Relationship of changes in condition score to cow health in Holsteins.

The relationship of body condition score with disease occurrence was examined in 561 cows in nine herds. Cows were body condition scored on a five-point scale (1 = thin, 5 = obese) every 2 wk from drying off until 150 d in milk. Cows scored between 3- and 3+ were considered to be in average or good condition. Cows scored less than or equal to 2+ were considered to be underconditioned, whereas those scored greater than or equal to 4- were considered to be overconditioned. Relationships of health and condition score were examined using multiple logistic regression for dichotomous outcomes (e.g., diseased or healthy). Cows that developed dystocia or were culled lost more condition during the dry period than those that did not develop dystocia or were not culled. Cows overconditioned at drying off were more likely to develop cystic ovarian disease and reproductive problems. Cows underconditioned or overconditioned at drying off were more prone to foot problems after calving. Cows overconditioned at 30 d postpartum were more likely to have metritis.

Real-time ultrasonography for determining pregnancy status and viable fetal numbers in ewes.

The reproductive tracts of 26 estrus synchronized, bred ewes were scanned with a portable 5.0 MHz real-time ultrasound unit within 1 to 6 d postbreeding. Intrarectal scanning was performed on alternate days until Days 28 to 30 and twice weekly until Days 50 of gestation. Transabdominal uterine scans were conducted twice weekly from Days 25 to 65 and continued weekly until parturition. A total of 24 ewes (92%) became pregnant. A nonpregnant ewe was recognized 100% of the time by both methods of ultrasonic screening. Correct identification of a gravid ewe as pregnant was 100% from Days 51 to 150 of gestation using transabdominal real-time ultrasonography. There was a significant association (P < 0.005) between the number of lambs born and the number of fetuses observed using transabdominal real-time ultrasonography after Day 25 of gestation. Accurate differentiation of fetal numbers by transabdominal scanning was 100.0% for ewes carrying one lamb and 97.3% for ewes carrying two lambs at Days 51 to 75 of gestation. Fetal attrition was documented in one ewe at Day 49 of gestation. Hydrops allantois was diagnosed in another ewe at 110 d of gestation. A total of 37 lambs were born to 23 ewes in the project flock. No congenital abnormalities were noted in any of the lambs. Transabdominal real-time ultrasonography is a safe, rapid, accurate and practical method for assessing pregnancy status, fetal number and fetal viability in sheep.

Serum neutralizing antibody titers in dairy cattle administered an inactivated vesicular stomatitis virus vaccine.

Two doses of a formalin-killed, cell culture-derived vesicular stomatitis virus (vsv)-New Jersey serotype vaccine were administered intramuscularly, 30 days apart, to all lactating and nonlactating cows in a 350-cow dairy herd. Serum specimens were obtained serially from 96 cows before vaccination and at 30, 52 and 80 days after vaccination and from 24 of these cows 175 days after vaccination. Serum neutralizing antibody titers to vsv-New Jersey serotype were determined from serum-dilution, plaque-reduction tests. Serum neutralizing antibody titers also were determined during the same period for 67 nonvaccinated heifers in the herd. Peak group geometric mean serum neutralizing antibody titers of 1:530.46 +/- 1.14 (group geometric mean titer log10, 2.725 +/- 0.055) developed 21 days after the second vaccination, but decreased to a low value of 1:65.36 +/- 1.38 (group geometric mean titer log10, 1.815 +/- 0.142) by 175 days after vaccination. The nonvaccinated group had no detectable antibody titer to vsv-New Jersey serotype throughout the study. All serum specimens from the vaccinates and controls were negative for heterologous reactivity to vsv-Indiana serotype.