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The environment in which an animal is situated can have a profound impact on its health, welfare, and productivity. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the case of dairy cattle, then, in order to quantify the impact of ambient temperature (°C) and the relative humidity (%) on dairy cattle, the temperature-humidity index (THI) is employed as a metric. This indicator enables the practical estimation of the stress imposed on cattle by ambient temperature and humidity. A seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) (4,1,0)(0,1,0) 365 model was estimated using daily data from the maximum daily THI of 4 years (2016-2019) of the Comarca Lagunera, an arid region of central-northern Mexico. The resulting model indicated that the THI of any given day in the area can be estimated based on the THI values of the previous four days. Furthermore, the data demonstrate an annual increase in the number of days the THI indicates a risk of heat stress. It is essential to continue building predictive models to develop effective strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress in dairy cattle (and other species) in the region., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Herrera-González et al.)

In Zimbabwe a lot of studies have been done on nutrition, breeding, physiology and health of farm cows but with little or no consideration of the impacts of these studies on cow welfare. As a result political importance and practical progression of cow welfare is still lagging behind in the country just like most developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the welfare status of dairy cows from large scale dairy farms through an assessment of risk factors/drivers and indicators of cow welfare. For this study 728 dairy cows from all the 31 large scale dairy farms in Midlands Province, Zimbabwe, were selected for the study noting down risk factors and indicators of dairy cow welfare during both the dry and rainy season. Human avoidance distance test results revealed that 81% of the cows were touched by the approaching stockpeople, whereas 19% could not be touched, and this was significantly associated with breed of the cow (χ 2  = 115, DF = 9, P < 0.0005). From the study 95% of the cows examined were not lame (score 1) and for those that were lame only 0.6% (n = 4) had severely impaired mobility (score 5). Whereas 30% of the cows observed during the rainy season were heavily soiled with manure (score 4), only 1% of the cows observed during the dry season were heavily soiled (score 4). Cow cleanliness was significantly associated with manure accumulation in housing and handling facilities in both study 1 (χ 2  = 18, DF = 6, P = 0.006) and study 2 (χ 2  = 47, DF = 6, P < 0.001). The average body condition score of observed dairy cows from both study 1 and study 2 was fair (BC = 3) and body condition was signficantly associated with the breed of cow in both study 1 (χ 2  = 22, DF = 12, P = 0.039), and study 2 (χ 2  = 38, DF = 12, P < 0.005). Exotic breeds like the Holstein generally faired low when compared to locally adapted breeds like theAyrshire., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Since April 2024, sporadic infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) viruses have been detected among dairy farm workers in the United States. To date, infections have mostly been detected through worker monitoring, and have been mild despite the possibility of more severe illness. During June-August 2024, CDC collaborated with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to implement cross-sectional serologic surveys to ascertain the prevalence of recent infection with HPAI A(H5) virus among dairy workers. In both states, a convenience sample of persons who work in dairies was interviewed, and blood specimens were collected. Among 115 persons, eight (7%; 95% CI = 3.6%-13.1%) had serologic evidence of recent infection with A(H5) virus; all reported milking cows or cleaning the milking parlor. Among persons with serologic evidence of infection, four recalled being ill around the time cows were ill; symptoms began before or within a few days of A(H5) virus detections among cows. This finding supports the need to identify and implement strategies to prevent transmission among dairy cattle to reduce worker exposures and for education and outreach to dairy workers concerning prevention, symptoms, and where to seek medical care if the workers develop symptoms. Timely identification of infected herds can support rapid initiation of monitoring, testing, and treatment for human illness, including mild illness, among exposed dairy workers., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Purpose: The reproductive and production performance of dairy cows determines the profitability of a dairy farm., Method: A questionnaire survey was used to assess reproductive performance and husbandry practices by using 100 randomly selected animal owners., Result: Seventy-nine percent of animal owners involved were men, ages between 30 and 60. Their education was as follows: 26% were illiterate, 67% in primary school and 7% in secondary school. Ninety-five percent of them managed their animals extensively and used natural mating and breeding practices (75%). AFS in months were 46.83 ± 0.65 in Ada-Buke Warego, 46.00 ± 1.36 in Hagalo-Tulam, 47.08 ± 0.99 in Dicho Aba-Garmama and 47.29 ± 0.51 in Waligalte. AFC in months were 56.68 ± 0.97 in Ada-Buke Warego, 58.00 ± 1.36 in Hagalo-Tulam, 57.23 ± 1.41 in Dicho Aba-Garmama and 56.24 ± 1.13 in Waligalte. ANSPCs were 1.85 ± 0.08 in Ada-Buke Warego, 1.67 ± 0.14 in Hagalo-Tulam, 1.54 ± 0.14 in Dicho Aba-Garmama and 2.00 ± 0.10 in Waligalte. The mean length of CI in months was 30.88 ± 0.90 in Ada Buke Warego, 29.00 ± 1.68 in Hagalo-Tulam, 28.62 ± 1.62 in Dicho Aba-Garmama and 31.06 ± 1.04 in Waligalte. The average year of longevity was 9.22 ± 0.7 in Ada-Buke Warego, 9.08 ± 0.8 in Hagalo-Tulam, 9.31 ± 0.13 in Dicho Aba-Garmama and 9.21 ± 0.8 in Waligalte, but there is no significant association (p ≥ 0.05). AFC in months was 48.00 ± 0.00 in local and 37.20 ± 1.30 in crossbreeds. ANSPC was 1.92 ± 0.06 in locals and 1.10 ± 0.10 in hybrids. AFC for Horro and crossbred dairy cattle were 57.73 ± 0.59 and 48.00 ± 0.00 months, respectively. The mean length of CI was 30.53 ± 0.67 and 29.40 ± 1.99 months in natives and crossbreeds, respectively. The average year of longevity was 9.22 ± 0.05 and 9.10 ± 0.10 years for local and hybrids, respectively. ANSPC for natural mating and AI were 1.92 ± 0.05 and 1.10 ± 0.10, respectively, with significant association (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The reproductive performance of dairy cows in the study area was low, which required the improvement of husbandry practices., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Voluntary waiting period (VWP), housing systems and the presence of a veterinarian are effective factors on reproductive performance of a dairy farm., Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the management practices associated with VWP and its effects on reproductive performance., Methods: A total of 136,943 records of 21,756 cows that calved between 1990 and 2013 were used. A questionnaire was also conducted with the farms involved to determine if they adjust the timing of insemination based on the body condition score (BCS) of the cows, postpartum health situation (PPHS) or environmental factors such as heat stress and season. The impact of changing the VWP selectively, the presence of a veterinarian and the type of barn on reproductive outcomes like days open (DO), number of services per conception (NSPC) and days to first service (DFS) was examined using a linear mixed model. This model considered animals and herds as random factors and management practices as fixed factors in the analysis., Results: Among herds that reported altering the VWP based on heat stress, DFS significantly increased (61.68 ± 0.68 vs. 58.4 ± 0.83) while DO (119.70 ± 1.86 vs. 126.9 ± 2.29) and NSPC (1.98 ± 0.04 vs. 2.48 ± 0.05) reduced compared to herds that did not alter the VWP. Our results showed that farms with a full-time veterinarian had a better reproductive performance than those with part-time care (p < 0.05). Housing system was significantly associated with fertility traits, so that cows in free-stall barns were more fertile than those kept in open-shed barns., Conclusions: The obtained results from this study indicated that management decisions to selectively altering the VWP led to difference in DFS and improved reproductive performance., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Dairy cattle feed supplies in the tropics, and particularly in Ethiopia, are mostly derived from base diets (natural and improved grasslands, agricultural wastes, fodder trees and shrubs), agro-industrial by-products and non-conventional feeds. The availability of major feed resource kinds, sources and dairy cattle feeding practises is primarily influenced by agro-ecology and season, as well as their interactions., Objectives: The research was carried out in the Chencha District of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia, with the goals of assessing the available, feeding system, opportunity, limits and copying strategy of dairy cattle production, as well as estimating feed balance., Methods: Data were gathered through primary and secondary data sources, field observations, key informant interviews, focus group talks and individual interviews. The survey data were stratified into altitudes, coded and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 and the general linear model approach. Cross-tabulation was used to examine the statistical variance of categorical data., Results: The presence of different feed resource types, distinct agro-ecologies (p < 0.05) and crop residue accessibility were the major opportunities for dairy cattle production in the study district, but land scarcity, a lack of dry season forages and land degradation due to erosion were the major constraints for dairy cattle feed production. In the research district, the main feed resource-copying approaches were reducing the number of dairy animals, saving optional feeds and purchasing optional feeds. The total mean of dairy cow feed supply to tropical livestock unit in terms of dry matter (DM) production each year was 3.86 t of DM/HH/annual, with a negative feed balance of 8.09 t that varied with seasons and agro-ecology (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, the low production of dairy cattle in the district is clearly related to the scarcity of feed resources. To address these issues, alternative feed production technologies should be implemented, such as farmers practising forage development on their own crop land and collecting crop residues during crop harvesting times and storing them under shed; the nutritive value of different types of fodder trees and shrubs should be further determined in the future and feed storage methods, particularly hay and silage, should be used when there are an abundance of feed resources available., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Fodder scarcity and low quality affect the productivity of dairy cattle in Kenya yet only few smallholder dairy farmers show positive deviance in fodder conservation. Information on the strategies of such positive deviant (PD) farmers is scanty. The objective of this study was to determine strategies that distinguish PDs from peers (non-PDs) in fodder conservation among smallholder dairy farmers in highlands and midlands of Kenya. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among farms producing and conserving fodder in Tharaka Nithi County. Multistage sampling procedures was used; purposive sampling of the Sub-counties and locations, random selection of villages and proportional selection of 246 farms through snowball chain referral. Data were collected on demographic, socio-economic, farm characteristics and fodder conservation. Farms were categorized as PDs (n = 24) or non-PDs (n = 97). The PDs conserved fodder adequate to last dry season (about 3 months) and had milk yield 15 kg/cow/day and above, while non-PDs do not qualify for both criteria. Chi-square and T-test were used to analyze categorical and continuous variables respectively. Logit regression was used to examine independent variables that influence probability of PDs. Farmers with high school and tertiary education who accessed extension services were PDs while non-PDs had non-formal and primary education and access extension less. Farms conserving hay and silage dominated PDs. Land in hectare (ha) and herd sizes in Tropical Livestock Unit (TLU) distinguished PDs (1.7 ha and 9.0 TLU) from non-PDs (0.7 ha and 3.3 TLU). The strategies that distinguished PDs from non-PDs were allocating land to fodder production, high milk yield kg/cow/day, large herd size and access to extension services. Increasing access to extension and resources (land) raised chances of PDs in fodder conservation. Knowledge of PDs strategies is important for fodder conservation, improve productivity and inform direction of future research., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The socioeconomic factors influencing small-scale dairy producers in the border area between Ecuador and Colombia were meticulously identified. Employing a non-experimental design, the study leveraged multivariate statistical analysis to discern key determinants. Data processing was executed using the statistical software SPSS v27, facilitating comprehensive analysis. A random survey was administered to 532 small and medium-scale dairy producers in the Carchi province of Ecuador, employing a structured questionnaire supplemented with a Likert scale for nuanced insights. Based on 35 original variables, seven determining factors were identified in dairy farms: political representation, adequate housing, equipment, innovation, empathy, profitability, social welfare, which combined explain 60.95% of the system's variability. Such factors affect production, the level of household income, as well as their effect on the standard of living of households. Three groups were formed, the first with a low perception of economic development (Traditionalists 33.3%); the second with a better expectation of economic development (Modernizers 27.6%); and the third, identified with greater economic development (Innovators 10.3%). Each group presents cases with a low to high standard of living perspective. The groups have peculiarities in terms of their performance that can be applied to the entire population. A significant relation was established between socioeconomic factors and standard of living., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The reproductive efficiency and milk yield of cows are crucial factors in a dairy farm's profitability. However, abortions can have a negative impact on these factors. While the morbidity of abortion has been estimated in many countries, information on the burden on dairy cattle in tropical conditions is limited, and Costa Rica is a good example. This study aims to assess the incidence and recurrence of bovine abortion in dairy cattle from Costa Rica. The study analysed the morbidity of abortion in Costa Rican dairy herds between 2010 and 2022. The incidence rate (IR) and the recurrence rate (ReR) were calculated per 100 cow-months at risk using data from the Veterinary Automated Management and Production Control Programme (VAMPP). The dataset comprised 1032,457 lactations from 330,265 cows in 1134 specialized dairy herds. Abortions were classified either as early foetal mortality (EFM) or late foetal mortality (LFM). Rates were estimated based on cow breed, lactation number, and ecological zone to which the farm belongs. The IR of general abortion, EFM, and LFM cases were 0.98, 0.41, and 0.57 per 100 cow-months at risk, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found in the IR between cow breed, lactation number, and ecological zone, nor for the trend of abortions over calving years. The first ReR (for cows that had one previous abortion during the lactation) was 0.95, and the second ReR (for cows that had two previous abortions during the lactation) was 1.41 per 100 cow-months at risk. These results suggest that bovine abortions are an important ongoing problem in dairy farms in Costa Rica with potentially detrimental effects on the reproductive and productive performance of cows and may be representative of other specialized tropical dairy systems in Latin America., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declares not to have any conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study investigates the economic burden of calf mortality in Turkish dairy farms and its impact on the national economy. We gathered research data by directly surveying dairy farms in seven provinces, each representing a distinct region of Turkiye. By conducting these surveys, we captured data on various aspects of calf mortality, including losses among non-pregnant cows aged two and older, pregnant cows, and those experiencing complications during birth, as well as losses within the 0-6 month age bracket. These figures were then amalgamated to establish the overall calf loss rate. Using a fractional probit model, we examined the empirical relationship between total calf loss rates and the socio-demographic characteristics of farm operators and their establishments. Our findings revealed that approximately 82 % of farms experienced some degree of calf loss, with the calf loss rate among dairy cattle farming accounting for nearly 20 %. Notably, regional disparities emerged as a key observation, alongside the identification of certain socio-demographic farm characteristics that proved statistically significant. Specifically, factors such as the prevalence of local cattle breeds, the proportion of crossbred bulls, as well as the numbers of heifers and calves, stood out as influential. Further scrutiny, fortified by ANOVA tests and relationships between the number of cows and total calf loss rate, underscored pronounced geographical disparities in post-estimation calf loss rates. Meanwhile, correlation heatmaps illuminated noteworthy relationships between specific cattle traits and the extent of calf losses. These findings not only underscore the severity of the issue but also highlight the urgency of preventive measures. In light of these insights, we offer pertinent policy recommendations to stakeholders and policymakers aimed at mitigating this considerable economic burden effectively., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declared that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in lameness prevalence among Austrian dairy farms for both lactating and dry cows as assessed by locomotion scoring (LCS 1-5) by an expert and a student who had received brief training in locomotion scoring and by farmers' estimates and by farmers' lameness assessments., Materials and Methods: In total, 632 cows from 11 farms were evaluated, including 553 lactating and 79 dry cows. Lameness prevalence was calculated for all farms collectively as well as for individual farms. The ratio of lameness prevalence determined by the student/expert (Student's Assessment Index: SAI), the ratio between farmers' assessments/expert assessments (Farmers' Assessment Index: FAI) and the ratio between farmers' estimates/expert assessments (Farmers' Detection Index: FDI) were calculated., Results: For the expert, the mean lameness prevalence (LCS≥2) among all 632 cows was 63.1%, while for the student it was 60.2%, and the farmers' assessment was 37.3%, resulting in a mean difference of 25.8% between the expert and the farmers. In cows with LCS 2, the SAI was 99.6%, in cows with LCS 3, it was 84.4%, and in cows with LCS≥4, it was 88.6%. The mean FDI and FAI for all cows on the 11 farms were 35.1% and 58.2%, respectively, with wide variation across farms (6.8-79.1% and 17.8-94.7%, respectively). Overall, lactating and dry cows exhibited a high mean lameness prevalence (63.9% vs. 59.6%), which differed by only 4.3%., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Farmers should actively assess their cattle for lameness on a regular basis. Moreover, they should be trained to identify lame cows (lactating and dry cows), especially those showing mild lameness (LCS 2). Since the recently trained student achieved similar high recognition rates as the expert, it is assumed that a training in locomotion scoring can contribute to higher recognition rates., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the study was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as potential conflicts of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

This study was aimed at determining the median days of calving to conception interval (days open) and identifying the major risk factors determining the days open in dairy cows. Both retrospective and longitudinal studies were conducted on dairy cows located in the Dessie and Kombolcha towns of South Wollo Zone, northeast Ethiopia from August 2019 to August 2020. The Kaplan-Meier model of survival analysis was used to determine the median days open and compare the survival distribution of each level of explanatory variables likely to influence the days open of dairy cows. Accordingly, the overall conception rate of dairy cows was 44.7%. The median days open in the study was 154 days. There is a 16% probability of surviving (i.e, the probability that the conception event has not yet occurred) at the end of 210 days postpartum period. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to quantify the effect of each of the explanatory variables on the days open in the first 210 days postpartum. Factors that had a significant effect (p<0.05) on the calving to conception interval were the season of insemination, breeding system, calving to insemination interval, and herd milk yield level. However, the peripartum, postpartum disorders, and the town of the farm are not significant (p>0.05). Accordingly, cows inseminated in the autumn season (HR = 4.45), cows less than or equal to 85 days calving to insemination interval (HR = 2.41), artificially inseminated cows (HR = 1.45), and high herd milk yield cow had a higher probability of becoming pregnant. In conclusion, the management practices and breeding decisions seem to be important determinants to improve the conception rate or decrease the days open in dairy cows., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Reproductive performance is a key factor in determining the profitability of dairy farm, which is affected by many factors such as environment and diseases. Mastitis is a common and important disease, which has caused huge economic losses to the dairy industries worldwide. Mammary gland infection causes immune responses, resulting in the abnormal secretion of cytokines and hormones and abnormal function of the reproductive system such as the ovary, corpus luteum, uterus and embryo. Cows with mastitis have delayed oestrus, decreased pregnancy rate and increased risk of abortion. The adverse effects of mastitis on reproductive performance are affected by many factors, such as occurrence time, pathogen and cow factors. This paper primarily reviews the progress in the effects and mechanisms of mastitis on reproductive performance, with emphasis on maternal transcriptome, genomic analysis, epigenetic modification, microbiota, inflammatory regulation and immune evasion mechanism of mastitis, aiming to provide directions for the prevention and control of mastitis in the future., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen and a resilient environmental saprophyte. Dairy farms are a reservoir of L. monocytogenes, and strains can persist on farms for years. Here, we sequenced the genomes of 250 L. monocytogenes isolates to investigate the persistence and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) of Listeria strains inhabiting dairy farms. We performed a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based phylogenomic analysis to identify 14 monophyletic clades of L. monocytogenes persistent on the farms for ≥6 months. We found that prophages and other mobile genetic elements were, on average, more numerous among isolates in persistent than nonpersistent clades, and we demonstrated that resistance genes against bacitracin, arsenic, and cadmium were significantly more prevalent among isolates in persistent than nonpersistent clades. We identified a diversity of mobile elements among the 250 farm isolates, including three novel plasmids, three novel transposons, and a novel prophage harboring cadmium resistance genes. Several of the mobile elements we identified in Listeria were identical to the mobile elements of enterococci, which is indicative of recent transfer between these genera. Through a genome-wide association study, we discovered that three putative defense systems against invading prophages and plasmids were negatively associated with persistence on farms. Our findings suggest that mobile elements support the persistence of L. monocytogenes on dairy farms and that L. monocytogenes inhabiting the agroecosystem is a potential reservoir of mobile elements that may spread to the food industry. IMPORTANCE Animal-derived raw materials are an important source of L. monocytogenes in the food industry. Knowledge of the factors contributing to the pathogen's transmission and persistence on farms is essential for designing effective strategies against the spread of the pathogen from farm to fork. An increasing body of evidence suggests that mobile genetic elements support the adaptation and persistence of L. monocytogenes in the food industry, as these elements contribute to the dissemination of genes encoding favorable phenotypes, such as resilience against biocides. Understanding of the role of farms as a potential reservoir of these elements is needed for managing the transmission of mobile elements across the food chain. Because L. monocytogenes coinhabits the farm ecosystem with a diversity of other bacterial species, it is important to assess the degree to which genetic elements are exchanged between Listeria and other species, as such exchanges may contribute to the rise of novel resistance phenotypes.

A central tenant of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is nutrient reduction to levels supportive of ecosystem health. A particular focus is phosphorus. We examine links between agricultural production and phosphorus concentration in the Everglades headwaters: Kissimmee River basin and Lake Okeechobee, considered an important source of water for restoration efforts. Over a span of 47 years we find strong correspondence between milk production in Florida and total phosphate in the lake, and, over the last decade, evidence that phosphorus concentrations in the lake water column may have initiated a long-anticipated decline., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Mycobacterium bovis (bTB) is a potential health hazard to dairy workers. This study uses the One Health wholistic framework for examining bovine tuberculosis (TB) and its relationship to human health. This approach can help bridge surveillance data gaps and contribute to disease control and prevention programs for dairy farm workers, cattle, and the environment. The primary objective of this study was to compare the self-reported history of TB among dairy workers in Bailey County, Texas, with occupational categories of risk and exposure to TB., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dairy workers. Job positions were used as a proxy for exposure to cattle-high and medium/low. We employed bivariate analyses to examine differences between groups using both the chi-square test and the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test., Results: Of the 293 dairy workers invited, 77.0% ( n = 225) participated. No statistically significant associations were found between job categories and reported history of TB exposure. Workers in the high group were younger, Guatemalan males with lower levels of formal education, more likely to be single with no children, and cohabitating with coworkers compared with the medium/low group., Conclusion/application to Practice: Self-reported TB history among dairy workers is an imprecise measure of being previously diagnosed with TB. Dairy workers at risk for occupationally acquired TB could be tested for TB before employment and tested periodically thereafter, and more expeditiously treated if a positive test is obtained. Future studies should focus on the feasibility of offering on-farm health services, such as TB screening.

Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease of unknown magnitude that has been overlooked and underreported, influenced by complex interactions established among humans, animals, and the environment; certain occupations, such as working with livestock, have an increased risk of exposure. We conducted a cross trans-sectional study in 374 serum samples obtained from workers and residents of dairy farms in the Tizayuca Basin, Hidalgo, Mexico, to determine the prevalence of anti-Leptospira antibody and the risk factors associated to this type of environment. The determination of anti-Leptospira antibodies was obtained by microscopic agglutination test. Seropositivity was defined from titles > 1:100. Seropositivity of anti-Leptospira antibodies among the population was 46.8% (176/374) (95% Cl 41.9-52.1). Thirty-nine percent (146/74) of the analyzed serum reacted to the Hardjo serovar (Sejröe serogroup). Eighty-eight percent (8/9) slaughterhouse workers tested were seropositive. Those who belonged to an ethnic group had OR 1.78 (IC 1.02-3.11, P = 0.041). Seropositivity was associated with having a secondary school level or lower, with OR 1.79 (IC 0.97-3.29, P = 0.058). Exposure to Leptospira in a dairy production farm is a risk factor for humans. Our findings can contribute to strengthening the intervention of the Public Health System to prevent this zoonosis that prevails in dairy farm environments.

Yield gaps in milk production are here defined as the differentials between the actual yield obtained by the dairy farmer and the potential farm yield (production achieved by the top 10% of farmers: Gap 2) as well as the differential between this potential farm yield and the yield registered in the research stations (Gap 1). Assessment of yield gaps provides valuable information on potential production enhancement and drivers behind yield gaps. Milk production can be increased by narrowing the predominant large yield gaps in resource-poor smallholder farming system. Hence, this study assessed the milk yield gap and factors affecting the yield gap in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya, a state located in the north-eastern Himalayan region of India. This research paper provides a scope for exploring the possibilities for improving dairy production in the state as well as contributing to literature through incorporating crucial determinants responsible for milk yield gap. A sample of 81 respondents was drawn purposely from two blocks of the district. The results indicated that the average number of cattle per household was 9.38 in standard animal units. The total yield gap was estimated at 6.20 l (91.06%) per day, composed of 0.80 l (11.76%) per day of yield gap I and 5.40 l (79.30%) per day of yield gap II. This demonstrates that the top performing farms were achieving a production level not dissimilar to that obtained on the research stations, but many were doing far less well. The size of cattle shed, dairy farming experience, concentrate price and human labour were the important determinants of the yield gap. Hence, encouraging the right stocking density of cattle, training on the preparations of home-made concentrates, access to cheap and quality concentrates, incorporating training and experience sharing on proper dairy management practices and use of technology could benefit the dairy farmers of the region.

Dairy farm systems have intensified to meet growing demands for animal products, but public opposition to this intensification has also grown due, in part, to concerns about animal welfare. One approach to addressing challenges in agricultural systems has been through the addition of new technologies, including genetic modification. Previous studies have reported some public resistance towards the use of these technologies in agriculture, but this research has assessed public attitudes toward individual practices and technologies and few studies have examined a range of practices on dairy farms. In the present study, we presented participants with four scenarios describing dairy practices (cow-calf separation, the fate of excess dairy calves, pasture access and disbudding). Citizens from Canada and the United States (n = 650) indicated their support (on a 7-point scale) toward five approaches (maintaining standard farm practice, using a naturalistic approach, using a technological approach, or switching to plant-based or yeast-based milk production) aimed at addressing the welfare issues associated with the four dairy practices. Respondents also provided a text-based rationale for their responses and answered a series of demographic questions including age, gender, and diet. Participant diet affected attitudes toward milk alternatives, with vegetarians and vegans showing more support for the plant-based and yeast-based milk production. Regardless of diet, most participants opposed genetic modification technologies and supported more naturalistic practices. Qualitative responses provided insight into participants' values and concerns, and illustrated a variety of perceived benefits and concerns related to the options presented. Common themes included animal welfare, ethics of animal use, and opposition toward technology. We conclude that Canadian and US citizens consider multiple aspects of farm systems when contemplating animal welfare concerns, and tend to favor naturalistic approaches over technological solutions, especially when the latter are based on genetic modification., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Market participation among beef cattle farmers is key to ensuring better income, food security, and sustainable beef supply. Farmers in the traditional beef cattle sector, nevertheless, are well known for their low market participation. This study, thus, sought to examine factors that influenced market participation among beef cattle farmers in the Meatu district of Simiyu region, Tanzania. The study randomly selected a sample size of 393 farmers. The cross-sectional data collected through interviews and questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models. The descriptive analyses showed that the average age of the interviewees was 53.73 years with a family size of 13.11. On average, the respondents had about 24.14 years of farming experience. Most of the respondents (67.9%) had primary education. Among the respondents, about 61.3%, 4.6%, and 32.6% had access to market information, farm credits, and veterinary services, respectively. The average cattle herd size was 53.46 heads. About 90.1% of farmers had participated in the markets by selling an average of 5 heads each, per year. This study has revealed low volume of sales, low education levels, and poor access to credits and veterinary services as the major factors that limit market participation. Furthermore, econometric results show that the key factors that significantly influenced farmers to increase the volume of beef cattle sales in the market at P < 0.05 included price, herd size, off-farm income, distance to market, age of the farmer, and cattle fattening. Moreover, membership in cooperatives, access to market information, and farming experience also had significant influence at P < 0.05. This study recommends establishment of strategic cooperatives to function not only as a communication channel for farm credits, price, market information, and training on commercial farming, but also to assist farmers in selection of profitable markets., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Veterinarians are the main source of information for farmers regarding the responsible use of antibiotics in farm animals and how to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance. Consequently, understanding how veterinarians perceive their clients' and colleagues' antibiotic use and their own beliefs about the development of antibiotic resistance is essential to determining areas in which antibiotic use practices can be improved to minimize the emergence of antibiotic resistance. An international cross-sectional study was carried out using a questionnaire designed to elucidate perceptions, attitudes, and concerns of dairy veterinarians regarding antibiotic use and the emergence of antibiotic resistance in dairy farming. The questionnaire was initially administered to veterinarians attending the International Bovine Mastitis Conference in Milano, Italy, 2018, followed by veterinarian members of the National Mastitis Council, and all conference registrants. A total of 71 participants from 21 countries participated in the survey, the majority were from the United States and member countries of the European Union. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of veterinarians' level of concern about the development of antibiotic resistance on their clients' farms. Associations were described with odds ratios (ORs) and the associated 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs). Free text responses where participants shared their views on the reason for overprescribing antibiotics by veterinarians were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants perceived that nearly half of their clients overuse or inappropriately use antibiotics, and nearly half of their colleagues overprescribe or inappropriately prescribe antibiotics. After controlling for other factors, the odds of veterinarians being concerned about antibiotic resistance on dairy farms they served decreased by a factor of 0.91 for each additional year of participants' experience working with dairy cattle (OR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.84-0.99). Participants concerned about antibiotic resistance on clients' dairy farms were also more likely to consider better adherence to drug labelling as important for reducing farmers' antibiotic use (OR = 6.86, 95 % CI = 1.21-38.93). Thematic analysis revealed four themes surrounding the perceived reasons for veterinarians' overprescribing of antibiotics: (i) knowledge, (ii) attitudes, (iii) barriers, and (iv) rules and regulations. The study findings will aid in the development of strategies to improve antibiotic use in dairy farming and educational initiatives looking to enhance the communication between veterinarians and farmers about judicious use of antibiotics., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, a total of 112 raw milk samples were collected between October and December of 2018 from dairy farming households in Malawi and analyzed for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) using VICAM aflatest fluorometry procedure. These data together with the consumption data obtained through a milk consumption frequency questionnaire were used for the calculation of AFM 1 exposure and its association with hepatocarcinoma (HCC) risk in dairy farming population. Average daily milk intake by children and adults were approximately 300 ± 0.07 and 541.7 ± 0.14 mL, respectively. All raw milk samples tested positive to AFM 1 averaging 0.551 μg/L. Probable mean daily exposure to AFM 1 for adults was 4.98 ± 7.25 ng/kg BW/day almost half that of children (8.28 ± 11.82 ng/kg BW/day). Estimated risk of AFM 1 -induced HCC associated with consumption of milk among children and adults were 0.038 and 0.023 cases per 100,000 individuals per year, respectively. Although the results of this investigation suggest a low risk of HCC, other negative health effects of AFM 1 justify its continuous monitoring and update of the risk assessment. This work presents the first insight in the occurrence of AFM 1 in cow milk in Malawi as well as associated AFM 1 exposure in dairy farming population.

The aim of this study was to identify social and farm factors influencing the knowledge of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), factors influencing participation in FMD vaccination, and vaccination coverage. The study was conducted with 180 traditional dairy farmers who were engaged in cattle and buffalo farming located in three veterinary ranges of the Ampara district in the eastern province of Sri Lanka, during September and October 2019. The probit and tobit regression models were applied to determine the factors. On an average, the scores for knowledge of FMD and hygiene management were calculated as 54.5% and 49.2%, respectively. Farmers' knowledge of FMD was strongly associated with gender, level of education, and participation in the farmer training program (p < 0.01). The vaccination behavior was enhanced significantly by the number of animals, farming experience, knowledge of FMD score (p < 0.05), and hygiene management score (p < 0.1). It was revealed that social and farm factors contributed to the knowledge of FMD and vaccination behavior. Therefore, we recommend that the livestock educational training program will motivate better participation in the FMD control plan in Sri Lanka.

Animal's well-being, growth, and production are modulated by environmental conditions, and managemental practices and can be deleteriously affected by global warming phenomenon. In the recent years, unprecedented climatic fluctuations like sustained higher temperatures and humidity, heat waves, and solar flares have led to economic losses in $ billions to both milk and meat industry. It is estimated that by 2050, the US dairy industry alone will borne more than $1.7 billion loss. As human dependency on animal products like milk, meat, and eggs for nutrition is exponentially rising, there is urgency for maximum production. The high yielding animals are already under tremendous metabolic pressure making them more susceptible to adverse climatic conditions. When exposed to heat stress, livestock display a variety of behavioral and physiological acclimatization as essential survival strategies, but at the cost of decreased milk, meat, or egg production. Most of the studies have explored the heat stress in animals and its effect on different milk productions in a specific region or country. A clear understanding of the impact of global warming on dairy enterprise is yet to be comprehended. So this exploratory study will analyze impact of global warming on current milk production trends, economics, and future perspectives.

The decline of milk production in crossbred cattle during the onset of summer was evaluated using lactation records of the cows (n = 48) maintained at the Livestock Research Station, Thiruvazhamkunnu, for the period between January 2019 and March 2019. Climate data were obtained from an automatic weather station maintained on the campus. The temperature-humidity index (THI) was used to assess the thermal stress on animals. Values varied between 70.78 and 83.93 during the study period, indicating that the cows were exposed to mild and moderate stress. Highly significant negative correlations (p < 0.01) were observed between the average temperature, THI, and milk production. Linear, logarithmic, power, and polynomial models linking milk production and THI were used to fit the data. The coefficient of determination (R 2 ) in general exceeded 0.85 and these equations could be used to model the drop in milk production or predict production loss due to thermal stress. The rate of decline in daily milk production observed in the study was 2.13% per unit increase in THI. A general linear model that included THI, parity, and the stage of lactation as independent variables, and milk production as a response variable, was also tested. Parity and stages of lactation were observed to influence forenoon and afternoon milk production significantly (p < 0.01). The temperature-humidity index also had a significant effect on forenoon milk production (p < 0.05) and afternoon milk production (p < 0.01).

The present study aimed to compare the welfare of dairy cows kept in two traditional husbandry systems (semi-intensive and intensive farming) in south-eastern Sicily. A total of 18 dairy farms (nine semi-intensive and nine intensive) were evaluated with a multicriteria system adapted for Sicilian conditions and obtained simplifying the model of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Values of welfare measures, collected by inspections of the farms (general well-being indicators, ventilation system, resting areas [cubicles or bedding], flooring, milking parlours and waiting area, manger and watering equipment), and those of health categories (cases of abortions, hypocalcemia, displacement of abomasum, acidosis/ketosis, enteritis, hoof problems, and mastitis) obtained through the farm records, were compared using Mann-Whitney and Chi-squared tests, respectively. Data showed significant differences (p ≤ .05) about the variables related to welfare categories such as housing ventilation system, resting area, manger, and water equipment that were better in the semi-intensive system than the intensive system. No significant differences were observed about the variables related to health indicators. The results demonstrated that in Sicily the semi-intensive farm is better than the intensive to satisfy the conditions of animal welfare., (© 2021 The Authors. Animal Science Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

The use of precision technology is increasingly seen as an option to improve productivity, animal welfare, resource use efficiency, and workplace features on dairy farms. There is limited research related to longitudinal adoption patterns of precision dairy technologies and reasons for any patterns. The aim of this analysis was to investigate trends in technology adoption regarding both the amount (number of farms with a technology) and intensity (number of technologies per farm) of adoption. Surveys of parlor technology adoption were conducted on New Zealand dairy farms in 2008, 2013, and 2018, with 532, 500, and 500 respondents, respectively. Technologies were grouped into labor-saving (LS, such as automatic cluster removers) or data-capture (DC, such as in-line milk meters) categories. Trends were examined for farms that had only LS, only DC, or LS+DC technologies. Technology adoption increased over time; the likelihood of technology adoption in 2018 (and 2013 in parentheses) increased by 21 (22), 7 (68), and 378% (165) for LS, DC, and LS+DC technology groups, respectively, compared to 2008. Farms with LS+DC technologies also had a greater proportion of LS technologies compared to non-LS+DC farms, although this relationship declined over the 10-yr period. The use of a rotary versus herringbone parlor was estimated to be associated with 356 and 470% increase in the likelihood of adopting LS technologies and LS+DC, respectively, from 2008 to 2018. Regional differences in adoption were also found, with the likelihood of adopting DC and LS+DC technologies found to be 46 and 59% greater, respectively, in the South Island of New Zealand, compared to the base region of Waikato. The results highlight the importance of understanding spatial and temporal farm characteristics when considering future effect and adoption of precision dairy technologies. For example, the analysis indicates the occurrence of 2 trajectories to technology investment on farms, where larger farms are able to take advantage of technology opportunities, but smaller farms may be constrained by factors such as lack of economies of scale, limited capital to invest, and inability to retrofit technology into aging parlor infrastructure., (Copyright © 2021 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present study was conducted on Hardhenu cattle to screen genomic region of leptin gene with an objective to find the association of genotypes with fertility and production traits. The association analysis with traits under study was analysed by least squares analysis of variance by taking SNPs genotype as fixed effects in the statistical model. The genotypic frequencies with respect to targeted loci g.92450765 G > A indicated that AG (0.54) genotype was highest in Hardhenu cattle. Chi-squared tests showed that g.92450765G > A SNP meet with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p > .05).The association analysis revealed significant association of genotypes with total milk yield (TMY) and 305 days milk yield (MY) (p < .05). Service period (SP) and calving interval (CI) were also found significantly associated with genotypes (p < .05). Whereas, lactation length (LL), dry days (DD) and age at first calving (AFC) did not divulge any significant association with genotype. The AG and GG genotypes were associated with higher milk yields as compared to AA genotype, indicating that allele G was associated with superior milk performance. However, AA genotyped cattle found to be favourable with SP, CI and artificial insemination (AI) per conception compared to AG and GG genotyped cows. Chi-square analysis revealed that genetic variants of g.92450765 G > A SNP of leptin gene differ significantly with regard to reproductive disorders incidence (p < .05). The frequency of GG genotype (88.89%) in the affected animal group was very high followed by AG. The animals with GG genotype were found to be more susceptible to reproductive disorders as suggested by the higher odd ratio value (16.00) in logistic model. These observations and their differential association with the fertility and production traits can be utilized as an aid to selection for genetic improvement of antagonistic traits in dairy cows., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the associated factors of brucellosis in Colombia's preeminent dairy region declared in quarantine. A total of 656 samples were collected from cows ≥ 2-year-old from 40 herds. Samples were screened by the Rose Bengal Plate Test, and the Fluorescence Polarized Assay test and Competitive ELISA were used as confirmatory tests. A cow was classified as positive if the screening and both confirmatory tests were positive. A herd was classified as positive if at least one cow was seropositive. The factors associated to seropositivity were tested using a logistic regression model with explanatory variables regarding cattle management, zootechnical parameters, and sanitary practices. The seroprevalence at the animal level was 6.6% (43/656) and at herd level 27.5% (11/40). In the model, five variables explained the animal cases: purchase or animal transfer between owner's farms (OR = 2.79, 95% CI 1.42, 5.49), history of abortion (OR = 4.22, 95% CI 1.91, 9.33), birth of weak calves (OR = 13.77, 95% CI 2.75, 68.91), use of a bull for mating (OR = 9.69, 95% CI 2.23, 42.18), and the vaccination in adulthood (OR = 3.03, 95% CI 1.04.8.78). In the model at the herd level, two variables explained the cases: birth of weak calves (OR = 9.60, 95% CI 1.54, 59.76) and purchase or animal transfer between owner's farms (OR = 7.22, 95% CI 1.03, 50.62). These results justify the need for a quarantine declaration in the region and the implementation of epidemiological studies as a public health measures used to combat outbreak.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on fifty German dairy farms to identify risk factors for high mortality and poor growth in calves. Between 2012 and 2014, farm visits took place and a questionnaire on farm management practices was completed by in-person interview. In addition, heart girth measurements of calves around weaning were performed to estimate average daily weight gain. Furthermore, blood and faecel samples of calves were collected and a score addressing calf welfare was determined. The epidemiological associations between risk factors and high mortality and poor growth were estimated using two regression models. The factors significantly associated with high calf mortality (> 5%) were a high rate of calves with failure of passive transfer (> 25%) and the metaphylactic use of halofuginone lactate. A small amount of concentrates consumed around weaning, relocating calves more than twice until weaning and a low incidence risk of milk fever (< 5%) were found to be significantly associated with poor growth (median: 675 grams). Although the fifty farms cannot be considered as a representative sample for North-East Germany, the results indicate that the farm management has a big impact on growth and survival of dairy calves and needs to be addressed more thoroughly when raising the future dairy cow., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: We employed a combination of diagnostic tests including single cervical tuberculin test (SCT), rapid lateral-flow test (RT), TB-Feron, conventional PCR and culture to investigate the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis infections in dairy cattle under the intensive dairy production system in Egypt., Methods and Results: In total, 2710 dairy cows from 11 herds in six Governorates were tested by SCT and 444 (16·4%) were TB reactors. Only 65 cows responded to M. bovis antigen by RT and TB-Feron. A postmortem examination showed that 49 (75·4%) of slaughtered cows have visible lesions. Testing of 215 out 444 SCT reactor cows by culture and PCR using blood and milk samples revealed that M. bovis were more frequently identified in the blood (6·1-20·5%) than milk (2·3-5·6%) samples. Additionally, in this study, we investigated the prevalence and potential risk factors associated with M. bovis infection in dairy farm workers. Overall, 100 dairy farm workers were tested using QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) and 35 (35%) were positive. In all, 23 (23%) of MTC positive were M. bovis positive using PCR. Mycobacterium bovis positive cases were associated with workers who had respiratory signs and did not wash or disinfect their hands after handling cows., Conclusions: The prevalence of M. bovis in dairy cows and dairy farm workers under the intensive dairy production system in Egypt is high. It is therefore essential to disseminate effective prevention and control measures to prevent the spread of M. bovis between dairy cows and dairy workers., Significance and Impact of the Study: This study revealed that the use of RT or TB-Feron as an ancillary test of SCT reactor cows resulted in a significant reduction in the SCT false-positive slaughtered cows. A high prevalence of M. bovis infection among farm workers provides evidence of occupational risk in the intensive dairy production system in Egypt., (© 2020 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

The livestock industry is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and there is an increasing demand for the industry to reduce its carbon footprint. Several studies have shown that feed additives 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate to be effective in reducing enteric methane emissions. The objective of this study was to estimate the net mitigating effect of using 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate on total greenhouse gas emissions in California dairy industry. A life cycle assessment approach was used to conduct a cradle-to-farm gate environmental impact analysis based on dairy production system in California. Emissions associated with crop production, feed additive production, enteric methane, farm management, and manure storage were calculated and expressed as kg CO2 equivalents (CO2e) per kg of energy corrected milk. The total greenhouse gas emissions from baseline, 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate offered during lactation were 1.12, 0.993, and 1.08 kg CO2e/kg energy corrected milk, respectively. The average net reduction rates for 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate were 11.7% and 3.95%, respectively. In both cases, using the feed additives on the whole herd slightly improved overall carbon footprint reduction compared to limiting its use during lactation phase. Although both 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate had effects on decreasing the total greenhouse gas emission, the former was much more effective with no known safety issues in reducing the carbon footprint of dairy production in California., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

For a variety of reasons, dairy sector indebtedness has increased in recent years. However, it is not clear whether increased debt boosts or damages the economic performance of dairy farms. This paper provides empirical evidence by exploring the effects of farm debt measured by debt-to-asset ratio on dairy productivity and profitability, using the New Zealand DairyBase data of 2,637 dairy farms for a 10-yr period 2005 to 2014. A fixed-effects panel data model is utilized for the empirical analysis. The findings show that farm debt is significantly and negatively associated with both dairy productivity and profitability. We find that dairy productivity is positively determined by production intensification, irrigation intensity, milking frequency, cattle breeds and stocking rate, whereas dairy profitability is positively affected by milk price, business type, milking frequency, and stocking rate. Further analyses reveal that the debt ratio significantly decreases both the technical efficiency of dairy farms and return on assets; a high debt ratio increased dairy productivity between 2005 and 2009, whereas it decreased dairy productivity between 2011 and 2014; the effects of the debt ratio on dairy profitability vary over time. The analysis for a 10-yr balanced panel data (250 farms) shows that debt ratio does not significantly affect both dairy productivity and profitability, which suggests that the presence of farm-specific attributes such as farm life cycle and managerial ability of dairy farmers may also affect the debt ratio and through this farm performance., (The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. and Fass Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).)

Mastitis is one of the most costly diseases in dairy herds worldwide. Somatic cell count (SCC) is widely used as an indicator for subclinical intramammary infections (IMI) that may eventually cause mastitis in dairy herds. Differential somatic cell count (DSCC) has recently been introduced as an additional indicator for IMI. The objective of this study was to investigate the value of using DSCC as an additional indicator to select cows for testing and subsequent intervention for subclinical mastitis during the lactation. We parameterized an existing bio-economic simulation model for dairy herds to include DSCC. Then, we simulated three Danish dairy cattle herd situations with different pathogen distributions where the main pathogens were 1) Staphylococcus aureus, 2) Streptococcus agalactiae, and 3) Streptococcus uberis. In these herds, we simulated two different selection strategies for testing (bacterial culture) for subclinical IMI and various intervention strategies for test positive cases. The first selection strategy considered only SCC; cows were selected for testing if they had a low SCC measurement followed by two high SCC measurements. In the second selection strategy, cows additionally had to have a high DSCC measurement. Results showed that both selection strategies led to a similar net income and to a similar number of clinical and subclinical cases for all investigated intervention strategies. However, when using DSCC in the selection of animals, the number of treatment days and the number of cows culled in relation to IMI was reduced: The median annual number of treatment days was reduced by 25-38 days in herd 1, by 25-42 days in herd 2, and by 30-48 days in herd 3, depending on the intervention strategy. The median annual number of cows culled in relation to IMI was reduced by up to 8 cows (10 cows in herd 3) for one of the intervention strategies. Subject to limitations associated with model assumptions, these results suggest that considering DSCC when selecting cows for testing can reduce IMI related culling and the use of antibiotics without changing in-herd prevalence nor resulting in economic loss., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to identify associations between herd management practices and the incidence rate of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infections in Michigan dairy herds. Previous management risk factor studies were of antibody prevalence rather than the rate of recent infections. Milk samples were collected from cohorts of cows on 112 Michigan dairy herds and tested for BLV using an antibody capture ELISA (n = 3849 cows). Cows were subsequently followed for an average of 21 months. Cows negative for anti-BLV antibodies and still present in their respective herds were retested by the same antibody capture ELISA to estimate within-herd incidence rates. The overall crude incidence rate was 1.46 infections per 100 cow-months at risk for the 1314 retested cows in 107 herds. The average within-herd incidence rate was 2.28 infections per 100 cow-months (range: 0 to 9.76 infections per 100 cow-months). A negative binomial regression model was used to identify herd management practices associated with the within-herd incidence rate. Results of the final multivariable model identified higher herd prevalence, milking frequency, needle reuse, as well as housing post-parturient cows separately, to be associated with increased incidence rate. Utilization of sand bedding for the lactating herd was found to be associated with decreased incidence rates. Results of this study suggest potential routes of BLV transmission which should be further investigated as disease control targets in ongoing control programs., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In the dairy industry, feeding management has considerable influence on calf behavioral development, yet there is limited understanding of how aspects of diet or accommodating more varied feeding behavior may affect cognitive development in young calves. The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of provision and presentation of hay on the cognitive ability of pre-weaned dairy calves. Individually-housed Holstein heifer calves were assigned at birth to 1 of 3 treatments: pelleted starter only (n = 10), hay (chopped to 5 cm) and starter provided in separate buckets (n = 12), or hay and starter offered as a mixture (n = 11). During week 5 of age, calves were tested daily in a learning task consisting of a T-maze with a milk reward (0.2 L milk) placed in one arm. Calves were subjected to an initial learning and reversal learning stage, where the reward location was changed to the opposite arm of the maze. Calves received 5 sessions/d until they met learning criterion (moving directly to correct side in 3 consecutive sessions) for initial and reversal learning. Dietary treatment did not affect pass rate or the number of sessions required to pass the initial learning stage. During the reversal learning stage, calves provided only starter had a lower pass rate (0.038, during first 8 testing session) early during testing than calves provided hay separately (0.20; P = 0.020) and tended to have a lower pass rate than calves provided hay as a mixture (0.14; P = 0.057). Calves provided only starter also tended to require more sessions to meet the learning criterion (15.8) than both calves provided hay separately (10.8; P = 0.089) and as a mixture (11.8; P = 0.10). Calves provided hay also kicked less and spent more time sniffing or licking the testing area. The results of this experiment indicate that provision of hay may affect behavioral flexibility in dairy calves., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

There needs to be an understanding of the reasons why key stakeholders engage in disease control efforts if disease is to be successfully and sustainably controlled. It is increasingly recognised within veterinary epidemiology and policy making in animal health that these 'people factors' are important influences on the success or otherwise of animal disease control programmes. Research methodologies adopted from the social sciences offer ways to understand this important dimension through investigating the attitudes and opinions of the key actors involved. The study reported in this paper, based on qualitative interview research, investigates the views of dairy farmers and cattle veterinarians on the drivers and incentives for controlling Johne's disease in English dairy herds. Twenty semi-structured interviews involving 17 dairy farmers and seven veterinarians were conducted in two dairy-intensive regions of England. The findings demonstrate the varied influences of veterinary advice and encouragement; appreciation of the economic cost of the disease at herd level; a voluntary national control plan; and fear of a future consumer food scare as the main reasons to engage in Johne's disease control on dairy farms. The study demonstrates how a combination of a voluntary industry-led control scheme, compulsory participation through retailer and processor contractual requirements, and threats of reputational harm and market loss have strongly influenced farmer and veterinary behaviour in relation to Johne's control without statutory involvement. The findings illustrate the importance of considering the political economy and societal impact of animal disease., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the transformation of agri-food systems in developing countries, we usually see rapid changes in the dairy sector. However, good data for understanding patterns and inclusiveness of this transformation are often lacking. This is important given implications for policy design and service and technology provision towards better performing dairy sectors in these settings. Relying on a combination of unique diverse large-scale datasets and methods, we analyze transformation patterns in the dairy value chain supplying Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa. Over the last decade, we note a rapid increase in expenditures on dairy products by urban consumers, especially among the better-off. Relatedly, the number of dairy processing firms in Ethiopia tripled over the same period, supplying a significant part of these dairy products, especially pasteurized milk, to the city's residents. Upstream at the production level, we find improved access to livestock services, higher adoption of cross-bred cows, an increase in milk yields, expanding liquid milk markets, a sizable urban farm sector supplying almost one-third of all liquid milk consumed in the city, and an upscaling process with larger commercial dairy farms becoming more prevalent. However, average milk yields are still low and not all dairy farmers are included in this transformation process. Small farms with dairy animals as well as those in more remote areas benefit less from access to services and adopt less these modern practices. For these more disadvantaged farmers, stagnation in milk yields and even declines-depending on the data source used-are observed., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young cattle. Housing factors that lead to poor ventilation and stagnant air are often considered the primary reasons for high levels of endemic disease. This article reviews the literature from the past 40 years in order to determine which housing factors have been associated with respiratory disease. Penning strategy and its affect on calf respiratory health were most commonly studied. The wide variation in disease definitions and quality of reporting make drawing conclusions from the available literature extraordinarily difficult., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Culling is a major cost for dairy farms but also an essential part in managing herd productivity. This study aimed to identify the culling rates of Estonian dairy cows, identify the farmers' stated reasons and risk factors for culling. This observational study used registry data of all cows from herds with ≥20 cow-years in 2013-2015. Cow lactation-level analyses included data of 86,373 primiparous cows from 409 herds and 177,561 lactations of 109,295 multiparous cows from 410 herds. Weibull proportional hazard regression models were used to identify risk factors for culling due to slaughter or death., Results: The overall culling rate of Estonian dairy cows was 26.24 (95% CI 26.02; 26.46) per 100 cow-years. The most common reasons farmers stated for culling were feet/claw disorders (26.4%), udder disorders (22.6%), metabolic and digestive disorders (18.1%) and fertility problems (12.5%). Animal-level risk factors for culling were Holstein breed, older parity, lower milk yield breeding value, older age at first calving, longer previous calving interval, having assisted calving, stillbirth and birth of twins/triplets. Lower milk yield, somatic cell count over 200,000 cells/ml and fat/protein ratio over 1.5 at first test-milking after calving were associated with greater culling hazard during the lactation. Cows from larger herds, herds with decreasing size and higher milk yields had a higher culling probability., Conclusions: This study emphasises the need for improved management of hoof health and prevention of mastitis and metabolic diseases. It is essential to ensure easy calving and good health of cows around calving in order to lower the culling hazard.

Large quantities of antimicrobials are used in Swiss veal production. To develop strategies to reduce antimicrobial use, it is important to understand how stakeholders along the veal production chain perceive the current situation and to find the key issues that challenge them about calf health management and antimicrobial use. However, there has been insufficient research into the individual contexts of the supply chain actors, and the central themes that they perceive to enable or limit their actions remain largely unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the perceptions of the current situation of the Swiss veal production system, in terms of calf health management and antimicrobial use held by industry stakeholders, i.e. dairy farmers, veal producers, traders, slaughterhouse managers, advisors and veterinarians. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 27 respondents and analyzed using content analysis. The results show that stakeholders are aware of the current need to minimize resistance development and the related risks for public health by reducing antimicrobial use. The main reason for high antimicrobial use was nominated as the practice of purchasing calves from many different dairy farms and bringing them together in large groups at a young age, which exposes them to a variety of pathogens that their still developing immune systems are not able to cope with. To prevent and combat infectious diseases which are a frequent consequence of this practice, antimicrobial group treatments are commonly administered, which significantly raises the total amount of antimicrobials used. Group level treatments with antimicrobials were associated directly with the large-scale veal farming system, which uses excess calves from specialized dairy farms, and which the respondents perceive to cause financial pressure and mutual dependencies among participants. In addition, disunity between actors was perceived as a further challenge to find strategies for the reduction of antimicrobial use. The respondents suggested downscaling the production system so that calves can be treated individually but conceded that the current system may be very difficult to change, so also suggested various improvement measures within the existing system. The results of this study provide a basis for further research to investigate possible interventions that could considerably reduce antimicrobial use in veal production., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Understanding farmers' mindsets is important to improve antimicrobial stewardship in the dairy industry. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine farmers' knowledge, attitude, and practices with respect to lactational intramammary antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Swiss dairy herds. Based on their approach towards subclinical mastitis (SCM) and non-severe cases of clinical mastitis (CM), subgroups of farmers were identified and compared regarding their knowledge, attitude and practices towards AMU and AMR. After conducting qualitative interviews to develop a questionnaire, an online survey was sent to 1296 randomly selected Swiss dairy farmers. Information was gathered on demographic data and farmers' knowledge, attitude, and practices towards AMU and AMR. A latent class analysis was performed to identify subgroups of farmers based on management of SCM and non-severe CM cases. Based on the results of 542 completed questionnaires, poor knowledge with respect to AMU and AMR was identified, as well as discrepancies between farmers' perceptions and their actual practices. Farmers approached cows with SCM and non-severe CM similarly, indicating they perceived both mastitis states as the same disease. Intramammary antimicrobial products containing cefquinome, which is a highest priority critically important antimicrobial, were among the 3 most commonly applied intramammary antimicrobials. Five latent classes of farmers were identified based on their management towards SCM and non-severe CM. One group of farmers (18.5% of respondents) indicated that they did not treat those mastitis cases, one group only treated SCM cases (13.8% of respondents), one group only treated non-severe CM cases (28.6% of respondents) and the largest group treated both mastitis states (39.1% of respondents). The latter group was subdivided into a latent class of farmers following guidelines for AMU/AMR (25.5% of respondents) and a group of farmers that were not strictly following these guidelines (13.7% of respondents). Regional differences between farmers, according to altitude and language region, explained some of the variation in latent class membership. Latent class membership was associated with farmers' attitude to use antimicrobials as little as possible and with using antimicrobials only after performing bacteriological and susceptibility testing. This study gave detailed insight into Swiss farmers' knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding AMU and AMR and provides opportunities to improve antimicrobial stewardship in Swiss dairy herds. The identified groups of farmers, based on their management practices regarding SCM and non-severe CM, may help to design tailored intervention strategies for improving prudent AMU in the heterogeneous population of dairy farmers in Switzerland., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A survey was completed to determine water use by small-scale dairy farms in Mexicali Valley of Mexico and to associate it with dairy production parameters. Mexicali Valley surrounds the capital city of the state Baja California, Mexicali. Sixty-one smallholders were interviewed in person in this rural area of northwestern Mexico. On average, small dairy holders had more than 20 years of experience and were ~ 55 years of age; people working on their farms are especially relatives. A low percentage was literate (20%), and they belong to a local dairy association. Milk yield/cow/year does not reach 4000 kg of milk and 75% of producers do not follow a defined management program for their cattle. Hand-milking is still practiced by 27% of the producers, and there is a general lack of infrastructure to maintain milk in a refrigerated state so that there is a very high risk of zoonotic diseases. Water use efficiency (WUE) was linearly correlated (P < 0.05) with total irrigated area, but not with animal production parameters. Regression equations constructed to explain WUE exhibited low adjustment, and WUE was not associated (P > 0.05) with milk yield. Small dairy producers in Mexicali Valley are in a generally poor situation with low water use practices; however, required more government support to increase their benefits from this livestock activity.

Background: The automated collection of non-specific data from livestock, combined with techniques for data mining and time series analyses, facilitates the development of animal health syndromic surveillance (AHSyS). An example of AHSyS approach relates to the monitoring of bovine fallen stock. In order to enhance part of the machinery of a complete syndromic surveillance system, the present work developed a novel approach for modelling in near real time multiple mortality patterns at different hierarchical administrative levels. To illustrate its functionality, this system was applied to mortality data in dairy cattle collected across two Spanish regions with distinct demographical, husbandry, and climate conditions., Results: The process analyzed the patterns of weekly counts of fallen dairy cattle at different hierarchical administrative levels across two regions between Jan-2006 and Dec-2013 and predicted their respective expected counts between Jan-2014 and Jun- 2015. By comparing predicted to observed data, those counts of fallen dairy cattle that exceeded the upper limits of a conventional 95% predicted interval were identified as mortality peaks. This work proposes a dynamic system that combines hierarchical time series and autoregressive integrated moving average models (ARIMA). These ARIMA models also include trend and seasonality for describing profiles of weekly mortality and detecting aberrations at the region, province, and county levels (spatial aggregations). Software that fitted the model parameters was built using the R statistical packages., Conclusions: The work builds a novel tool to monitor fallen stock data for different geographical aggregations and can serve as a means of generating early warning signals of a health problem. This approach can be adapted to other types of animal health data that share similar hierarchical structures.

We are developing a real-time, data-integrated, data-driven, continuous decision-making engine, The Dairy Brain, by applying precision farming, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things. This is a transdisciplinary research and extension project that engages multidisciplinary scientists, dairy farmers, and industry professionals. Dairy farms have embraced large and diverse technological innovations such as sensors and robotic systems, and procured vast amounts of constant data streams, but they have not been able to integrate all this information effectively to improve whole-farm decision making. Consequently, the effects of all this new smart dairy farming are not being fully realized. It is imperative to develop a system that can collect, integrate, manage, and analyze on- and off-farm data in real time for practical and relevant actions. We are using the state-of-the-art database management system from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for High Throughput Computing to develop our Agricultural Data Hub that connects and analyzes cow and herd data on a permanent basis. This involves cleaning and normalizing the data as well as allowing data retrieval on demand. We illustrate our Dairy Brain concept with 3 practical applications: (1) nutritional grouping that provides a more accurate diet to lactating cows by automatically allocating cows to pens according to their nutritional requirements aggregating and analyzing data streams from management, feed, Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI), and milking parlor records; (2) early risk detection of clinical mastitis (CM) that identifies first-lactation cows under risk of developing CM by analyzing integrated data from genetic, management, and DHI records; and (3) predicting CM onset that recognizes cows at higher risk of contracting CM, by continuously integrating and analyzing data from management and the milking parlor. We demonstrate with these applications that it is possible to develop integrated continuous decision-support tools that could potentially reduce diet costs by $99/cow per yr and that it is possible to provide a new dimension for monitoring health events by identifying cows at higher risk of CM and by detecting 90% of CM cases a few milkings before disease onset. We are securely advancing toward our overarching goal of developing our Dairy Brain. This is an ongoing innovative project that is anticipated to transform how dairy farms operate., (Copyright © 2020 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The annual rhythms of milk and milk component yields are not well described and are important to dairy management. Recent analysis of federal milk marketing orders in the United States observed that the amplitude and time at peak (acrophase) of the rhythms of milk fat and protein concentration differ among regions, but the rhythms of milk and milk component yields are not well described. Our objective was to determine the annual rhythms of milk and milk component production from 4 US regions at the herd level and examine potential environmental factors entraining these rhythms. Monthly Dairy Herd Improvement Association records of all available herds in Pennsylvania (PA), Minnesota (MN), Texas (TX), and Florida (FL) from the years 2003 to 2016 were obtained from Dairy Records Managements Systems. Milk yield, fat and protein yield, and fat and protein concentration were fit to the linear form of the cosine function with a 12-mo period using a linear mixed effects model. Additionally, the fit of models containing either the cosine function or environmental temperature were compared using an F-test. Milk yield and fat and protein yields and concentrations fit a cosine function in all 4 states, indicating an annual rhythm. The amplitude (peak to mean) of the rhythm of milk yield varied by state and was lower in PA (1.2 kg) and MN (1.2 kg) compared with TX (3.1 kg) and FL (3.3 kg). Fat and protein yields similarly showed greater amplitudes in the southern versus northern states. The amplitudes of the rhythms of fat and protein concentration were opposite by region, with greater amplitudes occurring in MN and PA than in TX and FL. The acrophases of milk yield and milk fat and protein yields and concentrations also varied by state, but all peaked between October and March. An annual rhythm fit the data better than changes in environmental temperature for all responses in all states, except for fat and protein concentrations in FL, which exhibited lower amplitude seasonal rhythms. The yearly pattern of milk yield closely followed the fixed yearly pattern of the day to day changes in day length, whereas the rhythms of milk fat and protein concentrations followed the yearly pattern of absolute day length. Results suggest that the region of the United States in which a herd is located affects their annual rhythms of production, with a greater yearly variation in milk, fat, and protein yields occurring in the southern United States. The consistency of annual rhythms across years and herds allowed development of regression equations to adjust expectations across the year to account for the annual rhythm., (Copyright © 2020 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Housing conditions can affect health of cows by increasing exposure to biological, chemical, and physical hazards, resulting in increased disease. A report in 2014 indicated that 99% of UK dairy cows are housed during winter months and that an increasing number of farms are committing to year-round indoor-housing management systems. Current literature does not provide a clear understanding of the relationship between cow health, welfare, and production, and the housing environment. Loafing space, in this case defined as non-feed, non-lying, and non-high traffic areas of the housed environment, is considered an important component of housing for dairy cows; however, the scientific literature associated with this subject is sparse internationally. The aim of this research was to explore current housing of dairy cows across Great Britain, with specific focus on understanding the practices and variability associated with space allowance. A secondary aim was to explore farmer opinions and knowledge on the value of living space. A single researcher visited 53 randomly selected farms, from a representative sample group, once during the winter housing period 2017-18. Data collection consisted of 3 elements: collation of basic farm details, precise measurement of adult dairy cow accommodation, and a questionnaire to capture farmer opinions on space allowances. Statistical analysis was undertaken to assess variation among farms in total space, loafing space, and living space per cow. A new metric, termed "living space," was defined to describe the additional space availability for dairy cows above that deemed to be a baseline requirement. Large variability was identified between farms in total space available per cow, with a range from 5.4 to 12.7 m 2 [mean = 8.3 m 2 , median = 8.2 m 2 , interquartile range (IQR) = 1.9 m 2 ]. The mean living space was 2.5 m 2 , with a range of 0.5 m 2 to 6.4 m 2 (median = 2.4 m 2 , IQR = 1.6 to 3.2 m 2 ). Responses from a farmer questionnaire on importance of loafing space revealed that farmers felt it was essential for cow welfare, over half of farmers scoring this ≥8 on a 0 to 10 scale. Farmers were categorized into 4 latent classes based on their attitudes toward the importance of loafing space. In a linear model to predict the "living space" provided on each farm, geographical location and latent class of farmer attitude were covariates significantly associated with the amount of space provided. This study is the first worldwide to quantify variability in loafing and living spaces for dairy herds; further research is required to evaluate the extent to which variation in quantity and quality of space influences cow health, welfare, and productivity, as well as farm economics and emissions., (Copyright © 2020 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to verify the dynamics of milk production in Southern Brazil, analyzing the spatial distribution, evolution and structure of bovine milk production systems in the dairy-specialized microregions. To this end, annual data from 2000 to 2015 are drawn from the Municipal Livestock Survey, reported by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, and the Programa Nacional de Fortalecimento da Agricultura Familiar, reported by the Banco Central do Brasil. Location quotient analyses, principal component analyses and clustering analyses are applied. Results of the location quotient analysis indicate that, of the 94 microregions in Southern Brazil, 36 are specialized in milk production. Two principal components were identified (mechanized production and family production) capable of explaining 78.3% of the variation in the data. Among microregions specialized in milk production, cluster analysis identifies four groups that are differentiated by productivity levels and predominance of family versus commercial production. Furthermore, results reveal that there is substantial heterogeneity among microregions specialized in bovine milk production in Southern Brazil.