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The Research Column

by Heinz Meissner

Click on any of the publications below to read more about the specific topic:

 

Title Date Discipline Extract Keywords
Effect of 2 different pre-milking teat sanitation routines on reduction of bacterial counts on teat skin of cows on commercial dairy farms.

Discipline: management: Key words: pre-milking udder preparation, teat, hygiene, milking.
Bacterial counts on teat skin and in new sand, recycled sand, and recycled manure solids used as bedding in freestalls.

Discipline: housing: Key words: mastitis,

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE OF MASTITIS-CAUSING PATHOGENS AND BACTERIOCINS AS ALTERNATIVE CONTROL METHOD

Discipline: mastitis; Key words: antibiotic resistance, biofilm, Staphylococcus aureus, bacteriocin, Caenorhabditis elegans, in vivo screening platform.
The influence of ultra-pasteurization by indirect heating versus direct steam injection on skim and 2% fat milks.

Discipline: sensory; Key words: fluid milk, ultra-pasteurization, direct steam injection, flavour, consumer acceptance.
Production and economic responses to intensification of pasture-based dairy production systems.

Discipline: economics; Key words: profitability, marginal response, supplementary feed, marginal economics. 
Evaluation of an ear-attached movement sensor to record cow feeding behaviour and activity.

Discipline: management; Key words: sensor technology, dairy cow behaviour, ruminating. 
Addition of meloxicam to the treatment of bovine clinical mastitis results in a net economic benefit to the dairy farmer.

Discipline: mastitis; Key words: bovine clinical mastitis, fertility, economics, animal health management. 
Economic and epidemiological impact of different intervention strategies for clinical contagious mastitis

Costs associated with clinical udder infection can be divided into treatment costs, costs of mortality through culling (replacement of culled animals) and indirect costs from production losses. Intervention for clinical cases usually consists of (mainly within udder) antibiotic treatment. However, in light of its connection with antimicrobial resistance, it may be prudent to search for alternative interventions. For instance, culling cows with clinical mastitis could be a viable alternative.
Meta-analysis on carbon sequestration through Conservation Agriculture in Africa.

South Africa is 13th on the list of highest emitters of global greenhouse gases GHG). Despite this is Africa still the smallest contributor to GHG emissions among the continents, yet the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The effects will not be limited to rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns, but also to increased severity and frequency of droughts, heat stress and floods. Agriculture is not only impacted upon by climate change but also contributes to global warming.
Grain source and chromium supplementation: Effects on health, metabolic status, and glucose-insulin kinetics in Holstein heifer calves.

The nutritional and pharmacological advantages of chromium (Cr) for animals and humans have been well established. Trivalent Cr is a component of chromodulin which is involved with insulin regulation, and thereby associated with the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and lipids. The signs of Cr deficiency include impaired nutrient metabolism, lower sensitivity of the peripheral tissues to insulin, compromised immunity and decreased weight gain and health status, specifically under stressful conditions.

 calf, chromium-methionine, insulin sensitivity, starch source.