The prevalence of damaged tails in New Zealand dairy cattle.

Aims: To undertake a survey of the prevalence of tail deviations, trauma and shortening on a representative selection of New Zealand dairy farms, and to assess whether sampling based on milking order could be used instead of random sampling across the herd to estimate prevalence.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study, with 200 randomly selected farms enrolled across nine regions of New Zealand via selected veterinary practices (one/region). Veterinary clinics enrolled 20-25 farms each depending on region, with 1-2 trained technicians scoring per region.

In Vitro Assessment of Hydrolysed Collagen Fermentation Using Domestic Cat () Faecal Inocula.

The gastrointestinal microbiome has a range of roles in the host, including the production of beneficial fermentation end products such as butyrate, which are typically associated with fermentation of plant fibres. However, domestic cats are obligate carnivores and do not require carbohydrates. It has been hypothesised that in the wild, collagenous parts of prey-the so-called animal-derived fermentable substrates (ADFS) such as tendons and cartilage-may be fermented by the cat's gastrointestinal microbiome.

Development of Plant-Fungal Endophyte Associations to Suppress Phoma Stem Canker in .

Endophytic microorganisms are found within the tissues of many plants species, with some conferring several benefits to the host plant including resistance to plant diseases. In this study, two putative endophytic fungi that were previously isolated from wild seeds of , identified as and , were inoculated into cultivars of three species-, and . Both fungal endophytes were reisolated from above- and below-ground tissues of inoculated plants at four different plant-growth stages, including cotyledon, one-leaf, two-leaf, and four-leaf stages.

Voluntary Oral Ingestion of a Sedative Prior to Euthanasia with CO: Behavioural Responses of Mice.

Laboratory mice are commonly euthanised with carbon dioxide (CO); however, there is ample evidence that this gas is aversive. Previous work suggests that sedation achieved via injection with benzodiazepines prior to CO administration could reduce aversive behaviours during euthanasia. We explored the potential of using a voluntarily ingested sedative (tiletamine-zolazepam, Zoletil) prior to euthanasia.

Importance of the Farm Environment and Wildlife for Transmission of in A Pasture-Based Dairy Herd.

Cattle are an established reservoir of the foodborne bacterial pathogen . Our six-month study aimed to evaluate sources and pathways governing long-term presence of in a pasture-based dairy herd. was detected in all sample types (soil, pasture, stock drinking water, bird, rodents and cow faeces).

Validation of Brix refractometers and a hydrometer for measuring the quality of caprine colostrum.

On-farm assessment of caprine colostrum quality is important for goat farmers; the ability to quickly recognize whether colostrum is suitable to feed to kids helps achieve successful passive transfer of immunity. The study compared the use of optical and digital Brix refractometers and a hydrometer against the international gold standard radial immunodiffusion (RID), using both fresh and frozen samples. A locally available ELISA methodology was included for comparison.

A survey of antimicrobial use in dairy cows from farms in four regions of New Zealand.

Aims: To assess the use of antimicrobials in dairy cows over three seasons in a group of dairy farms within the Southland and South Otago region, and to assess antimicrobial use in one season in a group of monitored dairy farms in four regions of New Zealand.

Methods: Sales data were collated for all antimicrobials purchased by 399, 406 and 436 dairy farms in the Southland and South Otago regions for the 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, respectively, and from 108 dairy farms in the Manawatu, Taranaki, North Canterbury, and Southland and South Otago regions of New Zealand for 2014-15. Antimicrobials were categorised by class and product type (injectable, or dry cow or lactating cow intramammary).

Demonstration of non-inferiority of a novel combination intramammary antimicrobial in the treatment of clinical mastitis.

Aim: To test the non-inferiority of a novel combination intramammary product containing penicillin and cloxacillin to a reference intramammary product containing oxytetracycline, oleandomycin, neomycin and prednisolone with regard to bacteriological cure and clinical cure.

Methods: Clinical cases of mastitis were sourced from 30 spring-calving dairy farms in the Southland region of New Zealand. Affected quarters were infused three times at 24 hourly intervals with either the novel combination product containing 1 g penicillin and 200 mg cloxacillin, or a reference product containing 200 mg oxytetracycline, 100 mg oleandomycin, 100 mg neomycin and 5 mg prednisolone.