Local and Systemic Inflammation in Finnish Dairy Cows with Digital Dermatitis.

Digital dermatitis is a disease of the digital skin and causes lameness and welfare problems in dairy cattle. This study assessed the local and systemic inflammatory responses of cows with different digital dermatitis lesions and compared macroscopical and histological findings. Cow feet ( = 104) were evaluated macroscopically and skin biopsies histologically.

Comparison of ozonated water and acidified copper sulphate in prevention of digital dermatitis in dairy cows.

Digital dermatitis (DD) is the most significant infectious hoof disorder of cattle in Europe. Hoof baths are one of the most common control methods. Copper sulphate and formalin are commonly used in hoof baths, but their use is problematic in many European countries for health, environmental and safety reasons.

Acute phase response of sole ulcer, white line disease and digital dermatitis in dairy cows.

Hoof disorders cause lameness and welfare problems for dairy cattle. Acute phase proteins, including serum amyloid A and haptoglobin, with increased rectal temperature and interleukin-6 concentrations, are markers of acute phase response. This study assessed the inflammatory response of cows with either sole ulcer, white line disease or digital dermatitis compared to healthy cows.

Effect of Farm Management Practices on Morbidity and Antibiotic Usage on Calf Rearing Farms.

Antimicrobial resistance has been recognized as one of the top health threats to human society. Abundant use of antibiotics in both humans and animals has led to ever-increasing antibiotic resistance in bacteria. In food production, decreasing morbidity in beef herds would be an effective way to reduce the use of antibiotics.

Effect of farm and animal-level factors on youngstock mortality and growth on calf rearing farms.

Both calf mortality and daily weight gain have a crucial impact on profitability of calf rearing farms. In addition, high calf mortality rates represent an animal welfare problem. Mortality rates on calf rearing farms have been reported in several studies in different countries, but scant data regarding daily weight gain of the calves are available.

Prevalence of digital dermatitis using mirror scoring in Finnish freestall dairy herds.

Digital dermatitis (DD) is a severe bacterial hoof disease found worldwide. The disease can be classified into 5 different stages, denoted as M1 to M4 and M4.1, by clinical examination.

Mycoplasma bovis infection in dairy herds-Risk factors and effect of control measures.

As Mycoplasma bovis spreads to new countries and becomes increasingly recognized as a disease with major welfare and economic effects, control measures on dairy farms are needed. To minimize the risk of infection spread to naive herds, all possible risk factors for M. bovis infection should be identified and controlled.

Field trial to evaluate the effect of an intranasal respiratory vaccine protocol on bovine respiratory disease incidence and growth in a commercial calf rearing unit.

Background: Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) continues to be great challenge in calf rearing units. The urgent need to decrease the use of antibiotics and increase animal welfare in beef production has forced us to introduce new preventive methods. Vaccinations could contribute to the solution, but the high incidence of BRD already at an early age has made it difficult to introduce suitable vaccination programs.

Acute phase response and clinical manifestation in outbreaks of interdigital phlegmon in dairy herds.

Several Finnish dairy herds have suffered from outbreaks of interdigital phlegmon (IP). In these new types of outbreaks, morbidity was high and clinical signs severe, resulting in substantial economic losses for affected farms. In our study, we visited 18 free stall dairy herds experiencing an outbreak of IP and 3 control herds without a similar outbreak.

Bacterial species associated with interdigital phlegmon outbreaks in Finnish dairy herds.

Background: Severe outbreaks of bovine interdigital phlegmon (IP) have occurred recently in several free stall dairy herds in Finland. We studied the aetiology of IP in such herds, and the association of bacterial species with the various stages of IP and herds of various morbidity of IP. Nineteen free stall dairy herds with IP outbreaks and three control herds were visited and bacteriological samples collected from cows suffering from IP (n = 106), other hoof diseases (n = 58), and control cows (n = 64).

Associations between group sizes, serum protein levels, calf morbidity and growth in dairy-beef calves in a Finnish calf rearing unit.

Efficient dairy-beef production relies on good quality of purchased calves, defined by breed, health, and growth characteristics. Several management factors, such as commingling of calves and large group size, predispose calves to diseases. Acute phase proteins are sensitive detectors of calf diseases.

Semen as a source of Mycoplasma bovis mastitis in dairy herds.

Mycoplasma bovis infections are responsible for substantial economic losses in the cattle industry, have significant welfare effects and increase antibiotic use. The pathogen is often introduced into naive herds through healthy carrier animals. In countries with a low prevalence of M.

Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections in neonatal reindeer calves: Relation to the acute phase response.

This longitudinal observational study was conducted to investigate the spontaneous effect of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections on acute phase response (APR) in reindeer calves (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Finnish Lapland. Serum (n=609) and faecal samples (n=366) were collected from 54 reindeer calves aged zero to 33days. The samples were analysed for Giardia, Cryptosporidium, acute phase proteins (APP) and γ-globulins.

Survey of interdigital phlegmon outbreaks and their risk factors in free stall dairy herds in Finland.

Background: Severe outbreaks of interdigital phlegmon (IP) associated with a high morbidity and major economic losses have occurred in Finland in the past decade. A survey was performed to indicate the current occurrence of infectious hoof diseases and to identify herd level risk factors predisposing to an outbreak of IP.

Results: Responses to a questionnaire revealed that an outbreak of IP defined as morbidity ≥5% within the 1st month of the outbreak, had occurred in 18.

Health and growth of Finnish beef calves and the relation to acute phase response.

Healthy, thriving calves are essential for beef calf production. We studied the health status and factors associated with the growth of beef calves in six cow-calf herds during the first month of the calves' lives and at weaning age (200 days). The six herds were visited three times, when calves were approximately 3 days, 16 days and 30 days of age.

The costs of interdigital phlegmon in four loose-housed Finnish dairy herds.

Background: The aim of the study was to provide detailed herd level cost information about an outbreak of interdigital phlegmon (IP), which has been an emerging problem with enlarged loose house barns in Finland in recent years. During enlargement, the farmer's financial situation is sensitive because of the large investments to the farm business and unexpected costs can risk the farm's survival.

Results: The University of Helsinki research herd and three commercial herds having outbreaks of IP in 2012 or 2013 were visited to collect detailed information about the costs and economic impact of the outbreaks.

Intestinal pathogens, diarrhoea and acute phase proteins in naturally infected dairy calves.

In this study, the association between Eimeria spp. related signs and innate immune response in dairy calves was examined. Calves (n=100) aged 15-60 days were clinically examined and faecal samples, blood samples and deep nasopharyngeal swabs obtained.

Questionnaire study and postmortem findings in backyard chicken flocks in Finland.

Background: Although modern commercial poultry production today is based on large farms and intensive husbandry, keeping backyard poultry has regained popularity in industrialized countries. However, the health status of backyard flocks is still relatively poorly documented. A questionnaire was sent to the owners of 376 backyard poultry flocks (<500 birds) in order to study health management procedures and characterize backyard poultry populations in Finland.

White-line disease and haemorrhages in hooves of Finnish dairy cattle.

The Finnish Healthy Hooves Project was set up to determine the frequency of, and risk factors for, various hoof lesions in Finnish dairy herds. Data were collected in 2003 and 2004. A large data set of >74,000 cow-level observations recorded by hoof-trimmers were merged with production data from the Finnish Agricultural Data Processing Centre Ltd.

Acute phase protein changes in calves during an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by bovine respiratory syncytial virus.

Bovine acute phase proteins (APPs), lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp) and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) were evaluated as inflammatory markers during an outbreak of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) caused by bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV). Calves (n = 10) presented mild to moderate signs of respiratory disease. Secondary bacterial infections, Pasteurella multocida and Mycoplasma dispar as major species, were detected in tracheobronchial lavage samples.

Sole ulcers in Finnish dairy cattle.

The Finnish Healthy Hooves project was set up to determine the frequency of, and risk factors for various hoof lesions in Finnish dairy herds. Data were collected in the years 2003 and 2004. A large dataset of over 74,000 cow-level observations recorded by hoof trimmers was merged with production data from the Finnish Agricultural Data Processing Centre Ltd.

Temporal changes in serum concentrations of acute phase proteins in newborn dairy calves.

Age-dependent changes in blood concentrations of four bovine acute phase proteins (APPs), serum amyloid A (SAA), lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), haptoglobin (Hp) and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP), were examined using two groups of newborn dairy calves. APP concentrations were monitored for either 3 weeks (Group A, n=13) or 2 months (Group B, n=13) after birth. Blood was collected at day 0-1 (Group A only), day 3 and then once or twice weekly until the end of the study.

Effects of Protostrongylus sp. and Pneumocystis sp. on the pulmonary tissue and the condition of mountain and brown hares from Finland.

Mountain hares (Lepus timidus) and brown hares (Lepus europaeus) shot by hunters in several game management districts in southern and central Finland during the hunting season from September to the end of February 1998-2001 were examined for Protostrongylus sp. and Pneumocystis sp. Of the mountain hares, 96.

The daily rhythms of melatonin and free fatty acids in goats under varying photoperiods and constant darkness.

The purpose of the study was to explore parallel and divergent features of the daily rhythms of melatonin and plasma free fatty acids (FFA) in goats exposed to different lighting conditions. From these features, we attempted to analyze whether the endogenous melatonin rhythm plays any role in the maintenance of the FFA rhythm. Seven Finnish landrace goats were kept under artificial lighting that simulated the annual changes of photoperiod at 60 degrees N (longest photoperiod, 18 h; shortest, 6 h).

Daily and annual variations of free fatty acid, glycerol and leptin plasma concentrations in goats (Capra hircus) under different photoperiods.

The aim of the study was to differentiate the impact of lighting conditions and feeding times on the regulation of lipid metabolism of goats under different photoperiods throughout the year. Seven Finnish landrace goats were kept under artificial lighting that simulated the annual changes of photoperiod at 60 degrees N (the longest light period 18 h, the shortest 6 h). Ambient temperature and feeding regime were kept constant.