Retrospective study using biosensor data of a milking Holstein cow with jejunal haemorrhage syndrome

Vet Med (Praha). 2023 Sep 28;68(9):375-383. doi: 10.17221/73/2023-VETMED. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Jejunal haemorrhage syndrome (JHS) is a sporadic and fatal enterotoxaemic disease in dairy cows associated with acute development and poor prognosis despite treatment. A 5-year-old Holstein cow with no reported pregnancy, three calving numbers, and 303 days in milk presented with hypothermia, discomfort, and inappetence. Anaemia, dehydration, faeces with blood clots, and absence of rumen and bowel movements were observed. We identified the presence of neutrophilia, hyperglycaemia, hypoproteinaemia, azotaemia, hyperlactatemia, hypocalcaemia, hypermagnesemia, hypokalaemia, and hypochloraemia through blood analyses. Necropsy and histopathologic examination revealed a dilated bluish-purple jejunum, blood clots within the jejunum, neutrophil infiltration into the submucosa of the jejunum, and vascular necrosis. Retrospective examination revealed extraordinary patterns of rumination time, activity, rumen mobility, and rumen temperature using biosensors and decreased milk yield. The abnormalities in the affected cow were detected before recognition by farm workers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to examine data from biosensors in a cow with JHS. Our findings suggest that using biometric data may help understand the development of JHS.

Keywords: Bos taurus taurus; automated monitoring system; blood analysis; haemorrhagic bowel syndrome; necropsy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

Grants and funding

Funded by “The improvement of animal diseases control in National Institute of Animal Science” project at the National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea (Project No. PJ01567603).