Milk Loss Research Articles

Association of Lameness Prevalence and Severity in Early-Lactation Cows with Milk Traits, Metabolic Profile, and Dry Period

This study investigated the prevalence and severity of lameness in dairy cow herds, focusing on its relationship with milk traits, metabolic profile, and dry period management. Lameness was evaluated in 4221 multiparous Holstein dairy cows during early lactation (up to 60 days postpartum) using a 1-to-5 scale. The average lameness score was 1.67, with a prevalence of 10.66% (scores 3 to 5) and 4.55% classified as severe (scores 4 to 5). Severe lameness was associated with energy-corrected milk losses of −11.00 kg/day (p < 0.001) and a decrease in milk lactose concentration by −0.16 percentage points (p < 0.001), alongside a rise in somatic cell scores by +0.11. The incidence of cows with a milk fat-to-protein ratio below 1.2 increased by 21.7 percentage points, while those with a ratio above 1.4 rose by 19.1 percentage points as lameness worsened. Additionally, non-esterified fatty acid concentrations increased by 1.46 times as lameness severity intensified (p < 0.001). Cows without lameness had blood cortisol levels 1.86 times lower than affected cows, with cortisol tripling in those with the highest scores. A dry period of 30 to 60 days was correlated with more healthy cows, whereas periods over 90 days resulted in 1.586 times higher odds of lameness (p < 0.05). This research underscores the need for improved management strategies to enhance dairy cow welfare and productivity.

Association of Cow Drying off Practices with Milk Yield and Udder Health Outcomes in Peri-Urban Smallholder Dairy Herds

In peri-urban smallholder dairy herds, farmers face challenges in drying off cows due to a lack of evidence-based recommendations. This study examined the associations between cow drying-off practices, mean milk yield at drying off and during early successive lactation, and the odds of mastitis and udder leakage cases in herds around Nakuru city, Kenya. A cross-sectional survey of 232 cows across 172 herds was conducted. Mean milk yield was determined using a general linear model, while the odds ratios for mastitis and udder leakage were estimated using a binary logistic regression model, with drying-off practice, cow breed, and dairy management intensification as explanatory variables. All the three explanatory variables were significantly associated (p<0.05) with mean milk yield at drying off, early successive lactation, and the occurrence of mastitis and udder leakages. Cessation of milking (57.3%) was more common than abrupt cessation (42.7%). Mean milk yield was 2.6 liters/day at drying off and 13.4 liters/day during early successive lactation. Teat sealants were applied to cows producing more than 5 liters/day, while gradual reduction in milking, complete cessation of milking, or dry-cow therapy was used for cows producing less than 3 liters/day. During early successive lactation, cows dried off using teat sealant, salt application, stopping concentrate feeding, or gradual reduction in milking produced more milk (14 liters/day) than those dried off by abrupt cessation or dry-cow therapy (10-12 liters/day).Relative to abrupt cessation, the odds of mastitis and udder leakage were lower (p<0.05) with dry-cow therapy (odds ratio 0.12; 0.12), gradual cessation of milking (odds ratio 0.22; 0.29), or stopping concentrate feeding (odds ratio 0.14; 0.26). The study found that gradual reduction in milking (47%) and abrupt cessation of milking (22%) were the most common drying-off practices. These methods are effective for cows producing less than 3 liters/day at the start of drying off and do not result in milk loss during early successive lactation. However, abrupt cessation of milking is more likely to result in poor udder health outcomes. Though teat sealant was rarely used (3.9%), it proved effective for cows producing more than 5 liters/day, maintaining milk production and udder health during early successive lactation. These findings provide crucial insights for farmers on selecting appropriate drying-off practices to optimize milk yield and udder health.

Effects of whole-day versus half-day cow-calf contact on cows’ and calves’ performance

Cow-calf contact systems (CCCs), where dairy cows nurse their own calves for several weeks while being milked, have some advantages in terms of animal welfare. However, one major challenge is the loss of collected milk due to suckling and milk ejection problems during milking. Reducing daily CCC can decrease milk losses. Our study investigated the effect of half-day CCC during daytime (HC, n = 11 cows) compared to whole-day contact (WC, n = 13) and no contact (NC, n = 14) on harvested milk yield, milk content, udder health, calving interval, and calf weight gain in a dual purpose breed-herd with concentrate-free feeding. ‘Nursing’ (9 weeks postpartum) was followed by separation of cow and calf, but still with visual CCC and twice daily milk feeding by nipple buckets (6 l per day, ‘in sight/milk feeding’). During the 11th–12th week, calves were housed out of sight and gradually weaned. Calves of NC were separated from their mothers 1 day postpartum, obtained 6 l whole-milk per day and were gradually weaned. During ‘nursing’, NC and HC cows gave more milk than WC in the morning. In the evening, HC and WC gave less milk than NC, but HC cows had also a slightly lower milk yield than WC. During ‘nursing’, a reduced fat content (−1% point) pointed at milk ejection problems in both CCC treatments independent from daytime. After separation from the calf (periods: ‘in sight/milk feeding’ and ‘out of sight/weaning’) and over the whole lactation, milk yield between HC and the other treatments did not significantly differ while WC cows gave less milk than NC cows. Protein contents were higher in dams than in NC. There were no indications of differences in the incidence of mastitis, somatic cell score or calving interval between treatments. During ‘nursing’, NC calves gained about 0.3 kg less per day than CCC-calves (nNC = 12, nHC = 7, nWC = 10). After separation from the mother, there was a growth check in both CCC groups. During ‘in sight/milk feeding’, HC gained less weight than NC and WC (nNC = 11, nHC = 9, nWC = 10). Hereafter, weight development did not differ. Two weeks after weaning, nursed calves were still significantly heavier than NC (n = 5–8). Nine weeks of HC during the day compared to WC helped to reduce losses of sellable milk during the nursing period and over the whole lactation while calf development was similar.

Optimization of chromatographic methods for the evaluation of vitamin losses in human milk after Holder pasteurization

Holder pasteurization, a process that consists of heating the sample at 62.5 °C for 30 min, is the most widely used protocol to ensure microbial inactivation in human milk. Aiming to evaluate vitamin losses after pasteurization, three extraction methods and the subsequent chromatographic conditions were optimized. For the simultaneous determination of retinol, α-tocopherol, and β-carotene a saponification procedure was employed, while folic acid and ascorbic acid were extracted using solvent extractions, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography – diode array detection. Limits of detection were: 0.010 (retinol), 0.081 (α-tocopherol), 0.011 (β-carotene), 0.008 (folic acid), and 0.012 (ascorbic acid) (mgL−1). Trueness was verified by using a milk-based standard reference material. Concentrations in raw milk samples from a Uruguayan human milk bank were: 1.5±0.2/0.38±0.08 (retinol), 12.8±2.5/2.9±0.7 (α-tocopherol), 0.58±0.08/0.067±0.009 (β-carotene), 1.05±0.20/20.3±4.7 (folic acid), and 55.4±4.1/36.1±5.9 (ascorbic acid) (colostrum/mature, mgL−1). Statistically significant losses (p<0.05) were observed after pasteurization for all studied compounds, ranging from 6.4 % to 14.2 %. Liposoluble vitamins losses were higher in colostrum, probably due to the lower fat concentrations at this stage, while the opposite tendency was observed for hydrosoluble vitamins. Ascorbic acid was the most affected compound. This work represents the first study monitoring vitamins in donated human milk in Uruguay.

ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНОЙ СХЕМЫ ЛЕЧЕНИЯ КОРОВ С СЕРОЗНО-ФИБРИНОЗНЫМ МАСТИТОМ

The purpose of the study is to determine the most effective treatment regimen for cows with serous-fibrinous mastitis. Objectives: conducting a comprehensive diagnosis of the cow population at the enterprise and identifying among them animals with clinical mastitis; comparison of treatment regimens for cows diagnosed with serous fibrinous mastitis; determining the most effective treatment regimen for the disease on the farm. Objects of study: cows, treatment regimens for mastitis. Research methods: clinical, laboratory studies of livestock and identification of animals with mastitis among them; conducting a comparative analysis of mastitis treatment regimens and determining the most effective one. At the enterprise, the cows were diagnosed with mastitis. 3 treatment regimens for serous-fibrinous mastitis were developed based on the sensitivity of the milk microflora in cows with mastitis to various antibiotics. In the 1st experimental group of animals, the treatment regimen was an antibiotic of the cephalosporin group – Ceftonit, Cobactan LC (1 syringe in the udder tank), NSAID – Flunex. In the 2nd – an antibiotic of the group of semi-synthetic penicillins – Amoxicillin, Gamaret (1 syringe in the udder tank), NSAIDs – Flunex. In the 3rd – a combination of an antibacterial drug of the tetracycline group – Nitox, Mastiet forte (1 syringe in the udder tank), NSAID – Flunex. As a result of comparing treatment regimens in three experimental groups, it was possible to identify the most effective one. When using the 3rd treatment regimen for cows, the most effective therapeutic effect was obtained, but in terms of the cost of drugs, the regimen turned out to be the most expensive. However, if we take into account the economic costs of milk loss while waiting for antibiotics to be removed from the cows’ bodies, the scheme is more effective.

Understanding the dynamics of mastitis in milk yield: decoding onset and recovery patterns in response to mastitis occurrence

No recent study attempted to model daily milk losses before and after mastitis onset and the moment when it begins. Thus, we aimed to describe the impact of mastitis on milk production based on mastitis level and moment of occurrence. We used data from 11 dairy farms, and the data set consisted of 885,759 daily individual milk test records from 3,508 cows in different lactations, with an average milk yield from January 2017 to December 2022. We modeled the impact of mastitis severity [i.e., 1 (mild) and 2 (severe)] based on the drop and recovery of milk yield following 3 steps. First, we removed milk recorded on the day of diagnosis of mastitis from the data set and fitted a Wood's Curve for each cow and parity. Second, we returned the mastitis data to the data set and estimated the residual milk loss due to mastitis from 15 d before to 30 d after the mastitis event. Third, we used generalized additive mixed effect models to estimate the residual milk loss, including farm as a random effect. In addition to the random effect of the farm, we also included the predicted value of mastitis, the day effect before and after mastitis incidence, and the interaction between the predicted value of mastitis and days. On average, mastitis level 2 resulted in a more severe milk yield drop in all represented stages of lactation (80, 170, and 260 d in milk), suggesting a higher loss close to the lactation peak, approximately 130 kg more than mastitis level 1. Moreover, the occurrence of mastitis case level 1 during early phase of lactation (DIM 80) can cause an average milk loss of 158 L and a ML 2, an average loss of 288 L. The estimations suggest that milk drop occurs 14 to 4 d before mastitis onset and can last until 15 to 25 d from the diagnosis, which would be the necessary time for a cow to reestablish their predicted milk yield. Therefore, our study brings new perspectives to investigate milk yield drop and recovery due to mastitis infections and how much mastitis can deplete and impair milk production.

Trueperella Pyogenes-Strain Diversity and Occurrence in Dairy Herds.

Trueperella (T.) pyogenes is a mastitis-causing pathogen formerly known to cause severe clinical mastitis (CM), especially during the summer, leading to milk losses and low recovery rates. Unfortunately, its transmission behavior within herds is unclear. The diversity and occurrence of T. pyogenes were monitored to gain an initial insight into the infection transmission behavior of T. pyogenes in dairy herds and to lay a foundation for following targeted investigations. CM milk samples were collected from German herds, and one Swedish farm was sampled for isolates from subclinical mastitis. All in all, 151 T. pyogenes isolates from 16 herds were isolated, identified by MALDI TOF analysis and typed with RAPD PCR. Of these, 17 isolates originated from subclinical mastitis cases. We found that T. pyogenes mastitis occurred year-round, and clinical mastitis cases were caused by multiple strains (31 affected animals/28 strains). Instances of multiple cows being infected with the same T. pyogenes strain were rare and typically only involved a small number of animals at a time. However, if several quarters of a cow were affected, it was likely the same strain. Unlike clinical infections, subclinical T. pyogenes infections, in one investigated farm, harbored a dominant strain. Additionally, we found that T. pyogenes infections tended to persist and stay within a herd for a minimum of 7 months in the same or different cows.

Biomarkers for subclinical bovine mastitis: a high throughput TMT-based proteomic investigation.

Mastitis represents the biggest threat to the health and productivity of dairy cows, leading to substantial economic losses in milk production. It manifests in two forms: clinical mastitis, easily diagnosed by visible symptoms, and subclinical mastitis (SCM), which lacks overt clinical signs. SCM's elusive nature often results in it going undetected, thus facilitating the spread of the disease-causing agent due to lack of treatment. Finding a reliable biomarker for early SCM would reduce the possibility of mastitis spreading in the herd, reduce the need for antibiotic use and ultimately reduce milk losses for producers. Utilizing state-of-the-art proteomics techniques, 138 milk samples from dairy cows in continental Croatia underwent analysis. These samples were categorized into four groups based on the Zagreb Mastitis Test (ZMT) and microbiological analysis: lowSCC- (n = 20), lowSCC + (n = 20), medSCC + (n = 79), and highSCC + (n = 19). A total of 386 proteins were identified and quantified, with 76 proteins showing significant differential abundances among the groups. Many of these proteins are linked to the innate immune system, as well as neutrophil and platelet degranulation processes. Through fold changes observed between groups, 15 proteins exhibiting biomarker characteristics for subclinical mastitis (SCM) were identified. Among these, five proteins-cathelicidins (-1, -4, and -7), lactoferrin, and haptoglobin-showed particular promise.

Assessment of Traditional Way of Value Addition Practices on Processing of Milk and Milk Products in Selected Districts of South Omo Zone

The study was carried out to evaluate, identify, and characterize various traditional milk preservative plants and investigate their indigenous techniques of handling, processing and preserving in the South-Ari and Maale districts. Data were collected from 196 households by purposive sampling, interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire, and analyzed using SPSS. More than 12 indigenous preservative plants that were commonly used by the respondents were identified and collected. In the South-Ari district all (100%) respondents used plant species of Lippia adoensis Hochst, Cordia Monoica Roxb., Leucas Deflexa Hook.f and Satureja Paradoxa, while in the Maale district 63.5% of the respondents used only fresh Balanites Aegyptiaca leaves to clean the milk utensils while 36.5% used fresh leaves of Solanum Incanu, Hoslundia Opposita, Balanites Aegyptiaca, Lantana Camara, and Celosia Trigyna. as washing milking and storage vessels. About 96% of the plants frequently used to smoke milk equipment in the South-Ari district were Clerodendrum Myricoides, Eucalyptus Globulus and Olea Africana while almost all (99%) households in the Maale district smoked milk utensils with Balanites aegyptiaca, Solanum Incanum, Lantana Camara, and Ocimum Forskolei Benth. The application methods were through rubbing, burning, and both burning and immersion in the milk vessels. The main cause of the loss of milk after harvest in the South Ari (93.7%) and Maale (40%) districts was milk spoilage. The majority of the 92% in South-Ari and 66.7% in Maale respondents minimize milk spoilage by consuming early or selling to the market. It could be concluded that the herbal plants identified in this study required further examination and their impact on the health of consumers should be studied in detail.

Coprological prevalences and hepatic infestation rates of fasciolosis in cattle in 3 slaughterhouses in Mali

Fasciolosis is a helminthosis of the liver caused by trematodes of the genus Fasciola. It is an enzootic disease in several West African countries, it causes milk losses and significant seizures of livers in slaughterhouses. The objective of this study is to determine the parasitic status of cattle slaughtered in slaughterhouses in relation to fasciolosis. It was carried out in 3 slaughterhouses in Mali, namely the Frigorifique Abattoir of Bamako (AFB), the Ségou Regional Abattoir (ARS) and the Mopti Regional Abattoir (ARM). A total of 900 faecal samples were analyzed by the successive wash sedimentation technique and 900 slaughtered cattle livers were inspected for Fasciola gigantica. When analyzing the data,the highest prevalences (feces and livers) were observed at the regional slaughterhouse of Mopti (13% and 30%), followed by the regional slaughterhouse of Ségou (11.5% and 18.5%). The lowest, at the Bamako refrigerated slaughterhouse (6.4% and 13.6%). It also emerges from the results obtained that overall the prevalences both for coprology and liver inspection, of the rainy season (11.3% and 20.3%) were higher than those of the dry season (6, 8% and 15.7%). In relation to the sexes, the study showed that females were more parasitized than males with coprological prevalences and infestation rates of 11.7% and 20.2% respectively in females compared to 7.2% and 17 % in males.

Comparison of 3 mathematical models to estimate lactation performance in dairy cows

Milk yield dynamics and production performance reflect how dairy cows cope with their environment. To optimize farm management, time series of individual cow milk yield have been studied in the context of precision livestock farming, and many mathematical models have been proposed to translate raw data into useful information for the stakeholders of the dairy chain. To gain better insights on the topic, this study aimed at comparing 3 recent methods that allow one to estimate individual cow potential lactation performance, using daily data recorded by the automatic milking systems of 14 dairy farms (7 Holstein, 7 Italian Simmental) from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. An iterative Wood model (IW), a perturbed lactation model (PLM), and a quantile regression (QR) were compared in terms of estimated total unperturbed (i.e., expected) milk production and estimated total milk loss (relative to unperturbed yield). The IW and PLM can also be used to identify perturbations of the lactation curve and were thus compared in this regard. The outcome of this study may help a given end-user in choosing the most appropriate method according to their specific requirements. If there is a specific interest in the post-peak lactation phase, IW can be the best option. If one wants to accurately describe the perturbations of the lactation curve, PLM can be the most suitable method. If there is need for a fast and easy approach on a very large dataset, QR can be the choice. Finally, as an example of application, PLM was used to analyze the effect of cow parity, calving season, and breed on their estimated lactation performance.

Overview on Lumpy Disease: Pathogenesis, Sign and Symptoms, Risk Factor, and Treatment

The lumpy diseases is an infectious disease. It is caused by viruses (LSDV) of the family Capripoxvirus.An investigation on the risk variables linked to the proliferation of LSD in Ethiopia has been conducted through a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study LSD virus,virus has been detected in stomoxy calcitrans and Anopheles stephens. virus can survive in necrotic skin for about 33 days and remains viable for at least 18 days in air-dried skin lesions at room temperature. The virus has been reported to persist in necrotic skin nodules for up to 33 days or longer, in dried crusts for up to 35 days and at least 18 days in air-dried hides.LSD has gross lesions that are well-described. Skin nodules are typically elevated, hard, and spherical in shape, however some might fuse together to form enormous, uneven plaques with defined boundaries. Biphasic fever, a clinical symptom of LSD, is characterised by two episodes of fever that develop after a varying incubation period of 4–12 days (typically 7 days). The affected animals' body temperature rises to 40–41.5°C, and this can last for at least 6–72 hours and, in exceptional cases, up to 10 days.To guarantee sufficient defence against LSD, susceptible adult cattle should receive a yearly vaccination.To reduce the possibility of the disease spreading by vectors, cattle should get routine treatments with insect repellents. While not completely effective, this method can lower the likelihood of transmission..The first report of LSD's clinical symptoms was published in Zambia (Morris 1931 ) The affected animals displayed symptoms of nasal discharge, emaciation, necrotic plaques in the mouth and nose mucous membranes, and excessive salivation. The most popular technique for diagnosis is full-thickness skin biopsies or scabs with electron microscopy showing the presence of characteristic capripox virions.To identify the antigens, techniques such as ELISA, PCR, and viral neutralization test procedures are helpful. Doctors may administer vitamin injections, anti-inflammatory drugs, or antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infection fever and inflammation.needed a full recuperation period of six months A27L, L1R, and a combination of the two LSDV antigens were included in the development of three vaccines. Insect repellents, disinfectant cleaning, proper disposal of contaminated areas, and awareness-raising are examples of preventive approaches.The economic impact of LSD was caused by both direct consequences, like control expenses, and indirect ones, including milk loss, mortality loss, and draft power loss.

Association of &lt;i&gt;FGF2&lt;/i&gt; gene polymorphism with economically significant traits of Holstein cows of the Republic of Tatarstan

Improving the reproductive functions of dairy cows may be possible through the use of marker-associated breeding. The FGF2 gene is a candidate gene for bovine fertility, in early pregnancy and affects fetal embryonic development and embryonic mortality. The study of the interaction of the gene of the basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2 – SNP11646 [A → G]) and economic indicators was carried out on 270 full-aged cows of Holstein population of indigenous selection of Breeding Farm Integrated Agricultural Production Center of the Republic of Tatarstan. In the observed population, the G allele (0.591) and the AG genotype (42.6%) are the most common, and the genetic balance, according to the Hardy-Weinberg law, is preserved. Pearson's consensus criterion is 2χ=3.84, respectively, the expected distribution of FGF2 gene alleles in the study group coincides with the observed one. The maximum live weight at the first fruitful insemination was in full–aged cows carrying the homozygous allele A at the FGF2 gene locus – 435.5 kg, which is higher than in livestock with the GG genotype – by 17.7 kg (4.2 %; p &lt; 0.01). The Doha fertility index for the studied population is average. It was revealed during the study that the level of fertility, with a high degree of reliability, is higher in individuals with the AG genotype – 6.2%, for the same group the earliest age of the first fruitful insemination was noted. A high level of maleness leads to milk losses in cows heterozygous for the FGF2 gene locus, exceeding milk losses observed for the AA genotype by 32.7 % (p &lt; 0.001). There is an inverse correlation between high milk productivity and reproduction traits of cattle, which affects the economic efficiency of dairy production.

Short Communication: Mammary epithelial cell exfoliation increases as milk yield declines, lactation progresses, and parity increases.

Milk yield (MY) naturally declines after peak lactation. One approach to improving production is to increase lactation persistency, or the length of time a cow maintains lactation. To do so, cows must maintain functional secretory mammary epithelial cells (MEC), which synthesize milk. Some viable MEC are exfoliated from the udder into milk. The objective of this experiment was to identify the magnitude and direction of association between exfoliated MEC and MY, days in milk (DIM), and parity. Our hypothesis was that MY and the quantity of exfoliated MEC were negatively correlated. Therefore, milk from low yielding, late lactation, and primiparous cows would contain more MEC. Thirty-six multiparous and 12 primiparous Holstein cows were sampled once during lactation. A single milk sample was obtained from each cow during a morning milking. Flow cytometry was used to identify milk cell types. Cells were stained with an antibody specific for cluster of differenciation-45 (CD45) to label hematopoietic cells and exclude them from analysis. An antibody against butyrophilin 1A1 (BTN), a protein involved in milk fat secretion, labeled MEC. Nucleated cells were stained with Hoechst dye, and propidium iodide was used to identify dead cells. For statistical analysis, we analyzed the effect of parity, MY, and DIM, and DIM2 on the number and concentration of both total and live exfoliated MEC. Primiparous cows exfoliated fewer MEC and had a lower concentration of MEC in milk than multiparous cows regardless of lactation stage. This could reflect continued mammary growth in first lactation. Cows shed an average of 9.80x107 ± 6.907 MEC with a concentration of 4,582 ± 3,574 cells/mL in one milking. Milk yield was inversely related to concentration of both total and live MEC in milk. Similarly, cows in late lactation, which is associated with MY decline, exfoliated a greater number of MEC into milk. Primiparous cows had a lower milk yield and shed fewer total and live MEC in this study. The relationship of MY and DIM with MEC losses in milk may also contribute to declining MEC number in the mammary gland found in post-peak lactation. Understanding MEC exfoliation regulation could help develop husbandry practices that improve secretory cell retention in the mammary gland and increase lactation persistency.

Quantitative assessment of the deficit in consumption of milk and meat products by the population of Ukraine as a result of food losses and waste

Purpose. The purpose of our study is to assess the extent to which food losses and waste affect the level of deficit in the consumption of milk and meat products by the population of Ukraine, which will allow us to identify the regions of Ukraine for which measures and policies to reduce food losses and waste should be developed.&#x0D; Methodology / approach. The empirical research was conducted using primary and secondary data. Primary data were used to calculate food losses and waste according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) methodology. Secondary data were used for correlation and regression analysis. Correlation and regression analysis were conducted for each of the six types of products: meat and milk. Factorial features are food losses and waste per capita. The result feature of the correlation and regression analysis is the share of consumption deficit resulting from food losses and waste. The sample was formed based on data from 24 regions of Ukraine.&#x0D; Results. According to the results of the correlation and regression analysis, the assumption of the absence of a relationship is not confirmed; all factors are significant. It has been proven that food losses and waste of milk and meat are a significant factor in the formation of a deficit in the consumption of milk and meat by the population of Ukraine. It was determined that milk losses and waste have a somewhat higher impact on the deficit of product consumption than meat losses and waste. It was established that the share of the deficit in milk and meat consumption, which arises as a result of food losses and waste, is higher in those areas that traditionally specialise in the production of livestock products. The feasibility of developing and implementing differentiated measures to reduce the deficit of milk and meat consumption in certain regions is substantiated.&#x0D; Originality / scientific novelty. For the first time, the degree of impact of food losses and waste of milk and meat production on the deficit of consumption of these products by the population of Ukraine has been scientifically proven and quantified.&#x0D; Practical value / implications. The results of this empirical study are the basis for the development of state and regional programmes and the implementation of the necessary actions to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 12 (SDG 2, 12) in Ukraine.

A Mini Review on Current Challenges and Opportunities in the Management of Bovine Mastitis

Bovine subclinical mastitis stands out as a significant challenge in the dairy industry, leading to substantial milk losses. The issue becomes more alarming as lactating cows frequently face severe infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, resulting in detrimental udder damage. The conventional approach of combating such infections involves prolonged antibiotic treatments, contributing to the emergence of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in cows. Compounding the issue, S. aureus bacteria can undergo modifications, transforming into the formidable Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Addressing this pressing concern requires exploring alternative solutions, and one promising avenue lies in the realm of medicinal plants. Leveraging the inherent antibacterial properties of phytochemicals found in various medicinal plants could offer a sustainable and effective approach to managing bovine mastitis. Not only do these botanical remedies provide a potential solution to the challenges posed by conventional antibiotic treatments, but they also offer a more environmentally friendly and holistic approach to safeguarding the health of dairy cows and preserving milk production in the industry.

Postpartum Uterine Diseases; Diagnostic Approaches and Management in Farm Animals: A Review

Postpartum uterine infections results from uterine contamination with bacteria during parturition. The postpartum environment of the uterine lumen supports the growth of a variety of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. There are a number of risk factors for post-partum uterine disease in dairy cattle; cows having dystocia, retained placenta, twins or stillbirths and various metabolic disorders are more likely to develop uterine disease. Inflammation of the uterus slows down the process of involution in the uterus and delays the onset of activities of the ovaries leading to economic loss due to systemic illness, loss of milk and meat production and marked drop in fertility. Pyometra, metritis, clinical and subclinical endometritis are some of the most important illnesses during the postpartum period. A variety of methods such as uterine palpation, ultrasonographic features of the uterus, vaginoscopy, endometrial cytology, uterine culture, and uterine biopsy has been reported to identify postpartum diseases. Prevention of postpartum uterine disease would be better than cure, for both the animals and the economy. Thus, early diagnosis or predictions of uterine infections are important for effective postpartum management.

Genetic parameters for novel mastitis traits defined by combining test-day somatic cell score and differential somatic cell count in the first lactation of Japanese Holsteins

In this study, we aimed to improve current udder health genetic evaluations by addressing the limitations of monthly sampled somatic cell score (SCS) for distinguishing cows with robust innate immunity from those susceptible to chronic infections. The objectives were to (1) establish novel somatic cell traits by integrating SCS and the differential somatic cell count (DSCC), which represents the combined proportion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes in somatic cells and (2) estimate genetic parameters for the new traits, including their daily heritability and genetic correlations with milk production traits and SCS, using a random regression test-day model (RRTDM). We derived 3 traits, namely ML_SCS_DSCC, SCS_4_DSCC_65_binary, and ML_SCS_DSCC_binary, by using milk loss estimates at corresponding SCS and DSCC levels, thresholds established in previous studies, and a threshold established from milk loss estimates, respectively. Data consisted of test-day records collected during January 2021 through March 2022 from 265 herds in Hokkaido, Japan. From these records, we extracted records between 7 to 305 d in milk (DIM) in the first lactation to fit the RRTDM. The model included the random effect of herd-test-day, the fixed effect of year-month, fixed lactation curves nested with calving age groups, and random regressions with Legendre polynomials of order 3 for additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. The analysis was performed using Gibbs sampling with Gibbsf90+ software. The averages (ranges) of daily heritability estimates over lactation were 0.086 (0.075 to 0.095) for SCS, 0.104 (0.073 to 0.127) for ML_SCS_DSCC, 0.137 (0.014 to 0.297) for SCS_4_DSCC_65_binary, and 0.138 (0.115 to 0.185) for ML_SCS_DSCC_binary; the heritability curve for SCS_4_DSCC_65_binary was erratic. Genetic correlations within the trait decreased as the DIM interval widened, especially for those integrating DSCC, indicating that these traits should be analyzed using RRTDM rather than repeatability models. The averages (ranges) of genetic correlations with milk yield over lactation were 0.01 (-0.22 to 0.28) for SCS, -0.05 (-0.40 to 0.13) for ML_SCS_DSCC, -0.08 (-0.17 to 0.09) for SCS_4_DSCC_65_binary, and -0.08 (-0.22 to 0.27) for ML_SCS_DSCC_binary. Compared with SCS, the newly defined traits exhibited slightly stronger negative genetic correlations with milk yield. Especially in late lactation stages, the genetic correlation between ML_SCS_DSCC and milk yield was significantly below zero, with a posterior median of -0.40. Furthermore, the new traits showed positive correlations with SCS, having estimates varying from 0.68 to 0.85 for ML_SCS_DSCC, 0.14 to 0.47 for SCS_4_DSCC_65_binary, and 0.61 to 0.66 for ML_SCS_DSCC_binary, depending on DIM. Considering that ML_SCS_DSCC and ML_SCS_DSCC_binary have relatively high heritability (compared with SCS) and favorable genetic correlations with milk production traits and SCS, their incorporation into breeding programs appears promising. Nevertheless, their genetic relationships with (sub)clinical mastitis require further investigation.

Investigation of Prototheca bovis Infection and Its Correlation with Dairy Herd Improvement Data from a Dairy Farm in Central China.

Prototheca bovis (P. bovis), an alga that has attracted considerable attention over the years as a causative microorganism of mastitis in dairy cows, exhibits limited susceptibility to specific aminoglycosides and antifungal agents, and no effective clinical treatment is currently available, thereby posing challenges for both prevention and treatment. To investigate the infection of P. bovis mastitis and its impact on raw milk production, a total of 348 raw milk samples were collected from August to December 2022 from a dairy farm in central China. P. bovis and other bacteria were detected, and the average infection rate of P. bovis in raw milk was 60.34% (210/348). The total number of colonies and the somatic cell count (SCC) of P. bovis positive samples were significantly higher than those of P. bovis negative samples (p < 0.01). The daily milk yield, 305-day milk yield, peak milk yield, and days to peak milk yield of the P. bovis positive samples were significantly lower than those of P. bovis negative samples (p < 0.01). A correlation analysis showed that P. bovis infection was negatively correlated with daily milk yield, 305-day milk yield, peak milk yield, and days to peak milk yield (p < 0.0001), while being positively correlated with the total number of colonies, SCC, milk loss, and protein percentage (p < 0.0001). These findings may help practitioners in comprehending the occurrence of Prototheca mastitis and developing more effective strategies for the prevention of P. bovis infections.

Postpartum Uterine Diseases; Diagnostic Approaches and Management in Farm Animals; A Review

Postpartum uterine infections result from uterine contamination with bacteria during parturition. The postpartum environment of the uterine lumen supports the growth of a variety of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. There are a number of risk factors for post-partum uterine disease in dairy cattle; cows having dystocia, retained placenta, twins or stillbirths and various metabolic disorders are more likely to develop uterine disease. Inflammation of the uterus slows down the process of involution in the uterus and delays the onset of activities of the ovaries leading to economic loss due to systemic illness, loss of milk and meat production and marked drop in fertility. Pyometra, metritis, clinical and subclinical endometritis are some of the most important illnesses during the postpartum period. A variety of methods such as uterine palpation, ultrasonographic features of the uterus, vaginoscopy, endometrial cytology, uterine culture, and uterine biopsy has been reported to identify postpartum diseases. Prevention of postpartum uterine disease would be better than cure, for both the animals and the economy. Thus, early diagnosis or predictions of uterine infections are important for effective postpartum management.