as a linear and quadratic effect. The optimal duration of exposure to the prepartum transition diets was 25 days for fat- and protein-corrected milk production and 22 days for milk protein production. Milk-fat percentage decreased significantly and linearly with increasing exposure to the prepartum transition diets; however, milk-fat yield or milk-protein percentage did not vary significantly with duration of exposure to the diets. Conclusions Increasing exposure to prepartum transition diets increased milk and milk-protein yields and decreased the milk fat-percentage, but not the milk-protein percentage or milk-fat yield. Aust Vet J 2008;86:341-351.     

Comparison between stearoyl‐CoA desaturase expression in milk somatic cells and in mammary tissue of lactating dairy cows

Stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD) is an important enzyme in the bovine mammary gland, where it inserts a cis‐double bond at the Δ9 position in a wide range of fatty acids. Investigating SCD expression in the bovine mammary gland generally requires invasive biopsy to obtain mammary tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of milk somatic cells as a non‐invasive alternative to biopsy for measuring mammary SCD expression in dairy cows. Both milk somatic cells and mammary tissue were collected from 14 Holstein‐Friesian cows and used for analysis of SCD expression by real‐time PCR. The SCD5 mRNA levels in mammary tissue compared with SCD1 were low, and for several milk somatic cell samples, SCD5 expression was even below the limit of detection. A significant relationship was found between SCD1 expression in milk somatic cells and in mammary tissue. In addition, SCD1 expression in milk somatic cells was significantly related to Δ9‐desaturase indices in milk, which are commonly used as an indicator of SCD1 activity within the mammary gland. Our study showed that milk somatic cells can be used as a source of mRNA to study SCD1 expression in dairy cows, offering a non‐invasive alternative to mammary tissue samples obtained by biopsy.     

Investigation of the association between the interval from internal teat sealant administration to calving and early lactation clinical mastitis in New Zealand dairy heifers

AIMS: To examine the association between the interval from internal teat sealant (ITS) administration to calving and the incidence of farmer-recorded clinical mastitis in the first 30 days of lactation in pasture-based dairy heifers.

METHODS: Heifers that were administered an ITS by a single veterinary business in the South Island of New Zealand over the winter of 2014 were enrolled in a cross-sectional observational study. ITS was administered to all heifers on each participating farm on a single calendar day. The dates of calving and farmer-diagnosed clinical mastitis were recorded by farm staff. The interval from ITS administration to calving was categorised into four approximately evenly sized groups: <35, 35–48, 49–69 and >69 days. The quartile of the farm’s calving period in which each heifer calved was also investigated as a potential confounding variable. A hierarchical logistic regression model was constructed to determine the association between the interval from ITS administration to calving with the odds of clinical mastitis in the first 30 days of lactation.

RESULTS: Analysis was performed on 7,126 eligible heifers from 31 farms, with ITS administered between 9 May and 11 July 2014. The mean interval from ITS administration to calving was 52.9 (SD 24.4, min 1, max 137) days. Clinical mastitis was diagnosed in 420/7,126 (5.9 (95% CI=5.4–6.5)%) heifers between calving and day 30 of lactation. In the final multivariable model, which included calving period quartile, interval from ITS administration to calving was not associated with the odds of clinical mastitis (p=0.516). Compared to an interval from ITS administration to calving of <35 days, the adjusted OR of clinical mastitis for intervals of 35–48, 49–69 and >69 days were 0.83 (95% CI=0.59–1.17), 0.71 (95% CI=0.45–1.11) and 0.68 (95% CI=0.36–1.29), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Within the range of intervals from ITS administration to calving observed in this study, there was no association with the odds of clinical mastitis in the first 30 days of lactation in dairy heifers. This study suggests that veterinary clinics may be able to extend their ITS administration service and treat dairy heifers earlier than the current recommendation of approximately 4 weeks before the planned start of calving.     

提高奶牛干物质采食量的技术措施

围产期奶牛,特别是高产奶牛普遍处于能量负平衡状态,容易导致生产性能降低和酮病、脂肪肝等代谢病的发生。通过育种、改善日粮和使用添加剂等技术措施,可提高奶牛的干物质采食量（dry matter intake,DMI）,在一定程度上提高奶牛的生产性能和改善奶牛的健康状况。作者对奶牛采食量的意义及其影响因素进行了叙述,并提出了一些可以提高奶牛采食量的技术措施。     

苹果发酵饲料对奶牛产奶量的影响

苹果发酵饲料是根据现代生物技术和营养理论生产的一种低成本、高效益绿色生物活性饲料。本试验选用38头荷斯坦奶牛,按年龄、胎次、泌乳月、产奶量相近的原则进行分组配对,分为试验组和对照组,试验组用苹果发酵饲料替代10%的精料,试验期为60d。结果表明,在不增加饲养成本的条件下,试验组奶牛平均产奶量要比对照组高0.58kg/d,这说明饲料中添加苹果发酵饲料,能提高产奶量,延长奶牛产奶高峰,相对降低饲料成本,经济效益显著。     

Effect of citrus pulp silage feeding on concentration of beta‐cryptoxanthin in plasma and milk of dairy cows

Citrus pulp is known to contain a functional molecule of beta‐cryptoxanthin which is one of the carotenoids showing anti‐oxidative capacity. Influences of citrus pulp silage feeding to dairy cows on beta‐cryptoxanthin concentration in plasma, other blood properties and milking performances were investigated. Four Holstein cows were fed total mixed ration (TMR) containing citrus pulp silage 20% dry matter (DM) for 2 weeks with free access to the TMR. Dry mater intake, milk production and milk components 2 weeks later were not altered compared with those of the control group without citrus pulp silage. Activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanin aminotransferase and gamma‐glutamyltranspeptidase in plasma were not affected by feeding of citrus pulp silage. Concentrations of protein, albumin, sulfhydryl residue, ascorbic acid, thio‐barbituric acid reactive substance and urea nitrogen in plasma were also not altered by citrus pulp silage feeding. Concentration of beta‐cryptoxanthin in plasma was increased approximately 20‐fold compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Content of beta‐cryptxanthin in pooled milk fat fraction was also increased approximately three times compared with that of the control group. Feeding of TMR containing citrus pulp silage 15% DM for 30 days to eight dairy cows also increased plasma beta‐cryptoxanthin concentration 30‐fold compared with that before feeding.     

The Effects of a Short-term Increase in Supplementation on the Reproduction Performance in Lactating Crossbred Dairy Cows

The hypothesis that dairy cows partially suckling their calves would ovulate following removal of calves when restored to positive energy balance by a short-term increase in supplementation was investigated in 65 crossbred cows. Five treatments (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5) that differed in the amount of total concentrate fed from calving to week 24 were involved. Calves were allowed to suck residual milk to 12 weeks of age. Energy balance was estimated by measuring intake, milk yield and organic matter digestibility. The occurrence of ovulation was determined by the analysis of milk progesterone (P4) concentration. Four groups that were receiving additional supplementation were restored to positive energy balance, while the control group (T1) remained in negative energy balance. The percentage of cows ovulating was 36%, 58%, 92%, 90% and 60% for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively (p = 0.026). Comparison of the timing of ovulation for combined results from T1+T2 and T3+T4+T5 estimated mean time to fail to ovulate as 110+/-9.0 and 87+/-7.6 days, respectively (p = 0.023). The percentage of the cows showing oestrus was 9%, 8%, 33%, 40% and 40% for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively (p = 0.197). Short-term increases in supplementation are unlikely to be an attractive means of reducing calving intervals.     

不同日粮对泌乳奶牛干物质采食量及消化率的影响

本试验旨在研究在不同日粮条件下对奶牛干物质采食量(DMI)及养分消化率的影响。用4头安装永久瘤胃瘘管和十二指肠瘘管的泌乳奶牛(体重为483±21kg,泌乳日龄为175±6天)通过4×4拉丁方试验设计,日粮包括30:70CW组(粗料仅由羊草组成)、30:70CCA组(粗料为玉米青贮+苜蓿+羊草)、50:50CCA组和65:35CCA组,共设4期试验,每期23天。30:70CCA组干物质采食量与有机物采食量极显著低于其它日粮组(P<0.01),30:70CCA组能量采食量显著低于其它日粮组,30:70CW组DM、OM在瘤胃消化率(P<0.05)及全肠道消化率(P<0.01)均显著低于其它日粮组;NDF、ADF瘤胃及全肠道消化率均无显著差异。65:35CCA组产奶量极显著高于其它组(P<0.01)。     

反刍动物生产中碳、氮、磷、钾的减排问题

近年来,随着我国奶牛养殖数量和规模的不断扩大,大量的粪尿作为肥料被广泛的施用在农田里,奶牛正常的生理活动产生的大量气体(CO2和CH4)也被排放到了空气中,但是反刍动物生产中排放的这些废物却对土壤、空气和水造成了日益严重的污染,其中粪、尿和气体中的碳、氮、磷、钾元素引起的环境污染问题更是不容忽视。本文就以上存在的问题综述了奶牛生产中碳、氮、磷和钾对环境的污染,并从营养和饲养管理上提出相应的减排技术措施。     

The effect of life history events on carcass merit and price of cull dairy cows

Cull dairy cows contribute almost 10% of national beef production in the United States. However, different factors throughout the life of dairy cows affect their weight and overall body condition as well as carcass traits, and consequently affect their market price. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (1) to assess relationships between price ratio and carcass merit of cull dairy cows sold through several sites of an auction market and (2) to investigate the effect of animal life history events and live weight on sale barn price (BP) and price ratio (as a measure of relative price), as an indicator of carcass merit. Data from 4 dairy operations included 3,602 cull dairy cow records during the period of 2015 to 2019. Life history events data were collected from each dairy operation through Dairy Comp software; live weight and price were obtained periodically from the auction market, and the carcass data were provided by a local packing plant. Cow price in dollars per unit of live weight ($/cwt) and price ratio were the 2 outcome variables used in the analyses. Price ratio was created aiming to remove seasonality effects from BP (BP divided by the national average price for its respective month and year of sale). The association between price ratio and carcass merit traits was investigated using canonical correlation analysis, and the effect of life history events on both BP and price ratio was inferred using a multiple linear regression technique. More than 70% of the cows were culled in the first 3 lactations, with an average live weight of 701.5 kg, carcass weight of 325 kg, and dressing percentage of 46.3%. On average, cull cows were sold at $57.0/cwt during the period considered. The canonical correlation between price ratio and carcass merit traits was 0.76, indicating that price ratio reflected carcass merit of cull cows. Later lactations led to lower BP compared with cows culled during the first 2 lactations. Injury, and leg and feet problems negatively affected BP. Productive variables demonstrated that the greater milk production might lead to lower cow prices. A large variation between farms was also noted. In conclusion, price ratio was a good indicator of carcass merit of cull cows, and life history events significantly affected sale BP and carcass merit of cull cows sold through auction markets.