A survey of northern Victorian dairy farmers to investigate dairy calf management: colostrum feeding and management

Objectives

To describe colostrum management practices carried out in northern Victorian dairy herds and to identify weaknesses in these areas that may affect calf health and welfare by comparing the results with the current industry recommendations

Methods

A questionnaire to obtain information about colostrum management and calf‐rearing practices was sent to commercial dairy farming clients of Rochester Veterinary Practice between June and September 2013. The questionnaire consisted of a general herd overview and colostrum harvesting practices.

Results

The response rate was 39% (58/150). Many dairy producers were not meeting the current industry recommendations in the following areas: (1) time of removal calf from the dam, (2) relying on calf suckling colostrum from the dam to achieve adequate passive transfer, (3) failing to supplement calves with colostrum, (4) feeding inadequate volumes of colostrum, (5) delayed colostrum harvesting, (6) pooling of colostrum, (7) failing to objectively assess colostrum quality or relying on visual assessment and (8) storing colostrum for a prolonged periods of time at ambient temperatures.

Conclusion

The results from this survey highlight the need for greater awareness of industry standards for colostrum management and feeding hygiene.

     

Conservation agriculture practices have changed habitat use by rodent pests: implications for management of feral house mice

Journal of Pest Science - The advent of ‘conservation agriculture’ (CA) farming using zero- or no-tillage practices and an accompanying change in crop rotations in the last...     

Energy scaling in marsupials and eutherians

Marsupials have been shown to have basal metabolic rates below those of eutherian mammals. Now metabolic rates below thermoneutrality are found to be equivalent in both taxa. Two models are proposed to explain the observed metabolic patterns: in one, marsupials differ only in having reduced basal metabolic rates; in the other, the reduced marsupial basal metabolic rates combined with a reduced body temperature and elevated conductance. The metabolic costs of existence below thermoneutrality appear to be similar for both taxa. The difference in basal metabolic rate may be of energetic significance or merely a phylogenetic coincidence.     

Natural free-running period in vertebrate animal populations

Regression analysis (analysis of covariance) is contrasted with the conventional "mean period length" for estimating the length of period of the spontaneous activity frequency (free-running period) in population samples of Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) and kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami) in the Sonoran Desert. The mean period length in each population does not differ significantly from 24:00 hours (P > .05) and it does not differ significantly (P > .05) between the species studied; the probability that the free-running period a(in constant dark) in natural populations of Gila monsters and kangaroo rats is different from 24:00.0 is less than 1 in 1000 (P < .001). The so-called "mean period length" is of little or no use for precise determination of the period and phase relationships in circadian rhythms; moreover, it is entirely without value for statistical testing of differences either within or between populations.     

Excitation Gap in the Normal State of Underdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta

Angle-resolved photoemission experiments reveal evidence of an energy gap in the normal state excitation spectrum of the cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta. This gap exists only in underdoped samples and closes around the doping level at which the superconducting transition temperature Tc is a maximum. The momentum dependence and magnitude of the gap closely resemble those of the dx2-y2 gap observed in the superconducting state. This observation is consistent with results from several other experimental techniques, which also indicate the presence of a gap in the normal state. Some possible theoretical explanations for this effect are reviewed.     

Hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia in beagles

Three Beagles with chronic anemia and reticulocytosis were studied. The dogs originated from a large breeding colony and appeared clinically normal with the exception of splenomegaly. The PCV ranged from 30 to 39% (normal, 46 to 56%), with reticulocyte indices of 2.3 to 9.9. Red blood cells were morphologically normal, and examination of marrow aspirates revealed erythroid hyperplasia. Shortened chromium-51 RBC life-spans (7.2 to 15.4 days in anemic dogs; 22.2 to 25.2 days in control dogs) documented a hemolytic anemia. Acquired causes of hemolytic anemia were ruled out. Red blood cells had normal glycolytic enzyme activities, no evidence of unstable or abnormal hemoglobin, and had altered osmotic fragility curves. The breeding of 2 anemic dogs resulted in offspring with anemia and reticulocytosis. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed no abnormalities in RBC membrane cytoskeletal proteins in all anemic adult dogs and in 3 offspring.     

Soil and agronomic factors associated with cadmium accumulations in kidneys of grazing sheep

SUMMARY Mean concentration of cadmium (Cd) in kidneys of hogget sheep from 67 flocks grazing in the Agricultural Region of Western Australia was tested for association with soil, pastoral, climatic and nutritional factors. Hoggets grazing pastures on acidic soils and soils with a sandy-textured surface had higher Cd concentrations in kidneys than hoggets grazing pastures on more alkaline soils or soils with a clay-textured surface. Application of more than 100 kg of phosphatic fertiliser during the past 3 years to loamy soils was also associated with greater Cd concentration in kidneys of the grazing animals.