Veterinary dairy herd fertility service provision in seasonal and non-seasonal dairy industries - a comparison

The decline in dairy herd fertility internationally has highlighted the limited impact of traditional veterinary approaches to bovine fertility management. Three questionnaire surveys were conducted at buiatrics conferences attended by veterinary practitioners on veterinary dairy herd fertility services (HFS) in countries with a seasonal (Ireland, 47 respondents) and non-seasonal breeding model (The Netherlands, 44 respondents and Portugal, 31 respondents). Of the 122 respondents, 73 (60%) provided a HFS and 49 (40%) did not. The majority (76%) of all practitioners who responded stated that bovine fertility had declined in their practice clients' herds with inadequate cow management, inadequate nutrition and increased milk yield as the most important putative causes. The type of clients who adopted a herd fertility service were deemed more educated than average (70% of respondents), and/or had fertility problems (58%) and/or large herds (53%). The main components of this service were routine postpartum examinations (95% of respondents), fertility records analysis (75%) and ultrasound pregnancy examinations (69%). The number of planned visits per annum varied between an average of four in Ireland, where breeding is seasonal, and 23 in Portugal, where breeding is year-round. The benefits to both the practitioner and their clients from running a HFS were cited as better fertility, financial rewards and job satisfaction. For practitioners who did not run a HFS the main reasons given were no client demand (55%) and lack of fertility records (33%). Better economic evidence to convince clients of the cost-benefit of such a service was seen as a major constraint to adoption of this service by 67% of practitioners

Environmental risk factors in puppies and kittens for developing chronic disorders in adulthood: A call for research on developmental programming

Many dogs and cats are affected by chronic diseases that significantly impact their health and welfare and relationships with humans. Some of these diseases can be challenging to treat, and a better understanding of early-life risk factors for diseases occurring in adulthood is key to improving preventive veterinary care and husbandry practices. This article reviews early-life risk factors for obesity and chronic enteropathy, and for chronic behavioral problems, which can also be intractable with life-changing consequences. Aspects of early life in puppies and kittens that can impact the risk of adult disorders include maternal nutrition, establishment of the gut microbiome, maternal behavior, weaning, nutrition during growth, growth rate, socialization with conspecifics and humans, rehoming and neutering. Despite evidence in some species that the disorders reviewed here reflect the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), developmental programming has rarely been studied in dogs and cats. Priorities and strategies to increase knowledge of early-life risk factors and DOHaD in dogs and cats are discussed. Critical windows of development are proposed: preconception, gestation, the suckling period, early growth pre-neutering or pre-puberty, and growth post-neutering or post-puberty to adult size, the durations of which depend upon species and breed. Challenges to DOHaD research in these species include a large number of breeds with wide genetic and phenotypic variability, and the existence of many mixed-breed individuals. Moreover, difficulties in conducting prospective lifelong cohort studies are exacerbated by discontinuity in pet husbandry between breeders and subsequent owners, and by the dispersed nature of pet ownership

Impact of Bovine Herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) on Reproduction

International audienceBovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) is increasingly considered as responsible for various reproductive troubles. This virus infects blood mononuclear cells and displays a specific tropism for vascular endothelia, mammary tissue, endometrium and foetal tissues. Viral multiplication can be reactivated by corticosteroids or stress, both factors present at calving. BoHV-4 has been isolated in a large variety of clinical cases, primarily metritis, vaginitis and mastitis, but also endometritis, abortion and orchitis. Its impact on reproductive performance has been suggested by several epidemiological studies: seroprevalence against BoHV-4 is higher in aborted females and in repeat breeders. Nevertheless, its intrinsic pathogenic power seems low, symptoms developing only when BoHV-4 cooperates with bacteria: within the uterus or mammary gland. BoHV-4 is rather currently considered as a cofactor for the development of an inflammatory reaction initiated by bacteria

Assisted biotechnologies in females: a comparative overview

Workshop 8: Assisted biotechnology in femalesAssisted biotechnologies in females: a comparative overview. 21. Annual Conference of the European Society for Domestic Animal Reproduction (ESDAR

The physiology of the induction of parturition

International audienc

Apport de l'autopsie sur le diagnostic étiologique des affections néonatales du chiot entre zéro et huit jours

La mortalité néonatale du chiot est encore aujourd'hui élevée. L'évolution de l'élevage canin par une plus grande médicalisation du suivi des animaux a amené le vétérinaire praticien à rechercher les causes de mortinatalité. Les signes cliniques étant peu spécifiques et la mort survenant rapidement, cette recherche s'appuie sur une autopsie et des examens de laboratoire. La première partie abordera le développement embryonnaire et foetal dans l'espèce canine ainsi que les particularités physiologiques du chiot nouveau-né. La deuxième partie, après un rappel de la technique d'autopsie, étudiera les différentes causes de mortinatalité canine. Celle-ci peut être liée à des malformations congénitales, à l'immaturité physiologique du chiot, à l'état de santé de la mère, ou à des causes iatrogènes ou infectieuses (bactériennes, virales ou parasitaires). La démarche diagnostique est précisée en insistant sur les lésions retrouvées à l'autopsie lorsque cet examen permet un diagnostic de certitude. Des photographies prises lors d'autopsies pratiquées au service de néonatalogie de l'Unité de Médecine et du Sport de l'École Vétérinaire d'Alfort illustrent les lésions. Il ressort de cette étude que les causes les plus fréquentes de mortalité néonatale (hypothermie, déshydratation, hypoglycémie) se diagnostiquent du vivant de l'animal et que les malformations congénitales entraînant la mort du chiot dans les huit premiers jours de vie sont souvent des monstruosités externes de diagnostic immédiat. L'autopsie n'est alors utile que lorsque les désordres métaboliques ne font que compliquer d'autre affections ou pour des malformations internes. Par contre, les maladies infectieuses - évoluant souvent à bas bruit dans l'élevage du fait de la systématisation de la vaccination et des bonnes pratiques d'élevage - peuvent être mises en évidence par le biais d'une autopsie et d'examens complémentaires qui peuvent alors révéler certaines défaillances techniques ou médicales dans le suivi de l'élevage.MAISONS-ALFORT-Ecole Vétérin (940462302) / SudocSudocFranceF

Towards an automated detection of oestrus in dairy cattle

Heat detection is a key factor in the profitability of dairy herds. However, this detection demands a significant part of the breeder's working time and is made difficult by the short duration and the discrete behavioural changes associated with oestrus in modern dairy cows. Progress has been made in monitoring cow with electronics, biosensors and computer. As a result, automated heat detection systems have been developed. Currently available tools are automated detectors of standing heat, activity-metres and automated in-line systems measuring milk progesterone. Camera-software systems and monitoring of body temperature are being developed and may also be used as heat detection tools. The heat detection rate of most systems is above 80% with a specificity of detection generally higher than 90%. The accuracy, however, may vary considerably depending on the tool and model developed. The initial investment of several thousands of euros required for these automated systems becomes a source of profit in large herds, provided the recorded data are properly managed

Clonage des animaux domestiques: comment, pourquoi?

International audienc