Parturient Cows Research Articles

Multiscale influences on Elk (Cervus canadensis) calving site selection across a fragmented Appalachian landscape

Abstract Due to the vulnerability of neonatal ungulates, selection of a birth site can have important implications for offspring survival and thus fitness of the mother. We studied parturition site selection in cow Elk in southeastern Kentucky, United States, using a use–availability framework to evaluate the effects of landscape variables sampled at multiple spatial grains on the relative probability of use of parturition sites. We identified 81 Elk parturition sites during May–Aug 2020–2022 and fit several candidate resource selection function models using a sample of 24,314 random locations to characterize habitat availability. Using an information-theoretic approach to rank candidate models, we identified two top-performing models (cumulative ωi = 0.97), which indicated that at fine spatial grains (~10- and 30-m pixels) parturient cow Elk selected for intermediate canopy cover and lower terrain ruggedness compared to available locations. At coarse grains (250–1,000-m buffers/neighborhoods), Elk selected against vegetation greenness/biomass, for higher topographic positions, for closer proximity to major roads, and with higher solar radiation potential. We also found evidence that Elk responded positively to forest/open edge densities at coarse grains, demonstrating that calving habitat throughout the Kentucky Elk Restoration Zone is associated with heterogeneous landscapes resulting from surface mine reclamation. As a result, habitat management actions should aim to increase patchy, early successional shrub cover on gentle topography.

The effect of hides and parity on behavior of periparturient dairy cows at pasture

Under natural conditions, most parturient cows seek visual cover or seclude themselves from the herd when calving becomes imminent. Studies on calving site selection of dairy cows housed indoors show that predominantly older and dominant cows calve in secluded areas. This study aimed to investigate whether cows distance themselves further from herd members under spacious outdoor conditions and whether artificial hides on a pasture motivate cows to seek visual isolation from the herd. One hundred eighty-two Danish Holstein cows were allocated to 1 of 13 groups of 14 cows according to expected calving date. In 2 paddocks (each 75 × 150 m), 5 zones (75 m × 30 m) were defined; zone 0 contained the feeding and shade area, and zone 4 bordered an area with trees. Weekly and according to calving date, a group of 14 cows was moved either to a paddock that had 12 hides distributed evenly throughout zones 1 to 4 (7 groups) or to a paddock without hides (6 groups). The hides were wooden structures (3.3 m long × 1.0 m wide × 1.2 m high) that the cows could hide behind. One hundred seven cows calved within 14 d of having been moved to the paddock, and 82 of these (38 primiparous and 44 multiparous), and their calves, were included in the study. From 3 h before until 3 h after calving, the location, posture, and behavior of cows were recorded continuously from video recordings. In addition, location, posture, and behavior of the calves were recorded for the first 3 h after birth. Continuous variables were analyzed by linear mixed effects models, whereas binary data were analyzed using mixed effects logistic regression. The presence of hides did not affect selection of calving location in the paddock, but more primiparous than multiparous cows calved in zone 4; that is, furthest away from the feeding area. Before calving, primiparous cows were more likely to be positioned in zone 4 and less likely to approach and contact herd members. After calving, primiparous cows and their calves tended to be more likely to be positioned in zone 4. The more cows present in the paddock, the less likely the cows were to isolate (i.e., be further than 30 m away from any other cow) at the time of calving. In addition, the more cows in the paddock when a calf was born, the less time these calves spent in a lying posture. The results show that primiparous cows move further away from herd members at calving than multiparous cows and suggest that primiparous cows prefer to isolate themselves through distance rather than seeking artificial cover. Contrary to expectation, the hides did not make more cows select a calving site away from the feeding area.

Early warning for inactive ovaries based on liver function index, serum MDA, IL-6, FGF21 and ANGPTL8 in dairy cows

Postpartum inactive ovaries (IOs) in dairy cows reduce the economic returns of the dairy industry. It is related to energy metabolism disorder, inflammatory response and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of liver function index (LFI) and serum cytokines at 21 days postpartum with IO and to predict the risk of IO in dairy cows. The blood of 60 parturient cows was collected through caudal root vein at 3, 21, 28 and 55 days postpartum. Ultrasonography was performed at 50 and 55 days postpartum to determine follicular development. With the median LFI as the standard, it was divided into high LFI (n = 30) and low LFI group (n = 30). A cohort study was used to analyse the risk of LFI to IO and t-test was used to compare the blood biochemical indicators of different LFI groups. Then, 12 cows (oestrus = 6 and IO = 6) were slaughtered 55 days postpartum. The differences of LFI, cytokines and biochemical indexes were compared, and data were analysed by t-test, Spearman’s correlation analysis, binary logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic analysis. The results show that growth and development of follicles of low LFI dairy cows were impaired, the risk of IO increased by 2.67 times. Cows with lower LFI had energy metabolism disorders, increased inflammation and oxidative stress and decreased ability to resist oxidative stress at 21 days postpartum. LFI and serum MDA, IL-6, FGF21 and ANGPTL at 21 days postpartum can predict IO in dairy cows. Highlights The risk of inactive ovaries (IOs) in cows with low liver function index (LFI) will increase by 2.67 times, serum MDA, IL-6, FGF21 and ANGPTL8 at 21 days postpartum can predict IOs in dairy cows at 50–55 days postpartum. A high predictive risk of IOs in dairy cows occurred when the LFI was less than −3.18, MDA more than 3.62 mmol/L, IL-6 more than 23.68 ng/L, FGF21 less than 812.41 ng/L and ANGPTL8 less than 695.79 ng/L at 21 days postpartum.

Effect of Floor Enrichment with Rubber Mattress of Calving Pen on Prepartum Behaviour of Tharparkar Cow during Winter Season

Background: The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of floor enrichment with rubber mattress of calving pen on prepartum calving behaviour of Tharparkar cow during the winter season. Methods: A total 28 Tharparkar cows were taken in study during winter season (November to March) and divided into two groups each contain 14 animals. One group placed in floor enriched with rubber mattress and other group kept on bare concrete floor calving pen. Preparturient behaviours like lying time, standing time, lying bout duration, number of lying bouts, rumination time ,rumination bouts, self grooming and frequency of self grooming were evaluated on -12 hr, -7th day, -14th day and -21st day prepartum for period of 12 hr in a day. Repeated Meausures ANOVA was used for the analysis of the data. Result: It was found that lying time, lying bout duration was significantly more in rubber mattress group as compare to concrete floor. However, 12 hr before parturition standing time was significantly high compare to any other observational day within the group. Similarly, rubber mattress had positive effect on rumination time, lying duration and self grooming frequency as compare to bare concrete floor. It was concluded that rubber mattress had beneficial effect in calving pen of Tharparkar cow during winter season due to its softness and insulating property. It provided comfort and warmth to the parturient cows. which was evident by increase in rumination time, more lying duration and reduced self grooming frequency.

Dairy cow behaviour around calving: Its relationship with management practices and environmental conditions

Calving is one of the most challenging and painful experiences for dairy cattle and a process that involves coping with physical and physiological changes, as well as environmental and management-related stressors. In recent years, it has been argued that the application of cow behaviour knowledge might facilitate their efficacious management during calving. This review aims to summarise and discuss current knowledge regarding the behavioural changes that occur around calving time. The relationship between calving behaviour, management practices, and environmental conditions in dairy cattle raised in intensive indoor production systems, as well as pasture-based systems, is also discussed. First, we briefly outline the process of parturition and the concept of maternal behaviour. We then describe behavioural changes that occur around parturition in normal and dystocic births and how variations in these behaviours can be used to predict normal or assisted calving in dairy cattle; particular emphasis is placed on the role of feeding, rumination, and lying behaviour. Finally, we review how management practices and environmental conditions can influence cow’s behaviour at calving and discuss the importance of providing an environment that accommodates the behaviour they are motivated to perform. This review presents evidence that the time a cow is moved to the calving area, the type of group housing and the provision of a secluded area to calve, can impact the behavioral responses of dairy cows at calving. Evidence regarding the effects of exposure to environmental conditions such as heat during summer, and/or cold, wet and mud during winter can also have a negative impact on behaviour, suggesting potential benefits of providing cows with a protected area to calve. We conclude that a better understanding of the behaviour of parturient cows may help producers improve the care and management around calving time.

Context-related variation in the peripartum vocalisations and phonatory behaviours of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows

Context-related information can be reflected within mammalian vocalisations and could in turn be studied to benefit production animals. Whilst previous research has revealed the contextual, and even emotional content of goat, pig and horse vocalisations, cattle vocalisations remain relatively less explored. In this study we recorded the vocalisations and accompanying phonatory behaviours of 19 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n = 10 primiparous, n = 9 multiparous) during the peripartum contexts of parturition with dystocia and fence-line calf separation. Findings revealed that vocal structure was context dependent, with parturition calls longer in duration, higher in fundamental frequency (F0) min and F0 start, containing more nonlinear phenomena and more minor F0 modulations. By contrast, calls during calf separation were distinguishable by their F0 contour, having a higher F0 mean and F0 max, and greater F0 var, F0 cv and F0 absolute slope. During parturition, primiparous cows emitted calls longer in duration, lower in F0 mean, and containing more F0 modulations than their multiparous conspecifics. Parturient cows expressed a greater number of open mouth calls, whereas mixed calls were more common in the calf separation context. Additionally, 82 % of the primiparous and 10 % of the multiparous cow vocalisations involved tongue exposure from the mouth during parturition, which may represent a visual indicator of compromised welfare. Overall, our results show that the context-related variation is conveyed through an integration of vocal and visual sensory modalities, with the combination of an open mouth configuration, tongue protrusion, and spectrographic properties such as an overall lower F0 and longer duration during parturition likely enhancing vocal transmission over longer distances to inform more receivers about the urgency of this context. Knowledge of these vocal and behavioural cues could be adopted on farm to determine the welfare of peripartum cattle and are instrumental for future cattle bioacoustics research.

Parturition behavior of Swamp buffalo cows (Bubalus bubalis) under organized system of rearing

ABSTRACT The present study was conducted on 30 Swamp buffalo cows maintained at Network Project on Buffalo improvement (Swamp), College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam from September 2016 to March 2017 to accumulate data on parturition behavior. Parturition behavior was studied based on direct observations on 30 parturient cows. Restlessness, reduced interest in food and water, lying down and getting up, abdominal straining with arching of the back and frequent urination were the behavioral signs exhibited by all Swamp buffalo cows at first stage of parturition, which continued in the second stage. Licking of the newborn and interest in food and water were exhibited by all cows at the third stage of parturition. Total time required for expulsion of the fetus was 29.00 ± 4.06 min. Lochial discharge was free-flowing in quantity and dark yellow in color and ceased from 9 days of parturition. The weight of placenta and the total number of cotyledons in Swamp buffalo averaged 4.20 ± 0.10 kg and 111.60 ± 2.77, respectively.

Evaluation of immuno-regulatory cytokines and negative energy balance markers drift of zebu cows during the transition period

ABSTRACT Apparently healthy, eight parturient Sahiwal cows were enrolled and blood samples were collected five times: at enrolment −14, −7, 0 (day of parturition), +7, and +14 days of parturition. Another eight healthy non-pregnant Sahiwal cows in mid-lactation (>90 days of lactation) have served as standard base value control. The transition Sahiwal cows were found to have significantly lower interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and higher interleukin-10 levels at day −7, 0, +7 and +14 of parturition as compared to their own day −14 values. Significant elevation in non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) level was estimated in these cows at the day of parturition as compared to their own day −14 values. A marked elevation in the beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) level was also estimated at day 0, +7, and +14 as compared to the day −14 and −7 values in the transition cows. As compared to the standard base value, significantly lower IFN-γ and elevated IL-10 levels were estimated at day −7, 0, +7, and +14 in the transition cows. The NEFA level in the transition cows was also significantly higher at the day of parturition when compared with standard control values. In conclusion, the zebu Sahiwal cows face marked immuno-metabolic dents during the transition period.

The degree of visual cover and location of birth fluids affect dairy cows' choice of calving site

Under natural conditions, cows seek isolation and visual cover when calving becomes imminent, but the degree of visual cover necessary to provide an attractive calving site is not known. When calving indoors, preparturient cows are attracted to other cows' birth fluids, and this may influence their isolation seeking. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of degree of visual cover of secluded areas and the location of birth fluids on dairy cows' calving site selection. One hundred twenty-four Danish Holstein cows were moved in groups of 8 to 12 to a group pen with access to 6 areas secluded by a barrier of either 3 m (wide barrier) or 1.5 m (narrow barrier). Sixty cows calved within 14 d of having been moved to the group pen and were included in the study. From 3 h before partition and until the cow and calf were removed from the pen within 3 h after parturition, the location and posture of cows were recorded, along with the location of where their birth fluids were discharged. In addition, location and posture of calves were recorded during and up to 3 h after calving. All data were collected from continuous video recordings. Continuous data for location and behavior were analyzed by mixed models, binary data were analyzed by chi-squared analysis, and location of calving relative to where the cow's own or alien birth fluids were discharged was analyzed using logistic regression models. Ten percent of the cows calved in a secluded area, with no effect of barrier width. However, before calving, cows with access to secluded areas with a wide barrier spent more time in a secluded area (22 vs. 7 min/3 h), and more cows were observed lying there (58 vs. 28%) than cows with access to secluded areas with a narrow barrier. Secluded areas with a wide barrier were used by more cows and calves during the first hour after calving (36 vs. 10%). Among the cows that entered a secluded area after calving, the latency to enter correlated with their calf's latency to enter, suggesting that the 2 sought seclusion together. Seventy-nine percent of the cows calved in proximity (within a 1.25-m radius) to their own or an alien cow's birth fluids. There was no effect of barrier width on the probability of calving in proximity to their own or alien birth fluids. However, the probability of calving in proximity to their own or alien birth fluids was higher than the probability of not doing so. The greater use of secluded areas with a 3-m-wide barrier before and after parturition suggests that these are preferred over areas with a 1.5-m-wide barrier. Only a few cows calved in a secluded area, and more research is needed to explore the environmental and social factors affecting parturient cows' use of designated calving areas. The majority of cows calved close to where their own or alien birth fluids were discharged, suggesting that cows are attracted to these before calving. This may have affected the use of secluded areas as calving sites.

Short communication: The effect of calcium supplementation at calving on neutrophil function

Low total blood calcium concentration after calving has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for reduced neutrophil function. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether administration of an injectable calcium supplement product soon after calving increased neutrophil oxidative burst or phagocytosis capacity. Cows (n = 27) from 4 farms were blocked by parity and randomly assigned to receive either calcium gluconate (35% wt/vol) in combination with calcium glucoheptonate (10% wt/vol; Theracalcium, Vétoquinol Canada Inc., Lavaltrie, Quebec, Canada) or a placebo within 12 h after calving and again 24 h later. Each dose of 120 mL was injected subcutaneously over 2 sites. Total serum calcium concentration, neutrophil oxidative burst, and neutrophil phagocytosis capacity were measured from coccygeal blood samples before (time 0) and 72 h after first treatment. There was no difference between treatment groups in lactation number, total calcium concentration, oxidative burst, or phagocytosis at time of enrollment. There was no effect of treatment on oxidative burst or phagocytosis by neutrophils. This preliminary study does not support an effect of supplemental calcium to improve neutrophil oxidative burst or phagocytosis capacity of low-parity parturient cows.

Preliminary results of the placental decorin profile in bovine pregnancy and parturition

Decorin is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan which is involved in multiple biological functions mainly as a structural and signaling molecule. Due to its biological properties in connective tissue, decorin may participate in remodeling of ECM during attachment and detachment of placenta within the course of pregnancy and at parturition in cows. The aim of the study was to detect the presence of decorin protein in bovine placental tissues and to evaluate its profile during pregnancy and at parturition. Placental tissues from healthy pregnant cows (2–5 month) were collected in abattoir (n = 10), while parturient tissues were obtained during caesarian section at physiological term (n = 6). Maternal and fetal parts were separated manually and subjected to homogenization and to quantitative ELISA and verification by Western blotting with anti-decorin antibodies. ELISA test showed that the concentration of decorin during pregnancy was higher in the fetal part of placenta compared with the maternal part (p < 0.001). Similar pattern was noted regarding to maternal and fetal samples derived from parturient cows. Our preliminary results demonstrate that the concentration of decorin is gestation time-dependent in healthy bovine placenta. Possible confirmation of the involvement of decorin in early pregnancy attachment and detachment of the placenta during parturition requires further research.

English

English

THE PREVALENCE OF BRUCELLOSIS IN CATTLE AND THEIR HANDLERS IN NORTH TONGU DISTRICT OF VOLTA REGION, GHANA.

Background:Brucellosis is a zoonotic pathogen responsible for great economic losses in most sub-Saharan nations. Although Ghana has successfully implemented the “One Health” initiative for the control of some emerging infectious zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential like Avian Influenza, there is very limited data available on brucellosis especially human brucellosis prevalence. He objective of his study is to determine the seroprevalence of human and bovine brucellosis as well as the predisposing factors at the community level in the North Tongu District of Ghana.Materials and Methods:Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) was used to analyze blood samples from 178 cattle farmers, and 315 cattle. The positive samples were further confirmed with cELISA. Predisposing factors were determined by questionnaires administered to cattle farmers. All sample sites were geo-referenced.Results:Human and bovine brucellosis seroprevalence using RBPT were 10.1% and 22.9% respectively. Eighty six percent (62/72) of bovine cases were confirmed with ELISA. Delivery assistants were more likely to be infected (p=0.043) with odds ratio of 2.7. Out of the human cases (18), males constituted 88.9%. Ages 11-20 years recorded 77.7% seropositivity whilst cattle drovers represented 44.5% (8/18) of positives. Significant risk factors in cattle were herd size (p=0.037), history of retained placenta (0.000) and abortion (0.005).Conclusion:Bovine and human brucellosis is prevalent in North Tongu district, Ghana. Close contact with parturient cows was a major predisposing factor for human infection. Early referral of positive persons to the Hospital for confirmation and treatment is required to comply with the “One Health” initiative on brucellosis and other zoonoses.

Sympathoadrenal balance and physiological stress response in cattle at spontaneous and PGF2α-induced calving

Increased cortisol release in parturient cows may either represent a stress response or is part of the endocrine changes that initiate calving. Acute stress elicits an increase in heart rate and decrease in heart rate variability (HRV). Therefore, we analyzed cortisol concentration, heart rate and HRV variables standard deviation of beat-to-beat interval (SDRR) and root mean square of successive beat-to-beat intervals (RMSSD) in dairy cows allowed to calve spontaneously (SPON, n = 6) or with PGF2α-induced preterm parturition (PG, n = 6). We hypothesized that calving is a stressor, but induced parturition is less stressful than term calving. Saliva collection for cortisol analysis and electrocardiogram recordings for heart rate and HRV analysis were performed from 32 hours before to 18.3 ± 0.7 hours after delivery. Cortisol concentration increased in SPON and PG cows, peaked 15 minutes after delivery (P < 0.001) but was higher in SPON versus PG cows (P < 0.001) during and within 2 hours after calving. Heart rate peaked during the expulsive phase of labor and was higher in SPON than in PG cows (time × group P < 0.01). The standard deviation of beat-to-beat interval and RMSSD peaked at the end of the expulsive phase of labor (P < 0.001), indicating high vagal activity. Standard deviation of beat-to-beat interval (P < 0.01) and RMSSD (P < 0.05) were higher in SPON versus PG cows. Based on physiological stress parameters, calving is perceived as stressful but expulsion of the calf is associated with a transiently increased vagal tone which may enhance uterine contractility.

Relationship between blood calcium level and ST peak interval of electrocardiographic variables in peripartum Holstein cows.

The association between blood calcium levels and electrocardiographic variables was compared in 137 normal parturient and 36 peripartum recumbent Holstein cows to determine whether hypocalcemia in peripartum dairy cows can be rapidly diagnosed using electrocardiograph. Inverse of STc (ST peak interval/SS interval0.5) and blood ionized calcium or serum calcium concentrations were strongly correlated, and both correlation coefficients were 0.81 (P<0.001). The 95% prediction interval indicated that cows with STc >0.385 ± 0.001 sec are very likely to be hypocalcemic (blood ionized or serum calcium concentrations of <0.9 mmol/l or <7.5 mg/dl, respectively). These findings indicate that hypocalcemia in parturient cows can be non-invasively estimated using the STc.

Fingerprinting of gelatinase subtypes for different topographic regions on non-retaining placenta of Holstein cows

The contribution of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) to timely discharge of the placenta from bovine uterus at parturition is yet inconclusive, partly because of the presence of multiple MMP forms in situ. In the current study, the expression of different gelatinase subtypes on non-retaining placentas of Holstein cows was fingerprinted by using gelatin zymography. Different topographic regions on the placenta were measured separately, including the placentome-like structure and the fetal and maternal sides of interplacentomal placenta, all sampled from the central and peripheral areas of the placenta, respectively. The spontaneously ruptured umbilical cords were cross-sectioned as fetus end, middle and placenta end also for separate measurement. Body fluids including blood samples from the parturient cows, their neonatal calves and umbilical cord, as well as fetal fluids and the first colostrum were measured concomitantly. Results showed multiple forms of gelatinases subtypes in the placenta tissues and body fluids, including neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL)-MMP-9 complex, both the latent and active forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9; of them, the latent forms were much more abundantly and frequently expressed than the active forms. NGAL-MMP-9 complex was more prevalently present in the body fluids than in the placenta tissues. No distinguishable pattern of the expression of any gelatinase subtype was observed among the placentome-like structure, interplacentomal placenta and umbilical cord, or between fetal and maternal sides. Nonetheless, for interplacentomal placenta, proMMP-9 expression was higher in the central than in the peripheral area. In addition, proMMP-2 expression was higher in the rupture end (fetus end) than the placenta end of the umbilical cord. In conclusion, the current validated gelatin zymography detected a gradient proMMP-9 expression on the non-retaining placenta of cows in reverse to the proximity to the umbilical insertion point, and a gradient proMMP-2 expression on a section of the umbilical cord in reverse to the proximity to the rupture site, suggesting roles played by gelatinases in normal discharge of the placenta at term.

Administration of a NSAID (meloxicam) affects lying behaviour after caesarean section in beef cows

Very little is known about the pain experienced by cattle following caesarean section and hence little consideration has been given to managing it. Thus the purpose of this study was to investigate activity-related behavioural changes in response to pain, by pre-emptively administering a long acting NSAID to beef cows undergoing caesarean section. One hundred and ten beef cows (55 primiparous, 55 multiparous) that underwent non-elective standardised caesarean section were recruited from eight French veterinary practices. Cows received pre-emptively either meloxicam (n=63) or placebo (n=47) according to a blind randomised schedule. Pedometers were attached to each cow's left hindleg and activity was monitored from 0h (end of surgery) to 68h post-partum. Time spent lying, number of steps and counts of lying bouts were calculated for the following periods: 0–8h, 8–16h, 16–24h, 24–48h and 48–68h and analysed with a REML procedure.Cows receiving meloxicam spent significantly more time lying in the 0–8h and 8–16h periods following surgery than cows receiving placebo (+27.4 and +26.4min, respectively; P<0.05) and had more bouts of lying in the first 24h (P<0.05). No differences were seen in the number of steps taken (P>0.05). These findings may be interpreted as suggesting that increased lying following caesarean section is an indicator of increased comfort; moreover, it may also suggest that improved welfare, for parturient cows, can be obtained with NSAID treatment.

Microarray-based gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in dairy cows with experimental hypocalcemia and milk fever

Although a molecular diagnostic assay using clinically accessible tissue, such as blood, would facilitate evaluation of disease conditions in humans and animals, little information exists on microarray-based gene expression profiling of circulating leukocytes from clinically hypocalcemic cows. Therefore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from dairy cows with experimentally induced hypocalcemia or spontaneous milk fever were subjected to oligo-microarray analysis to identify specific biomarker genes. In experimental hypocalcemia induced by a 4-h infusion of 10% disodium EDTA (n=4), 32 genes were significantly up- or downregulated compared with control treatment (4-h infusion of 11% calcium EDTA; n=4). In cows with milk fever (n=8), 98 genes were expressed differentially (either up- or downregulated) compared with healthy parturient cows (n=5). From these data, the following 5 genes were selected as being strongly related to both experimental hypocalcemia and milk fever: protein kinase (cAMP-dependent, catalytic) inhibitor β (PKIB); DNA-damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4); period homolog 1 (PER1); NUAK family, SNF1-like kinase, 1 (NUAK1); and expressed sequence tag (BI537947). Another gene (neuroendocrine secretory protein 55, NESP55) was also determined to be specific for milk fever, independently of hypocalcemia. The mRNA expression of these 6 genes in milk fever cases was verified by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription PCR and was significantly different compared with their expression in healthy parturient cows. In the present study, the selected genes appeared to be candidate biomarkers of milk fever because the continuous interactions between blood cells and the entire body suggest that subtle intracellular changes occur in association with disease. However, before any genomic biomarkers are incorporated into clinical evaluation of the disease, the effect of hypocalcemia on the mRNA expression of these genes in the tissues that regulate calcium homeostasis in dairy cows should be determined.

Short communication: Use of a mechanical brush by Holstein dairy cattle around parturition

Grooming is a normal behavior that may contribute to relief of stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of access to a mechanical brush on auto-grooming behavior in parturient cows. The hypothesis was that cows would increase the total time spent scratching using the brush if they had access to a brush around the time of calving, whereas auto-grooming would be lower for the brush group compared with the no-brush group. The use of a mechanical brush was analyzed both in a group-housed pen (72 to 48h before calving) and in an individual maternity pen (6h before to 6h after calving) in 16 multiparous Holstein cows. In the maternity pen, cows were randomly assigned to have access to the brush or not. The provision of a mechanical brush in the individual maternity pen did not change the amount of time spent auto-grooming but cows did use the brush before calving and after the calf was removed. Despite being housed in pens containing a brush, cows failed to use it when the calf was present. However, cows with access to a brush spent more time licking their calves in the first hour postcalving (β=8.7min; 95% confidence interval: 1.5, 15.8) than cows that did not have access to a brush. Regardless of treatment, cows increased the time spent auto-grooming and scratching following separation of their newborn calf (β=1.4min; 95% confidence interval: 0.46, 2.3 and β=0.07min; 95% confidence interval: 0.02, 0.12, respectively). Further research is warranted to investigate possible benefits of mechanical brush devices at the time of calving, particularly for cows that experience difficult calving and require manual or mechanical assistance.

Occurrence of reproductive disorders in post parturient cows with special emphasis on vaginal culture in some selected upazilas of Bangladesh

The present investigation was undertaken to determine the clinical trends of reproductive diseases and disorders of cows at three upazilas in the Mymensingh district with particular emphasis on vaginal culture during the period from April 2011 to March 2012. R ecords of reproductive cases were collected from official stock book from veterinary hospitals of 3 upazilas namely Fulbaria, Mymensingh sadar and Fulpur of Bangladesh. Microbiological investigation of vaginal swab samples (n = 20) collected from the selective cows which were suffering from various reproductive disorders were also performed. A total of 7679 clinical cases were collected and among them 68 reproductive disorders in post parturient cows were identified. The overall occurrence of reproductive disorders in post parturient cows was 0.87%. The occurrence of reproductive disorders was higher in crossbred cows (1.27%) than that of indigenous cows (0.69%). The proportion of individual reproductive disorders in post parturient cows recorded were retained placenta (44.1%), pyometra (16.8%), endometritis (11.8%), metritis (10.3%), uterine prolapse (8.9%), vaginal prolapse (5.9%) and vaginitis (2.9%). A total of 20 vaginal swab samples were also collected from the selective cows which were suffering from various reproductive disorders for microbiological investigations. In microbiological investigations, various microorganisms were identified from vaginal culture such as Escherichia coli , Streptococcus spp, Bacillus spp and Staphylococcus spp. Among various bacterial agents Escherichia coli was higher (100%) and Staphylococcus spp was lower (10%). However, the frequency percentages of Streptococcus spp and Bacillus spp were 60% and 30% respectively. It was concluded that presence of microorganisms in uterine cavity may cause massive reproductive losses in the farming system in Bangladesh.