Cow, farm, and management factors during the dry period that determine the rate of clinical mastitis after calving

The purpose of the research was to investigate cow characteristics, farm facilities, and herd management strategies during the dry period to examine their joint influence on the rate of clinical mastitis after calving. Data were collected over a 2-yr period from 52 commercial dairy farms throughout England and Wales. Cows were separated for analysis into those housed for the dry period (8,710 cow-dry periods) and those at pasture (9,964 cow-dry periods). Multilevel models were used within a Bayesian framework with 2 response variables, the occurrence of a first case of clinical mastitis within the first 30 d of lactation and time to the first case of clinical mastitis during lactation. A variety of cow and herd management factors were identified as being associated with an increased rate of clinical mastitis and these were found to occur throughout the dry period. Significant cow factors were increased parity and at least one somatic cell count ���200,000 cells/mL in the 90 d before drying off. A number of management factors related to hygiene were significantly associated with an increased rate of clinical mastitis. These included measures linked to the administration of dry-cow treatments and management of the early and late dry-period accommodation and calving areas. Other farm factors associated with a reduced rate of clinical mastitis were vaccination with a leptospirosis vaccine, selection of dry-cow treatments for individual cows within a herd rather than for the herd as a whole, routine body condition scoring of cows at drying off, and a pasture rotation policy of grazing dry cows for a maximum of 2 wk before allowing the pasture to remain nongrazed for a period of 4 wk. Models demonstrated a good ability to predict the farm incidence rate of clinical mastitis in a given year, with model predictions explaining over 85% of the variability in the observed data. The research indicates that specific dry-period management strategies have an important influence on the rate of clinical mastitis during the next lactation.

Efeito da administra����o da hormona PGF2�� nos problemas p��s-parto, mais concretamente na reten����o placent��ria em bovinos leiteiros

Disserta����o de Mestrado em Engenharia Zoot��cnica/Produ����o Animal

Perception of HIV among pregnant women in the public health system in two municipalities of the state of S��o Paulo

Aim: To verify the knowledge of pregnant women on mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, the availability of HIV tests in the public health system and counseling on the disease in two cities, Birigui and Piacatu, S��o Paulo State, Brazil. Methods: This is a descriptive and exploratory research using as samples, the files of 141 pregnant women attending the Basic Health Unit. Data were collected by survey, followed by a semi-structured questionnaire with open and closedend questions. Data were analyzed on Epi Info��� 7.1.4, by the Chi-square and Exact Fisher tests. Results: From all the 141 pregnant women, 119 were interviewed and 92.4% reported to have been informed about the need of taking the HIV test during prenatal exams. However, only 5.9% were counseled and 20.2% reported to be aware of how to prevent MTCT of HIV, usually mentioning lactation suppression and prescribed medication. The association between the knowledge about how to prevent MTCT of HIV and some social, demographic and economic variables like ethnics, educational level, home location, occupation, age and parenting was not verified. Conclusions: It is necessary to advise pregnant women on the importance of taking the HIV test regardless of the examination outcome, which was not observed in the cities where the research was conducted.

Traditional part-time grazing: a more sustainable sheep milk and cheese production in the Basque Country

[EN] The concept of sustainability when referring to food production rests, in general, on 3 main aspects: 1) respect for the environment; 2) economic and social benefits for all involved in production; and 3) production of sufficient quantity of quality food at an accessible price. In this contribution we focus on the main aspects of the traditional sheep's milk and cheese production (under the Denomination of Origin Idiazabal Cheese) in the Basque Country that contribute primarily to its sustainability. It is based on the local latxa or carranzana breeds of sheep, adapted to the mountainous terrain. The sheepherder takes advantage of local resources to reduce management costs by combining indoor dry forage and concentrates with outdoor grazing throughout lactation, according to local pasture availability, and thus avoiding having to buy large amounts of feed. This system facilitates recycling of manure, fertilising pastures and forest at the same time. Use of local breeds helps maintain biodiversity of sheep breeds. Cheese is produced industrially (44.5% of the total cheese produced in 2008) from milk of many flocks, or artisanally (38.3%) by the sheepherders with the milk from their own flocks. Transforming their own milk into cheese is advantageous for the following reasons: 1) higher economic returns as compared to selling the milk to cheese factories because cheese price directly sold to consumers is more competitive than industrial cheese sold in supermarkets; 2) increases the value of women's work (over 80% of the cheese makers are women) in the community and their self-esteem; 3) it creates rural jobs and contributes to rural development; 4) we have demonstrated both with experimental and commercial flocks that part-time grazing allows the sheepherder to obtain high yields of milk, and cheese, of high nutritional and functional quality. Currently a less sustainable, intensive sheep's milk production with foreign, imported breeds kept indoors constantly is gaining favour among milk producers because of its perceived higher economic profitability.

Fatores de risco durante o per��odo seco para a ocorr��ncia de mastites ap��s o parto

Disserta����o de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterin��ria

How to Increase Milk Supply

This sheet printed in English and Spanish gives tips on increasing milk supply during breastfeeding. It includes a daily log.

Plugged ducts

This sheet printed in both English and Spanish discusses plugged or clogged ducts during breastfeeding, their prevention and treatment.

Effects of forage type and extruded linseed supplementation on methane production and milk fatty acid composition of lactating dairy cows

Replacing dietary grass silage (GS) with maize silage (MS) and dietary fat supplements may reduce milk concentration of specific saturated fatty acids (SFA) and can reduce methane production by dairy cows. The present study investigated the effect of feeding an extruded linseed supplement on milk fatty acid (FA) composition and methane production of lactating dairy cows, and whether basal forage type, in diets formulated for similar neutral detergent fiber and starch, altered the response to the extruded linseed supplement. Four mid-lactation Holstein-Friesian cows were fed diets as total mixed rations, containing either high proportions of MS or GS, both with or without extruded linseed supplement, in a 4×4 Latin square design experiment with 28-d periods. Diets contained 500 g of forage/kg of dry matter (DM) containing MS and GS in proportions (DM basis) of either 75:25 or 25:75 for high MS or high GS diets, respectively. Extruded linseed supplement (275 g/kg ether extract, DM basis) was included in treatment diets at 50 g/kg of DM. Milk yields, DM intake, milk composition, and methane production were measured at the end of each experimental period when cows were housed in respiration chambers. Whereas DM intake was higher for the MS-based diet, forage type and extruded linseed had no significant effect on milk yield, milk fat, protein, or lactose concentration, methane production, or methane per kilogram of DM intake or milk yield. Total milk fat SFA concentrations were lower with MS compared with GS-based diets (65.4 vs. 68.4 g/100 g of FA, respectively) and with extruded linseed compared with no extruded linseed (65.2 vs. 68.6 g/100 g of FA, respectively), and these effects were additive. Concentrations of total trans FA were higher with MS compared with GS-based diets (7.0 vs. 5.4 g/100 g of FA, respectively) and when extruded linseed was fed (6.8 vs. 5. 6g/100 g of FA, respectively). Total n-3 FA were higher when extruded linseed was fed compared with no extruded linseed (1.2 vs. 0.8 g/100 g of FA, respectively), whereas total n-6 polyunsaturated FA were higher when feeding MS compared with GS (2.5 vs. 2.1 g/100 g of FA, respectively). Feeding extruded linseed and MS both provided potentially beneficial decreases in SFA concentration of milk, and no significant interactions were found between extruded linseed supplementation and forage type. However, both MS and extruded linseed increased trans FA concentration in milk fat. Neither MS nor extruded linseed had significant effects on methane production or yield, but the amounts of supplemental lipid provided by extruded linseed were relatively small.

Cross-fostering reduces obesity induced by early exposure to monosodium glutamate in male rats

Maternal obesity programmes a range of metabolic disturbances for the offspring later in life. Moreover, environmental changes during the suckling period can influence offspring development. Because both periods significantly affect long-term metabolism, we aimed to study whether cross-fostering during the lactation period was sufficient to rescue a programmed obese phenotype in offspring induced by maternal obesity following monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) treatment. Obesity was induced in female Wistar rats by administering subcutaneous MSG (4 mg/g body weight) for the first 5 days of postnatal life. Control and obese female rats were mated in adulthood. The resultant pups were divided into control second generation (F2) (CTLF2), MSG-treated second generation (F2) (MSGF2), which suckled from their CTL and MSG biological dams, respectively, or CTLF2-CR, control offspring suckled by MSG dams and MSGF2-CR, MSG offspring suckled by CTL dams. At 120 days of age, fat tissue accumulation, lipid profile, hypothalamic leptin signalling, glucose tolerance, glucose-induced, and adrenergic inhibition of insulin secretion in isolated pancreatic islets were analysed. Maternal MSG-induced obesity led to an obese phenotype in male offspring, characterized by hyperinsulinaemia, hyperglycaemia, hyperleptinaemia, dyslipidaemia, and impaired leptin signalling, suggesting central leptin resistance, glucose intolerance, impaired glucose-stimulated, and adrenergic inhibition of insulin secretion. Cross-fostering normalized body weight, food intake, leptin signalling, lipid profiles, and insulinaemia, but not glucose homeostasis or insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets. Our findings suggest that alterations during the lactation period can mitigate the development of obesity and prevent the programming of adult diseases.

Ceruloplasmin is regulated by copper and lactational hormones in PMC42-LA mammary epithelial cell culture models

Ceruloplasmin (Cp) is a multicopper ferroxidase that is considered to be an important source of copper in milk for normal neonatal development. We investigated the expression, subcellular localization and secretion of Cp in PMC42-LA cell culture models representative of resting, lactating and suckled human mammary epithelia. Both secreted Cp (sCp) and plasma membrane associated glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked Cp (GPI-Cp) were expressed in PMC42-LA cells. In all three epithelial models (resting, lactating and suckled), the expression and secretion of copper-bound, ferroxidase active, Cp (holo-Cp) was dependent on media copper concentration. In low copper (bathocuproinedisulphonic acid/d-penicillamine treated models) there was greater than a 2-fold decrease in holo-Cp expression and secretion, which was mirrored by a 2-fold increase in the expression and secretion of copper-free Cp protein (apo-Cp). Cell surface biotinylation studies revealed that the state of PMC42-LA cell differentiation (functionality), and the level of extracellular copper, had no significant effect on the level of plasma membrane bound GPI-Cp. Quantitative real time PCR analyses determined that there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in Cp mRNA levels across all copper conditions investigated (0, 5, 50 μM). However, there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase (∼2-fold) in Cp mRNA in both the lactating and suckled models in comparison to the resting model. Furthermore, the Cp mRNA increase in response to PMC42-LA differentiation corresponded with more secreted Cp protein, both apo and holo forms, indicating a link between function and Cp requirement. Our results provide significant insight on the regulation of Cp expression and secretion in lactation and copper incorporation into milk.

Evolution of specific antibodies and proviral DNA in milk of small ruminants infected by small ruminant lentivirus

The diagnosis of Small Ruminant Lentivirus (SRLV) is based on clinical signs, pathological lesions and laboratory testing. No standard reference test for the diagnosis of maedi visna has been validated up to the present, and it is puzzling that tests which detect antibodies against the virus and tests which detect the proviral genome may render opposite results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence in milk throughout a lactation period of specific antibodies by ELISA and of SRLV proviral DNA by a PCR of the highly conserved pol region. A six-month study was conducted with the milk of 28 ewes and 31 goats intensively reared. The percentage of animals with antibodies against SRLV increased throughout the study period. Seroprevalence in sheep was 28% at the beginning of the study and by the end it had increased up to 52.4%. In goats, initial seroprevalence of 5.6% increased to 16%. The percentage of PCR positive ewes was stable throughout the study period. Of the positive sheep, 21.4% were PCR-positive before antibodies could be detected and most of them became PCR-negative shortly after the first detection of antibodies. This might suggest that antibodies have a neutralizing effect. In addition, an equal percentage of sheep were always PCR-negative but either became ELISA-positive or was always ELISA-positive, which might support this hypothesis. On the other hand, the PCR results in goats did not follow any pattern and oscillated between 35.3% and 55.6% depending on the month. Most goats positive by PCR failed to develop antibodies in the 6 months tested. We may conclude that the infection and the antibody response to it follow a different trend in sheep and goats.

Milk: milk of monotremes and marsupials

Lactation has evolved from an ancient reproductive strategy which appears to have been present long before the evolution of extantmammals. The ability to lactate is a feature only found among mammals and involves a facet of maternal care where mothers secretea nutrient-rich milk which is delivered to the young by the mammary gland. Evolutionary studies indicate that lactation was establishedprior to divergence of extant mammalian lineages. It also seems that lactation evolved long before gestation in utero. Secretionsof ancestral mammary glands may have had antimicrobial properties that protected either eggs or hatchlings and organiccomponents that supplemented offspring nutrition. Over the course of evolution, lactation became a highly efficient, effectiveand adaptable means of providing maternal care for neonates. The evolution of a placenta in eutherian mammals resulted inmore extensive intrauterine development of an embryo and the ability to lactate after birth became a critical part of the reproductivestrategy of mammalian species. Following development of highly nutritious milks, evolution produced diversity in milk compositionand function, quantity of milk output, length of lactation, length of intervals between nursing and contributions of lactation tooffspring nutrition.

Effet de diff��rents ratios d���acides linol��ique/��-linol��nique et de l���ent��rolactone sur les marqueurs du m��tabolisme des lipides, d���inflammation et de stress oxydatif dans un mod��le in vitro de culture de tissus h��patiques bovins

Chez la vache laiti��re �� haut rendement, la p��riode de transition entourant la parturition est g��n��ralement accompagn��e d���un d��ficit ��nerg��tique, d���un m��tabolisme des lipides perturb�� et d���une augmentation de l���inflammation et du stress oxydatif. Afin d���am��liorer la balance ��nerg��tique et de diminuer certains effets n��gatifs associ��s �� la p��riode de transition, il est fr��quent que les producteurs administrent des di��tes riches en lipides (ex. M��galac��, riche en acide palmitique) aux vaches laiti��res �� haut rendement. Par exemple, l���ajout de lipides satur��s �� la ration am��liore la balance ��nerg��tique et diminue l���accumulation des triglyc��rides dans le foie. Cependant, plusieurs troubles m��taboliques demeurent, tels que l���inflammation et le stress oxydatif, pouvant ��tre observ��s entre autres au niveau du foie. Comme alternative aux lipides satur��s, l���ajout d���acides gras polyinsatur��s (AGPIs) pourrait contribuer �� am��liorer la balance ��nerg��tique tout en diminuant certains effets n��gatifs associ��s �� la p��riode de transition. Toutefois, les AGPIs sont sujets aux ph��nom��nes de peroxydation ce qui pourrait augmenter le stress oxydatif chez l���animal. Pour limiter ces dommages oxydatifs, l���utilisation de la graine de lin enti��re, riche en acides gras om��ga-3 (n-3) et en lignans (antioxydants), en suppl��ment alimentaire appara��t comme une avenue prometteuse. Des travaux ant��rieurs rapportent qu���une suppl��mentation en diff��rents d��riv��s de la graine de lin (ex. AGPIs, lignans) module l���expression de certains g��nes impliqu��s dans la r��ponse au stress oxydatif et le m��tabolisme des lipides dans la glande mammaire de la vache laiti��re. Cependant, il n���existe aucune ��tude rapportant l���effet de divers compos��s de la graine de lin sur le m��tabolisme lipidique et certains marqueurs de stress oxydatif dans le foie de la vache laiti��re. Ce projet de recherche a ��t�� r��alis�� afin de d��terminer les effets de diff��rents ratios d���acides linol��ique (LA)/acide alpha-linol��nique (ALA) (n-6/n-3, AGPI) en pr��sence ou non d���ent��rolactone (ENL, lignan mammalien) sur (1) l���expression h��patique de g��nes li��s au m��tabolisme des lipides, au processus inflammatoire et au stress oxydatif, (2) les dommages aux lipides et aux prot��ines et (3) l���activit�� de l���enzyme superoxyde dismutase (SOD) dans le foie de la vache laiti��re en d��but de lactation. Un mod��le in vitro de culture de tissu h��patique en tranches minces a ��t�� utilis�� puisqu���il permet de pr��server les interactions cellules-matrice et entre les cellules. Les g��nes s��lectionn��s ont ��t�� choisis en se r��f��rant �� diverses ��tudes ant��rieures et incluent certains g��nes diff��rentiellement exprim��s dans le foie et la glande mammaire de la vache laiti��re en p��riode de transition. Des r��gulateurs de la transcription (ex. MLXIPL et SREBF1), de m��me que leurs g��nes cibles ont ��t�� prioris��s. Les tissus issus de biopsies h��patiques de vaches Holstein en d��but de lactation ont ��t�� mis en culture et soumis �� huit traitements compos��s de diff��rents ratios d���AGPIs n-6/n-3, d���ENL et d���une combinaison des deux. Suite �� ces traitements, les niveaux d���ARNm des g��nes s��lectionn��s ont ��t�� mesur��s par PCR quantitatif (RT-qPCR). Les dommages aux lipides ont ��t�� mesur��s par l���essai des �� thiobarbituric acid reactive substances �� (TBARS) et les dommages aux prot��ines par une analyse des prot��ines carbonyles. Finalement, un essai enzymatique a ��t�� effectu�� pour mesurer l���activit�� de la SOD, une enzyme jouant un r��le dans le syst��me de d��fense contre les radicaux libres. Les r��sultats de cette ��tude d��montrent que l���ajout d���AGPIs (LA et ALA) dans le milieu de culture augmente l���expression de certains g��nes li��s au stress oxydatif (NQO1, PRDX3, PTGS2 et SOD1) et diminue l���expression de plusieurs g��nes li��s �� l���activit�� lipog��nique (ACACA, FASN, SCD et SREBF1). L���addition d���ENL dans le milieu de culture augmente l���abondance de l���ARNm des g��nes cibles de MLXIPL, soit FASN et SCD, deux g��nes impliqu��s dans l���activit�� lipog��nique. Cette r��gulation �� la hausse sugg��re qu���une suppl��mentation en tourteau ou en farine de lin (riche an lignans) en d��but de lactation pourrait avoir des effets non d��sir��s et augmenter le risque de st��atose h��patique. Les analyses de peroxydation des lipides ont r��v��l��s une augmentation des dommages aux lipides en pr��sence des AGPIs et un retour aux valeurs du traitement contr��le lorsque l���ENL est ajout�� aux AGPIs. Une augmentation similaire est observ��e pour l���activit�� de la SOD avec l���ajout des AGPIs au milieu de culture, ainsi qu���un retour aux valeurs contr��le lorsque l���ENL est ajout�� aux AGPIs. Ces r��sultats sugg��rent qu���une suppl��mentation en graines de lin enti��res serait b��n��fique en d��but de lactation puisque les AGPIs pourraient diminuer l���activit�� lipog��nique au niveau du foie, alors que les lignans pr��sents naturellement dans l�����corce de la graine de lin, pourraient r��duire le stress oxydatif et les dommages aux lipides provoqu��s par des niveaux ��lev��s en AGPIs.

Determination of subclinical metabolic disorders in transition dairy cows

Das Gesundheitsmanagement von Milchk��hen hat in den vergangenen Jahren auf den landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben an Bedeutung gewonnen. Neben Pr��ventionsma��nahmen zur Gesunderhaltung der Tiere ist die fr��hzeitige und systematische Erkennung von Erkrankungen hierbei der Hauptbestandteil. Es zeigt sich vermehrt, dass vor allem Transitk��he verst��rkt an Stoffwechselerkrankungen in sowohl klinischer als auch subklinischer Form erkranken. Letztere stellen ein hohes Risiko dar, zum einen weil subklinische Erkrankungen oftmals nur schwer oder gar nicht erkannt werden und zum anderen, weil sie in vielen F��llen die Grundlage f��r meist schwerwiegendere Folgeerkrankungen sind. In der vorliegenden Studie wird das Thema der Fr��herkennung von subklinischen Ketosen und der subakuten Pansenazidose behandelt. Verschiedene Methoden wurden unter praktischen Versuchsbedingungen auf ihre Tauglichkeit zur Krankheitserkennung hin gepr��ft. In einer ersten Studie wurde auf einem konventionellen Milchviehbetrieb ein Ketose-Monitoring bei frischlaktierenden K��hen ab Tag 3 postpartum durchgef��hrt. Insgesamt 15 Tiere waren an einer subklinischen Ketose erkrankt, was eine Aufkommensrate von 26% in den untersuchten Tieren bedeutete. Die Blutproben von insgesamt 24 Tieren wurden auf ihren IL-6-Gehalt untersucht. Von den untersuchten Tieren waren 14 Tiere erkrankt, 10 Tiere bildeten die gesunde Kontrollgruppe. Interleukin-6 wurde bestimmt, da dem Zytokin IL-6 in anderen Studien in Bezug auf Ketosen eine Rolle zugesprochen wurde. Die erwartete Erh��hung von IL-6 bei erkrankten Tieren konnte nicht festgestellt werden; die erkrankten K��he zeigten vielmehr die niedrigsten IL-6 Werte der Studiengruppe. Insgesamt waren die IL-6 Konzentrationen auf einem niedrigen Niveau mit 27.2 pg/m l�� 10.2. Es zeigte sich, dass die IL-6 Bestimmung im Blut hinsichtlich der Erkennung von subklinischen Ketosen nur eingeschr��nkt nutzbar ist. Es konnte ausschlie��lich eine schwache negative Korrelation zwischen Beta- Hydroxybutyrat (BHBA, Goldstandard f��r den Nachweis einer Ketose) und IL-6 detektiert werden. Zus��tzlich zu den Blutanalysen wurde ebenfalls die t��gliche Wiederkauaktivit��t mit dem ���DairyCheck��� System bestimmt, welches kontinuierlich die charakteristischen Kaumuskelkontraktionen aufzeichnet und somit die Dauer des Wiederk��uens bestimmt werden kann. Es wurde gepr��ft, ob sich ketotische Tiere von nicht ketotischen Tieren hinsichtlich der t��glichen Wiederk��uzeit unterscheiden. Milchk��he mit einer Ketose kauten im Schnitt 475 min/d �� 56 wieder, nach Genesung 497 min/d �� 48. Sie befanden sich somit im Durchschnitt immer unterhalb der gesunden Kontrollgruppe, welche 521 min/d �� 76 wiederkaute. Eine Korrelation zwischen der Wiederkauzeit und dem BHBA- Gehalt im Blut war nur sehr schwach ausgepr��gt, nicht zuletzt da die Tiere generell eine hohe Variabilit��t in der Wiederkauaktivit��t zeigten. Bei einer weiteren Studie, ebenfalls auf einem Praxisbetrieb durchgef��hrt, wurde auf die Erkennung der subakuten Pansensazidose (SARA) fokussiert. Hierbei kam ein drahtloses, kommerziell verf��gbares Bolussystem zum Einsatz, welches den pH Wert kontinuierlich im Retikulorumen misst. Es macht die Erkennung einer SARA auch unter Praxisbedingungen ohne invasive Methoden wie der Punktion m��glich. Das Bolussystem wurde 24 Milchk��hen kurz vor der Abkalbung oral eingegeben, um den pH-Wert w��hrend der gesamten Transitphase messen und ��berwachen zu k��nnen. W��hrend in der Trockenstehphase nur vereinzelte SARA F��lle auftraten, erlitt ein Gro��teil der untersuchten Tiere in der Fr��hlaktation eine SARA. Auf Grundlage von pH-Werten von laktierenden Milchk��hen, wurde zus��tzlich eine Sensitivit��tsanalyse von verschieden, bereits eingesetzten Nachweismethoden durchgef��hrt, um die Tauglichkeit f��r die SARA-Diagnostik zu untersuchen. Es handelte sich hierbei zum einen um einen SARA-Nachweis unter Heranziehung von Einzelwerten, Fress- und Wiederk��uzeiten, sowie ausgew��hlten Milchinhaltsstoffen und der Milchmenge. Die Analyse ergab, dass nahezu alle Nachweismethoden im Vergleich zur Langzeitmessung nur eingeschr��nkt zur SARA-Diagnostik nutzbar sind. In einem weiteren Teil der Studie wurde eine Kotfraktionierung bei den gleichen Tieren durchgef��hrt, um damit SARA-Tiere auch mittels der Kotanalyse erkennen kann. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass zum einen die Ration einen Einfluss auf die Kotzusammensetzung hat (Trockensteherration versus Ration f��r Laktierende) zum anderen aber auch, dass eine SARA die Zusammensetzung des Kotes ver��ndert. Hierf��r wurden Kotproben ausschlie��lich von laktierenden K��hen untersucht, sodass der Einfluss der Ration ausgeschlossen werden konnte. Erh��hte Faseranteile im Kot von SARA - K��hen gaben Hinweis auf eine verminderte Verdaulichkeit. Dabei erwies sich vor allem die Hemizellulose als guter Parameter, um auf eine SARA schlie��en zu k��nnen. Die Versuchsbedingungen lie��en es ebenfalls zu, die pH-Verl��ufe der Tiere in der Fr��hlaktation zu untersuchen. Eine Clusteranalyse von pH-Werten der ersten 12 Tage postpartum zeigte, dass die untersuchten Tiere trotz gleicher Haltungs- und F��tterungsbedingungen unterschiedliche pH-Wert Verl��ufe entwickelten. So gab es eine Gruppe von Milchk��hen, die den pH-Wert stabil halten konnte, w��hrend die restlichen pH-Abf��lle in verschiedenen Verl��ufen und Intensit��ten aufzeigten. Es konnte ebenfalls aufgezeigt werden, dass Tiere innerhalb der Testherde unterschiedliche Schweregrade der SARA entwickelten. Auch in dieser Studie wurde deutlich, dass Tiere scheinbar unterschiedliche M��glichkeiten haben, auf ihre Umwelt zu reagieren, bzw. suboptimalen Bedingungen entgegenwirken zu k��nnen. Zusammengefasst wurden verschiedene Methoden zur Ketose- und SARA- Erkennung gepr��ft, von denen nur einzelne f��r die Praxis zu empfehlen sind. Die Variabilit��t der Tiere, sowohl bei der Auspr��gung der Erkrankungen als auch bei den gemessenen Parametern verdeutlicht die Notwendigkeit, diese im Herden- und Gesundheitsmanagement in Zukunft st��rker zu ber��cksichtigen.

First reproductive and productive results on ���Ribatejano pig���

The present trail aimed to study the effect of crossbreeding between Alentejano (AL) and B��saro (BI) swine breeds (���Ribatejano pig���) on some reproductive and productive traits. Nine AL gilts and sows and six BI gilts were crossed with BI and AL boars, respectively. Mating and farrowing dates, prolificacy and litter size at 28d were registered for all sows. The pregnancy length of AL sows was shorter (111��0.4d vs 113.7��0.5d; p=0.002) than the observed on BI females. The BI gilts presented higher prolificacy rate than AL on both total born (11.0��1.0 vs 6.7��0.8; P=0.004) and born alive piglets (10.0��1.0 vs 6.7��0.8; p=0.026). The mortality rate was similar in both genotypes (p=0.255) being on average 12%, therefore at 28d after farrowing the litter size remained higher in BI sows (8.5��0.8 vs 6.1��0.6; p= 0.032). A subset of each genotype (4 gilts) was supervised during farrowing and lactation (until 28d) and piglets were weighed at birth, 24h and 28d of live. Farrowing length was not significantly different (p=0.253) between genotypes, averaging 97��22 min. When compared to ALBI (AL x BI) piglets, the BIAL (BI x AL) piglets were heavier at birth (1402��46g vs 1209��36g; p=0.002). Colostrum intake of piglets per kg of birth weight on the first 24h of life was similar between genotypes (p=0.735) being 289��15g for ALBI and 281��19g for BIAL piglets. The growth rate of piglets from birth to 28d and piglet weight at 28d was not different between genotypes (p=0.161 and p=0.091) averaging 195��6g and 6761��181g, respectively. Litter weight at 28d tended (P=0.06) to be higher on ALBI litters (56.6��4.0kg) than BIAL litters (43.2��4.0kg). This results obtained within the frame of Treasure project* are, at our knowledge, the first data of these crossbred piglets and could be used in future as reference for further studies and also for farmers that may try these cross on a commercial basis.