Hannu Saloniemi

Epidemiology of reproductive disorders in dairy cattle: associations among host characteristics, disease and production

Logistic regression was used to investigate the effects of host characteristics, production and 23 veterinary diagnoses on the risks of 10 reproductive disorders. For each reproductive disease in each lactation record, all prior disease events in that lactation were examined as possible risk factors. To make an equal opportunity for risk-factor diseases to be counted as present in both cases and controls, a dummy days in milk (DIM) variable was assigned to control records. The assignment was random, but in proportion to the distribution of the DIM for the cases of that disease. The data set was based on 61 124 Finnish Ayrshire cows, from milk-recorded herds, who calved during 1983. Each cow was under observation for 2 days before calving to the following calving or to removal from the herd. Twenty percent of the cows were treated by a veterinarian for reproductive disorders. Lactational incidence rates (%) were: dystocia, 1.2; prolapsed uterus, 0.2; retained placenta, 4.4; early metritis, 2.3; silent heat, 4.9; cystic ovary, 6.8; prolapsed vagina, 0.1; late metritis, 1.1; other infertility, 2.1; abortion, 0.4. The risk of silent heat and other infertility decreased and the risk of dystocia (after the first calving), retained placenta and ovarian cyst increased with increased parity. Parity did not explain the incidences of the other reproductive disorders. The cows calving during September-February (the dark season) had higher risks of early metritis, silent heat, cyst and other infertility than those calving during the light season. Higher herd milk yield in the previous lactation increased the risks of retained placenta, early metritis and late metritis; higher herd yield in the current lactation increased risks of dystocia and of ovarian cyst. The risks of retained placenta, early metritis, silent heat, ovarian cyst, other fertility and abortion also increased with increased individual-cows milk yield. Most reproductive disorders were interrelated. Six non-reproductive disorders (non-parturient paresis, udder edema, indoor and outdoor hypomagnesemia, rumen acidosis and chronic mastitis) were not risk factors for any of the reproductive disorders. Of the other non-reproductive disorders, clinical parturient paresis was a risk factor for dystocia, prolapsed uterus, retained placenta, and early metritis; clinical ketosis was associated with silent heat, cystic ovary and other infertility; disorder of the abomasum, traumatic recticuloperitonitis, acute mastitis and foot or leg injury also contribited to early metritis. No disorders were protective.

Seasonal and management effects on fertility of the sow: a descriptive study

This study was undertaken to determine management and seasonal effects on fertility in 1298 Finnish sow units over a 4-year period in 1992-1996. A multivariate analysis of the herd record data was undertaken to study the effect of various management factors on rebreeding rate. Factors found to have an effect were further subjected to time series plotting for seasonal effects. In addition, seasonal effects on the farrowing rate, age of gilts at first mating and littersize as well as the 3-week litterweight were studied. Year and month caused the most significant variation in the rebreeding rate. Moreover, geographical area, herd and way of breeding (mating vs. artificial insemination) were found to be significant determinants of rebreeding rate. Dry sows loosely housed were more likely to be rebred than sows housed in individual stalls. Sows receiving roughage feed (hay, straw) or bedding (straw) were less likely to require rebreeding. A significant seasonal fluctuation in farrowing rate was found with a nadir of 72.6% in August and a high of 80.9% in January. The average farrowing rate for the 4-year period was 77.7%. The age of gilts at first mating showed seasonal variation of 11 days (229.9 +/- 0.5 days in March and 241.4 +/- 0.5 days in November). In conclusion, this study indicates that group housing of dry sows increases the risk of rebreeding. In group housed sows, rebreeding more often occurs after an irregular oestrus-to-oestrus interval in summer-autumn whereas a not-in-pig seems to be a more common finding at late gestation in individually housed sows.

Phytoestrogen Content and Estrogenic Effect of Legume Fodder

Abstract This study is a summary of Finnish investigations of the phytoestrogen content of legume plants, red clover, white clover, alfalfa, and goats rue. In addition to the chemical analyses, biological studies were performed. Uterine weight of immature rats was used as an indicator of the estrogenic effect of the fodder used. All red clover varieties studied contained estrogenic isoflavones, especially formononetin and biochanin-A. The phytoestrogen content varied from 1.0% to 2.5% of dry matter. The biological study of white clover showed a clear estrogenic effect not visible through chemical analysis. Alfalfa contains small quantities of formononetin and biochanin-A, but 25-65 ppm coumestrol in dry matter. The estrogenic effect of alfalfa was obvious in the biological study. Goats rue did not contain any known phytoestrogens, and the biological study was completely negative.

Effects of Sand and Straw Bedding on the Lying Behavior, Cleanliness, and Hoof and Hock Injuries of Dairy Cows

This experiment compared the effects of sand and straw bedding in free stalls on resting time, cleanliness, hock injuries, and hoof health of dairy cows and tested whether cow preferences for a bedding material depended on the familiarity with the material. A total of 52 dairy cows were kept either on straw bedded concrete stalls or sand stalls for at least 21 wk. The lying behavior was observed, and hock lesions, hoof health, and cleanliness of the cows and stalls were measured. A 5-d preference test between sand and straw stalls was conducted at the end of the experiment. The total daily duration of lying was longer for cows on straw bedding than on sand bedding (straw 749 +/- 16 vs. sand 678 +/- 19 min). During the preference test, cows that had been kept on straw bedding preferred lying in straw stalls [straw 218.7 (133.4 to 239.7) vs. sand 9.0 min (2.8 to 44.8)]; however, cows that had been kept on sand showed no preference [straw 101.3 (51.7 to 205.9) vs. sand 94.3 min (54.1 to 156.1, median and interquartile range)]. Although there were no differences in the dirtiness of stalls, the cows using straw stalls were dirtier than cows using sand stalls [straw 6.04 (5.39 to 6.28) vs. sand 4.19 (3.62 to 5.16)]. At the end of experiment the severity of hock lesions was lower for cows on sand than for cows on straw [sand 0.5 (0.0 to 1.0) vs. straw 1.0 (1.0 to 2.0)]. The improvement in overall hoof health over the observation period was greater for cows kept on sand compared with cows kept on straw [sand -2.00 (-3.75 to -0.25) vs. straw 0.00 (-2.00 to 2.00)]. Straw bedding increased the time that cows spend lying, and cows preferred straw stalls to sand stalls. However, previous experience with sand reduces avoidance of sand stalls. Sand stalls were advantageous for cow cleanliness and health; hock lesions and claw diseases healed more quickly for cows using sand stalls compared with straw.

Nursing behaviour of sows during 5 weeks lactation and effects on piglet growth

Abstract The main goal of this study was to investigate the effect of sow nursing behaviour on piglet weight gain and within-litter variation (WLV) in piglet weight gain under as naturalistic conditions as possible. In order to achieve this, patterns of sow nursing behaviour and piglet weight gain were recorded during 5 weeks lactation. In addition, to be able to assess importance of sow behaviour on piglet growth more definitely, individual within-lactation repeatability of sow behaviour was also evaluated. Average piglet daily weight gain (ADG) and within-litter variation in weight gain during lactation were recorded by weighing the piglets of 21 individually penned, unrestrained Yorkshire sows on days 1, 4, 8, 15, 22 postpartum (PP) and at weaning (day 35±2). Nursing behaviour and sternal recumbency from five 24h periods (days 3, 6, 13, 20 and 30 postpartum) were described as frequency of successful nursings (SFREQ), frequency of unsuccessful nursings (USFREQ), total duration of all nursings (TOTDUR), percentage of nursings terminated by the sow (%SOW), average duration of sow-terminated nursings (SOWDUR) and percentage of observations when the sow was lying sternally (%STERN). With proceeding lactation, the only significant change in SFREQ was an increase on day 6. USFREQ increased to day 13, and then decreased towards the end of lactation. TOTDUR began decreasing after day 13, while SOWDUR decreased already after day 3. %SOW and %STERN both increased with proceeding lactation. All behavioural measures showed within-sow repeatability (first-order autoregression coefficient (AR(1))=0.39–0.73). Average piglet weight gain (ADG) was influenced positively by SFREQ ( P =0.02), while none of the other behavioural variables affected ADG. The effect of SFREQ on ADG was similar throughout lactation, the model estimated a 5.12g increase in ADG with one more successful nursing per 24h. Within-litter variation was not influenced by any of the selected variables. The results indicate that (i) nursing behaviour changes during lactation, according to a pattern suggesting an ongoing weaning process; (ii) sow behaviour is repeatable within-sow and within-lactation; (iii) a high frequency of successful nursings affects piglet growth positively also in sows that are not experimentally manipulated, and throughout the full course of lactation.

Association of bovine respiratory disease with clinical status and acute phase proteins in calves.

Abstract Eighty-four calves with respiratory disease from 18 herds in different parts of Finland were chosen for a study evaluating the capacity of different respiratory pathogens to cause changes in different acute phase protein concentrations, white blood cell (WBC) count and clinical signs. The selected acute phase proteins were fibrinogen, haptoglobin, serum amyloid-A, lipopolysaccharide binding protein and α1-acid glycoprotein. From each calf, a paired blood sample was obtained for serological studies of bovine parainfluenza virus-3, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, bovine coronavirus, bovine adenovirus-3 and bovine adenovirus-7. Tracheobronchial lavage was performed to detect bacteria and mycoplasma. Isolation of Pasteurella multocida was associated with increased concentrations of all tested acute phase proteins. For other pathogens, no significant relationships were observed. No association was present between viral or bacterial findings and WBC count.

Metabolic state of the sow, nursing behaviour and milk production

Twenty-one sows were studied to investigate if lactating sow metabolism relates to behaviour and piglet performance. Blood samples from days 7 and 21 were analysed for NEFA, urea, glucose, insulin, somatostatin and prolactin. The behaviour parameters obtained from 24-h video recordings (days 6 and 20) included: successful and unsuccessful nursing frequency, total nursing duration, percentage and average duration of nursings terminated by the sow, and percentage of observations of sow sternal recumbency. Weight loss and catabolic state of the sows increased from day 7 to day 21; NEFA and post-feeding urea were higher and pre-feeding glucose and insulin lower on day 21. NEFA correlated strongly with sow weight loss during week 1. Prolactin correlated positively with the amount of udder stimulation in week 1 and insulin positively (week 1) or negatively (week 3) with a high incidence of massage-avoiding behaviour. High sow weight loss and NEFA during week 1 were associated with low piglet mortality. High piglet growth correlated positively with sow weight loss during week 3. We conclude that (i) catabolism increases during the first 3 weeks of lactation, (ii) there is some association between sow metabolism and behaviour and (iii) the ability of a sow to turn catabolic soon after parturition decreases piglet mortality risk.

Viral and Bacterial Pathogens in Bovine Respiratory Disease in Finland

AbstractPathogens causing bovine respiratory tract disease in Finland were investigated. Eighteen cattle herds with bovine respiratory disease were included. Five diseased calves from each farm were chosen for closer examination and tracheobronchial lavage. Blood samples were taken from the calves at the time of the investigation and from 86 calves 3–4 weeks later. In addition, 6–10 blood samples from animals of different ages were collected from each herd, resulting in 169 samples. Serum samples were tested for antibodies to bovine parainfluenza virus-3 (PIV-3), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine coronavirus (BCV), bovine adenovirus-3 (BAV-3) and bovine adenovirus-7 (BAV-7). About one third of the samples were also tested for antibodies to bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) with negative results. Bacteria were cultured from lavage fluid and in vitro susceptibility to selected antimicrobials was tested. According to serological findings, PIV-3, BAV-7, BAV-3, BCV and BRSV are common pathogens in Finnish cattle with respiratory problems. A titre rise especially for BAV-7 and BAV-3, the dual growth of Mycoplasma dispar and Pasteurella multocida, were typical findings in diseased calves. Pasteurella sp. strains showed no resistance to tested antimicrobials. Mycoplasma bovis and Mannheimia haemolytica were not found.SammanfattningFörekomst av luftvägspatogener vid enzootisk pneumoni i finska nötbesättningar Studien genomfördes under åren 1998–1999 för att få grundkunskap om förekomsten av infektionsämnenassocierade med kalvarnas luftvägsinfektioner i Finland. Alla 18 besättningarna hade problem med luftvägssjukdomar. I varje besättning utvaldes 5 sjuka kalvar för noggrann undersökning och tracheobronkiell sköljning. För serologiska undersökningar av virusantikroppar togs blodprov från 86 kalvar med 3–4 veckors mellanrum. Från samma besättningar togs dessutom 6–10 serumprov från nöt i olika åldersgrupper, sammanlagt 169 prov. Serumproverna analyserades för antikroppar mot parainfluensavirus typ3 (PIV-3), bovint respiratoriskt syncytialt virus (BRSV), bovint coronavirus (BCV), bovint adenovirustyp 3 (BAV-3) och bovint adenovirus typ 7 (BAV-7). En tredjedel av proverna analyserades dessutompå antikroppar mot bovint virusdiarrevirus (BVDV) med negativt resultat. De tracheobronkiella skjölproverna undersöktes på mykoplasmer och andra bakterier. Enligt serologiska resultat tycks PIV-3, BAV-7, BAV-3, BCV och BRSV förekomma allmänt hos besättningar med luftvägssjukdomar i Finland. Serokonversion konstaterades oftast mot BAV-7 och BAV-3. I bakteriologiska undersökningar av sköljprovenisolerades bara få patogener. De mest allmänna bakterieisolaten var Mycoplasma dispar och Pasteurellamultocida tillsammans. Alla Pasteurella sp. isolat var känsliga för testade antibiotika. Mannheimia haemolytica och M. bovis kunde inte påvisas i något prov.

Cumulative Risk of Bovine Mastitis Treatments in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden

AbstractData from the national dairy cow recording systems during 1997 were used to calculate lactation-specific cumulative risk of mastitis treatments and cumulative risk of removal from the herds in Denmark, Finland Norway and Sweden. Sweden had the lowest risk of recorded mastitis treatments during 305 days of lactation and Norway had the highest risk. The incidence risk of recorded mastitis treatments during 305 days of lactation in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden was 0.177, 0.139, 0.215 and 0.127 for first parity cows and 0.228, 0.215, 0.358 and 0.204 for parities higher than three, respectively. The risk of a first parity cow being treated for mastitis was almost 3 times higher at calving in Norway than in Sweden. The period with the highest risk for mastitis treatments was from 2 days before calving until 14 days after calving and the highest risk for removal was from calving to 10 days after calving in all countries.The study clearly demonstrated differences in bovine mastitis treatment patterns among the Nordic countries. The most important findings were the differences in treatment risks during different lactations within each country, as well as differences in strategies with respect to the time during lactation mastitis was treated.SammendragKumulativ risiko for mastittbehandlinger i Danmark, Finland, Norge og Sverige. Nasjonale kukontolldata ble brukt til å kalkulere kumulativ risiko for mastittbehandlinger og kumulativ risiko for utrangering i Danmark, Finland, Norge og Sverige. Den lågeste risikoen for mastitt i løpet av 305 dager i laktasjon ble funnet i Sverige hvorrisikoen varierte fra 0,127 for kyr i første laktasjon ti 0,204 for fjerdelaktasjonskyr og eldre. Den største risikoen ble funnet i Norge med 0,215 for kyr i første laktasjon og 0,358 for fjerdelaktasjonskyr og eldre. Tilsvarende tall for Danmark og Finland var henholdsvis 0,177 og 0,139 for førstekalvs kyr og 0,228 og 0,215 for fjerdelaktasjonskyr og eldre. Risikoen for mastitt i første laktasjon var nesten 3 ganger større omkring kalving i Norge enn i Sverige. Risikoen for en mastittbehandling i Norge viste også en markert økning på kalvingsdagen sammenliknet med de andre landene i Norden. Størst risiko for mastittbehandling var i perioden fra 2 dager før kalving til 14 dager ut i laktasjonen og størst risiko for utrangering var fra kalving til 10 dager ut i laktasjonen for alle land. Undersøkelsen fant klare forskjeller i mastittmønsteret i de nordiske land. De viktigste funnene var forskjellene i behandlingsrisiko for mastitt mellom de ulike laktasjonene innenfor hvert land og forskjellene i behandlingsstrategi landene i mellom med hensyn på tidspunktet i laktasjonen risikoenfor mastittbehandling var størst.

Resting Behaviour, Growth and Diarrhoea Incidence Rate of Young Dairy Calves Housed Individually or in Groups in Warm or Cold Buildings

The influence of housing and age on the resting, growth and diarrhoea incidence rate was studied by housing male dairy calves for 7 weeks individually (INDIV) or 12 weeks in groups of four; indoors (INGROUP) or outdoors either with (OUTWARM) or without a heated shelter (OUTCOLD). The preweaning (1–7 wk) diarrhoea incidence rates were lower for INGROUP than for INDIV or OUTCOLD. The postweaning growth (8–12 wk) was higher for INGROUP than for OUTCOLD or OUTWARM. The OUTWARM and OUTCOLD calves rested less on their side than the INGROUP calves and more with the neck relaxed. Individual pens did not decrease REM-type sleep, but this decreased overall as the calves aged. In conclusion, the young dairy calves reduced their body area when they were exposed to low temperatures. No clear advantage was found in offering a heated shelter, but a cold environment could be a potential health hazard for calves.