A review of on-farm recording tools for smallholder dairy farming in developing countries.

The dairy industry has been expanding significantly recently, which has prompted the improvement and adoption of increasingly digital dairy recording tools with cutting-edge technology. The study aimed to identify smallholder dairy farmers' recording tools in developing countries. The study presents the results of an extensive literature review conducted using electronic journal databases. The review involved applying a combination of search terms and Boolean operators. The search found a total of 412 research publications. However, only 21 articles with 24 recording tools were deemed appropriate and were subsequently included in the study. Dairy recording entails gathering and managing data on animal information, traceability, health, and productivity that can be conducted using various methods, from manual record-keeping to digitization. The results show that most studies have endeavoured to develop digital recording tools that focus on production performance (PR), mainly milk production, using the Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile phone applications. Moreover, various technologies, such as networks, desktops, and web apps, have also been invented. Given the widespread ownership of mobile phones among the general population, the use of mobile phones continues to be an appealing choice for recording tools. To enhance the advancement of these tools, it is necessary to address technological obstacles, particularly those associated with access and connectivity. In addition, it is also important to consider the continuity of data input and feedback obtained to the farmers, thus helping them evaluate their farms periodically.

Faecal egg counts in Australian pasture-based dairy herds.

In Australian pastoral dairy systems, a variety of 'routine' anthelmintic programs are used in lactating cows varying from nil anthelmintic use to bi-annual application. Anthelmintic resistance has been repeatedly diagnosed on dairy farms and studies have indicated variable milk production benefits from anthelmintics internationally. We aimed to identify the predominant gastrointestinal parasites in recently calved dairy cows in south-west Victoria and examined the relationship between individual faecal egg counts (FEC) and other cow and management factors such as body condition score, age, and historical anthelmintic use. This study included 18 pasture-based dairy farms in south-west Victoria. FECs were measured in recently calved primiparous and multiparous cows. Individual FEC tests with a minimum detectable FEC of 2.5 eggs per gram of faeces (epg) and group larval cultures were completed. Farm management data and cow information was recorded for data analysis with the Jamovi statistical package. Overall, 35% of all cows had FEC ≥ 2.5 epg (26% of multiparous and 45% of primiparous). Ostertagi ostertagi was the predominant gastrointestinal nematode in all cohorts. Cooperia pectinata or C. punctata were also present in mixed infestations alongside C. oncophora. Multiparous cows in low body condition score post calving (<4) were more likely to have a FEC of >5 epg. Faecal egg counts at a minimum detectable FEC of 2.5 epg are effective indicators of parasitism in recently calved primiparous and poorly conditioned multiparous dairy cows. Increasing the test sensitivity (minimum detectable count) of FECs from 10 epg to 2.5 epg resulted in increasing the overall positive FEC rate from 15% to 35%. Further investigation of sensitive FECs and their relevance to production along with the timing and value of anthelmintic use in dairy cattle is warranted.

Microwave Dielectric Response of Bovine Milk as Pregnancy Detection Tool in Dairy Cows.

The most reliable methods for pregnancy diagnosis in dairy herds include rectal palpation, ultrasound examination, and evaluation of plasma progesterone concentrations. However, these methods are expensive, labor-intensive, and invasive. Thus, there is a need to develop a practical, non-invasive, cost-effective method that can be implemented on the farm to detect pregnancy. This study suggests employing microwave dielectric spectroscopy (MDS, 0.5-40 GHz) as a method to evaluate reproduction events in dairy cows. The approach involves the integration of MDS data with information on milk solids to detect pregnancy and identify early embryonic loss in dairy cows. To test the ability to predict pregnancy according to these measurements, milk samples were collected from (i) pregnant and non-pregnant randomly selected cows, (ii) weekly from selected cows (n = 12) before insemination until a positive pregnancy test, and (iii) daily from selected cows (n = 10) prior to insemination until a positive pregnancy test. The results indicated that the dielectric strength of Δε and the relaxation time, τ, exhibited reduced variability in the case of a positive pregnancy diagnosis. Using principal component analysis (PCA), a clear distinction between pregnancy and nonpregnancy status was observed, with improved differentiation upon a higher sampling frequency. Additionally, a neural network machine learning technique was employed to develop a prediction algorithm with an accuracy of 73%. These findings demonstrate that MDS can be used to detect changes in milk upon pregnancy. The developed machine learning provides a broad classification that could be further enhanced with additional data.

Seasonal change and influence of environmental variables on host-seeking activity of the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis at a southern California dairy, USA.

BACKGROUND: As a primary vector of bluetongue virus (BTV) in the US, seasonal abundance and diel flight activity of Culicoides sonorensis has been documented, but few studies have examined how time of host-seeking activity is impacted by environmental factors. This knowledge is essential for interpreting surveillance data and modeling pathogen transmission risk. METHODS: The diel host-seeking activity of C. sonorensis was studied on a California dairy over 3 years using a time-segregated trap baited with CO2. The relationship between environmental variables and diel host-seeking activity (start, peak, and duration of activity) of C. sonorensis was evaluated using multiple linear regression. Fisher's exact test and paired-sample z-test were used to evaluate the seasonal difference and parity difference on diel host-seeking activity. RESULTS: Host-seeking by C. sonorensis began and reached an activity peak before sunset at a higher frequency during colder months relative to warmer months. The time that host-seeking activity occurred was associated low and high daily temperature as well as wind speed at sunset. Colder temperatures and a greater diurnal temperature range were associated with an earlier peak in host-seeking. Higher wind speeds at sunset were associated with a delayed peak in host-seeking and a shortened duration of host-seeking. Parous midges reached peak host-seeking activity slightly later than nulliparous midges, possibly because of the need for oviposition by gravid females before returning to host-seeking. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that during colder months C. sonorensis initiates host-seeking and reaches peak host-seeking activity earlier relative to sunset, often even before sunset, compared to warmer months. Therefore, the commonly used UV light-baited traps are ineffective for midge surveillance before sunset. Based on this study, surveillance methods that do not rely on light trapping would provide a more accurate estimate of host-biting risk across seasons. The association of environmental factors to host-seeking shown in this study can be used to improve modeling or prediction of host-seeking activity. This study identified diurnal temperature range as associated with host-seeking activity, suggesting that Culicoides may respond to a rapidly decreasing temperature by shifting to an earlier host-seeking time, though this association needs further study.

From bowls to pots: The dairying revolution in Northwest Turkey, a view from Barcin Höyük, 6600 to 6000 BCE.

Research has identified Northwest Turkey as a key region for the development of dairying in the seventh millennium BCE, yet little is known about how this practice began or evolved there. This research studies Barcin Höyük, a site located in Bursa's Yenisehir Valley, which ranges chronologically from 6600 BCE, when the first evidence of settled life appears in the Marmara Region, to 6000 BCE, when Neolithic habitation at the site ceases. Using pottery sherds diagnostic by vessel category and type, this paper aims at identifying which ones may have been primarily used to store, process, or consume dairy products. Organic residue analysis of selected samples helped address the process of adoption and intensification of milk processing in this region over time. The lipid residue data discussed in this paper derive from 143 isotopic results subsampled from 173 organic residues obtained from 805 Neolithic potsherds and suggest that bowls and four-lugged pots may have been preferred containers for processing milk. The discovery of abundant milk residues even among the earliest ceramics indicates that the pioneer farmers arrived in the region already with the knowhow of dairying and milk processing. In fact, these skills and the reliance on secondary products may have given them one of the necessary tools to successfully venture into the unfarmed lands of Northwest Anatolia in the first place.

Genetic parameters for reproductive traits and somatic cell score in U.S. dairy goats.

There are no studies regarding the estimation of genetic parameters and genetic trends for reproductive traits and somatic cells in goats. Their knowledge allows optimization of selection schemes. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and genetic and phenotypic trends for age at first kidding (AFK), kidding interval (KIN) and somatic cell score (SCS). Analyses were conducted within and across seven US goat breeds, namely, Nubian (NU), Alpine (AL), LaMancha (LM), Toggenburg (TO), Saanen (SA), Nigerian Dwarf (ND) and Oberhasli (OB), and a set of all of these breeds (AB). The restricted maximum likelihood methodology and trivariate animal models were used. Genetic and phenotypic trends were estimated using regression models. The average and standard deviation of AFK, KIN and SCS for AB were 573.6 ± 178.5 days, 418.8 ± 125.5 days and 4.67 ± 2.23 Log2, respectively. The heritabilities (h2) and standard errors of AFK, KIN and SCS for AB were 0.28 ± 0.02, 0.04 ± 0.02 and 0.22 ± 0.01, respectively. The h2 ranged from 0.15 (SA) to 0.37 (NU) for AFK, from 0.04 (AB) to 0.10 (AL) for KIN, and from 0.11 (TO) to 0.26 (LM and ND) for SCS. Genetic correlations between AFK and KIN and between AFK and SCS for AB were positive and weak (0.07 and 0.12, respectively) but significant (P < 0.01). Genetic correlations between SCS and KIN were significant (P < 0.01) for all the breeds and ranged from -0.15 (NU) to 0.44 (AL). Genetic correlations between AFK and SCS in the NU and AL breeds were similar (approximately 0.21). A positive genetic trend was found for KIN in the SA breed, which caused an increase in the number of days between consecutive kiddings. The genetic trend of SCS for the NU, AL and ND breeds was negative and decreased annually, which is beneficial for producers. These first results show the intensity and direction of some favorable/unfavorable relationships between AFK or KIN and SCS Log2 in some U.S. goat genetic groups.

An observational study of farmer-reported clinical mastitis in New Zealand dairy ewes.

AIMS: To describe the incidence, aetiology, treatment, and outcomes of farmer-reported clinical mastitis on New Zealand dairy sheep farms. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 20 spring-lambing New Zealand sheep milking farms over the 2022-2023 season. Clinical mastitis was defined as a change in the appearance of milk and/or signs of inflammation in the gland. Farmers were required to report all cases of clinical mastitis and collect information on affected ewes' demographics, clinical features, treatments (where applicable), and outcomes. Milk samples from mastitic glands were submitted for microbiological culture and identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). RESULTS: Partial or complete clinical mastitis data were available for 236 cases from 221 ewes on 18/20 study farms. Clinical mastitis was diagnosed in 0-6% of ewes at the farm level, with an overall incidence of 1.8 (95% CI = 1.0-3.2)% using the study data, or 2.3 (95% CI = 1.6-3.3)% using the study data and farmer estimates that included unreported cases. Cases occurred mostly in early lactation, with 59% detected during the lambing period (August-October), at a median of 7 (IQR 3, 40) days in milk. The majority of cases featured clots in the milk (59%), swelling (55%), and unevenness (71%) of the glands. Pyrexia (rectal temperature ≥ 40.0°C) was diagnosed in 25% of cases and depression (lethargy, inappetence, or inability to stand) in 26% of cases. Treatment was given to 46% of cases, with tylosin being the most commonly used treatment (50% of treated cases). The most common outcome was immediate drying off to be culled without treatment (32%), followed by still milking and recovered but with lasting problems (25%). Nearly half of all the milk samples submitted were culture negative. Streptococcus uberis (14%), non-aureus staphylococci (12%), and Staphylococcus aureus (11%) were the most common isolates, found on 12, 8 and 8 of the 16 farms with microbiological data, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical mastitis affected up to 6% of ewes at the farm level. Systemic signs were observed in one quarter of affected ewes, suggesting a role for supportive treatment. Clinical mastitis can be severe and challenging to fully resolve in New Zealand dairy sheep. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first systematic study of clinical mastitis in New Zealand dairy ewes. It provides baseline information specific to New Zealand conditions for farmers, veterinarians, and other advisors to guide the management of mastitis for the relatively new dairy sheep industry in New Zealand.

Farm-level risk factors and treatment protocols for lameness in New Zealand dairy cattle.

AIMS: To identify farm-level risk factors for dairy cow lameness, and to describe lameness treatment protocols used on New Zealand dairy farms. METHODS: One hundred and nineteen farms from eight veterinary clinics within the major dairying regions of New Zealand were randomly enrolled into a cross-sectional lameness prevalence study. Each farmer completed a questionnaire on lameness risk factors and lameness treatment and management. Trained observers lameness scored cattle on two occasions, between October-December (spring, coinciding with peak lactation for most farms) and between January-March (summer, late lactation for most farms). A four-point (0-3) scoring system was used to assess lameness, with animals with a lameness score (LS) ≥2 defined as lame. At each visit, all lactating animals were scored including animals that had previously been identified lame by the farmer. Associations between the farmer-reported risk factors and lameness were determined using mixed logistic regression models in a Bayesian framework, with farm and score event as random effects. RESULTS: A lameness prevalence of 3.5% (2,113/59,631) was reported at the first LS event, and 3.3% (1,861/55,929) at the second LS event. There was a median prevalence of 2.8% (min 0, max 17.0%) from the 119 farms. Most farmers (90/117; 77%) relied on informal identification by farm staff to identify lame animals. On 65% (75/116) of farms, there was no external provider of lame cow treatments, with the farmer carrying out all lame cow treatments. Most farmers had no formal training (69/112; 62%). Animals from farms that used concrete stand-off pads during periods of inclement weather had 1.45 times the odds of lameness compared to animals on farms that did not use concrete stand-off pads (95% equal-tailed credible interval 1.07-1.88). Animals from farms that reported peak lameness incidence from January to June or all year-round, had 0.64 times odds of lameness compared to animals from farms that reported peak lameness incidence from July to December (95% equal-tailed credible interval 0.47-0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Lameness prevalence was low amongst the enrolled farms. Use of concrete stand-off pads and timing of peak lameness incidence were associated with odds of lameness. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinarians should be encouraging farmers to have formal lameness identification protocols and lameness management plans in place. There is ample opportunity to provide training to farmers for lame cow treatment. Management of cows on stand-off pads should consider the likely impact on lameness.

Temporal patterns of bovine leukemia virus infection in dairy herds in Atlantic Canada.

Objective: The primary objective was to determine the youngest age group where bovine leukemia virus (BLV)-infected dairy animals were identified. The secondary objective was to investigate associations between age-specific management practices and BLV infection status of different age groups of dairy calves and heifers. Procedure: For enrolled herds, BLV status was determined using blood samples from pre-weaned calves, weaned calves, and breeding-age heifers; and bulk tank milk from the adult herd. A questionnaire investigating age-specific management factors was administered for each herd. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to identify management factors associated with the youngest age range in which BLV was identified. Results: Fifty-three dairy herds from the 4 provinces in Atlantic Canada were enrolled. Bovine leukemia virus was most commonly earliest identified in pre-weaned heifers (18 herds, 32.1%) and the adult herd (18 herds, 32.1%). Ordinal logistic regression revealed that BLV was first identified in older age groups more often than in younger age groups when herds regrouped weaned heifers at least once, when fly control was used for breeding-age heifers, when herds practiced foot trimming on breeding-age heifers, and when bred heifers were brought in. Conclusion: Producers can use results to identify the youngest age group(s) in which BLV is identified and to tailor management strategies to prevent new infections.

Tendances temporelles de l'infection par le virus de la leucémie bovine dans les troupeaux laitiers des provinces atlantiques canadiennes. Objectif: L'objectif principal était de déterminer le groupe d'âge le plus jeune dans lequel les animaux laitiers infectés par le virus de la leucémie bovine (BLV) ont été identifiés. L'objectif secondaire était d'étudier les associations entre les pratiques de gestion spécifiques à l'âge et le statut d'infection par le BLV de différents groupes d'âge de veaux et de génisses laitiers. Procédure: Pour les troupeaux inscrits, le statut BLV a été déterminé à l'aide d'échantillons de sang provenant de veaux présevrés, de veaux sevrés et de génisses en âge de se reproduire; et de lait de réservoir en vrac du troupeau adulte. Un questionnaire portant sur les facteurs de gestion spécifiques à l'âge a été administré pour chaque troupeau. Une régression logistique ordinale a été réalisée pour identifier les facteurs de gestion associés à la tranche d'âge la plus jeune dans laquelle le BLV a été identifié. Résultats: Cinquante-trois troupeaux laitiers des quatre provinces atlantiques canadiennes ont été inscrits. Le virus de la leucémie bovine a été le plus souvent identifié le plus tôt chez les génisses pré-sevrées (18 troupeaux, 32,1 %) et dans le troupeau adulte (18 troupeaux, 32,1 %). La régression logistique ordinale a révélé que le BLV a été identifié pour la première fois plus souvent dans les groupes d'âge plus âgés que dans les groupes d'âge plus jeunes lorsque les troupeaux regroupaient au moins une fois les génisses sevrées, lorsque le contrôle des mouches était utilisé pour les génisses en âge de se reproduire, lorsque les troupeaux pratiquaient le parage des pattes des génisses en âge de se reproduire., et quand les taures saillies étaient intégrées au troupeau. Conclusion: Les producteurs peuvent utiliser les résultats pour identifier le(s) groupe(s) d'âge le plus jeune dans lequel le BLV est identifié et pour adapter les stratégies de gestion afin de prévenir de nouvelles infections.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Bird flu appears entrenched in U.S. dairy herds.

New measures to control H5N1 in cows are "a drop in the bucket," scientists say.

Digital dermatitis in Swedish dairy herds assessed by ELISA targeting Treponema phagedenis in bulk tank milk.

BACKGROUND: Digital dermatitis (DD) is a contagious hoof infection affecting cattle worldwide. The disease causes lameness and a reduction in animal welfare, which ultimately leads to major decreases in milk production in dairy cattle. The disease is most likely of polymicrobial origin with Treponema phagedenis and other Treponema spp. playing a key role; however, the etiology is not fully understood. Diagnosis of the disease is based on visual assessment of the feet by trained hoof-trimmers and veterinarians, as a more reliable diagnostic method is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on bulk tank milk samples testing for the presence of T. phagedenis antibodies as a proxy to assess herd prevalence of DD in Swedish dairy cattle herds. RESULTS: Bulk tank milk samples were collected in 2013 from 612 dairy herds spread across Sweden. A nationwide DD apparent prevalence of 11.9% (8.1-14.4% CI95%) was found, with the highest proportion of test-positive herds in the South Swedish regions (31.3%; 19.9-42.4% CI95%). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals an underestimation of DD prevalence based on test results compared to hoof trimming data, highlighting the critical need for a reliable and accurate diagnostic method. Such a method is essential for disease monitoring and the development of effective control strategies. The novelty of ELISA-based diagnostic methods for DD, coupled with the disease's polymicrobial origin, suggests an avenue for improvement. Developing an expanded ELISA, incorporating antigens from various bacterial species implicated in the disease, could enhance diagnostic accuracy. The significance of this study is underscored by the extensive analysis of a substantial sample size (612). Notably, this investigation stands as the largest assessment to date, evaluating the application of ELISA on bulk tank milk for DD diagnosis at the herd level.

Dairy goat performance in two grazing regimes: silvopastoral rangeland or abandoned agricultural land, and two supplementation treatments in central Mexico.

Twenty Saanen third parturition dairy goats were used in an on-farm 2 × 2 factorial arrangement that ran for 12 weeks, with two grazing regimes and two concentrate types. The grazing regimes evaluated were an extensive silvopastoral native rangeland (SPR) and grazing in an abandoned agricultural land (AAL). Grazing happened between 9:00 and 17:00 h. The two types of concentrate supplement were a high protein concentrate (HP = 180 g CP/kg DM and 13 MJ ME/kg DM) or high energy concentrate (HE = 110  g CP/kg DM and 14.3 MJ ME/kg DM). Goats were milked once a day, providing 250 g of concentrate supplement per goat and day. Animal variables were fat and protein corrected milk yield recorded every day, and milk composition determined for two consecutive days at the end of each experimental week. Flora in the experimental paddocks was characerised and sampled, including grasses, shrubs, trees, legumes and cacti. The data was analysed with the R software using a mixed model with day nested in period as random effect and goat as repeated measure. The SPR had greater (P = 0.002) fat and protein corrected milk yield than AAL, with no differences between concentrate type and no interaction (P > 0.05). There was an interaction (P < 0.01) between grazing regime and concentrate type for fat content in milk, where a reduction in fat content was notorious in the SPR regime. Protein content of milk was greater (P < 0.01) in SPR with no significant effects of concentrate type or the interaction. The number of plant species in SPR was greater. The native silvopastoral system supplemented with the high energy concentrate was the strategy with higher milk yield, and protein and milk fat content, although the interaction between grazing regime and supplement was significant only for milk fat content.

[Investigations of a controlled, decision tree based procedure for Selective Dry Cow Treatment in Bavarian dairy farms]. / Untersuchungen zu einem kontrollierten, entscheidungsbaumbasierten Verfahren des Selektiven Trockenstellens in Bayerischen Milchviehbetrieben.

OBJECTIVE: Four parameters of a decision tree for Selective Dry Cow Treatment (SDCT), examined in a previous study, were analyzed regarding their efficacy in detecting cows for dry cow treatment (DCT, use of intramammary antimicrobials). This study set out to review wether all parameters (somatic cell count [SCC≥ 200 000 SC/ml 3 months' milk yield recordings prior dry off (DO)], clinical mastitis history during lactation [≥1 CM], culturing [14d prior DO, detection of major pathogens] and California-Mastitis-Test [CMT, > rate 1/+ at DO]) are necessary for accurate decision making, whether there are possible alternatives to replace culturing, and whether a simplified model could replace the decision tree. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Records of 18 Bavarian dairy farms from June 2015 to August 2017 were processed. Data analysis was carried out by means of descriptive statistics, as well as employing a binary cost sensitive classification tree and logit-models. For statistical analyses the outcomes of the full 4-parameter decision tree were taken as ground truth. RESULTS: 848 drying off procedures in 739 dairy cows (CDO) were included. SCC and CMT selected 88.1%, in combination with CM 95.6% of the cows that received DCT (n=494). Without culturing, 22 (4.4%) with major pathogens (8x Staphylococcus [S.] aureus) infected CDO would have been misclassified as not needing DCT. The average of geometric mean SCC (within 100 d prior DO) for CDO with negative results in culturing was<100 000 SC/ml milk, 100 000-150 000 SC/ml for CDO infected with minor pathogens, and ≥ 150 000 SC/ml for CDO infected with major pathogens (excluding S.aureus). Using SCC during lactation (at least 1x > 200 000 SC/ml) and positive CMT to select CDO for DCT, contrary to the decision tree, 37 CDO (4.4%) would have been treated "incorrectly without" and 43 CDO (5.1%) "unnecessarily with" DCT. Modifications were identified, such as SCC<131 000 SC/ml within 100 d prior to DO for detecting CDO with no growth or minor pathogens in culturing. The best model for grading CDO for or against DCT (CDO without CM and SCC<200 000 SC/ml [last 3 months prior DO]) had metrics of AUC=0.74, Accuracy=0.778, balanced Accuracy=0.63, Sensitivity=0.92 and Specificity=0.33. CONCLUSIONS: Combining the decision tree's parameters SCC, CMT and CM renders suitable selection criteria under the conditions of this study. When omitting culturing, lower thresholds for SCC should be considered for each farm individually to select CDO for DCT. Nonetheless, the most accurate model could not replace the full decision tree.

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from mastitis and enteritis in Egyptian dairy farms.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium perfringens, a common environmental bacterium, is responsible for a variety of serious illnesses including food poisoning, digestive disorders, and soft tissue infections. Mastitis in lactating cattle and sudden death losses in baby calves are major problems for producers raising calves on dairy farms. The pathogenicity of this bacterium is largely mediated by its production of various toxins. RESULTS: The study revealed that Among the examined lactating animals with a history of mastitis, diarrheal baby calves, and acute sudden death cases in calves, C. perfringens was isolated in 23.5% (93/395) of the total tested samples. Eighteen isolates were obtained from mastitic milk, 59 from rectal swabs, and 16 from the intestinal contents of dead calves. Most of the recovered C. perfringens isolates (95.6%) were identified as type A by molecular toxinotyping, except for four isolates from sudden death cases (type C). Notably, C. perfringens was recovered in 100% of sudden death cases compared with 32.9% of rectal swabs and 9% of milk samples. This study analyzed the phylogeny of C. perfringens using the plc region and identified the plc region in five Egyptian bovine isolates (milk and fecal origins). Importantly, this finding expands the known data on C. perfringens phospholipase C beyond reference strains in GenBank from various animal and environmental sources. CONCLUSION: Phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide sequence data differentiated between strains of different origins. The plc sequences of Egyptian C. perfringens strains acquired in the present study differed from those reported globally and constituted a distinct genetic ancestor.

Comprehensive analysis of differences in the physiochemical composition of foremilk and hindmilk of grazing indigenous and crossbred dairy goats; implications for growth, milk production and industry.

This study was conducted on 90 grazing Hair, Alpine × Hair F1 (AHF1), and Saanen × Hair F1 (SHF1) crossbred goats in three farms located around the Taurus Mountains in Konya, Türkiye. The study investigated variation in milk production, physico-chemical traits of milk fractions (foremilk, hindmilk and total milk), and growth traits. Genotype, parity, offspring sex, birth type, and flock factors significantly influenced milk production and quality traits of milk fractions (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). Does with male/single offspring produced less milk, but with higher nutrient density (P < 0.05). Hindmilk was 272%, 31% and 61% richer in fat, total solids and energy content than foremilk, respectively (P < 0.001). However, the protein, lactose and solids-non-fat content of hindmilk was on average 7% lower than that of foremilk (P < 0.001). Physico-chemical quality traits of foremilk, hindmilk and total milk had a strong negative correlation with daily milk yield (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Live weight and average daily gains (ADG) of kids were influenced by maternal parity, flock, offspring sex and birth type (P < 0.05). The overall Kleiber ratios (KR) from birth to 2 months, birth to 3 months, birth to 6 months and 3 to 6 months of age were 21.0 ± 0.22, 17.1 ± 0.11, 10.5 ± 0.06 and 8.5 ± 0.21 g/kg of metabolic weight, respectively. It was concluded that these findings are critical for milk sampling protocols, offspring growth strategies, product development and precision livestock management.

A smartphone-based diagnostic analyzer for point-of-care milk somatic cell counting.

BACKGROUND: Mastitis, a pervasive and detrimental disease in dairy farming, poses a significant challenge to the global dairy industry. Monitoring the milk somatic cell count (SCC) is vital for assessing the incidence of mastitis and the quality of raw cow's milk. However, existing SCC detection methods typically require large-scale instruments and specialized operators, limiting their application in resource-constrained settings such as dairy farms and small-scale labs. To address these limitations, this study introduces a novel, smartphone-based, on-site SCC testing method that leverages smartphone capabilities for milk somatic cell identification and enumeration, offering a portable and user-friendly testing platform. RESULTS: The central findings of our study demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for counting milk somatic cells. Its on-site applicability, facilitated by the microfluidic chip, optical system, and smartphone integration, heralds a paradigm shift in point-of-care testing (POCT) for dairy farms and smaller laboratories. This approach bypasses complex processing and presents a user-friendly solution for real-time SCC monitoring in resource-limited settings. This device boasts several unique features: small size, low cost (<$1,000 total manufacturing cost and <$1 per test), and high accuracy. Remarkably, it delivers test results within just 2 min. Actual-sample testing confirmed its consistency with results from the commercial Bentley FTS/FCM cytometer, affirming the reliability of the proposed method. Overall, these results underscore the potential for transformative change in dairy farm management and laboratory testing practices. SIGNIFICANCE: In summary, this study concludes that the proposed smartphone-based method significantly contributes to the accessibility and ease of SCC testing in resource-limited environments. By fostering the use of POCT technology in food safety control, particularly in the dairy industry, this innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize the monitoring and management of mastitis, ultimately benefiting the global dairy sector.

How the type of dairy production system affects the nutrient balance from an environmental and economic perspective.

The knowledge of nutrient flow in dairy farms has to be explored to find optimized strategies for efficient nutrient conversion to milk. This study aims to improve the understanding of variances in nitrogen and phosphorus balance and efficiency indicators between dairy farm systems. The study analyzed 67 dairy cattle farms located in the watershed Lajeado Tacongava, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Selected dairy farms represented three production systems: confined (3 farms); semi-confined (7 farms); pasture-based (57 farms). Input-output nutrient balances were calculated at the dairy system level for nitrogen and phosphorus over a year. Inputs are feed and fertilizer and outputs are milk and meat. The main nitrogen and phosphorus input on the all farms resulted from the feed. The average N and P surplus on pasture-based farms were 352 and 49 kg ha-1 year-1, respectively. In semi-confined systems were 508 and 63 kg ha-1 year-1 and in confined systems were 786 and 70 kg ha-1 year-1. When considering the monetary value of the total N surplus, the averages were US$ 2.615, 4.950, and 12.171 for pasture-based, semi-confined and confined systems respectively. Monetary values of P surplus were US$ 346, 588, and 1119 for pasture-based, semi-confined and confined. The productive aspects that most determined the values of N and P surplus were the total number of lactating cows and the farm area. Results indicate that surplus can partially replace chemical nitrogen fertilizer, except in the confined system, and fully replace phosphorus fertilizer. Confined farms presented values to use surplus as fertilizer greater than the crop demand. For the other production systems, it happens only for phosphorus. Large variability between dairy farms of the same production system and between different production systems was observed. It reflects the inherent productive, economic, and environmental conditions of each farm and system.

Cow-level risk factors associated with the increase in somatic cell count and the occurrence of subclinical mastitis in Brazilian Holstein and Jersey dairy cows.

Mastitis, a multifactorial disease influenced by both cow and herd-level factors, results in significant losses throughout the dairy chain. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between milking frequency (MF), parity order (PO), days in milk (DIM), and milk yield (MY) on somatic cell count (SCC) and the odds of a cow having subclinical mastitis (SCM) in Brazilian Holstein and Jersey dairy cows. Our dataset consisted of 747,520 test-day records from 52,954 cows, including 49,089 Holstein cows and 3865 Jersey cows and 498 herds. The SCC was evaluated using a generalized linear mixed model, whereas SCM occurrence was evaluated using a logistic regression model. A case of SCM was defined when a cow had >200×103 cells/mL. Our results indicated that the SCC increases with higher PO and DIM and decreases in cows milked three times a day and those with higher MY in both breeds (>40 and >25 L/d for Holstein and Jersey, respectively). Increasing MF from two to three times a day reduced the chances of a Holstein and Jersey cow having SCM by 10 and 20 %, respectively. For Holstein and Jersey cows, those with ≥quadriparous had 3.9 times and 2.2 times higher chances, respectively, of having SCM compared to primiparous cows. Cows with >305 DIM had 2.0 times greater chances of having SCM for both, Holstein and Jersey cows, compared to cows with ≤105 DIM. Holstein cows yielding ≥40 L/d had a 75 % lower chance of having SCM compared to those yielding <20 L/d, while Jersey cows with ≥25 L/d had a 60 % lower chance compared to those yielding <15 L/d. In conclusion, higher PO and DIM pose risks, whereas a MF of three times a day and higher MY are protective factors against increases in SCC and SCM occurrence in Brazilian Holstein and Jersey cows.