Search Results (617)

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of hock lesions and cow hygiene as a cross-sectional study in dairy cows housed in compost-bedded pack barns (CBPs) in southern Germany. The effects of season, compost variables, and housing conditions on cow hygiene and hock lesion prevalences were also investigated. Eight farms that housed their cows in CBPs were visited once in the cold season and once in the warm season between January and December 2023. All cows (cold season n = 592; warm season n = 613) were scored for hygiene and hock lesions at each visit. Compost samples were collected for laboratory analysis, and the quality of the compost-bedded pack and condition of the lying surface and concrete walkways were assessed. The udder was the cleanest body zone in both seasons; poor udder hygiene (too dirty score) occurred in 15.0% of cows in the cold season and 7.5% in the warm season (p ≤ 0.05). Only 1% of the cows had a hairless area on a hock in the cold season compared with 3.8% in the warm season; 0.2% of the cows also had swelling of the hock in the warm season (p ≤ 0.05). The compost variables that impacted cow hygiene most frequently were dry matter and compost temperature. Based on our results, CBPs reduce the prevalence of hock lesions. Cow hygiene was affected by various factors, and therefore good management of CBPs is required for good cow hygiene. Full article

The present study assessed the efficacy of selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) on two commercial Holstein-Friesian farms in the Czech Republic, involving 572 quarter milk samples from 74 cows collected over a two-year period. Quarter samples were taken both at dry-off (n = 296) and post-calving (n = 276) to assess somatic cell count (SCC), cultured microbial results (counts), milk composition, and mastitis incidence. The average SCC at dry-off was 264,000 cells/mL (SD = 650,000) in Farm 1 and 224,000 cells/mL in Farm 2. Mastitis incidence averaged 24.42% and 18.75% in Farms 1 and 2, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between pre-dry-off milk parameters and post-calving udder health indicators, including negative correlations between SCC prior to drying-off and lactose content after calving (r = −0.161, p < 0.01). Statistical analyses showed a significant farm effect on cultured microbial occurrence and mastitis occurrence after calving (p < 0.05), as well as a significant influence of lactation number on postpartum mastitis and SCC (p < 0.05). Also, mastitis incidence was significantly higher (9.43%, p < 0.05) in treated quarters. The use of selective non-antibiotic dry cow therapy does not impair udder health and milk quality but helps reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. Further refinement of diagnostic criteria is needed to optimize treatment decisions and improve herd-level outcomes. Full article

This study evaluated a sustainable strategy for Para grass (Brachiaria mutica) forage using composted cow manure in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. At Nam Can Tho Experimental Farm (January–September 2023), a completely randomized design with three replications and three harvest cycles tested five topdressing rates: 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 t/ha/year (TDM0–TDM10). Tiller emergence, plant height, forage quality, biomass yield, and cost–benefit were measured. Tiller counts were unaffected (p > 0.05), but plant height rose significantly with manure rate. Forage quality remained optimal (CP 7.10–7.85%, NDF 60.5–63.8%). Average fresh biomass yield (FBM, t/ha) increased linearly: y = 0.788x + 14.9 (R² = 0.937), where x is manure rate (t/ha/year). TDM10 yielded 50% more fresh forage (22.6 t/ha) and 48% more dry matter (4.43 t/ha) than the control (15.0 and 2.98 t/ha; p = 0.001), with crude protein up 56% (0.347 t/ha) and neutral detergent fiber up 41% (2.68 t/ha). Total cost increased slightly (from 521 to 552 USD/ha), but per-ton cost dropped 30% (from 34.7 to 24.4 USD). At 10 t/ha/year, manure optimized yield, profitability, circular nutrient use, and reduced fertilizer dependence, providing a scalable model for tropical smallholder livestock feed. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to classify cows with respect to different diets, dry period (DP) lengths, and lactation weeks based on body weight, milk variables, and plasma metabolites measured in early lactation. Methods: Holstein–Friesian cows (n = 95) were randomly assigned to three DP lengths (0, 30, or 60 d; n = 31, 34, and 30) and two early-lactation diets (lipogenic: n = 47; glucogenic: n = 48) in a 3 × 2 factorial design. From 10 d pre-calving to 8 weeks postpartum, cows received experimental diets. An XGBoost model was trained for classification using weekly body weight, milk variables, and plasma metabolites, validated via 1000 repeated hold-out partitions with stratified sampling. Results: Classification performance for lactation week, relative to week 1 in lactation, was good, with an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.9, independent of diet or DP length. The classification for 0 d vs. 60 d DP length was better than that for 0 d vs. 30 d or 30 d vs. 60 d DP length, showing an AUC > 0.8, independent of diet or lactation week. The top features to classify diet were plasma urea and milk fat content. Milk yield and protein content were the important features for classifying lactation weeks regardless of diet, while milk fat content was a critical predictor specific to the glucogenic diet. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that milk and plasma features can retrospectively classify management groups in early lactation using machine learning approaches. Full article

Nutritional and cooling strategies to abate the negative effects of heat stress during the dry period have been used to improve the performance of dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding an immunomodulatory supplement (OmniGen-AF^®, OMN) before, during, and after exposure to either heat stress or active cooling during the dry period on immune function and mammary development in dairy cows. During late lactation (at least 60 d before dry off), cows were provided with evaporative cooling systems (shade, fans, and soakers) and assigned to two groups: placebo (56 g/d of AB20^® top-dressed; CON) or OmniGen-AF^® (OMN, 56 g/d top-dressed). Cows were dried off ~46 d before the expected calving date and further split into evaporative cooling (shade, fans, and soakers; CL) or heat stress (only shade; HT) pens. Thus, after dry off, there were four treatment groups: heat stress with placebo (HT, n = 17), HT with OMN supplementation (HT + OMN, n = 19), CL with placebo (CL, n = 16), and CL with OMN supplementation (CL + OMN, n = 11). From a subset of cows (n = 6–8 per group), four blood samples were collected during the dry period (−43, −39, −32, and −21 d relative to calving) to evaluate neutrophil function and blood hematology. In addition, mammary biopsies (4–6 cows/treatment) were collected at −43, −39, −32, and −21 d relative to calving to evaluate mammary gland gene expression and histology, i.e., Tdt dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and Ki67. Genes related to autophagy, apoptosis, and cell proliferation were analyzed by qRT-PCR. Relative to CL, HT downregulated the expression of beclin-2 (BECN2) but upregulated the expression of beclin-1 (BECN1) on days −43 and −39 relative to calving, respectively. Also, relative to CL, HT upregulated the expression of BAX and FAS on day −39 relative to calving. These differences in gene expression were followed by HT cows having a lower total cell apoptosis rate during involution relative to CL cows. Further to these effects, HT leads to a lower alveoli number relative to CL cows. As in the CL treatment, OMN cows have a higher total cell apoptosis rate and alveoli number relative to CON cows. In addition, OMN cows have higher total cell proliferation relative to CON. Prolactin (PRL) and cortisol concentrations were evaluated during the dry period at days −45, −26, −3, and −1 relative to calving. Relative to CL, HT cows had higher PRL at day −45 but lower PRL on day −1 relative to calving, and a similar trend was observed for cortisol concentrations. In summary, HT impacts mammary gland gene expression, compromises mammary involution, reduces alveoli number, and alters hormone dynamics throughout the dry period. Following the same trends as the CL treatment, OMN increases mammary gland turnover by having a higher cell apoptosis and cell proliferation rate and lower connective tissue relative to CON cows. Full article

The study evaluated whether organic chromium supplementation in the diets of Jersey cows in the final third of lactation has positive effects on productive performance and milk quality, as well as markers of metabolism, hematology, immunological, and oxidative response. We used 22 cows in a 56-day study, divided into two groups: control (n = 11) and chromium treatment at 10 mg/kg of dry matter per day (n = 11). We evaluated these animals’ productive performance markers (milk production, feed intake, and lactation persistence), milk quality (composition and somatic cell counts), and blood biomarkers to assess animal health. Chromium concentration at the beginning of the experiment was within normal limits for the animal category (221 to 246 nM). The cows’ consumption of organic chromium increased its bioavailability in the body, with higher concentration in the serum (p = 0.01) and milk (p = 0.013) of Jersey cows compared to the control cows. Supplementing cows with chromium resulted in higher fat-corrected milk production (p = 0.05), longer lactation persistence (p = 0.05), and feed efficiency (p = 0.02) compared to the control group. There was a lower SCC (p = 0.01) on days 28, 42, and 56, as well as a higher percentage of fat in the milk of supplemented cows on days 28 and 42 compared to that of the control group (p = 0.01). As a treatment effect (p ≤ 0.05), we found cows supplemented with chromium had a higher concentration of insulin, immunoglobulin G, and creatine kinase activity dismutase compared to control animals. Considering the treatment × day interaction (p ≤ 0.05), we observed greater activity of the creatine kinase enzymes (days 14, 28, and 56), as well as lower cholinesterase activity (days 42 and 56) compared to those of the control. The concentration of globulins (p = 0.05) and immunoglobulin G (p = 0.01) on day 56 was higher in cows that consumed chromium. Higher superoxide dismutase activity on days 42 and 56 (p = 0.04) was observed in the blood of cows supplemented with organic chromium compared to that of the control. Therefore, we conclude that the addition of organic chromium was beneficial to maintaining lactation persistence and increasing fat-corrected milk production. Full article

Cow bunching is a behavioral phenomenon where cattle aggregate in tight groups to protect themselves from biting by stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans L.). The incidence of bunching varies between dairies and even among pens within the same dairy, as it is associated with the location-specific biting intensity of stable flies, which largely varies with dairy management and local environmental factors. Bunching may be associated with decreased feeding and laying times, as well as heat stress due to cattle aggregation. Thus, bunching may affect dairy cows’ milk production by reducing dry matter intake and rumination. To our knowledge, there are no previous studies specifically addressing the effect of cow bunching on milk production in lactating dairy cows. The objectives of our study were to estimate the economic impact of cow bunching against stable flies on milk production on a commercial California dairy and to estimate the economic losses associated with cow bunching and stable fly biting per cow per year. A longitudinal study was conducted from 1 May 2017 through 31 July 2017 on a 5000-cow Holstein herd housed in free stall pens in Tulare County, California. Pen-level cow bunching in four lactating cow pens was recorded weekly for 12 weeks. Bunching observations each day were matched to daily milk records for the study dairy. Two-piece spline linear mixed models were used to estimate the impact of cow bunching and stable fly counts on milk production. Cows in pens where bunching occurred experienced a significant milk reduction of 0.45 kg ± 0.104 (SE) per cow (p < 0.01) on the day of bunching in comparison to cows in pens without bunching. There was a significant reduction of 0.6 kg/cow/day in milk production associated with each increase in one stable fly per cow leg (standard metric for recording stable fly biting activity) after adjusting for parity, temperature humidity index (THI), and days in milk (DIM). Based on the economic analysis conducted on weekly bunching and fly counts, modeled milk production losses were reported as weekly loss in milk revenue per cow. The estimated economic loss associated with cow bunching and stable fly counts was highest during the last week of May (USD 0.34/cow/week and USD 1.86/cow/week, respectively) and was lowest during the last week of July (USD 0.03/cow/week and USD 0.29/cow/week, respectively). To mitigate the most substantial economic loss, dairy producers should focus their efforts on controlling stable flies during the early stable fly season, when stable fly abundance tends to be highest. Full article

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of dietary Saponaria officinalis inclusion in the diet of dairy cows during the dry period on colostrum and milk quality, focusing specifically on the somatic cell count (SCC), the physicochemical composition and fatty acid (FA) profile. The effect of the addition on various biochemical parameters was evaluated in the serum of cows and their calves. This study was conducted on Ukrainian Black and White cattle. Twenty-four cows were selected from the herd twenty-one days prior to their expected calving date. They were allocated into three groups of eight cows each (n = 8) and began to be fed soapwort, as outlined below. Group C was fed a conventional TMR diet (0 g/cow per day); Group E1—TMR and 20 g of dry soapwort root powder per cow per day; and Group E2—50 g of dry soapwort root powder per cow per day. Blood samples were collected from the cows 21 d before labour and on the day of calving, and from calves on day 3, in week 2, and in week 6. Biochemical profiles of the liver, lipids, and kidneys were evaluated in the collected samples. Colostrum was collected from the cows two hours after calving during the initial complete milking, and milk was collected in the eighth week of lactation. The fundamental composition, SCC, and FA profiles were assessed in colostrum and milk. Higher protein levels were found in the serum of calves in the second week of life in groups E1 (p < 0.01) and E2 (p < 0.05) compared to group C. In calves, serum ALT levels were higher in group C than in groups E1 and E2 at 2 and 6 weeks of age (p < 0.05). The addition did not affect the biochemical profiles of lipids, liver, or kidneys in cows. The SCC in the colostrum was higher in group E2 than in group C (p < 0.05). A decrease (p < 0.01) in SCC was noted in the milk of groups E2 and E3 compared to the control group. In the colostrum of cows in group E2, an increase in UFA levels was observed, including beneficial acids, such as C18:2n6c, C22:6n3, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), while trans isomers decreased. The results suggest that Saponaria officinalis can be used as a supplement in the feeding of cows during the dry period to improve colostrum quality and also support the physiological development of calves and the health of the cows’ mammary glands. Full article

Coal mining in the aeolian sandy regions of western China has caused extensive land degradation. Traditional single-component soil amendments have proven inadequate for ecological restoration, underscoring the need for integrated and sustainable strategies to restore soil fertility and vegetation. A pot experiment using alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) evaluated the effects of weathered coal, cow manure, and potassium polyacrylate combined in a three-factor three-level orthogonal design on plant growth, nutrient uptake, and soil properties. Results showed that compared with the control (C0O0P0), amendment treatments significantly increased alfalfa fresh weight (+47.57~107.38%), dry weight (+43.46~104.93%), plant height (+43.46~104.93%), and stem diameter (+12.62~31.52%), along with improved plant phosphorus and potassium concentrations (+15.41~46.65%). Soil fertility was also notably enhanced, with increases in soil organic matter, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK) ranging from 4.25% to 777.78%. In contrast, soil pH and bulk density were significantly reduced. The optimal amendment combination was identified as 10 g·kg⁻¹ weathered coal, 5 g·kg⁻¹ cow manure, and 0.6 g·kg⁻¹ potassium polyacrylate. Structural equation modeling revealed that the amendments promoted plant growth both directly by improving soil conditions and indirectly by enhancing nutrient uptake. However, high doses (30 g·kg⁻¹) of weathered coal may inhibit plant growth, and the co-application of high-dose weathered coal or manure with potassium polyacrylate may lead to antagonistic effects. This study provides fundamental insights into soil–plant interactions and proposes a sustainable amendment strategy for improving aeolian sandy soils, which could support future ecological reclamation efforts in coal mining area. Full article

This study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with different levels of spray-dried phenolic compounds, extracted from olive mill wastewater, on the volatile compound profile of Caciotta cheese produced from cow’s milk. Thirty dairy cows were divided into three groups and fed diets containing 0% (C), 0.1% (T0.1), and 0.2% (T0.2) polyphenols on a dry matter basis. Milk from each group was used in three cheesemaking sessions, and 27 cheese samples ripened for 21 days were analyzed. Volatile compounds were extracted using solid phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with mass spectrometry, while the odour fingerprint was assessed using an electronic nose (PEN3). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed a clear separation among groups, indicating distinct aromatic profiles associated with dietary polyphenol levels. In summary, incorporating by-products from olive mill wastewater into the diets of dairy cows can significantly affect the aroma of cheese. This approach represents a sustainable and innovative strategy that promotes waste valorization, reduces environmental impact, and supports circular economy principles by transforming a pollutant into a valuable additive. Full article

In recent years, in response to the demand for the livestock industry to enhance cattle production performance, scholarly inquiries have centered on elucidating the underlying mechanisms by which feed additives modulate rumen microenvironment and metabolic efficacy, thereby facilitating nutrient absorption and augmenting production performance in cattle. This study was undertaken to evaluate the impacts of surfactant polyacrylamide (PAM) supplementation on digestive processes, metabolic dynamics, and ruminal digestive enzyme activities in cattle. Four ruminally cannulated crossbred cows (~3 years, 350 kg, non-pregnant/lactating) were utilized in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The animals were fed a basal diet supplemented with polyacrylamide (PAM) at concentrations of 0, 1.0, 2.0, and 6.0 g/kg across four 22-day experimental periods, each consisting of a 16-day adaptation phase and a 6-day sampling phase. Supplementation with polyacrylamide (PAM) at levels ranging from 1.0 to 6.0 g/kg of diet significantly increased voluntary dry matter intake (VFI) in cattle by a maximum of 13.7% (p < 0.05), with peak effects at 2.0 g/kg. The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, cellulose, and energy was significantly improved (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01), reaching maximum increases by 12.6%, 12.8%, 17.5%, and 11.7%, respectively. Nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus retention increased substantially (p < 0.01 to p < 0.05), with calcium retention showing the highest improvement (55.7%). Rumen cellulase activities (endocellulase, exocellulase, cellobiase, and xylanase) were significantly enhanced (p < 0.01), peaking at 37.3% for cellobiase. However, pectase, amylase, and protease activities remained unaffected. Optimal benefits were observed at 2.0 g/kg PAM, highlighting its potential to improve feed efficiency and nutrient utilization in cattle. Full article

As an important feed source for ruminants, alfalfa’s rational and efficient utilization is of great significance for the production and economic benefits of pastures. This study focuses on Sanhe dairy cows and includes a control group (CON group, alfalfa in the diet is hay) and an experimental group (AS group, alfalfa silage partially replaces alfalfa hay of equal dry weight). The feeding experiment lasted for 60 days. The results revealed that, compared with the CON group, the AS group exhibited increased milk yield, milk protein, and milk fat. There were no significant differences in apparent digestibility, serum biochemical indicators, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) levels between the two groups. However, the microbial composition of the rumen differed significantly between the two groups of cows based on β-diversity. On the genus level, compared with the CON group, the relative abundance of Erysipelatoclostridium, Pseudoflavonifractor, and Candidatus Saccharimonas in the AS group was significantly reduced. In summary, partially replacing alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage feed is beneficial for improving the production performance of cows and changing rumen microbial diversity. These findings provide a basis for the effective utilization of alfalfa. Full article

Procalcitonin (PCT), protein carbonyl content (PCC), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) have been proposed as promising biomarkers for detecting diseases in cattle. Their concentrations could potentially be influenced by lactation due to oxidative stress commonly observed during this period. This study aimed to evaluate plasma levels of PCT, PCC, ADMA, and SDMA at different stages of lactation in 21 healthy dairy cows: at 15 (T0), 60 (T1), and 150 (T2) days in milk (DIM). Clinically healthy Italian Holstein-Friesian cows were included, selected based on healthy dry periods and weekly veterinary checks during lactation. Blood samples were collected at each time point and biomarkers were measured using validated analytical methods. Data were analyzed using Friedman’s test and the p value was set at 0.05. Median (IQR) PCT values were 64.29 (40.00–143.23), 75.36 (40.00–161.47), and 77.50 pg/mL (40.00–120.18) at T0, T1, and T2, respectively. PCC medians were 0.17 (0.10–0.27), 0.14 (0.08–0.23), and 0.20 (0.08–0.22) nmol/mL/mg; ADMA values were 0.11 (0.09–0.15), 0.11 (0.09–0.13), and 0.10 µmol/L (0.09–0.14); and SDMA values were 0.11 (0.09–0.14), 0.12 (0.09–0.15), and 0.10 µmol/L (0.09–0.16). No statistically significant differences were observed between time points for any biomarker. These findings suggest that, despite physiological oxidative stress during lactation, these biomarkers remain stable in healthy cows. Therefore, establishing distinct reference ranges based on lactation stage may not be necessary. Full article

Fatty acid binding proteins FABP3 and FABP4 act as intracellular lipid chaperones that influence fatty acid transport and metabolism in mammary tissue, and genetic variation in these genes may affect milk composition. We examined the associations between FABP3 and FABP4 polymorphisms and milk composition and fatty acid profiles in 200 lactating Native Southern Yellow (NSY) cows. DNA from each cow was PCR-amplified and Sanger-sequenced for FABP3 and FABP4; genotypes were tested for their association with milk fatty acid concentrations and standard composition traits using linear models adjusted for relevant covariates. We detected a missense variant in FABP3 (c.3656G > A; p.Val45Met) and an intronic SNP in FABP4 (g.3509T > C). The FABP3 p.Val45Met AA genotype was associated with higher concentrations of butyric, palmitic, oleic, and α-linolenic acids. Cows with the FABP4 TC genotype exhibited elevated levels of myristoleic, γ-linolenic, conjugated linoleic, and arachidic acids, along with increased fat-free dry matter, protein, and lactose. In silico analyses provided mixed evidence for the structural effects of p.Val45Met, molecular docking suggested altered ligand affinity for several fatty acids, and splice site prediction implicated g.3509T > C in possible transcript processing changes. These variants constitute candidate markers for milk fatty acid composition in NSY cattle; replication in independent cohorts and functional validation are recommended to confirm their utility for milk quality improvement. Full article

Total Mixed Ration (TMR) particle size significantly impacts dairy cow health and productivity. This study investigated the effects of TMR particle size tertiles on rumen pH, dry matter intake (DMI), and milk characteristics in Simmental cows by continuous pH monitoring (Moonsyst Ltd., Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland) and particle separation by 19, 8, 4 mm sieves and pad using the Wasserbauer particle separator, along with regular milk and DMI measurements. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS 26.0 with ANOVA, Pearson correlations and statistically significant differences between tertiles by post hoc Tukey HSD test were performed (p < 0.05). Tertiles by frequency analysis were used to categorize particle size proportions into three groups, each containing an equal number of observations. Principal component analysis (PCA) and heatmaps by SRplot were generated. Moderate particle size distributions (second tertiles of 19 mm, 8 mm, 4 mm sieves, and pad as the fraction of TMR particles that pass through the all sieves and are collected in the bottom pan) optimized rumen pH stability, reducing time below 6.2 (SARA risk) or above 6.8, and correlated with milk β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), oleic acid, and acetone levels. Moreover, milk production was maximized with a combination of coarser (19 mm and 8 mm, third tertiles) and finer (4 mm, first tertile) particles, milk fat peaked in both the finest pad fraction (third tertile) and coarsest larger sieves (first tertiles), and milk protein in the first tertiles of 19 mm and 8 mm sieves. Similarly, DMI positively correlated with coarser particles, but sometimes negatively with milk quality. In addition, PCA showed fine particle groups clustering with higher milk fat-to-protein ratios, somatic cell counts, and urea. In conclusion, mid-range TMR particle sizes (second tertiles) consistently provided the most benefits across ruminal, metabolic, and production parameters, underscoring TMR structure as a crucial precision feeding tool. Full article