Short communication: Associations of udder edema with health, milk yield, and reproduction in dairy cows in early lactation

Morrison, Emma I.; DeVries, T.J.; LeBlanc, S.J.

doi:10.3168/jds.2018-14539

Cited by 13 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Cows with muco-purulent or purulent discharge were classified as having purulent vaginal discharge. Udder edema was scored 0 to 3 based on a system developed for this study (Morrison et al, 2018), weekly from 1 wk before calving and in the first 3 wk after calving. Scores were assigned based on visual assessment, as well as palpation of the udder.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of rumen-protected B vitamins and choline supplementation on health, production, and reproduction in transition dairy cows

Morrison

Reinhardt

Leclerc

et al. 2018

Journal of Dairy Science

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The objectives were to determine the effects of a rumen-protected blend of B vitamins and choline (RPBC) on the incidence of health disorders, milk yield, and reproduction in early lactation and the effects on gene expression and liver fat infiltration. A randomized controlled trial in 3 commercial dairy herds (n = 1,346 cows with group as the experimental unit; experiment 1) and a university research herd (n = 50 cows with cow as the experimental unit; experiment 2) evaluated the use of 100 g/cow per d of commercially available proprietary RPBC supplement (Transition VB, Jefo, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada), or a placebo, fed 3 wk before to 3 wk after calving. In experiment 2 liver biopsies were taken at 4 and 14 ± 1 d in milk to measure triacylglycerol concentrations and expression of 28 genes selected to represent relevant aspects of liver metabolism. Treatment effects were assessed using multivariable mixed logistic regression models for binary health and reproductive outcomes; linear regression models for milk yield, dry matter intake, and liver outcomes; and survival analysis for time insemination and pregnancy. In experiment 1, treatment did not have an effect on the incidence of hyperketonemia (blood β-hydroxybutyrate ≥ 1.2 mmol/L; cumulative incidence to 3 wk postpartum of 28 to 30%), clinical health disorders, or udder edema. The prevalence of anovulation at 8 wk postpartum was 11% in the treatment group and 23% in the control but did not differ statistically given group-level randomization. Pregnancy at first insemination (33 and 35%) and median time to pregnancy to 200 d in milk (96 and 97 d) were not different between treatment and control, respectively. No difference was observed between treatment groups in milk yield or components through the first 3 Dairy Herd Improvement Association test days (44 kg/d in both groups, accounting for parity and components). In experiment 2, there were no differences between treatment groups in feed intake. Mean blood β-hydroxybutyrate was lower at wk 3 in RPBC (0.6 vs. 0.9 ± 0.12 mmol/L) with no difference between treatments for mean blood concentrations of fatty acids (wk -1 or 1) and β-hydroxybutyrate at wk 1 or 2. The gene for acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1) had lower mRNA abundance in RPBC with no difference between treatments for the other genes, but the expression of half of the genes assessed differed with days in milk. Liver triacylglycerol was lower in primiparous cows at 4 d in milk in RPBC (2.0 vs. 4.4 ± 1.2%) but not at 14 d in milk (2.2 vs. 3.2 ± 0.97%) with no treatment effect in multiparous cows (4.6 ± 0.8%). Accounting for parity, days in milk, fat and protein percentages, repeated test days, and a random effect of cow, no significant difference was observed between treatments in milk yield across the first 3 Dairy Herd Improvement Association tests (41.2 ± 1.3 in RPBC vs. 38.0 ± 1.4 kg/d in control). Under the diet and management conditions of the field study including low prevalence of clinical health disorders, in experiment 1 we did not detect a bene...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of rumen-protected B vitamins and choline supplementation on health, production, and reproduction in transition dairy cows

Morrison

Reinhardt

Leclerc

et al. 2018

Journal of Dairy Science

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“…Conversely, in myocardial tissue VEGFA has been associated with vascular permeability and edema [40]. Udder edema has been linked increased incidence of mastitis and, in some instances, lower milk production [41]. It is also possible that udder edema may result in delayed calf suckling [42].…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Genome-wide association study for mammary structure in Canadian Angus cows

et al. 2020

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Functional and enduring mammary structure is pivotal for producer profitability, and animal health and welfare in beef production. Genetic evaluations for teat and udder score in Canadian Angus cattle have previously been developed. The aim of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with teat and udder structure in Canadian Angus cows thereby enhancing knowledge of the biological architecture of these traits. Thus, we performed a weighted single-step genome wide association study (WssGWAS) to identify candidate genes for teat and udder score in 1,582 Canadian Angus cows typed with the GeneSeek ® Genomic Profiler Bovine 130K SNP array. Genomically enhanced estimated breeding values (GEBVs) were converted to SNP marker effects using unequal variances for markers to calculate weights for each SNP over three iterations. At the genome wide level, we detected windows of 20 consecutive SNPs that explained more than 0.5% of the variance observed in these traits. A total of 35 and 28 windows were identified for teat and udder score, respectively, with two SNP windows in common for both traits. Using Ensembl, the SNP windows were used to search for candidate genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL). A total of 94 and 71 characterized genes were identified in the regions for teat and udder score, respectively. Of these, 7 genes were common for both traits. Gene network and enrichment analysis, using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), signified key pathways unique to each trait. Genes of interest were associated with immune response and wound healing, adipose tissue development and morphology, and epithelial and vascular development and morphology. Genetic architecture from this GWAS confirms that teat and udder score are distinct, polygenic traits involving varying and complex biological pathways, and that genetic selection for improved teat and udder score is possible.

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“…However, there might be more potential in AMS teat coordinates than we are aware of. For instance, temporary changes in udder depth and distance between teats may contain information about udder edema and clinical mastitis because both udder edema and clinical mastitis cause udders to swell (de Boyer des Roches et al, 2017;Morrison et al, 2018). Persistency within lactations could be analyzed using a random regression model, similar to what is used for milk production (CRV, 2012a).…”

Section: Additional Potential Of Teat Coordinatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic analysis of udder conformation traits derived from automatic milking system recording in dairy cows

Poppe

Mulder

Ducro

et al. 2019

Journal of Dairy Science

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Cartesian teat coordinates measured by automatic milking systems (AMS) provide new opportunities to record udder conformation traits and to study changes in udder conformation genetically and phenotypically within and between parities. The objective of this study was to estimate heritabilities and repeatabilities of AMS-based udder conformation traits within parities, to estimate genetic correlations between parities for AMS-based udder conformation traits, and to estimate genetic correlations between AMS-based udder conformation traits and classifier-based udder conformation traits, longevity, and udder health. Data from 70 herds, including 12,663 first-parity cows, 10,206 second-parity cows, and 7,627 third-parity cows, were analyzed using univariate and bivariate mixed animal models. Heritabilities of the AMS udder conformation traits were large (0.37-0.67) and genetic correlations between the AMS udder conformation traits and classifier-based traits were strong (>0.91). Repeatabilities within parities were large as well (0.89-0.97), indicating that a single record on udder conformation per lactation reflects udder conformation well. Genetic correlations of AMS udder conformation traits between parities were strong (0.88-1.00) and were stronger than the permanent environmental correlations. This shows that udder conformation changes over parities, but this change is mostly due to nongenetic factors. Based on these results, the current herd classification system, where cows are scored on udder conformation once in first parity, is sufficient. The AMS udder conformation traits as defined in this study have limited value as replacement for classifier-based udder conformation traits because they have smaller genetic correlations with functional traits than classifier-based traits. In summary, udder conformation hardly changes genetically between parities and is highly repeatable within parities. Udder conformation traits based on AMS need fine-tuning before they can replace classifier-based traits, and AMS teat coordinates probably contain additional information about udder health that is yet to be explored.

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Short communication: Associations of udder edema with health, milk yield, and reproduction in dairy cows in early lactation

Cited by 13 publications

References 8 publications

Effect of rumen-protected B vitamins and choline supplementation on health, production, and reproduction in transition dairy cows

Effect of rumen-protected B vitamins and choline supplementation on health, production, and reproduction in transition dairy cows

Genome-wide association study for mammary structure in Canadian Angus cows

Genetic analysis of udder conformation traits derived from automatic milking system recording in dairy cows

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