Biomedical subjects

P Sulpice

Publications and source records attributed to P Sulpice.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1994

Postpartum anestrus in French beef cattle: an epidemiological study.

Postpartum anestrus of lactating beef cows was studied by means of an epidemiological study carried out on 878 lactating beef cows in 60 French herds. The cows calved between October 1992 and March 1993 and were housed 2 mo after calving, when the anestrus status was determined by progesterone radioimmunoassays. Data analysis was performed using a multiple logistic model in order to adjust for confounding and interaction. Fifty-one percent of the primiparous and 23% of the multiparous cows were found to be in anestrus. Factors significantly related to anestrus were parity (primiparous); breed (Charolais); housing type (tie housing); suckling (compared to weaning at birth); and, among those that were under the control of the farmer, calving conditions (manual exploration of the birth canal); body condition score at calving (3 or less, on a 5-point scale); and loss in body condition score after calving (1 point or more within 2 mo). Previous reproductive performance for multiparous cows such as a long calving interval and induced estrus in the previous year also appeared to be related to anestrus.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Databases save time and improve the quality of the design, management and processing of ecopathological surveys.

The example of an ecopathological survey on nursing ewe mastitis shows that data bases have 4 complementary functions: assistance during the conception of surveys; follow-up of surveys; management and quality control of data; and data organization for statistical analysis. This is made possible by the simultaneous conception of both the data base and the survey, and by the integration of computer science into the work of the task group that conducts the survey. This methodology helps save time and improve the quality of data in ecopathological surveys.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Risk factors of dairy cow lameness associated with housing conditions.

In 1987, an ecopathology survey was carried out in 160 French dairy farms in order to specify lesions typical of laminitis and heelhorn erosion and to assess their risk factors. Three podal affections were characterized: chronic laminitis; subacute laminitis; and heelhorn erosion. Concerning the building for livestock, the risk factors of heelhorn erosion were associated with poor hygiene, while the risk factors of subacute laminitis were linked to uncomfortable housing conditions: high steps and slopes, and discomfort when lying down and getting up. No risk factor of chronic laminitis linked to the building for livestock was identified.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A field study on estrus detection in lactating beef cattle.

Estrus detection efficacy and heat detection protocol were studied by means of a field study carried out on 878 lactating beef cows in 60 French herds. Average herd size was 48, and 75% of the farmers partly or exclusively used artificial insemination. The cows were calved between October 1992 and March 1993. Estrus was recorded daily by the farmers. Cycling status was determined by progesterone radioimmuno-assay 2 months after calving. The relationship between the estrus detection protocol and the delay period from calving to first observed estrus was analysed using survival curves and the Cox proportional hazard model, adjusting for confounders. Seventy-one percent of the cows were seen in estrus by the farmers; the interval between calving and the first observed estrus ranged from 9 days to more than 5 months and the median was 56 days. Two months after calving, 44% of the cycling cows had not been seen in heat by the farmers and 11% of the non-cycling cows had been reported to have been in estrus. The heat detection protocol varied widely between farmers, depending on the considered estrus signs, schedule and time spent looking for signs. Two factors were significantly related to a shorter interval from calving to first observed heat: the use of artificial insemination (which relates to the farmer's interest in heat detection) and an overall daily time spent for heat detection greater than 1 h. Cows in tie stalls had a delayed interval to the first observed estrus. These results show that many farmers did not adapt their reproduction practice sufficiently to an earlier calving period. There is room for improvement since in many cases the heat detection protocol does not match the required standards for optimal heat detection.

Anestrus↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Assessing the accuracy of the practice of a method of scoring the body condition of ewes within a professional framework].

The accuracy of the body condition scoring for ewes using lumbar palpation was assessed by mean of an experiment conducted under conditions close to those occurring everyday on the farms. Thirteen operators evaluated the body condition score twice in a sample of 48 Lacaune breed dairy ewes, using a semi-quantitative grid (from 0 to 5 points, with a 0.25 point precision). Under the experimental conditions, the repeatability of the method, i.e. the comparison between the scores given by the same operator to the same animals for the two successive scoring notations, was good and even very good (Kappa test), if a 0.25 point precision is tolerated. On the other hand, the reproducibility, i.e. the comparison between the scores given to the same animals by differents operators was poor. Therefore, this method is easy to master for the management of a given flock by a single person. However in order to make comparisons between flocks, in reference to body condition standards set up for different farming systems, this method needs greater precision. Some of the application conditions required for this are discussed.

Animal Husbandry↗