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Chen Y, Steeneveld W, Nielen M, Hostens M. Prediction of persistency for day 305 of lactation at the moment of the insemination decision. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1264048. [PMID: 38033631 PMCID: PMC10687408 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1264048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
When deciding on the voluntary waiting period of an individual cow, it might be useful to have insight into the persistency for the remainder of that lactation at the moment of the insemination decision, especially for farmers who consider persistency in their reproduction management. Currently, breeding values for persistency are calculated for dairy cows but, to our knowledge, prediction models to accurately predict persistency at different moments of insemination are lacking. This study aimed to predict lactation persistency for DIM 305 at different insemination moments (DIM 50, 75, 100, and 125). Available cow and herd level data from 2005 to 2022 were collected for a total of 20,508 cows from 85 herds located in the Netherlands and Belgium. Lactation curve characteristics were estimated for every daily record using the data up to and including that day. Persistency was defined as the number of days it takes for the milk production to decrease by half during the declining stage of lactation, and calculated from the estimated lactation curve characteristic 'decay'. Four linear regression models for each of the selected insemination moment were built separately to predict decay at DIM 305 (decay-305). Independent variables included the lactation curve characteristics at the selected insemination moment, daily milk yield, age, calving season, parity group and other herd variables. The average decay-305 of primiparous cows was lower than that of multiparous cows (1.55 *10-3 vs. 2.41*10-3, equivalent to a persistency of 447 vs. 288 days, respectively). Results showed that our models had limitations in accurately predicting persistency, although predictions improved slightly at later insemination moments, with R2 values ranging between 0.27 and 0.41. It can thus be concluded that, based only on cow and herd milk production information, accurate prediction of persistency for DIM 305 is not feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyan Chen
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Mollo A, Agazzi A, Prandi A, Fusi J, De Amicis I, Probo M. Metabolic and production parameters of dairy cows with different dry period lengths and parities. Acta Vet Hung 2021; 69:354-362. [PMID: 34792484 DOI: 10.1556/004.2021.00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
To assess the effects of dry period (DP) length on metabolic, reproductive, and productive parameters, second- (SP) and third- (TP) parity cows were assigned to a traditional (9 weeks, T) or short (5 weeks, S) DP, obtaining four subgroups: second-parity cows with traditional (SPT = 8) and short (SPS = 8) DP, third-parity cows with traditional (TPT = 8) and short (TPS = 10) DP. Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were assessed from 5 weeks before to 14 weeks after parturition. IGF-I concentrations were affected by parity (P < 0.05) and by the interaction of time and DP length (P < 0.01). NEFA levels were affected only by time (P < 0.01). S DP cows showed a shorter interval between calving and ovarian cyclicity resumption (P < 0.01) and a higher milk yield (P < 0.01) and fat and protein corrected milk (P < 0.01) compared with T DP cows. Decreased milk protein content was found in the SPS group compared to the SPT (P < 0.05) and the TPS (P < 0.05) group. In conclusion, a short DP length does not affect reproductive performances, except for hastening the resumption of ovarian cyclicity. A short DP appears to increase milk production and is associated with higher IGF-I levels both in the prepartum and the postpartum period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mollo
- 1 Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Alessandro Agazzi
- 2 Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety 'Carlo Cantoni', Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- 3 Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Jasmine Fusi
- 4 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | | | - Monica Probo
- 4 Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
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Pattamanont P, Marcondes MI, Clay JS, Bach A, De Vries A. Piecewise modeling of the associations between dry period length and milk, fat, and protein yield changes in the subsequent lactation. J Dairy Sci 2020; 104:486-500. [PMID: 33189270 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Our objective was to develop predictive models of 305-d mature-equivalent milk, fat, and protein yields in the subsequent lactation as continuous functions of the number of days dry (DD) in the current lactation. In this retrospective cohort study with field data, we obtained DHIA milk recording lactation records with the last DD in 2014 or 2015. Cows included had DD from 21 to 100 d. After editing, 1,030,141 records from cows in 7,044 herds remained. Three parity groups of adjacent (current, subsequent) lactations were constructed. We conducted all analyses by parity group and yield component. We first applied control models to pre-adjust the yields in the subsequent lactation for potentially confounding effects. Control models included the covariates mature-equivalent yield, days open, somatic cell score at 180 d pregnant, daily yield at 180 d pregnant, and a herd-season random effect, all observed in the current lactation. Days dry was not included. Second, we modeled residuals from control models with smooth piecewise regression models consisting of a simple linear, quadratic, and another simple linear equation depending on DD. Yield deviations were calculated as differences from predicted mature-equivalent yield at 50 DD. For validation, predictions of yield deviations from piecewise models by DD were compared with predictions from local regression for the DHIA field records and yield deviations reported in 38 experimental and field studies found in the literature. Control models reduced the average root mean squared prediction error by approximately 21%. Yield deviations were increasingly more negative for DD shorter than 50 d, indicating lower yields in the subsequent lactation. For short DD, the decrease in 305-d mature-equivalent milk yield ranged from 43 to 53 kg per DD. For mature-equivalent fat and protein yields, decreases were between 1.28 and 1.71 kg per DD, and 1.06 and 1.50 kg per DD, respectively. Yield deviations often were marginally positive and increasing for DD >50, so that the highest yield in the subsequent lactation was predicted for 100 DD. For long DD, the 305-d mature-equivalent milk yield increased at most 4.18 kg per DD. Patterns in deviations for fat and protein yield were similar to those for milk yield deviations. Predictions from piecewise models and local regressions were very similar, which supports the chosen functional form of the piecewise models. Yield deviations from field studies in the literature typically were decreasing when DD were longer, likely because of insufficient control for confounding effects. In conclusion, piecewise models of mature-equivalent milk, fat, and protein yield deviations as continuous functions of DD fit the observed data well and may be useful for decision support on the optimal dry period length for individual cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Pattamanont
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611
| | - M I Marcondes
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611; Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Vicosa, Vicosa, Minas Gerais 36570-001, Brazil
| | - J S Clay
- Dairy Records Management Systems, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27603
| | - A Bach
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - A De Vries
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.
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Hop GE, de Prado-Taranilla AI, Isaka N, Ocak M, Bertet J, Supré K, Velthuis A, Schukken YH, Deflandre A. Efficacy of cabergoline in a double-blind randomized clinical trial on milk leakage reduction at drying-off and new intramammary infections across the dry period and postcalving. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:11670-11680. [PMID: 31521356 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-16281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The abrupt cessation of milking at dry-off may induce milk leakage, which may increase the risk of new intramammary infections (IMI). This study assessed the efficacy of 1 i.m. injection of 5.6 mg of cabergoline (Velactis, Ceva Santé Animale, Libourne, France) at drying-off on milk leakage after dry-off and new IMI across the dry period and postcalving compared with a placebo (negative control) and an intramammary antibiotic treatment (positive control) under field conditions. The study was a double-blind, randomized, 3-arm, multicenter, clinical trial performed under Good Clinical Practice conditions. Data from 900 dairy cows of various breeds from 63 farms in France, Germany, and Hungary were analyzed. Only quarters with no bacterial growth at drying-off and a cow somatic cell count ≤200,000 cells/mL were included. Quarters infected with major or minor pathogens or cows with high somatic cell count at time of inclusion were excluded. Cows that qualified for the study were visited 7 times in total before and after drying-off and after calving. Presence (yes/no) of milk leakage was recorded on the day after dry-off. A new infected quarter (new IMI) was defined as one with a major pathogen present in any one of the 2 postcalving samples. Two mixed logistic regression models were fitted to the data to evaluate the efficacy of cabergoline in the reduction of milk leakage and new IMI. One i.m. injection of cabergoline at drying-off significantly reduced the incidence of milk leakage the day after dry-off compared with both placebo and antibiotic treatment. Cabergoline-treated cows significantly reduced the risk of new IMI by major pathogens across the dry period and postcalving by 21% when compared with placebo cows (20.5 vs. 26.0%, respectively). However, when milk leakage was added to the model, the significance of cabergoline was reduced. We interpreted this to show that milk leakage is an intervening variable between treatment with cabergoline and lower risk of new IMI. The antibiotic treatment significantly decreased the odds of new IMI compared with both cabergoline and placebo. However, because several countries are currently disallowing the preventive use of antibiotics at dry-off in noninfected quarters, the dry-off facilitator cabergoline may therefore be of particular value to reduce the risk of new IMI across the dry period.
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Affiliation(s)
- G E Hop
- GD Animal Health, PO Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, the Netherlands
| | | | - N Isaka
- CEVA Santé Animale, Avenue de la Ballastière, 33500 Libourne, France
| | - M Ocak
- MD Research, An der Isar, 82049 Pullach im Isartal, Germany
| | - J Bertet
- CEVA Santé Animale, Avenue de la Ballastière, 33500 Libourne, France
| | - K Supré
- Milk Control Centre Flanders, Hagenbroeksesteenweg, B-2500 Lier, Belgium
| | - A Velthuis
- GD Animal Health, PO Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, the Netherlands
| | - Y H Schukken
- GD Animal Health, PO Box 9, 7400 AA Deventer, the Netherlands
| | - A Deflandre
- CEVA Santé Animale, Avenue de la Ballastière, 33500 Libourne, France
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Calsamiglia S, Astiz S, Baucells J, Castillejos L. A stochastic dynamic model of a dairy farm to evaluate the technical and economic performance under different scenarios. J Dairy Sci 2018; 101:7517-7530. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-12980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Effects of dry period length on milk production and energy balance in two cow breeds. Animal 2018; 12:508-514. [DOI: 10.1017/s1751731117001987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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van Hoeij RJ, Dijkstra J, Bruckmaier RM, Gross JJ, Lam TJGM, Remmelink GJ, Kemp B, van Knegsel ATM. The effect of dry period length and postpartum level of concentrate on milk production, energy balance, and plasma metabolites of dairy cows across the dry period and in early lactation. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:5863-5879. [PMID: 28457547 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-11703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Shortening or omitting the dry period (DP) improves energy balance (EB) in early lactation because of a reduction in milk yield. Lower milk yield results in lower energy demands and requires less energy intake. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of DP length and concentrate level postpartum on milk yield, feed intake, EB, and plasma metabolites between wk -4 and 7 relative to calving of cows of second parity or higher. Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n = 123) were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 DP lengths: 0-d DP (n = 81) or 30-d DP (n = 42). Prepartum, cows with a 0-d DP received a lactation ration based on grass silage and corn silage (6.4 MJ of net energy for lactation/kg of dry matter). Cows with a 30-d DP received a dry cow ration based on grass silage, corn silage, and straw (5.4 MJ of net energy for lactation/kg of dry matter). Postpartum, all cows received the same basal lactation ration as provided to lactating cows prepartum. Cows with a 0-d DP were fed a low level of concentrate up to 6.7 kg/d based on the requirement for their expected milk yield (0-d DP-L; n = 40) or the standard level of concentrate up to 8.5 kg/d (0-d DP-S; n = 41), which was equal to the concentrate level for cows with a 30-d DP (30-d DP-S; n = 42) based on requirements for their expected milk yield. Prepartum dry matter intake, concentrate intake, basal ration intake, energy intake, plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and insulin concentrations were greater and plasma free fatty acids (FFA) and glucose concentrations were lower, but EB was not different in cows with a 0-d DP compared with cows with a 30-d DP. During wk 1 to 3 postpartum, milk fat yield and plasma BHB concentration were lower and dry matter intake and concentrate intake were greater in cows with a 0-d DP compared with cows with a 30-d DP. During wk 4 to 7 postpartum, fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM), lactose content, and lactose and fat yield were lower in 0-d DP-L or 0-d DP-S cows compared with 30-d DP-S cows. Basal ration intake, EB, body weight, plasma glucose, and insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations were greater and plasma FFA and BHB concentrations were lower in 0-d DP-L and 0-d DP-S cows compared with 30-d DP-S cows. Concentrate and energy intake were lower in 0-d DP-L cows than in 0-d DP-S or 30-d DP-S cows. Milk yield and concentrations of plasma metabolites did not differ in wk 4 to 7, although EB was lower in wk 6 and 7 postpartum in 0-d DP-L cows than in 0-d DP-S cows. In conclusion, a 0-d DP reduced milk yield and improved EB and metabolic status of cows in early lactation compared with a 30-d DP. Reducing the postpartum level of concentrate of cows with a 0-d DP did not affect fat- and protein-corrected milk yield or plasma FFA and BHB concentrations in early lactation but did reduce EB in wk 6 and 7 postpartum.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J van Hoeij
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - J Dijkstra
- Animal Nutrition Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - R M Bruckmaier
- Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | - J J Gross
- Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, CH-3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | - T J G M Lam
- Department of Farm Animal Health, Utrecht University, PO Box 80151, 3508 TD, Utrecht, the Netherlands; GD Animal Health, PO Box 9, 7400 AA, Deventer, the Netherlands
| | - G J Remmelink
- Livestock Research, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - B Kemp
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - A T M van Knegsel
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Kok A, van Knegsel A, van Middelaar C, Engel B, Hogeveen H, Kemp B, de Boer I. Effect of dry period length on milk yield over multiple lactations. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:739-749. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-10963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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van Hoeij RJ, Lam TJGM, de Koning DB, Steeneveld W, Kemp B, van Knegsel ATM. Cow characteristics and their association with udder health after different dry period lengths. J Dairy Sci 2016; 99:8330-8340. [PMID: 27423942 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-10901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Shortening or omitting the dry period (DP) in dairy cows is of interest because of potential beneficial effects on energy balance and metabolic health. Reported effects of a short or omitted dry period on udder health are ambiguous. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of no DP (0d), a short DP (30d), or a conventional DP (60 d) on the occurrence of intramammary infections (IMI) during the precalving period and on somatic cell counts (SCC), elevations of SCC (SCC≥200,000 cells/mL), and clinical mastitis in the subsequent lactation. The study also aimed to analyze which prepartum cow characteristics are associated with udder health after different DP lengths. Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n=167) were randomly assigned to a DP length (0, 30, or 60 d). Cows with a 0-d DP had a greater occurrence of chronic IMI and a lower occurrence of cured IMI during the precalving period than cows with a 30-d or 60-d DP. Postpartum average SCC for lactation was greater in cows with a 0-d DP than in cows with a 30-d or 60-d DP. The number of cows with at least 1 elevation of SCC, the number of elevations of SCC per affected cow, the number of cows treated for clinical mastitis, and the number of cases of mastitis per affected cow did not differ among DP lengths. Cow characteristics related to postpartum average SCC for lactation were DP length, parity, and the following interactions: DP length with prepartum elevation of SCC, DP length with fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) reduction between 150 and 67d prepartum, DP length with parity and with average SCC for lactation, and last FPCM before the conventional drying-off day with average SCC for lactation. Cows with prepartum parity 1 had a lower occurrence of at least 1 elevation of SCC in subsequent lactation compared with cows with parity >2. Last SCC before the conventional drying-off day was positively associated with occurrence of clinical mastitis in the subsequent lactation. In this study, DP length was not a risk factor for either elevation of SCC or occurrence of clinical mastitis in the subsequent lactation. The identified cow characteristics could be used in a decision support model to optimize DP length for individual cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J van Hoeij
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - T J G M Lam
- Department Farm Animal Health, Utrecht University, PO Box 80151, 3508 TD, Utrecht, the Netherlands; GD Animal Health, PO Box 9, 7400 AA, Deventer, the Netherlands
| | - D B de Koning
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - W Steeneveld
- Chair group Business Economics, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - B Kemp
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - A T M van Knegsel
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Kok A, van Middelaar C, Engel B, van Knegsel A, Hogeveen H, Kemp B, de Boer I. Effective lactation yield: A measure to compare milk yield between cows with different dry period lengths. J Dairy Sci 2016; 99:2956-2966. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2015-10559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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