Paratuberculosis in Holstein-Friesian cattle farms in Central Iran

Paratuberculosis is an important disease of ruminants with a worldwide distribution. In developing countries where funding constraints challenge establishment of control schemes, large losses are incurred on cattle farmers due to paratuberculosis. In this study, faecal specimens from Holstein-Friesian cows with progressed and moderate clinical paratuberculosis (N = 223) from 13 dairy farms in Isfahan, Central Iran, were subjected to bacterial culture. Culture growth diagnostic for M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis was found in cattle from nine of the 13 farms and in 71 of the cattle studied. These results illustrate the emergence of PTb in this region, and they imply that PTb should be given a higher priority for veterinary measures.     

Analysis of early survival of Holstein-Friesian heifers of diverse sire origins on commercial dairy farms in Kenya

The use of imported semen within the Holstein-Friesian cattle population in Kenya has contributed to increased milk production per cow, however, information on how this has impacted on functional traits, particularly early life survival and reproductive performance is scarce. This study evaluated age at first calving (AFC), survival to age at first calving, and survival to four years of age using survival analyses techniques, in Holstein-Friesian cattle on four dairy farms in Kenya. The heritability estimate obtained for AFC was 0.15 ± 0.06 for an average AFC of 1058 days. Animals sired by New Zealand and Australian born bulls had the earliest average AFC (907 days). On average, 25% of all the heifers born were culled prior to attaining a first calving, while 34% were culled prior to four years of age. Though the highest proportion of losses was due to unspecified reasons, the relative risk of being culled was highest when an animal had a specific disease, and the first 60 days of life were the most critical for survival. Daughters of sires from South-Africa and Israel tended to have better survival rates than those sired by bulls originating from other regions. Unfavourable selection towards animals sired by Kenyan born bulls was evident. The economic implications of the high rate of early mortality need to be evaluated in order to assist livestock producers make informed decisions on choice of sires for breeding.     

Polymorphisms in genes of the somatotrophic axis are independently associated with milk production, udder health, survival and animal size in Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle

The somatotrophic axis consisting of pituitary-derived growth hormone and circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 has been well established as key regulators of animal health, metabolism, lactation, fertility, body composition and growth rate. The aim of this study was to simultaneously quantify the associations between SNPs in candidate genes of the somatotrophic axis (i.e., IGF-1, GH1 and GHR) with performance traits in Holstein-Friesian (HF) dairy cattle. Both novel SNPs identified previously by this group alongside other published SNPs within these genes were analysed for associations with performance in dairy cattle. Multiple regression analyses regressing genetic merit of up to 848 HF sires on novel SNPs (n = 76) and published SNPs (n = 33) were undertaken using weighted animal mixed linear models. Twenty-three SNPs were significantly associated with at least one of 18 traits analysed and involved in milk production, udder health, fertility and growth. Eight traits including milk fat composition, carcass conformation, stature, chest width, body depth, rump width, carcass and cull cow weight were independently associated with SNPs in two genes. Furthermore, for several traits including milk fat yield, somatic cell count, survival and carcass fat, SNPs in all three genes were independently associated with performance. Milk fat yield and carcass fat showed the highest number of independent associations across all three genes with five SNPs associated with both traits. The cumulative effects of the favourable alleles of all five SNPs across GH1, GHR and IGF-1 result in an increase of 5.9 kg and 28.6 units of milk fat and carcass fat, respectively. Cow survival was associated with a single SNP in each of the three genes with a cumulative allele effect of 1.5%. Independent effects of polymorphisms in GH1, GHR and IGF-1 reinforce the central role of the somatotrophic axis on animal development and performance.     

Evaluation of a commercial intravaginal thermometer to predict calving in a Hungarian Holstein-Friesian dairy farm

In this study, the utility of a commercial intravaginal thermometer was evaluated as an automated method for the prediction of calving in a total of 257 healthy pregnant Holstein–Friesian female cattle. The accuracy and the sensitivity of predicting calving within 48 hr before calving were also evaluated. The intravaginal temperature changes from 72 hr before and up to calving were significantly (p ≤ .001) affected by parity, season (summer vs. autumn), the time of day (8 a.m. or 8 p.m.) and the 6-hr time intervals (38.19°C: first interval 0 to 6 hr before calving vs. 38.78°C: twelfth interval 66 to 72 hr before calving), while the gender (p = .943), and the weight of the calf (p = .610), twinning (p = .300), gestation length (p = .186), foetal presentation (p = .123), dystocia (p = .197) and retention of foetal membranes (p = .253) did not affect it significantly. The sensitivity of the SMS of expecting calving within 48 hr and the positive predictive value were 62.4% and 75%, respectively, while the sensitivity and the positive predictive value for the SMS of expulsion reached 100%. It can be concluded that the investigated thermometer is not able to predict calving within 48 hr accurately; however, imminent calving can be accurately alerted.     

Disease signs reported in south-eastern Australian dairy cattle while grazing Brassica species

Objective
To estimate the relative frequency of various disease signs in dairy cattle fed brassicas in south-eastern Australia, to estimate the incidence of disease signs within affected groups and to identify risk factors for commonly reported signs in brassica-fed dairy cows.
Design
A case series study and a case-control study.
Procedures
Case data was collected using an incident reporting system. Herd managers and veterinarians recorded details about disease incidents in brassica-fed dairy cattle in summer and autumn 1995 using a standard questionnaire. Potential risk factors for photosensitisation were assessed using a case-control study.
Results
Disease signs were reported in 66 groups of brassica-fed dairy cattle. Photosensitisation and bloat were the more frequently reported signs. While high incidences were reported in some groups, the incidence of disease signs was low within most affected groups. Photosensitisation occurred more frequently among groups of cows fed brassica crops treated with nitrogenous fertilisers or which were low yielding. Risks of other disease signs were greatest while the first one quarter of the crop was grazed.
Conclusions
In the study population, most disease outbreaks occurring in brassica-fed cattle were of low incidence. However, some high incidence outbreaks occurred. Results from this study suggest that important risk factors exist for disease signs in brassica-fed dairy cattle. Further studies are required if these risk factors are to be fully identified. This would allow the development of preventative strategies for high incidence disease outbreaks while feeding brassicas to dairy cattle.     

Inbreeding depression in Zebu cattle traits

The productivity of herds may be negatively affected by inbreeding depression, and it is important to know how intense is this effect on the livestock performance. We performed a comprehensive analysis involving five Zebu breeds reared in Brazil to estimate inbreeding depression in productive and reproductive traits. Inbreeding depression was estimated for 13 traits by including the individual inbreeding rate as a linear covariate in the standard genetic evaluation models. For all breeds and for almost all traits (no effect was observed on gestation length), the performance of the animals was compromised by an increase in inbreeding. The average inbreeding depression was ?0.222% and ?0.859% per 1% of inbreeding for linear regression coefficients scaled on the percentage of mean (β_m) and standard deviation (β_σ), respectively. The means for β_m (and β_σ) were ?0.269% (?1.202%) for weight/growth traits and ?0.174% (?0.546%) for reproductive traits. Hence, inbreeding depression is more pronounced in weight/growth traits than in reproductive traits. These findings highlight the need for the management of inbreeding in the respective breeding programmes of the breeds studied here.     

牛源环孢子虫的形态学特征观察

对首次在乳牛粪便中发现的疑似环孢子虫卵囊的形状、大小、抗酸染色和孢子化等形态学特征进行了观察，探讨了该原虫的纯化方法。结果显示，牛源环孢子虫卵囊呈球形，直径6～10μm。直接涂片时可见卵囊内含折光性较强的成团小球体，呈桑椹胚状，淡绿色。碘液染色不着色。经改良抗酸染色后，卵囊着色变化较大，呈淡红色、深红色或不着色。新排出的未孢子化卵囊培养后可观察到孢子化的卵囊，内含2个孢子囊，每个孢子囊内含有2个折光性较强的子孢子。这些特征与人或其他动物的环孢子虫一致。环孢子虫感染阳性的粪便经Sheather＇s蔗糖漂浮法浓集后，再经蔗糖密度梯度离心，可以得到较为纯净的卵囊。     

奶牛新陈代谢模型研究进展

本文对奶牛新陈代谢模型研究进展进行了综述。     

An epidemiological and genetic study on registered diseases in Finnish Ayrshire cattle. I. The data, disease occurrence and culling

The epidemiology and genetic variability of the most common dairy cow diseases were examined. This paper describes the data set, lactation incidence rates and culling during lactation. The data set consisted of the lactation records of 73,368 Finnish Ayrshire dairy cows. Each cow was under observation for 2 days before and 305 days after calving. Lactational incidence rates (%) for the most common diseases were: ovulatory dysfunction 7.0, ketosis 6.0, acute mastitis 5.4, an oestrus and suboestrus 5.2, retained placenta 4.5, parturient paresis 3.8 and teat injury 2.6. Multiple logistic regression was utilized to investigate the possible effects of certain factors on culling. The model predicted the log odds for culling as an additive function of the explanatory factors. Using the estimated odds and forming the odds ratios it was possible to investigate, relative risks between any combination of groups of the explanatory factors. The risk of culling increased with parity after the second parturition, and with increasing herd milk yield. Mastitis and parturient paresis had positive associations with culling, while ketosis and infertility had negative associations. Heritability estimates for culling in various parity groups were from 2 % to 9 % on the binomial scale corresponding from 5 % to 14 % on the normal scale. There was a neagtive genetic correlation between culling and previous milk production.     

铜缺乏对奶牛肝脏金属硫蛋白代谢的影响

为阐明金属硫蛋白在铜缺乏奶牛肝脏中的代谢特征 ,选择铜缺乏区有明显临床症状的奶牛 6头 ,采集肝脏样品后用差速离心法分离肝脏金属硫蛋白 ,以Sephadex G75进行层析纯化 ,测定各部分洗脱液中金属元素铜、锌、铁、镁的含量。将 6头健康奶牛的肝脏样品作为对照。试验结果表明 ,发病奶牛肝细胞浆Sephadex G75柱层析洗脱液中铜、铁含量峰值显著高于健康奶牛 ,且在后面部分层析液中出现小峰 ;发病奶牛肝细胞浆金属硫蛋白 (MT)层析液锌、镁含量曲线峰值宽阔且高于对照组 ,第 2峰形宽大且有前移现象。结论 :铜缺乏能够改变奶牛肝脏中金属硫蛋白的代谢     

不同牧草在奶牛瘤胃内的降解规律

试验用尼龙袋法研究了不同种类牧草(黑麦草Lolium multiflorum、羊草Leymus chinese、返青期和盛花期紫花苜蓿Medicago sativa)的干物质(DM)、粗蛋白(CP)和粗纤维(CF)的在奶牛瘤胃内动态降解率变化规律.结果表明:在相同培养时间段内,返青期的紫花苜蓿DM的降解率显著高于黑麦草、羊草和盛花期的紫花苜蓿;不同生长期的紫花苜蓿其DM、CP的降解率差异显著(P<0.05),且返青期高于盛花期;各种牧草在48 h 的 CP 降解率都趋于平稳;经相关分析,各种牧草的DM、CP表现为强正相关关系.     

Survival analysis of factors affecting culling early in the productive life of Holstein-Friesian cattle in Kenya

Holstein-Friesian cattle raised in tropical environments pose a challenge due to genotype by environment interactions which may lead to higher rates of involuntary culling and reduce profit margins obtainable. This study assessed factors influencing culling within the first three parities of Holstein-Friesian cattle raised on four large-scale farms in Kenya using a Cox proportional hazard model. Differences in length of productive life (LPL) due to differences in area of origin of sires were also assessed in an attempt to determine possible adaptations by specific genotypes to the Kenyan environment. Environmental effects of herd, year-season, parity, sire area of origin, milk yield class and stage of lactation all significantly affected LPL. Daughters of sires born in Kenya tended to have a higher risk of being culled compared to those from other countries. Part of this higher risk was linked to a higher culling of low-producing cows. Further analyses and possibilities for the inclusion of LPL in selection criteria for sires to be used in Kenya should be encouraged.     

黑龙江省主要栽培的禾本科牧草对奶牛的营养价值评价

通过对常见的13种栽培禾本科牧草的常规营养成分测定及用尼龙袋法测定的干物质在瘤胃72 h降解率(RDMD)的测定,结果表明:l)用营养成分和RDMD等指标进行评定,2个冰草Agropyron cristatum品种营养价值最高,猫尾草Phleum pratense次之,3个披碱草Puccinellia tenuiflora品种居中,羊草Leymuschinensis和墨西哥玉米Zea mays较差,谷莠子Setaria anceps和稗草Echinochloa crusgalli最差。2)禾本科牧草RDMD与ADF、ADL含量呈极显著负相关(P<0.05)。利用回归方程可以用ADF、ADL含量来预测禾本科牧草的RDMD。3)应用干物质采食量(DMI)、产奶净能(NEL)估测模型计算了各种禾本科牧草的分级指数(GI)值,并参照豆科和禾本科牧草质量分级标准对研究测定的禾本科牧草等级进行划分,其结果是:符合优质牧草等级的有高冰草、中间冰草,符合中等牧草等级标准的有无芒雀麦Bromus inermis、垂穗披碱草、东北羊草、吉生羊草、百特猫尾草、猎犬披碱草、润宝高丹草Sorghum×Sudan。属于劣质牧草的有粗穗披碱草Elymus dahuricus、墨西哥玉米、稗草、谷莠子。4)用单一的营养指标如化学成分、干物质降解率不能准确地评价牧草的营养价值。只有综合考虑DMI、养分含量、消化率和有效能才能对牧草的营养价值做出正确的评价。使用GI值能明显区分养分含量差异很小的不同种类牧草,这说明分级指数是评价牧草营养价值的最权威指标。     

不同粗饲料对奶牛乳产量和乳成分的影响

选择18头荷斯坦奶牛,设置3个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复1头奶牛,研究不同粗饲料对奶牛泌乳性能和乳成分的影响,3个处理的粗饲料分别为玉米秸(Ⅰ组)、玉米秸+青贮玉米秸(Ⅱ组)、羊草(Ⅲ组)。试验结果表明:①试验Ⅱ组与试验Ⅲ组平均产奶量差异不显著(P>0.05),试验全期分别比Ⅰ组提高了8.82%(P<0.05)和9.57%(P<0.05);②不同处理间的乳糖、乳脂含量差异不显著(P>0.05);对于乳蛋白,在试验40d时3个试验组差异不显著(P>0.05),在第15d时Ⅱ组、Ⅲ组分别比Ⅰ组降低了7.43%(P<0.05)和8.57%(P<0.05)。对于乳干物质,Ⅱ组与Ⅲ组差异不显著(P>0.05)。根据上述生产性能指标综合评定,玉米秸+青贮玉米秸可有效替代羊草饲喂奶牛,而不降低泌乳性能。     

奶牛新孢子虫病血清流行病学调查

本研究用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）对采集自北京地区的94份奶牛血清（随机采集）和河北地区的55份奶牛血清（有流产史奶牛），进行Neospora caninum血清抗体检测。结果发现，北京地区随机采集的奶牛血清N．caninum抗体阳性率为18．1％（17／94），河北地区有流产史的奶牛N．caninum血清抗体阳性率为23．6％（13／55）。采用牛奶记录体系（DHI）对北京地区17头N．caninum血清抗体阳性牛进行了日产奶量、乳中蛋白率和乳脂率的测定，并与同群牛中134头阴性牛比较。结果表明，N．caninum血清抗体阳性牛日产奶量比阴性牛降低9．7％，乳中蛋白率和乳脂率分别降低20％和15．4％。初步证明N．caninum血清抗体阳性奶牛产奶量降低及奶品质的下降。对不同N．caninum抗体滴度阳性牛的泌乳期主要生产性能比较发现，其生产性能的变化与抗体滴度无明显相关性。     

奶牛重要营养素--水

本文主要介绍了水在奶牛营养中的重要作用、奶牛饮水量的计算以及影响奶牛饮水量的因素。     

Cryptosporidium andersoni in Western Australian feedlot cattle

Cryptosporidium andersoni has not been previously reported in feedlot beef cattle in Western Australia. Faecal samples were collected from 10 groups of cattle ranging in age from 11 to 36 months in five different feedlots in Western Australia. The incidence of C. andersoni ranged from 0% to 26%. There were no clinical signs associated with C. andersoni infection, but there was a significant reduction in rate of gain of 0.44 kg in infected animals compared with negative pen mates. Cryptosporidium andersoni is characterised by large oocysts (7.4 x 5.5 μm) and was confirmed by 18S sequencing.     

Salmonella Dublin infection in Queensland dairy cattle

Objective: To investigate the presence of Salmonella Dublin in Queensland cattle.
Design: An epidemiological study using diagnostic laboratory information and farm records.
Procedure: Outbreaks of gastroenteritis or pneumonia in calves, and abortions and enteritis in cows were routinely investigated for the presence of salmonellae. Where S Dublin was isolated, attempts were made to gather further epidemiological information.
Results: Prior to 1983 only two outbreaks of S Dublin have been recorded in Queensland dairy cattle. In 1983 S Dublin abortions were diagnosed in dairy heifers introduced from southern Australia to south-east Queensland. Sampling indicated that at least 10% of the 500 introduced heifers were faecal excretors of S Dublin. On 3 of the 7 farms from which S Dublin was recorded, infection spread to other cattle that were in contact. From February 1985 to February 1996, 29 outbreaks of S Dublin in cattle occurred on 29 farms (28 in south east Queensland and 1 in north Queensland). Calves were primarily affected. Continuing outbreaks were confirmed on only 4 of these 29 farms. On 15 farms S Dublin infections were associated with the purchase of infected calves or cows, while another farm adjoined 2 previously infected farms. No source of S Dublin was evident for the other 13 farms, where histories were often inadequate.
Conclusion: There has been a marked increase in S Dublin outbreaks in Queensland dairy cattle since 1983. Introduction of S Dublin carrier and aborting dairy heifers from southern Australia, where S Dublin is not uncommon, was associated with the initial outbreaks.     

单菌株与多菌株微生态制剂在提高奶牛产奶性能上的应用

文章综述了单菌株和多菌株微生态制剂在提高奶牛产奶性能上的应用,分析探讨了两种微生态制剂应用中存在的问题,并提出一些解决措施,为其进一步研究提供参考.