Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy.
BMC Vet Res. 2013 Oct 1;9:191. doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-191.
Proper calving management of dairy herds is a crucial aspect of the bovine life cycle, as it has profound effects on calf viability and on the post-partum course of the dam. The objectives of this study were to monitor the calving process through the use of a remote alarm system and to determine the impact of prompt emergency obstetric procedures in case of dystocia for the prevention of stillbirths and post-partum reproductive pathologies, and for improving herd fertility. Six groups of experimental animals were studied: monitored heifers (n = 60) and multiparous cows (n = 60) were compared with non-observed animals (n = 60 heifers and n = 60 multiparous) giving birth during the same time period and housed in the calving barn, and with unmonitored animals placed in a dry zone (n = 240 heifers and n = 112 multiparous cows).
The incidence of dystocia ranged from a minimum of 23.4% (monitored multiparous cows) to a maximum of 33.3% (monitored heifers), and there were no differences compared with control groups. However, the rate of stillbirth was higher in control groups than in the monitored groups (P < 0.01). Among both heifers and multiparous cows, the incidence of post-partum uterine infections was higher in the unmonitored animals both in the calving barn (P < 0.01) and in the dry zone (P < 0.05) compared with monitored animals. Among both heifers and multiparous cows, the control groups showed higher rates of foetal membrane retention than did the monitored groups (P < 0.001). The calving-to-conception interval was shorter; in particular, observed heifers showed a significant advantage of approximately 46 days compared with the unmonitored group (P < 0.001) and 32 days compared with the group in the calving barn (P < 0.05). Multiparous cows also had a reduction in the number of days open.
The remote alarm system used to monitor the calving process assured the prompt presence of personnel, improving both the cow's reproductive efficiency and neonatal viability.
奶牛养殖过程中，科学的接产管理是牛生命周期中的一个关键环节，因为它对犊牛的成活率和产后母牛的身体状况都有深远影响。本研究的目的是通过使用远程报警系统监测产犊过程，并确定在出现难产时及时采取紧急产科措施，以防止死胎和产后生殖系统疾病的发生，从而提高牛群的繁殖力。本研究共观察了 6 组实验动物：监测后备牛（n=60）和经产奶牛（n=60）与同期在产房分娩的非监测后备牛（n=60）和经产奶牛（n=60）以及在干牛舍的非监测后备牛（n=240）和经产奶牛（n=112）进行比较。
难产的发生率从最低的 23.4%（监测经产奶牛）到最高的 33.3%（监测后备牛）不等，与对照组相比无差异。然而，对照组的死产率高于监测组（P<0.01）。后备牛和经产奶牛中，在产房（P<0.01）和干牛舍（P<0.05）中，未监测动物的产后子宫感染发生率均高于监测动物。后备牛和经产奶牛中，对照组的胎膜滞留率均高于监测组（P<0.001）。产犊到配种的间隔时间更短；特别是，与未监测组相比，监测后备牛的间隔时间有显著优势，约为 46 天（P<0.001），与产房组相比，间隔时间有 32 天的显著优势（P<0.05）。经产奶牛的开配天数也有所减少。
用于监测产犊过程的远程报警系统确保了人员的及时出现，提高了奶牛的繁殖效率和新生犊牛的成活率。
