Epidemiological and genetical studies in Norwegian pig herds. II. Overall disease incidence and seasonal variation

The present epidemiological study is based on individual health records from 1984 to 1986 in 70 pig herds in the south-eastern part of Norway. For most of the recorded diseases, the incidence rate was less than 1% per farrowing. The majority of disease recordings concerned 6 frequently-occurring conditions; the MMA-syndrome, mastitis, metritis, neonatal diarhoea, arthritis and scrotal hernia. A seasonal effect on the incidence rate was shown for several diseases. The incidence rate for the MMA-syndrome of about 17.5% seems to be of the highest recorded for this disease in a population study.     

Ownership Pattern and Management Practices of Cattle Herds in The Gambia: Implications for a Breeding Programme

A questionnaire and a census were carried out in 1998/99 on 201 cattle herds in 44 villages located in three different areas of The Gambia, in order to obtain information about the ownership pattern, management and breeding practices for optimizing and extending a pure breeding scheme for indigenous N'Dama cattle. The herds had an average of 58.5 head, of which 39.3% were cows, and most of them were multiowner herds, having on average 5.5 owners. Overall, women represented 38.3% of the owners, but they owned only 15.9% of the cattle. Some of the senior herdsmen received no payment, as they were family members, but most of them received payment in kind, i.e. milk off-take from the herd. Payment in cash only or cash as well as milk was rare. In larger herds it was quite common for additional herdsmen to be hired throughout the year, their payment shifting towards cash only or cash and milk. Many small herds had no older bulls or breeding bull and almost all breeding bulls were born within the herd. In most cases, it was the herd owner who was responsible for the selection of the breeding bull. Traits related to the growth and milk production of the dam were considered as most important for a good breeding bull. The results are discussed with respect to the extension of a pure breeding scheme for N'Dama cattle.     

Observations on the control and eradication of paratuberculosis in dairy herds

Johne's disease is widely seen in dairy herds in Germany. Estimates based primarily on epidemiological surveys in neighbouring states assume that 5 to 15 % of German herds are infected. In the past three years several authors have reported that the causative agent of Johne's disease, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is found ubiquitously in the environment and can be isolated from a number of different animals, including non ruminants. These results imply that MAP should be considered an environmental pathogen. Based on this assumption a concept for control and eradication of Johne's disease is presented aiming at minimizing the future spread of disease and reducing environmental contamination with the pathogen at low costs. The concept includes the classification of herds based on an bulk milk ELISA followed by a robot-compatible bulk milk PCR in ELISA-positive herds only. Due to the comparatively low costs combined with the high specificity of the approach a detection of heavily infected herds ("tip of the iceberg") all over the country would be possible; based on the eradication of strong shedders in these herds the input of MAP into the environment would be reduced considerably.     

A linear programming approach to estimate the economic impact of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) at the whole-farm level in Scotland

We combined epidemiological and economic concepts and modelling techniques, to integrate animal health into whole-farm business management. This allowed us to assess the relative contribution that disease prevention could make to whole-farm income and to the variability in farm income (risk). It also allowed us to assess disease losses in the context of a farm business rather than as a disease outbreak in isolation. A linear program ("MOTAD") establishes the combination of decision maker's activities that minimise risk for a given level of income within farm-business constraints. The MOTAD model was applied to farm-management decision making in Scottish cow-calf herds and was linked to an epidemiological model of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD). When BVD was considered in isolation (i.e. without taking into account risk), the minimum expected total cost of BVD (sum of output losses plus expenditure on prevention) was similar whether the herd was susceptible to BVD or of unknown BVD-status at the outset. However, the expected total cost of BVD fell in response to increasing expenditure on prevention in 'susceptible' herds. This relationship was not apparent in herds of unknown BVD-status. As a consequence of this difference, 'susceptible' herds were better able to use investment in BVD biosecurity as a means to increase farm income at minimum risk than herds of unknown BVD-status. 'Susceptible' herds therefore were able to achieve high income targets with less-intensive production than herds of unknown BVD-status. This suggested that maintaining a cow-calf herd free of BVD contributes to farm income and risk management indirectly through its effect on the management of the whole farm. It follows that measurement of the economic impact of BVD requires a whole-farm perspective that includes a consideration of risk. Because farmers generally are considered to be risk adverse, this means that the least-cost disease-control option might not always be the preferred option.     

奶牛生产性能测定在陕西省应用成效调查

奶牛生产性能测定（DHI）对奶牛群体遗传改良、调整日粮和喂量、预防常见疾病、提高牛奶产量和质量有着非常重要的作用,同时可为牛群的标准化饲养、数字化管理提供依据。为了解该项技术在陕西的应用成效,笔者所在单位对其应用效果进行了调查,以期为今后更好地扩展该项工作提供依据。。     

Epidemiological and genetical studies in Norwegian pig herds. V. Estimates of heritability and phenotypic correlations of the most common diseases in Norwegian pigs

A genetic analysis was performed on disease registrations from 70 Norwegian pig herds. This analysis was complicated by the small degree of cross classification of dams and sires across herds, and the relatively sparse use of artificial insemination. Herd effects seemed to be responsible for much of the variation in disease frequencies. The estimated heritabilities were relatively low. The results of this investigation also revealed positive phenotypic correlations between the investigated diseases.     

Mycoplasma bovis infections in Swiss dairy cattle: a clinical investigation

Mycoplasma bovis causes mastitis in dairy cows and is associated with pneumonia and polyarthritis in cattle. The present investigation included a retrospective case–control study to identify potential herd-level risk factors for M. bovis associated disease, and a prospective cohort study to evaluate the course of clinical disease in M. bovis infected dairy cattle herds in Switzerland. Eighteen herds with confirmed M. bovis cases were visited twice within an average interval of 75 d. One control herd with no history of clinical mycoplasmosis, matched for herd size, was randomly selected within a 10 km range for each case herd. Animal health data, production data, information on milking and feeding-management, housing and presence of potential stress- factors were collected. Composite quarter milk samples were aseptically collected from all lactating cows and 5% of all animals within each herd were sampled by nasal swabs. Organ samples of culled diseased cows were collected when logistically possible. All samples were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In case herds, incidence risk of pneumonia, arthritis and clinical mastitis prior to the first visit and incidence rates of clinical mastitis and clinical pneumonia between the two visits was estimated. Logistic regression was used to identify potential herd-level risk factors for M. bovis infection. In case herds, incidence risk of M. bovis mastitis prior to the first visit ranged from 2 to 15%, whereas 2 to 35% of the cows suffered from clinical pneumonia within the 12 months prior to the first herd visit. The incidence rates of mycoplasmal mastitis and clinical pneumonia between the two herd visits were low in case herds (0–0.1 per animal year at risk and 0.1-0.6 per animal year at risk, respectively). In the retrospective-case-control study high mean milk production, appropriate stimulation until milk-let-down, fore-stripping, animal movements (cattle shows and trade), presence of stress-factors, and use of a specific brand of milking equipment, were identified as potential herd-level risk factors. The prospective cohort study revealed a decreased incidence of clinical disease within three months and prolonged colonization of the nasal cavity by M. bovis in young stock.     

Pathological Lesions in Swine at Slaughter: IV. Pathological Lesions in Relation to Rearing System and Herd Size

Data from the meat inspection at a large regional abattoir in Norway was used to study the effect of different production systems and herd size on the occurrence of pathological lesions in pig carcasses. Three production systems were compared: combined production, production strictly in batches and continuous production. Only the former reared its own piglets. The data was collected in the period 1975–1977. The number of herds varied between 87 and 94, and between 26,000 and 30,000 bacon pigs were slaughtered each year. The herds were divided into three different size groups: ≤ 200, 201–400, and > 400 pigs slaughtered annually. Each year was considered separately.The study showed that the highest frequency of sound carcasses occurred in the combined production group. There was no significant difference between the two production groups rearing purchased piglets. Moreover, there was an inverse relationship between the frequency of sound carcasses and herd size, but the positive effect of the small herd was estimated to be less important than that of production system.The distribution of 16 different pathological lesions was also considered. Four lesions (pneumonia — moderate and severe —, pleurisy and scabies) were recorded at significantly different levels in the production systems all three years of recording.Analysis of the effect of herd size also showed that in the cases of moderate pneumonia and pleurisy, the small herds were at an advantage. The other lesions had a rather casual distribution among the groups.The statistical evaluation indicates however, that in cases of significant differences between the tested groups, only 20–40 % of the variation could be “explained” by our model comprizing production systems and herd size groups.     

Random within-herd variation in financial performance and time to financial steady-state following management changes in dairy herd

Abstract

The manager of a dairy herd and the affiliated consultants constantly need to judge whether financial performance of the production system is satisfactory and whether financial performance relates to real (systematic) effects of changes in management. This is no easy task because the dairy herd is a very complex system. Thus, it is difficult to obtain empirical data that allows a valid estimation of the random (within-herd) variation in financial performance corrected for management changes. Thus, simulation seems to be the only option. This study suggests that much caution must be recommended when claming effect of changes in herd management because the link between management changes (cause) and effect (measured as improvement of gross margin per cow year) is extensively blurred by a large within-herd variation in available real life accounting data and differences between herds in time to steady state following management changes.     

Performance of camels (Camelus dromedrius) kept by pastoralists with different degrees of experience in camel keeping in Borana, Southern Ethiopia

The aim of the present study was to investigate the performances of camels kept by pastoralists with different degrees of experience in camel production. The study was conducted on 60 selected camel herds twice a year; during wet and dry seasons of 2003 and 2004 in Borana, Southern Ethiopia. The average ages at first parturition and calving intervals of breeding females were 68.1 ± 0.5 and 25.5 ± 0.4 months (LSMean ± SE), respectively. Age at first parturition was significantly reduced by use of veterinary services, while variation was not observed among Borana, Guji, Gabra and Somali herds. Calving intervals were significantly shorter (P < 0.05) in Borana (24.8 ± 0.6) and Guji (24.5 ± 1.5) than Somali herds (27.0 ± 0.5). Calving intervals were also prolonged (P < 0.05) by fixing breeding time. Annual calving, abortion and calf mortality rates were similar for the four populations and averaged 37.3%, 9.3%, 20.3% in 2003, and 41.3%, 8.2%, 14.9% in 2004, respectively. The overall mortality rate was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Borana (10.0 ± 2.1) than in Gabra herds (4.2 ± 0.8). However, mortality was not statistically different for use of veterinary services and other managemental practices. The study showed an increase in annual herd growth by 5.7% in 2003 and 11.6% in 2004 with similarity of herd dynamics between the two years. Daily milk yield differed significantly (P < 0.05) depending on veterinary services, watering frequency and the season (7.6 L during wet and 4.3 L during dry season). Similarly, milk yield was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in Somali herds than in Borana and Gabra herds. In conclusion, the study revealed that some production and reproduction performances in camel herds have showed significant variation with varying levels of herding experience and veterinary services. This may suggest performance in pastoral camels can be enhanced with learning more about and using traditional management practices as well as improving animal health service delivery.     

Housing system and herd size interactions in Norwegian dairy herds; associations with performance and disease incidence

Background

According to the Norwegian animal welfare regulations, it has been forbidden to build new tie-stall barns since the end of 2004. Previous studies have shown that cow performance and health differ between housing systems. The interaction between housing system and herd size with respect to performance and disease incidence has not been evaluated.

Methods

Cow performance and health in 620 herds housed in free-stall barns were compared with in 192 herds housed in tie-stall barns based on a mail survey and data from the Norwegian Dairy Herd Recording and Cattle Health Systems. The housing systems herds were comparable with respect to herd size (15-55 cows). Associations between performance/disease incidence and housing system, herd size and year of building the cow barn were tested in general linear models, and values for fixed herd size of 20 and 50 cows were calculated. On the individual cow level mixed models were run to test the effect of among others housing system and herd size on test-day milk yield, and to evaluate lactation curves in different parities. All cows were of the Norwegian Red Breed.

Results

Average milk production per cow-year was 134 kg lower in free-stall herd than in tie-stall herds, but in the range 27-45 cows there was no significant difference in yields between the herd categories. In herds with less than 27 cows there were increasingly lower yields in free-stalls, particularly in first parity, whereas the yields were increasingly higher in free-stalls with more than 45 cows.In free-stalls fertility was better, calving interval shorter, and the incidence rate of teat injuries, ketosis, indigestions, anoestrus and cystic ovaries was lower than in tie-stalls. All of these factors were more favourable in estimated 50-cow herds as compared to 20-cow herds. In the larger herd category, bulk milk somatic cell counts were higher, and the incidence rate of mastitis (all cases) and all diseases was lower.

Conclusion

This study has shown that there is an interaction between housing system and herd size, and that performance and health is not universally better in small free-stalls than in tie-stalls.     

Acute phase proteins as indicators of calf herd health

The potential for using acute phase proteins (APPs) in the assessment of herd health was studied by examining the levels of serum haptoglobin, serum amyloid A (SAA) and plasma fibrinogen in relation to clinical findings and leukocyte counts in calves. Two groups of calves from conventional dairy farms were studied. The animals were examined 10 times during the first six weeks after introduction into a new environment. Haptoglobin, SAA and fibrinogen were analysed and weight gain, disease symptoms and treatments were recorded. Analysis of antibodies against viral infections was performed. An acute phase reaction (APR) score was established at each sampling by combining the APP results and total leukocyte counts. The health status differed between the two groups, although no manipulation of health had been performed, except that the group with a higher incidence of disease had a concurrent experimental infection with lungworm as part of another study. In the group with a higher incidence of disease, the mean weight gain was significantly lower, and the number of sampling days with elevated serum concentrations of APPs, and the mean maximum concentrations of haptoglobin and fibrinogen were significantly higher compared to the healthier group. The APR score was significantly higher at days 4 and 8 of the study in the group with a higher incidence of disease. The results indicate that measurement of APPs could be a useful tool for evaluation of health in calf herds.     

Prevalence and distribution of paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) in cattle herds in Ireland

A simple random survey was conducted in Ireland during 2005 to estimate the ELISA-prevalence of paratuberculosis, commonly called Johne's disease (JD), in the cattle population. Serum samples were collected from all 20,322 females/breeding bulls over 12 months-of-age in 639 herds. All samples were tested using a commercially available absorbed ELISA. The overall prevalence of infected herds, based on the presence of at least one ELISA-positive animal, was 21.4% (95% CI 18.4%-24.9%). Herd prevalence levels amongst dairy herds (mean 31.5%; 95% CI: 24.6%, 39.3%) was higher than among beef herds (mean 17.9%; 95% CI: 14.6%-21.8%). However, the animal level prevalence was similar. The true prevalence among all animals tested, was calculated to be 2.86% (95%CI: 2.76, 2.97) and for animals >= 2 yrs, it was 3.30% (95%CI: 3.17, 3.43). For animals in beef herds, true prevalence was 3.09% (95%CI: 2.93, 3.24), and for those in dairy herds, 2.74% (95%CI: 2.59, 2.90). The majority of herds had only one ELISA-positive infected animal. Only 6.4% (95% CI 4.7%-8.7%) of all herds had more than one ELISA-positive infected animal; 13.3% (CI 8.7%-19.7%) of dairy herds ranging from two to eight ELISA-positive infected animals; and, 3.9% beef herds (CI 2.4%-6.2%) ranging from two to five ELISA-positive infected animals. The true prevalence of herds infected and shedding Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is estimated to be 9.5% for all herd types; 20.6% for dairy herds; and 7.6% for beef herds. If ELISA positive animals <2-years-of-age are excluded, the true herd prevalene reduces to: 9.3% for all herd types; 19.6% for dairy herds; and 6.3% for beef herds based on a test specificity (Sp) of 99.8% and test sensitivity (Se) (i.e., ability to detect culture-positive, infected animals shedding at any level) of 27.8-28.9%.     

Characteristics of Peri-urban Dairy Herds of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso)

Peri-urban dairy cattle farms within 50 km of Bobo-Dioulasso were studied to assess herd type, disease incidence, management, feeding and breeding strategy. Out of 417 cattle farmers, 42% had dairy objectives and were studied. Among these peri-urban dairy farmers, 60% were settled, 36% semi-settled, and 4% transhumant. In total, they held 4558 dairy cows, of which 32% lactated during the study. The prevalence of mastitis (55%) increased (p<0.05) with herd size. Advanced strategies for supplementary feeding and breeding were most frequent in small herds (<30 cattle). None of the large herds (>60 cattle) had advanced breeding strategies. Bulls and cows were culled at younger ages in herds with better breeding strategy. Overall, this resulted in higher individual milk offtake in small herds (2.46 L/day) compared with large herds (1.25 L/day). Pure breeds were rarely used, and the presence of Bos taurus baoulé naturally selected for trypanotolerance was low. The prevalence of trypanosomosis (40%) in herds dominated by Bos indicus zebu and Méré (Zebu x Baoulé) is an argument for maintenance of biodiversity and selection of Baoulé for milk production.     

Reducing Antimicrobial Usage in Pig Production without Jeopardizing Production Parameters

Antimicrobial usage (AMU) has been described to be high in pig production. Although farmers are aware of the high usage, little is known about intervention to improve the situation. This study evaluated the extent to which AMU could be reduced in pig production by the optimization of herd management, biosecurity status, vaccination strategy, anthelmintic therapy and advice on prudent AMU. Furthermore, the effects of these interventions on the herd production results were explored. This intervention study was conducted on 61 Flemish pig herds and included three visits per herd. During the initial visit, information was gathered on herd management, biosecurity status (quantified by means of the Biocheck.UGent^? risk‐based scoring system), vaccination strategy, anthelmintic therapy and AMU. This info was then translated into a herd‐specific action plan which was discussed with the farmer and herd veterinarian/other advisors during the second visit. In the final herd visit (±8 months later), comparable data were obtained to evaluate the progress. Overall, a significant improvement of 2.4 points external and 7 points internal biosecurity on the herds was obtained, combined with additional vaccination, anthelmintic therapy and prudent AMU. This was accompanied by a significant reduction in the AMU with a decrease of 52% for the pigs from birth till slaughter and 32% for breeding animals, based on treatment incidences (TIs) and included an important reduction in the use of critically important antimicrobials. More importantly, the increased biosecurity levels and decreased AMU were combined with significantly improved technical results such as the number of weaned piglets per sow per year (+1.1), daily weight gain (+5.9 g/day) and mortality in the finisher period (?0.6%). Guided interventions as a team effort of farmer and herd veterinarian/other advisors have shown to be a promising method in the reduction of AMU in pig production.     

Incidence of multifactorial diseases in Estonian dairy herds--a survey

An important precondition of a well-functioning dairy production is knowledge about the incidence of environmentally evoked non-infectious diseases in a particular herd, in the region and in the country as a whole. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate of environmentally evoked multifactorial diseases in Estonian dairy herds, and to compare the disease incidence in small (< or = 100 cows) and large herds (101-300 cows). The disease incidence was recorded by local veterinarians in twelve production units with a total of 33 cowsheds and about 5000 dairy cows. Fourteen disease groups were formed. In order to describe the range of disease incidence, the relative frequency of each group of diseases was determined, as well as the incidence rate. The 95 % confidence interval was applied in order to assess the reliability of the incidence rates. The most common disorders of Estonian dairy cows are udder diseases, followed by uterine infection, metabolic diseases and retained placenta. The disease incidence in Estonian dairy herds is similar to that of other European countries. Most of the diseases occur more often in small herds than in large herds.     

Incidence of infertility in dairy cows

The incidence of anoestrus, suboestrus, delayed ovulation, cystic ovaries, repeat breeder cows, endometritis and other forms of infertility was studied in 283 herds over a period of eight years (2,304 cases). The total incidence of infertility (0.111 cases per cow per year) varied significantly from year to year. The peak of the seasonal variation occurred in December-April and did not correspond with the seasonal variation in calving. Both the size of herd and the type of housing affected the incidence of infertility, but the differences were great in respect of the various diagnoses. The incidence of ketosis by herd correlated significantly with the incidence of infertility by herd.     

Management practices and their association with reproductive health and performance in Colorado beef herds

An observational study was conducted to quantify the effects of management practices on reproductive performance and disorders of beef cows. The study population consisted of 44 randomly selected Colorado cow-calf herds monitored for disease and reproductive events as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System. The managers of the herds were surveyed with a standardized questionnaire to determine specific management characteristics of their operations. Data were analyzed using the random-effects multiple logistic regression model. Outcomes of interest were calving rate, herd incidence rates of dystocia and combined reproductive disorders, and calf mortality rate. A higher calving rate was associated (P less than .01) with a decreased percentage of replacement females in the herd, a shorter breeding season, a smaller herd size, and a lower percentage of bulls being used as yearlings. Incidence rates of both dystocia and combined reproductive disorders were found to be lower (P less than .01) in herds that were fed cottonseed cake as a winter supplement, but higher (P less than .01) in herds that were fed grass hay as a winter supplement. Herds located in the mountains of Colorado had lower (P less than .01) incidence rates of dystocia and reproductive disorders than herds located in the eastern plains. Calf mortality rate was found to be higher (P less than .05) with calving seasons that began earlier in the year. Higher calf mortality rates were associated (P less than .05) with an increased incidence of dystocia, the commingling of cattle on summer range, and smaller herd size.     

Epidemiological studies of piglet diarrhoea in intensively managed Danish sow herds. I. Pre-weaning diarrhoea

The study comprised 70,796 litters in 104 sow herds, observed from 1976 through 1982. Weaning age decreased from approx. 42 days to approx. 30 days during the observation period. Diseases and symptoms were recorded together with production parameters (feeding, barn construction, economic returns etc.). The mean incidence rate of pre-weaning diarrhoea was 6.8% of litters, with considerable inter-herd differences (incidence rates from 0 to approx. 50%). There was a slight increase in incidence during the autumn (August through October). Incidence rates increased with litter size, with a peak incidence in litters of 11-13 piglets, and decreased with increasing parity of the sow. There was a positive association between occurrence of arthritis and pre-weaning diarrhoea in the litters, and litters from sows with post parturient disease (MMA complex) had 1.8 times higher risk of getting diarrhoea than litters from healthy sows. No important differences among breeds were found. Small herds (less than 200 farrowings per year) had higher incidence rates than large herds (400-499 farrowings per year). Herds with a gilt proportion above 30% had an incidence rate of 12.3%, i.e. nearly twice as high as the overall mean (6.8%). There was a trend towards a higher incidence rate in litters kept in traditional pens (i.e. large pens with solid floor and loose sows) than in intensive pens (i.e. small pens with slatted flooring and tethered sows). The overall pre-weaning mortality rate was 16.2% of pigs born, half of which was due to stillbirths (6.3%) and overlaid piglets (2.2%). In litters with pre-weaning diarrhoea, the mortality rate was 19%, compared to 13% in litters without occurrence of diarrhoea. This difference accounts for an excess loss of 0.6 piglets from birth to weaning in diarrhoeic vs. non-diarrhoeic litters. Piglets from litters with pre-weaning diarrhoea had reduced weight gain. Thus, on the average, they were 2.2 days older at 25 kg bodyweight and weighed 0.4 kg less at 30 days than piglets from non-diarrhoeic litters. Also, litters with pre-weaning diarrhoea had a significantly increased risk of post-weaning diarrhoea. The present information forms a basis for defining acceptable disease thresholds in suckling litters in intensively managed herds.