Risk factors for repeat-breeder syndrome in New South Wales dairy cows

A retrospective case-control study involving 1041 cow lactations from 10 commercial dairy herds in Australia determined relationships between biographic, production, reproductive and disease factors and repeat-breeder syndrome (RBS) (conception to greater than two inseminations). The study population was stratified into primiparous- and multiparous-cow sub-groups and logistic regression was used. Effects of herd were examined by including this variable alternatively as a fixed and a random effect. In the primiparous-cow fixed-effect model, the risk of RBS was increased with post-calving metritis, stillbirth, and with increasing days taken to reach peak milk yield, and reduced following dystocia. An inverted U-shaped relationship with total milk-solids percentage at the time of first service was detected. In the multiparous-cow fixed-effect model, the risk of RBS was increased in cows with chronic metritis, cystic ovarian disease (COD), in cows of parity >5 and in cows that were sub-fertile in the previous lactation. Increasing days to first recorded heat (DFH) reduced risk of RBS and a non-linear relationship with average 120-day milk-protein percentage was found. When herd was fitted as a random effect, stillbirth and 120-day average milk-protein percentage were no longer significant in the primiparous and multiparous models, respectively. The study emphasises the need to control appropriately for the clustering effect of herd and supports the need to minimise periparturient disease and improve nutrient balance to achieve optimal fertility in dairy herds.     

Risk factors for post-partum anoestrus in Charolais beef cows in France

Data from 248 Charolais cows from 20 herds of the Puisaye region (Yonne, France) were collected during winter 1991–1992 to investigate risk factors affecting post-partum anoestrus. Blood was collected 60 days after calving; diagnosis of cyclicity was established by progesterone radioimmunoassay. Herd variables were housing type, lighting of herd accomodation, use of nutritional flushing and nutritional variables (protein and energy before and after calving), and individual variables were parity, ease of calving, body-condition score and body weight at calving and at Day 60, exposure to bulls and calving period. Sixty days post-partum, 62.1% of cows were cyclic. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratio (OR). A random effects model was used to take into account the two levels of variables (animal and herd). Although it was defined subjectively, lighting was the only significant herd-level risk factor. Odds of anoestrus were higher in dark than in light accomodation (OR = 6.2, CI 1.2–33.3). Primiparous cows had a higher anoestrus risk than multiparous cows (OR = 10.2, CI 2.9–36.5). Compared with light cows, heavy or medium weight cows at calving had a lower anoestrus risk (OR = 0.25, CI 0.07–0.91, and OR = 0.20, CI 0.07–0.61, respectively.     

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.     

Pattern of change in the concentration of milk acetone and its association with ovarian activity for pasture-based cows in early lactation

The variation in milk acetone concentration between cows and the resumption of ovarian activity was determined in 68 Holstein–Friesian cows grazing pasture. Cows calved in two groups approximately three weeks apart and were assessed over the first 60 d of lactation.

The largest coefficient of variation (152%) for milk acetone concentration between cows was found in the first week of lactation. This variability in milk acetone concentration was largely explained by a consistent cyclic pattern, in relation to the day of the study, with regular peaks at 21–26 d intervals. These peaks were synchronised between cows, and cows in the second group synchronised with cows in the first group.

Milk acetone peaks greater than 0.4 mmol/L were associated with a significant drop in milk yield, possibly due to energy deprivation around this time. In this respect, liveweight change over the first 60 d of lactation was significantly negatively correlated (r = − 0.29, p < 0.05) with the mean milk acetone concentration taken over the same period. However, there was no significant relationship (p > 0.05) between mean or maximal milk acetone concentration and the resumption of ovarian activity for the cows that resumed ovarian activity in the first 9-weeks post-partum.

The results of this study suggest that the use of milk acetone as a practical indicator of energy balance is limited due to its variability over time. Milk acetone concentration may be useful in experimental situations or when regular milk samples can be obtained in the field, such as in-line analysis. There is a need to undertake more research to elucidate the implications of the cyclic pattern of acetone concentration in milk on reproductive performance.     

Management-related risk factors for M. paratuberculosis infection in Michigan, USA, dairy herds

A cross-sectional study was conducted from June through December 1996 to identify management-related risk factors for herd-level M. paratuberculosis infection. Data were collected from 121 participating herds. A two-part questionnaire was administered to gather data on current and previous management practices and herd productivity. A random sample of cows aged ≥24 months was selected from each herd and tested for antibodies to M. paratuberculosis using the IDEXX Antibody ELISA (sensitivity 64%, specificity 96%). A positive herd was one in which ≥2 animals tested positive for antibodies to M. paratuberculosis. A negative herd was one in which no animal tested positive. Herds in which only one animal tested positive were dropped from statistical analysis to reduce the risk of including false-positive herds in the statistical analyses.

There were 80 herds with one or more positive animals and 41 herds with no positive animals in the sample (66% herd-level prevalence). Twenty-six herds (21%) were dropped from further analyses because they had only one positive cow. Twelve herds (10%) were dropped from analysis because of missing data. The resulting sample used for statistical modeling included 46 positive herds and 37 negative herds (55% herd-level prevalence). A multi-variable logistic-regression model was used to evaluate the results. The variable ‘use of an exercise lot for lactating cows' was associated with a three-fold increase in odds of a herd being positive for M. paratuberculosis infection (O.R.=3.01, C.I.=1.03–8.80); ‘cleaning of maternity pens after each use' was associated with a three-fold reduction in odds of a herd being positive for M. paratuberculosis infection (O.R.=0.28, C.I.=0.08–0.89); ‘application of lime to pasture areas in 1993' resulted in a ten-fold decrease in odds of a herd being positive for M. paratuberculosis infection (O.R.=0.10, C.I.=0.02–0.56).     

A routine 20-22 days post-service milk progesterone monitoring in dairy cows. Economic evaluation

Three hundred and sixty inseminated Holstein cows were monitored in a controlled trial for low milk progesterone concentration 21-23 days post-breeding. Information about low progesterone cows was given to herdsmen for the experimental group only. Of the cows in the experimental group with milk progesterone of less than or equal to 4.5 ng/ml, 56.0% were inseminated within 2 days of monitoring compared to 28.8% of the control animals. Of the cows reaching the 42-day rectal pregnancy diagnosis, 13.7% and 43.6% were negative for the experimental and the control groups respectively. Inter-service intervals were 34.5 +/- 14.5 days and 44.3 +/- 17.7 days for the experimental and control groups respectively. Pregnancy rates were the same for 264 cows served on routine progesterone monitoring and for 318 cows bred on behavioural oestrus when matched to farm and day of breeding. A gain of US $32.5 (an equivalent of 85 l milk) per lactation for a cow in the monitored herd was established using the data in a model of a 250-cow herd with a total pregnancy goal of 82.4%.     

A prospective study of the effect of Neospora caninum and BVDV infections on bovine abortions in a dairy herd in Arequipa, Peru

We used a prospective seroepidemiological approach to investigate endemic abortion in a dairy herd in Arequipa, Peru, and its association with Neospora caninum and bovine viral-diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infections. Between January 2002 and March 2004, 1094 pregnancies were confirmed in 538 cows. Of these, 137 pregnancies (13%) in 121 cows ended in abortion. The serological status to N. caninum was assessed using a single serological screening, whereas BVDV status was assessed at the herd level through consecutive samplings of young stock.

Cox proportional-hazards models were used to estimate the effect of N. caninum and BVDV on the hazard of early (between day 42 and day 100 in gestation), and late (after day 100) abortions, respectively. Serological status to N. caninum was included as a dichotomous variable, and the effect of BVDV estimated at the herd level, as a time-dependent seasonal effect. Because data from repeated pregnancies were included, we considered possible lack of independence between observations and included frailty effects into the models. Our models also considered the possible confounding by parity and animal origin.

Only multiparity was associated with the hazard of early abortion (HR = 2.8 compared to nulliparous heifers). N. caninum seropositivity significantly affected the hazard of late abortion, but interacted with parity. The HRs for Neospora-positive animals were 6.4, 3.7 and 1.9, respectively, for nulliparous heifers, first-lactation cows and multiparous cows. Evidence of BVDV circulating (or not) among the young stock was not associated with abortions, but few cows in this herd were susceptible to incident infection.     

Evaluation of a contract breeding management program in selected Ohio dairy herds with event-time analysis II. Parametric frailty models

The effect of a contract breeding program offered by a breeding co-operative was assessed using parametric frailty models with event-time analysis technique in a field study of Ohio dairies. The program featured tail chalking and daily evaluation of cows for insemination by co-operative technicians; dairy employees no longer handled estrus detection activities. Test day records were obtained between early 2002 and mid-2004 for 16,453 lactations representing 11,398 cows in 31 herds identified as well-managed client herds by the breeding co-operative. Various parametric distributions for event times available in a commercial software (Stata 9.1, College Station, TX) were tested to assess which distribution fit the calving-to-conception data best. After identifying the distribution with the best fit, a full model with potential confounders and other significant predictors of time to pregnancy was developed and then frailty terms were included in the model. Generalized gamma and log-normal distributions fit the data best, but since gamma distribution does not allow the use of frailty effects, log-normal distribution was used in further modeling. Separate accelerated failure time models with frailty terms to account for latent effects at the herd, cow, or lactation level were developed, testing both gamma and inverse Gaussian frailty distributions. In these models, potential confounders and statistically significant predictors were also controlled for, and the association between the contract breeding program and the mean time to pregnancy was characterized using time ratios. The log-normal model identified that interval to pregnancy was associated with breed, herd size, use of ovulation synchronization protocols, parity, calving season and somatic cell score (above or below 4.5) and maximum milk yield prior to pregnancy or censoring. While controlling for these factors, there was a reduction in average time to pregnancy among cows managed under the contract breeding program. All frailty terms were highly significant, regardless of whether it was an individual frailty at the lactation level or a shared frailty at the cow or herd level, suggesting that there was considerable heterogeneity within these levels. Inclusion of a frailty term at the herd level changed the estimate for the contract breeding program considerably, while a frailty term on other levels did not, indicating that herd characteristics (e.g., overall management) have a substantial impact on reproductive performance and should be accounted for in the analysis. Interpretation using time ratios with or without a shared herd frailty found that the contract breeding program was associated with a reduction of 6.5% and 14.1% in mean time to pregnancy, respectively.     

Evaluation of a contract breeding management program in selected Ohio dairy herds with event-time analysis I. Cox proportional hazards models

An observational study was conducted in order to assess the impact of a contract breeding program on the reproductive performance in a selected group of Ohio dairies using event-time analysis. The contract breeding program was offered by a breeding co-operative and featured tail chalking and daily evaluation of cows for insemination by co-operative technicians. Dairy employees no longer handled estrus detection activities. Between early 2002 and mid-2004, test-day records related to production and reproduction were obtained for 16,453 lactations representing 11,398 cows in a non-random sample of 31 dairies identified as well-managed client herds of the breeding co-operative. Of the 31 herds, 15 were using the contract breeding at the start of the data acquisition period, having started in the previous 2 years. The remaining 16 herds managed their own breeding program and used the co-operative for semen purchase.

Cox proportional hazards modeling techniques were used to estimate the association of the contract breeding, as well as the effect of other significant predictors, with the hazard of pregnancy. Two separate Cox models were developed and compared: one that only considered fixed covariates and a second that included both fixed and time-varying covariates. Estimates of effects were expressed as the hazard ratio (HR) for pregnancy.

Results of the fixed covariates model indicated that, controlling for breed, herd size, use of ovulation synchronization protocols in the herd, whether somatic cell score exceeded 4.5 prior to pregnancy or censoring, parity, calving season, and maximum test-day milk prior to pregnancy or censoring, the contract breeding program was associated with an increased hazard of pregnancy (HR = 1.315; 95% CI 1.261–1.371). The results of the time-varying covariates model, which controlled for breed, herd size, use of ovulation synchronization protocols, somatic cell score above 4.5, parity, calving season, and testing season also found that the program was associated with an increased hazard of pregnancy (HR = 1.387; 95% CI 1.327–1.451).

The fixed and time-varying covariates models both found similar sets of predictors when analyzing the association of the contract breeding program with hazard of pregnancy. Both models identified a 30% or greater increase in hazard of pregnancy associated with use of the contract breeding program, suggesting that herds subscribing to the program achieved pregnancies in a more timely fashion.     

Herd-level factors associated with isolation of Salmonella in a multi-state study of conventional and organic dairy farms I. Salmonella shedding in cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate associations between herd characteristics and the isolation of Salmonella from dairy cows in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York. Study farms were 129 conventional and organic farms enrolled without regard to previous history of Salmonella infection. Herds were sampled at 2-month intervals over a 1-year period. This is the largest study to date on Salmonella shedding in dairy cows and the only study evaluating herd-level risk factors using longitudinal sampling to characterize Salmonella shedding on dairy farms. Salmonella was isolated in fecal samples from 1026 (4.9%) of 20,089 cows. Over the course of the study, 113 (87.6%) of 129 farms had at least one positive cow sample. Multi-variable logistic regression using the generalized estimating equations approach was used to test the association between herd-level risk factors and the dependent variable of within-herd prevalence by visit (number of Salmonella-positive cows/number of cows sampled) after adjustment for effects of herd size, season, state of origin, and the multiple sampling occasions per herd. Factors retained in the final model included lack of use of tiestall or stanchion facilities to house lactating cows (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1–3.3), not storing all purchased concentrate or protein feeds in an enclosed building (OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3–4.9), not using monensin in weaned calf or bred heifer diets (OR = 3.2; 95% CI: 2.0–5.4), access of lactating or dry cows to surface water (e.g., lake, pond, river, or stream) (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.3–3.9), disposal of manure in liquid form (slurry or irrigation, as opposed to disposal of manure by broadcast/solid spreader only) on owned or rented land (OR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3–3.9), and cows eating or grazing of roughage from fields where manure was applied in solid or liquid form and not plowed under during the same growing season (OR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.0–3.0). A seasonal association was also present as cows were more likely to be Salmonella-positive in summer, spring, and fall compared to winter. Herd size was not associated with Salmonella shedding in the final multi-variable model. The herd-level risk factors identified in this study could potentially be implemented in Salmonella control programs on dairy farms.     

Risk factors for Brucella spp. infection In dairy cattle farms in Asmara, State of Eritrea

A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify risk factors for herd infection by Brucella spp. in dairy cattle in the suburbs of Asmara, Eritrea. Data were collected from 64 herds, randomly selected from a total of 99 herds with a minimum herd size of 9 cows. A questionnaire was used to gather data on management, hygiene and herd structure. Serum samples collected from all pregnant heifers, cows and bulls, were screened for Brucella infection by the Rose Bengal test (RBT), and all RBT-positive sera re-tested with the complement-fixation test (CFT) for confirmation. A seropositive herd was defined as one in which at least one animal tested positive in the CFT. There were 23 (36%) positive herds among the 64 studied. Both multiple logistic and multiple betabinomial regression modeling were used to analyze the data. Mixed-breed herds, compared to single (exotic)-breed herds, were found to be independently associated with increased herd seroprevalence (OR=5.2, 95% confidence interval 1.4–18.7) in the multiple logistic model with the herd infection status as the dependent variable. The importance of this variable was supported by the multiple betabinomial regression model (OR=3.3, 1.4–7.6) with animal-level prevalence within herd as the outcome variable. Both models also revealed the presence of a negative association between seropositivity and cattle stocking density.     

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus in beef cattle herds of Yucatan, Mexico: seroprevalence and risk factors

A survey of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) infection was carried out from June 2001 to July 2002 in a non-vaccinated beef cattle population from the livestock region of Yucatan, Mexico, to assess seroprevalence and identify risk factors related to seroprevalence. The aim was also to estimate the intra-herd correlation (r_e) and design effect (D) of BVDV seropositivity. Cattle were selected by a two-stage cluster sampling. Blood samples were collected from 560 animals originating from 40 herds. Sera were tested for antibodies against BVDV using an indirect ELISA test. The sensitivity and specificity of the test was 97.9 and 99.7%, respectively. Risk factors regarding the herd and each animal sampled were recorded through a personal interview at the time of blood sampling. Twenty-four of the 40 herds had at least one seropositive animal. The animal true seroprevalence was estimated as 14%. The marginal logistic regression model used to describe the data found a significant (p < 0.05) association of herd size–cow-origin interaction. The interaction was due to a higher risk of seropositivity in the category of herds with ≤100 animals and purchased cows (OR = 1) as compared to herds with ≤100 animals and cows born in the farm (OR = 0.23). Seropositivity between cows purchased and cows born in the farm was similar for herd sizes of 101–196 and >196 animals. The r_e and D values were 0.17 ± 0.05 and 3.16 ± 0.57, respectively.     

Greater participation by veterinarians in the reproductive management of dairy cattle

A program involving greater veterinary participation in detection of estrus and artificial insemination of cattle was evaluated in a 700-cow dairy herd from January 1987 through August 1988. Previous reproductive performance was below normal. First-service pregnancy rate from artificial insemination was 42%, and mean number of nonpregnant days for the cows was 120. Between postpartum days 55 and 62, all cows with functional corpus luteum assessed by rectal palpation were administered prostaglandin each Monday morning. Return visits were made to the herd each Thursday and Friday to observe cows and to inseminate those in estrus. On the other 5 days of the week, the owner or his employees inseminated all cows in estrus. The first-service pregnancy rate for 842 cows observed in estrus and inseminated by the veterinarian was 59%. The pregnancy rate for cows inseminated by the owner and his employees increased from 42% to 50%. The mean number of nonpregnant days for all 700 cows decreased from 120 to 98 days, resulting in approximately $46,000 of increased income for the dairyman or approximately a 4 to 1 return on investment in veterinary service. Results indicate that veterinarians could improve herd reproductive performance and solve chronic herd breeding problems by more actively participating with their clients in estrus detection and artificial insemination programs in cattle. The program allows practicing veterinarians an opportunity to observe cows for estrous behavior, establish their own pregnancy rate data, demonstrate to owners the importance of observing primary signs of estrus, and teach expert artificial insemination techniques.     

Risk factors associated with on-farm mortality in Swedish dairy cows

Dairy cow mortality (unassisted death and euthanasia) has increased, worldwide and in Sweden. On-farm mortality indicates suboptimal herd health or welfare and causes financial loss for the dairy producer. The objective of this study was to identify cow-level risk factors associated with on-farm cow mortality. Cows with at least one calving between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009 from herds enrolled in the Swedish official milk recording scheme with >40 cow-years were included. Each cow was followed from the day of calving until she calved again or left the herd (died, slaughtered or sold). The effects of potential risk factors on on-farm cow mortality were analysed using a Weibull proportional hazard model with a gamma distributed frailty effect common to cows within herd. The event of interest (failure) was euthanasia or unassisted death. An observation was right censored if the cow was slaughtered, sold, calved again or had an on-going lactation at 500 days after calving. The lactations were split into seasons (January to April, May to August and September to December) and at 30 and 100 days in milk in order to evaluate seasonal effects and the effect of disease in different lactation stages. Primiparous and multiparous cows were analysed separately. The highest hazards for both primiparous and multiparous cows were found for traumatic events and diseases, both in the lactation stage in which the cow died and in the preceding stage. The hazard was higher in early lactation and lower in 2nd parity compared to higher parities. Increased age at first calving (for primiparous cows), calving between January and April, dystocia and stillbirth also increased the mortality hazard. Differences were also found between breeds, between milk production parameters at first test milking and between management types. The results from this study show the importance of good management and preventive health actions, especially around calving, to avoid mortality in dairy cows.     

Clinical acidosis in a Gippsland dairy herd

OBJECTIVE: To report on spontaneous clinical and subclinical acidosis in a large dairy herd, to evaluate the diets and feeding strategies involved, and to report on measures of rumen function in the cows affected. DESIGN: A Gippsland dairy herd was sampled as part of a wider randomised cross-sectional study that examined the prevalence, risk factors for, and effects of, acidosis on rumen function of dairy cattle. Three herds on the farm were involved in the study: the transition herd (cows 3 weeks prior to calving), the very fresh lactating herd (1 < days in milk < 10, herd 1) and the fresh lactating herd (10 < days in milk < 120, herd 2) including a small lame herd fed separately. The transition cows were fed 2 kg dry matter triticale per cow per day and hay with an estimated total dry matter intake of 4.8 kg per cow per day. The lactating cow diet included 6.75 kg dry matter triticale per cow per day with total concentrate fed being 8.1 kg dry matter per cow per day in the milking parlour. Silage, lucerne cubes, hay and pasture (herd 2 only) was also fed to the lactating cows with the estimated total dry matter intake for cows in herds 1 and 2 being 13.7 kg and 20.8 kg per cow per day respectively. Three primiparous and five multiparous cows in early lactation (< 100 days in milk) were randomly selected from each of two lactating herds: herds 1 and 2. Rumen fluid was sampled from each cow by both rumenocentesis and stomach tube. The rumenocentesis samples were tested for pH at the time of sampling. Stomach tube samples were frozen and subsequently tested for volatile fatty acid, ammonia, and D- and L-lactate concentration. RESULTS: In the very fresh herd, there was a high prevalence of severe lameness and scouring, coupled with a mean rumen pH 5.67, low mean total volatile fatty acid concentration 71.0 mM and high mean concentrations of L- and D-lactate, (7.71 mM and 7.31 mM), respectively. Cows in the fresh herd had moderate signs of scouring and lameness. A lame herd comprising approximately 50 cows separated from the fresh herd was also present on the farm. The mean rumen pH of the fresh herd was 5.74 and mean rumen concentrations of volatile fatty acids, ammonia, L- and D-lactate were within ranges considered normal. CONCLUSIONS: The transition diet failed to supply sufficient energy and protein for maintenance of cows of this live weight in late gestation. The diet fed to the very fresh herd was low in effective fibre and contained an excessive content of non-structural carbohydrate in the form of processed, rapidly fermentable grain. The sudden change from the transition diet to the diet fed to the very fresh herd probably also precipitated the outbreak of acidosis. This case report provides unique detail, including information on diets and rumen parameters, of an outbreak of acidosis in a pasture-fed herd.     

Prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced estrus in open cows and presumed abortion in pregnant cows with unobserved estrus in a herd monitored by milk progesterone assay

Data were obtained in a large Florida herd of about 1800 Holstein cows. All cows were inseminated by the herdsman who did the pregnancy checks and who also administered drugs. The herdsman injected 103 cows with prostaglandin F2 alpha during the time this herd was under continuous observation by the authors who were conducting an unrelated research project. These cows consisted of 86 open (never bred) cows which had no estrus observed during the first 70 days postpartum, or no second estrus observed within 30 days after a previous estrus, and 17 cows previously inseminated. Two-thirds (57) of the 86 open cows were in estrus within 4 days. The 17 previously inseminated cows appeared to be pregnant, based upon progesterone profiles, when these were inadvertently given prostaglandin F2 alpha by the herdsman. Progesterone declined in all cows and they were in estrus in 7 +/- 4 days (mean +/- standard error). This result of presumed abortion reflects the luteolytic effectiveness of the drug and the importance of instructing any laymen users to follow necessary precautions to avoid undesirable effects.     

Effects of crossbreed pregnancies on the abortion risk of Neospora caninum-infected dairy cows

Previous studies have shown that the use of beef bull semen significantly reduces the rate of abortions due to Neospora caninum in artificially inseminated (AI) seropositive dairy cows. In addition, certain beef breeds could be more resistant to N. caninum infection and abortion than others. The aim of the present study was to determine whether different crossbreed pregnancies, those derived from Limousin, Charolais, Piedmontese or Belgian Blue semen, carry different risks of abortion in Neospora-infected dairy cows. The effects of possible interactions between maternal levels of N. caninum antibodies and the different breed crosses were also evaluated. The study was performed on five commercial Holstein–Friesian dairy herds in Northeast Spain with previously confirmed diagnoses of N. caninum infection in aborted foetuses. The study population was comprised of 1115 pregnancies: 633 pregnancies recorded after AI using Holstein–Friesian semen from 18 bulls and 482 after AI using beef semen from 27 bulls (304 inseminations using semen from Limousin bulls, 191 from Belgian Blue bulls, 89 from Piedmontese bulls and 49 from Charolais bulls). Abortion rates were 32.2% (155/482) and 15.2% (96/633) for seropositive cows inseminated with Holstein–Friesian and beef breed semen, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed the herd and the interaction between maternal N. caninum antibody titre and the different crossbreeds as significant factors affecting the abortion rate. Lowest abortion rates, similar to that shown by seronegative animals in the analysed herds (3.2%, 239/7432), were observed in dams AI using Limousin semen that had low (<30 relative index (RI) units) N. caninum antibody titres (2.1% abortion, 3/145) and these cows were used as reference. Compared to the cows used as reference, cows with low N. caninum antibody titres (<30 RI units) showed a similar risk of abortion when inseminated with Piedmontese or Charolais bull semen, but higher risk of abortion when inseminated with Holstein (17.9 times) or Belgian Blue (7.2 times) bull semen. All cows with high N. caninum antibody titres (≥30 RI units) had a higher risk of abortion, ranging from 8.9 times (cows inseminated with Limousine semen) to 37.8 times (cows inseminated with Piedmontese semen), compared to the cows used as reference. In conclusion, different crossbreed pregnancies carried different abortion risks in Neospora-infected dairy cows. The use of beef bull semen dramatically reduced the risk of abortion in dairy cows, especially if Limousin breed semen was used. Moreover, this reduction was found to be dependent on the N. caninum antibody titre such that the lowest incidence of abortions was recorded in Limousin semen inseminated cows with low antibody titres. Insemination of Neospora-seropositive cows with beef bull semen could both reduce the risk of abortion and avoid breeding replacements for infected cattle.     

Longevity of Swiss Brown cattle in different housing systems in Switzerland

A Weibull mixed survival model was used to study the effect of a change in the housing system on length of productive life (LPL) in dairy cows. The data set included records on 71,469 Swiss Brown cows in 1674 farms in eastern and central Switzerland. About 36% of the records were right-censored. The observation period lasted from January 1, 1988 to May 1, 2001. During this period, 517 farms changed their housing conditions from a tie-stall barn to a loose housing system. Besides a random time-dependent effect of herd–year–season, the model included fixed effects of housing system, lactation number and stage of lactation, within herd and parity production level (all time-dependent), and age at first calving (time-independent). All effects had a significant effect on LPL at a level of p < 0.001. Cows in loose housing systems showed the lowest risk ratios of being culled (0.93) compared to the reference system tie-stall barn (1.00). The highest relative culling rate (1.09) was observed within the changing period from tie-stall barn to loose housing system. Within the first three lactations, the relative culling risk increased stepwise with lactation stage. The hazard slightly increased from first until lactation number 8 and higher. The relative culling rates were highest (2.22) for cows yielding less than 90% compared to herd-mates of the same lactation number, whereas the lowest risk ratios were estimated for animals yielding more than 110% compared to their reference group (0.64). When heifers were older than 3 years at first calving, there was a tendency towards a higher relative culling risk (1.06).     

Herd reproductive performance related to urea concentration in bulk milk

Bulk milk samples were collected from 256 dairy herds from 4 districts in Southern Norway: Gudbrandsdal (n = 35), Bergen (n = 15), Hedmark (n = 117) and Hardanger (n = 89).A total of 6–8 samples were collected in each herd during the indoor season. Data concerning reproductive performance, milk production and nutrition were registered for a period of 15 months starting 7 months before the first milk sample was collected. The urea levels obtained during the sampling period were averaged generating a mean urea level of each herd. The mean urea levels were related to reproductive performance.The urea levels within districts showed only minor variations during the sampling period. The mean urea level in Hardanger was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the other distrikts. This district also had the lowest fertility. Significant correlations between mean urea level and fertility were observed only in Hedmark. Fertility status (FS), an integrated index, and number of inseminations per animal inseminated were significantly affected by the interaction between mean urea level and district. Herds in Hardanger with cows treated for ovarian cysts had a significantly higher mean urea level (p = 0.02) than herds with non-treated cows.The results appear to support the notion that a negative relationship may exist between bulk milk urea levels and reproductive performance. The great district variations observed indicate, however, that the practical value of such measurements is limited.     

Cloprostenol as an aid in dairy herd management: 1. Mating management

An AB programme restricted to 14 days through the use of mated, 135 were treated after selection on pre-mating oestrus dates or rectal examination. Treatment was administered on the 6th day of mating. Untreated cows were inseminated, on detection of oestrus, throughout the 14 days. Nine of 135 treated cows were inseminated within 48 hours, 50 at 72 hours only, 75 at both 72 and 96 hours and one at 96 hours after treatment. All cows in season were inseminated, irrespective of recent insemination. Prolonged and split heats, and short cycles (less than 14 days), occurred in treated and untreated cows.

AB conceptions confirmed in those cows retained in the herd were 623% of untreated cows (66.9% of those which were inseminated) and 69.1% of treated.

The conceptions achieved in this abbreviated AB programme are equal to those normally achieved after 7 weeks of AB. Mating management is discussed; the release of labour from AB involvement 4 weeks earlier than usual is a major advantage of this technique.