-- 2013 DCRC Annual Meeting, Indianapolis -- Calving Management: The First Step in a Successful Reproductive Program G.M. Schuenemann, S. Bas, and J.D. Workman Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine
Transition Period: What, How, Why, & When? Prior lact history TMR BCS Nutrition Vit & Minerals Dry Off & Late Gestation Health Immunizations Overcrowding Record-keeping Facilities/Design Dystocia Twins/Stillbirth BCS Economics Sire Environment Record-keeping Record-keeping Calving Protocols/Procedures DA/Ketosis Personnel Training NEB VWP Vit & Minerals RP Metritis/Edometritis Feed Inventory/Delivery Milk Fever NS Compliance to Protocols BCS Economics Diseases Early lactation Mastitis/Lameness Nutrition Sub-Endometritis Management AI tech NEB Diagnosis TMR BCS Record-keeping Heat Detection Sire Fertility Economics Nutrition Breeding & Lactation People Data management Semen Delivery Environment Synch protocols genetics Diseases
Percent of all calvings Prevalence of Calving-Related Events in US 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 18 7.8 12 Metritis RFM Preg Loss Goal:<2% 8.1 4.9 3.8 4 (6-39) (5-15) (8-28) (4-22) (3-8) (1-6) (3-6) Stillbirth MF DA Ketosis (USDA 2009; Schuenemann et al., 2011, JDS 94:5494-501; Brick et al., 2012, JDS 95:1894-1905; Santos et al., 2010, RDA VII:387-404; Santos et al., 2004, ARS 82:513-535)
>90% of Cows in Confinement Systems (UDDA, 2002; USDA, 2007)
Dairy Herd Performance Significant genetic (milk yield) and knowledge progress (nutrition, physiology, therapies) during the last 40 yrs Are we training human resources to meet the management demands of modern dairy cows? How about facility design? At the end of the day, PEOPLE performance will likely determine the RoI ($$$, $$$, $$$)
Cows Leaving the Herd Item Culling Reasons Mastitis Lamenes Reproductive problems Low production (UDDA, 2002; USDA, 2007) Once the cow/heifer is pregnant, calving is the main challenge with implications in the subsequent lactation and reproductive performance
Parturition Parturition is a process initiated by a cascade of hormonal and physical changes at the end of gestation (~276-279 days in cattle) Three stages: - Stage I (dilation of birth canal) - Stage II (labor or calf expulsion) - Stage III (passing fetal membranes) It progresses gradually from one stage to the next! (Noakes et al., 2001; Norman et al., 2009; Schuenemann et al., 2013)
Parturition and Hormone Profile (Source: Senger 1997; Pathways to pregnancy and parturition)
Normal Calf Delivery Forward or Anterior Backward or Posterior Estimated values: Forward or Anterior = 96% Backward or Posterior = 4% Multiple calves = 5% Breech = 1% (Hunter et al., 2013 JDS 96:383)
Monitor Calving Progress Appearance of the water bag Showing feet/nose of the calf Cow is sniffing the newborn calf Birth is completed
Reference Signs and Values for Holstein Cattle Signs of Normal Births Description References Appearance of the AS or feet of the calf outside the vulva Signs of calving progress Mean time since the appearance of the AS outside the vulva to birth Landmark references Evident every 15-20 minutes 70 minutes(*) Noakes et al., 2001 Schuenemann et al., 2011 Schuenemann et al., 2011 Noakes et al., 2001 Schuenemann et al., 2011 Mean time since the appearance of the feet of the calf outside the vulva to birth 65 minutes(*) Schuenemann et al., 2011 Time that a cow or first-calf heifer is in labor (abdominal contractions) 2 hours Gundelach et al., 2009 Schuenemann et al., 2011 Frequency of observation At least every 1 hour Schuenemann et al., 2011 (*) The mean times were estimated using the mean + 2 SD (standard deviation)
Guidelines for Assisted Extraction Guidelines for Assisted Births OBSERVATION Parturition Begins Normal Birth No Calving Progress INTERVENTION DECISIONS Normal presentation, position, and posture Extraction Possible Calf Alive/Dead Assisted Extraction Abnormal presentation, position, and posture No Progress within 30 min Correction Extraction Not Possible Calf Alive/Dead Call Your Veterinarian (Adapted from Schuijt and Ball, 1980)
Executing Calving SOPs within Herd Knowledge Skills Attitude Personnel Attitude: the way a person views something or tends to behave towards it
Personnel and Herd Performance Fully trained and competent workers know what to do and how to do it, and have the skills and abilities to do the work However, competent workers will often fail to perform effectively if they have a poor attitude due to conflict, lack of satisfaction, motivation, or communication Poor attitude will cause low work performance, affecting the overall herd performance
Stillbirth (%) Effect of Parity on Stillbirth 1 dairy herd; 3,870 births 14 (Hunter et al., 2013; JDS 96:383) 12 10 a ( a,b P < 0.05) 8 b 6 4 2 0 (n=1,403) PRIM (n=2,467) MULT
Stillbirth (%) Backward Presentation Increases the Risk for Stillbirth 1 dairy herd; 3,870 births 25 (Hunter et al., 2013; JDS 96:383) 20 a ( a,b P < 0.05) 15 10 b 5 0 (n=144) Backward (n=3,726) Forward
Stillbirth (%) Effect of Calving Ease on Stillbirth 1 dairy herd; 3,870 births 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 (Hunter et al., 2013; JDS 96:383) c d ( a,b P < 0.05) a b 1 2 3 4 Calving Ease (n=3,308) (n=254) (n=180) (n=128)
Percent Correct (%) Effect of Calving Training on Personnel Knowledge Level (Schuenemann et al., 2013 JDS 96:2671-2680) 18,000 cows 18 herds 70 workers 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 (*P < 0.05) * 65.5 Pre-Tests 86.4 Post-Tests
Effect of Personnel Training on Stillbirth Unresolved conflicts significantly affect personnel attitude Stillbirth (%) a (Schuenemann et al., 2011; JDS 94:483) 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 15.5 (*P < 0.05) * 6.5 Pre-Training Post-Training
Stillbirth (%) Effect of Communication at the Time of Personnel Shift Change on Stillbirth 14 12 (1 h before and 1 h after of shift change; 12 h/shift) a ( a,b P < 0.05) 10 8 6 b 4 2 (n=853) (n=3017) 0 (Hunter et al., 2013; JDS 96:383) PRIM 2 h MULT 10 h
Evaluación de la Higiene al Parto: Foto muestra un score 1 (Adaptado de Schreiner and Ruegg 2003; JDS 86:3460 3465) Score 1: Región del perineo esta libre de suciedad/estiércol (<2% de superficie) Completamente seca Score 2: Estiércol/suciedad es visible alrededor del perineo <10% de superficie Score 3: Región del perineo moderadamente cubierta con suciedad/estiércol >11-30% de superficie
OSU Veterinary Extension Gustavo M. Schuenemann, DVM, MS, PhD
Risk for Metritis (%) Effect of Hygiene Score on Metritis 40 (Ajusted for RP, herd, stillbirth, parity, and CE) 35 ( a,b P < 0.05) 30 a 25 a 20 15 b 10 5 0 (n=301) (n=117) (n=84) Score 1 Score 2 Score 3 Hygiene Score at Calving (Schuenemann et al., 2011; JDS 94:744)
Number of Births Sizing the Close-Up Pen 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 (2000-cow herd) 38 births Average = 38 births per week Range = 6-54 (or 16% - 142% of weekly average) Guideline: to avoid overstocking, plan for 162 stalls for the close-up period based on max average (140%) births per week (54 births/wk * 3 wks = 162 stalls) 54 6
Management of Close-Up Cows Although average births per week is a valuable metric, most producers are faced with calving ranges All these calculations assume cow grouping at dry-off and known calving date Add additional challenges for no-calving dates (bull bred first-calf heifers or cow, missing records, or unknown pregnancy status)
Additional Factors to Consider Season (winter-spring) (Lombard et al., 2007; JDS 90:1751 1760) Calving rate (# of births per unit of time) (Schuenemann et al., 2013; JDS 96:2671-2680.; Hunter et al., JDS 96:383) Heat Stress DMI and calcium balance Managing groups of cows/first-calf heifers Cow move and OB intervention (Villettaz Robichaud et al., 2013; Proudfoot et al., 2013) Dry Fresh Far-Off Close-Up Fresh
Colostrum: ~23 g of Calcium (range 8-35 g) (Kehoe et al., 2007 JDS 90:4108-4116; Tsioulpas et al., 2007 JDS 90:5012-5017)
Serum Ca 2+ within 48 h after Calving (Adapted from Reinhardt et al., 2011; Veterinary J. 188:122 124)
Motion Index Motion Index Is Possible to ID Cow prior to Parturition? (Titler et al., 2013 JDS 96:646; Titler et al., 2013 JDS 96:647) 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 Close-Up Pen Cow A - Assisted Calving Fresh Pen 0 6/17/2012 6/18/2012 6/19/2012 6/20/2012 6/21/2012 6/22/2012 6/23/2012 6/24/2012 6/25/2012 Cow B - Unassisted 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 Close-Up Pen Fresh Pen Calving 800 600 400 200 0 6/17/2012 6/18/2012 6/19/2012 6/20/2012 6/21/2012 6/22/2012 6/23/2012 6/24/2012 6/25/2012 ( 2013 GM Schuenemann)
Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude Matter for Effective Team Work The frequency of observation is critical to determining the onset of the AS or feet of the calf outside the vulva and calving progress These recommendations work best when dairy personnel monitor cows every 1 h around the clock (24/7)
What Makes an Effective Team? We are looking for a herd manager with PEOPLE skills, team builder (dirt under the nails experience) Owner Advisory Team (3) Herd Manager (1) Milking (10) Pre-partum & Calving (4) Fresh Cows & Hospital (4) Feeding (3) Hoof Trimming (1) Cow Pusher & Clean Stall (3) Reproduction (3) Maintenance (2) Records (1)
Managing the Working Environment Personnel: No resources for the tasks Day-off for Christmas or Holliday Pay raise or bonus (incentives) No-show worker Want to use cell phone Change of work shift (night vs day) Fix gate/water hose Restroom for women This is not my job! Want break Dryer/washer don t work Owner/Herd Manager: Be on time for your shift No-show worker No cell phone or texting while at work Pick up trash/clothing from lockers Improve milking routine Work as a team and communication High SCC and milk quality Keep accurate/readable records SOPs for safety/treatments SOPs for feeding/handling cows-calves Clean, clean, clean!
Areas for Consideration Personnel vision loss/impairment SOPs with pictures How Text May Look for Personnel with Vision Problems (Source: http://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/about/resources.htm)
Areas for Consideration Benchmark stocking density or # milking cows Ag Lenders and financial advisors Herd managers Be knowledgeable and aware of variation with herd metrics, but also must be able to manage a wide range of personalities and ID/solve personnel issues on a day-to-day basis Facility design I don t care factor
Number of Herds Pregnancy Rate in Dairy Herds (DMRS 2010; 8,211 herds) 700 >73% of Variation in PR is Due to Management/Environment (Schuenemann et al., 2013; on-gong study) 600 500 400 300 200 100 Bottom 10% ~ 8% Top 10% ~ 26% 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 21-day Pregnancy Rate
What the Top 10% of Dairy Herds Do for their Personnel? Training and re-training programs (personnel, manager, owner) Regular meetings with personnel Monitoring performance of personnel Herd managers focused on managing the working environment (e.g., conflicts, motivation, etc.) Offer incentives based on performance and year of service
Reprod Success Prevention is Key to Control Calving Related Events Reproduction! Pre-fresh Risk Factors Hypocalcemia Parity (dystocia) BCS at calving Uterine/metab diseases Cyclicity (cysts) CL Far-Off -21 d Close-Up Cows/Heifers Calving Stillbirth/RFM Metritis 10±3 PD PD 80 110 DIM Clinical-Behavioral Metrics Preventive Management Practices (Pursley et al., 1998; Lucy, 2001; Cerri et al., 2009; Santos, 2010; Giordano et al., 2012; Valenza et al., 2012; Herlihy et al., 2013; Nascimento et al., 2013)
For Effective Team Work, We All Have a Job to Do Award Winner This Is Not My Job (Source: http://myfavouritestuffs.com/that-is-not-my-job/51)
Collaborating dairy farms and personnel Practicing veterinarians Acknowledgements Graduate and undergraduate students Drs. W. Shulaw, D. Sanders, and E. Gordon COBA-Select Sires Research Fellow and the Epperson Scholarship SARE-NCR Professional Development Program
Gustavo M. Schuenemann Email: schuenemann.5@osu.edu; Ph: 614-292-6924 THANK YOU!