Parity Number Research Articles

Genetic evaluation of productive longevity in a multibreed beef cattle population.

Genetic selection for traits that have direct impact on profitability, such as productive longevity (PL), which blends cow longevity with regular reproductive performance, is fundamental for the economic success of beef cow-calf operations. The purpose of this study was to develop data screening strategy and a statistical model to predict genetic merit for PL in a multibreed beef cattle population. Pedigree (n = 1,352,765) and phenotype (n = 978,382) information were provided by Leachman Cattle of Colorado and genotypes (n = 26,342) were provided by the Zoetis commercial genotyping laboratory. A repeatability model (REP) including the systematic effects of age at first calving, year-season of progeny birth, pedigree-based retained heterosis, and parity number, as well as the random effects of additive genetic, permanent environment, contemporary group, and residual were fitted to adjust PL. In addition, a random regression model (RRM) was fitted to investigate PL considering the same effects, with the difference that random effects were regressed on parity. Estimated breeding value (EBV) were obtained by single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) and transformed to predict differences in number of calves through linear regression. Predictive performance was assessed in a group of 7,268 cows born in 2010. Heritability estimates for PL were relatively low, with values of 0.109 for REP and a decreasing trend for RRM with values ranging from 0.16 to 0.04. Repeatability for PL was of moderate magnitude, with values of 0.415 for REP and from 0.29 to 0.57 for RRM. Heritability estimates suggest that most of phenotypic variation was accounted for by environmental factors, but long-term genetic selection could still be effective. REP was more efficient than RRM, showing lower number of iterations and time to reach convergence with comparable solutions to RRM. Validation results showed that correlations between EBV and phenotypes (observed/pre-corrected) increased over the years ranging from 0.04 to 0.92. Repeatability values and the validation approach suggested that using a cow's first record (second parity success or failure) is a reasonably good indicator of posterior performance for PL. Therefore, the inclusion of PL in a multibreed genetic evaluation program, incorporation into selection indexes with existing economic traits, can enable more profitable selection and breeding decisions in beef cattle herds.

A Review of Factors Influencing Postpartum Hemorrhage: Age, Parity, Pregnancy Spacing, Anemia, Newborn Weight, Prolonged Labor, Perineal Tear, and Type of Labor

Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the most common causes of maternal mortality worldwide. One of the main causes of maternal mortality is bleeding, it is estimated that around 70% of maternal mortality are caused by postpartum hemorrhage. According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health in 2022 the number of maternal mortalities in East Java was 499 deaths, the causes of which were found in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (24.45%) and bleeding (21.24%). The purpose of this systematic literature review is to summarize and examine the literature related to risk factors that affect postpartum hemorrhage. The framework used was PICOC with a population of laboring mothers who experienced postpartum hemorrhage. Systematic literature review using 1 data source, namely google scholar with 169 articles and filtering articles and critical appraisal so that 6 articles were reviewed. The 6 articles showed that age, parity, gestational distance, birth weight, prolonged parturition, perineal tear and type of delivery were associated with the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage. It is recommended to increase education about healthy reproductive age, regulate the number of parity and maintain pregnancy distance, early detection of anemia, administration of 90 FE tablets during pregnancy, early detection of risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage, and delivery planning and prevention of complications.

The impact of herd age structure on the performance of commercial sow-breeding farms

BackgroundThe herd age structure, i.e., distribution of sows within a farm based on their parity number, and its management are essential to optimizing farm reproductive efficiency. The objective of this study is to define different types of herd age structure using data from 623 Spanish commercial sow farms. Additionally, this study aims to determine which type of herd age structure can enhance reproductive efficiency at the farm level.ResultsFarms are classified into three groups according to the quadratic function fitted to the percentage of sows by parities. This classification unveils three types of herd structures: type 1 (HS1) exhibits a concave-downward trend, with a higher percentage of sows in intermediate parities (mean of 45.5% sows between the 3rd to 5th parity); type 2 (HS2) presents a trend curve that is close to a straight line, with a gradual decrease in the percentage of sows per parity (approximately 2% loss of sows census per parity); and type 3 (HS3) shows an upward concave trend curve, with an increase in the percentage of sows in later parities (19.0% of sows between 7th and ≥ 8th parity). Parametric tests assess productivity differences between the three types of herd structures (p < 0.01). HS1 farms have the best productive outcomes over a year, with 31.2 piglets weaned per sow and year (PWSY) and a farrowing rate of 87%, surpassing HS2 and HS3 farms (30.1 and 28.7 PWSY; 85.3% and 83.4% farrowing rates, respectively). HS1 also have the lowest percentage of sows returning to oestrus (11.8%) and the highest number of weaned piglets per litter (12.8), compared to HS2 (13.2% and 12.4 piglets weaned) and HS3 (15.1%, 11.9 piglets weaned). These differences show a medium effect size (η2 between 0.06 to < 0.14).ConclusionsThis study shows the importance of herd age structure on sow-breeding farms as a factor of reproductive efficiency. The results endorse the proposed classification based on the curvature of the trend parabola obtained with the quadratic function to categorize herd structures into three groups. Additionally, these findings highlight the importance of considering the herd age structure in farm decision-making.

Factors influencing somatic cell count and leukocyte composition in cow milk: a field study

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of studies investigating the composition of somatic cell count (SCC) of milk, focusing on neutrophils (NEU), lymphocytes (LYM), and macrophages (MAC). These 3 components are indeed crucial for the animal's immune response to mastitis-causing pathogens. The study examined various factors influencing somatic cell count and leucocyte components in cow milk, including lactation stage, parity, and milk electrical conductivity, using data from 179 dairy cows across 6 farms throughout the entire lactation. Statistical analyses, including mixed models and logistic regression, were employed to investigate the relationships between these variables and identify risk factors for high SCC levels. Results showed that factors such as parity and lactation stage were significantly associated with somatic cell composition. In particular, the highest milk NEU values (>60% of the total leucocytic fraction) and lowest MAC values (<20%) were found at the beginning and the end of lactation, that are the critical periods for udder health. High milk electrical conductivity, low milk production, number of parity, and poor hygiene scores were identified as contributing to increased SCC. Additionally, elevated percentages of NEU and LYM in milk were associated with increased risk of high SCC values, indicating potential udder health issues.

Practicability of Serum Kallistatin Levels as a Biomarker in the Diagnosis of Tubo-Ovarian Abscess.

Objective: This study investigates the practicability of serum kallistatin as a biomarker in the diagnosis of tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) because C-reactive protein (CRP) is insufficiently specific for diagnosis. Methods: Thirty patients (control group) who presented for elective gynecological surgeries and 30 who were hospitalized due to TOA (study group) at the Antalya Training and Research Hospital Gynecology Clinic, Türkiye, between January 1 and December 31, 2022, were included in the study. Blood samples were collected for the calculation of complete blood count, biochemistry, CRP, and serum kallistatin values, and the results were recorded in a database. Results: Although no significant differences were observed between the control and study groups in terms of age or body mass index, significant differences were observed in terms of marital status, number of pregnancies, parity number, intrauterine device history, and previous surgical history (p > 0.05). Serum hemoglobin levels (12.61 ± 1.30 vs. 11.47 ± 1.77; p = 0.008), white blood cell (7.9 [6.15 ± 9.7] vs. 17.0 [11.6-19.6]; p < 0.001), neutrophil (4.6 [3.6-6.12] vs. 13.6 [9.25-16.1]; p < 0.001), lymphocyte (2.51 ± 0.71 vs. 2.33 ± 0.69; p = 0.307), and platelet counts (285.63 ± 78.0 vs. 407.03 ± 131.96; p < 0.001), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (2.11 ± 0.93 vs. 6.18 ± 2.20; p < 0.001), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (123.16 ± 52.63 vs. 184.39 ± 63.90; p < 0.001), hs-CRP (1.20 [5.55-1.92] vs. 240 [138.25-291.0]; p < 0.001), kallistatin (7.18 ± 3.15 vs. 3.83 ± 3.69; p = 0.006), and urine leukocyte values (1 [0.75-3] vs. 3 [1-6.5]; p = 0.038) also differed significantly between the control and study groups. Conclusion: The study findings show that serum kallistatin levels can be used as a biomarker in the diagnosis of TOA. Further studies involving more participants are now needed to test the accuracy of our results.

Comparison of Second-Trimester Uterine Artery Doppler Indices between Pregnant Women with and without Prior Cesarean Delivery and Effect on Perinatal Outcomes

Objective: To evaluate the effects of prior cesarean delivery on second-trimester Uterine Artery (UtA) Doppler and its effect on perinatal outcomes. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the Maternal Fetal Medicine unit of Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, Thailand between June 2023 and January 2024. Healthy pregnant women aged between 18 and 45 years old were recruited and divided into prior (PCD) and non-prior cesarean delivery (non-PCD) groups. Both groups underwent UtA Doppler study from 18 to 24 weeks of gestation. UtA Doppler indices consisted of pulsatility index (UtA-PI), resistance index (UtA-RI) and systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D). Demographics, maternal and neonatal outcomes were collected. Results: Total of 416 participants were recruited and divided equally. The mean age of participants was 30.5 years old. Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy and hypertensive disorder were reported as 18.9 (79/416) and 5.5 (23/416) percent, respectively. From univariate analysis, subjects in the PCD group had higher UtA-PI, UtA-RI and UtA S/D than the non-PCD group with statistical significance. After multiple logistic regressions, only UtA-RI was greater in the PCD group with any statistical significance. The mean gestational age at delivery was 38.41 weeks. Prevalence of small for gestational age deliveries, preeclampsia, and preterm birth were 4.4 (17/376), 3.1 (12/376) and 10 percent (38/376), respectively. Maternal and neonatal outcomes of both groups were comparable. Number of cesarean deliveries, parity, miscarriage, and anterior placentation were not associated with UtA Doppler indices. Conclusion: UtA-RI of prior cesarean delivery participants were higher than non-prior cesarean delivery participants and not associated with maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes.

The association between parity and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional, community-based study.

Limited published data exist on the association between parity (number of deliveries) and diabetes mellitus (DM). This study was conducted to evaluate the association between parity and type 2 DM (T2DM) among Sudanese women. A multistage sampling survey was conducted in four villages in the River Nile State, Sudan, between July and September 2022. The World Health Organization's three-level stepwise questionnaire was adopted to collect women's sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, height, weight, marital status, parity, education level, occupation, detailed obstetric history, and family history of T2DM). Multivariate analyses were performed. A total of 397 women were recruited. Their median (interquartile range) age was 45.0 (33.0‒55.7) years. A total of 154 women (38.8%) were nulliparous, whereas 93 (23.4%), 70 (17.6%), and 80 (20.2%) had para 1‒3, 4 or 5, and more than 5, respectively. A total of 112 (28.2%) women had T2DM. In multivariate analysis, older age (adjusted odds ratio, AOR, 1.04, 95%, confidence interval, CI, 1.02‒1.06), high parity (AOR, 1.1, 95% C, 1.01‒1.20), and a family history of DM (AOR, 3.26, 95% CI, 1.98‒5.38) were associated with T2DM. Compared with the nulliparity, para 1‒3 (AOR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.17‒4.61), para 4 or 5 (AOR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.04‒4.30), and para > 5 (AOR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.09‒4.27) were at higher risk of T2DM. In women aged < 50 years, high parity (AOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.06‒1.44) was associated with T2DM. Compared with the nulliparous women, para 4 or 5 (AOR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.16‒10.34) and para > 5 (AOR, 4.63; 95% CI, 1.54‒13.87) were associated with T2DM, whereas para 1‒3 was not associated with T2DM. In the women aged ≥ 50 years, parity and parity groups were not associated with T2DM. There is a high prevalence of T2DM among Sudanese women. Parity and high parity are significant predictors of T2DM among these women in this part of Sudan.

U. Parvum serovars exhibit distinct pathogenicity in Chinese women of childbearing age: a multicentre cross-sectional study

BackgroundUreaplasma spp. can be classified into different serovars. It is unknown whether distinct serovars are associated with clinical signs and symptoms.MethodsWe conducted a multicentre cross-sectional study. U. parvum serovars were identified on the basis of their multiple-banded antigen (MBA) genes. After adjusting for demographic variables and other reproductive tract infections, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to determine the impact of U. parvum serovars on clinical symptoms.ResultsAmong 5,277 individuals, U. parvum serovars 3 and 6 were the most prevalent serovars (17.9% and 16.0%, respectively). Potential confounders, such as age, body mass index (BMI), ethnicity, education level, contraceptive methods, number of sexual partners, gravidity, parity, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that are associated with clinical symptoms (P < 0.1) were adjusted for in the univariate analysis. U. parvum serovar 14 was strongly positively associated with certain clinical symptoms, including redness and swelling of the vaginal wall (crude OR: 3.53, 95% CI: 1.92–6.49; adjusted OR: 5.21, 95% CI: 2.56–10.58), cervical bleeding and swelling (crude OR: 3.89, 95% CI: 2.38–6.36; adjusted OR: 7.37, 95% CI: 3.82–14.23), and cervical ectropion (crude OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.25–3.45; adjusted OR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.60–5.74). In contrast, U. parvum serovar 3 was negatively associated with a variety of clinical symptoms, whereas no correlations were detected between U. parvum serovars 1and 6 with clinical symptoms.ConclusionsDifferent U. parvum serovars exhibit distinct correlations with clinical symptoms, suggesting that U. parvum serovars are pathogenically heterogeneous and that further differentiation of serovars may be necessary.Trial registrationThe study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; ID: NCT04694495; Registration Date: 2021–01-05).

Occurrence of gangrenous mastitis and its associated risk factors in dairy goats

Gangrenous mastitis is one among the major economically important health constraint faced by goat farmers. Occurrence of gangrenous mastitis is a result of combination of host, agent and environmental factors. Alteration in any of the host, agent and environmental factors can lead to an increase in bacterial concentration and the expression of virulence factors resulting in gangrenous mastitis. The present study was conducted over a period of two years from September 2021 to September 2023. The study subjects included 30 goats affected with gangrenous mastitis, managed under semi- intensive and intensive system. The selected animals included Malabari, Jamnapari and Malabari crossbreds with age group ranging from one to eight years, parity number ranging from one to six and stage of lactation ranging from peri-parturient period, early lactation and late lactation. Information regarding the host associated and environmental risk factors were collected by a prepared proforma. Disease diagnosis was made based on clinical examination, examination of udder and milk changes. Epidemiological analysis revealed a higher occurrence of gangrenous mastitis in crossbred goats. The occurrence was also higher in the age group of 3-4 yrs, during periparturient period and in herd without proper management practices. Absence of herd and management practices like proper disinfection and isolation of animals to new shed during parturition significantly caused occurrence of gangrenous mastitis. Proper awareness regarding the epidemiological factors leading to gangrenous mastitis can help in future control strategies of caprine gangrenous mastitis. Keywords: Goat, gangrenous mastitis, epidemiology

Comparative Photosynthetic Capacity, Respiration Rates, and Nutrient Content of Micropropagated and Wild-Sourced Sphagnum

The rapid, effective restoration of degraded peatlands is urgently needed to reduce their current high levels of carbon loss. The re-introduction of Sphagnum moss, along with re-wetting, is key to returning carbon sequestration and retention capabilities to northern degraded bogs. Micropropagated Sphagnum has already been applied in large quantities, and more is planned, for restoration projects in Britain and parts of Europe. A comparison with wild-sourced Sphagnum material is therefore pertinent to demonstrate its safety and suitability for wide-scale application. Six Sphagnum species of both micropropagated and wild-sourced origin were assessed for photosynthetic capacity, nutrient content, form parity, chlorocyst size, and chloroplast numbers. Micropropagated Sphagnum had significantly higher light-saturated photosynthesis (Pmax) rates, little color expression, an open growth habit, greater chloroplast numbers, and more numerous, smaller shoot apices than wild-sourced Sphagnum. Higher Pmax rates were associated with a lower bulk density and higher tissue nutrient concentrations. Potentially, greater chloroplast numbers in micropropagated Sphagnum facilitate higher photosynthesis rates, driving rapid growth in early-stage plants, particularly in optimum moisture conditions. Micropropagated Sphagnum can be used confidently, propagated in large quantities, and will likely establish well on application to sites where re-wetting has already occurred, therefore making it highly beneficial for the restoration of degraded bogs.

Investigating the complications of frequent pregnancy loss in patients referred to obstetrics and gynecology clinics at King Khalid University Hospital

ABSTRACT Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a common problem affecting many women. This study aimed to investigate the baseline characteristics of 400 women with RPL and to examine any differences in baseline characteristics of the recruited women with RPL throughout the years. Methods: This study used retrospective data, which included the records of patients with RPL who visited King Khalid University Hospital’s obstetric clinic between 2019 and 2022. The records of 400 patients who met the inclusion criteria were reviewed and analyzed. Results: The mean age of enrolled women was 36.5 ± 5.4 years, and the mean RPL was 3.8 ± 2.5. The study also revealed that there were significant statistical differences in obesity and vitamin D deficiency among women with RPL based on year (P = 0.013 and P = 0.036, respectively), whereas no significant statistical differences were found between women with RPL in terms of age, parity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, antiphospholipid antibodies (APLs), uterine malformation, or consanguinity. Conclusion: Advanced maternal age, number of previous miscarriages, parity, diabetes, hypothyroidism, APLs, uterine malformations, first-degree consanguinity, and vitamin D deficiency were found to be significant risk factors associated with RPL among women in Saudi Arabia.

The effects of magnitude of calcium decline at the onset of lactation on serotonin dynamics and the serotonin-calcium axis

The onset of lactation is characterized by marked increases in calcium (Ca) metabolism. Recently emphasis was placed on understanding the profile and dynamics of blood Ca and serotonin in the peripartal cow in response to this change using a randomized 2x2 factorial design. The aims of our study were to determine i) how a prepartum dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) diet and the magnitude of Ca decline at the onset of lactation alter circulating blood serotonin and iCa concentrations dynamics in the periparturient cow, and ii) the relationship Ca versus serotonin during the peripartal period. Thirty-two multiparous Holstein cows were blocked by parity (2 vs > 2) to ensure equal parity number across the experiment, previous 305 d milk yield and expected parturition date and randomly allocated to either positive (+120 mEq/kg; +DCAD) or negative (-120 mEq/kg; -DCAD) DCAD diets from 251 d of gestation until parturition (n = 16/diet). Immediately after calving cows were continuously infused for 24 h with i) an intravenous solution of 10% dextrose or ii) calcium gluconate (CaGlc) to maintain blood ionized Ca concentrations at 1.2 mM (normocalcemia); forming the following 4 treatment groups: negative DCAD and CaGlc (NCa), negative DCAD and dextrose (NDex), positive DCAD and CaGlc (PCa), and positive DCAD and dextrose (PDex) (n = 8/treatment). Blood was sampled every 6 h from 102 h before parturition until 96 h post parturition. During the continuous infusion period (the 24 h immediately following parturition) cows were sampled every 30 min. Cows fed a -DCAD diet prepartum had greater circulating serotonin concentrations pre and postpartum. Time series analyses demonstrated that the pooled mean effect size (ES) of the relationship between ionized Ca and serotonin 36 h before parturition was significantly positive (ES = 0.164) prepartum. We also observed that the overall pooled mean ES of the relationship between prepartum blood pH 24 h prior and serotonin was significantly positive (ES = 0.111); however, for individual treatment groups, relationships were identified between blood pH and serotonin 18 and 6 h before only for the NDex group. Our data suggest that serotonin is an important factor in the regulation of Ca homeostasis during the prepartal period and that the mechanism may be integrated with blood pH.

Postoperative Complications After Gynecological Surgry in Al Kut City

Introduction: Post-operative problems are common. How the complications develop depends on the kind of operation, the preoperative treatment, and the patient's pre-existing comorbid condition. Problems following surgery can be divide into two categories: general and procedure-specific, as well as having emerged promptly, early, or late. Objectives: To determine the postoperative complications type after gynecological surgery in AL-Kut city. Methodology: A cross-sectional study had carried out in AL-Kut City, at the AL-Zahraa Teching Hospital and AL-Kut Hospital for Gynecology and Pediatrics. The seven-month data collection period started on October 16, 2023, and ended on May 16, 2024. Results: 400 female participants, ranging in age from 13 to 72, were be studied. The age distribution of the patients was 31.5 ±10, with the age group 24-34 accounting for the largest percentage of patients (41%) and the age group over 45 accounting for the lowest percentage (7.8%). In terms of marital status, the largest proportion of women (96.2%) were married, while the lowest (1.3%) were widowed. 51.2% of patients lived in urban areas, compared to 48.8% in rural ones. Patients with two to three children had the highest number of parities (34.8%), whereas 18% of patients did not have any parties. 31.8% of patients had an abortion, whereas 68.3% did not. Of which 44.3% had considered as normal BMI, 34.5% of people are overweight, 12% belong to the obese I, 4.3% to the obese II, and 4.5% are morbidly obese. Based on the patients' past medical history, hypertension was the most common ailment detected, accounting for 30.3% of cases (chronic HTN 13%, gestational HTN 17.3%), while diabetes patients made up 9.5% (chronic D.M. 6.5%, gestational D.M. 3%). Classification of Complications: 90.3% of complications occurred within 48 hours, whereas 51.3% developed intraoperative complications. Finally, 50.2% of patients experienced a late problem 48 hours later. Conclusion: The study discovered a link between complications after gynecologic surgery and pre-operative blood transfusion and hospital stay. Hemorrhage, anesthesia difficulties, and cardiac arrhythmia were significant, were the most common late complications among the patients. On the other hand, late complications had linked to surgical duration, number of parities, and age.

Digital documentation of treatment data and their relation to breed and performance parameters of sows

Abstract. The emerging risk of resistance to antimicrobials has brought about the need to document animal production in the European Union. The required documentation of treatment data on-farm may withhold viable information, which can be analysed if made accessible in a digital format. The aim of the study was to use a digital system for the documentation of treatments and to investigate relationships between treatments, performance parameters and breeds. Data were collected between August 2020 and September 2022 on a combined pig farm in northern Germany. A digital tool was used to obtain data on treatments, while sows' performance information and breed data were drawn from the sow planner of the farm. Treatment indices were generated for the sows (TIS, treatment index sow) and the sows' litters (treatment index litter, TIL). During the time of data collection, 17 % (n = 113) of the farrowing events (n = 661) took place with farrowing-related treatments (FRTs), and 43.5 % (n = 94) of the sows had to receive FRT at least once. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the dependent variables TIS, TIL and FRT and the performance parameters piglets born alive, stillborn piglets and weaned piglets. The explanatory variables parity, season, year, the interaction of season and year, and the breed of the sow (crossbred Large White × Landrace and purebred Large White), as well as the random effect of the sow nested in the breed of the sow, were included in the models for all dependent variables. Additionally, the breed of the boar (Duroc, Pietrain), TIS, TIL and FRT were investigated in the models of the performance parameters. The following effects were all significant (p&lt;0.05). Parity had an effect on TIS, piglets born alive and stillborn piglets. Sows with parity of 1 had the highest least-squares mean (LSM) = 0.42 (standard error (SE) = 0.04) for TIS, which decreased over parities of 2–3, 4–5 and 6–7 (LSM = 0.16, SE = 0.04) and increased for parity of ≥8 (LSM = 0.34, SE = 0.05). While sows with parity of 1 produced the lowest numbers and sows with parities of 4–5 the highest numbers of piglets born alive, the number of stillborn piglets increased with parity number, with the lowest numbers for parity of 1 and the highest numbers for parity of ≥8. Overall, the performance of the farm improved in the second year of data collection with less FRT, more weaned piglets and fewer stillborn piglets. Crossbred sows produced more piglets born alive and weaned piglets but also more stillborn piglets. The use of Pietrain boars led to more piglets being born alive. FRT and high treatment indices of the sow related with an increase in stillborn piglets and high treatment indices of the sow resulted in fewer piglets born alive. In conclusion, digitalized treatment data allow for analyses of the herd's health status, and relations between production performance and treatments can be investigated.

225 Kidney function and nitrogen excretion in Brown Swiss and Holstein dairy cows

Abstract The agricultural sector contributes to nitrogen (N) emissions since farm animals excrete considerable N amounts via feces and urine. To reduce N emissions by dairy cattle, methods predicting accurately individual N emissions are of great interest. Recent data showed that Brown Swiss (BS) cows have greater urea concentrations in milk and blood than Holstein (HO) cows. However, it is still unknown if greater BUN concentrations in a particular breed are congruently reflected by concomitantly increased contents of nitrogenous compounds in other media (e.g., urine and saliva). Thus, the present study simultaneously assessed biomarkers for kidney function like urea, and creatinine and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) concentrations in several body fluids (i.e., blood, urine, milk, and saliva) as well as nitrogen excretion in feces in BS and HO cows under identical feeding conditions. Blood, saliva, urine, and feces were sampled in 31 multiparous BS and 46 HO cows kept under identical feeding and management conditions. Samples were collected at different lactational stages after the monthly DHIA control test-day. Concentrations of urea and creatinine were measured in serum, urine, and saliva. Symmetric dimethylarginine was determined in serum, which is an established indicator for glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Feces were analyzed for dry matter content and nitrogen concentrations. Data on milk urea and protein concentrations, and daily milk yield were obtained from the monthly DHIA test-day records. The effects of breed, time, and parity number on blood, saliva, urine, feces, and milk parameters were evaluated with the GLM procedure with breed, time, and parity number as fixed effects. Differences between BS and HO were assessed by the Tukey-corrected t-test at P &amp;lt; 0.05. Dry matter intake and body weight were similar in BS and HO cows (P &amp;gt; 0.05). No differences between BS and HO were observed for milk yield, fecal DM and nitrogen content. BS cows showed greater urea concentration (25.8 ± 0.7 vs 21.8 ± 0.7 mg/dL), and protein content in milk (3.70 ± 0.08 vs 3.45 ± 0.07%) than HO cows (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Concentrations of urea, creatinine, and SDMA in serum, were greater in BS than in HO cows (P &amp;lt; 0.01) with 5.46 ± 0.19 vs 4.72 ± 0.13 mmol/L for urea, 105.96 ± 2.23 vs 93.07 ± 1.50 mmol/l creatinine, and 16.78 ± 0.69 vs 13.39 ± 0.44 µg/dL SDMA, respectively. Urea and creatinine concentrations in urine and saliva did not differ among breeds. Despite greater urea and creatinine concentrations in blood, and milk urea content in BS compared with HO, excretion of these parameters did not differ between breeds in urine. Our results suggest a reduced renal glomerular filtration rate in BS compared with HO. The underlying mechanisms require further investigations.

87 Estimation of genetic parameters for activity levels in North American Holstein cattle

Abstract High-producing dairy cows face various challenges during their productive life, including metabolic and infectious diseases, heat stress, and intensive management practices. Therefore, dairy cattle breeding programs have begun to focus on novel traits related to the overall resilience of the cows. Resilience has been defined as the ability of an animal to be minimally affected or to recover quickly from environmental disturbances while maintaining a certain level of productivity. In dairy cattle, resilience can be evaluated using measurements of longitudinal indicator traits, such as activity level, which are repeatedly measured throughout the lifetime of the animal. Variability in activity (defined in this study as average steps per hour and daily steps taken) might be a key indicator of resilience, due to activity of contemporary group animals deviating from normal behavior in less resilient cattle. Before resilience indicators are defined based on variability in certain longitudinal traits, there is a need for evaluating the genetic background of the source variable. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to estimate variance components and genetic parameters of activity traits in lactating Holstein cows. The data was collected from a large dairy farm located in Indiana, using milking systems. Records from 6,332 Holstein cows for the traits of average activity per hour and number of daily steps were used in the analyses. The models used for the estimation of variance components included the significant (P &amp;lt; 0.05) fixed effects of contemporary group defined based on the concatenation of calving year and season, parity number (1, 2, 3+), pregnancy group (0 mo, 1-3 mo, 4-6 mo, and 7-9 mo), and days in milk (2-wkclasses), and the random effects of direct additive genetic, permanent environment, and residual effects. Genetic parameters were estimated for average activity per hour and daily steps for all parities together. Heritability estimates were calculated based on single-trait repeatability models and the (AI) REML method implemented in the BLUPF90+ software. Daily steps taken had a heritability (± SE) of 0.05 (± 0.02) and a repeatability of 0.29 (± 0.02). Activity per hour had a heritability estimate of 0.12 (± 0.04) and a repeatability of 0.57 (± 0.01). These results indicate that activity level is heritable in North American Holstein cattle and can be added to selection indexes if proven to be a key auxiliary trait for improving dairy cattle sustainability. As a next step, we will investigate the genetic relationship of activity traits with other relevant traits and derive resilience indicators based on variability in activity level.

Social interactions of dairy cows and their association with milk yield and somatic cell count

The social environment experienced by livestock can have implications for their health, welfare, and subsequently, their productivity. Changes in the dairy industry have led to larger herd sizes and altered management of cows, which has impacted their social environment. Studies have shown that mixing of animals can lead to social instability of groups and expansion of herds can lead to high stocking densities resulting in social stress and negative effects on production. Yet few studies have assessed the putative impact of positive cow-cow interactions, such as proximity to preferred herd mates and engaging in grooming, on milk production and udder health. To address this, we used cattle proximity as a proxy for affiliative interactions between cows in three dairy herds in south-west England over one week study periods. We created proximity networks of dairy cows and measured cow-cow associations according to milk yield, somatic cell count (SCC; an indicator of mastitis), parity (number of lactations in the cow’s lifetime), and lactation stage (grouped by days in milk for current lactation). We then assessed associations between social factors and production and health measures (milk yield and SCC). In all three herds, cows interacted more with cows in the same parity, suggesting early social bonding may be evident later in life and that grouping animals in terms of parity might encourage affiliative interactions. Cows did not associate according to milk yield, SCC, or lactation stage. There was no significant association between milk production or SCC and the total time spent in social contact with other cows, the mean time spent with the four closest herd mates, or the number of closest herd mates of the same parity. We suggest that further research on positive social environments for dairy cattle is warranted in the interests of improving welfare and enabling a more robust assessment of the putative effects on production and health parameters

A novel suturing technique for natural tissue repair in cystocele treatment

BackgroundRecently, natural tissue repair has become popular in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapsed. In this study, we compared patients who underwent cystocele repair with the rug-weaving plication technique, a natural tissue repair method implemented since 2022 for anterior prolapse, with those treated using conventional colporrhaphy.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the data of 65 patients who underwent anterior vaginal wall repair with the rug-weaving plication technique (n = 33, Group 1) or conventional colporrhaphy (n = 32, Group 2). We recorded the patients’ clinicodemographic and surgical data. At the 6-month postoperative follow-up, we assessed patients’ complaints, degree of prolapse (using the simplified Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system), and pelvic floor muscle strength (using the Modified Oxford Score). Anterior vaginal wall thickness was measured using transvaginal ultrasonography. We compared clinicodemographic and surgical data and postoperative outcomes between the two groups.ResultsThe two groups were comparable in terms of age (p = 0.326), number of pregnancies (p = 0.307), number of parities (p = 0.555), preoperative anterior wall simplified Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification grade (p = 0.380), preoperative apical prolapse simplified Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification grade (p = 0.518), postoperative Modified Oxford Score (p = 0.857), operation time (p = 0.809), postoperative haemoglobin (p = 0.674), and amount of bleeding (p = 0.951). Compared with Group 2, Group 1 had significantly higher postoperative anterior vaginal wall thickness (p < 0.001) and significantly lower postoperative anterior wall simplified Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification grade (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe rug-weaving plication technique may offer a viable alternative for cystocele repair without mesh, using natural tissue and potentially reducing mesh-related complications and recurrence rates.Clinical trial numberNCT06410469 (03/05/2024).

Effect of Dietary Energy Level during Late Gestation on Mineral Contents in Colostrum, Milk, and Plasma of Lactating Jennies.

This study investigated the effects of dietary energy levels during late gestation on mineral content in the plasma, colostrum, and milk of jennies postpartum. Twenty-four pregnant multiparous DeZhou jennies, aged 6.0 ± 0.1 years, with a body weight of 292 ± 33 kg, an average parity number of 2.7 ± 0.1, and similar expected dates of confinement (74 ± 4 days), were randomly allocated to three groups and fed three diets: high energy (12.54 MJ/kg, HE), medium energy (12.03 MJ/kg, ME), and low energy (11.39 MJ/kg, LE). Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of each jenny at time points of 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, 5 d, 7 d, and 14 d after parturition. Additionally, milk samples were collected through manual milking, and an analysis of the mineral content was conducted. The results showed that compared with HE, both ME and LE significantly increased the levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), and cobalt (Co) in the plasma and Ca, P, magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), Zn, selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), and Co in the milk of jennies postpartum (p < 0.05); ME also increased the levels of potassium (K), iron (Fe), and Mn in plasma and K and Fe in milk (p < 0.05). The levels of Ca, K, Mg, P, Fe, Cu, Mn, Co, Se, Zn, and Mo in plasma and milk gradually decreased with increasing postpartum time. Their contents were the highest at 0 h postpartum, rapidly decreased after 24 h postpartum, and declined to the lowest on day 14 postpartum. The interaction between dietary energy level and postpartum time showed that although the concentrations of the minerals Ca, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Co, Se, and Mo decreased in jennies' plasma and milk in the treatment groups with different energy levels as postpartum time increased, the pattern of change was also influenced by dietary energy level. The influence of dietary energy level in late gestation on the mineral content of milk and plasma during the postpartum colostrum phase was higher than that during the milk phase. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that, under the current experimental conditions, the mineral content of the colostrum, milk, and plasma of jennies after parturition was dependent on the dietary energy level during late gestation.

Factors Influencing Birth Weight and Pre-weaning Weight Gain of Piglets Reared in Different Farrowing Facilities

Aim: This study aims at analysing the influence of variables such as farrowing facilities, parity, litter size and sex on the birth weight and pre-weaning weight of piglets. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Piggery Unit of Livestock Farm Complex, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, 600 007, India. The study was carried out for a period of twelve months from October 2021 to September 2022. Methodology: The study comprised of eighteen Large White Yorkshire breed sows of different parities with 177 piglets that were reared in three types of farrowing systems which included Conventional farrowing crate, Guard rail model &amp; modified farrowing facility. Results: Litter size, season of farrowing, number of stillbirth and parity affected birth weight significantly (p &lt; 0.01). It was seen that each increase in the number of litter size reduces birth and weaning weight. However, parity had no statistically significant effect on the weaning weight (p &gt; 0.05). Likewise, the type of farrowing facility (p &gt; 0.05) also had no statistical significance on the birth weight. Conclusion: The results of the present study reveal that mean birth weight and weaning weight were not influenced by the type of farrowing system they were reared in. However, season of farrowing affected the birth weight which could affect the pre-weaning survival.