Use In Dairy Cattle Research Articles

Evaluating the Human Risks of Consumption of Foods of Bovine Origin with Ivermectin Residues in Ecuador.

Ivermectin is a widely used antiparasitic in livestock, but its use can result in residues in bovine products and excretions. The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of ivermectin residues in cattle meat, liver, milk, faeces, and urine and assess consumer risk from chronic exposure through contaminated bovine products using a deterministic approach. To determine the presence of ivermectin residues, 124 samples were analysed by liquid chromatography. Residues were found in 68% of faeces samples and small percentages (3%) in liver, milk, and urine, with no residues detected in meat. The mean ivermectin residue in the liver (16.46 µg/kg) remained below the maximum residue limit (MRL); however, in milk (12.46 µg/kg), the residues exceeded the permitted MRL. The results obtained from chronic dietary exposure show that the consumption of ivermectin residues was low, and the risk was assessed as being rare to very rare. Additionally, this study reveals concerning levels of ivermectin residues in milk that may far exceed established safety limits. This situation emphasises the urgent need for stricter regulations and monitoring in milk production, particularly from small farms, to protect vulnerable populations. However, from a one health perspective, the presence of residues in faeces poses potential environmental hazards, warranting further research. Moreover, the detection of residues in milk, despite the ban on ivermectin use in dairy cattle, underscores the importance of compliance with food safety regulations and the need for continued vigilance in this area.

Quantitative release assessment for beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli of dairy origin into vegetables

Abstract Outbreaks of food poisoning associated with vegetables contaminated with Escherichia coli have been reported globally. This study was conducted to assess the probability of releasing beta-lactamase-producing E . coli of dairy farm origin into vegetables in Japan. A release assessment model connecting dairy farms to vegetable farms was developed. Data on the indicated diseases and antimicrobial use in dairy cattle were obtained from the agricultural insurance program in Hokkaido Prefecture between 2016 and 2019. Data on bla -harboring E . coli in cattle were obtained from the Japan Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System. Microbiological field sampling was conducted at dairy and vegetable farms. Inoculation experiments in vegetables were conducted. All processes in the model simulation were iterated for 1000 times. The estimated proportion of dairy farms holding cattle with bla -harboring E . coli was 6.00% (95% CI: 4.81–7.35%). Beta-lactams were used in 71.76% (333,098/464,204 average annual cases) of indicated diseases. The estimated concentration of bla -harboring E . coli in mixed fresh manure at affected farms was 3.33 log 10 CFU/g (95% CI: 3.33–3.34). The concentrations were reduced to 0.83 (95% CI: 0.34–1.25) and −0.54 log 10 CFU/g (95% CI: −1.04 to −0.05) in soil after immature manure, and slurry spraying, respectively. The estimated concentrations in the soil of fields of radish, leafy vegetables, tomato, and spring-seeded and autumn-seeded onions at harvest were −1.99 (95% CI: −2.48 to −1.57), −2.87 (95% CI: −3.36 to −2.42), −3.82 (95% CI: −4.32 to −3.40), −5.36 (95% CI: −5.85 to −4.93), and −5.94 (95% CI: −6.43 to −5.52) log 10 CFU/g, respectively. The concentrations in the bodies of leafy green spinach and lettuce were −9.88 (95% CI: −10.38 to −9.43) and −10.91 (95% CI, −11.52 to −8.05) log 10 CFU/g, respectively. The probability of ingesting bla -harboring E . coli of dairy origin with raw vegetables in Japan was thus assessed to be very low. One Health impact statement This study applied a release assessment in the World Organisation for Animal Health framework for antimicrobial resistance risk assessment to connect the antimicrobial use for dairy cattle, manure production and vegetable farming. As vegetable is often consumed raw, the assessment is directly associated with human health. Although the environmental continuum was not explored, the reduction of the hazard on the soil of vegetable farms was considered. The study involved the engagement with dairy and vegetable farmers and the agriculture industry in understanding farming behavior and value chain. The approach in this study can be applied to the complex problems across the animal-human-environment interface.

Automated monitoring of brush use in dairy cattle.

Access to brushes allows for natural scratching behaviors in cattle, especially in confined indoor settings. Cattle are motivated to use brushes, but brush use varies with multiple factors including social hierarchy and health. Brush use might serve an indicator of cow health or welfare, but practical application of these measures requires accurate and automated monitoring tools. This study describes a machine learning approach to monitor brush use by dairy cattle. We aimed to capture the daily brush use by integrating data on the rotation of a mechanical brush with data on cow identify derived from either 1) low-frequency radio frequency identification or 2) a computer vision system using fiducial markers. We found that the computer vision system outperformed the RFID system in accuracy, and that the machine learning algorithms enhanced the precision of the brush use estimates. This study presents the first description of a fiducial marker-based computer vision system for monitoring individual cattle behavior in a group setting; this approach could be applied to develop automated measures of other behaviors with the potential to better assess welfare and improve the care for farm animals.

Faecal egg counts in Australian pasture-based dairy herds

In Australian pastoral dairy systems, a variety of ‘routine’ anthelmintic programs are used in lactating cows varying from nil anthelmintic use to bi-annual application. Anthelmintic resistance has been repeatedly diagnosed on dairy farms and studies have indicated variable milk production benefits from anthelmintics internationally. We aimed to identify the predominant gastrointestinal parasites in recently calved dairy cows in south-west Victoria and examined the relationship between individual faecal egg counts (FEC) and other cow and management factors such as body condition score, age, and historical anthelmintic use. This study included 18 pasture-based dairy farms in south-west Victoria. FECs were measured in recently calved primiparous and multiparous cows. Individual FEC tests with a minimum detectable FEC of 2.5 eggs per gram of faeces (epg) and group larval cultures were completed. Farm management data and cow information was recorded for data analysis with the Jamovi statistical package. Overall, 35% of all cows had FEC ≥ 2.5 epg (26% of multiparous and 45% of primiparous). Ostertagi ostertagi was the predominant gastrointestinal nematode in all cohorts. Cooperia pectinata or C. punctata were also present in mixed infestations alongside C. oncophora. Multiparous cows in low body condition score post calving (<4) were more likely to have a FEC of >5 epg. Faecal egg counts at a minimum detectable FEC of 2.5 epg are effective indicators of parasitism in recently calved primiparous and poorly conditioned multiparous dairy cows. Increasing the test sensitivity (minimum detectable count) of FECs from 10 epg to 2.5 epg resulted in increasing the overall positive FEC rate from 15% to 35%. Further investigation of sensitive FECs and their relevance to production along with the timing and value of anthelmintic use in dairy cattle is warranted.

A Single-Cell Transcriptome of Bovine Milk Somatic Cells.

The production of milk by dairy cows far exceeds the nutritional needs of the calf and is vital for the economical use of dairy cattle. High milk yield is a unique production trait that can be effectively enhanced through traditional selection methods. The process of lactation in cows serves as an excellent model for studying the biological aspects of lactation with the aim of exploring the mechanistic base of this complex trait at the cellular level. In this study, we analyzed the milk transcriptome at the single-cell level by conducting scRNA-seq analysis on milk samples from two Holstein Friesian cows at mid-lactation (75 and 93 days) using the 10× Chromium platform. Cells were pelleted and fat was removed from milk by centrifugation. The cell suspension from each cow was loaded on separate channels, resulting in the recovery of 9313 and 14,544 cells. Library samples were loaded onto two lanes of the NovaSeq 6000 (Illumina) instrument. After filtering at the cell and gene levels, a total of 7988 and 13,973 cells remained, respectively. We were able to reconstruct different cell types (milk-producing cells, progenitor cells, macrophages, monocytes, dendritic cells, T cells, B cells, mast cells, and neutrophils) in bovine milk. Our findings provide a valuable resource for identifying regulatory elements associated with various functions of the mammary gland such as lactation, tissue renewal, native immunity, protein and fat synthesis, and hormonal response.

The effectiveness of growing repair heifers-daughters of different servicing bulls

Since 2021, the Sverdlovsk region has switched to the cultivation and use of dairy cattle of the Holstein breed, obtained as a result of long-term use of the global gene pool of Holstein bulls. Evaluation of the effectiveness of rearing repair heifers from different servicing bulls is relevant and has practical significance. As a result of the conducted research, it was found that repair heifers increased their live weight with age, which by the age of 18 months reached from 508.0 kg (daughter of Thunderlight bull) to 529.3 kg (daughter of Seiner bull). The daughters of the Seiner bull have a higher growth rate. The daughters of the Thunderlight bull had lower live weight indicators for growth periods. The patterns of change in the average daily body weight gains in heifers-daughters of the evaluated servicing bulls were the same and corresponded to the general patterns of animal growth and development. The cultivation of repair young animals on the farm is profitable at a profitability level of 16.5-21.6%. Thus, the servicing bull has an impact on the growth and development of repair heifers, daughters, who are used to renew the herd. They differ in their features, despite the general patterns of growth and have different growth rates.

To Treat or Not to Treat: Public Attitudes on the Therapeutic Use of Antibiotics in the Dairy Industry-A Qualitative Study.

This paper describes the views of 779 U.S. residents on questions related to therapeutic antibiotic use in dairy cattle. An online survey was conducted with qualitative (open-ended) questions. Respondents were offered one of three scenarios with varying degrees of information describing a farmer with a sick cow that would benefit from antibiotic therapy. The text replies to the open-ended questions were analyzed by grouping responses with similar comments and identifying patterns or themes. Content analysis showed that many of the participants in this study provided farmers with the social license to treat sick cows with antibiotics; however, some participants commented on the social license not necessarily extending to antibiotic use for growth promotion or prophylactic use. Our findings are not generalizable, but may provide some insight that should be considered when developing policies and practices regarding the use of antibiotics on dairy farms that may promote improved alignment with societal values.

Immuno-phenotyping of Canadian beef cattle: adaptation of the high immune response methodology for utilization in beef cattle.

The high immune response (HIR) methodology measures the genetic performance of the adaptive immune system to identify and breed animals with balanced and robust immunity. The HIR methodology has previously been used in dairy and swine to reduce disease but has not been fully investigated in beef cattle. The first objective of the current study was to examine whether the HIR methodology as standardized for use in dairy cattle was appropriate for use in beef cattle. The second objective was to determine the earliest age for immune response phenotyping of beef calves. In this study, beef calves (n = 295) of various ages, as well as mature beef cows (n = 170) of mixed breeds, were immunized using test antigens to assess their antibody- (AMIR) and cell-mediated immune responses (CMIR). Heritability for AMIR and CMIR was estimated at 0.43 and 0.18, respectively. The HIR methodology was appropriate for use in beef cattle; beef calves as young as 2–3 wk of age were capable of mounting AMIR responses comparable with those seen historically in mature Holstein dairy cows. Three-week-old beef calves mounted CMIR responses comparable with those of Holstein cows, but 9-mo-old calves and mature beef cows had significantly higher CMIR responses than Holsteins. The HIR methodology can be used to measure both AMIR and CMIR in beef calves as young as 3 wk of age.

Human continuous glucose monitors for measurement of glucose in dairy cows

If validated for use in dairy cattle, interstitial continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) could be easily implemented, informative tools for research, clinical, and perhaps even on-farm applications. To evaluate their efficacy, 2 experiments were conducted, during which lactating Holstein cows were fit with indwelling jugular catheters, as well as FreeStyle Libre (FSL; Abbott) and Dexcom G6 (DexCom Inc.) CGMs secured either behind their polls, lateral to their ears, or beneath their pin bones on their upper rear legs. During the first experiment, blood (measured with a handheld glucometer) and interstitial glucose measurements were collected from 13 cows every 4 h for 96 h. In the second experiment, the same measurements were collected from 8 cows every 15 min for 6 h. At the mid-point of the sampling period (3 h), cows received a bolus dose of dextrose to facilitate comparisons across a broad range of glucose concentrations. Results from both experiments determined that functional longevity of the sensors was greatest for those sensors secured near the ear. Likewise, interstitial measurements from the ear sensors were most closely correlated with blood glucose concentrations (r = 0.82 and r = 0.71 for FSL ear and Dexcom G6 ear, respectively). Unfortunately, accuracy calculated as absolute relative error was low, at 60.7% or less. As a result of the low accuracy, even though both ear sensors detected an increase in glucose concentrations following the bolus dose, neither produced results exactly matching blood glucose measurements. The results of this work indicate that the FSL and Dexcom G6 CGMs are not currently capable of replacing blood-based glucose measurements.

Controlled breeding in dairy cows. Part 2: selection and ethical implications

Background: Controlled breeding programmes describe timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol choice and a strategy for their implementation, encompassing when they will be used and which cattle will be enrolled. A holistic approach to the reproductive management of every dairy herd, tailored to meet the requirements and expectations of the individual client, is essential if success of a controlled breeding programme is to be maximised.Aim of the article: This article, the second of a two‐part series, describes strategies for implementation of controlled breeding programmes on dairy farms. It considers factors aside from the TAI protocol that are essential for the success of any programme, as well as the ethical implications of hormone use in dairy cattle. The first part, published in last month's issue of In Practice, discussed common TAI protocols, how they manipulate ovarian activity and how to optimise protocol selection.

Use of critically important antimicrobial classes early in life may adversely impact bacterial resistance profiles during adult years: potential co-selection for plasmid-borne fluoroquinolone and macrolide resistance via extended-spectrum beta-lactam use in dairy cattle.

The transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes commonly occurs via vertical and horizontal gene transfer, as such genes are often found on the same mobile genetic element. This occurrence can lead to the co-selection of resistance to antimicrobials without their application. Dairy cattle located in the south-western United States were enrolled in a matched-pair longitudinal study to evaluate the effects of a two-dose ceftiofur treatment for metritis on levels of third-generation cephalosporin resistance among faecal Escherichia coli temporally. Escherichia coli chosen for further investigation were isolated on selective media, harboured extended-spectrum beta-lactam, fluoroquinolone and macrolide resistance genes. This combination has previously been unreported; importantly, it included genes encoding for resistance to antibiotics that can only be used in dairy cattle less than 20months of age. Fluoroquinolones, macrolides and third and higher generation cephalosporins are considered critically important and highest priority for human medicine by the World Health Organization.

Understanding farmers' and veterinarians' behavior in relation to antimicrobial use and resistance in dairy cattle: A systematic review

To tackle antimicrobial resistance, it is vital that farmers' and veterinarians' antimicrobial use behaviors and attitudes toward resistance are understood so that we can identify how beliefs and motives influence practices. Current literature details qualitative and quantitative research that explores the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of dairy farmers and veterinarians with respect to antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial practices, and the reported findings are varied and conflicting. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review to assess the evidence and knowledge gaps in the published literature. We identified articles via database searches of Embase, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science; we limited findings to published articles available in English with no publication year restrictions. Article screening was conducted at 3 levels: title, abstract, and full text. Of the 349 articles identified, 35 were retained for systematic review. Transparency of reporting was assessed for each study using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) framework. Quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative checklist. Findings relating to dairy farmers' and veterinarians' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions on antimicrobial resistance and practices were thematically analyzed. The comprehensiveness of reporting was variable: studies reported 5 to 26 of the 32 COREQ checklist items. Five key themes emerged from the data: knowledge and awareness of antimicrobial resistance; factors influencing farmer and veterinarian decision-making; perceived barriers and facilitators to reduced antimicrobial use; perceived responsibility for antimicrobial resistance; and the role of the farmer and veterinarian relationship in reducing antimicrobial use. Awareness of prudent antimicrobial use was not uniform between studies. Many factors influence farmers' and veterinarians' decisions to use antimicrobials, including animal welfare and available resources. The farmer-veterinarian relationship is a potential barrier or facilitator of reduced antimicrobial use, depending on the perceived relationship dynamic. Encouraging collaboration between farmers and veterinarians could lead to shared responsibility for reducing antimicrobial use. This review provided a coherent picture of what is currently known and identified gaps in the current knowledge to inform future behavioral intervention research. Increased knowledge, skill development, resources, engagement, and further research to address the gaps we identified are the main recommendations to effectively overcome barriers, elicit appropriate behavior change, and achieve reduced antimicrobial use in dairy cattle.

Evaluation of antimicrobial use in dairy cattle, beef cattle and broilers in Japan using dosage-based indicators.

The sales amount of antimicrobials intended for use in dairy cattle, beef cattle and broilers from 2008 to 2019 was evaluated for each antimicrobial class and administration route using dosage-based indicators. Our results revealed that the antimicrobial sales amount sold for use in dairy cattle in 2019 in terms of total weight of active ingredient, the number of defined daily doses (DDDs) (theoretical amount of biomass subjected to antimicrobial treatment in a year) and the number of treatment days (TDs) (theoretical number of days of treatment that an animal is subjected to in a year) calculated using Japanese DDD values (DDDjp values) was 36,751 kg, 8,261,848,000 kg·days and 15.5 days, respectively. Likewise, the antimicrobial sales amount sold for use in beef cattle and broilers in 2019 in terms of these metrics was 33,403 kg, 3,928,248,000 kg·days and 3.61 days, and 69,773 kg, 2,947,848,000 kg·days and 10.66 days, respectively. There was a considerable difference between the number of DDDs calculated using DDDjp values and that calculated using European DDD values (DDDvet values) for antimicrobial products sold for use in dairy and beef cattle. Our results also revealed that the sales amount of some antimicrobials, such as cephalosporins and quinolones represented larger proportions when calculated using dosage-based indicators than when calculated using the weight of active ingredient. Considering that Japanese veterinarians and farmers are more likely to conform to the Japanese dosage recommendations rather than the European ones, these results indicate the need for using dosage-based metrics, in particular metrics based on Japanese dosages rather than European dosages.

Development and Validation of an Autonomous Radio-Frequency Identification Controlled Soaking System for Dairy Cattle

HighlightsThe high variation on how dairy cows experience heat stress opens the space for individual heat abatement options.We developed an UHF-RFID activated soaking system for dairy cattle and validated it statically and dynamically.Percentage of soaker activations was moderate when validated statically and very high when validated dynamically.Future research should validate the system using dairy cows and evaluate effects on physiology and behavior.Abstract. This study aim was to develop and validate a radio-frequency identification (RFID) controlled cattle soaking system for use in dairy cattle. The autonomous system was composed of a Raspberry Pi microcontroller, an ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID system, a temperature-humidity sensor, and a water soaker. The system was developed and programmed to identify and tailor heat stress abatement to dairy cattle. The validation of the system was divided into static and dynamic phases. During the static phase, five UHF-RFID tags were statically placed 5 times in 11 points of interest on a ranging from 0 to 150 cm of the antenna. During the dynamic phase, 10 tags were moved 10 times each from 150 cm to the right (closer to the barn) to 150 cm to the left (further from the barn) of the center of the antenna mimicking a cow’s walking speed. During the static validation, the percentage of successful readings was moderate (MEAN±SD; 77.8±30.1%). We found that the distance from the antenna affected the percentage of successful readings (P&amp;lt;0.01), it was 100% up to 60 cm from the antenna and static readings were less successful from 120 cm left up to 90 cm to the right of the center of the antenna. During the dynamic validation, the percentage of successful readings was very high (96.0±7.0%). These results suggest that the autonomous soaker system seems to be able to detect cows in movement underneath the system. Future research should validate the system using live dairy cows. Keywords: Automation, Heat stress, Raspberry Pi, RFID.

Antimicrobial use in dairy cattle in the Netherlands.

Since penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming (1929), the mortality of infectious diseases decreased and antimicrobials were widely applied in both human and veterinary medicine. As early as 1940, penicillinase-producing bacteria were described (Abraham and Chain, 1940). In that same decade, already epidemics of antimicrobial-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus occurred in U.S. hospitals. In those days, physicians heavily relied on antimicrobials, both for treatment and for prophylaxis. Outbreaks of resistant S. aureus forced the implementation of epidemiological studies and novel infection control measures, such as segregation, as has been described by Shaffer (2013). In veterinary medicine, antimicrobials were initially used therapeutically, but soon nontherapeutic use was also found to be attractive. Feeding low dosages of antimicrobials promoted growth and was considered to prophylactically protect against bacterial disease. After World War II, this type of use of antimicrobials through feed was rapidly adopted by farmers, eager to anticipate on the booming post-war demand for meat (Kirchhelle, 2018).

Machine learning based fog computing assisted data-driven approach for early lameness detection in dairy cattle

Timely lameness detection is one of the major and costliest health problems in dairy cattle that farmers and practitioners haven't yet solved adequately. The primary reason behind this is the high initial setup costs, complex equipment and lack of multi-vendor interoperability in currently available solutions. On the other hand, human observation based solutions relying on visual inspections are prone to late detection with possible human error, and are not scalable. This poses a concern with increasing herd sizes, as prolonged or undetected lameness severely compromises cows' health and welfare, and ultimately affects the milk productivity of the farm. To tackle this, we have developed an end-to-end IoT application that leverages advanced machine learning and data analytics techniques to monitor the cattle in real-time and identify lame cattle at an early stage.The proposed approach has been validated on a real world smart dairy farm setup consisting of a dairy herd of 150 cows in Waterford, Ireland. Using long-range pedometers specifically designed for use in dairy cattle, we monitor the activity of each cow in the herd. The accelerometric data from these sensors is aggregated at the fog node to form a time series of behavioral activities, which are further analyzed in the cloud. Our hybrid clustering and classification model identifies each cow as either Active, Normal or Dormant, and further, Lame or Non-Lame. The detected lameness anomalies are further sent to farmer's mobile device by way of push notifications. The results indicate that we can detect lameness 3 days before it can be visually captured by the farmer with an overall accuracy of 87%. This means that the animal can either be isolated or treated immediately to avoid any further effects of lameness. Moreover, with fog based computational assistance in the setup, we see an 84% reduction in amount of data transferred to the cloud as compared to the conventional cloud based approach.

Short communication: Determination of the milk pharmacokinetics and depletion of milk residues of flunixin following transdermal administration to lactating Holstein cows

Flunixin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and the most commonly prescribed analgesic in cattle in the United States. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a transdermal formulation of flunixin for control of pyrexia associated with bovine respiratory disease and the control of pain associated with foot rot. The transdermal formulation is not currently approved for use in lactating dairy cattle in the United States, but extra-label use in dairy cattle is permissible under US regulations. The objectives of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetics in milk of dairy cows treated with transdermal flunixin and determine an appropriate withdrawal time for milk. Ten lactating Holstein cows were enrolled into the study in mid lactation. Following treatment, cows were milked 3 times per day through 144 h. Milk samples were collected for drug analysis using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The geometric mean maximum concentration for flunixin in milk was 0.010 μg/mL and was 0.061 μg/mL for the active metabolite, 5-hydroxyflunixin. The geometric mean terminal half-life was 20.71 h for flunixin and 22.62 h for 5-hydroxyflunixin. Calculations to approximate a withdrawal time in milk following transdermal flunixin administration were accomplished using a statistical tolerance limit procedure. This analysis indicated that it would be prudent to observe a withdrawal period of 96 h following the last treatment. This is more than twice as long as the labeled withdrawal period of 36 h following use of the injectable formulation. The withdrawal period suggested by this work should be applied carefully, as this study was not conducted under the full quality control practices required by the US FDA for a full drug approval study. Caution should be taken when applying this withdrawal time to diseased animals, animals that are milked with different milking frequencies, and those in different stages of production as these have all been shown to affect drug depletion from milk.

The glutaraldehyde test and its use in dairy cattle

During a physical examination of cattle, it is often difficult to evaluate inflammatory processes, particularly in cases where the inflammation occurs in deeper regions. The glutaraldehyde test (GT), carried out using a sample of whole blood, allows the visual and semiquantitative identification of an inflammatory process in cattle. Considering that there are few biochemical tests that can be used in the field, the objective of this study was to verify the efficacy of the GT in detecting and predicting mild and severe inflammatory processes in bovine species, classified according to a physical examination, and in the presence of different diseases or lesions. The GT was used in conjunction with a physical examination in 176 cows over 12 months of age, with additional laboratory evaluations of packed cell volume, total protein, albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen. Using a cutoff point at 3 minutes of coagulation, the GT showed a sensitivity of 35.1%, specificity of 94.1%, positive predictive value of 74.1%, and negative predictive value of 75.2%. The GT correctly detected the most severe inflammatory processes under the field conditions of this study. The GT is a diagnostic aid that can be used as a fast and simple screening test during the physical examination of cattle.

PRODUCTIVE LONGEVITY OF DIFFERENT LINES COWS OF PRYCARPATSKYY INTRA-BREED TYPE OF UKRAINIAN RED-AND-WHITE BREED

Duration of economic use of dairy cattle is one of the most important reserves for the further growth of the number of livestock, improvement of breeding and productive qualities of animals. Since the improvement of domestic dairy breeds is mainly due to the crossbreeding with the bulls of the Holstein breed, a continuous analysis of the breeding process in the breed and in its individual genealogical formations, in particular in the types and lines, in order to establish the best ways to conduct selective work with the breeds, is relevant. Detection and evaluation of lines, the descendants of which are capable of prolonged productive use, will allow for an optimizing selection for lengthening the life-time use of cows. In this regard, the purpose of our research was to study the duration and effectiveness of life-time use of cows of different lines of the Prycarpathian intra-breed type of Ukrainian Red-and-White breed and the reasons for their release from the herd. Research conducted on cows of inter-breed type of Prycarpathian Ukrainian Red-and-White dairy breed in the PAE "Mamayivske" Kytsman district based on the base of zootechnical register. The sample included 1075 animals, the first of which was at least eight years before the start of the study. Retrospective analysis of the duration and effectiveness of life-time use of cows was carried out according to Yu. P. Polupan's method. It was established that the duration of economic use of cows in the PAE Mamayevske, depending on the line, was within the range of 3.1–6.5 lactation. Life yield (3294 days), productive use (2454 days), lactation (1954 days), lifetime milk yield (37444 kg), lifetime number of fat (1394 kg), the number of lactations for life (6,5 lactation) and the rate of economic use (0.74) were the best animals that belonged to the P. Astronavt line 1458744. Approximate figures of productive longevity of cows were marked in Rigel line 352882. The descendants Valiant 1,650,414 were of the smallest used in herds and had the lowest performance line. The effect of the linear dependence of cows on the duration and effectiveness of their productive use, depending on the indicator, was within the range of 4.26–31.17%. It should be noted that the most significant impact of the line was on yield for one day of productive use (31.17%) and one day of lactation (30.43%). The least effect on the linear dependence of cows was on yield for one day of life (4.26%) and the average lifespan of fat in milk (4.79%). Strength of the line's influence on life yield, productive use and lactation of animals, the number of lactation per life and the rate of economic use, depending on the indicator, was within 12.11–16.45%. The coefficients of inheritance of life yields, productive use and lactation and the number of lactations calculated by the mother-daughter method were 15.8; 22.0; 21.4 and 19.1%. Life yields, the lifetime of milk fat and the average lifespan of fat in milk were the lowest level of inheritance – respectively 6.3; 7.5 and 10.1%. The highest coefficients of inheritance were noted for one day of productive use (39.4%) and lactation (46.8%). As a rule, daughters whose mothers have maintained high productivity for a long time and have long been exploited also have potential for prolonged productive use. We did not reveal any special differences between animals of different lines by the coefficients of inheritance of the above-mentioned indices. Disposal of animals from the herd was mainly due to reproductive function disorders (25.2–34.6%) and low productivity (13.4–27.1%). Among the studied lines due to the reproductive function impairment, the most abandoned animal lines of the P. Astronavt and Rigel were 34.6 and 31.7% respectively, while the least of those of the Valiant line was 25.2%. Due to its low productivity and disease, the largest number of cows (13.4–27.1%) fell out of the Valiant line. At the same time, the animals of the Valiant line were marked by the lowest percentage of rejection due to physiological aging (15.0%), and the highest was in animals P. Astronavt line (21.3%). Due to diseases of the limbs, from the herd dropped, depending on the line, 8.0–12.1% of cows, due to injuries and accidents - 3.2–5.7%, and for other reasons - 4.7–9.3%.

Productive longevity of cows of dairy breeds depending on the duration of their first service period

Recently, in the breeding and commodity farms of our country can be observed a rapid decrease in the duration of productive use dairy cattle. A considerable amount of scientific researches are conducted on the effects of hereditary and environmental factors on productive indicators longevity, researches are done on various ways to increase durability productive use of dairy cattle. In this aspect, reproductive ability of cows is important, which must be taken into account while individual estimation for the next selection of the most valuable animals that combine high milk productivity with high fertility. Therefore, the goal of our research was to study the productive longevity of dairy cows depending on the duration of their first service period and find the optimal duration of this indicator for a particular breed. The research was carried out on cows of Holstein, Ukrainian Black-and-White and Red-and-White breeds. Retrospective analysis of duration and the effectiveness of life-time use of cows was carried out according to the method Yu P. Polupan (2010). It was found that average duration of the first service-period of cows was 167.7 days on the studied Holstein populations, 180.3 – on the Ukrainian Black-and-White and Ukrainian Red-and-White – 142.1 days. The longest duration of life, productive use, lactations and the highest milk yields had cows with the duration of the first service period of 121–150 days among the Holstein breed, 151–180 – Ukrainian Black-and-White and 91–120 days and Ukrainian Red-and-White. The worst, by the indicators of productive longevity, were individuals with 60 days and no more of the first service period. Correlation analysis showed the different level of the connection between the duration of the service period animals and indicators of their lifelong use, which in most cases had a reverse nature. This kind of connection indicates that with the extension of the duration of service period of cows, the duration of their productive use and lifetime productivity decreases. In Holstein breed animals, the correlation coefficients between the above named indicators ranged from -0.462 to 0.370, Ukrainian Black-and-White – from -0.113 to 0.144 and Ukrainian Red-and-White – from 0.279 to 0.149. Strength of influence of the duration of the first service-period on life duration, productive use and lactation of cows, depending on the breed, was 12.5–36.5%, for lifetime productivity – 9.7–34.6 and on the one day of life, productive use and lactation – 11.3–35.9%.