The effect of tilmicosin administered to ewes prior to lambing on incidence of clinical mastitis and subsequent lamb performance

The effect of tilmicosin on the incidence of clinical mastitis and subsequent lamb performance was studied in 9 sheep flocks in Ontario. Ewes were treated randomly with either tilmicosin or placebo approximately one month prior to lambing. Outcome was assessed by comparing rates of clinical mastitis, palpable udder abnormalities, and preweaning (50-day) lamb weights between the 2 treatment groups, while controlling for other important variables. Lambs raised by multiparous ewes treated with tilmicosin were significantly heavier than lambs from placebo-treated multiparous ewes at 50 days. Lambs from tilmicosin-treated ewes were on average 0.52 kg heavier than lambs in the placebo group. There was no difference between treatment groups in the weight of lambs from first parity ewes. Tilmicosin treatment resulted in a 43% decrease in palpable udder abnormalities. Incidence of clinical mastitis did not differ between experimental groups. The administration of tilmicosin prelambing, at the time of routine clostridial disease vaccination, may be a beneficial and convenient way to reduce mastitis infection and improve the preweaning gain of lambs.     

Subclinical endometritis in Zebu x Friesian crossbred dairy cows: its risk factors,association with subclinical mastitis and effect on reproductive performance

A study was carried out on 59 clinically healthy Zebu x Friesian crossbred cows to determine the prevalence of subclinical endometritis, associated factors and its effect on the reproductive performance. Subclinical endometritis was diagnosed by endometrial cytology using uterine lavege technique and subclinical mastitis using CMT. The clinical, management and reproductive data were obtained from a weekly follow up visit of each cow for a period of 6 months after calving. The prevalence of subclinical endometritis, with ≥5% neutrophil count, was 47.5% and 30.5% at week 4 and 8, significantly decreasing (P = 0.002) as postpartum period advanced. Body condition score at week 4 postpartum (OR = 4.5, P = 0.017) and regular cow exercise (OR = 4.8, P = 0.026) were the significant risk factors while post-calving hygiene (P = 0.06) was poorly associated. Subclinical endometritis was also directly associated with subclinical mastitis at both week 4 (OR = 4.5, P = 0.012) and 8 (OR = 3.6, P = 0.031) postpartum. The risk of first service pregnancy (OR = 5.1, P = 0.004) was higher in cows negative for subclinical endometritis at week 8 postpartum and the proportion of cows that required more than 3 services was higher in cows with uterine inflammation. Also the proportion of cows diagnosed pregnant within 180 DIM was higher in cows with normal uterus at both week 4 (OR = 10.3, P = 0.001) and week 8(OR = 21.8, P = 0.001). These results indicated that subclinical endometritis was directly associated with poor body condition and subclinical mastitis and that it had negative effect on reproductive traits of dairy cows. This association may also reflect the possibility of translocation of bacteria/bacterial products from the uterus to the udder or vic-versa or else the presence of common cause for both endometritis and mastitis.     

The effect of experimental infectious mastitis on leukocyte subpopulations and cytokine production in non-lactating ewes.

The interactions between leukocytes and cytokines during the acute response to intramammary infections in the dry mammary gland of sheep were studied. Dry ewes were experimentally infected in one udder half with either Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli, or infused with saline as control. Udder secretion samples, blood samples and udder tissue samples were collected before and 4, 8 and 24 h after infections/infusions. Total and differential leukocyte counts were calculated in both blood and mammary secretions, and flow cytometry was used to detect the presence of CD4+, CD8+, WC1+, IL-2R+, CD18+ or L-selectin + lymphocytes, CD18+ or L-selectin + neutrophils, and CD14+ leukocytes. Moreover, the concentrations of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in udder secretions were measured using ELISA, and RT-PCR was used to detect the presence of corresponding cytokine mRNA in udder tissue biopsies. The results suggest an association between the concentrations of IL-1 beta, IL-8 and the intensity of neutrophil infiltration of the infected gland. Immunologically relevant changes in proportions of lymphocyte subpopulations might also occur in the acute phase of the inflammatory reaction of the udder. Greater cellular and cytokine responses to E. coli infection may have contributed to the milder clinical picture and more rapid resolution of infection than that seen for S. aureus. Enhancing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines may improve defence against bacterial mastitis.     

Non-clinical intramammary infection in lactating ewes and its association with clinical mastitis

A bacteriological survey for the study of non-clinical intramammary infection in the sheep udder was carried out in 88 Assaf ewes. A mean infection prevalence in the first few weeks of lactation was 55%. The most common bacterial isolates were Micrococcus spp. followed by coagulase negative staphylococcus, together accounting for 93% of the total number of isolates. An infection prevalence of 54% was found in ewelambs 2 days after their first lambing, indicating a marked new infection rate around lambing. Generally, the course of lactation was characterized by dynamic changes of new infection and spontaneous resolution. About 5% of half udders examined developed clinical mastitis. The comparison of bacteriological data from mastitic milk samples and from samples taken from the same half udders before the appearance of the clinical disease could not support the theory that in sheep, mastitis is a clinical exacerbation of a non-clinical intramammary infection.     

Protective effect of glucan against experimentally induced staphylococcal mastitis in ewes

Glucan, an immunostimulant, was evaluated for its ability to modify a staphylococcal mammary challenge in ewes. Glucan was administered subcutaneously to ewes prior to lactation or during lactation, and all ewes, including a control group, were subsequently challenged intramammarily with Staphylococcus haemolyticus 40 days after the mean lambing date. The glucan treatment was shown to modify the staphylococcal mammary infection as the milk bacterial counts from all of the glucan-treated groups were significantly reduced compared to controls. For the glucan-treated groups, the highest mean somatic cell counts were recorded 1 day post-challenge, while for the control group, the mean cell count rose more gradually to peak by 3 days post-challenge. Glucan did not increase serum lysozyme levels or blood neutrophil bactericidal activity. However, there was a negative correlation between the bactericidal activity of blood neutrophils collected from the glucan-treated ewes prior to challenge and their mean milk bacterial counts post-challenge. Glucan was observed to stimulate ovine mammary macrophages in vitro, while the addition of zymosan or opsonised killed Staphylococcus aureus to macrophage cultures had no effect. These studies indicate that, in sheep, glucan can enhance some elements of the immune system against staphylococcal infections.     

Vaccination against experimental staphylococcal mastitis in ewes

Experiments were carried out in ewes using a new vaccine developed for the prevention of mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The vaccine comprised three major components: (i) killed S aureus cells which had been cultured to induce synthesis of pseudocapsule; (ii) toxoided staphylococcal beta haemolysin and (iii) the adjuvant dextran sulphate. Ewes systemically vaccinated twice during pregnancy developed significantly elevated circulating levels of IgG1 and IgG2 anti-pseudocapsule antibody, as well as increased serum titres of anti-beta haemolysin. Five different strains of S aureus were used to challenge both vaccinated and control ewes by the intramammary route during the ensuing lactation. The incidence of acute gangrenous mastitis and nonacute, clinical mastitis was significantly lower in vaccinated than in control groups after challenge with each strain. Vaccinated ewes produced significantly more milk than control ewes after challenge with four of the five strains of S aureus.     

Predisposing factors for bacterial mastitis in ewes

Objective of this review paper is the appraisal of predisposing factors for bacterial mastitis in ewes. Factors that predispose ewes to mastitis can be classified into non‐animal‐related factors (environmental and climatological factors, housing, nutrition, milking practices) and animal‐related factors (anatomic, genetic, litter size—ethological factors, number and stage of lactation period, health problems). There are clear management—environment—animal interactions in mastitis development in ewes, which underline its multifactorial nature. Research and studies regarding risk factors are important, in order to develop strategies for their elimination, control or correction. Control measures for bacterial mastitis, which attempt to eliminate predisposing factors for infection, can thus be developed and implemented.     

Influence of lamb presence on daily rhythm in lactating ewes

Abstract

To determine the influence of lamb presence on the dairy ewes circadian system we monitored simultaneously 16 different parameters (insulin, glucose, total protein, urea, cholesterol, triglycerides, total bilirubine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, rectal temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate). Sixteen clinically healthy Sarda breed dairy ewes, divided into two groups, group A with their lambs and group B without their lambs, were used. Data collection was done at 3 hourly intervals over a 24-h period. Our results indicate that lamb presence influences ewes metabolism, inducing modifications of the acrophase and robustness of the rhythm of some physiological variables. Most variables lost the rhythmicity that they show in not pregnant and not lactating ewes. Lamb presence also influenced urea circadian rhythm: the time of urea peak was shifted from 16:00 to 12:24±00:35 when ewes were housed with lambs, and on triglycerides circadian rhythm.     

Magnesium supplementation of lactating ewes and lamb growth

Ewes rearing twin lambs on a restricted ration of irrigated pasture were either supplemented daily with 12.5 mg magnesium chloride or not. Serum magnesium levels measured 24 hours after the previous day's dose did not differ between treatments. They averaged 0.74 mmol/l during the period of supplementation with 36% of values below 0.7 mmol/l, the lower limit of the "normal" range. Milk consumption by and liveweight gains of lambs were not increased by magnesium supplementation indicating that ewe magnesium levels below 0.7 mmol/l serum did not limit production in this instance.     

Antibody titres to lamb rotavirus in colostrum and milk of vaccinated ewes.

Ewes were vaccinated two to three weeks prior to mating with a formalin-treated preparation of lamb rotavirus. The colostrum and milk produced by vaccinated ewes after the subsequent pregnancy were shown to contain significantly higher titres of antibody to the virus than did mammary secretions from non-vaccinates. The virus neutralising antibody activity was associated with IgG in both colostrum and milk. However, IgG concentrations in the mammary secretions of vaccinates and non-vaccinates did not differ. It is suggested that vaccination of the dam may be of value in protecting the suckled neonatal lamb against rotavirus infection.     

早期断奶对羔羊生长发育的影响

将120只10～15 日龄的德国美利奴羊(♂)×小尾寒羊(♀)杂交一代羔羊随机分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组,Ⅰ组于35 日龄断奶、Ⅱ组于45日龄断奶、Ⅲ组于60 日龄断奶、Ⅳ组于90日龄断奶.结果表明:60 d体重4组间无显著差异(P>O.05);90 d体重,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组极显著(P(0.01)高于Ⅰ组,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组间差异不显著(P>O.05).30～60日龄日增重,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组极显著高于Ⅰ组(PO.05).45日龄断奶,羔羊体质健壮,抗病能力较强,综合效益高,为最佳断奶时间.     

Effect of diet and type of pregnancy on plasma metabolic response in sheep and its further effect on lamb performance

This trial evaluated the individual and interactional effects of diet and type of pregnancy (twin or single) on plasma metabolic response in ewes and their lambs from late pre-partum to late post-partum. Thus, a flock of 18 Ile de France breed sheep, consisting of 8 twin-bearing and 10 single-bearing ewes, were allocated to one of two groups according to their diet, either based on ad libitum naturalized pasture hay (NPH) or red clover hay (RCH), from d 45 pre-partum to d 60 post-partum. Plasma samples were collected at different times to determine albumin, cholesterol, total protein and urea, plus glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in ewes. The data was processed using the lme4 package for R, and SPSS Statistics 23.0 for Windows. The results showed that both diet and type of pregnancy influenced the metabolic profile in ewes, showing an inverse relationship between single- and twin-bearing ewes regarding glucose and especially BHB proportions from pre-partum to birth. During post-partum, higher urea concentrations were observed in twin- and single-bearing ewes fed RCH in contrast to those fed NPH, as a result of the higher-quality forage offered to ewes. Regarding lambs, the diet and type of pregnancy influenced the total protein and urea levels, where an inverse relationship at birth and early post-partum between albumin and cholesterol vs. total protein and urea was detected, reflecting a trend (P value between 0.06 and 0.07) to a better performance by groups of single lambs, especially those from single-bearing ewes fed RCH. Finally, under the conditions of this study, the maternal diet and type of pregnancy influenced the plasma metabolic response in ewes and their lambs, affecting the lamb performance especially at birth.

     

苏尼特羊妊娠后期限制饲养对其羔羊初生重的影响

基于妊娠后期胎儿生长最快的特点 ,研究在妊娠 90d将 4 5只平均体重为 4 1 4 5kg±3 81kg、体况中等、胎次为 2～ 3的苏尼特经产妊娠母羊随机分为四个营养水平组 (每天每千克代谢体重 0 2 0、0 33、0 4 4、0 86MJ) ,目的在于研究在妊娠后期 (90～ 15 0d)不同限制程度饲养能量水平对羔羊初生重的影响。结果表明不同饲养能量水平导致四组羔羊平均初生重分别为 2 80 1、3 375、3 6 98、3 6 6 6kg ,其中后三组羔羊初生重间无显著差异 (P >0 0 5 ) ,而 0 2 0MJ组显著 (P <0 0 5 )降低其初生重。在限制饲养期间 ,不同组别母羊净失重不同 ,依次为 11 13、7 2 3、4 4 2、0 93kg ,分别占妊娠 90d各组母羊净重的 2 7 9%、17 9%、11 3%、2 4 %。可见在妊娠后期母体失重达到试验开始时母体净重的17 9% ,仍不影响羔羊初生重 ,达到 2 7 9%时仍能完成妊娠。这表明苏尼特羊对低能量是有很强的适应性的     

Incidence and control of subclinical mastitis in intensively managed ewes

Ninety-three intensively managed, mature ewes were followed through three lactations to study effects and interrelationships of postweaning fast, prophylactic antibiotic injection, number of lactations and breed on subclinical mastitis, milk production and milk composition. Animals used in a 2 x 2 factorial design were allotted to treatment combinations of 1) postweaning 72 h fast or no fast, and 2) 1 x 10(6) units of procaine penicillin or sham i.m. injection at weaning. Treatments were implemented at weaning in yr 1; each ewe received the same treatment in each of the subsequent 2 yr of the study. Breeds included Finnish Landrace (F), Dorset (D), Rambouillet (R), Finnish Landrace x Dorset (FD) and Barbados Blackbelly x Dorset (BD). Milk production was greatest for D, followed by BD, FD, R and F during yr 1 (P less than .01) and overall (P less than .05). Milk production data were not collected in yr 2, but similar results were obtained in yr 3, except that the R and F exchanged rank positions. Milk composition was affected by breed. Breeds differed (P less than .05) in percentage lactose, fat and total nonfat solids in yr 1 and differed (P less than .01) in percentage lactose, fat, solids and protein across the 2 yr. A breed difference (P less than .05) was observed for incidence of mastitis at 3 wk postpartum and at weaning. Milk production was negatively correlated with incidence of mastitis (r = -.22, P less than .05). Milk production was improved (P less than .05) by a 72-h postweaning fast.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)