The economic impact of purulent vaginal discharge in dairy herds within a single lactation.

The goal of this study was to calculate the cost of purulent vaginal discharge (PVD) in dairy cows. The data set included 11,051 cows from 16 dairy herds located in 4 regions of the US. Purulent vaginal discharge was characterized as a mucopurulent, purulent, or reddish-brownish vaginal discharge collected at 28 ± 7 d in milk.

Integrating uterine microbiome and metabolome to advance the understanding of the uterine environment in dairy cows with metritis.

Background: Metritis is a prevalent uterine disease that affects the welfare, fertility, and survival of dairy cows. The uterine microbiome from cows that develop metritis and those that remain healthy do not differ from calving until 2 days postpartum, after which there is a dysbiosis of the uterine microbiome characterized by a shift towards opportunistic pathogens such as Fusobacteriota and Bacteroidota. Whether these opportunistic pathogens proliferate and overtake the uterine commensals could be determined by the type of substrates present in the uterus.

Evaluating differences in milk production, reproductive performance, and survival associated with vaginal discharge characteristics and fever in postpartum dairy cows.

The objective was to assess differences in productive and reproductive performance, and survival associated with vaginal discharge characteristics and fever in postpartum dairy cows located in western and southern states of the United States. This retrospective cohort study included data from 3 experiments conducted in 9 dairies. Vaginal discharge was evaluated twice within 12 DIM and scored on a 5-point scale.

Application of behavior data to predictive exploratory models of metritis self-cure and treatment failure in dairy cows.

The objective was to evaluate the performance of exploratory models containing routinely available on-farm data, behavior data, and the combination of both to predict metritis self-cure (SC) and treatment failure (TF). Holstein cows (n = 1,061) were fitted with a collar-mounted automated-health monitoring device (AHMD) from -21 ± 3 to 60 ± 3 d relative to calving to monitor rumination time and activity. Cows were examined for diagnosis of metritis at 4 ± 1, 7 ± 1, and 9 ± 1 d in milk (DIM).

Association between prepartum body condition score and prepartum and postpartum dry matter intake and energy balance in multiparous Holstein cows.

The objectives of this retrospective observational study were to investigate the association between BCS at 21 d before calving with prepartum and postpartum DMI, energy balance (EB), and milk yield. Data from 427 multigravid cows from 11 different experiments conducted at the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) were used. Cows were classified according to their BCS at 21 d before calving as fat (BCS ≥ 4.

Sequencing and characterization of Helcococcus ovis: a comprehensive comparative genomic analysis of virulence.

Background: Helcococcus ovis (H. ovis) is an emerging bacterial pathogen that commonly causes opportunistic respiratory, mammary, and uterine infections across mammalian hosts. This study applied long- and short-read whole genome sequencing technologies to identify virulence factors in five H.

Unraveling the immune and metabolic changes associated with metritis in dairy cows.

The objective was to unravel the peripartum immune and metabolic changes associated with metritis in Holstein cows. Holstein cows (n = 128) had blood collected at -14, 0, 3, and 7 d relative to parturition (DRP). Flow cytometry was used to evaluate blood leukocyte counts, proportions, and activation.

Blood metabolomics and impacted cellular mechanisms during transition into lactation in dairy cows that develop metritis.

The objective of this study was to identify metabolites associated with metritis and use them for identification of cellular mechanisms affected during transition into lactation. Holstein cows (n = 104) had blood collected in the prepartum period (d -14 ± 6 relative to calving), at calving (d 0), and at the day of metritis diagnosis (d 7 ± 2 after calving). Cows with reddish or brownish, watery, and fetid discharge were diagnosed with metritis (n = 52).

Targeted reproductive management for lactating Holstein cows: Reducing the reliance on exogenous reproductive hormones.

Adoption of automated monitoring devices (AMD) affords the opportunity to tailor reproductive management according to the cow's needs. We hypothesized that a targeted reproductive management (TRM) would reduce the use of reproductive hormones while increasing the percentage of cows pregnant 305 d in milk (DIM). Holstein cows from 2 herds (n = 1,930) were fitted with an AMD at 251.

Flow cytometry panels for immunophenotyping dairy cattle peripheral blood leukocytes.

Many aspects of the bovine immune system remain poorly characterized, which poses an obstacle to improving dairy cow health. Herein, we describe two flow cytometry panels that included antibodies against CD8α, CD4, TCR-δ, CD172α, CD14, MHCII, CD21, CD62L, and CD11b. These panels were used to characterize the phenotype of leukocyte subpopulations from the peripheral blood of 30-day old Holstein calves and Holstein cows at 260 d of gestation and calving.

Measurement of the spatial shift of the pupil center.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of the pupil center as an anatomic landmark for excimer laser treatments.

Setting: Sekal-Microchirurgia-Rovigo Centre, Rovigo, Italy.

Methods: Pupillometry with the Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici S.