ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2 winter (December to April) housing systems on dairy cow hygiene scores, frostbite, teat condition, clinical mastitis, and activity and rumination across 3 winter seasons (2013, 2014, and 2015). Certified-organic cows (n = 268) were randomly assigned to 2 treatments (2 replicates per system): (1) outdoor straw pack (outdoor) or (2) 3-sided compost-bedded pack barn (indoor). Cows calved during 2 seasons (spring or fall) at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, Minnesota, organic dairy. Organic wheat straw was used as bedding for the 2 outdoor straw packs, and bedding was maintained by farm management to keep cows dry and absorb manure throughout the winter. The compost-bedded pack barn (2 pens in the barn) was bedded with organic-approved sawdust, and the bedding material was stirred twice per day with a small chisel plow. Hygiene scores were recorded biweekly as cows exited the milking parlor. Incidence of clinical mastitis was recorded in a binary manner as treated (1) or not treated (0) at least once during a lactation. Frostbite incidence was collected monthly. Activity and rumination times (daily and 2-h periods) were monitored electronically using a neck collar sensor (HR-LD Tags, SCR Dairy, Netanya, Israel). Indoor cows had greater udder hygiene scores (1.75 vs. 1.46) and greater abdomen hygiene scores (1.79 vs. 1.43) compared with outdoor cows. Additionally, the indoor cows had greater upper and lower leg hygiene scores compared with outdoor cows. Incidence of clinical mastitis was greater for indoor cows compared with outdoor cows (27.1% vs. 15.1%, respectively). Frostbite incidence was not different between indoor (30.1%) and outdoor (17.5%) cows. Daily rumination was 509 min/d for indoor cows and 530 min/d for the outdoor cows. In summary, lactating cows housed outdoors on straw-bedded packs had cleaner udders and improved udder health compared with cows housed in a compost-bedded pack barn.
Subject(s)
Cattle Diseases/prevention & control , Dairying , Frostbite/veterinary , Housing, Animal , Mammary Glands, Animal/physiology , Rumination, Digestive , Animals , Cattle , Female , Frostbite/prevention & control , Hygiene , Israel , Lactation , Milk , Minnesota , SeasonsABSTRACT
An approximately 5-year-old female grey-headed parrot (Poicephalus fuscicollis suahelicus) was evaluated after exposure to outdoor temperatures below -20°C (-4°F) for approximately 22 hours. Severe frostbite affecting multiple digits, as well as dehydration and a depressed attitude, were diagnosed. Treatment included oral antibiotics, antifungals, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), pentoxifylline, and topical aloe vera. Surgical amputation of the affected toes was not performed. Mild to moderate pododermatitis over the intertarsal joints developed because of a shift in weight bearing after the loss of most digits. Within 5 months after initial presentation, all frost-damaged toes had self-amputated, and the bird was able to function independently with no limitations in mobility.
Subject(s)
Bird Diseases/therapy , Frostbite/veterinary , Psittaciformes , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Bird Diseases/pathology , Enrofloxacin , Female , Fluoroquinolones/therapeutic use , Frostbite/pathology , Frostbite/therapy , Itraconazole/therapeutic use , Meloxicam , Pain/drug therapy , Pentoxifylline/therapeutic use , Thiazines/therapeutic use , Thiazoles/therapeutic use , Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic useSubject(s)
Frostbite/veterinary , Macaca fascicularis , Macaca , Monkey Diseases/etiology , Snow , Weather , Animals , Cold Temperature , Female , Frostbite/etiology , Frostbite/therapy , Male , Monkey Diseases/therapyABSTRACT
Serratia liquefaciens mastitis was detected and investigated in a 41-cow Holstein herd. Twenty cows were treated for mastitis over a 3-month period. Serratia liquefaciens was isolated from milk samples obtained from 8 of 12 cows tested during the epizootic. Results of an epidemiologic investigation suggested that extensive frostbite of the teats decreased the udder defense. Poor milking technique and hygiene were responsible for increased exposure of the damaged teats to potential udder pathogens. Treatment of each cow resulted in initial clinical improvement, but exacerbations occurred in 75% of the cows with documented S liquefaciens infections.
Subject(s)
Enterobacteriaceae Infections/veterinary , Mastitis, Bovine/etiology , Animals , Cattle , Cattle Diseases , Disinfection , Female , Frostbite/complications , Frostbite/veterinary , Milk/microbiology , Serratia/isolation & purificationSubject(s)
Horse Diseases , Skin Diseases/veterinary , Skin Neoplasms/veterinary , Alopecia/veterinary , Animals , Bites and Stings/veterinary , Burns/veterinary , Dermatitis, Seborrheic/veterinary , Female , Frostbite/veterinary , Horse Diseases/diagnosis , Horse Diseases/etiology , Horses , Hypohidrosis/veterinary , Male , Photosensitivity Disorders/veterinary , Plant Poisoning/veterinary , Pressure/adverse effects , Selenium/poisoning , Skin Diseases/diagnosis , Skin Diseases/etiologySubject(s)
Sheep Diseases , Skin Diseases/veterinary , Animals , Bacterial Infections/veterinary , Dermatomycoses/veterinary , Ecthyma, Contagious , Female , Frostbite/veterinary , Male , Nutrition Disorders/veterinary , Photosensitivity Disorders/veterinary , Sheep , Sheep Diseases/diagnosis , Sheep Diseases/therapy , Skin Diseases/diagnosis , Skin Diseases/genetics , Skin Diseases/therapy , Skin Diseases, Infectious/veterinary , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary , Skin Manifestations , Skin Neoplasms/veterinary , Skin Ulcer/veterinary , Virus Diseases/veterinarySubject(s)
Goats , Skin Diseases/veterinary , Animals , Bacterial Infections/veterinary , Dermatomycoses/veterinary , Female , Frostbite/veterinary , Male , Nutrition Disorders/veterinary , Photosensitivity Disorders/veterinary , Skin Diseases/diagnosis , Skin Diseases/therapy , Skin Diseases, Infectious/veterinary , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary , Skin Neoplasms/veterinary , Sunburn/veterinary , Virus Diseases/veterinaryABSTRACT
The necropsy files of the National Zoological Park and Baltimore Zoological Society were reviewed for cases of distal extremity necrosis (DEN) in birds. Nineteen cases of DEN occurred following either trauma or frostbite. Six birds developed an apparently primary type of DEN in which no predisposing factors were obvious clinically. The toes and feet were most commonly involved, and in several cases the beak was also affected. Some pathologic evidence is provided that certain cardiovascular lesions may predispose birds to DEN by compromising circulation of the extremities.