Mastitis in Dairy Cows – How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Udder Inflammation
Mastitis, or udder inflammation, is one of the most common and costly health issues in dairy farming. It particularly affects high-yielding cows and can lead to serious financial and health-related losses. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what mastitis is, how to recognize it, treat it effectively, and most importantly – how […]
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Foot-and-Mouth Disease – A Serious Threat to Livestock
Foot-and-mouth disease (Aphthae epizooticae) is a highly contagious viral illness that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. Caused by a virus from the Picornaviridae family, the disease poses a major threat to animal health and has severe economic and epidemiological consequences. Outbreaks require immediate isolation of infected animals and the enforcement of strict […]
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Doppler in Dairy Cattle Reproduction
For some time now, ultrasound machines equipped with Doppler functionality have been increasingly used in cattle reproduction. The examination technique itself does not differ from classical rectal ultrasonography—the key difference lies in the presence of Doppler, which enables assessment of blood flow in blood vessels. This gives veterinarians an additional tool to optimize reproduction in […]
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Doppler in dairy cattle reproduction – is it worth it?
Doppler ultrasonography is becoming an increasingly common tool in field practice for veterinarians working in cattle reproduction. While the examination technique resembles classical rectal ultrasound, the key difference lies in its ability to assess blood flow in blood vessels. This single function opens up entirely new diagnostic possibilities and allows for more informed reproductive management […]
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Ovarian Cysts, Follicular Cysts, and Luteal Cysts
Ovarian cysts are pathological ovarian follicles that have not undergone ovulation, typically measuring between 25 mm and 50–60 mm in diameter. It is important to note that postpartum “cysts” occurring within 40 days after calving are considered physiological and not pathological. Only after this period, if the cysts persist, can they be identified as a […]
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Ovarian acyclicity and dysfunction
Ovarian acyclicity is one of the most common reproductive disorders in dairy cows, which consists in complete or partial inhibition of the ovarian activity, including the processes of follicle formation and growth, which are necessary for normal insemination. In high-performance herds, acyclicity should be a sporadic problem. When the number of the affected cows is […]
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The cow’s normal reproductive cycle and ovarian anatomy
Ovarian anatomy The cow’s two ovaries are located in the abdominal cavity, next to the kidneys. They are responsible for the production of eggs (oocytes) and sex hormones, including oestrogens and progesterone. The ovaries consist of two main parts: 1. the cortex – the outer layer where follicles develop; the follicles contain immature eggs (oocytes) […]
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HORMONAL CONTROL OF COW REPRODUCTION
Today, it is impossible to imagine managing the reproduction and breeding of dairy cows without the introduction of hormonal programmes. Hormonal control of reproduction offers numerous benefits, the most important of which are: 1) Easier farm management – The farmer knows when breeding will occur or when preventive measures, such as vaccinations, will take place. […]
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Through the eyes of a veterinarian: HEIFERS
Heifers are growing animals aged between 6 months and 18-24 months, until their first calving. Just like calves, they are the future of every farm, but often after weaning, they are treated as secondary, while this group, in the phase of intensive growth, deserves equal attention. Do we realise that heifers are the potential for […]
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