Dairy Resources - Management

August 2022

ABSTRACT:

Lameness is a common condition in dairy cows. Free-choice access to pasture may benefit lame cows by providing a softer and more comfortable lying and standing surface; however, the effects of this system on lameness have not yet been explored. We evaluated whether a 7-wk period of free-choice pasture access would improve lameness recovery and affect the lying behavior of lame dairy cows. Lactating Holstein cows, all clinically lame upon enrollment and housed inside a freestall barn, were pseudo-randomly allocated to 1 of 2 treatments (balancing for gait score, parity, and previous lameness history): free-choice access to pasture (n = 27; pasture) or indoor housing only (n = 27; indoor). Cows were gait scored weekly by an observer blind to treatment, using a 5-point numerical rating system (NRS 1 = sound, NRS 5 = severely lame), and hoof inspections were performed by professional trimmers at the start and end of the 7-wk period. Lying behavior was assessed using accelerometers. Cows were categorized as either having a sound period (NRS <2 over 2 consecutive weeks) or remaining lame. Cows spent, on average, 14.8 ± 10.0% (mean ± SD) of their total time on pasture, with much of this time spent outside at night. Over the 7-wk period, 42% of cows had at least one sound period (pasture: 55.6%, indoor: 26.9%), but this was more likely for cows with pasture access (odds ratio = 4.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.1–14.6%). Pasture cows also spent more total weeks sound compared with indoor cows (2.0 ± 0.34 vs. 0.81 ± 0.35 wk). Cows with pasture access lay down for less overall time than indoor cows (13.9 ± 0.29 vs. 12.7 ± 0.28 h/d) and spent more time standing on pasture (74%) than when indoors (47%). These results suggest that lame dairy cows will use pasture when provided with free-choice access, primarily at night, and that access to pasture aids in lameness recovery. We encourage future research to investigate longer-term effects on the recovery of hoof lesions and reoccurrence of lameness cases.

Kathryn J. McLellan, Daniel M. Weary, Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk
Journal of Dairy Science, DOI:https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21042

May 2022

ABSTRACT:

There is growing evidence that animal personality is linked to a range of productivity traits in farm animals, including dairy cattle. To date, the methodology for assessing personality traits of dairy cattle is time consuming and often requires a test arena, which limits the opportunity for commercial farms to use personality traits of dairy cattle for individualized management. This study investigated whether personality traits of pastured dairy cattle, scored in short behavioral tests, are associated with daily behavioral patterns and milk production. Cows (n = 87) were exposed twice to each of 5 behavioral tests, where their responses to novel or putatively stressful situations were scored on an ordinal scale for investigative and reactive behavior toward a novel object and a novel human after exiting the milking parlor, response to restraint in a crush, avoidance distance from an approaching human in the paddock, and response to milking (step-kick behavior). Most behavior test scores were consistent over the 2 test repeats (using repeatability estimates, Mann-Whitney U test of difference between repeats, and Spearman rank correlation). Behavior test scores were subjected to a principal components analysis that revealed intertest relationships in 3 factors of correlated sets of test scores, interpreted as personality traits (fearful of humans, calm-investigative, and reactive to milking). Regression analyses determined how these traits were associated with daily grazing, ruminating, and lying behaviors, and milk production (after controlling for cow age, breed, lactation status, group, and climate variables). Cows that were more fearful of humans (high avoidance distance, reactive toward the novel human) had reduced lying time compared with cows that scored low on this trait. Cows that were more calm (during restraint) and investigative (toward the novel object) had greater grazing time, which likely contributed to their greater milk production compared with cows that scored low on this trait. Cows that were more reactive to milking produced less milk than cows that scored low on this trait. These results indicate that individual differences in daily behavior patterns and milk production of dairy cattle are associated with personality traits of cows, measured using several short behavioral tests. These methods may be useful for characterizing grazing dairy cattle on commercial farms, which could aid in understanding individual behavior patterns and provide opportunities for individualized management.

Heather W. Neave, Gosia Zobel, Helen Thoday, Katie Saunders, J. Paul Edwards, Jim Webster
Journal of Dairy Science, DOI:https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21249

May 2022

ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the effects of the timing of hyperketonemia (HYK) diagnosis during early lactation on milk yield and composition, reproductive performance, and herd removal. Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) was measured twice a week during the first 2 wk of lactation in 362 multiparous Holstein cows for the diagnosis of HYK. In each week, cows were diagnosed as HYK positive (HYK+) if the plasma BHB concentrations were ≥1.2 mmol/L in at least one of the tests for the week evaluated. Milk-related outcomes (first 10 monthly milk tests) included milk yield, milk fat and protein content, milk urea nitrogen (MUN), and linear score of somatic cell count. Other performance outcomes of interest included risk of pregnancy within 150 d in milk (DIM) and herd removal (i.e., culling or death) within 300 DIM. Statistical models were built separately for cows diagnosed with HYK during the first week of lactation (wk1) and for cows diagnosed during the second week of lactation (wk2). All models for wk2 were adjusted by HYK diagnosed in wk1, along with other potential confounder variables. The association between HYK in each week and milk-related outcomes was assessed using generalized estimated equation models that accounted for repeated measures. Time to pregnancy and time to herd removal were analyzed using Cox's proportional hazard regression models. Seventy-eight cows (21.5%) tested positive for HYK during wk1, 60 cows (16.6%) in wk2, and 29 cows (8.0%) in both weeks. Hyperketonemia during wk1 was associated with a milk yield reduction of 3.7 kg [95% confidence interval (CI): −6.67 to −0.76] per cow per day throughout the lactation. Meanwhile, we did not observe evidence of an association between HYK diagnosed during wk2 and milk yield. During the first 2 monthly milk tests, cows diagnosed as HYK+ in wk1 had greater fat (0.42%; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.67) and MUN (0.75 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.26 to 1.24) content in milk than HYK-negative (HYK−) cows. We did not detect any evidence of an association between HYK diagnosed in wk2 and these outcomes. The HYK+ cows in wk1 had a 30% [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.48 to 1.01] lower risk of pregnancy within 150 DIM and 2.48 times (95% CI: 1.63 to 2.89) higher risk of herd removal within 300 DIM than HYK− cows. Conversely, no evidence of association was observed between HYK+ cows in wk2 and risk of pregnancy by 150 DIM (HR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.64 to 1.51) or removal from the herd within 300 DIM (HR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.52 to 1.60). Our findings indicate that HYK diagnosed during wk1 of lactation is associated with negative performance in terms of milk yield, reproduction, and herd removal. No evidence of association was found for the same outcomes when HYK was diagnosed in wk2. Our results suggest the need to consider the timing when HYK is diagnosed when investigating its association with performance outcomes.

Z. Rodriguez, E. Shepley, M.I. Endres, G. Cramer, L.S. Caixeta
Journal of Dairy Science, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-20836

December 2021

Generally, most production problems can be traced back to the dry or transition period, one of the most critical time frames in a cow’s production cycle. (Taylor Leach)

When you think about the animals who are costing your operation the most money, transition animals usually sort their way to the top. Generally, most production problems can be traced back to the dry or transition period, one of the critical time frames in a cow’s production cycle.

July 2021

The impacts of heat stress are worse for unborn calves than their heat-stressed dams

Many regions in the U.S. experienced weeks of summer-like temperatures before the season officially began.

Hot weather means implementing heat-abatement protocols. While many approaches are similar, not all are effective.

June 2021

As dairy caregivers, all too often we see “Poor Doer Syndrome.” (Dr. Eric Rooker)

“She just seems broken Doc,” Chris said. “She came in ok, cleaned, milked well for the first 4 or 5 days and now this is her.” I’m standing in Chris’s little red barn of 55 cows looking at a 5-day fresh cow that just isn’t right. She looks depressed, lethargic and has droopy ears. The unfortunate thing is, there’s nothing clinically wrong with her, no metritis, D/A, pneumonia or ketosis. She’s just off.

June 2021

Producers understand the value of tracking feed inventories and income over feed cost, yet calculating these on a consistent, accurate, and timely basis requires the implementation of key processes and the involvement of numerous key personnel.

Both milk parlors and feed centers are key focus areas where efficiency has a profound impact on the net income and profitability of a given farm. Yet we often don’t see them managed to the same level of rigor. For obvious reasons, dairy producers have done an excellent job managing the efficiency of the milking parlor, regularly focusing on key performance indicators such as milk per cow, milk per stall per hour, turns per hour, etc.

June 2021

If you watch carefully, you can tell a lot about a cow by reading her face. Know the telltale facial expressions of cows in the early stages of pain and sickness.

A cow walks into a bar, and the bartender says, “Why the long face?”

Joking aside, cows do communicate how they are feeling with their facial expressions. While obvious behaviors like teeth grinding, vocalization, arched back, limping, and shivering are signs of cows in extreme discomfort, reading facial expressions can help managers detect and assist cows earlier in the pain and disease process.

May 2021

Lameness is a problem in many dairy herds. Focusing on key strategies such as ensuring optimal lying times, immediate treatment, effective record-keeping and collaborating with key team members can help. (Krista Styer, Krista Ann Photo + Film Co.)

Lameness is a costly problem for dairy farms that leads to reduced milk production, fertility challenges and higher cull rates. Dr. Gerard Cramer, DVM, DVSc, Associate Professor with the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine of the University of Minnesota, shared practical strategies for detecting, treating and managing hoof health issues in an episode of PDPW’s The Dairy Signal™.

March 2021

Australian researchers have developed a new technique to process raw milk that claims to deliver all the benefits of pasteurization, while leaving more nutrients and flavor intact.