The 26th International Scientific Conference was held in Polanica-Zdrój at the end of June. The conference concerned current problems regarding the prevention and treatment of cattle diseases, with particular emphasis placed on the impact of cow health on milk production and its quality.
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XXVI International Scientific Conference in Polanica-Zdrój. See the program!
Practical workshops – udder health, milking quality, limb health
On the first day, two rounds of workshops were held devoted to assessing udder health and milking quality, as well as assessing limb health. The workshops were conducted on two farms. The morning group visited the farm in Gilów belonging to the Przerzeczyn Zdrój Pedigree Breeding Center, and the afternoon group met at the Starczów farm, which belongs to the Kamieniec Ząbkowicki Pedigree Breeding Center.
About 50 breeders, zootechnicians and veterinarians took part in two rounds of workshops, photo: AT
During the workshops, a group of respected experts shared many valuable practical tips on the topics discussed and answered numerous questions from the participants. Very interesting were the classes conducted by Dr. Katarzyna Rzewuska, who pointed out to the participants that every area of breeding sooner or later translates into the health of hooves – regardless of whether it is nutrition, housing conditions, environmental conditions, fitness or even childbirth.
Workshop on hoof health conducted by Dr. Katarzyna Rzewuska from the PFHBiPM Genetic Center, photo: AT
In turn, Monika Konieczna and Aneta Neneman introduced the participants to issues related to milking hygiene, with particular emphasis on pre-dipping and dipping in the prevention of mastitis. They also pointed out that problems in the herd are often caused by small things, so if problems arise, it's worth checking the basics first.
– We often look for the cause of the problem in the cows, and we should first focus on filters, rubbers, tanks, pipelines and the washing installation – they said.
Monika Konieczna and Aneta Neneman from PFHBiPM introduced the participants to issues related to milking hygiene in the prevention of mastitis, photo: AT
Dr. Sebastian Smulski and prof. also touched upon this topic. Jan Twardoń, who conducted classes in the milking parlor. Participants could learn how to assess the milking routine, what to pay attention to when auditing a milking parlor and what possibilities the Vadia measuring device offers.
Workshops on assessing udder health and milking quality, conducted by prof. Jan Twardoń and Dr. Sebastian Smulski, photo: AT
Pheromones with a long list of benefits
During the next two days of the conference, participants could listen to lectures given by an international group of experts during six scientific sessions.
Particularly interesting was the lecture on the use of natural and synthetic pheromones in the breeding of small and large ruminants, during which Prof. Michał Dzięcioł from UP in Wrocław explained that the so-called soothing pheromones can be used, among others, improving well-being by reducing stress levels and aggressive behavior. In addition, they improve the efficiency and quality of milk and meat, and alleviate the course of respiratory syndrome in cattle, reducing veterinary costs. Research has also proven the positive effect of pheromones soothing the health and growth of calves.
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Improved performance and well-being thanks to soothing pheromones
Injudicious use of hormones in cattle
In turn, Dr. Bartłomiej Jaśkowski from the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences talked about the imprudent use of hormones in cattle. As he pointed out, in response to the growing problem of insufficient detection of heat, related to the lack of manifestation of typical symptoms, which currently affects 50 percent of women. females, breeders insist on introducing hormonal programs. However, the speaker emphasized that the introduction of the program is a big organizational challenge for the breeder. According to analyzes carried out in Germany, human errors are the main cause of failure of hormonal programs – they are responsible for as much as 40%. all problems related to the ineffectiveness of estrus synchronization programs.
He also noted that due to growing consumer awareness and concern about the possibility of hormone residues in milk influencing the functioning of the human endocrine system, even though these values are strictly defined by legal standards, the availability of hormonal preparations may change significantly in the future.
The vicious circle of reproduction begins with a high BCS
Arkadiusz Kaźmierczak from the Polish Federation of Cattle Breeders and Milk Producers discussed the impact of nutrition on cattle reproduction. He noted that, according to the information presented in the report on the assessment of the utility value of dairy cows, the average interpregnancy period in 2023 lasted 137 days (no changes y/y). The speaker pointed out that the cost of each open day above the optimal level of 100 days is PLN 25, so for Poland it is 37×25 = PLN 925, which in an average herd under evaluation, which in Poland has approximately 46 animals, gives PLN 42,550. The speaker said that this shows how much potential we still have for improvement.
How to achieve better results? First of all, through nutrition, management and well-being, as Kaźmierczak emphasized. He also mentioned that as a nutritional advisor, he often visits farms where he observes the so-called a vicious circle that begins with high BCS in cows, which leads to a decrease in dry matter intake, resulting in an energy deficit, which leads to metabolic diseases. The consequence of all this is poor reproductive results.
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Which cows are particularly susceptible to difficult births?
Sustainable agriculture and high milk production
Zbigniew Wróblewski from PFHBiPM presented the actions taken by the dairy sector to increase the sustainability of production. The most important include improving the efficiency of feed use, implementing precision farming practices, increasing the share of low-methane feed, as well as investing in technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, recycling and manure management systems are being developed to reduce the impact of dairy farms on the environment. He also noted that dairying is an important branch of the economy and a balance must be maintained between economic needs and environmental protection.
Hoofs – the most sensitive litmus paper
An interesting point of the program was a lecture by Dr. Katarzyna Rzewuska from the PFHBiPM Genetic Center on hoof health. Rzewuska emphasized that movement disorders reflect the entire housing conditions, which is why the assessment of cow mobility is a key element.
As she explained, individual hoof diseases are a consequence of mistakes made in different areas. Specific indicators are associated with each of these areas. The speaker pointed out that we conclude about the cleanliness of floors based on the assessment of limb hygiene. The comfort of the beds is determined by damage to the ankle joints, and the hygiene of the thighs and belly area indicates their dryness. In turn, a signal indicating insufficient feed intake is poor rumen filling.
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The most common hoof diseases and their prevention – practical notes
Laboratory monitoring of a herd of dairy cattle
In turn, prof. Tadeusz Stefaniak and prof. Paulina Jawor from UP explained how to use the results of laboratory tests on cows to assess the health of the herd.
The speakers emphasized that subclinical metabolic disorders, affecting a significant portion of cows in a herd, are much more financially severe than more spectacular problems that are clinically recognizable but affect only individual animals. For example, a situation in which nutritional errors result in a reduction in the average daily productivity of a herd of 200 cows by only 1 liter based on the classic 305 days of lactation, at a milk price of PLN 1.8/liter, will result in a lack of income of PLN 109,800. In practice, such losses can be much more severe, and the earlier they are diagnosed and their causes removed, the smaller the losses the breeder will suffer, as the speakers noted.
Targeted treatment of mastitis
The lecture by Prof. also aroused great interest among the listeners. Volker Krömker from the University of Copenhagen on targeted mastitis therapy. As the speaker pointed out, this form of therapy enables optimization of the use of antibiotics and limits the development of antibiotic resistance, while maximizing the effects of treatment.
The expert reported that approximately 70 percent of antibiotics used in the treatment of cattle is the treatment of mastitis, and by using modern solutions in the treatment of clinical mastitis, it is possible to reduce the consumption of antibiotics by 43%, compared to older, conventional methods of treatment. In turn, the implementation of targeted mastitis therapy allows for a reduction in the use of antibiotics by 71%, without affecting the effectiveness of the treatment.
Targeted treatment of mastitis involves the use of local antibiotics only in cases of inflammation where it is necessary and is associated with an increase in the percentage of cures compared to self-cure.
Immunostimulation in the prevention and treatment of mastitis
In turn, Dr. Sebastian Smulski from UP in Poznań discussed immunostimulation in the prevention and treatment of mastitis, which is gaining more and more interest due to the possibility of reducing the use of antibiotics. The speaker indicated that it gives satisfactory results in the treatment of aseptic inflammation and mastitis caused by gram-negative bacteria or fungi.
One way to modulate the functioning of a cow's immune system is through vaccination, which can help reduce the risk of mastitis by activating the cow's immune system, allowing them to better cope with potential infections. Vaccination can also reduce the severity of mastitis symptoms once infection occurs, which can shorten recovery time and reduce production losses. However, the speaker emphasized that the effectiveness of vaccinations may vary depending on the type of vaccine, type of pathogen and environmental conditions, therefore they should not be the only measure to reduce mastitis.
In addition to specific actions, immunomodulation also includes non-specific stimulation of the cow's immune system, but it is related to the action on a single animal, and in the fight against mastitis, we should focus primarily on action at the herd level, as Dr. Smulski pointed out.
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Are cow vaccinations against mastitis effective?
Optimal veterinary care really pays off
The audience's attention was also attracted by a lecture by Dr. vet. Sławomir Koźmiński and MD. vet. Michał Hądzlik, who presented in a very practical way how optimal veterinary care translates into the efficiency and profitability of production. As is known, the fertility of dairy cows is greatly influenced by health incidents after giving birth. The speakers focused on lameness and mastitis.
The impact of lameness on reproduction is multi-level, including: includes lower detection of oestrus and a significant impact on the effectiveness of calving, which translates into a lower pregnancy rate, i.e. PR-pregnancy rate, affecting the profitability of the entire reproduction (losses of approximately EUR 300/head).
Similar relationships can be observed in the case of mastitis – each subclinical condition (level 200-400 thousand LKS/ml) causes losses of approximately EUR 150, and a clinical condition (level above 400 thousand) approximately EUR 300.
The best indicator of conditions in the barn is the behavior of the cows
And prof. Marcin Gołębiewski from SGGW in Warsaw focused on the issue of cows' welfare and its impact on their performance. The speaker stated that the best indicator of the conditions in the barn is the cow itself and its behavior, because cow behavior is the result of the animal's interaction with the surrounding environment, in which the main role is played by factors such as: dimensions of stalls, type of surface for movement and rest, structure and access to the feed table and microclimate. Additionally, cows are influenced by the density and grouping of cows.
Summary cow welfare indicators are useful to assess housing conditions, including cow density, cow comfort index, percentage of cows standing and stall utilization rate.
High welfare will not change the public perception of animal production
During the lecture, prof. Gołębiewski raised an interesting issue related to animal welfare. In the speaker's opinion, currently caring for animal welfare is no longer able to change the social perception of animal production.
– We are at such a level of abstraction and lack of understanding between us, specialists, and potential consumers that this dialogue will no longer be successful. Now we can only put hope in the education of young generations, he emphasized.
Over 200 people took part in the XXVI International Scientific Conference in Polanica-Zdrój, and approximately 50 breeders, zootechnicians and veterinarians took part in the accompanying practical workshops.
