Dry period (DP) length affects energy metabolism around calving in dairy cows as well as milk production in the subsequent lactation. The aim of the study was to investigate milk production, body condition, metabolic adaptation, and hepatic gene expression of gluconeogenic enzymes in Holstein cows (>10,000 kg milk/305 d) with 28- (n=18), 56- (n=18), and 90-d DP (n=22) length (treatment groups) in a commercial farm. Cows were fed total mixed rations ad libitum adjusted for far-off (not for 28-d DP) and close-up DP and lactation. Milk yield was recorded daily and body condition score (BCS), back fat thickness (BFT), and body weight (BW) were determined at dry off, 1 wk before expected and after calving, and on wk 2, 4, and 8 postpartum (pp). Blood samples were taken on d -56, -28, -7, 1, 7, 14, 28, and 56 relative to calving to measure plasma concentrations of metabolites and hormones. Liver biopsies (n=11 per treatment) were taken on d -10 and 10 relative to calving to determine glycogen and total liver fat concentration (LFC) and to quantify mRNA levels of pyruvate carboxylase (PC), cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and glucose-6-phosphatase. Time course of milk yield during first 8 wk in lactation differed among treatment. Milk protein content was higher in 28-d than in 90-d DP cows. Milk fat to protein ratio was highest and milk urea was lowest in 90-d DP cows. Differences in BW, BFT, and BCS were predominantly seen before calving with greatest BW, BFT, and BCS in 90-d DP cows. Plasma concentrations of NEFA and BHBA were elevated during the transition period in all cows, and the greatest increase pp was seen in 90-d DP cows. Plasma glucose concentration decreased around calving and was greater in 28-d than in 90-d DP cows. Dry period length also affected plasma concentrations of urea, cholesterol, aspartate transaminase, and glutamate dehydrogenase. Plasma insulin concentration decreased around calving in all cows, but insulin concentration pp was greater in 28-d than in 56-d DP cows. Hepatic glycogen concentration decreased and LFC increased after calving in all cows, and LFC was greater pp in 90-d DP than in 28-d DP cows. Hepatic PC mRNA abundance pp tended to increase most in 90-d DP cows. Changes on glucose metabolism were more balanced in cows with a reduced DP, whereas cows with extended DP and elevated body condition indicated greatest metabolic changes according to lipid and glucose metabolism during the transition period.

Nurses in the rheumatology clinic at New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases realized a need to provide patients with rheumatoid arthritis with more healthcare information than was routinely given during clinic visits. This project goal was to support patient involvement in decision making and encourage participation in treatment planning. To address these concerns, a team of staff registered nurses developed an educational program based on various arthritis-related topics. This article shares the experiences of these nurses as they developed and led a patient education project. Various elements of the project are discussed, including institutional history, program needs, project start-up, challenges, outcomes, and the lessons learned.

Abstract. Title of the paper: Effect of grazing intensively reared pregnant replacement German Holstein heifers on body development, calving and milk performance The influence of grazing intensively reared pregnant Holstein heifers on body development; calving and milk performance was tested in a farm experiment. 51 heifers were kept on pasture after insemination (VGW) and 70 heifers were continuously reared in a barn (VGS) aimed at an age at first calving of 24 month. Grazing was realized at a periodically renewed low moor pasture. Insemination began when animals reached life weight of 400 kg. Included were only heifers pregnant before 530th day of life. Life weight gain from birth to 15th month was about 850 g/day in both groups. In contrast to the continuously gaining barn reared heifers the heifers of VG pasture suffered a decrease of life weight up to 1300 g/day after starting pasture. At the same time body condition score and heart girth decreased but increased hip height. Later on pasture life weight gain as well as heart girth turned to increase up to 800 g/day and 3.5 cm/month respectively whereas body condition score tended to be constant at about 3.5. The initially decrease in life weight gain is not discussed as depression of body development but as reduction of an excessive obesity. Statistically calving problems (score 1…4) were positively related with body condition score. Furthermore calving problems influenced milk yield in first 100 days of lactation negatively. Therefore the milk yield of VGW was significant higher than VGS.