BACKGROUND The objectives of this study were to investigate whether there were differences between Norwegian Red cows in conventional and organic farming with respect to reproductive performance, udder health, and antibiotic resistance in udder pathogens. METHODS Twenty-five conventional and 24 organic herds from south-east and middle Norway participated in the study. Herds were matched such ...

BACKGROUND The spread of PRRSV among pig herds has been investigated experimentally, but few observational studies have investigated this subject. Because PRRSV is endemic and live modified vaccines are used in Ontario, the spatial and temporal distributions of 6 PRRSV genotypes were investigated in the province during the period from 2004-2007. The purpose was to find evidence of spread of PRR...

Swine dysentery (SD) is a mucohaemorrhagic colitis of grower/finisher pigs classically resulting from infection by the anaerobic intestinal spirochaete Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. This study aimed to determine whether B. hyodysenteriae isolates from pigs in three healthy German multiplier herds supplying gilts to other farms differed from isolates from nine German production herds with SD. Isol...

Annual performance measurements, age structures of female pig inventories, and by-parity culling rates were abstracted from data files of 110 herds that participated in a data-share program in Japan. Parity at culling was used as a prime measurement of longevity, whereas pigs weaned x mated female(-1) x year(-1) (PWMFY) was a prime measurement of reproductive efficiency. High or low longevity h...

BACKGROUND The main aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of claw and limb disorders in Norwegian beef-cow herds. METHODS Twenty-six herds with >or=15 cow-years were selected by computerized systematic assignment from the three most beef cattle-dense regions of Norway. The study population consisted of 12 herds with 28 heifers and 334 cows. The animals were trimmed and examined once b...

A commercially available blocking ELISA was analyzed for its ability to identify antibodies to porcine coronaviruses (transmissible gastroenteritis virus [TGEV] or porcine respiratory coronavirus [PRCV]), to differentiate antibodies to TGEV and PRCV, and to identify TGEV-infected herds. Nine sera from uninfected pigs, 34 sera from 16 pigs experimentally infected with TGEV, and sera from 10 pigs...

BACKGROUND Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) remains difficult to eradicate from low incidence regions partly due to the imperfect sensitivity and specificity of routine intradermal tuberculin testing. Herds with unconfirmed reactors that are incorrectly classified as bTB-negative may be at risk of spreading disease, while those that are incorrectly classified as bTB-positive may be subject to costly d...

The aim of this study was to assess infectious foot diseases, including identification and characterization of Dichelobacter nodosus and Treponema spp., in herds having problems with interdigital dermatitis (ID) and heel horn erosion (E) and in control herds expected to have few problems. We also wanted to compare diseased and healthy cows in all herds. The study included 14 dairy herds with a ...

During these years, eradication based on test and treatment was the major method of control. The introduction and widespread adoption of teat dipping and dry treatment greatly reduced the number of infected cows and herds. As a consequence, many researchers, mastitis consultants, and dairymen have begun to consider Strep ag merely a historical curiosity. However, in many herds (including low bu...

Results from the Arkansas Beef Audit indicated producers with small cow­calf herds placed a high value on the lifestyle, and it was clear from the findings that they managed their herds as much for heritage’s sake – or family legacy – as for profitability. This group understood they make up the largest volume of beef producers in Arkansas and indicated the belief that the public had a posi­ tiv...