1,721,009 research outputs found
Climatic effects in Central Europe on the frequency of medical treatments of dairy cows
No full textIn the present study, the relationship between the temperature-humidity index (THI) and the incidence of medical treatments in lactating dairy cows in Lower Saxony, Germany, was investigated. Records of all veterinary-treated cases over 2 years (2003 and 2005) from eight Holstein-Friesian dairy herds raised in loose-housing systems (55 to 170 cows per herd) were evaluated. After exclusion of management-dependent and climate-independent cases, a total of 5547 treatments were analyzed. Treatments were clustered into the following groups: metabolism, fertility, udder and foot/leg. Meteorological data were compiled from the nearest weather station (average distance +/- s.d. 39 +/- 13 km). Hourly temperatures and relative humidity values were used to calculate the THI, which was divided into classes. Out of the total number of treatments, 37.4%, 32.9%, 21.6% and 8.1% belonged to metabolism, udder, fertility and foot/leg, respectively. Data were analyzed with a mixed model that included THI class, season and year as fixed effects and farm as random effect. In general, incidences were neither affected by the year (P > 0.05) and season (P > 0.05) nor by THI classes (P > 0.05). In tendency, incidences of metabolic treatments increased with increasing THI and incidences of udder treatments increased with decreasing THI. In conclusion, indications of moderate heat stress during summer months in Central Europe were found in the present study, although THI and season did not affect the different disease complexes significantly.Ministry of Lower Saxony within the KLIFF projec
Climatic effects on milk production traits and somatic cell score in lactating Holstein-Friesian cows in different housing systems
No full textThe objective of this study was to compare the effect of the temperature-humidity index (Till) on milk production traits and somatic cell score (SCS) of dairy cows raised in 4 different housing systems: (1) warm loose housing with access to grazing (WG), (2) warm loose housing without access to grazing (WI), (3) cold loose housing with access to grazing (CG), and (4) cold loose housing without access to grazing (CI). For each of the 4 housing systems, 5 farms with a herd size of 70 to 200 lactating cows in Lower Saxony, Germany, were studied. Ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded hourly in each barn to calculate Till. Milk production data included 21,546 test-day records for milk, fat, and protein yield, and SCS. These data were associated with the average Till of the 3 d preceding the respective measurement, which was divided into 6 classes (= 45 to = 50 to = 55 to = 60 to = 65). Furthermore, bulk milk samples including the fat and protein percentage, and SCS taken 4 to 6 times per month were associated with the average and maximum Till of the 3 d before sampling. Data were recotded from April 2010 to March 2011. In each of the housing systems, monthly Till values above 60, indicating heat stress, were recorded between June and September, with higher values in WI and WG. In all systems, fat-corrected milk, fat, and protein yields of the test-day records decreased in tendency from 60 65. In WI and CI, values for SCS were greater in the class Till >65 than in 60 <= Till < 65, whereas no difference between any of the Till classes was found in WG and CG. The fat and protein percentage of the bulk milk samples decreased with increasing 3-d maximum Till in all 4 systems, whereas the SCS increased with increasing 3-d average TIE In conclusion, negative effects of heat stress conditions under a temperate climate on milk production traits and SCS were found, although a housing system being superior to the other systems in altering heat stress effects was not identified
Climatic conditions in sow barns in Northern Germany
No full textWith regard to the growing concerns on global climate change, this study aimed at describing basic climatic conditions in sow barns. On 10 piglet producing farms, temperature and relative humidity were measured in the farrowing, servicing and waiting compartments from July 2011 to August 2012. Based on that, the temperature-humidity-index (THI) was calculated. High temperatures occurred on all farms and in all compartments between May and August. Temperatures above 22 degrees C, which according to different literature sources have negative effects on sows, were recorded on 245 of 428 days in the farrowing units. The mean relative humidity was 65% in the farrowing units and 71% in the waiting compartments. As expected, mean temperatures in the farrowing units were higher than in the servicing and waiting units (P < 0.05). The average temperatures in all three compartments were influenced by the outdoor temperature in a similar pattern. Up to an outdoor temperature of 10.5 to 12.5 degrees C the indoor temperatures remained constant. Beyond these thresholds, indoor temperatures increased as the outdoor temperatures rose. The high number of days with heat stress indicates, that sows in Northern Germany are already exposed to heat stress under present conditions. Appropriate building and management arrangements should be undertaken in order to reduce the number of heat stress days in the barns, which will positively effects to health, productivity and economy
Assessment of animal welfare in dairy cattle farming - Evaluation of the Welfare Quality (R) Protocol
No full textThis article deals with the evaluation of the Welfare Quality (R) Protocol for cattle, a newly developed assessment system to assess the animal welfare at farm level. In this study 20 dairy farms in Lower Saxony were evaluated by two independent assessors applying the Welfare Quality (R) Protocol. Data were analyzed regarding the validity, reliability and feasibility of the standardized evaluation system. It was demonstrated that the Welfare Quality (R) Protocol for cattle provides a good basis to identify risk factors between farms and differentiate housing systems in respect of the animal welfare. However, the level of reliability and feasibility was not satisfying for all the different indicators. By modifying single indicators and the establishment of a profound education of assessors it will be possible to successfully implement the Welfare Quality (R) concept as a standardized assessment system in Europe. However, a reduction of the substantial labour costs is required as a first step
Climatic conditions in sow barns in Northern Germany
No full textWith regard to the growing concerns on global climate change, this study aimed at describing basic climatic conditions in sow barns. On 10 piglet producing farms, temperature and relative humidity were measured in the farrowing, servicing and waiting compartments from July 2011 to August 2012. Based on that, the temperature-humidity-index (THI) was calculated. High temperatures occurred on all farms and in all compartments between May and August. Temperatures above 22 degrees C, which according to different literature sources have negative effects on sows, were recorded on 245 of 428 days in the farrowing units. The mean relative humidity was 65% in the farrowing units and 71% in the waiting compartments. As expected, mean temperatures in the farrowing units were higher than in the servicing and waiting units (P < 0.05). The average temperatures in all three compartments were influenced by the outdoor temperature in a similar pattern. Up to an outdoor temperature of 10.5 to 12.5 degrees C the indoor temperatures remained constant. Beyond these thresholds, indoor temperatures increased as the outdoor temperatures rose. The high number of days with heat stress indicates, that sows in Northern Germany are already exposed to heat stress under present conditions. Appropriate building and management arrangements should be undertaken in order to reduce the number of heat stress days in the barns, which will positively effects to health, productivity and economy
Effects of castration and weaning conducted concurrently or consecutively on behaviour, blood traits and performance in beef calves
No full textThe objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of Burdizzo castration and abrupt weaning on the behaviour, blood traits and performance of beef calves when weaning was conducted concurrently or consecutively to castration. In total, 64 male beef calves aged between 6 and 7 months were assigned to a 2 x 2 factorial design with the following treatment groups (n = 16 animals per treatment): (1) castrated and concurrently weaned in week 0 (CAS-WEA); (2) castrated in week 0 and weaned in week 4 (CAS-CON); (3) bulls weaned in week 0 (BUL-WEA); and (4) bulls weaned in week 4 (BUL-CON). The behaviour of the calves was observed for 3 days following weaning. Blood was collected weekly from weeks 0 to 5 and analysed for the acute-phase protein haptoglobin, and neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages. BW was recorded weekly from weeks 0 to 7. Animals were slaughtered at 17 months and weight, dressing percentage and carcass classifications were recorded. On day 1 after weaning, the number of vocalizations (calls/10 min) was higher in BUL-WEA (7.2) and CAS-WEA (5.4) than in calves of CAS-CON (2.8) and BUL-CON (2.9) groups (P 0.05). WEA groups showed an increased average daily gain (ADG) during weeks 0 to 3 and a reduced ADG during 4 to 7 weeks in comparison with CON animals. At slaughter, bulls were about 80 kg heavier than castrates and had a superior dressing percentage and carcass classification (P > 0.05). In conclusion, weaning had a greater effect on the number of vocalizations, standing/walking and lying behaviour and ADG compared with Burdizzo castration. In comparison with undertaking the procedures separately, concurrent castration and weaning neither affected behaviour and haematological parameters nor impaired performance. There was no evidence that the concurrent application of both treatments markedly increased the stress response compared with their application at intervals of a few weeks
Assessment of welfare indicators in dairy farms offering pasture at differing levels
No full textIn terms of animal welfare, farming systems of dairy cows are perceived positively by consumers when compared to pigs or poultry. A main reason is that the majority of consumers associate dairy farming with pasture, which in turn they relate with benefits for animal health and welfare. However, holistic scientific assessments of the effects of pasturing on animal welfare are rare. Hence, it was the aim to study the animal welfare level in 61 German loose housing dairy farms by using the measures of the Welfare Quality® protocol for dairy cattle (WQP). Data were collected twice per farm at the end of the pasture season (July to October) and approximately 6 months later at the end of the barn season (December to April). Farms were classified based on the duration cows had access to pasture per day during the pasture season: group 1 (G1)>10 h; group 2 (G2) 6 to 10 h; group 3 (G3)<6 h and group 4 (G4) without pasture access. The average herd size was 129 Holstein-Friesian or Red-Holstein cows (range 58 to 527). In addition to WQP data, performance data were gathered from routine herd data recordings. The indicators were aggregated to criteria applying the scoring system of the WQP. G4 received lower scores at the first than at the second visit for the criterion absence of hunger, while there were no differences between visits in the other groups (P=0.58 – group×farm visit effect). All pasturing groups were scored better at the end of the pasture season than G4 for the criterion comfort around resting (P<0.01). Compared with G1 for both farm visits and G2 for the end of the barn season, G4 reached inferior scores for the criterion absence of injuries, including indicators such as hairless patches, lesions, and swellings and lameness. At both assessments G2 was scored higher than the other groups for the criterion absence of diseases (P=0.04). In conclusion, pasture access had positive effects only on selected welfare indicators, however, these effects were not maintained throughout the barn season
Assessment of animal welfare in dairy cattle farming - Evaluation of the Welfare Quality (R) Protocol
No full textThis article deals with the evaluation of the Welfare Quality (R) Protocol for cattle, a newly developed assessment system to assess the animal welfare at farm level. In this study 20 dairy farms in Lower Saxony were evaluated by two independent assessors applying the Welfare Quality (R) Protocol. Data were analyzed regarding the validity, reliability and feasibility of the standardized evaluation system. It was demonstrated that the Welfare Quality (R) Protocol for cattle provides a good basis to identify risk factors between farms and differentiate housing systems in respect of the animal welfare. However, the level of reliability and feasibility was not satisfying for all the different indicators. By modifying single indicators and the establishment of a profound education of assessors it will be possible to successfully implement the Welfare Quality (R) concept as a standardized assessment system in Europe. However, a reduction of the substantial labour costs is required as a first step
- …
