Precision technologies to improve dairy grazing systems.

Pasture-based dairy herds continue to grow around the world as demand increases for sustainable farming practices. Grazing dairy farmers may benefit from the utilization of precision dairy technologies because these technologies have the potential to improve animal welfare, increase farm efficiency, and reduce costs. Precision dairy technologies have provided novel information about activity, rumination, and grazing behavior of various breeds in pasture-based systems. Previous research with wearable technologies has indicated that rumination, eating, and no activity have moderate to high correlations (r = 0.65 to 0.88) with visual observation; however, activity may be difficult to record in grazing herds. However, many grazing dairy farmers around the world are using activity monitors with generally positive success. Grazing is a complex behavior to define because cows may walk to an area and stop to eat or continuously walk and take bites of grass from the pasture. Wearable technologies can detect whether a cow is grazing with reasonable accuracy. However, the challenge is to determine pasture intake as bite rate and bite size because these can vary as the pasture is grazed to a low residual height. Nevertheless, grazing behavior data collected with wearable technologies was highly correlated (r = 0.92 to 0.95) with visual observations. Grazing is a behavior that should continue to be explored, especially with precision dairy technologies. As healthy and productive pastures are integral to grazing systems, accurate forage biomass measurements can improve efficiency and production of pastured dairy cows. However, few farms use technology to determine forage availability. Therefore, using dairy technologies to monitor forage dry matter from pasture may provide a potential benefit for grazing-based dairy farms. Current satellite technology with the normalized difference vegetation index and electronic rising plate meters may provide new technologies for farms to monitor forage biomass and fine-tune grazing within pastures. In the future, pasture-based dairy farms may rely on virtual fencing, drones to detect animal health issues and forage availability, and autonomous vehicles to move cattle and to detect weeds on pasture.

Resistance profile and biofilm production of Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus sp., and Streptococcus spp. from dairy farms in southern Brazil.

Milk is a high nutritional value food that helps in human development and growth. However, it can also harbor microorganisms. Therefore, the objective of this study was to isolate, identify and evaluate the resistance profile and pathogenicity factors of gram-positive cocci isolated from liners in milking rooms in the south of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Biochemical and molecular tests were performed for the identification. The following were isolated: Enterococcus faecalis (10), Enterococcus faecium (4), Staphylococcus intermedius (1), Streptococcus uberis (1), and Streptococcus dysgalactiae (1). The susceptibility of isolated microorganisms to eight antibiotics was evaluated according to CLSI, and the genus that proved to be resistant to most of those was Enterococcus. In addition, all 17 isolates were able to form biofilm, which remained viable after the use of neutral, alkaline and alkaline-chlorinated detergent. The only product that was effective against biofilm of all microorganisms was chlorhexidine 2%. The results obtained highlight the importance of pre- and post-dipping tests on dairy properties, in which chlorhexidine is one of the disinfectants used. As observed, products indicated for cleaning and descaling pipes were not effective on biofilms of the different species tested.

Comparison of 3-breed rotational crossbreds of Montbéliarde, Viking Red, and Holstein with Holstein cows fed 2 alternative diets for dry matter intake, production, and residual feed intake.

The objective of this study was to compare 3-breed rotational crossbred (CB) cows of the Montbéliarde, Viking Red, and Holstein (HO) breeds with HO cows fed 2 alternative diets for dry matter intake (DMI), fat plus protein production (CFP), body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), feed efficiency, and residual feed intake (RFI) from 46 to 150 days in milk (DIM) during first lactation. The CB cows (n = 17) and HO cows (n = 19) calved from September 2019 to March 2020. Cows were fed either a traditional total mixed ration diet (TRAD) or a higher fiber, lower starch total mixed ration diet (HFLS). The HFLS had 21% more corn silage, 47% more alfalfa hay, 44% less corn grain, and 43% less corn gluten feed than the TRAD. The 2 diets were analyzed for dry matter content, crude protein, forage digestibility, starch, and net energy for lactation. The BW and BCS were recorded once weekly. Daily milk, fat, and protein production were estimated from twice monthly milk recording with random regression. Measures of efficiency were CFP per kilogram of DMI and DMI per kilogram of BW. The RFI from 46 to 150 DIM was the residual error from regression of DMI on milk energy, metabolic BW, and the energy required for change in BW. Statistical analysis of all variables included the fixed effects of diet, breed group, and the interaction of diet and breed group. The CB cows fed HFLS had less DMI (-12%) and lower DMI/BW (-14%) compared with the HO cows fed TRAD. For CFP, CB and HO cows were not different when fed TRAD or HFLS. Furthermore, the CB cows fed HFLS had higher BW (+50 kg) compared with HO cows fed HFLS. The CB cows fed TRAD had higher BCS than HO cows fed TRAD and HO cows fed HFLS (+0.46 and +0.62, respectively). The HO cows fed TRAD had more DMI (+14%) and lower CFP per kilogram of DMI (-12%) compared with the HO cows fed HFLS. In addition, mean RFI from 46 to 150 DIM was lower and more desirable for CB cows fed HFLS (-120.0 kg) compared with HO cows fed TRAD (85.3 kg). Dairy producers may feed either TRAD or HFLS to CB cows without loss of CFP.

Birth traits of Holstein calves compared with Holstein, Jersey, Montbéliarde, Normande, and Viking Red-sired crossbred calves.

Holstein (HO) calves, 3-breed crossbred calves of Montbéliarde, Viking Red, and HO (MVH), and 3-breed crossbred calves of Normande, Jersey, and Viking Red (NJV) were compared for gestation length (GL), calf weight at birth (CW), calving difficulty (CD), and stillbirth (SB) in 2 research herds at the University of Minnesota. Calves were born from January 2009 to December 2019. For the St. Paul and Morris herds, HO calves (n = 1,121) were compared with MVH calves (n = 1,393) from primiparous and multiparous cows. For the single herd analysis at Morris, HO calves (n = 476), MVH calves (n = 922), and NJV calves (n = 405) were compared from primiparous and multiparous cows. Primiparous and multiparous births were analyzed separately because multiparous cows had multiple births, and CD and SB are likely different traits for primiparous and multiparous cows. Statistical analysis of GL, CW, CD, and SB included fixed effects of sex of calf, herd, breed group of calf, and year-season of calving. For the St. Paul and Morris herds, HO calves from primiparous (278 d) and multiparous (279 d) HO cows had shorter GL compared with MVH calves from primiparous (280 d) and multiparous (282 d) crossbred cows. The HO calves (39.4 and 43.2 kg, respectively) from primiparous and multiparous HO cows had lower CW compared with MVH calves (40.3 and 44.3 kg, respectively) from primiparous and multiparous crossbred cows. Calving difficulty and SB were not different for HO and MVH calves from primiparous and multiparous cows. For the single herd analysis at Morris, HO calves (278 and 279 d, respectively) from primiparous and multiparous HO cows had shorter GL compared with MVH calves (281 and 282 d, respectively) and NJV calves (282 and 282 d, respectively) from primiparous and multiparous crossbred cows. The CW of HO calves (38.6 and 42.0 kg, respectively) from primiparous and multiparous HO cows was lower compared with MVH calves (39.7 and 42.9 kg, respectively), but higher compared with NJV calves (35.1 and 38.0 kg, respectively) from primiparous and multiparous crossbred cows. Calving difficulty and SB did not differ for HO, MVH, and NJV calves from primiparous and multiparous cows. The longer GL for crossbred calves and higher CW for MVH calves did not increase CD and SB for primiparous and multiparous cows. Dairy producers may implement 3-breed rotational crossbreeding systems that include the HO, Jersey, Normande, Montbéliarde, and Viking Red breeds, and some breeds may increase GL and CW without an increase in CD and SB.

Water requirements of beef production can be reduced by genetic selection.

Growing concerns regarding sustainability in agriculture include the availability of drinking water, which is putting pressure on livestock production, especially the beef sector, for more efficient practices. Thus, genetic parameters were estimated for traits related to water intake and water use efficiency in Senepol cattle. Senepol females (n = 925) and males (n = 191) were evaluated in performance tests carried out from 2014 to 2019. Daily dry matter intake (DMI) and water intake (WI) were recorded by electronic feed and water bunks (Intergado Ltd.). Other traits assessed included average daily gain (ADG); mid-test metabolic BW (BW0.75); residual water intake based on ADG (RWIADG), estimated as the residual of the linear regression equation of WI on ADG and BW0.75; residual water intake based on DMI (RWIDMI), estimated as the residual of the linear regression equation of WI on DMI and BW0.75 (RWIDMI); water conversion ratio (= WI/ADG); gross water efficiency (GWE = ADG/WI); residual feed intake estimated as the residual of the linear regression equation of DMI on ADG and BW0.75 (RFI); feed conversion ratio (= DMI/ADG) and gross feed efficiency. Genetic (co)variances were estimated with bivariate analyses. The heritabilities for WI, RWIADG and RWIDMI were 0.38, 0.36 and 0.33, respectively. Water conversion ratio, RWIADG and RWIDMI showed positive genetic and phenotypic correlations with WI, whereas GWE was negatively correlated with WI, suggesting that traits related to water use efficiency may be useful to identify cattle with reduced WI. Water intake showed positive genetic (r = 0.79) and phenotypic (r = 0.60) correlations with DMI, suggesting the use of WI to estimate DMI in future studies. Both RWIADG and RWIDMI were genetically correlated with RFI (0.67 and 0.57, respectively) and ADG (0.49 and 0.44, respectively), showing that RWI is positively associated with feed efficiency, but has an antagonistic relationship with growth. This antagonism, however, may be managed using selection indexes. Genetic improvement of water use efficiency in Senepol cattle is possible through selection and may reduce the water requirements of beef production systems.

Evaluation of the RumiWatch system as a benchmark to monitor feeding and locomotion behaviors of grazing dairy cows.

Direct visual observation is a common method for validation of animal behavior technologies; however, visual observations are time consuming and subject to human error. The objective of this study was to evaluate the RumiWatch system (Itin and Hoch GmbH, Liestal, Switzerland), which is composed of a noseband sensor and a pedometer, for monitoring feeding and locomotion behaviors of grazing dairy cows, to determine its accuracy for use as a benchmark in validation studies. The study was conducted at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, Minnesota, from May to June 2018. Two experiments were conducted and validated: (1) feeding and locomotion behaviors and (2) rumination cycle and grazing bites. Lactating crossbred dairy cows (n = 12) were offered pasture for 22 h/d, and cows were milked twice daily. Visual observations were recorded by 3 observers with the Pocket Observer app (Noldus Information Technology, Leesburg, VA). The first experiment determined agreement for visual observations and the RumiWatch noseband sensor and pedometer from 144 h of feeding and locomotion behaviors. The second experiment determined agreement for visual observations and the RumiWatch noseband sensor from 17.75 h of rumination cycle and grazing bites. Pearson correlations evaluated associations for visual observations, and the RumiWatch noseband sensor and pedometer and were 0.84 for rumination, 0.76 for grazing, 0.39 for drinking, 0.57 for other activities, 0.83 for standing, 0.91 for lying, and 0.38 for walking. Correlations for visual observations and rumination cycle and grazing bites were -0.13 and 0.47, respectively. The RumiWatch system evaluated rumination, grazing, standing, and lying behaviors with high precision and accuracy, and the RumiWatch system may be used as a benchmark instead of visual observation to validate animal behavior technologies.

Estrous detection with an activity and rumination monitoring system in an organic grazing and a low-input conventional dairy herd.

The objective of this study was to evaluate estrous detection using a physical activity and rumination monitoring system in a seasonal calving organic grazing (GRAZ) and a low-input conventional (ZEROGRAZ) dairy herd. The study was conducted from June 2014 to August 2017. During each breeding season, physical activity and rumination were monitored electronically using an activity and rumination monitoring system (HR-LD tags; SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel). Signals resulting from the activity and rumination monitoring system for individual cows were used to determine consistency of the values using this system with the breeding date of cows. Breeding dates were determined using EstrotectTM patches. The study included 1,463 breeding dates from 531 cows. Within the GRAZ herd, during the summer breeding season the monitoring system was less sensitive for estrous detection (33.8 %) than during the winter breeding season (79.8 %).The activity and rumination monitoring system had a sensitivity of 56.7 %, specificity of 99.3 % and positive predictive value of 59.8 % for the GRAZ herd, and sensitivity of 70.1 %, specificity of 99.2 % and positive predictive value of 66.3 % for the ZEROGRAZ herd. For cows that were determined to be pregnant and subsequently calved as a result of the mating, the sensitivity for estrous detection was slightly greater for the GRAZ (60.7 %) and ZEROGRAZ (72.5 %) herds. The activity and rumination monitoring system evaluated in this study has potential for estrous detection in grazing herds during the winter breeding season and in small-input dairy herds during both, winter and summer breeding seasons.

Validation of an ear tag-based accelerometer system for detecting grazing behavior of dairy cows.

The objective of the study was to develop a grazing algorithm for an ear tag-based accelerometer system (Smartbow GmbH, Weibern, Austria) and to validate the grazing algorithm with data from a noseband sensor. The ear tag has an acceleration sensor, a radio chip, and temperature sensor for calibration and it can monitor rumination and detect estrus and localization. To validate the ear tag, a noseband sensor (RumiWatch, Itin and Hoch GmbH, Liestal, Switzerland) was used. The noseband sensor detects pressure and acceleration patterns, and, with a software program specific to the noseband, pressure and acceleration patterns are used to classify data into eating, ruminating, drinking, and other activities. The study was conducted at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center (Morris, MN) and at Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland). During May and June 2017, observational data from Minnesota and Ireland were used to develop the grazing algorithm. During September 2018, data were collected by the ear tag and noseband sensor from 12 crossbred cows in Minnesota for a total of 248 h and from 9 Holstein-Friesian cows in Ireland for a total of 248 h. A 2-sided t-test was used to compare the percentage of grazing and nongrazing time recorded by the ear tag and the noseband sensor. Pearson correlations and concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) were used to evaluate associations between the ear tag and noseband sensor. The percentage of total grazing time recorded by the ear tag and by the noseband sensor was 37.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 32.1 to 42.0] and 40.5% (95% CI: 35.5 to 45.6), respectively, in Minnesota, and 35.4% (95% CI: 30.6 to 40.2) and 36.9% (95% CI: 32.1 to 41.8), respectively, in Ireland. The ear tag and noseband sensor agreed strongly for monitoring grazing in Minnesota (r = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94 to 0.97, CCC = 0.95) and in Ireland (r = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.90 to 0.94, CCC = 0.92). The results suggest that there is potential for the ear tag to be used on pasture-based dairy farms to support management decision-making.

Technical note: Validation of an ear-tag accelerometer sensor to determine rumination, eating, and activity behaviors of grazing dairy cattle.

The objective of this study was to validate an ear-tag accelerometer sensor (CowManager SensOor, Agis Automatisering BV, Harmelen, the Netherlands) using direct visual observations in a grazing dairy herd. Lactating crossbred cows (n = 24) were used for this experiment at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center grazing dairy (Morris, MN) during the summer of 2016. A single trained observer recorded behavior every minute for 6 h for each cow (24 cows × 6 h = 144 h of observation total). Direct visual observation was compared with sensor data during August and September 2016. The sensor detected and identified ear and head movements, and through algorithms the sensor classified each minute as one of the following behaviors: rumination, eating, not active, active, and high active. A 2-sided t-test was conducted with PROC TTEST of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) to compare the percentage of time each cow's behavior was recorded by direct visual observation and sensor data. For total recorded time, the percentage of time of direct visual observation compared with sensor data was 17.9 and 19.1% for rumination, 52.8 and 51.9% for eating, 17.4 and 11.9% for not active, and 7.9 and 21.1% for active. Pearson correlations (PROC CORR of SAS) were used to evaluate associations between direct visual observations and sensor data. Furthermore, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), bias correction factors, location shift, and scale shift (epiR package of R version 3.3.1; R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) were calculated to provide a measure of accuracy and precision. Correlations between visual observations for all 4 behaviors were highly to weakly correlated (rumination: r = 0.72, CCC = 0.71; eating: r = 0.88, CCC = 0.88; not active: r = 0.65, CCC = 0.52; and active: r = 0.20, CCC = 0.19) compared with sensor data. The results suggest that the sensor accurately monitors rumination and eating behavior of grazing dairy cattle. However, active behaviors may be more difficult for the sensor to record than others.

Aspectos clínicos, cirúrgicos, histológicos e pós-operatórios de oito cadelas com leiomioma vaginal / Clinical, surgical, histological and postoperative aspects in the case of eight bitches with vaginal leiomyoma

O presente trabalho reporta as características clínicas e cirúrgicas de oito casos de cadelas portadoras de leiomioma vaginal, com histórico de aumento de volume na região perineal, aparecimento de massa pela vulva, disquezia, tenesmo e disúria. As pacientes foram submetidas à cirurgia de episiotomia para ressecção da massa neoplásica, e em quatro casos foi necessária a ovariossalpingo-histerectomia. Porém, uma delas apresentou recidiva, e, no segundo procedimento cirúrgico de exérese de neoformação, o histopatológico diagnosticou leiomiossarcoma. A paciente ainda apresentou mais duas recidivas, até o proprietário optar pela eutanásia. Decorridos quatro meses, as sete cadelas diagnosticadas com leiomioma não apresentaram recidiva, e os proprietários relataram ausência de sinais relacionados com a doença descrita. Conclui-se que a episiotomia para ressecção da massa vaginal e a ovariossalpingo-histerectomia nas cadelas inteiras nos casos de tumores vaginais benignos são tratamentos satisfatórios, com bom prognóstico, ao contrário do leiomiossarcoma.

This study reports the clinical and surgical procedures of eight cases of bitches with vaginal leiomyoma. All animals presented increased volume in the perineal region, and exteriorization of the vulva, dyschezia, tenesmus and dysuria. The patients underwent episiotomy surgery for resection of the neoplastic mass, and ovariosalpingohisterectomy in four cases. However, one had recurrence on the second surgical procedure for removal of neoformation, histopathological diagnosed leiomyosarcoma, the patient also had two more relapses, until the owner chose euthanasia. After four months, the seven dogs diagnosed with leiomyoma showed no recurrence and the owners reported no signs of the disease described. We concluded that episiotomy for vaginal mass resection combined with ovariohysterectomy in cases of benign vaginal tumors have shown satisfactory treatment with good prognostic.

Hydroxyapatite nanowhiskers embedded in chondroitin sulfate microspheres as colon targeted drug delivery systems.

An inorganic/organic hybrid material with a triggering mechanism for specific drug delivery at the colon was synthesized. First, hydroxyapatite nanowhiskers (n-HA) with a high aspect ratio, narrow particle size distribution and high surface area, ca. 67 m2 g-1, are prepared. As proof-of-concept, terbinafine, a fungicidal agent, was loaded onto the n-HA, obtaining a drug loading of 40.63 mg of terbinafine per gram of n-HA. Hydroxyapatite nanowhiskers loaded with terbinafine were encapsulated with chondroitin sulfate (CS) microspheres, using chemically modified glycidyl methacrylate by performing ultrasonic microemulsion polymerization. The obtained hybrid materials were characterized by TEM, SEM, FTIR, and NMR. Dispersed n-HA in CS microspheres was obtained for different n-HA contents, from 1 to 10% (w/w). In vitro studies have been carried out to investigate terbinafine release from hybrid microspheres in simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid. The studies demonstrated that sustained drug release can be obtained using the developed hybrid material.

Quality of life assessment in two consecutive years of patients in a waiting list for lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Patients on a waiting list for lung transplantation (LT) have physical and emotional setbacks due to limiting symptoms such as dyspnea and cough. Time on a waiting list may worsen the conditions of these patients and affect their quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate QoL components in patients in 2 consecutive years who were waiting for transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied patients who remained on a waiting list for transplantation in the first 2 years after inclusion on the list. Evaluation was performed using the Short-Form-36 (SF-36) Questionnaire and the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were included (38.5 ± 15 years), 33 women (59%) and 23 men (41%). Of these, 18 had bronchiectasis, 14 had cystic fibrosis, 9 had lung fibrosis, 8 had lung emphysema, and 7 had other diseases. The domains with greater involvement in the first and second year were Functional Capacity and Physical Aspects. In the second year there was a significant worsening in Physical Aspects (2.5-0 points; P = .032). The domains related to the emotional component did not have significant changes. CONCLUSION: The progression of the disease and progressive worsening of symptoms of patients on a transplantation waiting list led to less physical exercise, worsening the effects of inactivity. After 1 year on a waiting list for LT, patients had a significant loss of functionality, which had an impact on QoL.

Caracterização físico-química e sensorial de kefir tradicional e derivados / Physicolchemical and sensorial characteristic of traditional kefir and derivatives

Avaliaram-se diferentes populações de grãos de kefir tradicional e de seus derivados, o kefir, o kefir leban e o soro de kefir, quanto às características físico-químicas e sensoriais, quando inoculados em diferentes concentrações de leite padronizado, levando-se em consideração as variáveis tempo/temperatura de incubação, maturação e filtração. A manipulação da população de grãos de kefir foi eficaz na obtenção de produtos com características físico-químicas semelhantes. O volume de leite utilizado na incubação influenciou significativamente as características dos derivados. A avaliação sensorial de antepastos elaborados a partir de kefir leban, condimentados, apresentou boa aceitabilidade.

It was evaluated different traditional kefir grain populations and their derivatives, kefir, kefir leban and kefir whey, regarding physicochemical and sensorial characteristics when inoculated into different standardized milk concentrations, with incubation time/temperature, maturation and filtration variables. The manipulation of the population of kefir grains was effective in obtaining products with similar physicochemical characteristics and the volume of milk used in the incubation significantly influenced the characteristics of derivatives. The sensory evaluation of kefir leban food formulations such as spiced hors d'oeuvre, showed good acceptability.

Expression and purification of the immunogenically active fragment B of the Park Williams 8 Corynebacterium diphtheriae strain toxin.

The construction of a hexahistidine-tagged version of the B fragment of diphtheria toxin (DTB) represents an important step in the study of the biological properties of DTB because it will permit the production of pure recombinant DTB (rDTB) in less time and with higher yields than currently available. In the present study, the genomic DNA of the Corynebacterium diphtheriae Park Williams 8 (PW8) vaccine strain was used as a template for PCR amplification of the dtb gene. After amplification, the dtb gene was cloned and expressed in competent Escherichia coli M15 cells using the expression vector pQE-30. The lysate obtained from transformed E. coli cells containing the rDTB PW8 was clarified by centrifugation and purified by affinity chromatography. The homogeneity of the purified rDTB PW8 was confirmed by immunoblotting using mouse polyclonal anti-diphtheria toxoid antibodies and the immune response induced in animals with rDTB PW8 was evaluated by ELISA and dermonecrotic neutralization assays. The main result of the present study was an alternative and accessible method for the expression and purification of immunogenically reactive rDTB PW8 using commercially available systems. Data also provided preliminary evidence that rabbits immunized with rDTB PW8 are able to mount a neutralizing response against the challenge with toxigenic C. diphtheriae.