Histophilus somni as a Unique Causative Agent of Puerperal Metritis (PM) in a Third-Lactation Holstein Cow.

This manuscript aims to report the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of puerperal metritis (PM) in a dairy cow, caused by H. somni as a unique pathogen. The cow showed signs of systemic illness, including a sudden drop in milk production, a rectal temperature of 40.4 °C, tachypnea, dehydration, and completely fluid, brown, and fetid uterine discharge. Pure cultures of H. somni were identified and submitted to the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method for antibiotic sensitivity. The study showed that H. somni was resistant to tetracyclines and cephalosporins (Ceftiofur), antibiotics commonly used to treat uterine infections in dairy cows. To the authors' knowledge, this case describes for the first time PM caused by H. somni as a primary pathogen. Our results should lead to the inclusion of H. somni as a primary pathogen of metritis in laboratory diagnoses on a routine basis, which, in turn, may help to elucidate the incidence of H. somni as a causative agent of uterine infections in cows. If the incidence of H. somni is remarkably high or frequent, researchers could consider the use of commercial vaccines nowadays destined for the prevention of bovine respiratory disease and which could perhaps be effective in the prevention of reproductive pathology caused by H. somni.

Characterization of biosecurity practices among cattle transport drivers in Spain.

Transmission of pathogens between farms via animal transport vehicles is a potential concern; however, the available information on driver routines and biosecurity measures implemented during transport is limited. Given the above, the aim of this study was to describe and characterize the prevailing practices and biosecurity measures adopted by cattle transport drivers in Spain. Eighty-two drivers were surveyed via face-to-face or remotely. The survey included questions on general characteristics of the drivers (type of journeys and vehicles) together with biosecurity practices implemented during cattle transport and vehicle hygiene practices. Results showed that several risky practices are performed quite frequently such as visiting different premises with different levels of risk (e.g., breeder and fattening farms); entering the farm premises to load/unload animals, passing by several farms to load and unload animals, or not always cleaning and disinfecting the vehicle between travels, among others. To explore similarities among the drivers and identify groups sharing specific practices, hierarchical clustering on principal components (HCPC) was computed on the results of multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). The first three MCA dimensions (out of 13) were retained in the agglomerative clustering and four different clusters were identified. Clusters 1 and Cluster 4 accounted for 39.5% and 29.6% of respondents, respectively. The clusters were mainly differentiated by practices in the loading/unloading of cattle, such as the frequency of contact with animals remaining on the farm, and the frequency of the vehicle's disinfection between farms. Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 were of similar size, about 15% of respondents each. Cluster 2 consisted of drivers who mainly made journeys to slaughterhouse, while drivers in Cluster 3 were characterised by the use of working clothes and boots. Based on these findings, it is advisable to increase awareness on the role that animal transport can have in the spread of pathogens between cattle farms and the importance of biosecurity in preventing such transmission. There is also a need to support animal transport professionals in such task, not only through the development of initiatives to increase awareness, but also through the investment in improving cleaning and disinfection facilities and to consider the economic cost associated with some practices to not compromise the economic viability of the sector.

Key performance indicators used by dairy consultants during the evaluation of reproductive performance during routine visits.

Dairy farms need thorough and efficient reproduction control. Consultants specialized in reproduction use key performance indicators (KPI) to monitor the reproductive performance of farms and must be able to decipher between the approach in a first visit and routine visits. A total of 49 consultants specialized in dairy reproduction from 21 countries responded to an online survey conducted to determine the most suitable parameters during routine visits every 2 to 4 weeks. The survey was comprised of 190 questions, 178 of them rated from 0 (irrelevant) to 10 (maximum importance) points. The questions were divided into five sections: (1) consultant and farm model, (2) general data of the farm, (3) cow reproduction, (4) postpartum and metabolic disease, and (5) heifer reproduction. The median, interquartile range, minimum and maximum values, and 95% confidence interval were determined for each question. Afterward, a multivariate analysis, using between-group linkage via Ward's hierarchical clustering was conducted to generate clusters of consultants according to their response pattern. Finally, a chi-square test was conducted to assess the association between years of experience of the consultant and farm size within the clusters generated in each section of the questionnaire. The majority of the consultants considered 34 parameters to be highly important (rated 8-10) to analyze during routine visits. The consultants used several KPI (in variable quantitative range) to evaluate any of the presented sections and considered that all the five sections are critical to control. They are aware of using KPI that reflect heat detection, fertility, and farming efficiency as well as KPI that can provide information on reproductive efficiency in the near future for cows, such as postpartum and metabolic diseases. However, parameters that are relatively old and ineffective, in terms of reproductive performance control, are still highly regarded by the majority of consultants in a routine-visit scenario. Farm size and years of experience of the consultant did not influence the type or number of parameters chosen as KPI during routine visits. The parameters rated with the highest importance (rate 10) that could be considered for an easy, fast, and universal use in routine visits to assess the reproductive status were: First service CR (%), Overall pregnancy rate (%) for cows, and age at first calving (d) for heifers.

Validation of new automated turbidimetric immunoassays for the measurement of haptoglobin and inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 specific for the bovine species.

BACKGROUND: Good strategical programs are required for the early detection of disease even in the absence of evident clinical signs, which is crucial in satisfying animal welfare. Haptoglobin (Hp) and inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 (ITIH4) are acute phase proteins and good biomarkers of early inflammation in cattle, with plasma levels that significantly increase after injury or infection. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to develop and validate two new immunoturbidimetric methods for Hp and ITIH4. METHODS: Species-specific antibodies were obtained and used to develop the immunoassays. For the Hp assay, antibodies were fixed to latex microparticles to enhance detection. The immunoassays were set up in an automated analyzer to carry out validation studies. Reference intervals were calculated using Reference Value Advisor. RESULTS: The Hp immunoturbidimetric method had a linear analytical range up to 0.40 mg/mL. The limit of detection (LoD) was 0.005 mg/mL, and the limit of quantification (LoQ) was 0.007 mg/mL. Total imprecision was less than 7%. Comparison with ELISA and single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) showed good correlation, whereas the comparison with the colorimetric method showed constant and proportional differences. The ITIH4 immunoassay showed linearity up to 5 mg/mL, and the LoD was 0.002 mg/mL. Total imprecision was less than 6%. Method comparison showed a good correlation with single radial immunodiffusion, both methods being equivalent. Bilirubin, triglycerides, and hemoglobin presented no interference in any of the assays. Reference intervals were 0.007-0.017 mg/mL for Hp and 0.2-0.7 mg/mL for ITIH4 in dairy cows 10 days before parturition. CONCLUSIONS: Immunoturbidimetric methods developed for Hp and ITIH4 can measure basal and increased levels of these proteins, showing adequate precision, accuracy, and robustness.

Influenza D Virus: A Review and Update of Its Role in Bovine Respiratory Syndrome.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the most prevalent, deadly, and costly diseases in young cattle. BRD has been recognized as a multifactorial disease caused mainly by viruses (bovine herpesvirus, BVDV, parainfluenza-3 virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and bovine coronavirus) and bacteria (Mycoplasma bovis, Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica and Histophilus somni). However, other microorganisms have been recognized to cause BRD. Influenza D virus (IDV) is a novel RNA pathogen belonging to the family Orthomyxoviridae, first discovered in 2011. It is distributed worldwide in cattle, the main reservoir. IDV has been demonstrated to play a role in BRD, with proven ability to cause respiratory disease, a high transmission rate, and potentiate the effects of other pathogens. The transmission mechanisms of this virus are by direct contact and by aerosol route over short distances. IDV causes lesions in the upper respiratory tract of calves and can also replicate in the lower respiratory tract and cause pneumonia. There is currently no commercial vaccine or specific treatment for IDV. It should be noted that IDV has zoonotic potential and could be a major public health concern if there is a drastic change in its pathogenicity to humans. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding IDV structure, pathogenesis, clinical significance, and epidemiology.

Technological Tools for the Early Detection of Bovine Respiratory Disease in Farms.

Classically, the diagnosis of respiratory disease in cattle has been based on observation of clinical signs and the behavior of the animals, but this technique can be subjective, time-consuming and labor intensive. It also requires proper training of staff and lacks sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp). Furthermore, respiratory disease is diagnosed too late, when the animal already has severe lesions. A total of 104 papers were included in this review. The use of new advanced technologies that allow early diagnosis of diseases using real-time data analysis may be the future of cattle farms. These technologies allow continuous, remote, and objective assessment of animal behavior and diagnosis of bovine respiratory disease with improved Se and Sp. The most commonly used behavioral variables are eating behavior and physical activity. Diagnosis of bovine respiratory disease may experience a significant change with the help of big data combined with machine learning, and may even integrate metabolomics as disease markers. Advanced technologies should not be a substitute for practitioners, farmers or technicians, but could help achieve a much more accurate and earlier diagnosis of respiratory disease and, therefore, reduce the use of antibiotics, increase animal welfare and sustainability of livestock farms. This review aims to familiarize practitioners and farmers with the advantages and disadvantages of the advanced technological diagnostic tools for bovine respiratory disease and introduce recent clinical applications.

Key Performance Indicators Used by Dairy Consultants During the Evaluation of Reproductive Performance in a First Visit.

Reproduction plays a fundamental role in the profitability of dairy farms. Consultants use key performance indicators (KPI) to monitor the reproductive performance of the farms. They must decipher between the most suitable ones to face two different scenarios that may need the analysis of different parameters: (1) approach in a first visit, and (2) routine visits. Forty-nine consultants specialized in dairy reproduction from 21 countries responded to an online survey conducted to determine the most suitable parameters in a first visit approach. The survey was comprised of 190 questions, 178 of them rated from 0 (irrelevant) to 10 (maximum importance) points. The questions were divided into 5 sections: (1) consultant and farm model, (2) general data of the farm, (3) cow reproduction, (4) postpartum and metabolic disease, and (5) heifer reproduction. The median, interquartile range, minimum and maximum values, and 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined for each question. Afterward, a multivariate analysis, using between-group linkage via Ward's hierarchical clustering was conducted to generate clusters of consultants according to their response pattern. Lastly, a Chi-square test was conducted to assess the association between the years of experience of the consultant and farm size within the clusters generated in each section of the questionnaire. Most of the consultants considered 27 parameters to be highly important to analyze during the first visit. Consultants use several KPIs (in variable quantitative range) to evaluate any of the presented sections. Moreover, consultants preferred parameters focused on heat detection, fertility, and pregnancy achievement regarding the production cycle of a dairy cow. Consultants also showed high interest in obtaining a general overview of milk production, farming efficiency, and the heifer rearing process; but the farm size and the years of experience of the consultant influenced the type and number of parameters chosen as KPI. The parameters rated with the highest importance (rate 10) that could be considered for an easy, fast, and universal first visit to assess the reproductive status were: first service conception rate, overall pregnancy rate, and 21d pregnancy rate for cows, and age at first calving for heifers.

A Methodology to Quantify Resilience in Growing Pigs.

There is a growing concern about the genetic determinism of resilience and its possible implementation in breeding programs. The objective of our study was to elaborate novel resilience indicators in growing pigs based on the deviation from the expected growth curve and the increment of the acute-phase protein haptoglobin (HP) after applying a common vaccine. A total of 445 pigs were vaccinated with an attenuated Aujeszky vaccine at 12 weeks of age. Deviation from the expected body weight (ΔBW) given the growth curve of unvaccinated pigs at 28 days post-vaccination (DPV) and the increment of HP at 4 DPV (ΔHP) were suggested as resilience indicators. Challenged pigs that maintained their productivity and had a minor activation of HP were deemed resilient, whereas pigs that had low ∆BW values and a high activation of HP were deemed susceptible. Pigs were also classified based on ∆BW and ∆HP relative to the expected BW at 28 DPV and to the basal level of HP, respectively. The concordance was high between both methods, indicating that ΔBW and ΔHP are not sensitive to the animal's expected BW nor the basal level of HP. The heritability estimates were moderate for ∆BW (0.33) and low-to-moderate for ∆HP (0.16). Our study suggests ΔBW and ΔHP as novel resilience indicators in pigs. The suggested indicators capture different aspects of resilience, are easy to measure, and are genetically controlled. Thus, they may be improved through selective breeding. Further analyses are needed to validate our findings.

A Cow-Calf Farming System Fully Adapted to Elevation and Harsh Conditions in Andorra (Europe).

The use of natural resources is an important topic to optimize the efficiency of cattle production. The purpose of this work is to describe the project of the Bruna d'Andorra; a local cow breed under an extensive cow-calf system in Andorra (Europe), as an example of local farming and marketing of its meat products in an area with adverse environmental conditions. This breed is located in Andorra, a microstate that consists predominantly of rugged mountains and harsh weather conditions. The cow-calf Bruna d'Andorra extensive system is thoroughly described and productive and reproductive performance, compiled over 21 years (2000-2020), has been analyzed by years with the Chi-square test or ANOVA to compare proportions or means, respectively, and regression analysis was used to decipher evolution across years. The results show a population with a census large and stable enough to avoid inbreeding. Moreover, a sustained improvement of the productive performance and maternal fitness has been observed along the studied period for Bruna d'Andorra. The work concludes that local breeds can achieve sustainable animal production, especially when farmers, public administration and commercial circuits in the area agree to cooperate on such projects. The study also concludes that the Bruna d'Andorra cow breed can still improve in meat and reproductive performance.

Feeding Calves with Pasteurized Colostrum and Milk Has a Positive Long-Term Effect on Their Productive Performance.

Female calves, checked for serum total protein ≥ 5.8 g/dL before 5 days of life, entered the study at 22 days of age after having received pasteurized colostrum and milk (P group, n = 127), or non-pasteurized colostrum and milk (NP group, n = 134). During the heifer-rearing period, productive (body weight; BW) and health parameters (bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and diarrhea) were recorded. Productive (305-d milk yield), reproductive (AI per pregnancy and calving interval), and health parameters (milk somatic cell count; SCC/mL), as well as age at culling, were recorded in a follow-up study. Feeding on-farm pasteurized colostrum and milk during the first 21 days of life reduced morbidity of bovine respiratory disease during the first year of life and diarrhea during the first 180 days of life. Moreover, it increased BW at calving during the first three lactations. It also significantly increases milk production during the first lactation. However, there were no differences in relation to reproductive performance and health of cows in the NP or P group. These results highlight that feeding calves with pasteurized colostrum and milk could improve health and production parameters throughout the heifer-rearing process and during their first lactation.

Dairy farmers' decision-making to implement biosecurity measures: A study of psychosocial factors.

Biosecurity measures are a set of management procedures that prevent the risk of introducing and spreading infectious diseases to a farm, although these measures are rarely implemented in dairy farms. There are some studies that have identified that the decision to implement biosecurity measures can be influenced by several psychosocial factors (attitudes and behaviours). Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the psychosocial factors (and their interactions) influencing the implementation of biosecurity measures in dairy farms in Spain, through the views of dairy farmers and veterinarians from Catalonia (northeast Spain) and Galicia (northwest Spain). Face-to-face in-depth interviews were performed with 16 dairy farmers (nine from Catalonia and seven from Galicia) and 16 veterinarians (eight from Catalonia and eight from Galicia). Grounded theory analysis was performed on the transcripts, following the subtopics of: information sources, individual factors of the farmer, social dynamics, official veterinary services and other factors. The study identified the importance of veterinarians as a source of information, including their communication skills, the individual experiences of farmers, traditions of the farms and availability of time and space in the dairy farmer's decisions making. Further, it suggests the need to deepen the knowledge of the farm workers and the obligatory biosecurity measures. This research represents a starting point to develop future strategies to improve the implementation of biosecurity measures in dairy farms.

Development and validation of an ELISA for the quantification of bovine ITIH4 in serum and milk.

Inter alpha trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) is a serum protein belonging to the Inter alpha trypsin inhibitor (ITI) family, which was previously characterized by our group as a new APP in cattle. This protein was firstly described in pigs where is known to be a major acute phase protein, also denominated Pig-MAP. Increases of ITIH4 of up to 12 times the pre-infection values were previously reported in the serum of heifers with experimentally induced summer mastitis. ITIH4 was detected in the milk of cows with mastitis by western blot, but the method previously used to quantify this protein, radial immunodiffusion, was not sensitive enough to quantify it in milk samples. In this study we developed an ELISA method which allows the quantification of bovine ITIH4 in serum and milk samples. Previously developed antibodies were used to perform the assay, including anti bovine ITIH4 polyclonal antibodies and a monoclonal antibody against pig ITIH4 that also recognizes the bovine homologous protein. The ELISA developed showed an adequate precision, with inter and intra- assay coefficients of variation lower than 10% for serum and milk samples. The assay keeps linearity under dilution for both serum and milk samples. A good agreement was observed between the values measured by ELISA and radial immunodiffusion in serum samples.

The Inclusion of Concentrate with Quebracho Is Advisable in Two Forage-Based Diets of Ewes According to the In Vitro Fermentation Parameters.

Ewes receive hay or graze on fresh pastures supplemented with concentrates to fulfil their lactation requirements. Quebracho (Schinopsis balansae) can be added to change the ruminal fermentation. Fermentation parameters of forages alone and 70:30 forage:concentrate diets with control and quebracho concentrate were compared after 24 h of in vitro incubation. Fresh forage diets produced less gas (p < 0.05) and had greater IVOMD (p < 0.001), ammonia (NH3-N) content, valeric acid, branched-chain volatile fatty acid proportions, and lower propionic acid proportion than the hay diets (p < 0.01). In the hay diets, methane production increased with control concentrate (p < 0.01) and tended to decrease with quebacho concentrate (p < 0.10). The inclusion of both concentrates increased the acetic:propionic ratio (p < 0.01), and only the inclusion of quebracho concentrate increased the IVOMD (p < 0.01). In the fresh forage diets, gas and methane production increased with the inclusion of the control concentrate (p < 0.05), but methane production decreased with quebracho concentrate (p < 0.01). The inclusion of quebracho concentrate reduced the NH3-N content and valeric acid proportion (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of quebracho concentrate would be advisable to reduce the CH4 production and NH3-N content in fresh forage diets and to increase the IVOMD in hay diets in comparison with the forages alone.

Treatment with etamsylate reduces haemolactia in lactating dairy cows.

This Research Communication describes the efficacy of etamsylate to reduce haemolactia in dairy cows. A dairy cow with haemolactia produces milk that is reddish or pinkish due to the presence of blood. Haemolactia causes economic loss because bloody milk is rejected by the industry and the consumers. A total of 58 dairy cows with haemolactia were included in the study and randomly divided into treated (n = 31) and control (n = 27) groups. Treatment consisted of three consecutive daily doses of etamsylate at 15 mg/kg, delivered intramuscularly. Milk production was recorded daily for 7 d, whether or not blood was detected in milk. The mean number of days with the presence of blood in milk in the treatment group was significantly lower (3·4 d) than in the control group (4·9 d). Treatment with etamsylate did not significantly affect milk yield. In conclusion, treatment with etamsylate reduces the number of days blood is observed in milk and it does not have any negative effect on milk production.

Descriptive study for culling and mortality in five high-producing Spanish dairy cattle farms (2006-2016).

BACKGROUND: High turnover rate in dairy farms due to culling and mortality is associated with poor animal welfare, an increase in production costs and lower economic benefits for the dairy farm. Understanding cow elimination better would help to formulate specific prevention measures and improve the efficiency of milk production in dairy farms. Culling and mortality data from five standard high-producing dairy farms in Spain were analysed over a period of 11 years (2006-2016). Data were collected by the same veterinary team and using the same software system. RESULTS: Significant between-herd differences in eliminated cows were observed for type of elimination (slaughter or death on the farm), age at elimination, cause of elimination, number of lactations and production parameters, such as total days in milk, life milk yield, litres per day of productive life and litres per day of life. Culling and mortality were higher during the hot season and for cows of second and third parities. Between-herd differences were observed. Reproductive disorders (30.2%) were the most frequent reason for elimination, with low production (23.4%) being the second most frequent reason. Accidents on the farm (7.7%) were a more frequent cause of elimination than metabolic diseases (7.2%), locomotor disorders (2.4%) and obstetrics (2.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Veterinary teams or farmers' associations can use culling and mortality information for benchmarking cow farms if data collection and analysis is standardised for comparability. The analysis of culling and mortality information should help farmers to improve efficiency.

Prevalence of individual and bulk tank milk antibodies of bovine herpesvirus type 1 and its relation to milk quality parameters on dairy farms in Catalonia (north-east Spain).

Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) is the causative agent for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and infectious pustular vulvovaginitis in cows or balanoposthitis in bulls. In this study, individual and bulk tank milk (BTM) samples from 5 Catalan dairy farms with different control strategies against BoHV-1 were analysed during the course of a year for milk quality parameters and glycoprotein E (gE) antibodies. Detection of gE antibodies was carried out with ELISA techniques. Prevalence of BoHV-1 varied between farms, and was stable during the study in individual and BTM samples. Comparing the antibody results of samples with milk quality parameters, positive samples with higher levels of antibodies corresponded to lower lactose and to higher percentages of fat and somatic cells.

Colostrum and milk pasteurization improve health status and decrease mortality in neonatal calves receiving appropriate colostrum ingestion.

The objective of the study was to evaluate if on-farm heat treatment of colostrum and bulk tank milk can improve calf health status and morbidity and mortality rates during the first 21d of life in neonatal Holstein calves receiving appropriate colostrum ingestion. A total of 587 calves were randomly assigned to 2 groups of males and females over 18mo. The nonpasteurized group (n=287, 143 males and 144 females) was fed frozen (-20°C) colostrum (6-8L during the first 12h of life) that was previously reheated up to 40°C. They were also fed refrigerated (4°C) raw milk from the bulk tank that was also reheated up to 40°C (1.8L every 12h). The pasteurized group (n=300, 150 males and 150 females) was also fed colostrum and milk, but both were pasteurized before freezing. Blood samples were drawn from all calves to obtain serum at 2 to 5d of life. Serum total protein (g/dL) was determined using a commercially available refractometer. Colostrum and milk underwent routine bacteriological analysis to determine total plate counts (cfu/mL) and total coliform counts (cfu/mL). All the calves underwent clinical examination every 24h during the first 21d of life. Every day, calves were clinically diagnosed either as being healthy or suffering from respiratory disease, neonatal calf diarrhea, or suffering other diseases. On-farm heat treatment for colostrum and milk reduced total plate counts and total coliform counts between 1 and 2 log10. Pasteurization of colostrum and milk significantly decreased the morbidity and mortality (5.2 and 2.8%) in comparison with calves receiving nonpasteurized colostrum and milk (15.0 and 6.5%), respectively, during the first 21d of life, even in animals receiving appropriate colostrum ingestion.

A WUR SNP is associated with European Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Virus Syndrome resistance and growth performance in pigs.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) causes decreased reproductive performance and respiratory problems in pigs. The goals of the current study were 1) to examine whether individual variation applies to infection with PRRSV European strains and 2) to investigate the association of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) WUR10000125 (WUR) at the interferon-inducible guanylate-binding protein 1 gene (GBP1) with average daily gain (ADG) in PRRSV infected and uninfected pigs. The experimental procedure consisted of two trials in which pigs from negative PRRSV farms were infected with a wild-type (n=80) or vaccinated with an attenuated European PRRS virus strain (n=40) and then monitored after infection or vaccination. Viral load and ADG were determined for each pig. In a third trial, the ADG for PRRSV-free pigs was monitored. All pigs were genotyped for WUR at the GBP1 gene (AA and AG genotype were defined). Results indicated that there was individual variation in the viral load from pigs challenged with a wild-type or low virulent European PRRSV strain. Secondly, our data showed that WUR SNP was associated to ADG in vaccinated pigs. Thus, ADG in AG pigs was significantly higher than in AA ones after vaccinating with an attenuated PRRSV strain. However, the reverse happened in a PRRSV-free environment where the AA pigs were those that grew faster. Based on these results, there is a scope for selecting pigs according to their responses to PRRS virus infection with European strains and that WUR SNP may play a role in causing PRRSV resistance.

Comparison of two treatment strategies for cows with metritis in high-risk lactating dairy cows.

Acute puerperal metritis (APM) and clinical metritis (CM) are uterine diseases frequently diagnosed in dairy cows. These diseases are responsible for important economic loss because of their effect not only on reproductive performance but also on milk production. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of two different treatments for metritis on dairy cows by measuring their reproductive performance in the next gestation. The end points to measure the reproductive performance included the conception rate at the first artificial insemination, the number of days at conception, and the proportion of nonpregnant cows at over 150 days after beginning milk production. The study was carried out in a high production dairy cow farm located in Lleida (northeast Spain). Recordings of 1044 parturitions of 747 Holstein cows were controlled in this farm from 2009 to 2014. Cows were diagnosed as suffering from metritis (APM or CM) if the following parameters were observed: an abnormally enlarged uterus; a fetid, watery, reddish brown uterine discharge with (APM) or without (CM) fever (>39.5 °C); and presence (APM) or absence (CM) of signs of systemic illness (decreased milk production, dullness, or other signs of toxemia) within 21 days postpartum. Afterwards, cows suffering from metritis (APM or CM) were randomly assigned and balanced to two groups: (1) animals receiving parenteral amoxicillin intramuscularly plus intrauterine infusion with oxytetracycline (P + I group) and (2) animals receiving only parenteral amoxicillin intramuscularly (P group). Furthermore, reproductive performance of cows without metritis was used as reference (control group). Metritis was diagnosed in 27.5% of the total parturitions included in the study (288 of 1044). In particular, metritis was diagnosed in 30.5% (118 of 387) and 25.9% (170 of 657) of parturitions from heifers and multiparous cows, respectively. Reproductive performance was not significantly affected by the parity, the season at the first artificial insemination, the season at conception, the bull, or the inseminator. The P + I treatment was able to significantly reduce the number of days at the first insemination and at conception when compared with the P treatment in heifers. In multiparous cows, this significant effect was only observed for days at conception. Additionally, the P + I treatment was able to significantly increase the percentage of pregnant animals at the first insemination and decrease the percentage of nonpregnant cows at greater than 150 days in milk production for both heifers and multiparous cows when compared with the P treatment.

Low seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection associated with the limousin breed in cow-calf herds in Andorra, Europe.

Neospora caninum seroprevalence and risk factors affecting seroprevalence in beef cattle in Andorra were investigated. Antibodies to N. caninum were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performed on a yearly basis in 1,758 animals older than 6 mo, belonging to 26 herds. Mean seroprevalence of antibodies to N. caninum for the herds was 7.4 +/- 1.2% (130/1,758). Logistic regression analyses were performed on data from each animal, considering N. caninum seropositivity as the dependent variable, and herd, grazing area, year of sampling, repeat-test animal (animals sampled twice or more), sex, breed, age (animals <4 yr old or > or =5 yr old), and country of birth as possible risk factors. Based on the odds ratio, the prevalence of infection was 2.1 times higher (P < 0.01) in animals from the Ordino grazing area, 1.64 times higher in animals older than 5 yr (P < 0.01), and 6.7 times (1/0.15) lower in Limousin-mixed Limousin cattle (P < 0.002). The results suggest that the particular grazing location could promote the horizontal transmission of this parasite and that certain breeds are less susceptible to N. caninum infection than others.