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Studies performed on individual research farms have reported that dairy cattle developing sole hemorrhages or sole ulcers in peak to mid lactation spent more time standing during the weeks around calving. The aim of this prospective observational longitudinal study was to evaluate whether this relationship is evident in commercial dairy herds. A convenience sample of 8 herds were visited every other week, and animals without previous severe horn lesions and deemed sound at 4 to 8 wk before calving were enrolled. Standing behavior was measured with data loggers attached to a rear leg, and standing time and duration of the longest standing bout were determined for each cow. Standing behavior was summarized into 3 periods: before (d -14 to -2), around (d -1 to 1), and after (d 2 to 14) calving. Average daily standing time and average daily longest standing bout were determined for each cow and period. Average daily standing time was normally distributed, with a mean ± standard deviation of 12.1 ± 1.6, 14.4 ± 2.2, and 13.8 ± 1.7 h/d for the 3 periods, respectively. Average daily longest standing bout was right skewed with a median of 3.6 h/d [interquartile range (IQR): 3.0 to 4.3; range: 1.7 to 12.1], 3.9 h/d (IQR: 3.1 to 4.8; range: 1.3 to 11.5), and 3.7 (IQR: 3.2 to 4.4; range: 1.5 to 11.7) h/d before, around, and after calving, respectively. Hoof trimming was performed 8 to 12 wk postpartum; hoof lesion data were summarized per cow, and the most serious injury of each type of lesion was noted. Sole hemorrhages or sole ulcers were found in 25 of 256 cows. Mixed-effect logistic regression models with herd as random effect were used to analyze the risk of developing sole hemorrhages and sole ulcers, using animals without hoof lesions as reference category. Separate models were fitted for the 2 standing behaviors, and for the periods before, around, and after calving. Change in standing behavior from before to after calving was also analyzed. Body condition score at calving, body condition score loss in early lactation, milk yield, parity, and days in milk at trimming were included as covariates. In this study, no evidence for an association was found between sole hemorrhages and sole ulcers and standing behavior before or around calving. Longer standing time and longer standing bouts after calving were associated with increased odds of developing sole hemorrhages and sole ulcers, as was an increase in standing bout duration from before to after calving. Animals with sole horn or white line lesions had higher unconditional sample odds of becoming lame (odds ratio = 2.5) and severely lame (odds ratio = 11.7) after calving, compared with animals with no registered lesions at trimming. Multiparous animals had higher lameness incidence, both before and after calving. Avoiding practices that exacerbate increases in standing time and standing bout duration in early lactation may reduce the incidence of sole hemorrhages and sole ulcers.
Hanna K. Eriksson; Ruan R. Daros; Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk; Daniel M. Weary. Standing behavior and sole horn lesions: A prospective observational longitudinal study. Journal of Dairy Science 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleHanna K. Eriksson, Ruan R. Daros, Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk, Daniel M. Weary. Standing behavior and sole horn lesions: A prospective observational longitudinal study. Journal of Dairy Science. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHanna K. Eriksson; Ruan R. Daros; Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk; Daniel M. Weary. 2021. "Standing behavior and sole horn lesions: A prospective observational longitudinal study." Journal of Dairy Science , no. : 1.
Body condition change during the dry period (ΔBCS) has been associated with a myriad of transition cow diseases. We used data from 3 studies to assess the relationship between ΔBCS, feeding behavior, and body condition score (BCS) at dry-off. We also studied the mediation effect that dry matter intake (DMI) has on ΔBCS and the association between dry period feeding time and DMI. A total of 100 parous cows were enrolled in 3 studies to investigate differences in dry period diet on behavior, health, and performance pre- and postcalving. Body weight was measured and BCS was assessed by the same trained observer after dry-off and 1 wk from calving date. The ΔBCS was calculated by subtracting the BCS at calving minus the BCS at dry-off. The BCS at dry-off was categorized as overconditioned (≥3.5) or not overconditioned (<3.5); no cows had a BCS <2.75. Feeding behavior data were collected using electronic feed bins. Parity at dry-off (median = 2; min = 1, max = 6) and 305-d milk production (mean = 10,235 kg, SD = 1,625 kg) from the previous lactation were considered. Data sets were split into 2 time periods: d -56 to -22 (early) and -21 to 0 (late) in relation to calving. Selected feeding behaviors (DMI, DMI as a percentage of body weight, and feeding time) were used to evaluate the associations between each feeding behavior and BCS at dry-off in each period using mixed linear regression models. Each model included the following covariates: parity, previous 305-d milk yield, and trial treatment. Experimental day was included as random slope, and cow was included as random intercept. A mediation analysis was used to evaluate the potential causal direct effect of BCS at dry-off on ΔBCS and the potential indirect effect mediated by differences in DMI. The BCS at dry-off was associated with changes in feeding behavior, such that overconditioned cows had lesser daily DMI and feeding time during the early and late dry periods compared with not overconditioned animals. We also noted an effect of previous 305-d milk yield on DMI; cows that produced more milk had greater DMI throughout the dry period. The ΔBCS was only partially mediated by DMI, and BCS at dry-off still had a direct effect on ΔBCS. This result indicated that mechanisms other than DMI were associated with BCS loss during the dry period. Feeding time correlated weakly and moderately with DMI during the early and late dry periods, respectively. To conclude, strategies to improve intake during the dry period should take dry-off BCS into account or, preferably, efforts should be made to minimize the number of overconditioned cows at the end of lactation.
Ruan R. Daros; Casey D. Havekes; Trevor J. DeVries. Body condition loss during the dry period: Insights from feeding behavior studies. Journal of Dairy Science 2021, 104, 4682 -4691.
AMA StyleRuan R. Daros, Casey D. Havekes, Trevor J. DeVries. Body condition loss during the dry period: Insights from feeding behavior studies. Journal of Dairy Science. 2021; 104 (4):4682-4691.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRuan R. Daros; Casey D. Havekes; Trevor J. DeVries. 2021. "Body condition loss during the dry period: Insights from feeding behavior studies." Journal of Dairy Science 104, no. 4: 4682-4691.
The quality of the social environment should be studied as one of the welfare components of dairy herds. Licking and preference between cows are important socio-positive experiences in this context.The aims of this study were: 1) to describe the behaviours temporally associated with social licking in grazing dairy cows, 2) to measure the association of social licking with social hierarchy and gestational state and 3) to compare social licking between preferred mates – cows that are more often in close proximity – and other mates. Six commercial Jersey herds, averaging 24.6 ± 5 lactating cows per herd, and managed on a rotational grazing system year-round, were enrolled in the study. Herds were kept constant for at least 30 d before data collection, and at four days before data collection the herds were habituated to the data collection routine. The behaviours of all cows within each herd were observed through direct observation for six days between milking, from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. A total of 148 cows were observed for 42 h each during the study period. Licking events and agonistic interactions were observed continuously, and the individual instigator and receptor participating in each event were recorded. All agonistic interactions were registered, and a sociometric matrix was developed for each herd. Scan sampling (every 6-min) was used to register behaviours of each individual cow and its closest neighbours. Licking was a widespread behaviour in the studied herds, registered in 94.5 % of the cows and occurring most often around 10:00, during ingestive behaviours. Social lickings were most often observed immediately before drinking or mineralizing, and immediately after idling or ruminating. Social hierarchy was not associated with the number of social lickings. Pregnant cows received 1.63 more lickings than non-pregnant cows but didn’t perform more. Furthermore, older cows performed and received more lickings than primiparous cows. Social licking interactions were higher (1.89 vs. 0.62; p ≤ 0.01) between preferential mates than the average for the herd. Similarly, agonistic interactions between preferential mates was higher (1.97 vs. 1.52; p ≤ 0.01) than observed among the average herd. Our results reveal that social licking is widespread among herds and suggests an association with social preferences when cows are on pasture, which may be related to affinity among cows. Preferred mates also showed greater number of agonistic interactions.
Thiago Mombach Pinheiro Machado; Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho; Ruan Daros; Gabriela Tasso Bongiolo Pinheiro Machado; Maria José Hötzel. Licking and agonistic interactions in grazing dairy cows as indicators of preferential companies. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2020, 227, 104994 .
AMA StyleThiago Mombach Pinheiro Machado, Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho, Ruan Daros, Gabriela Tasso Bongiolo Pinheiro Machado, Maria José Hötzel. Licking and agonistic interactions in grazing dairy cows as indicators of preferential companies. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2020; 227 ():104994.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThiago Mombach Pinheiro Machado; Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Machado Filho; Ruan Daros; Gabriela Tasso Bongiolo Pinheiro Machado; Maria José Hötzel. 2020. "Licking and agonistic interactions in grazing dairy cows as indicators of preferential companies." Applied Animal Behaviour Science 227, no. : 104994.
In this longitudinal study, we tested the hypothesis that cows that are lame around dry-off are at increased risk of transition diseases (TD), including metritis, subclinical ketosis (SCK), retained fetal membranes, hypocalcemia, or displaced abomasum. We also hypothesized that the relationship between lameness and TD would be mediated through reduced feeding time. We enrolled 461 cows at 9 wk before their expected calving date on 6 commercial freestall farms in the lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada. Cows were gait-scored weekly using a scale of 1 to 5. Lameness status was classified based on consecutive gait scores as lame (2 consecutive gait scores = 3 or 1 score ≥4) or sound (2 consecutive gait scores ≤2). Lameness status was summarized as (1) lameness at dry-off (sound or lame); (2) lameness group (always sound = sound on all visits, chronically lame = lame on all visits, and other = changed from sound to lame or vice versa); and (3) proportion of weeks lame during the dry period. Body condition scores were recorded at dry-off and at calving and collectively used to calculate change in body condition for each cow. A subsample of cows (n = 159) was evaluated for feeding time once a week during the dry period. All cows were evaluated for SCK (positive = β-hydroxybutyrate ≥1.2 mmol/L) and metritis (positive = foul smell, red/brown watery vaginal discharge) every 3 to 4 d between d 3 and 17 after calving. We retrieved data on treatment of retained fetal membranes, hypocalcemia, and displaced abomasum during the first 17 d after calving, cow parity, and milk production in the previous lactation from farm records. We created a binary variable, TD (any of SCK, metritis, retained fetal membranes, hypocalcemia, or displaced abomasum), to differentiate between healthy cows and cows that developed TD. Lameness at dry-off was associated with the occurrence of metritis and TD, but not with SCK. Cows that were chronically lame and cows that had an increased proportion of weeks lame during the dry period had higher occurrence of metritis and TD. Lameness was also associated with reduced feeding time, which in turn was associated with increased likelihood of SCK and TD, but not with metritis. Lameness was not associated with change in body condition; however, cows that lost body condition score during the dry period had increased odds of developing SCK, metritis, and TD. Change in body condition was highly associated with body condition score at dry-off. These results suggest that association between lameness and TD is partially mediated through reduced feeding time.
Ruan R. Daros; Hanna K. Eriksson; Daniel M. Weary; Marina A.G. Von Keyserlingk. The relationship between transition period diseases and lameness, feeding time, and body condition during the dry period. Journal of Dairy Science 2020, 103, 649 -665.
AMA StyleRuan R. Daros, Hanna K. Eriksson, Daniel M. Weary, Marina A.G. Von Keyserlingk. The relationship between transition period diseases and lameness, feeding time, and body condition during the dry period. Journal of Dairy Science. 2020; 103 (1):649-665.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRuan R. Daros; Hanna K. Eriksson; Daniel M. Weary; Marina A.G. Von Keyserlingk. 2020. "The relationship between transition period diseases and lameness, feeding time, and body condition during the dry period." Journal of Dairy Science 103, no. 1: 649-665.
The reliability of locomotion scoring is often low, making it unclear how a single gait score should be interpreted. In addition, differences in assessment frequency between longitudinal studies makes it hard to compare results. Our aims were to evaluate how lameness definition and assessment frequency affect measures of lameness incidence. Six dairy farms in British Columbia, Canada, were enrolled, and 262 cows that were sound at dry-off had their locomotion score (LS) assessed weekly from dry-off to calving, using a 1 to 5 scale. Cows were categorized as remaining sound or becoming lame using 3 different case definitions (LAME1: ≥LS3 at least once; LAME2: ≥2 consecutive scores of LS3, or ≥LS4 at least once; and LAME3: ≥3 consecutive scores of LS3, or ≥LS4 at least once). We analyzed the correspondence between the 3 definitions with percent agreement and weighted κ (linear and quadratic weighting). Comparing LAME1 to LAME3 resulted in lower percent agreement (53%) and κ values (linear κw = 0.50; quadratic κw = 0.64) than comparing LAME2 and LAME3 (85%; linear κw = 0.83; quadratic κw = 0.89), indicating that cows scored LS3 twice were likely to be scored LS3 a third time. We also compared the 3 case definitions against trim records from trimmings occurring 90 d or less before calving (n = 117), and used logistic regression models to determine sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value. Using the LAME1 criterion resulted in high sensitivity (horn lesions = 0.90; infectious lesions = 0.92) and low specificity (horn = 0.21; infectious = 0.24). We observed higher specificity for LAME2 (horn = 0.62; infectious = 0.66) and LAME3 (horn = 0.71; infectious = 0.77), but LAME2 had higher sensitivity than LAME3 (horn = 0.89 vs. 0.64; infectious = 0.69 vs. 0.64). When evaluating the effects of assessment frequency, we obtained 3 data sets by keeping every, every other, and every third locomotion assessment, and using LAME2 as a case definition. More cows were categorized as lame when assessment frequency increased. Of the cows that were classified as lame when assessed weekly, 72% of the mildly lame, and 33% of the severely lame were classified as sound when assessed every third week. Our results suggest that a single LS3 score should not be used as a criterion for lameness in longitudinal studies. To correctly identify new cases of lameness, dairy cows should be assessed at least every 2 wk.
Hanna K. Eriksson; Ruan R. Daros; Marina A.G. Von Keyserlingk; Daniel M. Weary. Effects of case definition and assessment frequency on lameness incidence estimates. Journal of Dairy Science 2020, 103, 638 -648.
AMA StyleHanna K. Eriksson, Ruan R. Daros, Marina A.G. Von Keyserlingk, Daniel M. Weary. Effects of case definition and assessment frequency on lameness incidence estimates. Journal of Dairy Science. 2020; 103 (1):638-648.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHanna K. Eriksson; Ruan R. Daros; Marina A.G. Von Keyserlingk; Daniel M. Weary. 2020. "Effects of case definition and assessment frequency on lameness incidence estimates." Journal of Dairy Science 103, no. 1: 638-648.
Lameness has been extensively studied in lactating cows, whereas few studies have reported on lameness during the dry period. We conducted a prospective longitudinal study to describe the epidemiology of lameness during the dry period and to identify risk factors associated with onset, cure, and chronic cases of lameness. A total of 455 cows from 6 freestall commercial dairy farms were enrolled at 9 wk before calving and gait scored weekly until calving using a 5-point scale. A subset of cows was also followed fortnightly after calving to measure the association between lameness during the dry period and lameness during early lactation. Body condition score (BCS) was assessed in a 5-point scale using increments of 0.5. Hoof-trimming records, parity, and previous lactation milk production were retrieved from farm's database. Cows were considered sound when 2 consecutive scores were ≤2 and lame when 2 consecutive scores = 3, or any assessment with score >3; when in a sequence of scores only one score = 3 (or ≤2), the cow was considered sound (or alternatively lame). Following this lameness definition, we derived weekly lameness status for each cow and calculated the number of new cases of lameness, the number of cure cases and the number of chronic cases. The incidence rate of lameness cases during the dry period was 8.2 lameness cases/100 cow per wk, whereas cure rate was 7.1 cure cases/100 cow per wk; at the end of the dry period 50% of cows had developed lameness and 36% were cured. Multilevel logistic regression models using farm as random effect were fitted to assess (1) the association between being lame in wk 2 or 8 postcalving with being lame in the last week precalving, (2) risk factors for lameness onset, (3) risk factors for lameness cure, and (4) risk factors for chronic lameness. Cows that were lame in the week immediately before calving were more likely to be lame in wk 2 and 8 after calving. We found that the interaction between parity and hoof-trimming before dry-off was associated with lameness onset; primiparous cows that were trimmed before dry-off had lower odds of developing lameness, whereas the opposite was found for multiparous cows. The same interaction was also associated with the odds of chronic lameness. Cows that were diagnosed with noninfectious hoof lesions compared with cows that were not diagnosed with hoof lesions before dry-off, and cows that had BCS <3 compared with cows with BCS 3.0 to 3.5 at dry-off had higher odds of chronic lameness. Conversely, primiparous cows and cows with BCS 3.0 to 3.5 had higher odds of curing lameness during the dry period. Our results suggest that the dry period may be a period of high risk for lameness development and that hoof-trimming before dry-off may not be effective for all cows.
Ruan R. Daros; Hanna K. Eriksson; Daniel M. Weary; Marina A.G. Von Keyserlingk. Lameness during the dry period: Epidemiology and associated factors. Journal of Dairy Science 2019, 102, 11414 -11427.
AMA StyleRuan R. Daros, Hanna K. Eriksson, Daniel M. Weary, Marina A.G. Von Keyserlingk. Lameness during the dry period: Epidemiology and associated factors. Journal of Dairy Science. 2019; 102 (12):11414-11427.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRuan R. Daros; Hanna K. Eriksson; Daniel M. Weary; Marina A.G. Von Keyserlingk. 2019. "Lameness during the dry period: Epidemiology and associated factors." Journal of Dairy Science 102, no. 12: 11414-11427.
Lameness is a serious welfare issue for dairy cows. To date, the majority of studies have focused on its effect on health and behavior at the herd level. The objectives of this study were to identify (1) between-cow and (2) within-cow changes in lying behavior associated with consistent and changing lameness status in grazing dairy cows. Previous studies of lying behavior in grazing dairy cows have not considered the effect of precipitation, so a third aim was to determine the effect of precipitation on lying behavior. A total of 252 dairy cows from 6 pasture-based farms in southern Brazil were gait scored weekly to assess lameness using a 5-point scale [1-5, numerical rating score (NRS)] for 4 consecutive weeks. Cows were considered to have consistent lameness if they were scored as lame (NRS ≥3) on each of the 4 visits and considered to have a changing lameness status if scored as being nonlame (NRS <3) on at least 1 of the 4 visits. Cows classified as having a changing lameness status were further classified as developed, recovered, or inconsistent. Lying behavior (daily lying time, mean lying bout duration, and daily number of lying bouts) was recorded continuously for 3 wk using leg-mounted accelerometers. Cow-level variables included parity, days in milk, and body condition score. Regional precipitation and temperature were recorded hourly. Because only 1 primiparous cow was identified as lame at each of the 4 visits, the between-cow analysis of lameness was run on multiparous cows only. The overall prevalence of clinical lameness on the first visit was 39%, with development and recovery rates of 16 and 10% over the 4 visits, respectively. The between-cow effect of consistent lameness status on daily lying time and number of lying bouts was dependent on precipitation; consistently lame cows had reduced lying time and lying bouts on days with rain compared with days without rain. There was no within-cow effect of changing lameness status on any of the lying behaviors. Precipitation was associated with decreased daily lying time, increased mean lying bout duration, and decreased daily number of lying bouts. The results of this research provide the first evidence that the effect of consistent lameness status on lying behavior is associated with rainfall in grazing dairy cows. Future work measuring lying behavior of grazing dairy cows should include precipitation as a covariate.
A.J. Thompson; D.M. Weary; José A. Bran; Ruan Daros; M.J. Hötzel; M.A.G. Von Keyserlingk. Lameness and lying behavior in grazing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 2019, 102, 6373 -6382.
AMA StyleA.J. Thompson, D.M. Weary, José A. Bran, Ruan Daros, M.J. Hötzel, M.A.G. Von Keyserlingk. Lameness and lying behavior in grazing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 2019; 102 (7):6373-6382.
Chicago/Turabian StyleA.J. Thompson; D.M. Weary; José A. Bran; Ruan Daros; M.J. Hötzel; M.A.G. Von Keyserlingk. 2019. "Lameness and lying behavior in grazing dairy cows." Journal of Dairy Science 102, no. 7: 6373-6382.
In this cross-sectional study, we measured the association between water provision and milk production on intensively managed small-scale grazing dairy herds. Farms (n = 53) were categorized according to water provision as follows: (1) Restricted—cows did not have access to a water trough while on pasture; and (2) Unrestricted—cows had free access to a water trough while on pasture. Herd main breed and feeding practices were included in a model to assess the effect of water provision category on farm average milk yield/cow/d. The effect of pasture condition and environmental variables on milk production were also assessed, however were not retained on the final model. Herds provided with unrestricted access to drinking water produced on average 1.7 L more milk per cow/d (p = 0.03) than herds with restricted access to drinking water. Predominantly Holstein herds produced 2.8 L more milk per cow/d (p < 0.01) than non-Holstein herds. Each extra kg of concentrate offered per day increased milk yield by 1.1 L/cow/d (p < 0.01). In conclusion, providing free access to drinking water while grazing was associated with greater milk production.
Ruan R. Daros; José A. Bran; Maria J. Hötzel; Marina A. G. Von Keyserlingk. Readily Available Water Access is Associated with Greater Milk Production in Grazing Dairy Herds. Animals 2019, 9, 48 .
AMA StyleRuan R. Daros, José A. Bran, Maria J. Hötzel, Marina A. G. Von Keyserlingk. Readily Available Water Access is Associated with Greater Milk Production in Grazing Dairy Herds. Animals. 2019; 9 (2):48.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRuan R. Daros; José A. Bran; Maria J. Hötzel; Marina A. G. Von Keyserlingk. 2019. "Readily Available Water Access is Associated with Greater Milk Production in Grazing Dairy Herds." Animals 9, no. 2: 48.
This cross-sectional survey aimed to verify farmers’ awareness and knowledge about lameness in grazing dairy cows and to analyze their perspectives and actions intended to control this issue. Farms (n = 44, mean herd size: 42, SD = 11.2) located in southern Brazil were visited twice in 2015. On the first visit the farmers were requested to answer a questionnaire on lameness knowledge (relative importance as a health issue, aetiology, impacts on culling) and management (prevention, treatment and veterinary assistance) on their farms. Farmers were asked to estimate the number of lame cows present on their farms at each visit. All lactating cows on each farm were locomotion scored by a veterinarian to estimate lameness prevalence on both visits. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to test similarity between the veterinarian and farmer estimated lameness prevalence. Mixed-effects linear models were fitted to investigate the associations between veterinarian lameness estimated prevalence and farmers’ answers regarding lameness importance and impacts on culling cows at the farms. On average, farmers underestimated lameness prevalence during both visits; however, when assessing only severe lameness, veterinarian and farmer prevalence lameness ratings were very similar on the second visit (ICC 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6-0.9, n = 43, P < 0.01). The veterinarian’s estimated lameness prevalence was about 10% higher on herds where farmers identified lameness as a primary health issue (40.24%) or as a reason for culling (41.7%) versus farms where the farmer did not recognize lameness as a health concern or reason for culling. Farmers’ most reported causes of lameness on their farms were categorized as hoof trauma, inadequate feeding practices associated with acidosis–laminitis, high moisture on walking surfaces, and individual features of cows. Farmers mentioned frequently that they made use of antibiotics and topical hoof products to treat lame cows; they also reported low use of anti-inflammatories/analgesics and hoof trimming as treatment remedies and no one mentioned adoption of regular preventative measures for lameness. Farmers reported having no training on lameness management, and cited an overall lack of veterinary support to control lameness on their farms. The farmers seemed unaware of the extent of lameness on their farms. Interventions aimed at reducing lameness in small scale herds in this region of Brazil should include a preventative veterinary assistance approach focused, initially, to increase farmers’ knowledge and awareness on lameness.
José A. Bran; Rolnei R. Daros; Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk; Maria José Hötzel. Lameness on Brazilian pasture based dairies—part 1: Farmers’ awareness and actions. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 2018, 157, 134 -141.
AMA StyleJosé A. Bran, Rolnei R. Daros, Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk, Maria José Hötzel. Lameness on Brazilian pasture based dairies—part 1: Farmers’ awareness and actions. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 2018; 157 ():134-141.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosé A. Bran; Rolnei R. Daros; Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk; Maria José Hötzel. 2018. "Lameness on Brazilian pasture based dairies—part 1: Farmers’ awareness and actions." Preventive Veterinary Medicine 157, no. : 134-141.
This cross-sectional study aimed to assess lameness occurrence and to identify the associated risk factors in small-scale grazing dairy herds. Forty four farms (mean lactating herd size was 42 cows, SD = 11.2, range: 28–74) located in the south of Brazil were visited twice, approximately 4 months apart, in 2015. Locomotion was scored in 1,633 and 1,836 cows at the first and second visit, respectively. Potential risk factors for lameness were assessed through inspection of cows and facilities, and a questionnaire for farmers about herd management practices. Multilevel logistic regressions, using herd as random effect, were fitted to investigate the cow-level risk factors for accumulated incident (not lame at the first visit but lame on the second), chronic (lame on both visits) and recovered (lame at the first visit but sound on the second) cases of lameness. A multilevel linear regression, using municipality as a random effect, was fitted for herd-level analysis. Cumulative lameness incidence between two visits (1,110 cows in 41 herds) was 29.6% (range: 0–80); lameness prevalence (n = 44 herds) was 31% (10–70) and 35% (5–76) at the first and second visits, respectively. The odds of incident cases were greater in Holstein cows [odds ratio (OR) = 4.0, 95% confidence interval 2.1–7.6] compared with Jerseys, in cows in parities 2–3 (OR 2.5, 1.4–4.4) or >3 (OR 6.6, 3.3-13.1) relative to parity 1, in cows having a low body condition score (BCS) of 2–2.75 or 3 on the first visit (OR 2, 1.1–3.7), and in cows with observed hoof abnormalities (OR 2.5, 1.3–4.7). Similar associations were found for chronic cases, with Holstein and crossbred cows having greater odds of lameness, compared to Jersey, and chronic cases being more likely in cows with increasing parity, with BCS at first visit of 2–2.75, and with presence of hoof abnormalities. Jersey or crossbred cows (OR 3.2, 1.3-8.1) and cows in parity 1–2 (OR 3.6, 1.6–8.4) had higher probability of recovery from lameness. Having a herd composed of Holstein cows was associated with 13.5% (CI 4.3–22.8) greater incidence of lameness (n = 35). For every 1 km/h increase in the average speed of movement of the herd to or from milking, lameness incidence increased by 5% (CI 0.1–10). Given that the occurrence of lameness was high there is great opportunity to reduce lameness in this population. This study highlights some management and prevention practices that may reduce lameness in these grazing herds.
José A. Bran; Rolnei R. Daros; Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk; Stephen J. LeBlanc; Maria José Hötzel. Cow- and herd-level factors associated with lameness in small-scale grazing dairy herds in Brazil. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 2018, 151, 79 -86.
AMA StyleJosé A. Bran, Rolnei R. Daros, Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk, Stephen J. LeBlanc, Maria José Hötzel. Cow- and herd-level factors associated with lameness in small-scale grazing dairy herds in Brazil. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 2018; 151 ():79-86.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosé A. Bran; Rolnei R. Daros; Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk; Stephen J. LeBlanc; Maria José Hötzel. 2018. "Cow- and herd-level factors associated with lameness in small-scale grazing dairy herds in Brazil." Preventive Veterinary Medicine 151, no. : 79-86.
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe the incidence risk of dystocia, retained placenta (RP), pathological recumbence (down cow), the prevalence of metritis and subclinical ketosis (SCK), and the risk factors for SCK, metritis, and RP in grazing dairy herds in Southern Brazil. Fifty-three herds were visited 2-6 times from February to October of 2015. Body condition score (BCS), breed, days in milk (DIM), parity and disease status were recorded for each cow that was between 3 and 21 DIM at the time of the visits. Management practices were determined using a survey and environmental inspection was performed on each visit. SCK was identified if blood β-hydroxybutyrate was ≥1.2mmol/L and metritis by inspection of the vaginal discharge; cows were assessed once between 3 and 21 DIM. Multilevel logistic regression models, controlling for farm as a random effect, were built to identify risk factors for each disease and to assess the proportion of variance at the herd and cow levels. Models were constructed based on causal diagrams and variable screening. Overall, prevalence of SCK and metritis and incidence risk of RP were 21, 11 and 14%, respectively. Reported incidence risk of down cow was 6% and displaced abomasum was 1%. The odds (OR; 95% CI) of a cow having SCK were higher in herds with high (>10%) incidence of down cows (2.7; 1.4-5.0), limited access to water (1.9; 1.1-3.1), Jersey cows (OR: 2.2; 1.2-4.1) and in cows that were in third or greater lactation (2.9; 1.4-5.5). BCS 3.0-3.5 decreased the odds (0.4; 0.2-0.8) of metritis, while DIM, RP and being in a herd with a dirty holding area increased the odds of metritis by 1.1 (1.1-1.2), 19.5 (9.9-38.3) and 2.1 (1.0-4.2) fold, respectively. Parity >2 and dystocia increased the odds of RP by 2.4 (1.2-4.6) and 3.0 (1.6-5.4) fold, respectively. Jersey breed, use of a maternity pen and keeping the newborn calf with the cow >12h decreased the odds of having RP by 0.1 (0.0-0.4), 0.5 (0.3-1.0) and 0.4 (0.2-0.8) times, respectively. The variation in disease occurrence was largely dependent on cow-level factors. However, herd level risk factors also influenced disease occurrence and should be considered in order to design better preventive transition period diseases protocols.
Ruan Daros; Maria Hotzel; José A. Bran; Stephen LeBlanc; Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk. Prevalence and risk factors for transition period diseases in grazing dairy cows in Brazil. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 2017, 145, 16 -22.
AMA StyleRuan Daros, Maria Hotzel, José A. Bran, Stephen LeBlanc, Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk. Prevalence and risk factors for transition period diseases in grazing dairy cows in Brazil. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 2017; 145 ():16-22.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRuan Daros; Maria Hotzel; José A. Bran; Stephen LeBlanc; Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk. 2017. "Prevalence and risk factors for transition period diseases in grazing dairy cows in Brazil." Preventive Veterinary Medicine 145, no. : 16-22.
Rodents and primates deprived of early social contact exhibit deficits in learning and behavioural flexibility. They often also exhibit apparent signs of elevated anxiety, although the relationship between these effects has not been studied. To investigate whether dairy calves are similarly affected, we first compared calves housed in standard individual pens (n = 7) to those housed in a dynamic group with access to their mothers (n = 8). All calves learned to approach the correct stimulus in a visual discrimination task. Only one individually housed calf was able to re-learn the task when the stimuli were reversed, compared to all but one calf from the group. A second experiment investigated whether this effect might be explained by anxiety in individually housed animals interfering with their learning, and tested varying degrees of social contact in addition to the complex group: pair housing beginning early (approximately 6 days old) and late (6 weeks old). Again, fewer individually reared calves learned the reversal task (2 of 10 or 20%) compared to early paired and grouped calves (16 of 21 or 76% of calves). Late paired calves had intermediate success. Individually housed calves were slower to touch novel objects, but the magnitude of the fear response did not correlate with reversal performance. We conclude that individually housed calves have learning deficits, but these deficits were not likely associated with increased anxiety.
Rebecca K. Meagher; Ruan Daros; Joao H. C. Costa; Marina von Keyserlingk; Maria Hotzel; Daniel M. Weary. Effects of Degree and Timing of Social Housing on Reversal Learning and Response to Novel Objects in Dairy Calves. PLOS ONE 2015, 10, e0132828 .
AMA StyleRebecca K. Meagher, Ruan Daros, Joao H. C. Costa, Marina von Keyserlingk, Maria Hotzel, Daniel M. Weary. Effects of Degree and Timing of Social Housing on Reversal Learning and Response to Novel Objects in Dairy Calves. PLOS ONE. 2015; 10 (8):e0132828.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRebecca K. Meagher; Ruan Daros; Joao H. C. Costa; Marina von Keyserlingk; Maria Hotzel; Daniel M. Weary. 2015. "Effects of Degree and Timing of Social Housing on Reversal Learning and Response to Novel Objects in Dairy Calves." PLOS ONE 10, no. 8: e0132828.
Animals are often reluctant to consume novel feeds. Research suggests that social housing can reduce fearfulness in animals. The aim of this study was to test the prediction that social housing reduces food neophobia in dairy calves. Beginning immediately at birth, Holstein bull calves were either reared individually (n=18) or in a complex social group with other calves and cows (n=18). In food neophobia tests, calves were exposed to 2 identical buckets, one empty and the other filled with a novel food (chopped hay in trial 1 and chopped carrots in trial 2). Calves were tested for 30 min/d on 3 consecutive days starting at 70 d of age. Regardless of the type of food, socially housed calves consumed more of the novel feed compared with individually housed calves. In trial 1, intake of hay as fed averaged 35 ± 6 versus 18 ± 6 g/d for socially versus individually housed calves. In trial 2, intake of chopped carrots as fed averaged 27 ± 6 versus 6 ± 6 g/d for socially versus individually housed calves, respectively. Social rearing decreased the latency to eat the novel feed. Calves housed in a complex social group began eating the hay after 1:23 ± 1:13 versus 3:58 ± 1:10 min:s for individually housed calves. Latency to begin eating the chopped carrots averaged 3:09 ± 1:17 versus 6:38 ± 1:13 min:s for socially versus individually housed calves. Treatment had no effect on time spent eating, latency to approach the food bucket or the empty bucket in either trial, or on time spent manipulating the empty bucket. These results indicate that housing dairy calves in a complex social group reduces food neophobia. More generally, this study contributes to a series of studies showing that calves raised in more complex social environments may be better able to transition to other changes in their environment.
Joao H. C. Costa; R.R. Daros; M.A.G. Von Keyserlingk; D.M. Weary. Complex social housing reduces food neophobia in dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science 2014, 97, 7804 -7810.
AMA StyleJoao H. C. Costa, R.R. Daros, M.A.G. Von Keyserlingk, D.M. Weary. Complex social housing reduces food neophobia in dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science. 2014; 97 (12):7804-7810.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoao H. C. Costa; R.R. Daros; M.A.G. Von Keyserlingk; D.M. Weary. 2014. "Complex social housing reduces food neophobia in dairy calves." Journal of Dairy Science 97, no. 12: 7804-7810.
Negative emotional states in humans are associated with a negative (pessimistic) response bias towards ambiguous cues in judgement tasks. Every mammalian young is eventually weaned; this period of increasing nutritional and social independence from the dam is associated with a pronounced behavioural response, especially when weaning is abrupt as commonly occurs in farm animals. The aim of the current study was to test the effect of separation from the cow on the responses of dairy calves in a judgement task. Thirteen Holstein calves were reared with their dams and trained to discriminate between red and white colours displayed on a computer monitor. These colours predicted reward or punishment outcomes using a go/no-go task. A reward was provided when calves approached the white screen and calves were punished with a timeout when they approached the red screen. Calves were then tested with non-reinforced ambiguous probes (screen colours intermediate to the two training colours). “GO” responses to these probes averaged (± SE) 72±3.6 % before separation but declined to 62±3.6 % after separation from the dam. This bias was similar to that shown by calves experiencing pain in the hours after hot-iron dehorning. These results provide the first evidence of a pessimistic judgement bias in animals following maternal separation and are indicative of low mood.
Ruan Daros; Joao H. C. Costa; Marina von Keyserlingk; Maria Hotzel; Daniel M. Weary. Separation from the Dam Causes Negative Judgement Bias in Dairy Calves. PLoS ONE 2014, 9, e98429 .
AMA StyleRuan Daros, Joao H. C. Costa, Marina von Keyserlingk, Maria Hotzel, Daniel M. Weary. Separation from the Dam Causes Negative Judgement Bias in Dairy Calves. PLoS ONE. 2014; 9 (5):e98429.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRuan Daros; Joao H. C. Costa; Marina von Keyserlingk; Maria Hotzel; Daniel M. Weary. 2014. "Separation from the Dam Causes Negative Judgement Bias in Dairy Calves." PLoS ONE 9, no. 5: e98429.
Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, but emotional states are difficult to directly assess in animals. Researchers have assessed pain using behavioural and physiological measures, but these approaches are limited to understanding the arousal rather than valence of the emotional experience. Cognitive bias tasks show that depressed humans judge ambiguous events negatively and this technique has been applied to assess emotional states in animals. However, limited research has examined how pain states affect cognitive processes in animals. Here we present the first evidence of cognitive bias in response to pain in any non-human species. In two experiments, dairy calves (n = 17) were trained to respond differentially to red and white video screens and then tested with unreinforced ambiguous colours in two or three test sessions before and two sessions after the routine practice of hot-iron disbudding. After disbudding calves were more likely to judge ambiguous colours as negative. This ‘pessimistic’ bias indicates that post-operative pain following hot-iron disbudding results in a negative change in emotional state.
Heather W. Neave; Rolnei R. Daros; João H. C. Costa; Marina A. G. von Keyserlingk; Daniel M. Weary. Pain and Pessimism: Dairy Calves Exhibit Negative Judgement Bias following Hot-Iron Disbudding. PLOS ONE 2013, 8, e80556 .
AMA StyleHeather W. Neave, Rolnei R. Daros, João H. C. Costa, Marina A. G. von Keyserlingk, Daniel M. Weary. Pain and Pessimism: Dairy Calves Exhibit Negative Judgement Bias following Hot-Iron Disbudding. PLOS ONE. 2013; 8 (12):e80556.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHeather W. Neave; Rolnei R. Daros; João H. C. Costa; Marina A. G. von Keyserlingk; Daniel M. Weary. 2013. "Pain and Pessimism: Dairy Calves Exhibit Negative Judgement Bias following Hot-Iron Disbudding." PLOS ONE 8, no. 12: e80556.