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This study investigated the effects of once‐a‐day (OAD) and twice‐a‐day (TAD) milking strategies on Cheddar cheese properties, within an Irish pasture‐based system. Cheese derived from OAD milk was more yellow, with significantly higher b* values and a significantly higher β‐carotene content. A significantly higher cheese yield also resulted from OAD milk. Compositional data were largely consistent with previously reported results, and no meaningful differences were found in texture, proteolysis, pH, volatile‐organic‐compounds and free‐fatty‐acid profile. Indications are that OAD milking does not negatively impact Cheddar quality, providing valuable insights for those considering milking frequency impacts on this key dairy product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Rearing facilities directly affect the viability and suitability of calf rearing systems on-farm; however, it is unknown whether facilities in the Republic of Ireland are fit for purpose, or sufficiently consider calf and farmer welfare. Current housing facilities and management practices on Irish farms were reviewed to determine if calves are reared in appropriate facilities with management decisions that safeguard calf and farmer welfare. Fifty-one farms in the Munster region of the Republic of Ireland were visited twice: (1) Pre-calving (December–January; farmer interview and housing structural evaluation); (2) During peak calving (January–March; short farmer interview and housing environmental evaluation). The results showed farmers planned sufficiently for spring, providing appropriate housing and space allowances for calves, facilitating group housing post-birth, influencing calf welfare positively. On-farm housing that was not purposely built for rearing calves (e.g., straw storage) is frequently converted to be used to rear calves, meaning sheds must be modified to appropriately cater for calf needs (e.g., drainage and slopes to facilitate cleaning out). Management components of rearing systems appear in line with current recommendations (e.g., advice against feeding waste milk), however some areas require attention (e.g., colostrum testing and extended working hours), to safeguard calf welfare and reduce associated workloads. In conclusion, housing provisions are sufficient for calf numbers born in Ireland, however housing and management should be continually reviewed to consider calf and farmer welfare. It is unknown whether calf rearing facilities in the Republic of Ireland are fit for purpose, or if facilities sufficiently consider calf and farmer welfare. The aim of this study was to review current calf housing facilities and management practices on Irish farms to determine if calves are reared in structurally appropriate facilities with management decisions that safeguard calf and farmer welfare. Fifty-one farms located in the Munster region in the Republic of Ireland were visited twice: (1) Pre-calving (December–January) and (2) During peak calving (January–March). During visit one, herd owners completed a questionnaire regarding calf housing and management practices on-farm and each facility used to rear calves was measured (measurement of cubic air capacity, ventilation, pen area, drainage etc.) without calves being present. Visit two consisted of a short interview with the principal calf manager to validate previously asked questions and environmental based measurements of each calf house that had been recorded, with any deviation from the first visit noted (measurements of temperature, wind speed, light intensity, facility provisions in-house and in-pen; calves present). Average herd size was 254, operating a spring calving system with a median calving season length of 11.6 weeks. While most farms expanded (88%; N = 51), this did not appear to have negatively affected calf space allowances (9.9% houses overcrowded at a space allowance of 1.5 m2/calf; N = 121). Calves were most commonly housed in group sizes of <12 (71.6% of all groupings; N = 394), with farmers moving away from individual housing for a period immediately post-birth, to grouping them immediately instead (58.8%; N = 51). The number of farmers testing colostrum was 31.4% (N = 51). Although the calving season was compact, most farmers were unconcerned about the upcoming spring workload (58.8%; N = 51). Farms appeared sufficiently prepared for spring, with most using the same number or less sheds during visit two than declared in visit one (76.5%; N = 51). To conclude, farmers made sufficient provision for calf housing and space allowances for calves that facilitated group housing post-birth. While structural and management components of rearing systems appear in line with sectoral recommendations, certain areas require attention on many farms (e.g., colostrum testing) to safeguard calf welfare and reduce the workload associated with calf rearing for farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Atypical insufficiency fractures of the femur in patients on long-term bisphosphonate therapy have been well described in recent literature. The majority of cases are associated with minimal or no trauma and occur in the subtrochanteric or diaphyseal region.Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 76-year-old British Caucasian woman who presented initially to an emergency department and then to her primary care physician with a long-standing history of bilateral knee pain after minor trauma. Plain radiographs showed subtle linear areas of sclerosis bilaterally in her proximal tibiae. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of insufficiency fractures in these areas along with her left distal femur. There are very few reports of atypical insufficiency fractures involving the tibia in patients on long-term bisphosphonate therapy and this appears to be the only documented bilateral case involving the metaphyseal regions of the proximal tibia and distal femur.Conclusion: In addition to existing literature describing atypical fractures in the proximal femur and femoral shaft, there is a need for increased awareness that these fractures can also occur in other weight-bearing areas of the skeleton. All clinicians involved in the care of patients taking long-term bisphosphonates need to be aware of the growing association between new onset lower limb pain and atypical insufficiency fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Early lactation once-a-day milking does not significantly reduce total lactation kg fat + kg protein. • Milking cows once daily for six or eight-weeks in early lactation reduces milk yield. • Milking time was up to 35% less when cows were milked once-a-day. • From week five of lactation somatic cell score was similar between treatments. The availability of labour during a compact calving period, can pose a challenge to dairy farmers. The objective of this study was to investigate, in comparison to twice-a-day (TAD) milking, the effect of short-term once-a-day (OAD) milking for four (OAD4), six (OAD6) or eight (OAD8) weeks directly post-calving on milk production, cow health and welfare. After each treatment finished their respective time on OAD milking cows reverted back to TAD milking for the remainder of lactation. A milk yield reduction of 21% was observed after the first four-weeks of lactation when milking OAD compared to TAD (618 kg/cow). When OAD milking continued until week six or eight of lactation milk yield reduction increased to 24 and 26%, respectively, compared to TAD. Following the 35-week lactation OAD6 (4,913 kg/cow) and OAD8 (4,815 kg/cow) treatments had a lower cumulative milk yield compared to the TAD cows (5,300 kg/cow); OAD4 were similar to all treatments (5,073 kg/cow). Following the first four weeks of the experiment the TAD herd had a higher milk fat, protein and lactose yield (+0.29, +0.17 and 0.28 kg/cow/day, respectively) than the three OAD herds which were not significantly different to each other (1.19, 0.72 and 0.95 kg/cow/day, respectively). Total milk fat, protein and lactose yields for the first six weeks of lactation were similar for all OAD treatments (44, 28 and 38 kg/cow, respectively) compared to the TAD treatment (54, 33,and 47 kg/cow, respectively). Following the first eight-weeks of lactation milk fat, protein and lactose yields were highest for the TAD (72, 45 and 65 kg/cow, respectively); OAD6 and OAD 8 were similar, OAD4 was similar to OAD6 but higher than OAD8. There was no difference in kg fat + kg protein (MSY) between treatments at the end of lactation. During the first four weeks of lactation milking cows OAD increased (+ 0.95 units) somatic cell score (SCS) compared to cows being milked TAD (3.26 units). From week five of lactation onwards there was no difference in SCS between any of the treatments. Milking time was consistently less (up to 35% less) when cows were milked OAD compared to TAD. The likelihood of milk leakage from udders pre-milking was significantly higher with OAD compared to TAD milking. There was no effect of treatment on locomotion score or fertility. The results of this study indicate that OAD milking for a short period of time in early lactation may be a viable option to reduce labour requirements without having a negative impact on cow milk production or welfare indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing and feeding are integral to calf rearing, and must meet calf needs while remaining functional for the farmer. This study compared health, behavior, growth, and labor requirements of calves housed in groups indoors and fed via an automatic or manual milk feeding system compared to calves manually fed in individual or group hutches outdoors. Seventy-six (49 Holstein Friesian [HF] and 27 HF × Jersey) dairy heifer calves were balanced for birth weight (35.2 ± 4.95 kg), birth date (1 February ± 7.2 d) and breed. The experiment was a randomized block design with four treatments; 1) indoor group housing with automated feeding (IN&#95;AUTO; 12 calves per pen), 2) indoor group housing with manual feeding (IN&#95;MAN; 12 calves per pen), 3) outdoor group hutch with manual feeding (OUT&#95;G&#95;MAN; 8 calves per pen), and 4) outdoor individual hutch with manual feeding (OUT&#95;I&#95;MAN; 6 calves: 1 per pen). Calves in OUT&#95;treatments moved outdoors at 18 d (± 5.9 d). Each treatment was replicated once. Milk allowance increased gradually from 6 to 8 L/day (15% reconstitution rate) with ad libitum fresh water, concentrates, and hay offered from 3 d old. Gradual weaning occurred at 8 wk old. Measurements were divided into period 1; before movement outdoors, and period 2; after movement outdoors. Health was similar among treatments, regardless of period, with the most frequent score being zero (i.e., healthy). Summarized, standing and lying were observed 24.3% and 29.8%, respectively, in OUT&#95;I&#95;MAN calves, compared to 8.0% and 49.1%, for the other systems, which were similar. No difference in bodyweight (BW) existed between treatments, except at weaning where BW was lower for OUT&#95;I&#95;MAN (67.4 ± 2.84 kg) compared to IN&#95;MAN (74.2 ± 2.01 kg), and day 102 where OUT&#95;I&#95;MAN (94.1 ± 2.85 kg) were lighter than IN&#95;AUTO (101.1 ± 2.10 kg) (P = 0.047). Total labor input was greatest for OUT&#95;I&#95;MAN (00:02:02 per calf per day; hh:mm:ss) and least for IN&#95;AUTO (00:00:21 per calf per day) (P < 0.001). The labor for feeding (00:00:29 per calf per day), feeding inspection (00:00:10 per calf per day), and cleaning equipment (00:00:30 per calf per day) was greatest for OUT&#95;I&#95;MAN. All calves showed good health and growth patterns. Differences in behavior expressed by calves in the OUT&#95;I&#95;MAN, compared to other treatments may indicate compromised welfare. Thus, although outdoor group hutches do not negatively impact calves, indoor housing, particularly using automated feeders, can improve labor efficiency., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.)