Search Results (1,401)

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a major economic and animal welfare issue in the beef industry. Mycoplasma bovis is one of the main causal organisms, particularly in chronic cases. Due to the difficulty of isolating M. bovis from clinical isolates, there is a lack of information on the genetic diversity of this pathogen in the Texas panhandle region of the United States. Therefore, our objective was to provide genome-level characterization of M. bovis isolated from the lung lesions of beef and dairy cattle in the Texas panhandle. Fifty-four isolates displaying mycoplasma-like growth were recovered from bovine lung lesions by the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in 2021 and 2022. Of these isolates, 32 were determined to be M. bovis via species-specific qPCR using the uvrC gene. Long-read whole-genome sequencing was used to identify key virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance genes, and to assess the genetic diversity of these isolates. Fisher’s exact tests were used to identify associations between isolate characteristics and host metadata, including the state of origin, type of operation, animal age, and animal sex. Our results indicate that there is considerable genetic diversity among the M. bovis isolates, despite their shared geography in the Texas panhandle, though significant clustering based on host metadata was observed. Analysis of the pangenome showed that the M. bovis isolates in this study also harbor a diverse array of virulence genes, but no antimicrobial resistance genes were identified in this study. Full article

Reducing nitrogen excretion in dairy cattle is a critical factor for improving the environmental sustainability of the livestock industry. This research aimed to estimate the genetic parameters over time for the milk urea nitrogen (MUN) trait in Iranian Holstein dairy cattle. Data from 347,639 test-day records of 52,219 first-parity Iranian Holstein dairy cows (spanning 2018 to 2023), were sourced from the Iranian National Animal Breeding Center. A single-trait random regression test-day animal model was used for the genetic evaluation of MUN. Three orders of Legendre orthogonal polynomials (ranging from 1 to 3) were tested to fit the fixed curve, additive genetic effects, and permanent environmental effects. Based on the AIC, BIC, and residual variances to compare the models, the third order was considered as the appropriate order for this dataset. The average heritability and repeatability of the MUN trait were estimated to be 0.027 and 0.081, respectively. The average estimates for additive genetic variance, permanent environmental variance, and phenotypic variance were 0.14, 0.28, and 5.17, respectively. The genetic trend analysis revealed that the MUN trait exhibited fluctuations across birth years (2016–2021), with an overall negative trend. Importantly, the average MUN levels remained within the desirable range of 13–16 mg/dL for Iranian Holstein cows across calving years from 2019 to 2023. Despite the low heritability estimates, the genetic parameters obtained in this study are valuable for improving MUN in Iranian dairy cattle. These findings provide critical insights for designing effective breeding programs aimed at reducing nitrogen excretion and promoting environmental sustainability in the dairy industry. Full article

Wearable collar technologies have become integral to the advancement of precision livestock farming, revolutionizing how dairy cattle are monitored in terms of their behaviour, health status, and productivity. These devices leverage cutting-edge sensors, including accelerometers, RFID tags, GPS receivers, microphones, gyroscopes, and magnetometers, to provide non-invasive, real-time insights that enhance animal welfare, optimize resource use, and support decision-making processes in livestock management. This systematized review focuses on analyzing the sensors integrated into collar-based systems, detailing their functionalities and applications. However, significant challenges remain, including the high energy consumption of some sensors, the need for frequent recharging, and limited parameter coverage by individual devices. Future developments must focus on integrating multiple sensor types into unified systems to provide comprehensive data on animal behaviour, health, and environmental interactions. Additionally, advancements in energy-efficient designs, longer battery life, and cost-reduction strategies are essential to enhance the practicality and accessibility of these technologies. By addressing these challenges, wearable collar systems can play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable, efficient, and responsible livestock farming, aligning with global goals for environmental and economic sustainability. This paper underscores the transformative potential of wearable collar technologies in reshaping the livestock industry and driving the adoption of innovative farming practices worldwide. Full article

India, the leading producer and consumer of milk, houses 307 million cattle, nearly a third of the world’s total. A ban on cow slaughter exists in the majority of the Indian states. Intricately interweaved with the disputable yet publicly acknowledged sentiment of the cow’s sacrality, and with the animal’s utility value, the ban is capable of influencing the humans’ treatment of the dairy animals. Against this background, this research aims to evaluate the welfare state of the Indian dairy bovines by analyzing their welfare at various life phases using the Five Freedoms framework. A scoping review of the relevant published studies that met all inclusion criteria was conducted using bibliographic databases Google Scholar, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. Data were extracted and organized using Microsoft Excel, version 22H2. The literature reviewed demonstrates a loss of one or more freedoms in multiple phases of the bovines’ productive lives, and a parallel loss of two or more freedoms in their post-productive lives; indicating the role of religious values, legislation, and the animal’s economic utility in their treatment. This study highlights the role of culturally shaped human influences on dairy husbandry and creates grounds for studying human–bovine relationships through interdisciplinary lenses to generate culturally viable solutions to improve cattle welfare and promote a sustainable inter-species coexistence. Full article

This study presents findings from two discrete experimental processes that examined the impact of lameness events on two consecutive, critical time points in the annual production cycle of dairy cattle (early in puerperium—first study, and later at the onset of the reproductive period—second study) regarding liver function, glucose levels, milk production, body condition score, and back fat thickness. In the first study, 47 cows (lame group n = 22, control group n = 25) were monitored from 10 days ante partum (ap) to 46 days post-partum (pp). In the second study, 79 cows (lame group n = 52, control group n = 27) were monitored from day 28 ± 5 pp to day 65–72 ± 5 pp. Lame cows had greater gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) concentrations in the blood serum compared to control cows (25.83 vs. 23.56, p = 0.02, respectively) early in puerperium, whereas the two groups did not differ in the second study. The concentration of glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) was lower for lame compared to control cows in both studies (17.24 vs. 24.60, respectively, p = 0.02 in the first study, and 30.50 vs. 51.10, respectively, p = 0.02 in the second study). The concentrations of aspartate transaminase (AST) and glucose did not differ between groups in both studies. Lame cows had a lower body condition score (BCS) and backfat thickness (BFT) scores compared to the control in both studies overall. The lame cows of the first study experienced a significant loss of milk production, especially during the second month of lactation, while in the second study, milk production remained unaffected. Conclusively, lame cows have lower BCS and BFT values, whereas milk yield can be negatively affected only if lameness occurs early in the puerperium, probably beginning at the dry period. However, the current research shows that acutely lame cows, as described in this study, exhibit only mild alterations in liver function compared to non-lame ones. Full article

Lactational and reproductive performance are strongly associated with cow live weight and capacity. However, there are limited data published describing capacity (thoracic) growth and the prediction of final stature and capacity from measurements at birth. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between stature and live weight of female dairy cattle between birth and maturity. Forty dairy cows, with records of stature and capacity from birth up until two years of age, underwent follow-up measurements for live weight, height at withers, wither-rump length, girth circumference and leg length on four occasions between 42 and 52 months of age. Measures of wither height, leg length and wither rump length at fourth mating had the strongest association with measures at birth (R² > 0.90) compared to girth and live weight (R² = 0.88 and 0.82, respectively). The weaker association between birth and maturity measures for girth is likely a reflection of the stronger relationship with live weight resulting in a later maturity (approximately 810 days) compared to linear measures such as height (approximately 730 days). Therefore, to maximise capacity, adequate nutrition is required until approximately 810 days of age when capacity growth is most sensitive to environmental input. Full article

Trypanosoma vivax infection is an emerging condition that causes damage and mortality among cattle and is transmitted by mechanical vectors or contaminated fomites. This disease has been spreading in southern Brazil, causing anemia, weight loss, diarrhea, abortion, and infertility; however, its behavior and host–parasite relationships are not yet fully understood. To clarify this issue, animals that presented clinical signs were subjected to an immunochromatographic screening test. An indirect immunofluorescence test was then performed on samples collected before treatment (the gold standard test), which showed that in the herd of 20 cows, we had 14 seropositive for T. vivax. Blood samples were collected before and after treatment to study the effects of the disease and treatment, with the cows divided into two groups: infected and uninfected. Cows were evaluated for hematologic, biochemical, and antioxidant responses, comparing them with uninfected and infected animals, as well as pre- and post-treatment (isometamidium chloride—1 mg/kg body weight [BW]). There was no difference (p > 0.05) between groups in milk production and feed intake; however, ten days after treatment, there was an increase of 1.72 kg of milk in cows diagnosed as infected with T. vivax. Seropositive cows had lower erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentrations, hematocrit, platelet counts, and lymphocyte and granulocyte counts. In seropositive cows, the higher total protein concentration is due to increased globulins, which the protein profile by electrophoresis showed to be related to higher levels of immunoglobulins (IgA and other heavy-chain immunoglobulins), ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, ferritin, C-reactive protein; associated with lower transferrin levels. The activity of the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, cholinesterases, and creatine kinase were compared in seronegative and seropositive cows for T. vivax. Lower serum calcium levels were observed in seropositive cows. Cows diagnosed with trypanosomosis presented high levels of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, nitrite/nitrate activity, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase. The enzymes catalase and glutathione S-transferase presented lower activity in the blood of seropositive cows compared to the control on the day of diagnosis, which was no longer observed ten days after treatment. The animals exhibited hypogalactia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and acute phase response accompanied by liver and muscle tissue damage and oxidative stress, demonstrating the effect of T. vivax infection in naturally infected Jersey cows. Full article

Background/Objectives: Bovine mastitis (BM), a prevalent and economically burdensome bacterial infection affecting dairy cattle, poses a significant challenge to the dairy industry. The traditional approach to combating BM, relying heavily on antibiotics, faces growing concerns due to the increasing antibiotic resistance exhibited by pathogens. The objective of this study was to evaluate and determine the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm potential of chitosan nanoparticles (NQo) on S. aureus strains isolated from milk samples obtained from dairy areas in southern Chile from cows diagnosed with BM. Methods: NQo were synthesized using the ionotropic gelation method and thoroughly characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Results: The NQo exhibit a robust positive charge (Z-potential of +55.4 ± 2.5 mV) and an exceptionally small size (20.3 ± 3.2 nm). This unique combination of properties makes NQo particularly well-suited for targeting and interacting with bacterial pathogens. To assess the effectiveness of NQo against BM, we conducted a series of experiments using a Staphylococcus aureus strain isolated from milk samples of cows diagnosed with BM in southern Chile. NQo demonstrated a remarkable ability to inhibit bacterial proliferation and effectively modulate biofilm formation in the S. aureus strains. Furthermore, the performance of NQo in comparison to established antibiotics like ampicillin and gentamicin strongly suggests that these nanoparticles hold immense potential as an attractive alternative for the control, prevention, and/or treatment of BM. Conclusions: NQo exhibit both antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against a clinically relevant BM pathogen. Further investigations are necessary to develop a hydrogel formulation optimized for effective delivery to the target diseased tissue. Full article

This research developed a predictive model using NeuralProphet to estimate energy consumption in the ventilation system of a dairy cattle farm. The necessity for energy management in livestock farming has increased due to the growing energy demands associated with climate control systems. Approximately two years of historical energy consumption data, collected through a smart monitoring system deployed on the farm, were utilized as the primary input for the NeuralProphet model to predict long-term trends and seasonal variations. The computational results demonstrated satisfactory performance, achieving a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.85 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 27.47 kWh. The model effectively captured general trends and seasonal patterns, providing valuable insights into energy usage under existing operational conditions. However, short-term fluctuations were less accurately predicted due to the exclusion of exogenous climatic variables, such as temperature and humidity. The proposed model demonstrated superiority over traditional approaches in its capacity to forecast long-term energy demand, providing critical support for energy management and strategic decision-making in dairy farm operations. Full article

The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between rumination time and various parameters related to eating and locomotion, including other chews, eating chews, eating time, drinking gulps, bolus counts, chews per minute, activity, and activity change, utilizing RumiWatch technology. The RumiWatch noseband sensor (RWS; ITIN + HOCH GmbH, Feeding Technology, Liestal, Switzerland) was utilized to record time and frequency related to rumination, eating, and movement behaviors. The RumiWatch system (RWS) was put into operation from 1 June 2023 to 30 June 2023. The first two weeks, from 1 June to 14 June 2023 at 7 a.m., served as a period for the cows to acclimate to the RWS, acting as an adjustment phase. Monitoring activities with the RWS commenced on 7 a.m. and lasted until the end of the month, 30 June 2023, with data being recorded daily on an hourly basis. Our findings indicate a significant negative correlation between rumination time and other activity time (r = −0.50), which represents the duration cows allocate to behaviors outside of eating, chewing cud, or distinct movement activities. Additionally, a significant negative correlation was observed between rumination time and eating time (r = −0.54). Furthermore, we observed strong positive correlations with rumination chews (r = 0.84) and bolus (r = 0.75). A weaker positive correlation was found with chews per minute (r = 0.29), while no significant correlation was detected with drinking gulps (r = 0.10). Based on our findings, we recommend the implementation of the RumiWatch System for monitoring rumination and feeding behaviors in lactating dairy cattle. This technology provides valuable insights into cow health and welfare, enabling early detection of potential health issues and improving herd management practices. Full article

Background/Objectives:Neosporosis is a major cause of abortions in cattle worldwide. Primary results showed that the administration of a live attenuated vaccine during the mid-pregnancy stage of naturally infected cows may assist in preventing abortions. In this study, the effect of vaccination was evaluated in five dairy herds, with a follow-up of three consecutive pregnancies and re-vaccination during the subsequent pregnancies of some of the cows. Methods: A total of 1059 heifers were serologically tested during their first pregnancy, and 260 and 21 of them were re-tested during their second and third pregnancies. Vaccination was administered to 193 of 420 cows with antibody titers of 1:800 or higher, and 23 of them were re-vaccinated. Data were collected regarding the outcome of each pregnancy, the number of inseminations required and removal from the herd. Vertical transmission was evaluated in 136 pre-colostral calves born from 29 vaccinated and 107 unvaccinated dams. Results: The total seroprevalence using a cutoff titer of 1:800 was 33.1, 36.5 and 85.7% during the three consecutive pregnancies. The antibody titers of individual cows fluctuated over time. Abortion rates and the rate of removal from the herd were significantly higher in seropositive cows. The rate of vertical transmission increased in correlation with the dam’s antibody titer. Immunization resulted in lower abortion rates at two of the farms. Vaccine efficacy ranged from a negative effect to 54% at different farms, with an overall efficacy of 10.4%. The effect of vaccination on abortions, reproductive performance, antibody titers, vertical transmission and removal from the herd was not significant. Conclusions: These results demonstrate varying vaccine efficacies among farms and suggest that neosporosis is a multifactorial disease that cannot be solely controlled by vaccination. Full article

Dairy cow welfare can impact both the economic performance of an individual farm and the public perception of the sector, thus influencing the sustainability of the dairy farming industry. Intensive dairy farming in Iran started in the 1940s, but there is limited data available regarding dairy cattle welfare in the country. Therefore, the aim of this study was to design and use a comprehensive bespoke welfare assessment protocol in intensive Iranian dairy farms to provide baseline data for Iran and other countries with similar farming systems. The protocol consists of animal-based, stockperson-based, and resource-based measures. The first part of the welfare assessment protocol (being presented in this paper) was developed from the existing literature and contained 11 animal-based and 2 stockmanship measures. The protocol was applied in 62 intensive dairy cattle farms in five arid and semi-arid provinces of Iran. Welfare Quality sample size suggestions were used to reach the minimum sample size for all animal-based measures except for the locomotion score, where either the whole milking herd was scored or all cows in the early lactation (<150 days in milk) group. Results show that there was a good focus on nutrition management on the farms. Lameness prevalence and the incidence of hock lesions were too high, although within the range seen in many housed cows outside Iran. In addition, 13.5% of cows had damaged ears. The prevalence of dirty legs was high (≥80% of cows), and the hygiene score was unrelated to the farming system. Finally, the extremely high median prevalence of tail damage (60%) indicates a significant welfare issue that needs to be addressed with urgency. Full article

Anaerobic digestion (AD) can offer a promising pathway for converting animal waste into biogas. This process improves waste management practices while generating renewable energy. However, the lignocellulosic structure of animal manure, particularly in dairy and cattle manure, hinders digestion efficiency and limits biogas yield. This study investigates the application of ball milling as a pretreatment strategy to enhance the anaerobic digestion of dairy manure. By reducing particle size and disrupting lignocellulosic structures, ball milling increases the bioavailability of organic matter, thus promoting microbial conversion and boosting biogas production. Experimental results reveal that 1 h ball milling pretreatment increases biogas and biomethane production by more than 20% compared to untreated manure. Furthermore, microbial community analysis indicates that anaerobic microbes remain largely unaffected by ball milling pretreatment, unlike the changes observed with activated carbon addition. These findings suggest that ball milling is a practical, adaptable, and scalable pretreatment method to enhance the anaerobic digestion efficiency of dairy manure. It offers a sustainable solution for improved manure management and biogas production. Full article

Genomic selection (GS) has changed cattle breeding, but its use so far has been in selecting superior bulls for breeding. However, its farm-level impact, particularly on female selection, remains less explored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of implementing GS to identify superior cows and using artificial mating of those cows with sex-selected semen in a New Zealand Holstein-Friesian (HF) dairy herd (n = 1800 cows). Heifers (n = 2061) born over four consecutive years between 2021 and 2024 were genotyped and their genomic breeding values (GBVs) were estimated. These heifers were ranked based on the Balanced Performance Index (BPI; DataGene, Dairy Australia) Lower-performing cows producing less than 15 L/day (or 20 L/day for older cows) and those with severe mastitis were culled. Cows were mated with HF genetics based on production and udder breeding values, while lower-performing cows were mated to beef genetics. Milking adult cows were mated to bulls with similar BPI value. Annual genetic change was measured using Australian breeding values (ABVg) for milk fat production (FAT), protein production (PROT), fertility (FER), Mastitis Resistance (MAS), and BPI. The genetic merits of the heifers improved annually, with BPI increasing from 136 to 184 between 2021 and 2023, corresponding to a financial gain of NZD 17.53 per animal per year. The predicted BPI gain from 2023 to 2026 is expected to rise from 184 to 384, resulting in a financial gain of NZD 72.96 per animal per year. Using sex-selected semen on the top 50% of BPI-rated heifers in 2024 further accelerated genetic gain. Predicted BPI values for progeny born in 2025 and 2026 are 320 and 384, respectively. These findings revealed that the female GS, combined with sex-selected semen from genomically selected bulls, significantly accelerates genetic gain by improving the intensity and accuracy of selection. The approach achieves genetic progress equivalent to what traditionally would have required eight years of breeding without female GS, and has potential to improve dairy herd performance and profitability. Full article

Montbeliarde dairy cattle were introduced in Ecuador with the aim of ameliorating the production performance of other cattle breeds. The aim was to analyze the reproductive performance, demographic structure, inbreeding, and genetic diversity of Montbeliarde cattle obtained by absorption crossing. Official pedigree records from the Ecuadorian Montbeliarde Association were used. The total population was divided into seven populations: (i) historical (all individuals), (ii) 1999–2003, (iii) 2004–2008, (iv) 2009–2013, (v) 2014–2018, (vi) 2019–2023 (current), and (vii) reference (individuals with known parents). Demographic structure variables analyzed: pedigree completeness index (PCI), number of equivalents (GEqu), complete (GCom) and maximum (GMax) generations, and generation interval (GI). Inbreeding-derived variables analyzed: inbreeding (F), inbreeding increment (ΔF), average relatedness (AR), co-ancestry (C), non-random mating (α), effective population size (Ne), and genetic conservation index (GCI). Gene origin probability/genetic diversity variables analyzed: number of founders (f), effective number of founders (fe) and ancestors (fa), number of equivalent genomes (fg), fe/fa and fg/fa ratio, and DG losses. The databases were analyzed by ENDOG, POPREP, and CPC software. PCI in the historical population compared to the current population decreased from 72.95 to 65.87% (sire/dam pathway), while the GI decreased from 7.17 to 3.08 years when the historical and current populations were compared. Dam reproductive efficiency increased over time. Moreover, F = ~1%, AR = 2.06%, ΔF = 0.22%, C = 1.03%, α = −0.0077, GCI = 3.12, and Ne = 58 values were obtained. Gene origin probability in the reference population was f = 439, fa = 37, fe = 71.64, fg = 23.43, and fg/fe = 0.33, showing a GD loss due to unequal contribution of founders (0.55%) and bottleneck and genetic drift (4.25%). In conclusion, the Ecuadorian Montbeliarde cattle population displayed a relatively low diversity and high genetic relationship. Inbreeding levels increased while Ne values decreased over time. The introduction of new purebred bloodlines could be important to minimize the inbreeding levels ensuring the long-term conservation of this breed and minimizing GD loss. Full article