Work organization is of paramount importance when it comes to creating efficient workflows to achieve high productivity in a complex operation such as a dairy farm. The person responsible for this task in mid- to large-scale dairy farms is the herd manager. We hypothesized a positive relationship between the invested hours of labor in herd management, the extent of controlling activity of herd managers, and the production and health status of the herd, as well as economic traits. A case study was conducted on 10 farms located in the state of Brandenburg with an average size of 592 German Holstein cows (229–1,221), an average milk production of 9,690 kg of marketed milk per cow and year, and 32.9% culling rate.

Advances in selection and reproduction methods, particularly the implementation of genomic evaluations alongside assisted reproductive technologies, have substantially enhanced productivity and efficiency, notably within specialized dairy cattle populations. Nevertheless, the widespread use of a limited number of elite sires and dams has also led to increased levels of inbreeding, posing a risk to animal performance in production, reproduction, and functional longevity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of inbreeding on stayability in the Italian Holstein population.

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether a commercially available spray-dried colostrum replacer containing bovine leukemia virus (BLV) antibodies could increase serum antibody levels and prevent early BLV infection in newborn calves. The sample-to-positive ratio (S/P value) of anti-BLV antibodies in 10 batches of the colostrum replacer was 2.48 ± 0.33 (positive value ≥0.3), as determined by ELISA. Fourteen calves born to BLV-negative mothers and fed maternal colostrum were assigned to the control group.

Vaccination is commonly used on Canadian dairy farms as a routine herd management practice to prevent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and to control its effects. This study aimed to determine the humoral immune response to vaccination with modified live BVDV vaccines administered on commercial dairy farms. A multisite observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 310 dairy herds across 3 Canadian provinces (Alberta, Ontario, and Québec), including 2,866 cattle aged 4 to 24 mo, either vaccinated or unvaccinated against BVDV.

This study evaluated the effects of rumen-protected Schizochytrium powder on physiological responses, antioxidant capacity, and lactation performance in dairy cows subjected to heat stress (HS). A total of 30 Holstein dairy cows in mid-lactation (181 ± 32 DIM; 29.0 ± 3.1 kg milk yield) were divided into 2 blocks based on milk yield and were then randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups (n = 10 cows per group): a control group (CON), an uncoated Schizochytrium powder (USP) group, and a coated Schizochytrium powder (CSP) group.

Arginine is one of the most versatile among the AA because of its important role in multiple functions of the body. However, the effect of Arg supplementation on lactational performance in dairy cows, and the associated influencing factors, have not been well characterized. Weighted mean differences (WMD) of continuous variables from 14 articles published by March 31, 2025, were pooled by random-effects models using the Stata version 17 to explore the details regarding Arg application in dairy cows.

Our objective was to develop a discrete, monthly Markov-chain model to assess the economic performance and herd dynamics of herd scenarios with varying 21-d pregnancy rates (21-d PR), semen types (conventional vs. sexed and beef semen), and insemination eligibility periods (IEP). We classified the estimated herd 21-d PR as low (20%), below average (25%), average (30%), above average (35%), or high (40%). The semen type scenarios included (1) conventional semen for all inseminations regardless of parity (conventional) and (2) sexed semen inseminations for nulliparous heifers (75%) and for primiparous and secondiparous cows for first and second inseminations, with all remaining inseminations across parities to beef semen (sexed+beef).

α-Amylase–enabled corn (AAC) and ensiling of corn kernels can improve starch digestion, feed efficiency, and N partition into milk of dairy cows. This experiment evaluated the effect of AAC on cows fed finely ground (GRC) or rehydrated and ensiled (REC) corn kernels on the lactational performance, DMI, ruminal fermentation, digestibility, chewing behavior, and N partition of dairy cows. Twenty-four individually fed Holstein cows (37.1 ± 4.8 kg/d milk yield, 143 ± 100 DIM, 633 ± 64 kg body weight), arranged in 4 × 4 Latin squares (with 21-d periods), were assigned to 4 treatment sequences.

Most dairy cows experience some degree of inflammatory activation during the early postpartum period as a normal response to parturition and the initiation of lactation. Excessive inflammation during this time has been associated with various disease states, impaired reproductive success, and decreased productivity, but time points appropriate for measurement of inflammatory status are not well established. Our objective in this exploratory observational cohort study was to evaluate the relationships between inflammatory markers, specifically haptoglobin and serum amyloid A, measured at 2 DIM and important metrics of lactational success including milk yield through 10 wk in lactation, rumination and activity time during the periparturient period, risk of dyscalcemia, and time to herd removal.

The efficacy of 6 binders in sequestering perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) under in vitro ruminal conditions was evaluated. Binders, including bentonite, montmorillonite aluminum pillared clay, chitosan, activated charcoal Norit, and cholestyramine resin (CHM), were tested at a dose of 1.8% (wt/wt; fresh basis). The PFOS (%) binding affinity of binders was calculated in relation to the control. A randomized complete block design (n = 4) was used to analyze the data. Only CHM, an anion-exchange resin, demonstrated strong potential to sequester PFOS (=52.5%).

The aim of this study was to test the effect of 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP) on methane emissions, animal performance, milk composition, and rumen fermentation in early lactation dairy cows fed a forage-rich diet. A second objective was to assess the 13C isotopic signature of milk as a potential proxy for methane-emission status. Twenty-seven cows with similar BW and age in early lactation (7–11 DIM) and fed a 75% forage-based diet were selected and distributed to 2 balanced groups in a randomized block design.

The effect of His supplementation on the lactational performance in dairy cows as well as the potential interfering factors have not been well characterized. Nineteen peer-reviewed papers from PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases published by December 31, 2024, were pooled to calculate the weighted mean differences (WMD) and CI for continuous variables using a stratified 3-level meta-analysis with a random-effects model. A moderator analysis was used to evaluate the influences of cow breed, lactation stage, dietary MP supply, basal diet type, and other supplements as well as method and dosage of administration on the effects of supplemental His.

Early-lactating dairy cows are vulnerable to metabolic dysfunctions and diseases and the consequent negative effects of these disturbances on appetite. The exaggerated response of early-lactating cows to metabolic disturbances is illustrated by their response to a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (HEC) performed over a 48-h period. Initiation of HEC on d 7 of early lactation (EL) reduced feed intake by 33% but had no effect when performed in late pregnancy (LP, 31 d prepartum). We asked whether growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a novel hormone inhibiting feed intake via activation of neuronal centers, could explain the effect of HEC on appetite in EL.

Milk and dairy products are highly valued for their nutritional content, making their quality and safety critically important. However, they are prone to contamination by hazardous substances, such as veterinary drug residues, adulterants, and foodborne pathogens, which pose serious risks to consumer health. While traditional detection methods are effective, they often involve complex, time-consuming procedures, labor-intensive sample preparation, and high costs. In contrast, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has emerged as a promising alternative for dairy quality and safety testing, offering the benefits of being rapid, nondestructive, easy to operate, and cost effective.

Colostrum provides essential immune components, but its role in shaping neonatal immune development is not fully understood. Twenty-four Holstein calves were randomly assigned to one of 3 treatments: fresh colostrum (FSH, n = 8), frozen colostrum (FZN, n = 8), or colostrum-deprived (DPR, n = 8). Animals were raised in a BSL II facility to avoid pathogen exposure and keep colostrum-deprived calves healthy. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein for immune phenotyping at different time points during the first month of life.

The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its robust biofilm-forming capability pose severe threats to public health, livestock production, and food safety, and undersocres the urgent need for novel antibacterial and anti-biofilm agents. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel bacteriocin, PFB252, derived from Bacillus velezensis through a multi-step purification process involving acid precipitation, TA-GF75 gel column chromatography, Tiderose Q HP anion-exchange chromatography, and RP-HPLC.

Lactoferrin is a bioactive dairy protein with multiple beneficial effects. The use of lactoferrin-based combined strategies is not only effective in combating pathogenic bacteria but also significantly reduces the emergence of bacterial resistance, which is of great practical significance. In this study, gallic acid and epigallocatechin gallate, tea polyphenols with excellent antimicrobial effects, were selected to bind with lactoferrin (LF) in a non-covalent interaction mode. The complex was characterized using a series of spectral experiments and molecular docking, and its antibacterial activity was evaluated using Escherichia coli as a model.

Most studies employ indirect calorimetry to study ruminant energetics and indirectly measure heat production (HP) using an equation published by Ede Brouwer in 1965. Initially estimates of HP used measured oxygen (O2) consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) production, and this was based on the relationship developed by Antoine Lavoisier between the 2 respiratory gases and metabolic HP. These gases were subsequently integrated into the first indirect calorimetry equation by Nathan Zuntz in the late 1800s.

Small ruminant milk may offer a viable alternative to cow milk, whereas human milk, the gold standard for infant nutrition, exhibits dynamic composition. This study analyzed the milk fat globules (MFG) particle size, fatty acid (FA) composition, and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) proteome in human, goat, and sheep colostrum and mature milk. The smallest and largest average MFG particle sizes were identified in goat colostrum and sheep mature milk, respectively. Unsaturated FA were most prevalent in human colostrum (HC; 70.04%), whereas small ruminant milks were characterized by a higher proportion of saturated FA (57.07%–77.77%).

Pasteurized goat milk is mainly spoiled through the activity of various microorganisms. Microorganisms with protein-hydrolyzing and lipid-degrading activities can act on proteins and lipids, ultimately resulting in the release of undesired metabolites. Characterizing the corresponding microbiota and metabolite profiles and clarifying their relationships will enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the spoilage of pasteurized goat milk during chilled storage. In this study, 16S rRNA sequencing was employed for microbiome profiling, and ultra-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry was used for metabolome profiling.