The present study was performed to test fertility after low dose insemination with sexed and non-sexed sperm in dairy cattle under field conditions in Switzerland. Spermatozoa were stained with Hoechst 33342 and sorted by flow cytometry. A total of 132 heifers and cows were inseminated with 2 x 10(6) X-bearing, frozen-thawed sperm (A) and 91 animals were inseminated with the same dose using non-sorted, frozen-thawed sperm (B). Pregnancy examination by ultrasound was performed twice, 30-40 days (PE1) and 70-90 days (PE2) after insemination. The pregnancy rates after PE1 were 33.3% (9/27) and 59.3% (16/27) in heifers (P=0.05) and 27.6% (29/105) and 28.1% (18/64) in cows (P>0.05) for groups A and B, respectively. Embryonic losses between PE1 and PE2 in heifers were 11.1% (1/9) and 0% (0/16) and in cows 17.2% (5/29) and 5.6% (1/18), the differences between groups A and B not being significant (P>0.05). Calving rates in heifers were 29.6% (8/27) and 57.8% (15/26), whereas in cows 22.1% (23/104) and 23.4% (16/63) gave birth to calves (for both groups P>0.05). The sex ratio was different (P<0.05) between A (85.3%) and B (58.6%). From our results it can be concluded that conception rates of sorted and non-sorted semen are similar using an insemination dose of 2 x 10(6). Fertility may be increased by improving sexing technology and animal management.

Running head: Mycoplasma bovis seromas in cattle

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Staphylococcus aureus genotype B (GTB) is a contagious mastitis pathogen in cattle, occurring in up to 87% of individuals. Because treatment is generally insufficient, culling is often required, leading to large economic loss in the Swiss dairy industry. As the detection of this pathogen in bulk tank milk (BTM) would greatly facilitate its control, a novel real-time quantitative PCR-based assay for BTM has previously been developed and is now being evaluated for its diagnostic properties at the herd level. Herds were initially classified as to their Staph. aureus GTB status by a reference method. Using BTM and herd pools of single-quarter and 4-quarter milk, the herds were then grouped by the novel assay, and the resulting classifications were compared. A total of 54 dairy herds were evaluated. Using the reference method, 21 herds were found to be GTB positive, whereas 33 were found to be negative. Considering the novel assay using both herd pools, all herds were grouped correctly, resulting in maximal diagnostic sensitivities (100%) and specificities (100%). For BTM samples, diagnostic sensitivities and specificities were 90 and 100%, respectively. Two herds were false negative in BTM, because cows with clinical signs of mastitis were not milked into the tank. Besides its excellent diagnostic properties, the assay is characterized by its low detection level, high efficiency, and its suitability for automation. Using the novel knowledge and assay, eradication of Staph. aureus GTB from a dairy herd may be considered as a realistic goal.