Serum Amyloid A and Haptoglobin concentrations in calves at first event of respiratory disease were not associated with subsequent risk of respiratory disease during the preweaning period.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) causes decreased welfare and production losses and is a major reason for use of antimicrobials in dairy calves. Inflammatory markers released into the blood stream during BRD include acute phase proteins such as Serum Amyloid A (SAA) and Haptoglobin (Hp). This longitudinal observational study aimed to investigate whether the serum concentrations of SAA and Hp measured on the day of a detected mild clinical event of BRD, were associated the odds of developing recurrent BRD events requiring additional treatments in up to a 46-day follow-up period after the first event.

Comparing Occurrence of Bovine Respiratory Pathogens Detected by High-Throughput Real-Time PCR in Nasal Swabs and Non-Endoscopic Bronchoalveolar Lavage Samples from Dairy and Veal Calves.

This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the agreement between two sampling methods for the detection of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) pathogens in calves using high-throughput real-time qPCR (ht-RT-qPCR). In total, 233 paired nasal swab (NS) and non-endoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (nBAL) samples were collected from 152 calves from 12 Danish cattle herds. In 202 of the observations, the calves were examined using a standardized clinical protocol.

Performance of an automated immunoturbidimetric assay for bovine serum amyloid A.

Background: Acute phase proteins are a group of vital constituents of the innate immune system, which may also serve as circulatory biomarkers of inflammation. The major acute phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) is a reliable and sensitive biomarker in cows, allowing for rapid detection of inflammatory disease. A multispecies automated immunoturbidimetric assay (VET-SAA, Eiken) has been validated for horses, dogs, and cats, and it has been used to measure SAA concentrations in bovine samples.

A scoring system for grading corkscrew claws in dairy cattle.

Corkscrew claw (CC) in dairy cattle is increasingly reported in dairy herds. CC is a progressive deformity of the claw capsule with uncertain aetiology and pathogenesis. Genetics and specific environmental factors are suspected of contributing to the development of this irreversible condition.

Acute phase protein concentration in pharyngeal swabs from clinically healthy commercial dairy calves.

Background: Early diagnosis of disease in calves is crucial for fast recovery and prudent use of antibiotics. The serum concentration of acute phase proteins (APPs) is up- or downregulated in response to tissue injury and has been studied widely in human medicine. There is growing interest in using APPs as biomarkers for different diseases and as a tool to initiate and monitor treatment in veterinary medicine as well.

Comparison and interobserver reliability between a visual analog scale and the Wisconsin Calf Health Scoring Chart for detection of respiratory disease in dairy calves.

Respiratory disease is an ongoing challenge for calves in the dairy sector with a relatively high prevalence and impact on welfare and economics. Applying scoring protocols for detecting respiratory disease requires that they are easily implemented, consistent between observers and fast to use in daily management. This study was conducted in one Danish dairy farm from September 2020 through January 2021.

Comparison of claw horn disruption lesions in four dairy herds using two different trimming techniques: A case study.

Claw disorders are a major problem for health, welfare, and economy in dairy production. This retrospective observational study investigated the association between cow-level prevalence of claw horn disruptive lesions and two different trimming methods - the traditional Danish Method (DAM) and the White Line Atlas Method (WLAM). Trimming records from four herds in Denmark over a 4-year period were analysed.

Status of claw recordings and claw health in Danish dairy cattle from 2013 to 2017.

Since 2009, Danish claw trimmers have been able to record claw health digitally during trimming. The records are owned by the farmer and can be used locally in the herd and on a large scale by breeding organisations to improve claw health. The objective of this study was to describe data on claw recording routines and describe the prevalence of digital dermatitis (DD), interdigital hyperplasia (IH), sole ulcer (SU) and white line abscess (WLA) recorded by claw trimmers (TrimmerID) at trimming.

Changes in the soft-tissue thickness of the claw sole in Holstein heifers around calving.

Claw horn disruption lesions are a common cause of lameness in dairy cattle. It is commonly agreed that they develop due to excessive pressure from the distal phalanx on the horn-producing tissue in the sole. The distal phalanx is supported by the suspensory apparatus, a large proportion of which is made up of connective tissue.

Evaluation of Two Fecal Occult Blood Tests for Detecting Non-Perforating Abomasal Lesions in Cattle.

Non-perforating abomasal lesions occur with a high prevalence in slaughtered dairy cattle. Ante mortem diagnosis is a challenge, but the presence of occult blood in feces is suggested as a diagnostic criterion. The lower detection limit of Hemo-Fec (Med-Kjemi, Asker, Norway) and Hemoccult II SENSA (Beckman Coulter, Brea, California, USA) for fecal occult blood were estimated.

Higher odds of abortion in dairy cows hoof trimmed late in gestation.

Until now, it is unknown whether hoof trimming late in gestation is associated with increased risk of abortion in dairy cows. Using data from 1,476,013 pregnancies in Danish dairy cows, the objective of the present study was to evaluate risk factors for abortion in cows hoof trimmed during pregnancy. Odds of abortion was lower in first parity cows, lower in Jersey cows compared to other breeds, and higher in cows pregnant with twins.

Lower odds of sole ulcers in the following lactation in dairy cows that received hoof trimming around drying off.

Sole ulcers negatively affect production and animal welfare in dairy cows. Hoof trimming around drying off is frequently recommended, but has not previously been evaluated scientifically. The association between hoof trimming around drying off and the odds of sole ulcers in the following lactation was evaluated based on recordings from 621,228 hoof trimmings in Danish dairy herds.

Effect of non-perforating abomasal lesions on reproductive performance, milk yield and carcass weight at slaughter in Danish Holstein cows.

Non-perforating abomasal lesions are common in Danish Holstein cows, but the impact on production has not been studied. Our objective was to compare milk yield, carcass weight, days to first service and initiation of breeding among cows with different non- perforating abomasal lesion types and locations to cows with no such lesions. The occurrence, type and localisation of non- perforating abomasal lesions were characterised at slaughter in Danish Holstein cows, and first insemination dates (n = 592), milk yield (n = 999) and carcass information (n = 1,317) was also available.

Prevalence of abomasal lesions in Danish Holstein cows at the time of slaughter.

Abomasal lesions in cattle are challenging to diagnose because the clinical signs are often subtle and nonspecific. An increasing number of studies suggests that abomasal lesions are commonly found in cattle of all ages, but the number of recent prevalence studies in dairy cows is limited. The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of abomasal lesions in a population of Danish Holstein dairy cattle in Denmark.

Ultrasonographical examination of bovine claws through the sole horn on weight-bearing claws.

Claw horn disruptions in the bovine claw are believed to be a consequence of pressure on the sole corium from the third phalanx, which may be caused by a weakening of the suspensory apparatus in the claw. We aimed to develop an ultrasonographic method that would make it possible to measure the thickness of the soft tissue between the third phalanx and the sole horn on a weight-bearing claw. A device was developed to record the sole horn and soft tissue thickness indirectly through a polyethylene plate, and 52 feet from slaughtered cows were examined using ultrasonography, both directly and indirectly.

A clinical and histopathological comparison of the effectiveness of salicylic acid to a compound of inorganic acids for the treatment of digital dermatitis in cattle.

Bovine digital dermatitis (DD) is a painful infectious disease, causing lameness, reduced animal welfare, and production losses in dairy herds. The main factors contributing to DD are an infection with Treponema spp. and poor hygiene.

Efficacy of salicylic acid in the treatment of digital dermatitis in dairy cattle.

Digital dermatitis (DD) is one of the most important causes of lameness in dairy cattle worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of salicylic acid in the treatment of the disease. A total of 201 DD lesions from 173 cows from four commercial dairy herds were evaluated at day 0 during routine hoof trimming and were allocated into two groups, namely, a control group given chlortetracycline spray, and a treatment group given 10 g of salicylic acid powder applied topically within a bandage.

Infection dynamics of digital dermatitis in first-lactation Holstein cows in an infected herd.

Digital dermatitis (DD) refers to painful lesions primarily affecting the skin in the interdigital region of dairy cattle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of DD in 39 cows, observed at approximately 3-d intervals, for the first 6 mo of lactation. Specifically, the study aimed at evaluating different levels of DD susceptibility in cows, identifying the bacterial colonization of the interdigital skin, and exploring the relationship between clinical DD diagnosis and laboratory findings.

Bovine digital dermatitis: possible pathogenic consortium consisting of Dichelobacter nodosus and multiple Treponema species.

Bovine digital dermatitis (DD) is a multifactorial disease involving at least one or more treponemal species. Virulent phylotypes of Treponema and other infectious agents contributing to disease etiology still remain to be identified. This study addressed these questions by analyzing the prevalence and distribution of seventeen phylotypes of Treponema in DD lesions by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) applying species/phylotype-specific oligonucleotide probes.

Oligofructose overload induces lameness in cattle.

The aim was to describe the clinical orthopedic implications of oligofructose overload. A group of 8 nonpregnant dairy heifers were given an oral dose of oligofructose (17 g/kg of body weight). At predefined times during a period spanning 3 d before and 9 d after oligofructose overload, the heifers underwent a clinical examination including locomotion scoring, hoof-testing, and palpation of tarso-crural joints, as well as the collection of blood and ruminal fluid samples.

Prevalence and severity of foot lesions in Danish Holstein heifers through first lactation.

Several studies have shown that foot lesions and clinical lameness occur before first calving and develop further during the lactation period. Lameness may cause production losses, but the relationship between foot lesions, particularly in the claw horn, and lameness in heifers is unclear. The objectives of this study were to describe the development of and evaluate the relationship between lameness and foot lesions in Danish Holsteins before and after first calving.

Prevalence of foot lesions in Danish Holstein cows.

In a cross-sectional study of 6240 Danish Holstein cows in 55 herds using loose-housing systems, sole haemorrhages and heel horn erosions occurred frequently in almost all the herds. Digital dermatitis occurred in 47 of the 55 herds (85 per cent). Spearman correlation coefficients revealed relationships between lameness and sole ulcer (0.

Evidence of multiple Treponema phylotypes involved in bovine digital dermatitis as shown by 16S rRNA gene analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

The etiopathogenesis of the skin disease digital dermatitis (DD), an important cause of lameness in cattle, remains uncertain. Microscopically, the disease appears to be polymicrobial, with spirochetes as the predominant bacteria. The objective of this study was to identify the main part of the bacteria involved in DD lesions of cattle by using culture-independent molecular methods.

Conformation of hind legs and lameness in Danish Holstein heifers.

Lameness causes major financial losses and welfare problems in dairy herds. Prevention of foot lesions may suffice in the majority of lameness cases. The objectives of this longitudinal study were to describe the dynamics and associations between abnormal hind leg conformation, asymmetric claws, lameness, and foot lesions in 122 Danish Holstein heifers from an average of 41 d before first calving until dry off or culling.

The association of hoof lesions at claw trimming with test-day milk yield in Danish Holsteins.

In a cross-sectional study, performed between October 2002 and April 2003 on 55 Danish dairy herds with 6161 predominantly Holstein Friesian cows the prevalence of 9 hoof lesions was determined. All test-day yields (TDY) of kg energy corrected milk (ECM) in the lactation of diagnosis were recorded. For the purpose of including hoof lesions in a decision support model an attempt was made to aggregate the lesions into digital dermatitis (DD), other interdigital diseases (OID, infectious diseases other than DD) and hoof horn diseases (HHD, related to metabolic disorders and trauma).