bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilizing ropes to good effect in practice settings
Authors: Sterner Keith
Published: May 2024

Ropes are an essential tool in any bovine veterinary practice setting. And the knowledge as well as the ability to use them effectively can greatly contribute to both the safety and care of the practitioner, their assistants and their patients. Just like practice vehicles, we all have preferences for the brand and type(s) of ropes we use and carry.
FLASC – Fast Localized Abdominal Scan in Cattle
Authors: Willis Lisa
Published: May 2024

Rapid ultrasound examination has been used in human emer­gency medicine and adapted to small animal (FAST) and equine medicine (FLASH) for assessment of trauma or colic. Fast Lo­calized Abdominal Scan in Cattle (FLASC) is a focused assess­ment using the ultrasound that I have adapted to assist with all of my examinations when I do not have a clear idea what is causing clinical signs. This exam is tailored toward the most common things I find in beef cattle, but can be useful with all classes of cattle to assist in diagnosis.
It’s all in your head: Goat disbudding for newbies
Authors: Buckley Michelle
Published: May 2024

Horns are one of the few defense mechanisms that goats are equipped with and they can be useful for animal restraint. However, keeping livestock with horns can present safety con­cerns to producers, animals and infrastructure. Horns can be­come caught in fencing resulting in animal distress. They can also be used to cause harm to other livestock and humans or may be used to damage feeders, buildings or fences. Some pro­ducers may wish to mitigate these challenges by removing the horns or preventing them from growing at all. Veterinarians play an integral role in ensuring that this procedure is accom­plished as efficiently as possible and that appropriate analgesia is utilized. Disbudding and dehorning of sheep is not recom­mended at any age unless the immediate health and welfare of the animal is at stake (i.e. horn trauma).
How to take the edge off: Anesthetics for bovine practice
Authors: Kleinhenz Michael
Published: May 2024

Providing anesthesia and/or sedation to bovine patients im­proves animal welfare and makes the procedure better for all involved. Although there are no FDA-approved anesthetic drugs, they can be used under AMDUCA. The use of drug com­binations may improve the sedation and analgesia achieved. Additionally, the use of caudal epidural anesthesia is an easy-to-deploy tactic in the field.
Recognizing mental health challenges in practice and what to do next
Authors: Tanguay Josh
Published: May 2024

Over the past approximate 5 years, the concept of one’s mental health has become more germane and present than ever in the veterinary field. It is difficult to go to a conference and not find some kind of mental health resource or presentation. Academic research has supported the need of organizations to focus on the mental health of their veterinarians. The most recent Mer­ck Wellbeing study (2022) indicates that veterinarians are most concerned with stress levels in the profession, student debt, suicide rates among veterinarians and the shortage of veteri­narians. The study found that serious psychological stress has increased in recent years while levels of suicidal ideation has remained stable. Other studies such as Nett (2015) and Tomasi et al. (2019) found that suicide ideation and death is a serious concern for the field.
Clear your plate. What practice owners can outsource
Authors: Staten Christine
Published: May 2024

If you’re a practice owner or a practice manager, you’re prob­ably working too much. You need to find ways to be more pur­poseful and less busy, increasing your time, sanity and cash flow. Outsourcing can be a valuable tool to help you scale your business and focus on your core competencies. There are things that only you can do as a practice owner or a manager, but there are so many other things that you are doing that can be out­sourced. You can outsource things externally, internally or to your family and friends. Outsourcing a task takes planning and time so do it before you need to, or it will be difficult to onboard the new person well.
Evaluating the finances of a job offer
Authors: Colon Jorge
Published: May 2024

The finances presented by an employment contract include the wages offered plus the value of all employment benefits. This session covers the evaluation of a total compensation package against a detailed cost of living assessment to estimate the feasi­bility of an employment contract of providing a sound financial state.
Marketing yourself as a new grad: ePortfolios, cover letters and CV/resumé
Authors: Colon Jorge
Published: May 2024

As stated by motivational speaker Jim Rohn, “You don’t get paid for the work that you do, you get paid for the value you bring to the marketplace”.3 This session covers several essential tools that new graduates should use to showcase to potential employ­ers the value they bring to a veterinary position. The impor­tance of possessing skills that go beyond being an excellent vet­erinarian will be highlighted as a pathway towards achieving differentiation in the self-marketing process.
Basic dairy and beef nutrition principles for the new graduate
Authors: Navarro Alexander
Published: May 2024

Ruminant nutrition is often considered a difficult and complex subject in the minds of veterinary students. This may be due to the lack of nutritional training in veterinary colleges, the lack of exposure to agriculture, or because nutrition is considered a separate career practiced by a nutritionist. Nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated. The purpose of the nutritional program is to provide safe feed that meets the cow’s nutritional require­ments. Veterinarians have an intricate knowledge of ruminant health and a well-developed problem-solving skillset. These at­tributes make the veterinarian highly capable of consulting with clients regarding nutritional concepts. The goal of this session is to demonstrate to aspiring veterinarians that nutrition is simple in concept and can be easily implemented in clinical practice.
Practical pharmacology for the new graduate
Authors: Wagner Sarah
Published: May 2024

New veterinary graduates can be helped by guidance for thera­peutic decision-making when using antimicrobial drugs in bovine practice. Aspects to be considered include empirical therapy in the absence of a definitive diagnosis, governmental regulations, client compliance, therapeutic indications, cost, food safety, and extra-label drug administration.
How to get the most out of your externship
Authors: Gibbons Pippa
Published: May 2024

Externships are a form of real-world learning: learning that takes place outside of the teaching hospital. They are wide-rang­ing opportunities, from industry to clinical and can happen at all stages of veterinary training. Externships vary greatly in terms of oversight from the veterinary school or college, with respect to grading, communication with the school, and legal matters (PLIT, insurance). The number of externships that students un­dertake varies widely between institutions. For this talk, extern­ships will refer specifically to clinical practice experience, with an emphasis on bovine or mixed practice. Why externships?
new old parasite – liver fluke
Authors: Vatta Adriano
Published: May 2024

Fasciola hepatica, the common liver fluke, has been known to cause ill health in livestock for over 100 years in the United States, yet it remains a parasite of importance in the Gulf Coast and Pacific Northwest. One of its major effects is to cause ane­mia, however, its presence may not immediately be considered, especially in the southeastern United States, because of the highly pathogenic and ubiquitous barber pole worm, Haemon­chus contortus. Little research has been conducted on F. hepatica in the United States in recent years, and goats appear to have been much less studied than sheep and cattle. Alternative, complementary diagnostics to conventional fecal examination (normally using sedimentation techniques) would be useful, as would new anthelmintics. However, in the absence of both, control of liver flukes must be given careful consideration in terms of maintaining animal health and welfare and preserv­ing the efficacy of existing flukicides. Testing for efficacy of anthelmintics currently used in practice would contribute to­wards making recommendations regarding their rational use.
Uterine parasites: A clinician’s guide to pregnancy toxemia
Authors: Lear Andrea
Published: May 2024

Pregnancy toxemia in late gestation small ruminants is a com­mon condition presented to large animal practitioners. The goal of this talk will be to review the current pathophysiology and therapy plans in varying circumstances in an ambula­tory setting. Identifying risk factors and negative prognostic considerations needed to implement valuable therapeutic and preventative plans is critical. Following this presentation, the practitioner will be able to diagnosis and implement supportive therapy for pregnancy toxemia, identify risk factors and nega­tive prognostic indicators, and design preventive plans for a small ruminant herd.
A practical approach to neurologic disease in small ruminants
Authors: Jones Cook Meredyth
Published: May 2024

Veterinarians often shy away from a deep dive into cases with a neurologic component, often due to the complexity of the sys­tem and confusion around lesion localization. It is common to rely on treatments that are generically known to help with the most common or most treatable neurologic conditions and let the chips fall where they may. There is value, however, in hav­ing a working understanding of the characteristic clinical signs associated with each segment of the nervous system not only for the sake of the affected animal, but also for the benefit of the population in assessing risk. In this presentation, I will focus on the clinical signs associated with each segment of the nervous system to facilitate lesion localization and provide a list of differ­ential diagnoses for diseases affecting each segment.
Side of chute does not affect the sensitivity of Tritrichomonas foetus sample collection in bulls when using dominant hand for collection
Authors: Koziol J. , Fritzler J. , Gibbons P. , Boggan S.
Published: May 2024

Tritrichomonas foetus, a sexually transmitted disease in cattle, continues to plague the cattle industry despite years of control programs. One reason for this continued prevalence through­out the U.S. and the world is that accurate diagnosis is compli­cated in the fact that retrieval of organisms for diagnosis and subsequent testing may be compromised by multiple factors in­cluding, but not limited to, how samples are collected.
 A commonly used sampling technique for diagnosing T. foetus in bulls is scraping of the preputial and penile mucosa with ei­ther an artificial insemination pipette or specially designed T. foetus testing device such as the Pizzle Stick Trich Testing De­vice (Lane Manufacturing Denver, CO). Parker et al. noted that right-hand dominant practitioners were more commonly suc­cessful in retrieving T. foetus in known positive bulls when col­lecting from the right side of the bull compared to the left; how­ever, the opposite was not investigated for left-hand dominant practitioners and only cultures were used to declare whether a sample was positive or not. The objective of this study was to determine if using current RT-qPCR testing if there is a differ­ence in rate of positive tests pending side of chute and use of dominant hand for testing.
Effects of treatment with propylene glycol and cyanocobalamin on disease, milk production and reproductive outcomes of dairy cows diagnosed with hyperketonemia and hypoglycemia
Authors: Hubner A. , Canisso I. , Coelho W. , Ribeiro L. , Aldridge B. , Lima F.
Published: May 2024

Almost all periparturient dairy cows experience a period of negative energy balance, and despite improvements to fresh cow management, some dairy cows still experience clinical dis­ease associated with the periparturient period (Duffield et al., 2009; Taylor et al., 2004). Hyperketonemia (HK) remains an im­portant production and animal welfare concern (McArt et al., 2012; Tatone, Duffield, Capel, et al., 2016; Tatone, Duffield, LeB­lanc, et al., 2016), and recently several handheld meters which measure beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) have been validated in dairy cows and can be used to detect pre-clinical HK (Bach et al., 2016; Tatone et al., 2015). Several studies have explored the screening of post-parturient cows to detect HK and adminis­ter treatment in order to ward off clinical disease and increase milk production (Capel et al., 2021; Gordon et al., 2017; McArt et al., 2012). However, these studies have been inconsistent in their findings, and treatment may not be economically beneficial for farms with a relatively low incidence of HK (McArt et al., 2014). A 2017 study indicated that cows may have variable production responses to HK treatment based on blood glucose concentra­tion (Gordon et al., 2017). Because blood glucose can also be mea­sured cow-side, measurement of blood glucose concurrent with measurement of blood BHBA may be a means to target treatment to cows that will respond to current treatments. Therefore, our objective was to explore the effects of treatment with propylene glycol and cyanocobalamin in early post-partum cows based on both HK and glycemic status. We hypothesized that improve­ments to health, milk production, and reproduction would be greatest among cows that were hypoglycemic.
Prevalence and risk factors for Anaplasma marginale seropositivity in cattle in California
Authors: Chen S. , Hill A. , Jackson W. , Munk B. , Saunders M. , Gassama S. , Maier G.
Published: May 2024

Bovine anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease caused by Anaplasma marginale, imposes considerable economic bur­den on cattle industries throughout the world. Clinical signs of bovine anaplasmosis include fever, weight loss, lethargy, jaundice, abortion and death. The severity of the disease in­creases with age, and calves under 1 year of age generally do not progress to clinical disease or develop mild disease. Once infected, cattle remain persistently infected carriers for life. Climate change and drought conditions may affect the distri­bution and prevalence of tick populations and tick-borne dis­eases and re-evaluating the seroprevalence of Anaplasma would provide a better understanding of the disease dynamics in California. To our knowledge, there has been no updated study regarding the distribution of Anaplasma infection status in California since 2008, and the information on weather factors related to the disease is also limited. There is an urgent need to evaluate the prevalence of Anaplasma infection in different regions of California. The goal of this study is to estimate the seroprevalence of Anaplasma infection in California cattle over time, and the specific goal is to identify potential risk factors for infection including animal demographics, region, Anaplasma seroprevalence of wild ruminants, Dermacentor tick species presence, and weather effects.
Determining frequency of common pulmonary gross and histopathological findings in feedyard fatalities
Authors: Schmidt P. , White B. , Finley A. , Bortoluzzi E. , Depenbusch B. , Mancke M. , Lancaster P. , Larson R.
Published: May 2024

Pulmonary disease is often associated with morbidity and mortality in feedlot cattle. The most common syndromes in­clude bronchopneumonia, acute interstitial pneumonia, and bronchopneumonia with an interstitial pneumonia. Systemic necropsy is a useful diagnostic tool to collect information to enhance decision making about the health and management of feedlot cohorts. The study objective was to utilize gross nec­ropsy and histopathology to determine the frequency of pul­monary lesions associated with 3 major syndromes and the agreement between gross and histopathological diagnoses. Furthermore, we assessed the consistency of classifying his­topathologic lesions from 4 different lung lobe samples taken from an individual case.
Association of liver abscess with demographic factors, comorbidities and gastrointestinal histologic lesions in feedlot mortalities
Authors: Brown R. , Lancaster P. , White B. , Schmidt P. , Mancke Madeline , Depenbusch B. , Nichols C. , Plattner B.
Published: May 2024

Liver abscess (LA) is a major cause of hepatic condemnation in feedlot cattle. Due to antemortem limitations, risk factors are poorly characterized. Study objective was to identify associa­tions of LA at necropsy with comorbidity/demographic factors and gastrointestinal histologic lesions in feedlot mortalities.
Are there opportunities to strengthen animal welfare through improved management of feedlot chronic pens?
Authors: Sundman E. , Millman S. , Erickson S. , Silva G. , Thomson D. , Johnson A. , Schwartzkopf-Genswein K. , Dewell R. , Dewell G.
Published: May 2024

In feedlot cattle production systems, there is a population of sick cattle that fail to respond to treatment, are deemed chroni­cally ill, and typically placed in a “chronic pen”. This popula­tion of chronic cattle is understudied in the current literature, and the absence of evidence-based protocols and guidance re­sources may lead to specific cattle welfare risks associated with chronic pens. Anecdotally, management of this population of animals varies widely across feedlots with potential impacts on animal welfare and productivity. The purpose of this descrip­tive epidemiologic study was to identify and describe key demo­graphic patterns in chronic feedlot cattle populations.
Barriers to recording calf health data on dairy farms in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Edwards K. , LeBlanc S. , DeVries T. , Steele M. , Costa J. , Renaud D.
Published: May 2024

Accurate data on illness and treatment rates in dairy calves are necessary for health management, yet calf health records are often incomplete. Due to the effects of illness in calves on future production, common use of antimicrobials in calf dis­ease, and concerns regarding judicious use of antimicrobials, we need to understand why calf health data are often poorly re­corded on dairy farms. Our objective was to investigate barriers for farmers for recording calf illnesses and treatments on dairy farms in Ontario, Canada.
Comparison of Salmonella Dublin SRP vaccination programs on the development of immunity in calves
Authors: Sacquitne C. , Hayman K. , Rowsen A. , Burkhardt D. , Straub D. , Peterson M. , Gorden P.J.
Published: May 2024

Salmonella Dublin is a common cause of calf illness and is en­demic in many regions of the U.S. dairy industry. A 2016 report from the National Veterinary Services Lab found S. Dublin was the most commonly isolated Salmonella serotype obtained from ill cattle in the U.S. This serotype is also considered to be host-adapted in bovine and therefore carrier animals that appear normal can be shedders and a source for maintaining the infec­tion within a herd. As such, finding mechanisms to protect naïve animals from clinical disease can reduce losses in dairy herds. The objective of this work was to describe the immune response stimulated by experimental Salmonella Dublin SRP vaccines.
Association between rumination behavior, hyperketonemia and milk production in early lactation
Authors: Florentino C. , Shepley E. , Caixeta L.
Published: May 2024

Increased blood beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), also known as hyperketonemia (HYK), is a common metabolic disorder in dairy cows, that occurs during first and second week postpar­tum, defined by elevated blood concentration of BHB ( ≥ 1.2 mmol/L). HYK is associated with impaired health, decreased performance, and decreased milk production. Nonetheless, ele­vated BHB concentrations in early lactation are not detrimental to all cows. Past studies from our group found that cows with HYK that had high milk production had similar performance (pregnancy rates and herd removal risk) to non-hyperketone­mic cows that also had high milk production. Moreover, there are reports showing that rumination time in the first week post­partum and milk production are positively correlated, with ani­mals that have a high rumination time producing more milk. For these reasons, our objective was to evaluate whether rumi­nation behavior modified the association between blood BHB concentration during the first week postpartum and milk yield during the first 3 herd tests.
Tradeoffs between herd turnover rate and milk production for marginal cash flow and enteric methane intensity
Authors: Nydam D. , Briggs K. , Overton M.
Published: May 2024

Longevity, productive lifespan, and culling are discussion top­ics among veterinarians, farmers, milk buyers and third par­ties such as NGOs. Further, the number of heifers to be raised as replacements is also of industry interest. It is sometimes proposed that having less replacement heifers and thus a lower herd turnover rate can lead to higher cash flow and lower enteric methane intensity associated with dairy production.
Recently, some investigators have reported that cow culling de­cisions are made for farm investment decisions as opposed to poor health status (Owusu-Sekyere et al., 2023). Some European workers (Grandl et al., 2019) have investigated the association of length of productive life with greenhouse gas emissions and profit but included milk yields below what is observed on many U.S. dairy farms.
There are likely trade-offs between replacing less productive cows with younger cows that possess greater potential for herd cash flow and enteric methane production at commonly ob­served or advocated turnover rates and milk production levels. Therefore, the objective of this work was to produce a math­ematical model using typical market prices, milk production levels, and turnover rates observed currently in the U.S. that examines these trade-offs.
Relationship between actual vs. targeted weight at first calving and milk production in first and second lactation
Authors: Overton M.
Published: May 2024

First lactation milk production is affected by management dur­ing the raising period prior to first calving as well as during lactation. Genetics, feeding, breeding, health and other issues combine to determine the size and age at first calving. Com­monly stated goals for raising replacement heifers include a first calving age of approximately 23-24 months and 82-85% of expected mature body weight. The objective was to quantify the relationship between differences in actual vs. targeted weight at first calving and subsequent 305d milk production.
Associations between bovine leukemia virus status and fertility in Kansas beef herds: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Larson R. , Huser S. , Amrine D. , White B. , Taxis T. , Almaraz J. , Reif K.
Published: May 2024

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV), an oncogenic retrovirus of the genus Deltaretrovirus, infects bovine lymphocytes and is the etiologic agent of bovine leukosis. The objective of this study was to test the association between BLV status when classified by 3 different methods (ELISA, qPCR, and proviral load (PVL)) with fertility of beef cattle.
Immune response and protection of neonatal, colostrum-fed calves with modified live, intranasal, tri-valent vaccine using an experimental challenge with virulent bovine respiratory syncytial virus
Authors: Meyer B. , Perkins-Oines S. , Senvirathne N. , Abdelsalam K. , Chase C.
Published: May 2024

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is major viral con­tributor to bovine respiratory disease (BRD). BRD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in all classes of cattle but par­ticularly young beef and dairy calves. Passive antibodies not only help protect the calf against infection, but may interfere with the immune responses following vaccination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and immune response of an intranasal modified live virus (MLV) trivalent vaccine in the presence of well-defined maternal passive immunity.
A 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial of a commercial M. bovis (CMB) vaccine and a conditionally licensed M. bovoculi vaccine (CLMB) to prevent IBK
Authors: Clark C. , O'Connor A.
Published: May 2024

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) is an economically important disease of beef cattle. Currently, there is little pub­lic evidence from randomized controlled trials that the differ­ent vaccines and vaccination regimes available to prevent IBK in cattle are effective, including autogenous and commercial vaccines directed at Moraxella bovis or Moraxella bovoculi. The combined use of a commercial M. bovis (CMB) vaccine and a conditionally licensed M. bovoculi vaccine (CLMB) has yet to be publicly evaluated.
Leukocyte dynamics in vaccinated and unvaccinated animals following dual challenge with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus-Mannheimia haemolytica model to compare vaccine efficacy in calves
Authors: Perkins-Oines S. , Van Holland S. , Abdelsalam K. , Bate N. , Drach J. , Chase C.
Published: May 2024

Bovine respiratory disease continues to be the greatest threat to calf health. One of the common recommendations is to vaccinate young beef and dairy calves at 30-60 days of age to provide protection at weaning or when commingled. The study objective was to determine whether there were any dif­ferential leukocyte changes that could be measured following a dual challenge with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) and M. haemolytica ~5 months after vaccination.
Digital dermatitis affects locomotion and gait traits of beef cattle in feedlots
Authors: Thomas Anice , Orsel Karen , Pajor Ed
Published: May 2024

Sparse scientific evidence of cattle in confined environments, like feedlot dirt pens, report on increased importance of digi­tal dermatitis (DD) besides foot rot as an infectious cause of lameness. Therefore, we investigated the associations between DD presence and locomotion, gait traits, feet and leg confor­mation, and hygiene related risk factors in feedlot cattle to pro­vide the industry with clear guidelines on identification of DD affected cattle.
Retrospective evaluation of the causes and distribution of lameness in beef and dairy cattle evaluated by ambulatory and in-house clinical services at a North American veterinary teaching hospital
Authors: Fenster Lindsey , Ruchti Logan , Credille Brent
Published: May 2024

Since lameness occurs so commonly and has such significant effects on cattle productivity and farm profitability, manage­ment and prevention of lameness is essential to the design of effective health and husbandry programs. Unfortunately, the causes and distribution of lameness lesions between beef and dairy cattle, as well as the different management groups within a specific production class, can differ dramatically. A recent report analyzing data from 17 dairies found infectious condi­tions, specifically digital dermatitis and foot rot, were the most common cause of lameness in first-lactation cattle. In contrast, non-infectious lesions, namely white line disease and sole and toe ulcers, were the most common cause of lameness in cows in their second or greater lactation. A report evaluating the inci­dence of specific causes of lameness in cattle on 6 commercial beef feedlots found that the most frequently identified causes of lameness were upper limb issues and deep digital sepsis. How­ever, when characterizing different causes of lameness in beef cattle outside of feedlots, there exists a dearth of published data. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the different causes and distribution of lameness in beef and dairy cattle presenting to either a primary care ambulatory service or in house referral services at a veterinary teaching hospital in the southeastern United States.
Descriptive evaluation of a camera-based dairy cattle lameness detection technology
Authors: Swartz D. , Shepley E. , Parker Gaddis K. , Cramer G.
Published: May 2024

Lameness in dairy cattle is not a disease but a clinical sign of im­paired locomotion, with the main causative agents being painful foot lesions. Lameness compromises economic, environmental, and social sustainability goals of the U.S. dairy industry. Com­bining technology and farm data may be a more precise and less labor-intensive tool for lameness detection, particularly with regard to early detection. The study objective was to describe the association between average weekly autonomous camera-based (AUTO) mobility scores and cows with lesion (LAME) and with­out lesions (TRIM) to see if this technology can detect lameness occurrence earlier.
Predicting dyscalcemia at 4 days in milk using activity and rumination data in multiparous Holstein cows
Authors: Seely C. , Seminara J. , McArt J.
Published: May 2024

Dyscalcemia, reduced blood calcium at 4 DIM, is associated with reduced milk production and reproduction and increased risk for negative health events. Cowside testing of blood calci­um to diagnose dyscalcemia is difficult and alternative methods to identify dyscalcemia are needed. Our objectives were to use activity and rumination data to predict dyscalcemia.
Effects of injectable trace minerals on the inflammatory cytokines’ response to vaccination in dairy calves
Authors: Megahed A. , Filho Carvalho W. , Stoskute A. , Palomares R. , Bittar J.
Published: May 2024

Trace mineral supplementation concurrent with the bovine respiratory diseases complex (BRDC) vaccine boosts antibody production and leukocyte proliferation. However, the mecha­nism underlying this effect is not well understood. On the other hand, cytokines response post-vaccination is an important driver of both humoral and cellular immunity. Therefore, we hypothesized that trace mineral supplementation may improve BRD vaccine immunogenicity and effectiveness by modulating inflammatory cytokines in dairy calves. Our objective was to characterize the effects of injectable trace minerals (ITM) on the cytokines response to the BRD modified-live virus (MLV) vaccine in post-weaning dairy calves.
Cow and calf-level factors associated with nursing behaviours in beef cattle during the 24-hours following an assisted calving
Authors: McLellan K. , Windeyer C.` , Lucio Rodriguez C. , Pajor E. , Pearson J.
Published: May 2024

Nursing behaviour is essential following parturition to ensure transfer of passive immunity and the development of a strong cow-calf bond. One factor that could modify nursing behaviour is dystocia; however, little work has documented this effect. The objective of this study was to: 1) characterize nursing be­haviour in beef cattle for 24 hr following an assisted calving, 2) identify cow- and calf-level factors associated with nursing behaviours, and 3) determine the effects of cow and calf behav­iours on the transfer of passive immunity.
Machine-learning models evaluate embryo morphokinetics to detect subclinical signs of heat stress in embryos produced by multiple ovulation embryo transfer
Authors: Hayden C. , Wells C. , Wiik A. , Killingsworth R.
Published: May 2024

Increased demand for animal-based protein, driven by the in­creasing world population, has emphasized the use of bovine embryo transfer (ET). However, this demand is predominantly in locations where environmental conditions, like heat stress, are inhibiting reproductive performance. Heat stressed do­nors have decreased viable blastocyst production, greater vari­ability in embryonic gene expression and lower ET pregnancy outcomes in current literature. These embryonic changes are nonidentifiable to the human eye, highlighting the need for solutions to identify compromised embryos and improve ET efficiencies. Machine-learning artificial intelligence has been used to evaluate health by assessing embryo morphokinetics, or time-specific morphological changes during embryo devel­opment, from videos of embryos in standard media. Thus, the objective was to use machine learning to detect real-time mor­phokinetic activity of embryos from donor cows undergoing multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) based on seasonal exposure to heat stress.
Analysis of short videos of bovine embryos can detect presence of cryodamage
Authors: Killingsworth R. , Hayden C. , Hickerson S. , Webb J. , Wiik A. , Gibbons J.
Published: May 2024

Cryopreservation of bovine embryos has transformed animal breeding strategies by allowing storage of genetic material which enables efficient recipient utilization, sale and market­ing of embryos, and shipping and transport of embryos around the world. Advancements have been made in cryopreserva­tion techniques including the introduction of direct transfer ethylene glycol media, controlled rate freezers allowing pre­cise temperature control of the freezing curve and vitrifica­tion techniques. However, little advancement has been made to evaluate embryo survival of cryopreservation which results in the transfer of embryos which have suffered cryodamage and have no chance of establishing a pregnancy. The objective of this study was to use graphic image processing (GIP) and machine-learning (ML) techniques to evaluate embryo health post-cryopreservation.
Evaluation of a needle-free injection system for administration of cloprostenol for luteolysis in lactating dairy cows
Authors: Leslie A. , Kleinhenz M. , Gomez Leon V. , Hurtado S. , Machado A. , Weeder M. , Curtis A. , Coetzee J.
Published: May 2024

Luteolytic drugs are critical for managing reproductive success in dairy cows. Currently prostaglandin analogs are only ap­proved for intramuscular injection. The utilization of a needle and syringe for administration of any drug can result in needle-stick injuries to workers. Furthermore, needle-free injection systems have been shown to eliminate transmission of blood­borne pathogens, such as anaplasmosis, in cattle. Data on the efficacy of needle-free injection systems and their application in an estrous synchronization protocol has not been reported. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effective­ness of utilizing a needle-free injection system (Pulse Needle­Free Systems, Lenexa, KS) for the intramuscular delivery of clo­prostenol (Estrumate®, Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ) for the purpose of estrous synchronization in lactating dairy cows.
Use of image processing techniques can indicate bovine embryo stress and response to temperature changes in real-time
Authors: Wells C. , Rea M. , Wiik A. , Hayden C. , Killingsworth R.
Published: May 2024

Temperature is a known factor affecting pre-implantation embryo development and should be controlled to prevent a decrease in developmental competence. However, practical considerations of the conventional embryo transfer procedure require the embryos to endure fluctuations in temperature as the embryos are flushed from the in vivo uterine environment, to the in vitro collection dish and into the embryo laboratory. This transition typically involves the embryo culture environ­ment decreasing from 38 °C (body temperature) to approximate­ly 20 °C (room temperature), possibly inducing damage to the embryo and reducing the likelihood of the embryo to result in live birth. The objective of this study was to use graphic imag­ing and machine learning techniques to measure real-time bo­vine embryo morphokinetic activity as the embryo transitions from 38 °C to environmental room temperature.
Multi-drug resistant Salmonella Dublin cultured from cryopreserved Holstein semen
Authors: Holschbach Chelsea , Breuer Ryan , Pohly Andrea , Crawford Chelsea , Aulik Nicole
Published: May 2024

Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Dublin, com­monly referred to as Salmonella Dublin, has emerged as one of the most isolated serotypes of Salmonella in U.S. cattle. A highly multi-drug resistant isolate of Salmonella Dublin was cultured at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL) from both the raw and cryopreserved, extended semen of a 17-month-old clinically healthy Holstein bull. The objective of this study was to use antemortem and postmortem diagnos­tic testing to evaluate the systemic health of the bull and deter­mine where he was harboring the Salmonella Dublin infection.
Reproductive performance of Jersey heifers submitted for first insemination based on age vs. body weight – a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Couto Serrenho R. , Record C. , Domagala G. , Thomas M. , Stangaferro M.
Published: May 2024

Raising replacement heifers represents a major cost on a dairy farm. The ideal time to submit a heifer to insemination is a balance between reproductive biology, growth, and econom­ics. While getting heifers pregnant sooner may reduce raising costs, it may compromise their future productive performance. The objective of this study is to compare the reproductive per­formance of Jersey heifers submitted for first insemination (AI) based on age vs. body weight (BW). We hypothesize that the re­productive performance of heifers moved to the breeding pen (BP) based on a minimum BW would not be inferior to that of heifers moved based on minimum age.
Toward a better understanding of upper respiratory tract bacterial colonization in neonatal beef calves
Authors: Sowers C. , Smithyman M. , Loy J. , Duff G. , Richeson J. , Capik S.
Published: May 2024

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the most costly dis­ease complexes to the beef industry. Bacterial pathogens asso­ciated with BRD include Mannheimia haemolytica (MH), Histoph­ilus somni (HS), Mycoplasma bovis (MB) and Pasteurella multocida (PM). However, the source and timing of when these bacterial pathogens colonize in the upper respiratory tract of neonates is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bacteria and viruses present in the upper respiratory tract of neonatal beef calves immediately following parturition and for the first 24 hours of life.
Effect of metaphylaxis on the temporal dynamics of Mannheimia haemolytica, Mycoplasma bovis, Histophilus somni and Pasteurella multocida in the upper respiratory tract of low-risk cattle
Authors: McClurg M. , Olsen A. , Scott M. , Richeson J. , Pinnell L. , Morley P. , Valeris-Chacin R.
Published: May 2024

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in beef cattle. Four bacterial species (Mannheimia haemolytica, Histophilus somni, Pasteurella multocida and Myco­plasma bovis) are considered key pathogens in the development of BRD. To minimize the risk of developing BRD, beef cattle are often administered antibiotics at the time of their arrival to a feedlot (also known as metaphylaxis). While metaphylaxis is a widely employed control strategy, little knowledge exists regarding its impact on the microbiome of cattle at low risk for developing BRD. This study aimed to identify the influence of different metaphylactic treatments on the temporal dynamics of BRD-associated bacterial pathogens in the upper respiratory tract of cattle at low risk for BRD development.
Evaluation of the treatment efficacy of generic enrofloxacin compared to pioneer for first treatment of naturally occurring bovine respiratory disease in a commercial feedlot
Authors: Theurer M. , Fox T. , Newberry J. , Payot F.
Published: May 2024

The primary objective of this study was to compare the treat­ment efficacy of generic enrofloxacin (Tenotryl™ [enrofloxa­cin] injectable solution; TEN) to pioneer enrofloxacin (Baytril® 100; BAY) for first treatment of naturally occurring bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in a commercial feedlot.
An epidemiological investigation into Mycoplasma bovis infection in U.S. bison (Bison bison): A case-control survey
Authors: Martin K. , Jones L. , Browne A. , Buttke D.
Published: May 2024

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) is an emerging pathogen in North American Bison (Bison bison) characterized by significant mor­bidity and mortality. Herds are reported to experience case fa­tality rates from 10 to 45%, with mature animals being primar­ily affected. To date, there are no published reports regarding the epidemiology of M. bovis within U.S. bison herds; this study serves as the first in-depth analysis of the prevalence, clinical signs and potential risk factors for M. bovis-associated disease in the United States.
Frequency of concurrent lesions in feedlot mortalities at necropsy
Authors: Mancke M. , White B. , Bortoluzzi E. , Depenbusch B. , Schmidt P. , Lancaster P. , Larson R.
Published: May 2024

Feedlot mortalities continue to be a major economic issue for cattle producers. Necropsies have been utilized to help diag­nose disease processes in commercial feedlots. However, iden­tification of concurrent diagnoses and multiple-affected organ systems have been rarely recorded. The study objective was to determine the frequency and most common combinations of concurrent lesions and multiple-affected organ systems in feed­lot mortalities.
Factors associated with lactation in nonpregnant feedlot heifer mortalities
Authors: Carpenter L. , Lancaster P. , White B. , Larson R. , Bortoluzzi E. , Schmidt P. , Brown R. , Depenbusch B.
Published: May 2024

The contamination of carcasses from milk is a sanitation con­cern in cattle packing plants. Previous research indicated the administration of estradiol and progesterone over a period of time, followed by injection of dexamethasone, may induce lac­tation in nulliparous dairy heifers. The objective of this study was to determine potential factors associated with lactation in feedlot heifer mortalities at one Kansas feedlot.
The impact of commingling preconditioned calves on mortality, morbidity and performance in a feedlot
Authors: Mijar S. , Van der Meer F. , Pajor E. , Hodder A. , Thompson S. , Orsel K.
Published: May 2024

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most important disease in the North American beef industry, causing substantial eco­nomic losses due to morbidity and mortality, including treat­ments, reduced performance, and increased antimicrobial use. Preconditioning (PC) to mitigate BRD was proposed as early as 1967 and constitutes management practices that reduce stressors and optimize resilience through vaccination against bacterial and viral pathogens, optimized timing of dehorning, castration, best weaning strategy, and training calves to eat from a bunk and drink from a water source at least 45 d before transport to the feedlot. Despite proven profits for precondi­tioning of beef calves, PC hasn’t been established in the current beef industry. Besides the lack of premiums paid, there is also the question if commingling of PC and auction-derived (AD) calves in the feedlot can hamper PC calves’ expected growth and health advantages. Therefore, our objective was to evalu­ate the impact of optimally preconditioned calves on mortality, morbidity and average daily gain (ADG) during the first 40 days in the feedlot when PC calves where commingled with different proportions of AD calves (25, 50, 75%).
Predictive genome-wide association and economic analyses of pooled DNA in a commercial feedlot setting
Authors: Prosser H. , Arnold C. , Saatchi M. , Scott M. , Perkins T.
Published: May 2024

Understanding the genetic profile of cattle allows producers to make predictions of performance and disease. However, it is often fiscally and logistically unfeasible for commercial cattle producers to individually genotype animals. As such, our objec­tive was to utilize prospectively-pooled DNA from commercial feedlot cattle for a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of ec­onomically-important carcass traits and measure the economic efficiency of this technique.
Validation of a poll shot captive bolt as a single step method of euthanasia of cattle
Authors: Dewell R. , Moran L. , Michael A. , Hayman K. , Rowe E. , Dewell G.
Published: May 2024

Euthanasia should occur with minimal pain and distress for the animal and the person administering the procedure. The AVMA Guidelines for Euthanasia lists a frontal shot as the recommended anatomical location for both penetrating cap­tive bolt and gunshot euthanasia. However, in many situations access to the frontal site is not possible or may cause exces­sive distress to the animal. The objective of this study was to validate the effectiveness of a penetrating captive bolt when positioned behind the poll as a single step method for humane euthanasia of cattle.
Does a liposomal bupivacaine suspension (Nocita®) provide extended pain mitigation when disbudding dairy calves?
Authors: Parsons R. , Gordon P. , Meyer K. , DeLeon M. , Richardson S. , Hay Kraus B. , Smith J. , Millman S.
Published: May 2024

The goal of this study was to explore a liposomal bupivacaine suspension product (Nocita®) (LB) as a local anesthetic for calf disbudding relative to bupivacaine (B) and a lidocaine control (C). We hypothesized that LB would provide extended pain miti­gation relative to B and C.
Bayesian estimation of sensitivity and specificity of IgG and serum total protein cutoff values for the diagnosis of failed transfer of passive immunity in neonatal beef calves
Authors: Thompson A. , Scott M. , Smith D.
Published: May 2024

Calves with failed transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) possess increased risk of preweaning disease. Common tests for FTPI such as radial immunodiffusion (RID) and optical refractom­etry (OR) have inherent imprecision. The objective of this study was to estimate test sensitivity and specificity for various IgG concentrations and serum total protein values (STP) to classify neonatal beef calves with FTPI.
Comparison of two methods for collecting antimicrobial usage in large dairy farms in Ohio and California
Authors: Portillo-Gonzalez R. , Garzon-Audor A. , Pereira R. , Habing G.
Published: May 2024

Quantification of on-farm antimicrobial use (AMU) is critical to correlate with patterns of antimicrobial resistance, surveil­lance programs and formulate interventions to optimize its use. Prior studies have used the empty drug container (EDC) method to quantify AMU; however, the method is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Therefore, this study aimed to compare it against farm treatment records (FTR) as a reliable method to collect on-farm AMU. We hypothesized a low level of agreement in on-farm treatment incidence (TI) obtained between these 2 different collection methods.
Hematologic and biochemical changes in caprine whole blood stored in CPDA-1 for 28 days
Authors: Neill H. , Scully C. , Lui C. , Baker R.
Published: May 2024

Parasitic anemia is a common affliction of goats in the United States that, in severe cases, requires a blood transfusion. There is currently limited data published on blood storage in small ruminants, goats in particular. With an increase in pet goats as well as a population of show and breeding animal owners, there is an increasing demand for blood transfusions in these patients to treat their anemia. The primary objective of this study was to determine biochemical and hematologic changes in caprine whole blood stored in citrate phosphate dextrose adenine solution (CPDA-1) over 28 days, particularly those that would impact transfusion efficacy, including packed cell vol­ume (PCV) and percent hemolysis in excess of 1%.
Comparison of firocoxib and meloxicam for pain mitigation in goats undergoing surgical castration
Authors: Weeder M. , Kleinhenz M. , Reppert E. , Weaver L. , Leslie A. , Curtis A. , Fritz B. , Coetzee J.
Published: May 2024

Castration is a common husbandry practice in food animal management. Castration reduces aggression, prevents indis­criminate breeding, and improves carcass quality. For male goats intended to be kept as pets, castration is recommended close to sexual maturity (6-8 m) to allow for increased urethral diameter. A larger urethral diameter lowers the chances of ure­teral obstruction occurring. There are currently no approved analgesic drugs for surgical castration in goats. Veterinarians must extrapolate analgesic data from other livestock species to try to mitigate pain in goats. Sheep and cattle are commonly used, but there is little research supporting best practices of pain mitigation in goats. This study sought to examine the ef­fects of firocoxib and meloxicam after surgical castration in crossbred goats.
Pharmacokinetics of two dry-cow intramammary antimicrobials in dairy goats
Authors: Buckley M. , Gorden P.
Published: May 2024

There are currently no intramammary antimicrobials approved for use goats in the United States. However, mastitis – both clinical and subclinical – is a major challenge for dairy goat producers. Determining plasma pharmacokinetic parameters of various intramammary antimicrobials in goats can assist in treatment recommendations and meat and milk withhold recommendations.