Holstein dairy cows are among the most popular breeds of dairy cows in the United States. Considering how giving and flexible the Holsteins are, this comes as no surprise. There are many things that sets the Holsteins apart from other dairy cattle.

One reason why the Holstein dairy cow is popular is because it has the highest milk productions. Holstein dairy cows have the ability to give a lot of milk, seemingly with no limit. This ability also just keeps on improving year after year, which is very impressive. This is why for milk production, Holstein dairy cows are preferred, because of their ability to produce milk in great quantities.

It’s not just about the milk production. Holsteins also contribute greatly to the meat supply sector. They are especially popular in the fattening sector. Holsteins produce meat with a fine fiber, and many are cross-bred with beef breeds to produce better quality veal. Holstein dairy cows have really contributed a lot to both the milk production market and the meat supply industry.

The Holsteins are also easy to handle as they can easily adapt to any management and utilization system. These cows are flexible. They can be fed in the stables or they can be left to graze on the fields. They can also be put in high or low areas. The Holsteins are generally not concerned about land. As long as there is a field of grass to graze on, there will be no problems. The Holsteins are healthy no matter the facilities. Whether they’re in mixed farming systems, or in low-cost farming, the Holsteins are very manageable and easy to take care of.

Basically, it is because of the good nature of the Holsteins that makes them easy to handle. They go along with the handlers and are okay with being stabled. It also seems like Holsteins are resistant to stress, which is important for the animal’s health. They also like to be herded with other cows and are not solitary animals.

Holsteins also have no problem producing offspring. When managed well enough, there will be no fertility problems with this breed. Holstein calves mature early and grow up fast that there will only be little problems in taking care of them in their young years. Their fertility rate is a good thing, and may be the reason why their black-and-white coat became the trademark appearance of a dairy cow, and somehow makes their breed as a superior one among the cow breeds.

The one important problem that handlers may encounter with the Holsteins is regarding heat and diseases. This is especially seen in difficult agro-ecological areas. Despite being adaptable and flexible, a reduction in the Holsteins’ production capacity may be seen in these conditions.

Aside from its widely known appearance, it is evident by their production abilities that the Holstein dairy cows have superior qualities. This breed is popular not only in the United States but also around the world. The export of Holstein dairy cows and frozen embryos and semen are proof of this. The popularity of the Holstein dairy cows is well-deserved.

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The Dairy Calcium Myth Milk is not as high in calcium as the dairy industry would have you believe. In Healthy Vitamins and Minerals by Jane Turner, under the section on Calcium, milk doesn’t even make the first page and sits 35th on the list with 120mg of calcium per 100g.

Some of the foods that beat it by far are sesame seeds (670mg/100g, more than 5 times!), sardines (540), Nori seaweed (470), both more than triple, almonds (240, double!), figs (230) parsley, spinach, watercress, kale (200-170, and these are green vegetables!) even hazelnuts and oysters (140).

More importantly though what little calcium milk actually has is offset by the fact that it is barely absorbable by humans since cows milk is meant for baby cows. Dr William Ellis has conducted thousands of blood tests in people who drank 4 glasses of milk a day and found that they had lower levels of calcium than the rest of the population.

This is because milk interferes with the digestion of nutrients by clogging the stomach and intestines with mucous. On top of all this, cows these days are extremely unhealthy as they have been pumped full of drugs, hormones and antibiotics (to prop them up from the diseases they contract) in a bid to produce more milk faster. Milk has been found to have 59 active hormones, 52 antibiotic residues, scores of allergens and contaminants such as pus from diseased udders.

The bottom line through all of this is that, on whose authority are you trusting when it comes deciding what goes into your mouth? Yours or the supposed ‘experts’ in the health and food industry with highly toxic hidden agendas? On whose authority are you trusting when it comes to deciding what food best fuels your body for the intensity of your workouts and post recovery? Yours or the supposed ‘experts’ in the health and food industry with highly toxic hidden agendas? On whose authority are you trusting when it comes to deciding what you should ingest to keep you not only healthy but alive? Yours or the supposed ‘experts’ in the health and food industry with highly toxic hidden agendas?

Get the picture?

Nutrition forms the absolute cornerstone for unleashing the ultimate physique that lies within you – clean functional nutrition based on what your body requires, not what someone would like you to eat so they can line their pockets are totally two different things. Before you eat anything that you believe should form part of your training regime, don’t just take some ‘expert’s’ word for gold, question everything. Seriously, don’t even take my word for gospel – check it out and test out how accurate the above data is compared to what you hear day in day out from the health and food industry. If you’re serious about making changes to your body and life, even if you do this just once, as soon as you see for yourself that what you’re being told by those you’ve always believed you can trust is not always the truth, you will never go back. The truth will empower you to seek the truth out yourself and ensure your authority becomes rooted in what’s accurate because your authority will be none other than your own.

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Secrets of the dairy industry, including undercover footage taken inside zero-grazing units and slaughter houses.

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Moving cows and cattle and controlling the cattle grazing location can be a difficult task for the herders and stressful for the animals. It is possible that herders can move cattle in a simple method, though, and with no pressure on the animals. There was an extensive research done in Colorado on how to achieve the low stress herding methods.

One obvious way to handle cows and cattle without giving them pressure is to ride through them everyday and make your presence become a natural occurrence for them. Let the animals become familiar with you and they will become calm and easy to handle.

Here are additional tips on how to successfully and effectively execute the low stress herding methods:

Move the cows later in the day, when you think that it is almost time for the cows to bed down. Herd them to the new grazing field before they do. The cows tend to stay where they bed down. See to it that the cows do not get separated when moving them. If the trip is a long one, give the cows time to graze while moving.

There may be problem cows in your herd. When this happens, separate them from the herd before the move.

Get to know the kind of cows that you have and what their preferences are for grazing locations. This  factor is usually molded by genetics and how the animal was nurtured. There are those that prefer the lush lowland pastures, and there are those who prefer the hilly terrains. Cows that have been raised and prefer the lush lowland pastures are usually harder to move then the cows that prefer the hills.

You can also use supplements to herd in the cows. Place tasty molasses supplements at the new grazing site to help the entice the cows to stay at the new grazing location. You can also place the supplements along the way to the new grazing site to lead the herd onto the new location. But first make sure that the cows are familiar with the supplements so that they know how good it tastes and go onto the new grazing location.

Two more tips might come in handy. One is that the older and experienced cows are usually already familiar with the herding methods so there won’t be much problem with them. It will be more difficult to deal with the calves.

Water sources come in handy when moving the cows onto the hilly areas. There should be more water sources in the hills than in the lowlands to keep the cows out of the lowland riperian areas. This is especially important in the summer when the weather is hot.

A successful low stress herding method would include the combination of the tips above. Combining all of them would ensure a more effective herding job. Never forget that it is important not to put so much pressure on the cows. Familiarize yourself with them and they will follow you more willingly as you herd them to greener pastures.

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Endemic Moist Eczematous Syndrome in cattle a Laboratory outbreak investigation In Jhapa District of Nepal

Dr.Kedar Karki

M.V.St.

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

Vet. Officer

Central Veterinary Laboratory

Abstract;

An endemic hyperemic moist eczematous syndrome was reported in Cattle and Buffaloes in Jhapa district of Nepal during month of September after prolong spell of drought followed by heavy rainfall causing water logging total 56 cattle and buffalo were affected and out of which 12 animal died. Rest of ill animals were treated with 5%of Antidegnala liquor and Penta-sulphate. Straw and Skin samples revealed Penicillium sp.Fungus.

Key word: Endemic hyperemic moist eczematous syndrome, Cattle and Buffaloes, Jhapa district, Nepal, Antidegnala liquor and Penta-sulphate, Penicillium sp.Fungus, postmonsoon.

Review of Literatures:

Facial eczema is a disease of sheep and cattle which occurs in warmer districts of the North Island during late summer and autumn and is responsible for serious production losses in some years. It is caused by a fungus, Pithomyces chartarum, which proliferates on dead plant material in pasture under warm, humid conditions. The minute spores of this fungus contain a substance, sporidesmin, which produces severe toxic effects in the liver. The appearance of livers of affected animals varies, according to the severity of the damage, from slight mottling with light patches to gross discoloration, distortion, and atrophy of large areas. Frequently the severely damaged portions are surrounded with new liver tissue. As a result of this damage the functions of the liver are impaired. Blockage of bile ducts may prevent the excretion of waste substances in the bile; for example, accumulation in the fat and skin of bile pigments, derived from the normal breakdown of old red corpuscles, produces the jaundice or yellow staining commonly seen in the carcasses of affected sheep. Of particular importance is the loss of ability to excrete the substance phylloerythrin. This is formed in the digestive tract of ruminants through the degradation of chlorophyll and is absorbed from the intestine and carried to the liver, where it is normally excreted in the bile. If this excretory mechanism is upset, phylloerythrin passes into the bloodstream which supplies the whole of the body. Phylloerythrin belongs to a class of flourescent pigments which are capable of making the skin sensitive to sunlight, causing reddening, intense itching, swelling, and scab formation. It is these effects, generally showing on the face of affected animals but also on other unpigmented skin exposed to light, such as the teats and udders of cows, which give rise to the popular name “facial eczema”. These skin effects are, however, secondary to the much more serious impairment of liver function.The fungus, Pithomyces chartarum, grows only on dead or dying plant tissues, not on the living leaf. Hence the amount of the fungus in a pasture is related to some extent to the amount of this dead material, or litter, present. Growth of the fungus, and its production of spores, is strongly influenced by climate and environmental factors. Temperature, humidity, and the time during which the litter remains wet appear to be particularly important. This explains the typical, although not invariable, association of the disease with a period of warm, wet weather, often following a dry spell during which grass growth has ceased and litter has accumulated in the herbage.The toxic substance, sporidesmin, has been isolated from cultures of the fungus and its chemical structure determined. A single dose of one-thousandth of an ounce is sufficient to kill a lamb of about 60 lb live weight. Sporidesmin itself does not appear to accumulate in the liver, but its effects are cumulative, so that repeated small doses are as effective as a single large dose. Even with a single dose, the full sequence of changes takes some time to develop. Hence photosensitisation usually does not occur until 10 to 14 days after the animal received the toxin, and it may be even further delayed. Both the chemical nature of sporidesmin and its effects on tissues present unusual features which have not yet been fully studied.Facial eczema (FE) is a type of sunburn (sometimes called photosensitisation) affecting exposed areas of pale skin of cattle. It is caused by a poisonous substance called “sporidesmin” that causes liver damage. Sporidesmin is produced on pasture plants, including rye grass, by a fungus called Pithomyces chartartum. This fungus is widely distributed and occurs naturally within dead plant material at the base of standing pasture.

FE has been recorded in sheep and cattle on mainland south eastern Australia.

Signs of disease

The disease may be seen in stock between several days and several weeks following pick-up of sporidesmin from the pasture. The toxin is absorbed from the intestine and reaches the liver, where it causes severe damage to bile ducts and liver cells. All the outward signs of FE result from the liver damage caused by sporidesmin.

The signs of FE range from mild photosensitisation (sunburn) to severe jaundice and death, depending on the amount of sporidesmin consumed. Sunburn is the most consistent sign, and usually affects the exposed areas of the skin of the face, ears, teats, and vulva, and areas of skin lacking dark pigmentation, ie. areas covered by white hair. The skin over these areas becomes reddened, and then goes crusty and dark. It eventually peels off leaving large raw areas, which are susceptible to infections. The sunburn is often accompanied by watery swelling of the underlying tissues. Jaundice (yellowing of mucous membranes) is often seen at this stage.

Affected animals lose weight rapidly. Most animals recover from the acute phase, but tend to be unthrifty, often taking many months to regain condition. Some never recover, and either die or are culled. In dairy cattle, the udder and teats are often severely affected, and milk production drops sharply. Loss of weight and general illness are often severe, and death, although uncommon, can occur up to months after the initial liver damage occurs.

• initial dullness, lethargy and anorexia

• variable onset of jaundice and photosensitisation .

• some animals may die without either being observed

• photosensitisation:

o sheep – non wool skin including muzzle, ears, face, escutcheon

o cattle – non black pigmented areas including teats

o deer – generalised

• some animals develop chronic ill-thrift

• some progress to a hepatic encephalopathy

• dullness, depression

• tremor, recumbency

Epidemiology

Animal factors

• sheep, cattle, deer susceptible

• horses resistant

• evidence for genetic resistance in sheep

Plant/environmental factors

• fungus grows on the dead leaf litter of pasture

• most frequent pasture is perennial rye grass, but can occur on other species

• requires warmth and humidity to promote rapid fungal growth and sporulation

• typical weather conditions involve autumn break rains after dry summer, several days of consistent warmth (TºC>15.5ºC) and high humidity (>80%)

• fungus concentrates toxin in spores which may be distributed throughout whole pasture sward

• most toxic part of pasture is base of sward

Occurrence

Outbreaks of FE typically occur when weather conditions suitable for rapid fungus growth and spore production are combined with abundant dead, recently killed plant material, which favours fungal growth. The fungus requires warm, humid weather and light rain (or irrigation) for growth. This is most likely to be a problem in autumn when the summer has been hot and dry, the pasture well eaten back, and rains fall when the ground is still warm. In such conditions both pasture and grass grow rapidly.

The fungus producing sporidesmin is normally not visible to the naked eye. It multiplies by producing millions of spores which are coated with the toxin sporidesmin. Freshly produced spores are the most toxic; if fungal growth stops after a change in the weather, the residual spores on the pasture lose their toxicity within one or two weeks.

The fungus will grow on most pasture plants, but it grows best on perennial ryegrass. It grows in the dead pasture litter at the base of the plants. When the fungus reaches toxic levels, animals grazing short pasture at high stocking rates are at greatest risk.

Pathogenesis

• sporidesmin toxin concentrated in spores that are ingested by animal

• sporidesmin absorbed, removed by liver and concentrated into biliary system

• toxin participates in reduction/autoxidation processes to form superoxide radicals

• these radicals destroy membrane integrity and induce a necrotising obliterative cholangitis – obstructive jaundice develops

• accumulation of phylloerythrin results in photosensitisation

Clinical Pathology:

Hematological findings of samples from clinical case pretreatment:

Species of animal RBC WBC PCV% HB

OX 4*10 millionmmc 7.2*10 mm3 23 7.6

C.calf 4.6*10 millionmmc 8.2*10 mm3 28 9.3

C.calf 4*10 millionmmc 7.8*10 mm3 24 8

C.calf 4.5*10 millionmmc 8.2*10 mm3 27 9

Normal 5*10millionmmc 4-12*10mm3 28-42 8.5-13.5

Hematological findings of samples from clinical case post treatment:

Species of animal RBC WBC PCV% HB

Ox 7.2*10 millionmmc 4.6*10mm3 28 9.3

Ox 8.5*10 millionmmc 5*10mm3 30 10

Calf 9*10 millionmmc 5.5*10mm3 33 11

Calf 8.6*10 millionmmc 5*10mm3 30 10

Ox 7.9*10 millionmmc 4.8*10mm3 29 9.6

B.bull 9.5*10 millionmmc 6*10mm3 36 12

Mycobiota of Straw and fodder forage:

Revealed the growth of fungus Penicilliun spp in mycological medium on laboratory culture

Treatment

Use of 5% of Anti-Degnala liquor 5-19ml s/c or i/m alternate day 4 times a week has been found to be successful. Alternately orall use of Penta-sulphate is seems to be useful.

Importantly, affected animals should be sheltered from direct sunlight if possible. In dairy herds, affected cows should be dried off and shifted to low-risk pasture to ensure recovery and satisfactory future production.

Prevention and control

Although the basis of prevention of FE is stock management, one of the difficulties in preventing FE is predicting the occurrence of the disease.

Identify potential problem pastures and deal with them before high risk periods.

During high risk periods or during an outbreak, the following actions may help to minimize the intake of toxic pasture:

• Shift stock to the longest pasture possible, and try to avoid very close grazing.

• Avoid paddocks cut for hay or late-topped. These are likely to be more toxic because of greater quantities of pasture litter. If topping must be carried out, ensure topped material is removed.

• In general, paddocks sheltered by windbreaks or hills are more dangerous and should be avoided.

• It is believed that warmer northern slopes may carry higher spore numbers and should be avoided in favour of cooler southern slopes during outbreaks.

• Feed hay or other supplements to preserve ground feed and minimise close grazing of pasture. Don’t push stock to eat into the base of the sward where spore concentration is highest.

• Summer-growing crops are generally safer than pastures, and stock should be given as much access to these as possible where they are available.

• On irrigated farms, if pasture is short and grazing pressure is heavy, farm irrigation may be valuable if used immediately.

• Alternate grazing between native and improved pastures if feasible.

Conclusion:

High doses of zinc can be used to reduce liver damage and production losses, however this must be administered at the time of, or before, animals ingest sporidesmin. Daily drenching, in-feed and drinking water have been used to administer zinc. Slow-release intra-rumen zinc boluses are also used overseas, but are currently not available in Australia. There are potential side effects with prolonged zinc dosing and these should be discussed with your veterinarian.

Monitoring of pastures by undertaking spore counts is used in some countries to provide an early warning system.

References:

• Facial Eczema :Signs of diseaseOccurrencePrevention and controlTreatmenthttp://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/JBRN-6X95LG?open – was last published on 16 June 2007 by the Department of Primary Industries and Water.

• Facial eczema (FE)by Dr Marjorie Orr – veterinarian, veterinary pathologist and lifestyle farmer

• FACIAL ECZEMA:Methods of Prevention: by Norman Trevor Clare, M.SC., Chief Bio–chemist, Ruakura Animal Research Station, Hamilton. New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Vol. 105 (1962), “Further Progress in Facial Eczema Research” Smith, J. D., Clare, N. T., Lees, F. T.

• FACIAL ECZEMA:Sheep and Cattle Disease: by Norman Trevor Clare, M.SC., Chief Bio–chemist, Ruakura Animal Research Station, Hamilton. New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Vol. 105 (1962), “Further Progress in Facial Eczema Research” Smith, J. D., Clare, N. T., Lees, F. T.

• Facial eczema of sheep and cattle:Robin van der graaff,Attwood May,1998 AGO0822,Information note,Department of primary industries, © The State of Victoria, 1996 – 2007.This document was published on 31/05/2006 12:48:13.

• Facial Eczema Production Animal Clinical Toxicology http://vein.library.usyd.edu.au/links/pact/facialeczema.html 2008 feb 24.

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Samantha Spaletta prepares her livestock for exhibition in the 2009 Marin County Fair Barnyard.

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About Author

Dr.Kedar Karki
M.V.St.
Preventive Veterinary Medicine
Senior Vet. Officer
Central Veterinary Laboratory
Tripureswor Kathmandu Nepal