Dublin down on detection: Understanding Salmonella Dublin in British Columbia through bulk tank milk surveillance.

Increased cases of Salmonella Dublin, a bacterial pathogen that primarily affects dairy cattle, have been noted in British Columbia (BC), Canada since 2015. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to 1) understand the prevalence and distribution of S. Dublin in BC dairy farms based on bulk tank milk (BTM) serology, 2) to investigate the degree of variability within percent positivity (%PP) in negative and positive farms, and 3) investigate risk factors associated with positivity.

Treatment approaches to horses with acute diarrhea admitted to referral institutions: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: This study aimed to describe and compare therapeutic approaches for horses with acute diarrhea in different geographic regions worldwide.

Methods: Clinical information was retrospectively collected from diarrheic horses presented to participating institutions between 2016 and 2020, including fluid therapy on admission, antimicrobial drugs, probiotics, anti-endotoxic medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, gastroprotectants, digital cryotherapy, and toxin-binding agents. Seasonal and geographic differences were investigated.

Fecal microbiota of diarrheic calves: Before, during, and after recovering from disease.

Background: It is unknown if gastrointestinal dysbiosis in diarrheic calves causes disease or is a consequence of the disease.

Objectives: Describe the fecal microbiota of calves before, during, and after recovering from diarrhea.

Animals: Fifteen female Holstein calves of 0 to 21 days old from a single farm.

Association between adenosine triphosphate luminometry of feeding equipment and environmental and health parameters of preweaning calves on dairy farms.

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of different environmental factors on ATP luminometry measurements of feeding equipment and to investigate associations with health of preweaning calves and the levels of ATP identified through luminometry. On 50 commercial dairy farms in Quebec, Canada, ATP luminometry measurements (in relative light units, RLU) were obtained using the direct swabbing technique with Hygiena UltraSnap swabs and a liquid rinsing technique with the same swab for automatic milk feeders (AMF), bottles, buckets, esophageal tube feeders (ET), milk replacer, nipples, and water. During this visit, environmental factors (including temperature, air draft, humidity, ammonia, and bacterial count) were collected, and a clinical examination (including respiratory score and fecal score) was performed for all preweaning calves present at the farm.

Neonatal Calf Diarrhea and Gastrointestinal Microbiota: Etiologic Agents and Microbiota Manipulation for Treatment and Prevention of Diarrhea.

Neonatal calf diarrhea is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality globally. The changes associated with the gastrointestinal microbiota in neonatal calves experiencing diarrhea and its etiology are not fully understood or completely defined in the literature. Several studies have demonstrated that the fecal microbiota of calves that experience diarrhea substantially deviates from that of healthy age-matched calves.

Barriers to recording calf health data on dairy farms in Ontario.

Establishing accurate illness and treatment rates in dairy calves is crucial, yet calf health records are often incomplete. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate barriers for dairy farmers for recording calf illnesses and treatments on dairy farms in Ontario, Canada. An online survey was completed by a convenience sample of 88 Ontario dairy farms in 2022, with 34 questions regarding farm demographics, current practices surrounding record keeping and analysis, and factors that would improve recording compliance.

Exploring the effects of transport duration on the fecal microbial communities of surplus dairy calves.

Transportation significantly affects the health and welfare of surplus dairy calves, largely due to the various stressors and pathogen exposures encountered during the process. Concurrently, an animal's microbiome is known to correlate with its health status, with stress-induced alterations in the microbiota potentially precipitating various diseases. This study aimed to compare the effects of transportation durations of 6, 12, or 16 h on the fecal microbiota in young surplus dairy calves.

Dairy producers' colostrum practices, marketing, and attitudes toward male dairy calves.

Optimal early-life care of surplus calves born on dairy farms is critical for health and welfare. This cross-sectional study aimed to describe the marketing practices of male dairy calves, differences in the colostrum management between male and female calves on dairy farms, and the relationship between discrepant colostrum practices and dairy producers' attitudes toward male calf care. United States dairy producers (n = 1,000) in the states of Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin were selected using stratified random sampling.

Survival rates and factors associated with survival and laminitis of horses with acute diarrhoea admitted to referral institutions.

Background: Clinicopathological findings and their association with the outcome and development of laminitis in horses with acute diarrhoea has not been investigated in a multicentre study across different geographic regions.

Objectives: Describe and compare clinicopathologic findings of diarrhoeic horses between different geographic regions, survival rates and factors associated with non-survival and laminitis.

Study Design: Multicentre retrospective case series.

How can better calf care be realized on dairy farms? A qualitative interview study of veterinarians and farmers.

Improving health and welfare outcomes for replacement and surplus dairy calves is important for the sustainability of the dairy industry. Dairy farmers and veterinarians hold expertise in calf management and have valuable perspectives on how to practically motivate improvements. The objective of this study was to determine strategies that could improve the care calves receive on dairy farms from the perspective of dairy farmers and their herd veterinarians.

Depletion of dexamethasone in cattle: Food safety study in dairy and beef cattle.

Dexamethasone is approved for cattle in Canada for several conditions, but no withdrawal times are currently provided on the approved labels. Recently, the list of Maximum Residues Limits for Veterinary Drugs in Foods in Canada was amended to include dexamethasone. The objectives of this study were to determine the residue depletion profile of dexamethasone after an extra-label dosage regimen in milk of healthy lactating dairy cattle (n = 18) and in edible tissues of healthy beef cattle (n = 16) and to suggest withdrawal intervals.

How benchmarking motivates colostrum management practices on dairy farms: A realistic evaluation.

This study used realistic evaluation to determine how, and in which circumstances, providing dairy farmers with benchmarked data on their calves can motivate improved colostrum management practices. Dairy farmers from British Columbia, Canada, were recruited through 2 veterinary clinics that offered benchmarking of calf data as part of their services. For approximately 8 wk, blood samples were collected from newborn calves to evaluate serum total protein concentrations as an indicator of the effectiveness of the farmer's colostrum management.

Standardization and validation of ATP luminometry as a diagnostic tool to assess the cleanliness of feeding equipment in preweaning calves.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to standardize a reliable and repeatable swabbing technique using ATP luminometry (light emission proportional to the amount of ATP with result provided in relative light units [RLU]) to describe the cleanliness of various feeding equipment used for preweaning calves in dairy farms. A total of 7 Québec commercial dairy herds were selected conveniently. Following visual hygiene scoring, the cleanliness of every available piece of feeding equipment was assessed using direct surface swabbing for buckets and nipples with Hygiena UltraSnap swabs.

Effect of time of sample collection after onset of diarrhea on fecal microbiota composition of calves.

Background: The effect of time of sample collection after onset of diarrhea on the fecal microbiota composition of calves is unknown.

Objective: Compare the fecal microbiota of calves with diarrhea onset on the day of sampling (D <24h), and calves having had diarrhea for >24 to 48 hours (D 24-48h).

Animals: Thirty-one diarrheic calves (20 D <24h and 11 D 24-48h), 3 to 7 days of age.

Serum total protein concentrations in surplus dairy calves in British Columbia.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate serum total protein (STP) concentrations in surplus calves in British Columbia and explore associated factors including calf breed, sex, hydration, month of sampling, and frequency of calf pickup.

Animal: Neonatal dairy and dairy-beef crossbred calves recently purchased from dairy farms and transported to an assembly facility.

Procedure: Calves included in this study (N = 1449) were assessed at an assembly facility from March to August 2021, and blood samples were collected to measure STP as an indicator of transfer of passive immunity (TPI).

Effect of plasma transfusion on serum amyloid A concentration in healthy neonatal foals and foals with failure of transfer of passive immunity.

Background: Anecdotal evidence suggests plasma transfusions increase serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations in healthy neonatal foals making this marker of inflammation inappropriate for therapeutic decision making in such animals.

Hypothesis/objectives: Administration of hyperimmune fresh frozen plasma (FFP) increases SAA concentration in healthy foals and in foals with failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI).

Animals: Eighty-six healthy foals.

A scoping review of neonatal calf diarrhea case definitions.

Various case descriptions and scoring systems have been used to define neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) and diverse diarrhea-related outcomes are reported, which limits direct comparison between studies. Therefore, the objective of this scoping review was to characterize the case definitions used for NCD and describe diarrhea-related outcomes to inform future efforts towards standardization. A literature search identified articles using 3 databases (Medline, CAB Direct, Agricola), along with Google and Google Scholar.

Cross-sectional study of antimicrobial use and treatment decision for preweaning Canadian dairy calves.

Antimicrobials should be used prudently in farm animals to prevent the development of resistant bacteria in both humans and animals. The objective of this study was to investigate Canadian dairy producers' practices for antimicrobial use in the treatment of disease in preweaning dairy calves. In-person questionnaires were administered to 144 dairy producers across 5 provinces in Canada between July 2019 and August 2020.