1 Another, Separate Issue: Hypocalcemia Impacts a Variety of - - PDF document

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Transition Cow Management and Monitoring Checklist

Michael Overton, DVM, MPVM

Associate Professor, Dairy Production Medicine University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine moverton@UGA.edu

Denise Rich – therichartist.com

Management Timeline for Dairy Cattle

Dry-off

Far dry period

Close-up

(3 weeks prior to calving)

Transition

Calving Fresh period

(3 weeks after calving)

Lactation

Milk Production Reproduction

Transition Period

Often, dramatic drops in prepartum DMI (20-40%) I i l d d f t th ilk

Dairy Cows Undergo Extreme Energy Balance Challenges Around the Transition Period

21 +21 CloseupPeriod Calving EarlyLactation

Increasing glucose demand – fetus, then milk

Uterus consumes ~ 50% of glucose, ~ 70% amino acids Lactation demands ~ 3 X more glucose, ~ 2 X more amino acids

Ration changes, pen changes Lagging increase in DMI after calving, resulting in…

Negative energy balance: -10 to -15 Mcal/ d (or more) Negative protein balance: - 500 to -600 g/d (or more)

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Another, Separate Issue: Hypocalcemia

Impacts a Variety of Processes in Fresh Cows

DMI of fresh cows

LDA’s, early lactation milk production

Uterine involution (i.e., may risk of metritis) Neutrophil function (i.e., may risk of metritis or mastitis) mastitis)

Hypocalcemia Normocalcemia Plasma Ca (d-0) 7.2 mg/ dl 8.3 mg/dl By day 21: LSCC 3.5 2.1 P < 0.05 BCS loss 0.5 0.25 P < 0.05 Clinical ketosis 49% 14% P = 0.08

• W. G. Chamberlin et al., 2009 ADSA

Transition Cow Checklist – Developed as an Aid/ Starting Point to Review Management

Goal – provide guidelines that would positively impact the health, productivity and profitability of transition cows

R idl i f d i t k ft l i ilk Rapidly increase feed intake after calving – more milk Less likely to develop fresh cow disease issues

(Metritis, ketosis, LDA, etc

Less likely to leave the herd prematurely (culled) More likely to begin normal cyclicity sooner Serve as an aid in the investigation of problems

Key Areas on Which to Focus

Pen moves

Eliminate unnecessary moves Avoid moving during last 10 days prior to calving

Nutritional management and access

Stocking density/ bunk space in close-up and fresh pens Stocking density/ bunk space in close-up and fresh pens Avoid overfeeding energy in far dry and close-ups Pay attention to fiber intake throughout

Cow comfort

Maintain adequate, comfortable, dry area for resting Avoid prolonged, idle standing times

How do we MONITOR to assess change?

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Grouping and Pen Movement

Goal: reduce the social, environmental and metabolic stressors by minimizing the number of pen changes and the impact of each move Impact of pen changes – social and nutritional stress:

Maximum effect on feeding behavior is in first hour Generally expect a 2.5-5% reduction in milk production Social impacts lasts ~ 3 days May impact both the new cows and the established ones

(Grant and Albright, 2001; Friend et al., 1977, Albright, 1978)

Grouping and Pen Movement Suggestions:

*Try to avoid moving cows during last 10 days before calving (strive for > 14 days in close-up pen) Depending on the herd, may need to target for an avg DINCU > 23 in order to ensure most cows have adequate time in close-up

In this data set:

• 64% of cows spent

14 – 30 DINCU

• ~ 90% spent 10 – 40

DINCU

DINCU and Metabolic Disease

(13,000 cows in 5 herds)

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DINCU and Peak Milk (lbs)

(13,000 cows in 5 herds)

DINCU = 1-7 DINCU = 8-14 DINCU = 15-21 DINCU > 21

DINCU and Reproduction - Demo

Mature cows with pDCC = 270 – 290 Group 1 – normal DINCU (n = 927)

PR = 19% 26 654 lbs 305me 26,654 lbs 305me Early culling: 7.5% (6 – 10%)

Group 2 – short DINCU (n = 122)

PR = 15% 24,375 lbs 305me Early culling: 10% (5 – 17%)

Close-up Moving Strategies (again, varies by herd)

Most of year:

LIST ID DCC DUE FOR DCC>257 Cows moved weekly Expected range of 258 – 264 DCC (projected avg = 21)

Summer list:

LIST ID DCC DUE FOR DCC>250 Cows moved weekly Expected range of 251 – 257 DCC (projected avg = 28)

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DINCU Details for Mature Cows in Southeast Dairy

MOFSH DINCU PCT= 1 - 10 Count Total 95% CI May 20 11% 6 57 5-21 Jun 19 12% 12 100 7-20 Jul 20 13% 12 96 7-21 Aug 22 4% 5 115 2-10 Sep 23 2% 2 121 0- 6 Oct 22 9% 9 100 5-16 Nov 19 12% 11 93 7-20 Dec 17 11% 12 107 7-19 Jan 18 12% 10 81 7-21 Feb 21 14% 8 56 7-26 Mar 28 3% 2 64 1-11 avg 21 9% 90 998 7-11

Grouping and Pen Movement Suggestions:

If possible, target longer DINCU for cows with twins or cows dry during summer heat stress Decrease impact of pen changes by moving groups

• f 10 or more at a time

Moving in afternoon or early evening may decrease impact

Separate cows and heifers if possible

Higher resting and eating times when heifers separated

(Albright, 1978)

Stocking Density

Access to feed for all cows at the same time is the key as is the ability to freely rest comfortably In 1st lactation animals stocked at 80% of stall numbers as In 1st lactation animals stocked at 80% of stall numbers as compared to 120% stocking density:

~ 33” feedbunk vs 22” in a 4-row barn 6.5 lb per day increase in milk production over the first 80 DIM

Minimum of ~30” of bunk space is recommended for the pre- fresh group.

(Dr. Ken Nordlund)

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Prepartum Stocking Density (freestalls)

1st Test Milk (Lact 2+)

85 90 95 100 (Lbs Milk) 70 75 80 70% 80% 90% 100% 110% 120% 130% 140% 150% 160% 170% 180% 190% 200% Stocking De nsity (a t Ca lving) 1st Test

• M. Overton and B. Sischo, unpublished work

Grouping and Pen Movement Suggestions:

Strive to provide ~ 30” of bunk space per animal in close-up and fresh pens Watch out for seasonal changes in calving patterns Analysis of herd calving patterns (Ca, Co, NC, & Ga)

Allowed Bunk Space (% of Avg # Calving) Avg % Overcrowded 100% 48% 110% 33% 120% 26% 130% 16% 140% 9% 150% 4%

Nutrition and Feed Delivery

Goals:

Minimize the inevitable drop (and impact of the drop) in DMI that occurs prior to calving Maximize rise in DMI after calving Limit the negative impact on liver health Limit the negative impact on liver health

5 10 15 20 25 30 21 18 15 12 9 6 3

A B

10 20 30 40 50

• 29 -22 -15
• 8
• 1

6 13 20 27 200 400 600 800 1000 DMI (lbs) NEFA Burhans and Bell, 1998

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Nutrition and Feed Delivery

General concepts:

Ensure adequate fiber intake (7-7.5 lbs forage ADF) Watch sortability – Grind hays to ~ 2-3”; add water if needed Maintain proper level of metabolizable protein & balanced sources of carbohydrates (NFC) Target a 5% refusal (orts) or more on a daily basis Feed increased levels of vitamin E pre- and postpartum Limit silages to no more than 40-50% of prefresh forage

Specific Additives for Consideration in Transition Nutrition

Rumensin – 400 mg/ cow/ day

Support higher propionate levels Potential way to reduce risk for hyperketonemia y yp

ReaShure – 60 grams/ cow/ day

Improve liver health via increasing synthesis and secretion of VLDL’s

Both should be fed throughout close-up and fresh period

Housing Keys

Provide clean, dry, comfortable housing

Mud or heat stress increases maintenance needs but decreases DMI Wet, mucky conditions increase risk of mastitis and metritis Housing options:

1 comfortable, easy-to-use sand-bedded stall per cow or 100 sq ft of bedded pack per cow or 500-600 sq. ft. loafing area + 50-70 sq ft. shade per cow in dry lot dairies

Minimize walking distances (to/ from parlor for fresh cows) Minimize lock-up time and time away from pen (holding pen/ milking for fresh cows)

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Maternity Management

Individual calving pens can be great, but be careful Ideally, cows…

Are moved in a stress-free manner during early labor Are maintained in an individual maternity pen/ stall only long enough to calve Avoid “solitary confinement” Practice good sanitation

Time Mis-Management (Cow’s Perspective)

Milking time 2-3 hrs (5) Eating/ Drinking 5-6 hrs (4) Socialization/ walking 2-3 hrs (2) Standing in stalls 1-2 hrs (1) Forced lockup < 1 hr (2) L i 12 14 h (10) Lying 12-14 hrs (10) 24 Consider:

• 2 or -8 lb milk loss

Extra 0.25 to 0.75 BCS loss over 100 days

Milking Eating Socializing Standing Lying (Adapted from Rick Grant)

Monitoring

Traditionally, we have focused on measuring results (outcomes) Focus needs to shift toward monitoring processes

Dry matter intake – pre and post-partum Urine pH Stocking density DINCU Cow comfort potential

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Cow-side Monitors For Close-up Cows:

Urine pH once weekly Pen counts/ stocking density and bunkspace Ration delivery and lockups within 5-10 min. of feeding Attitude and appetite of cows (DMI/ cow/ day) Attitude and appetite of cows (DMI/ cow/ day) Days in close-up pen Comfort, cooling, and others:

Freestall use index and cow cleanliness scores Manure scores – consistency across group (3 to 3.5 on 1-5 scale) Heat abatement system – soakers, fans, etc

Cow-side Monitors For Fresh Cows:

Pen counts/ stocking density and bunkspace Ration delivery and lockups within 5-10 min. of feeding Attitude and appetite of cows (DMI/ cow/ day)

Posture/ tail position/ udder bloom/ rumen fill Vulva swelling

D i f h Days in fresh pen Comfort, cooling, and others:

Freestall use index and cow cleanliness scores Manure scores – consistency w/in group (as low as 2 but 2.5 to 3 on 1-5 scale) Heat abatement system – soakers, fans, etc

Weight swings – all cows should lose weight, but < 0.75 BCS (~ 90 lbs) Lock-up times (< 45 minutes/day for monitoring protocols)

Nutrition and Feed Delivery Monitors

DMI

Close-ups (-21 to Calving) Fresh Cows (2 to 21 DIM) 1st Lactation > 23 lbs > 34 lbs Mature Cows > 26 lbs > 42 lbs

Feed dry matter (are you feeding what you think you’re feeding?) Particle size – fresh vs. refusals Urine pH’s – weekly basis on close-up cows

Goal – all cows 6.0 to 6.9 (Don’t wory about the “average”)

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Herd-Level Outcome Monitors for Transition Management

Disease incidence (weekly/monthly)

# with condition / # fresh (at risk) over that time period

Disorder Mean (%) Range (%) Goal (%)

Milk Fever 8 1 to 44 < 5 Milk Fever 8 1 to 44 < 5 Displaced Abomasum 3.3 1 to 14 < 3 Retained Placenta 10 1 to 36 < 8 Metritis 12.8 2 to 36 < 15 Dystocia 13 2 to 36 < 10 Stillbirth 6 1.4 to 11 < 8

Jordan and Fourdraine, 1993, Kelton et al., 1998, Curtis et al., 1983, Peeler et al., 1994, Dematawewa and Berger, 1997

Sample Fresh Cow Data from Western Herd

Event Total 8-Jan 8-Feb 8-Mar 8-Apr 8-May 8-Jun 7-Jul 7-Aug 7-Sep 7-Oct 7-Nov 7-Dec FRESH 763 73 64 60 53 48 60 73 61 54 80 71 66 DA 37 1 2 3 2 2 4 5 7 5 3 2 1 5% 1% 3% 5% 4% 4% 7% 7% 11% 9% 4% 3% 2% 5% 1% 3% 5% 4% 4% 7% 7% 11% 9% 4% 3% 2% MF 62 7 5 6 3 2 5 6 6 4 6 7 5 8% 10% 8% 10% 6% 4% 8% 8% 10% 7% 8% 10% 8% RP 53 5 3 2 4 3 3 5 4 7 6 8 3 7% 7% 5% 3% 8% 6% 5% 7% 7% 13% 8% 11% 5%

What Has Been The Level Of Stillbirths For Each Lactation Group?

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What percent of first test milks (DIM=10-40) in first lactation cows are less than 50 lbs (23 kgs)?

What percent of first test milks (DIM=10-40) in mature cows are less than 70 lbs (32 kgs)?

PCT 1STMK=1-49 FOR 1STMK>0 FTDIM=10-40 FDAT>-360 LACT=1 BY MOFSH (Percent of 1st lactation cows with first milk < 23 kg)

MOFSH PCT Count Total 95% CI

• ---- ----- -------

Jan 0 0 38 0- 9 Feb 0 0 26 0-13 Mar 0 0 19 0-17 Apr 4 1 25 1-20 May 13 2 15 4-38 MOFSH PCT Count Total 95% CI

• ---- ----- -------

Jan 0 0 17 0-18 Feb 7 1 15 1-30 Mar 8 1 13 1-33 Apr 0 0 25 0-13 May 8 1 12 1-35 Jun 0 0 21 0-15 Aug 19 4 21 8-40 May 13 2 15 4 38 Jun 0 0 26 0-13 Aug 12 2 16 3-36 Sep 75 12 16 51-90 Oct 6 2 32 2-20 Nov 3 1 33 1-15 Dec 0 0 27 0-12 ======= === ===== ===== ====== Total 7 20 273 5-11 Aug 19 4 21 8 40 Sep 50 2 4 - Oct 0 0 20 0-16 Nov 0 0 15 0-20 Dec 4 1 25 1-20 ======= === ===== ===== ====== Total 5 10 188 3-10

PCT 1STMK=1-69 FOR 1STMK>0 FTDIM=10-40 FDAT>-360 LACT>1 BY MOFSH (Percent of mature cows with first milk < 32 kg)

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Other Herd-Level Monitors for Transition Management:

First Test Fat:Protein Ratio

Evaluate the ratio of first DHIA test butter fat (%) to protein (%)

Example: cow 304: fat= 5.1%, protein =2.8% - ratio = 1.8

On the individual cow not a very good test On the individual cow, not a very good test

Se ~ 65-70%, Sp ~ 55-60%

Better test at herd level

Se >80%, Sp ~ 70% Goal – < 40% of cows with 1st test F:P > 1.4 (DIMFT= 10-40 DIM) Average ~ 40% but good herds can get to 25% or less

(Duffield, 2004)

PCT RAT1>1.4 FOR RAT1>0 LACT>0 MOFSH>0 FDAT=-400 - -45 BY LGRP MOFSH

MOFSH PCT Count Total 95% CI

• ---- ----- ------

Jan 8 46 598 6-10 Feb 20 88 431 17-24 Mar 9 45 514 7-12 Apr 23 98 428 19-27 May 11 59 555 8-13 Jun 39 184 477 34-43 Jul 20 30 151 14-27 Aug 42 218 520 38-46 Sep 4 17 437 2- 6 Oct 23 63 272 19-29 Nov 0 0 263 0- 1

MOFSH PCT Count Total 95% CI

• ---- ----- ------

Jan 5 58 1056 4- 7 Feb 18 156 890 15-20 Mar 9 95 1028 8-11 Apr 23 182 778 21-26

=============== === ===== ===== ====== LGRP=1 18 848 4646 17-19 Jan 3 7 262 1- 5 Feb 9 24 259 6-13 Mar 8 26 334 5-11 Apr 17 35 209 12-22 May 11 27 237 8-16 Jun 31 66 216 25-37 Jul 22 21 96 15-31 Aug 26 94 356 22-31 Sep 6 21 330 4-10 Oct 13 50 371 10-17 Nov 0 0 306 0- 1 =============== === ===== ===== ====== LGRP=2 12 371 2976 11-14

May 12 115 967 10-14 Jun 38 345 903 35-41 Jul 23 72 318 18-28 Aug 38 450 1190 35-41 Sep 5 60 1106 4- 7 Oct 22 209 966 19-24 ====== === ===== ===== ====== 19 1742 9202 18-20

Other Monitoring Approaches for Transition Management

Prepartum screening of NEFA’s

Performed on individuals…but really herd screening

Postpartum BHBA’s

Performed on individuals…herd screening, but can be used for tx

Urine/ milk ketone tests

Ketostix (read at 5 seconds)

Sensitivity = 79% Specificity = 96% (relative to serum BHB > 1400 umol/ L - Carrier et al, 2004)

Individual milk weights Transition cow index (Nordlund et al, 2006)

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NEFA Testing

Good estimate of excessive body fat mobilization prepartum (before calving) Sample Population: Close-up dry cows 2 to 14 days before calving before calving Cutoff > 0.4 mmol/Liter

(Some are suggesting > 0.5 mmol/Liter)

Alarm level being suggested is > 10%

Modern Techniques for Monitoring High Producing Dairy Cows Cook, Oetzel, Nordlund In Practice October 2006

Beta-HydroxyButyric Acid (BHBA)

Good predictor of negative energy balance postpartum Serum conc. > 1000 mol/L = subclinical ketosis Serum conc. > 1400 mol/L = clinical ketosis

• When choosing a single cutpoint, a BHBA threshold

value of 1400 mol/L (1.4 mmol/L) is recommended

Based on the increased risk of displaced abomasum or clinical ketosis above this level

(Duffield, 1997)

In Summary – Focus Efforts on a Few Key Areas to Help Improve Transition Success

Pen moves

Eliminate unnecessary moves Avoid moving during last 10 days prior to calving

Nutritional management and access

Stocking density/ bunk space in close-up and fresh pens Stocking density/ bunk space in close-up and fresh pens Ensure adequate DINCU

Cow comfort

Maintain adequate, comfortable, dry area for resting Avoid prolonged, idle standing times

Develop a careful, consistent monitoring approach to help detect change and redirect efforts

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Thanks For Your Attention! Questions?

moverton@uga.edu