Cattle Production Research Articles

Effects of combined cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 and programed death 1 ligand-receptor blockade on interferon-gamma production in bovine leukemia virus-infected cattle.

In chronic viral infections, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) significantly suppress immune responses. The CTLA-4 receptor abundance in regulatory T cells showed a positive association with viral load and a negative association with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production in bovine leukemia virus (BLV)-infected cattle. Blocking this receptor boosted IFN-γ production, recovering immune response against this illness. In human cancer patients, not everyone responded positively to non-immunotherapy using CTLA-4 receptor antibodies. The present study analyzed the synergistic effects of CTLA-4 and PD-L1 receptor blockade on IFN-γ production in BLV+ cattle in vitro. The genes for bovine CTLA-4 and PD-L1 were artificially produced. The amino acid sequences of the extracellular receptor domains were sourced from the National Center for Biotechnology Information PubMed database. The western blotting and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) techniques were employed for the characterization of recombinant CTLA-4 (rCTLA-4) and recombinant PD-L1 (rPD-L1) proteins. The immunoinhibitory effects of recombinant proteins in Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB)-stimulated cattle peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were investigated. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to analyze monoclonal antibodies against rCTLA-4 and rPD-L1. Antibodies generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy and BLV-seropositive cows were employed to evaluate their blocking capabilities. The resulting recombinant proteins specifically reacted with commercial homogeneous monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) using ELISA and anti-His-tag mAbs using western blotting. Analysis of the proteins using LC-MS/MS revealed correspondence with the sequences of rCTLA-4 and rPD-L1 located in the Mascot database. rCTLA-4 and rPD-L1 proteins inhibited IFN-γ production in bovine PBMCs of activated SEB. When PBMCs from cows were cultured with activated SEB containing rCTLA-4 and rPD-L1, the mAbs increased IFN-γ production in PBMCs. The combined cultivation of mAbs and PBMCs from BLV+ cattle enhanced IFN-γ production in the cells. These findings suggest that the combined blockade of bovine CTLA-4 and PD-L1 receptors can be used as a therapy for bovine leukemia. However, it was shown that a single PBMC sample from a BLV-positive donor did not amplify the synergistic effect. Therefore, it is necessary to perform further studies on a larger population and assessing a wider range of cytokines.

An Analysis of The Agribusiness Communication Structure of Dairy Cattle Farmers: The Case Study of The Tegal Mandiri Farmer Group

Problems in dairy cattle agribusiness require attention not only from the farmers themselves but also from farmer organizations. To understand the communication patterns among group members in the agribusiness sector, including the exchange of information related to cattle production, animal health, and wholesale prices, it is essential to analyze the communication network of the dairy cattle farmer group. This network is significant because it serves as the hub of organizational communication, both internally and externally. This research seeks to analyze the communication structure of the dairy cattle farmer group and investigate the relationship between the respondent characteristics and the communication networks within the Tegal Mandiri farmer group in Bogor Regency. The Social Network Analysis (SNA) method and a quantitative approach were used to conduct the research, with the Tegal Mandiri farmer group members in Bogor Regency as the unit of analysis. The group communication structure was analyzed using degree and closeness centrality, and the relationship between respondent characteristics and the communication network was analyzed using Spearman rank correlation. IBM SPSS Statistics 26 and UCINET 6 were the tools used for analysis. The study revealed that 1) the average degree centrality of the group was between 1.00 and 2.20, and the average closeness centrality was between 400.00 and 558.10. 2) The respondents' characteristics of farmers were significantly related to the communication networks within the group. The study found that the communication structure of the Tegal Mandiri farmer group exhibited low connectivity and an ineffective coordination forum

Factores que afectan la tasa de gestación con embriones cebú producidos in vitro en trópico

Objective. To study the factors affecting the success of embryo transfers (ET). Materials and methods. 1087 ET in zebu cattle were analyzed. The considered extrinsic factors of the donor cows were the cattle production unit from which they were sourced (n=13), amount of transfers in the unit (1 time, >1 time), geographical zone (n=4), period (dry or rainy) and year season; and the intrinsic factors were the breed of the bull and DC, semen, embryo quality and embryo developmental stage. Statistics were compiled with ci2 for the analysis of the main effects, and correlations were estimated through a multivariate clustering analysis. Results. The general pregnancy rate was 37.99±1.47, and there were differences (p<0.05) observed among the CPU (2.78–75%). The PR was higher in the dry than in the rainy period (44.55 vs 31.28%), and in fall and winter (p<0.05) than spring and summer (42.76, 43.98, 37.57 and 29.77%, respectively), and there were differences observed between the geographical zones as well (p<0.05). The PR was higher with excellent-quality embryos (p<0.05) than with good-quality embryos (38.9 vs. 26.3%). The period and year season had an effect over the RC (p<0.05), and the grouping analysis showed a correlation (r>0.90) between the period and year season during Oocyte pick-up (OPU) over the PR; moreover, semen, EQ and EDS had larger associations with the PR (r>0.80). Conclusions. Environmental conditions at the moment of OPU and EQ are factors worth considering in embryo transfer programs with zebu cattle using in vitro produced embryos in tropical conditions.

Relationship between Body Condition and Colostrum Production in Crossbred Friesian Holstein Dairy Cattle: A Case Study at KUD Anjasmoro Dairy Farm

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the body condition of crossbred Friesian Holstein (PFH) dairy cattle and colostrum production, focusing on Body Condition Score (BCS) and vital statistics such as chest circumference, body length, and height. The research was conducted at the KUD Anjasmoro dairy farm in the Wonosalam District of Jombang from November 2022 to April 2023. A case study method was used by observing 42 PFH cows during lactation periods 1 to 5. The results show that BCS and vital statistics have a strong relationship with colostrum production. The analysis indicates that colostrum production increases with increasing BCS and vital statistics. Although the relationship between body length and colostrum production is not significant, body height has a significant influence on colostrum production. In conclusion, proper nutrition and care management can increase colostrum production in dairy cows, which will positively impact overall dairy farm productivity.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ФУЛЬВОКИСЛОТЫ НА УСВОЕНИЕ ПИТАТЕЛЬНЫХ ВЕЩЕСТВ РАЦИОНА И ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ МОЛОДНЯКА КРС

The aim of research is to study the effect of fulvic acid on the absorption of nutrients in the diet and the productivity of young cattle. Feed additives based on humic substances (humic and fulvic acids) with high biological activity may be promising. The studies were conducted on the farm of the agricultural cooperative Imeni Ilyicha in the Novgorod Region on young Holstein cattle aged 6–7 months. Three groups of animals were formed (n = 10): a control group consuming the basic diet (BD), the first experimental group – BD + 5 ml of fulvic acid, the second experimental group – BD + 10 ml of fulvic acid. It was found that the introduction of 5 ml of fulvic acid into the diet of young cattle had a positive effect on the digestibility of all the nutrients studied. Thus, the dry matter, crude protein and crude fiber values in the first experimental group exceeded the similar values in the control group by 1.9 %, 5.4 and 5.8 %, respectively. The digestibility coefficients of crude fat, NFE and organic matter in the animals of the first experimental group also exceeded the control values by 3.9 %, 2.4 and 3.6 %. The increase in the mass fraction of fulvic acid did not lead to a further increase in the digestibility coefficient values, on the contrary, in relation to the first experimental group, they decreased in all indicators. The average daily gain in the control group was 570 g, in the first experimental group – 887, in the second experimental group – 854 g, this also showed that an increase in the dosage of the feed additive is inappropriate and leads to a decrease in the payment for the feed in weight gain.

The respiratory and fecal microbiota of beef calves from birth to weaning.

The development and growth of animals coincide with the establishment and maturation of their microbiotas. To evaluate the respiratory and fecal microbiotas of beef calves from birth to weaning, a total of 30 pregnant cows, and their calves at birth, were enrolled in this study. Deep nasal swabs and feces were collected from calves longitudinally, starting on the day of birth and ending on the day of weaning. Nasopharyngeal, vaginal, and fecal samples were also collected from cows, and the microbiotas of all samples were analyzed. The fecal microbiota of calves was enriched with Lactobacillus during the first 8 weeks of life, before being displaced by genera associated with fiber digestion, and then increasing in diversity across time. In contrast, the diversity of calf respiratory microbiota generally decreased with age. At birth, the calf and cow nasal microbiotas were highly similar, indicating colonization from dam contact. This was supported by microbial source-tracking analysis. The structure of the calf nasal microbiota remained similar to that of the cows, until weaning, when it diverged. The changes were driven by a decrease in Lactobacillus and an increase in genera typically associated with bovine respiratory disease, including Mannheimia, Pasteurella, and Mycoplasma. These three genera colonized calves early in life, though Mannheimia was initially transferred from the cow reproductive tract. Path analysis was used to model the interrelationships of calf respiratory and fecal microbiotas. It was observed that respiratory Lactobacillus and fecal Oscillospiraceae UCG-005 negatively affected the abundance of Mannheimia or Pasteurella.IMPORTANCEIn beef cattle production, bovine respiratory disease (BRD) accounts for most of the feedlot morbidities and mortalities. Metaphylaxis is a common management tool to mitigate BRD, however its use has led to increased antimicrobial resistance. Novel methods to mitigate BRD are needed, including microbiota-based strategies. However, information on the respiratory bacteria of beef calves prior to weaning was limited. In this study, it was shown that the microbiota of cows influenced the initial composition of both respiratory and fecal microbiotas in calves. While colonization of the respiratory tract of calves by BRD-associated genera occurred early in life, their relative abundances increased at weaning, and were negatively correlated with respiratory and gut bacteria. Thus, microbiotas of both the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts have important roles in antagonism of respiratory pathogens and are potential targets for enhancing calf respiratory health. Modulation may be most beneficial, if done prior to weaning, before opportunistic pathogens establish colonization.

Uma abordagem aos tipos sociais da pecuária bovina na norpatagônia

Cattle production acquired special relevance in the northeast of Río Negro province over sheep farming. The change in the sanitary status to the south of the Colorado River in 2013, favored the progressive development of the activity. In addition, the activities from irrigated areas were diversified including forage and grain production. The purpose of this work is to understand the practices and strategies developed by cattle producers, based on the following research questions, What level of homogeneity and heterogeneity do the livestock producers of the region present? How did the changes occurred in the region affected management and production management practices? The quantitative-qualitative approach oriented to the actors, allowed identifying tree livestock social types, as well as the relationship with the production systems, revealing itself as an effective methodology for understanding their specificities. The testimonies collected in this investigation give an indication of the changes that occurred in a sector that was favored by the economic conditions provided by the barrier that boosted the value of the farm, generating a greater number of opportunities.

Biochemical, Molecular, Postmortem and Histopathological Characterization of Bovine Theilerioses at Different Stages of Production and Reproduction

Theilerosis is the most important common vector (Tick) born and hemoprotozoan diseases (TBDS) which pose a serious threat to the livestock population in terms of mortality, reduced milk yield and lowered draft power. The disease is having impact on biochemistry and systemic functions affecting at different stages of production and reproduction of dairy cattle as well as there is lack of accurate diagnosis of this disease. A total 1900 cases were suspected for theileriosis on the basis of clinical signs and total 950 cases were found positive for theileriosis on the basis of blood smear examination. As per the stages of pregnancy and lactation, the cases were classified as cows in early pregnancy, cows in late pregnancy, cows in post parturient stage, cows in early and late lactation period. Biochemical alterations like increased AST, ALT and BUN level indicating liver and kidney dysfunctions in all the groups and significantly higher in post parturient group. The serum phosphorus, calcium and magnesium level decreased in all the affected groups and mostly in late pregnancy period and post parturient stage indicating metabolic disturbances during the disease which were aggravated during theileriosis. Through molecular diagnosis 114 cows (65.51%) were found positive for T. annulata and 41 cows (22.9%) were found positive for T. orientalis and 19 cows (10.9%) were found positive for both Theileria annulata and Theileria orientalis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the accession number for Theileria annulata was OQ230445 which is having 100% similarity with puri isolate and 98% similarity with Khorda isolate and the accession number for T. orientalis was OQ 230446 having 85% similarity with Khorda isolate. On necropsy, the animals were weak, debilitated with atrophy of the muscles. In some cases, the liver was enlarged, markedly congested and in some cases yellowish tinged surface and cut edges with distension of gall bladder was evident. Abomasal ulcers were distinct and considered as pathognomonic. On histopathological examination, the liver revealed necrosis of hepatocytes with sinusoidal congestion and infiltration of mononuclear cells. In lymphnode, there was depletion of lymphocytes in lymphoid follicles with congestion and haemorrhage. Pulmonary edema was also evident in few cases. The combined approach involving biochemical, molecular, Post-mortem and histopathological characters were found to be fruitful in diagnosis of the bovine theileriosis at different stages of production and reproduction with optimum specificity.

In vitro evaluation of ruminal digestibility and fermentation characteristics of local feedstuff-based beef cattle ration

Background: Optimum productivity of beef cattle is achieved with adequate feed supply, both in quality and quantity. Consumption of local feedstuff Neptunia plena L. Benth and Leersia hexandra Swartz as a ration by the animal subject is expected to promote cost efficiency and production, as well as provide essential nutrition needs. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), N-NH3 production, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) in beef cattle. Methods: Feed and rumen inoculum samples were prepared and analyzed for their proximate contents. There were five treatment groups based on the diet received by beef cattle. In vitro approaches were used to determine the DMD, OMD, N-NH3 production, and VFA in beef cattle. The research was conducted in the Laboratory of Feed Nutrient Science, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture, Diponegoro University, Semarang. The data were analyzed using ANOVA at a significance level of 95%, and a Duncan Multiple Range Test. Results: The results showed that the highest DMD (P<0.05) was derived from T5 (56.47%), followed by T4 (56.45%) and T3 (55.90%). T5=62.40% significantly (P<0.05) generated the highest OMD followed by T4=61.95% and T3=60.82%. This treatment had the highest N-NH3 value, namely 5.02 mM, compared with T3=4.55 mM, T4=4.50 mM, T2=4.22 mM, and T1=3.99 mM. Furthermore, T5 had the highest VFA (P<0.05) compared with T4, T3, T2, and T1 with the value of 150.5, 133.0, 130.5, 130.0, and 123.5 mM, respectively. Conclusions: The local feedstuff-based ration contributed to beef cattle production.

Climate impacts of alternative beef production systems depend on the functional unit used: Weight or monetary value

Beef production has been identified as a significant source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the agricultural sector. United States and Canada account for about a quarter of the world's beef supply. To compare the GHG emission contributions of alternative beef production systems, we conducted a meta-analysis of 32 studies that were conducted between 2001 and 2023. Results indicated that GHG emissions from beef production in North America varied almost fourfold from 10.2 to 37.6 with an average of 21.4 kg CO2e/kg carcass weight (CW). Studies that considered soil C sequestration (C-seq) reported the highest mitigation potential in GHG emissions (80%), followed by growth enhancement technology (16%), diet modification (6%), and grazing management improvement (7%). Our study highlights the implications of using carbon intensity per economic activity (i.e., GHG emissions per monetary unit), compared to the more common metric of intensity on per weight of product basis (GHG emissions per kg CW) for comparisons across differentiated beef cattle products. While a positive association was found between the proportion of lifespan on grassland and the conventional weight-based indicator, grass-finished beef was found to have lower carbon intensity per economic activity than feedlot-finished beef. Our study emphasizes the need to incorporate land use and management effects and soil C-seq as fundamental aspects of beef GHG emissions and mitigation assessments.

Cost accounting for the production of dairy cattle products in the context of digitalization: Internal control and management issues

Subject. This article discusses the issues of digital transformation and the internal control services’ work optimization at agricultural enterprises. Objectives. The article aims to assess opportunities to minimize the agricultural production cost and develop business in the context of digitalization. Methods. For the study, we used the general scientific research methods. Results. For the agro-industrial complex enterprises, reducing the production cost and achieving high profitability of production are of a great importance. Automation of internal control procedures will help identify errors, determine the most promising areas for the development of the enterprise, and provide access to a significant amount of information. Relevance. The results of the study can be taken into account by the heads of agricultural enterprises when choosing automated programs to optimize the costs of internal control.

Genetic parameters, genome-wide association study, and selection perspective on gestation length in 16 French cattle breeds

Lifetime productivity is a trait of great importance to dairy cattle populations as it combines information from production and longevity variables. Therefore, we investigated the genetic background of lifetime productivity in high-producing dairy cattle by integrating genomics and transcriptomics data sets. A total of 3,365,612 test-day milk yield records from 134,029 Chinese Holstein cows were used to define 6 lifetime productivity traits, including lifetime milk yield covering full lifespan and 5 cumulative milk yield traits covering partial lifespan. Genetic parameters were estimated based on univariate and bivariate linear animal models and the Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) method. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and weighted gene co-expression network analyses (WGCNA) were performed to identify candidate genes associated with lifetime productivity based on genomic data from 3,424 cows and peripheral blood RNA-seq data from 23 cows, respectively. Lifetime milk yield averaged 24,800.8 ± 14,396.6 kg (mean ± SD) across an average of 2.4 parities in Chinese Holstein population. The heritability estimates for lifetime productivity traits ranged from 0.05 (±0.01 for SE) to 0.10 (±0.02 for SE). The estimate of genetic correlation between lifetime milk yield and productive life is 0.88 (±0.3 for SE) while the genetic correlation with 305d milk yield in the first lactation was 0.49 (±0.08 for SE). Absolute values for most genetic correlation estimates between lifetime productivity and type traits were lower than 0.30. Moderate genetic correlations were found between udder related traits and lifetime productivity, such as with udder depth (0.33), rear udder attachment height (0.33), and udder system (0.34). Some single nucleotide polymorphisms and gene co-expression modules significantly associated with lifetime milk yield were identified based on GWAS and WGCNA analyses, respectively. Functional enrichment analyses of the candidate genes identified revealed important pathways related to immune system, longevity, energy utilization and metabolism, and FoxO signaling. The genes NTMT1, FNBP1, and S1PR1 were considered to be the most important candidate genes influencing lifetime productivity in Holstein cows. Overall, our findings indicate that lifetime productivity is heritable in Chinese Holstein cattle and important candidate genes were identified by integrating genomic and transcriptomic data sets.

The role of ruminant urine and faeces in the recycling of nutrients by forages

This study addresses the effect of using animal excreta on the nutritional content of forages, focusing on macro- and micro-element concentrations (nitrogen; N, phosphorus; P, sulphur; S, copper; Cu, zinc; Zn, manganese; Mn, selenium; Se) from animal feed to excreta, soil, and plants. Data were collected from pot and field trials using separate applications of sheep or cattle urine and faeces. Key findings indicate that soil organic carbon (SOC) and the type of excreta significantly influences nutrient uptake by forages, with varied responses among the seven elements defined above. Although urine contributes fewer micronutrients compared to faeces (as applied at a natural volume/mass basis, respectively), it notably improves forage yield and micronutrient accumulation, thus potentially delivering positive consequences at the farm level regarding economic performance and soil fertility when swards upon clayey soil types receive said urine in temperate agro-climatic regions (i.e., South West England in the current context). In contrast, faeces application in isolation hinders Se and Mn uptake, once again potentially delivering unintended consequences such as micronutrient deficiencies in areas of high faeces deposition. As it is unlikely that (b)ovine grazing fields will receive either urine or faeces in isolation, we also explored combined applications of both excreta types which demonstrates synergistic effects on N, Cu, and Zn uptake, with either synergistic or dilution effects being observed for P and S, depending largely on SOC levels. Additionally, interactions between excreta types can result in dilution or antagonistic effects on Mn and Se uptake. Notably, high SOC combined with faeces reduces Mn and Se in forages, raising concerns for grazed ruminant systems under certain biotic situations, e.g., due to insufficient soil Se levels typically observed in UK pastures for livestock growth. These findings underscore the importance of considering SOC and excreta nutritional composition when designing forage management to optimize nutrient uptake. It should be noted that these findings have potential ramifications for broader studies of sustainable agriculture through system-scale analyses, as the granularity of results reported herein elucidate gaps in knowledge which could affect, both positively and negatively, the interpretation of model-based environmental impact assessments of cattle and sheep production (e.g., in the case of increased yields [beneficial] or the requirement of additional synthetic supplementation [detrimental]).

An integral assessment of the impact of diet and manure management on whole-farm greenhouse gas and nitrogen emissions in dairy cattle production systems using process-based models

Feed management decisions are crucial in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) and nitrogen (N) emissions from ruminant farming systems. However, assessing the downstream impact of diet on emissions in dairy production systems is complex, due to the multifunctional relationships between a variety of distinct but interconnected sources such as animals, housing, manure storage, and soil. Therefore, there is a need for an integral assessment of the direct and indirect GHG and N emissions that considers the underlying processes of carbon (C), N and their drivers within the system. Here we show the relevance of using a cascade of process-based (PB) models, such as Dutch Tier 3 and (Manure)-DNDC (Denitrification-Decomposition) models, for capturing the downstream influence of diet on whole-farm emissions in two contrasting case study dairy farms: a confinement system in Germany and a pasture-based system in New Zealand. Considerable variation was found in emissions on a per hectare and per head basis, and across different farm components and categories of animals. Moreover, the confinement system had a farm C emission of 1.01 kg CO2-eq kg−1 fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM), and a farm N emission of 0.0300 kg N kg−1 FPCM. In contrast, the pasture-based system had a lower farm C and N emission averaging 0.82 kg CO2-eq kg−1 FPCM and 0.006 kg N kg−1 FPCM, respectively over the 4-year period. The results demonstrate how inputs and outputs could be made compatible and exchangeable across the PB models for quantifying dietary effects on whole-farm GHG and N emissions.

Economic viability and production of cattle in confinement under high-grain and conventional diets

Brazilian beef cattle farming stands out for its large-scale production, playing a vital role in national and international trade. Despite this, there is a need for improvement in productivity and profitability. The extensive model, despite territorial demand, exhibits low use of technologies and problematic management. Intensive livestock farming minimizes these issues, offering greater production efficiency by reducing the age at which cattle are finished and optimizing the use of space on the property. The choice of diet in confinement systems aims to enhance the cost/benefit ratio. This research aims to compare the performance of Nelore cattle subjected to different diets during the finishing phase in confinement, considering intake, productivity, carcass characteristics, and economic viability. For the experiment, 20 Nellore cattle were used, divided into two groups of 10 animals, where one received the treatment of feed + forage, and the other a high-grain diet. For the variables of average daily gain (ADG), total weight gain (TWG), and feed-lot time, there was no effect (P < 0.05) from the treatments. However, an effect (P < 0.05) on carcass yield between diets was observed, directly impacting the economic viability of beef cattle production, as the abattoir pays per kilogram (cwt) of carcass.

Establishing a surveillance programme for Salmonella Dublin in Austrian dairy herds by comparing herd-level vs. individual animal detection methods

Due to its increasing occurrence in cattle farms in various countries, leading to significant economic losses in affected livestock, Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Dublin (S. Dublin) has become a highly investigated pathogen in cattle production. In Austria, there have been occasional human cases of S. Dublin as well as an increase in laboratory-confirmed cases in cattle, indicating the need for a screening programme to determine the current status in Austria. The aims of this study were, firstly, to determine the seroprevalence of S. Dublin in dairy herds through bulk milk screenings in two federal states (Salzburg, Tyrol) of Austria. Secondly, the study aimed to identify the infection status of the herds through individual animal and herd level detection, comparing microbiological, molecular and serological detection methods. The results of the study will allow the development of a sampling strategy for a surveillance programme in Austria.A total of 6973 dairy farms were tested through serological bulk milk screening. The seroprevalence for the federal state of Tyrol was 14.8 % and for Salzburg it was 18.2 %, resulting in an average seroprevalence of 16.5 %. At an individual animal level, 205 (11.3 %) animals tested positive for shedding of S. Dublin in the faeces through microbiological detection, and 268 (17.0 %) animals had positive values (ct value ≤ 38) by qPCR. The association between microbiological and molecular detection was statistically significant (p < 0.001), with a calculated kappa value of 0.65 ± 0.27 (p ≤ 0.001), assuming a substantial level of agreement. In 17 herds, where an individual animal tested positive for shedding of S. Dublin, environmental sampling and testing were carried out. At a herd level 16 (94.1 %) out of the 17 participating herds, tested positive for S. Dublin either microbiologically or by molecular assay in boot swab samples. Bulk milk samples from 14 out of the 17 participating herds were analysed for antibodies to S. Dublin and 12 samples (85.7 %) were positive. In total 111 (18.9 %) out of 587 blood samples tested positive for S. Dublin antibodies, demonstrating a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.001) both with microbiological (κ = 0.32 ± 0.49; p ≤ 0.001) and molecular (κ=0.23 ± 0.06; p ≤ 0.001) findings.It was possible to identify S. Dublin by culture from boot swabs in 14 (82.4 %) out of 17 herds and by molecular assay using qPCR in 15 (88.2 %) out of 17 herds, indicating a suitable sample type for screening on a herd level-basis for acute infections, but not for identifying chronic infections or asymptomatic carriers. Other environmental samples, such as sponge-sticks, are only suitable to a limited extent for the detection of S. Dublin. The results of this study demonstrate a moderate S. Dublin prevalence in dairy herds in the selected Austrian regions, signalling further screening and management programmes for the future.

Economic losses due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Ethiopian cattle

Ethiopia’s cattle population is among the largest in Africa and is burdened by frequent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks. FMD is caused by several distinct and highly contagious viral strains that can result in acute disease in cattle, causing losses in productivity and impeding international trade. This economic simulation study considered four main sources of losses due to FMD in cattle: reduced milk yield, draft power yield, fertility, and increased mortality. Economic losses were estimated per case across age-sex strata in 89 Ethiopian administrative zones for the years 2010–2021 using a wide range of data to estimate distributions for 30 input variables in a series of Monte Carlo simulations. It was estimated that an average case of FMD in Ethiopian cattle results in losses (mean values reported followed 95 % confidence intervals in brackets) of US dollars (USD) 11 (USD 7–USD 16) per case. Losses resulting from an average outbreak were estimated to be USD 2300 (USD 1400–USD 3300), while national annual losses were estimated to be USD 0.9 Mil. (USD 0.2 Mil.–USD 2.3 Mil.). Per cow-year, based on a national cow population of approximately 39 Mil. head, these estimated annual losses are equivalent to losses of only USD 0.02 (USD 0.01–USD 0.06). Nationally, these losses were significantly less than previously estimated in the literature, with currently estimated losses more accurately reflecting the economic burden of FMD in Ethiopian cattle over the past decade. The relatively small estimated losses suggest that control efforts based on widespread vaccination in countries with primarily extensive cattle production systems, such as Ethiopia, are unlikely to be economically sound. Sensitivity analyses suggested losses would be far greater in intensive systems, and that certainty surrounding incidence rates is paramount to the formulation of economically sound animal healthpolicy in regions with endemic FMD.

Infestation of Cattle with the Tick Amblyomma mixtum in the States with the Highest Cattle Inventory in Mexico

A Objective: The Amblyomma mixtum tick is one of the main parasites affecting cattle in Mexico. Epidemiological records of A. mixtum in leading states in the national cattle industry, such as Jalisco, Chiapas, Michoacán, Tabasco, and Veracruz, are outdated since this tick species was previously classified as A. cajennense. The objective was to update the records of the A. mixtum tick in the states of Jalisco, Chiapas, Michoacán, Tabasco, and Veracruz, as well as the main ixodicide molecules used for its control. Methodology: From March 2022 to July 2023, ticks were collected from cattle in 46 bovine production units (BPUs) distributed in the states mentioned above. Identification was performed using standardized taxonomic keys. Scanning electron microscopy was performed on specimens corresponding to A. mixtum. Results: Out of a total of 619 specimens of the genus Amblyomma from 22 PBUs, it was confirmed that 100% correspond to the species A. mixtum. Amitraz, an ixodicide molecule belonging to the chemical class of amidines, was used in 63.2% of the BPUs where the presence of A. mixtum was also reported. Conclusions: This research confirms cattle infestation with A. mixtum in states with the highest cattle production in Mexico. Further studies with a focus on resistance and extension are required to prolong the usefulness of available tools, including ixodicides, for integrated control of A. mixtum infestations where this tick infests cattle in Mexico.

Update on liver fluke in sheep and cattle

Fasciola hepatica, the common liver fluke, affects the health and welfare of grazing animals worldwide. Liver fluke infection has a significant economic cost to the UK agriculture industry through sheep deaths, reduced growth rates, fertility and milk production in sheep and cattle and condemned livers at the abattoir. Changing weather patterns in the UK over recent years have often resulted in milder winters and summers that may be hot or wet but are above all unpredictable, affecting the epidemiology of liver fluke. This poses a risk for farmers relying on traditional calendar-based treatment routines, who may be caught out by liver fluke risk periods that are longer and extend beyond what would traditionally have been expected. Triclabendazole resistance is an increasing problem in many parts of the country and with no new flukicides on the horizon, existing products need to be used responsibly to ensure they remain useful for as long as possible.

Toward biodefence: a framework for the mitigation of malicious threats to livestock production enterprises in Australia

Biosecurity underpins the Australian agricultural sector, estimated to be worth $51 billion in exports and trade, $50 billion in tourism, $5.7 trillion in environmental assets, and more than 1.6 million jobs. Given the value to the Australian economy and the potential consequences of a deliberately introduced biological agent, measures to prevent malicious biosecurity threats are critical for national security. Using the framework of Situational Crime Prevention (SCP), the study examined recommended biosecurity practices for cattle production enterprises in Australia and explored the extent to which the Australian biosecurity framework is underpinned by preventative security. The study found the existing biosecurity framework has limited theoretical security underpinning and is constituted by practices primarily aimed at preventing naturally occurring and accidental threats, rather than an active preventative security approach at the farming level to mitigate threats of a malicious or deliberate nature. These findings identify a deficit in Australia’s national security approach to biosecurity in cattle production enterprises, establishing a need for biosecurity recommendations at an industry and primary production level to embed security theory and principles to account for malicious actors in alignment with international biodefence strategy. Subsequently, the study demonstrated how security theory can be applied to biosecurity and the agricultural sector more broadly and developed an SCP framework toward biodefence of agriculture, converging biosecurity and security as a bilateral approach to mitigating naturally occurring, accidental, and deliberate biosecurity threats.