Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T16:26:22.420Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Factors associated with body temperature of healthy Holstein dairy cows during the first 10 days in milk

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2011

Vishal Suthar ,
Onno Burfeind ,
Stephanie Bonk ,
Rainer Voigtsberger ,
Caroline Keane  and
Wolfgang Heuwieser
Vishal Suthar
Affiliation:
Sustainable Dairy Reproduction Program, Clinic of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Koenigsweg 65, 14163 Berlin, Germany
Onno Burfeind
Affiliation:
Sustainable Dairy Reproduction Program, Clinic of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Koenigsweg 65, 14163 Berlin, Germany
Stephanie Bonk
Affiliation:
Sustainable Dairy Reproduction Program, Clinic of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Koenigsweg 65, 14163 Berlin, Germany
Rainer Voigtsberger
Affiliation:
Sustainable Dairy Reproduction Program, Clinic of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Koenigsweg 65, 14163 Berlin, Germany
Caroline Keane
Affiliation:
Pfizer Animal Health, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9NJ, United Kingdom
Wolfgang Heuwieser*
Affiliation:
Sustainable Dairy Reproduction Program, Clinic of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Koenigsweg 65, 14163 Berlin, Germany
*
*For correspondence: w.heuwieser@fu-berlin.de
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In this prospective observational study rectal and vaginal temperature of 82 (26 primiparous, 56 multiparous) early post-partum healthy dairy cows that calved without intervention within 3 months and did not show clinical signs of infectious and metabolic diseases were continuously measured and evaluated for associations with plausible factors during the first 10 days in milk (DIM). During May, June and July mean (±sd) temperature humidity index (THI) was 60·1±5; 66·8±5·6 and 74·2±4·3, respectively. Environmental conditions had a negligible effect on body temperature (BT) during May (P<0·05). During June and July, however, the ambient temperature and THI influenced BT (P<0·05). Furthermore, plausible factors like parity, DIM, months and time of day had an effect on BT (P<0·05). Overall, primiparous cows demonstrated 0·2°C greater BT during the first 10 DIM than multiparous cows. The effect of parity, however, on BT varied between DIM according to month (P<0·001). During this 3-month study period all cows demonstrated BT rhythms; however, the amplitude of BT increased from May to July (0·3 to 0·7°C). A greater proportion of the vaginal temperature measurements exceeded a threshold tested (⩾39·5°C) during July (46·8%) than in June (33·9%) and May (19·3%). Overall the percentage of BT values above a threshold of ⩾39·5°C was lower during the period 6.00–10.00 compared with the remaining 20 h (P<0·05). Therefore this study concluded that the BT of healthy post-partum dairy cows during the period 1–10 DIM post partum is greater compared with the reference range of 38·6 to 39·5°C reported by others and is influenced by parity, DIM, time of day and THI. When the association between BT and THI increased the reliability of threshold levels of BT (⩾39·5°C) decreased.

Keywords

Body temperatureearly post-partum periodheat stressdairy cow
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 79 , Issue 2 , May 2012 , pp. 135 - 142
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aoki, M, Kimura, K & Suzuki, O 2005 Predicting time of parturition from changing vaginal temperature measured by data-logging apparatus in beef cows with twin fetuses. Animal Reproduction Science 86 1–12CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Benzaquen, ME, Risco, CA, Archbald, LF, Melendez, P, Thatcher, MJ & Thatcher, WW 2007 Rectal temperature, calving-related factors, and the incidence of puerperal metritis in post-partum dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 90 2804–2814CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bewley, JM, Einstein, ME, Grott, MW & Schutz, MM 2008 Comparison of reticular and rectal core body temperatures in lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 91 4661–4672CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown-Brandl, TM, Nienaber, JA, Eigenberg, RA, Hahn, GL & Freetly, H 2003 Thermoregulatory responses of feeder cattle. Journal of Thermal Biology 28 149–157CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burfeind, O, von Keyserlingk, MAG, Weary, DM, Veira, DM & Heuwieser, W 2010 Short communication: Repeatability of measures of rectal temperature in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 93 624–627CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burfeind, O, Sepúlveda, P, von Keyserlingk, MAG, Weary, DM, Veira, DM & Heuwieser, W 2010 Technical note: Evaluation of a scoring system for rumen fill in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 93 3635–3640CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chenault, JR, McAllister, JF, Chester, ST, Dame, KJ, Kausche, FM & Robb, EJ 2004 Efficacy of ceftiofur hydrochloride sterile suspension administered parenterally for the treatment of acute postpartum metritis in dairy cows. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association 224 1634–1639CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Drillich, M, Beetz, O, Pfützner, A, Sabin, M, Sabin, HJ, Kutzer, P, Nattermann, H & Heuwieser, W 2001 Evaluation of a systemic antibiotic treatment of toxic puerperal metritis in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 84 2010–2017CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dubuc, J, Duffield, TF, Leslie, KE, Walton, JS & LeBlanc, SJ 2011 Effects of postpartum uterine diseases on milk production and culling in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 94 1339–1346CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edmonson, AJ, Lean, IJ, Weaver, LD, Farver, T & Webster, G 1989 A body condition scoring chart for holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 72 68–78CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hahn, GL 1999 Dynamic responses of cattle to thermal heat loads. Journal of Animal Science 77(E-Suppl_2) 10–20CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hellmann, K & Radeloff, I 2000 International cooperation on harmonization of technical requirements for registration of veterinary medicinal products. ICH; Bruxelles.BelgiumGoogle Scholar
Iwersen, M, Falkenberg, U, Voigtsberger, R, Forderung, D & Heuwieser, W 2009 Evaluation of an electronic cowside test to detect subclinical ketosis in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 92 2618–2624CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kadzere, CT, Murphy, MR, Silanikove, N & Maltz, E 2002 Heat stress in lactating dairy cows: a review. Livestock Production Science 77 59–91CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kendall, PE, Nielsen, PP, Webster, JR, Verkerk, GA, Littlejohn, RP & Matthews, LR 2006 The effects of providing shade to lactating dairy cows in a temperate climate. Livestock Science 103 148–157CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kendall, PE, Tucker, CB, Dalley, DE, Clark, DA & Webster, JR 2008 Milking frequency affects the circadian body temperature rhythm in dairy cows. Livestock Science 117 130–138CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kendall, PE & Webster, JR 2009 Season and physiological status affects the circadian body temperature rhythm of dairy cows. Livestock Science 125 155–160CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kristula, M, Smith, BI & Simeone, A 2001 The use of daily postpartum rectal temperatures to select dairy cows for treatment with systemic antibiotics. The Bovine Practitioner 35 117–125CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mader, TL, Davis, MS & Brown-Brandl, T 2006 Environmental factors influencing heat stress in feedlot cattle. Journal of Animal Science 84 712–719CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nakamura, RM, Araki, CT, Clarke, NL & Kam, LWG 1983 Temperature telemetry studies in dairy cattle in hot climates. American Society of Agricultural Engineers National Conference Agricultural Electronics Applications pp. 464–469Google Scholar
Overton, MW, Sischo, WM & Reynolds, JP 2003 Evaluation of effect of estradiol cypionate administered prophylactically to postparturient dairy cows at high risk for metritis. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association. 223 846–851CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Palenik, T, Dolezel, E, Kratochvil, J, Cech, S, Zajic, J, Jan, Z & Vyskocil, M 2009 Evaluation of rectal temperature in diagnosis of puerperal metritis in dairy cows. Vetrinarni Medicina 54 149–155CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Radostits, O, Arundel, J & Gay, C 2000 Veterinary medicine: A textbook of the diseases of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses. 9th Edition. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier Health SciencesGoogle Scholar
Rollin, E, Berghaus, RD, Rapnicki, P, Godden, SM & Overton, MW 2010 The effect of injectable butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin on postpartum serum β-hydroxybutyrate, calcium, and phosphorus concentrations in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 93 978–987CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sheldon, IM & Dobson, H 2004 Postpartum uterine health in cattle. Animal Reproduction Science 82/83 295–306CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sheldon, IM, Lewis, GS, LeBlanc, S & Gilbert, RO 2006 Defining postpartum uterine disease in cattle. Theriogenology 65 1516–1530CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sheldon, IM, Rycroft, AN & Zhou, C 2004 Association between postpartum pyrexia and uterine bacterial infection in dairy cattle. Veterinary Record 154 289–293CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, BI, Donovan, GA, Risco, C, Littell, R, Young, C, Stanker, LH & Elliott, J 1998 Comparison of various antibiotic treatments for cows diagnosed with toxic puerperal metritis. Journal of Dairy Science 81 1555–1562CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, BI & Risco, CA 2005 Management of periparturient disorders in dairy cattle. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 21 503–521Google ScholarPubMed
Suthar, VS, Burfeind, O, Patel, JS, Dhami, AJ & Heuwieser, W 2011a Body temperature around induced estrus in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 94 2368–2373CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Suthar, VS, Burfeind, O, Patel, JS, Dhami, AJ & Heuwieser, W 2011b Endogenous and exogenous progesterone influences body temperature in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science (in press)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vickers, LA, Burfeind, O, von Keyserlingk, MAG, Veira, DM, Weary, DM & Heuwieser, W 2010 Technical note: Comparison of rectal and vaginal temperatures in lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 93 5246–5251CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wagner, SA, Schimek, DE & Cheng, FC 2008 Body temperature and white blood cell count in postpartum dairy cows. Bovine Practitioner 42 18–25CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wenz, JR, Moore, DA & Kasimanickam, R 2011 Factors associated with the rectal temperature of Holstein dairy cows during the first 10 days in milk. Journal of Dairy Science 94 1864–1872CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhou, C, Boucher, JF, Dame, KJ, Moreira, M, Graham, R, Nantel, J, Zuidhof, S, Arfi, L, Flores, R, Neubauer, G & Olson, J 2001 Multilocation trial of ceftiofur for treatment of postpartum cows with fever. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association 219 805–808CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed