Low prevalence of antimicrobial resistant organisms (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae, and vancomycin resistant enterococci) in bulk tank milk in New South Wales, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: Estimate the presence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae, and vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) in bulk tank milk in dairy herds in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. METHODS: Bulk tank milk samples (n = 80) were collected from dairy farms (n = 40, i.e. 2 per farm) in NSW during 2021. Bacteria were cultured using selective chromogenic indicator media with isolate identity confirmed using biochemical testing, Gram stain, and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was confirmed using antibiotic disk diffusion. RESULTS: No samples tested positive to the targeted AMR organisms. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MRSA, ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and VRE is low in NSW dairy herds.

The effect of participation in a regular reproductive herd health program on 80-day submission rate and 100-day in-calf rate in year-round calving dairy farms.

Herd health management programs are commonly implemented on dairy farms to improve farm reproductive performance. In year-round calving systems, herd health programs can be supported by extension programs such as InCalf, which focus on improving the 100-day in-calf rate (100DICR) as a key reproductive performance indicator. The effect of implementing a herd health program was evaluated by analysing the 80-day submission rate (80DSR) and 100DICR during the initial 18-month period following commencement of regular herd health visits at 11 year-round calving dairy farms. The mean 80DSR and 100DICR was calculated for each of six consecutive three-month intervals following the initial herd health visit at 11 dairy farms distributed across the north and south coasts of New South Wales (NSW). On the 11 study farms 80DSR increased from 36.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 36.7-37.2) at 0-3 months to 61.9% (95% CI 61.4-62.4) and 100DICR increased from 19.1% (95% CI 18.9-19.3) at 0-3 months to 28.5% (95% CI 28.0-29.0) at 15-18 months. 80DSR increased at similar rates on north coast farms compared to south coast farms; however, north coast farms had a lower 100DICR at 0-3 months which increased at a greater rate compared to south coast farms. 100DICR on north coast farms increased from 12.8% (95% CI 12.5-13.2) at 0-3 months to 27.6% (95% CI 26.8-28.4) at 15-18 months, whereas 100DICR on south coast farms increased from 26.7% (95% CI 26.3-27.0) at 0-3 months to 29.6% (95% CI 28.8-30.5) at 15-18 months. Participation in a regular herd health program resulted in an increased 80DSR and 100DICR.

Farmers' perceptions and approaches to detection, treatment and prevention of lameness in pasture-based dairy herds in New South Wales, Australia.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to investigate farmers' perception of lameness in comparison to the estimated prevalence of lameness in NSW pasture-based dairies to evaluate farmers' perceptions and approaches to detection, treatment and prevention of lameness. METHODS: Across-sectional study was conducted on 62 pasture-based dairy farms across NSW, Australia. The prevalence of lameness in these farms was estimated using locomotion scoring (1-4 scale). A survey was also conducted, using a questionnaire and face-to-face interview, to explore farmers' perceived prevalence of lameness and approaches to treatment and prevention. RESULTS: The prevalence of lameness estimated by farmers was 3.7 times less (mean: 5%; range 0% to 26%) than that determined by locomotion scoring (mean: 19.1%; range 5.0%-44.5%). Approaches to treatment included antimicrobial therapy, hoof inspection with or without application of wooden blocks. In 28% of the farms, the lame cows were managed by farmers or farm staff with no official training in treatment of lame cows. The mean interval from detection of lameness to examination of the affected hoof was almost 55 hours (range 2-720 hours). A very low percentage of farms kept lameness records or implemented lameness preventive strategies such as footbaths and prophylactic foot trimming. CONCLUSIONS: Farmers and farm managers were found to underestimate the prevalence of lameness which could be due to the low level of awareness and can contribute to subsequent lack of implementation of prophylactic procedures and preventive management strategies for lameness. These findings accentuate the need to improve farmers' ability to detect lame cows and to emphasise the importance of recording in order to facilitate the management of lameness in dairy herds.

Effect of insemination site and diameter of the pre-ovulatory follicle on the odds of pregnancy in heifers using sexed or non-sexed semen.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if insemination site or pre-ovulatory follicle diameter at fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) affects the odds of pregnancy when heifers are inseminated with sexed semen. METHODS: The study was conducted in 422 Holstein heifers enrolled into 531 inseminations. Inseminations were randomly allocated to 1 of 16 treatment combinations involving three variables: semen type (sexed vs non-sexed), insemination site (uterine horn vs uterine body) and one of four sires. Ovaries were examined by transrectal ultrasound prior to FTAI to determine the follicle diameter and location. AI technician, times bred, age, weight and temperature-humidity index were also recorded. Pregnancy diagnosis was conducted 29 days post-insemination. Follicle diameter and body weight were categorised according to arbitrary cut-points. Each variable was analysed by logistic regression to determine the effect on pregnancy per AI and compare between sexed and non-sexed inseminations. RESULTS: Insemination site did not affect pregnancy per AI for either sexed (P = 0.528) or non-sexed (P = 0.886) inseminations. Heifers with an 18-22 mm follicle had better odds of pregnancy than heifers that did not (odds ratio (OR) 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.004-2.09), although no effect was detected for only sexed or only non-sexed inseminations. Heifers weighing 310-370 kg had a higher pregnancy per AI than heifers weighing > 370 kg for non-sexed inseminations (P = 0.004) and sexed semen from sire 4 caused lower odds of pregnancy than semen from sire 1 (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.18-0.89). CONCLUSION: Insemination site did not affect pregnancy per AI, but heifers with an 18-22 mm pre-ovulatory follicle at insemination had better odds of pregnancy for both sexed and non-sexed inseminations.

Effects of ovarian structures identified at Ovsynch™ enrolment, disease history and lactation variables on odds of pregnancy to a fixed-time artificial insemination after Ovsynch™.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of ovarian structures present at Ovsynch™ enrolment, disease history, lactation variables and times bred on pregnancy per fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) following fixed-time insemination after Ovsynch and to determine the relationship between the size of ovarian follicular structures and concurrent presence of a corpus luteum (CL). METHODS: The study was conducted in a 3000-cow Holstein dairy herd. Over a 6-month period, 886 non-pregnant cows were examined by transrectal ultrasound and enrolled into 1132 Ovsynch events. Enrolled cows were synchronised using an Ovsynch-56 protocol. At enrolment, both ovaries were scanned by transrectal ultrasound to identify and record the presence and size of ovarian structures. Cows that did not return to oestrus were pregnancy tested 32-38 days post-insemination. Univariable and multivariable generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used to determine the effect of each variable on pregnancy per FTAI. A univariable GLMM was also used to analyse the relationship between size of the dominant follicular structure and concurrent presence of a CL. RESULTS: CL size (P = 0.039) and presence of a luteal cyst (P = 0.002) at Ovsynch enrolment significantly increased the odds of pregnancy. Occurrence of lameness (P = 0.035) or mastitis (P = 0.008) between calving and enrolment significantly decreased the odds of pregnancy. Neither the presence nor size of a follicular structure significantly affected the odds of pregnancy, although cows with larger follicular structures were less likely to have a concurrent CL (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Presence of luteal tissue at Ovsynch enrolment and recent disease events affected pregnancy per FTAI in cows inseminated after Ovsynch.

[The biomechanics of hyperextension injuries of the subaxial cervical spine]. / Biomechanik der Hyperextensionsverletzung der subaxialen Halswirbelsäule.

Hyperextension injuries of the subaxial cervical spine are potentially hazardous due to relevant destabilization. Depending on the clinical condition, neurologic or vascular damage may occur. Therefore an exact knowledge of the factors leading to destabilization is essential. In a biomechanical investigation, 10 fresh human cadaver cervical spine specimens were tested in a spine simulator. The tested segments were C4 to 7. In the first step, physiologic motion was investigated. Afterwards, the three steps of injury were dissection of the anterior longitudinal ligament, removal of the intervertebral disc/posterior longitudinal ligament, and dissection of the interspinous ligaments/ligamentum flavum. After each step, the mobility was determined. Regarding flexion and extension, an increase in motion of 8.36 % after the first step, 90.45 % after the second step, and 121.67 % after the last step was observed. Testing of lateral bending showed an increase of mobility of 7.88 %/27.48 %/33.23 %; axial rotation increased by 2.87 %/31.16 %/45.80 %. Isolated dissection of the anterior longitudinal ligament led to minor destabilization, whereas the intervertebral disc has to be seen as a major stabilizer of the cervical spine. Few finite-element studies showed comparable results. If a transfer to clinical use is undertaken, an isolated rupture of the anterior longitudinal ligament can be treated without surgical stabilization.

Evaluation of a cow-side milk progesterone assay and assessment of the positive predictive value of oestrus diagnosis by dairy farmers in New South Wales.

OBJECTIVES: The three objectives of this study were to determine the positive predictive value (PPV) of oestrus diagnosis (heat detection accuracy) by dairy farmers, calculate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the P4 Rapid milk progesterone assay for detecting a corpus luteum and evaluate the economics of using a cow-side milk progesterone assay designed to aid oestrus diagnosis. METHODS: Milk samples were collected from 752 cows diagnosed in oestrus by farm personnel on 14 dairy farms. Samples were tested using the P4 Rapid milk progesterone assay to estimate the PPV of oestrus diagnosis at each farm and a crude pooled mean of PPV of oestrus diagnosis across all farms. A further 156 milk samples were collected from cows with luteal tissue status determined by transrectal ultrasound and tested by the P4 Rapid assay to enable calculation of the sensitivity and specificity of the P4 Rapid assay. RESULTS: For pooled farm samples, the PPV was 97.0%, with a range between farms of 88.9-100%. Sensitivity of the P4 Rapid milk progesterone assay for detecting a corpus luteum was 90.1% and specificity was 98.7%. Misclassification of oestrus in cows previously identified as pregnant was the most common cause of false-positive oestrus diagnoses by farm personnel. CONCLUSION: Routine testing of milk progesterone in all cows diagnosed in oestrus is not economically justified and may even slightly reduce submission rates; conversely, strategic use of cow-side milk progesterone assays can improve herd reproductive performance by facilitating decisions on whether to rebreed cows previously diagnosed as pregnant.

Plasma oxidative stress biomarkers and progesterone profiles in a dairy cow diagnosed with an ovarian follicular cyst.

This study was conducted to examine the oxidative stress biomarkers in a cow diagnosed with a follicular cyst in her left ovary. Progesterone (P4) and plasma oxidative stress status was measured in 13 Holstein cows after synchronization of oestrus with controlled internal drug release (CIDR) and prostaglandinF2α (PGF2α) protocol. The presence and size of ovarian structures were monitored by transrectal ultrasound at 4 hourly intervals. Of the 13 cows, 12 were monitored until ovulation was detected and recorded, whereas one cow failed to ovulate and developed a follicular cyst. Oxidative stress biomarkers; reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), oxidative stress index (OSI), glutathione (GSH), ceruloplasmin and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) were measured in the cystic cow and compared to those of the 12 ovulated cows and are referred to as higher or lower if they are outside the mean ± standard error of mean of those of ovulated cows. The cystic cow had lower ROMs and OSI between 36 and 84 h after PGF2α injection and at 9 h, from 36 to 60 h after PGF2α injection respectively. On the other hand, antioxidant (BAP and GSH) was higher in the cystic cow compared to her ovulated herd mates. The observed imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant might have disrupted the physiological events for ovulation to occur, leading to cystic ovarian disease.

Infrared technology for estrus detection and as a predictor of time of ovulation in dairy cows in a pasture-based system.

The development and application of an algorithm to assess the ability of an infrared thermography (IRT) device to predict cows in estrus and about to ovulate was investigated. Twenty cows were synchronized using a controlled internal drug release and PGF2α. Vulval and muzzle temperatures were measured every 12 hours from controlled internal drug release insertion to 32 hours after PGF2α treatment and then every 4 hours until ovulation occurred or until 128 hours after PGF2α treatment (whichever occurred first). Thermal images obtained with a FLIR T620 series infrared camera were analyzed using ThermaCAM Researcher Professional 2.9 software. Cows were also monitored for behavioral signs of estrus and color changes of an Estrotect applied to the tail head of each cow 36 hours after PGF2α treatment. Algorithms were developed by adjusting body surface temperature of individual animals for ambient temperature and humidity during each observation period, and were expressed as a deviation from the baseline temperature. Of the 20 cows enrolled in this study, 12 (60%) ovulated. An IRT estrus alert was defined using different thresholds (D = 1 °C, 1.25 °C, and 1.5 °C). Sensitivity and specificity to predict estrus depended upon the chosen threshold level. At a threshold D = 1 °C, the highest sensitivity (92%; n = 11) and the lowest specificity (29%) and positive predictive value (64%) were observed. Conversely, D = 1.5 °C resulted in sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 57%, and positive predictive value of 69%. The mean ± standard deviation intervals between onset and the end of IRT estrus alert to ovulation were 30.7 ± 8.2 and 13.3 ± 7.7 hours, respectively. Ovulation occurred 24 to 47 hours after the onset of the IRT estrus alert for eight out of the 11 ovulated cows (73%). Although the sensitivity of the IRT alert was greater than visual observation (67%) and Estrotect activation (67%), the specificity and positive predictive value were lower than these two aids (i.e., the IRT overpredicted the incidence of ovulation). Results presented indicate that IRT shows some potential as an estrus detection aid; however, further studies investigating the potential to improve the specificity and capturing data throughout entire 21-day reproductive cycles would be worthwhile.