Effect of preweaning disease on the reproductive performance and first-lactation milk production of heifers in a large dairy herd

Abstract

Raising replacement heifers represents a substantial cost in dairy farms, with reproductive efficiency being one of the main factors driving the total rearing cost. Diseases during the preweaning period, such as diarrhea or bovine respiratory disease (BRD), are reported at high incidence risks worldwide. However, the longterm effects of disease before weaning on productive and reproductive performance remain controversial. This retrospective cohort study explored the extent to which diseases such as diarrhea or BRD during the preweaning period affected average daily gain (ADG), herd removal, reproductive indices, and 305-d mature equivalent milk production (305ME) of replacement heifers. The health, growth, and production records of 2,272 female calves from a large dairy herd were used; 487 and 926 of the calves had BRD and diarrhea, respectively, before weaning. The reproductive variables age at first service, age at successful service, age at calving, and pregnancies per artificial insemination were calculated. Associations of disease status with reproduction indices, removal from herd, ADG, and 305ME were evaluated by survival analysis and mixed models. Heifers with a history of BRD before weaning were less likely to be inseminated or achieve first calving than heifers without BRD. However, BRD status did not change the age at first insemination of calving among those being inseminated or reaching first calving, respectively. There were also no differences in ADG, 305ME, and pregnancies per artificial insemination between heifers with and without a history of BRD. A history of diarrhea preweaning was not associated with changes in the probability of being inseminated, having a confirmed pregnancy, or reaching first calving. However, heifers affected by diarrhea required more inseminations to become pregnant. Diarrhea status was also associated with a 325-kg reduction in 305ME in the first lactation and a 50 g/d reduction in ADG. Collectively, our results demonstrate some long-term effects of diseases before weaning on the reproductive efficiency of heifers and first-lactation 305ME production, but with limited effect on the time to achieve critical reproductive performance indicators.

Effect of supplementation with algae β-glucans on performance, health, and blood metabolites of Holstein dairy calves

“…We suggest that algae β-glucan supplementation may have decreased the severity of diarrhea in our calves. Mitigating diarrhea is important because it negatively affects ADG in dairy calves and, potentially, long-term productivity (Abuelo et al, 2021). Future research should explore the effect of algae-sourced β-glucans on lower-gut physiology and digestibility in dairy calves.…”

Influência da doença respiratória bovina e diarreia na fase de aleitamento sobre o desenvolvimento da futura vaca: Levantamento de dados

“…Em relação as doenças do período de aleitamento e produção de leite futura, animais com diarreia e DRB tiveram menor produção leiteira na primeira lactação. Nossos achados estão em concordância com Abuelo et al (2021) que observaram a associação do estado de diarreia relacionado a uma redução de 325 kg na primeira lactação. A repercussão da diarreia na produção leiteira pode ser esclarecida a partir da fisiopatologia da doença onde ocorre atrofia das vilosidades intestinais, lesionando as microvilosidades dos enterócitos, repercutindo na perda da capacidade absortiva intestinal (Gyles et al, 2008;Vieira & Gomes, 2021).…”

Viral Enteritis in Cattle: To Well Known Viruses and Beyond

“…Economic losses are not only due to mortality but also due to the cost of treatment and management [25]. In addition, diarrhea has long-term effects on productive and reproductive performance, such as reduction in milk production, reduction in the average daily gain of weight, and the requirement of more inseminations to become pregnant [26].…”