Robert J. Harmon

• BSc, MS, PhD
• Professor Emeritus at University of Kentucky

Can compost-bedded pack barns hold their own against sand-bedded freestalls?

COMPOST-bedded pack barns can be a great place to house dairy cows. Certain challenges come with them, though, including the availability of bedding, when to add new bedding, and how the barn environment affects the bedding and the cows. Unlike freestalls or tie stalls, managing a compost-bedded pack does not have an easy indicator such as “the sta...

A farm-level stochastic model was used to estimate costs of 7 common clinical diseases in the United States: mastitis, lameness, metritis, retained placenta, left-displaced abomasum, ketosis, and hypocalcemia. The total disease costs were divided into 7 categories: veterinary and treatment, producer labor, milk loss, discarded milk, culling cost, e...

The objective of this study was to describe relationships among compost bedded pack barn (CBP) measurements (moisture, internal temperature, nutrient content, and bedding bacterial counts), ambient weather conditions, and udder health. Data was collected every 2-weeks (n = 25 visits) from 8 Kentucky dairy farms with CBP from May 2013 to May 2014. A...

The objective of this study was to assess differences between compost bedded pack (CBP) and sand freestall barns (SFB) for mastitis indicators (herd clinical mastitis, SCC, high SCC prevalence (% of herd ≥ 200,000 cells/mL SCC), and BTSCC), and locomotion, hygiene, and hock scores. This study was conducted on commercial Kentucky dairy farms using C...

Currently, diagnosis of Parascaris equorum infection in equids is limited to patent infections. The goals of this study were to culture P. equorum larvae in vitro and identify excretory-secretory (ES) products for prepatent diagnostic testing. Parascaris equorum L2/L3 larvae were hatched and cultured for up to 3 weeks for ES product collection. Fif...

Abstract Text: The objective of this research was to describe the relationships among SCC, mastitis infection prevalence (MIP, percent of cows with SCS>3.9), and mastitis pathogen distribution (MPD) in 8 compost bedded pack (CB) and 7 sand freestall (SF) farms in Kentucky from May 2013 to January 2014. The same observer evaluated cow hygiene scor...

Abstract Text: As we move forward in meeting the global food demands of 2050, food safety will continue to be a high priority. Consumers have an increased interest in how their food is produced, where it is produced and is it safe and healthy for their families. In contrast, we have movements that seem to be counter to providing a safe and wholesom...

Abstract Text: The objective of this study, conducted at the University of Kentucky Coldstream Dairy, was to evaluate changes in rumination time (RU), lying time (LT), reticulorumen temperature (RT), and neck activity (NA) around subclinical hypocalcemia (SHC) and ketosis (SKET) events. Fresh cows (90 Holstein, 19 crossbred, and 11 Jersey cows) wer...

The effect of organic or inorganic dietary Cu on Escherichia coli mastitis was investigated in first-lactation heifers. Twenty-eight primigravid Holstein heifers were assigned to 3 treatments in a completely randomized block design with 10 blocks of 3 animals grouped by expected calving date. Treatments were as follows: basal diet [7.1 mg Cu/kg of...

The role of dietary copper in enhancing resistance to Escherichia coli mastitis was investigated in first-lactation heifers. Twenty-three primigravid Holstein heifers were maintained on a basal (6.5 ppm copper; -Cu) diet or a diet supplemented (20 ppm) with copper sulfate (+Cu) beginning 60 d prepartum through 42 d of lactation. Liver biopsies and...

A total of 60 pigs from 15 litters were used during two experiments to assess the effects of maternal supplementation of Cr tripicolinate on performance and immune status of the offspring during the first 42 d after weaning. Gilts were raised on diets with either 0 (-Cr) or 200 (+Cr) ppb supplemental Cr from Cr tripicolinate. Their offspring were w...

A total of 36 gilts were used to assess the effects of Cr tripicolinate supplementation on immune response in sows and their offspring during the periparturient and neonatal period. Gilts were raised from weaning to reproductive age on diets with either 0 (-Cr) or 200 (+Cr) ppb supplemental Cr from CrPic. Subsequently, 22 gilts (9 -Cr and 13 +Cr) i...

Myofibrils isolated from post-rigor chicken Pectoralis major (PM, white) and Gastrocnemius (Gas, red) muscles were irrigated with various concentrations of NaCl (0.1–1.0 M) with or without 10 mM sodium pyrophosphate at pH 5.5 and 6.0. Structural changes were examined using phase contrast microscopy. PM myofibril samples tended to show more definiti...

Myofibrils isolated from post-rigor chicken Pectoralis major (PM, white) and Gastrocnemius (Gas, red) muscles were irrigated with various concentrations of NaCl (0.1-1.0M) with or without 10 mM sodium pyrophosphate at pH 5.5 and 6.0. Structural changes were examined using phase contrast microscopy. PM myofibril samples tended to show more definitiv...

Physical changes in chicken gastrocnemius myofibrils incubated in 0.1 to 1.0 M NaCl solutions with or without 10 mM ortho-(P), pyro-(PP), tripoly-(TPP) or hexameta- (HMP) phosphate at pH 6.0 were examined by phase-contrast microscopy, electrophoresis, and solubility. PP and TPP performed similarly in promoting protein extraction, P had no apparent...

In a replicated 2-yr study, 32 Holstein cows in midlactation were fed diets containing tall fescue hay that was free of or infected with endophyte and with or without added vitamin E in a 7-wk trial to examine the effect of vitamin E supplementation on symptoms associated with fescue toxicosis. Treatments were 1) uninfected tall fescue, 2) tall fes...

Eight Holstein and 8 Jersey primiparous cows (3 d postcalving) and 8 Holstein and 8 Jersey growing heifers were randomly assigned to 1 of 8 treatments in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement to compare Cu metabolism between Holsteins and Jerseys and the bioavailabilities of Cu in Cu proteinate and CuSO4. The variables were Holstein or Jersey, Cu suppl...

Beginning at wk 5 of lactation, 136 cows (34 per treatment) were supplemented daily for 38 wk with 0, 10.3, 20.6, or 41.2 mg of recombinantly derived bST monomer. Cows were obtained from University of Kentucky, University of Minnesota, University of Pennsylvania, and The Ohio State University. Nine cows (4 at 0 mg/d, 1 at 10.3 mg/d, 1 at 20.6 mg/d,...

Effects of dietary copper insufficiency on bovine blood neutrophil function were evaluated. Dairy heifers were maintained on a basal (6-7 mg Cu/kg diet) or copper-supplemented (20 mg Cu/kg diet) diet beginning 84 d prepartum. At approximately 35 d postpartum, heifers were bled for neutrophil isolation 1 d prior to and 2 d following intramammary inf...

Staphylococcus aureus produces one or more enzymes with lipolytic activity, but differences between strains have been reported (Owens and John 1975; O'Toole 1987; Rollof et al. 1987). The biological and biochemical properties of these enzymes have been investigated and results were recently reviewed (Kötting et al. 1984). Baird-Parker medium (Baird...

Studies were undertaken to determine immunological effects of subclinical copper deficiency in the bovine. Ten primigravid Holstein heifers were maintained on a basal (6-7 ppm Cu; n = 5 heifers) or copper-supplemented (20 ppm; n = 5 heifers) diet beginning 84 d prepartum. Blood mononuclear cells were isolated at approximately 90 d of lactation. Mon...

Mastitis is defined as an inflammation of the mammary gland. The inflammation is a response of the tissue to injury. The purposes of the inflammatory response are to destroy or neutralize the injurious agent and allow healing and return to normal function. A key component of inflammation is the influx of white blood cells or leukocytes which result...

Inflammation of the mammary gland that results from the introduction and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in the mammary gland is a complex series of events leading to reduced synthetic activity, compositional changes, and elevated SCC. The magnitude and temporal relationships of these responses vary with nutritional status, other animal...

Staphylococcus aureus (n = 75) isolated from mammary secretions of cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis from several geographic locations in the USA were examined using polymerase chain reaction-based DNA fingerprinting. DNA fingerprints were produced using a synthetic oligonucleotide primer (5'GTAACGCC3') to produce a distinct spectrum of a...

Udder health is typically overlooked but critically important in heifers. Mastitis pathogens of the contagious as well as environmental groups have been implicated in mastitis in heifers. Procedures considered for control of heifer mastitis include prepartum treatment in primigravid heifers, separating preweaned calves to prevent suckling, fly cont...

Eighteen multiparous Holstein cows were assigned randomly to three treatments at the beginning of the dry period (8 wk before expected parturition). Treatments were: 1) the basal diet containing 5.5 ppm of Cu (control), 2) the basal diet supplemented with 10 ppm of Cu, and 3) the basal diet supplemented with 20 ppm of Cu. The objectives were to mea...

During a 14-mo period, 77 multiparous and 36 primiparous cows were sampled to determine the prevalence of staphylococci during the periparturient period. Distal streak canal swabs were taken at 14 d prepartum, and foremilk was sampled the first 5 consecutive wk of lactation. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 7.6% of quarters of primiparous co...

A series of experiments was conducted to define the role of cortisol in the hypogalactia during endotoxin-induced mastitis. In the first experiment, three of six nonmastitic cows were given a continuous infusion of trilostane, a 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor that blocks enhanced cortisol synthesis. Trilostane had no effect in these...

Thirty multiparous lactating Holstein cows were blocked according to time of calving and assigned to a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design to evaluate the effects of two dietary energy concentrations either without or with bST (20.6 mg/d per cow) administered to cows that had not or had received bST durin...

Midlactation cows were infused with 10 micrograms endotoxin in the same two homolateral quarters after each of several consecutive milkings to study the effect of prolonged, endotoxin-induced mastitis on lactational performance. The initial infusion induced an acute response with systemic involvement. Inflammation developed in infused quarters, and...

Healthy, midlactation cows were given intramammary infusions of 10 micrograms of endotoxin in two homolateral quarters. Productive, inflammatory, and systemic responses were studied to investigate the pathophysiological effects of mastitis on lactational performance. Endotoxin suppressed milk yield in all quarters of treated cows. A more severe and...

Nonpregnant lactating cows were given 100 micrograms of endotoxin via the jugular vein to determine effects of intravenous endotoxin administration on mammary inflammation and lactational performance. At the first milking (11 h) posttreatment, milk yield was reduced 33%. Milk fat percentage was elevated at this time, but lactose concentration was d...

Twelve Holstein steers in a completely randomized block design were fed either a basal diet (concentrate:silage or hay at a DM ratio of 35:65) plus Cu sulfate at 20 ppm of Cu (Cu-supplemented diet) or a basal diet plus ammonium molybdate to obtain 10 ppm of Mo (Cu-depleting diet) on a DM basis in the whole diet for 8 mo. Supplemental Mo was utilize...

Twenty-four Holstein and Jersey calves (14 Holstein), 4 to 11 d of age, were assigned randomly to six treatments in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement to examine the effects of Cu sources and dietary cation-anion balance on Cu availability and acid-base balance. Treatments were cationic basal diet (20 meq of dietary cation-anion balance on a DM basis),...

Microbiological data from 1123 uninfected quarters and 216 quarters with preexisting coagulase-negative staphylococci infections were analyzed to determine the influence of infection status on subsequent new infection rate. Overall, prevalence of new infections in uninfected quarters was approximately two times that in quarters already harboring a...

As part of a project to identify the pathophysiological cause or causes of mastitic hypogalactia, midlactation cows were infused in two homolateral quarters with 10 micrograms of endotoxin while being milked four times daily to resolve better the temporal changes in mammary synthetic activity during endotoxin mastitis. Milk fat was decreased by the...

The body sites of 163 heifers, bedding and feedstuff samples, flies, and hands and nares of the research personnel were sampled in order to determine the sources of Staphylococcus aureus in a dairy herd other than the lactating mammary gland. Lesions on the udder of lactating animals and the air in the milking parlor were also sampled. Staphylococc...

The susceptibility of uninfected or Staphylococcus chromogenes-infected quarters to challenge with Staphylococcus aureus was measured. Seventeen S. chromogenes-infected quarters were challenged by infusion of S. aureus into the teat sinus; 47% (8 of 17) became infected and all 18 uninfected quarters challenged similarly with S. aureus became infect...

Sandwich enzyme immunoassays were developed to facilitate the measurement of serum albumin and lactoferrin concentrations in bovine whey samples. The procedure involved a biotinylated second antibody, an avidin-peroxidase enzyme conjugate, and a reaction product whose absorbance was measured at 490 nm. For both the serum albumin and lactoferrin ass...

Protocols recommended by the National Mastitis Council for determining efficacy of experimental postmilking teat dips in preventing intramammary infections are detailed. Three protocols are designed 1) to determine efficacy of a teat dip in preventing new intramammary infections following experimental exposure of teats to mastitis pathogens, 2) to...

Bovine mammary secretions from individual quarters were collected from five cows at 0, 14, and 28 d of involution, at parturition, and 14 d after parturition and used in a microassay to evaluate growth of several Staphylococcus species. All Staphylococcus species evaluated followed similar growth patterns in secretions. Mammary secretions obtained...

Twenty-one, middle to late lactation Holstein cows were assigned to one of three treatments in a completely randomized design to examine physiological changes associated with intramammary or intravenous administration of Escherichia coli endotoxin. Treatments were 1) Hank's balanced salt solution infusion in two contralateral quarters (control), 2)...

A fluorogenic assay for the detection of beta-glucosidase was developed as part of a simplified conventional method to distinguish Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus hominis isolated from bovine body sites. The assay is based on the fact that strains of S. warneri produce beta-glucosidase, while strains of S. hominis do not.

Thirty-three biochemical characteristics were compared for 855 staphylococci isolated from human (93) and bovine sources (762). Differences in the predominant Staphylococcus species present and biochemical characteristics of species were observed for isolates from bovine milk and human clinical sources as well as between milk isolates obtained duri...

Heifers (n = 103) ranging in age from 1d to 2 yr were sampled to determine the coagulase-negative staphylococcal flora of haircoat, nares, vagina, teat skin, and streak canal. A total of 2706 staphylococal strains were identified from 3612 bacterial isolates. Other genera or groups identified included Bacillus, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium, and col...

Responses to prepartum injection of sows with Se and vitamin E (E) were evaluated by determining immunoglobulin (IgA, IgM, IgG) levels in the colostrum and serum of the sows and the serum of their offspring. Fifty-four sows (40 multiparous, 14 primiparous) receiving diets adequate in E and Se according to current NRC (1988) standards were randomly...

A greater percentage of DNase-positive strains was detected with DNase test agar than with DNase test agar containing 0.005% methyl green or 0.005% toluidine blue (P less than 0.01). No significant differences were obtained in the percentage of phosphatase-positive strains with the four methods compared. On the basis of ease of use, P agar containi...

A phage typing set composed of 13 phages is described for characterizing Staphylococcus epidermidis. Isolates (372) from cases of bovine mastitis were used in this study. Of these, 350 or 94% were successfully delineated, and 63 phage types were observed. Twenty two cultures were not typeable.

Six ruminally fistulated Holstein cows were utilized in a randomized block design to examine effects of yeast culture supplement on ruminal metabolism and apparent digestibility. Cows were fed a diet of 40% corn silage and 60% concentrate (DM basis). Treatments were control (supplement without yeast cells) and yeast culture supplement. Treatment pe...

The efficacy of Baird-Parker agar, Baird-Parker agar with bacitracin (0.8 μg/ml), Baird-Parker agar supplemented with acriflavin (7 μg/ml), polymyxin (20 units/ml) and sulphonamides (55 μg/ml), KRANEP agar, mannitol salt agar, and Staphylococcus medium 110 agar for the isolation and enumeration of Staphylococcus species was investigated. Bovine blo...

The efficacy of an acrylic latex barrier teat dip with germicide on new infections at parturition was tested on 113 cows and heifers during the prepartum period. A split udder design was used in which right quarters were undipped controls and left quarters were dipped with latex dip once daily for approximately 14 d prior to parturition. Distal str...

Four primiparous, ruminally fistulated, lactating Holstein cows were assigned to a 4 X 4 Latin square to study the effects of NaHCO3 infusion time on ruminal milieu and systemic acid-base balance. Sodium bicarbonate, approximating .8% of diet DM, was mixed with water and infused into the rumen for 1, 2, 4, or 6 h postfeeding to simulate different t...

Forty-four first lactation heifers were fed NaCl (23 and 136 g/d) or KHCO3 (0 and 272 g/d) beginning 42 d prepartum and continuing to 10 d postpartum to study the influence of these salts on udder edema and selected blood parameters. Addition of NaCl or KHCO3 singly to the diet significantly increased the severity of udder edema, but the addition o...

A simple agar plate system based on susceptibility to lysostaphin and bacitracin to differentiate between staphylococci and micrococci is described. The system also uses susceptibility to novobiocin to aid in identification to species level of staphylococci. Growth from the agar plate can be used to prepare inocula for inoculation of rapid identifi...

Five Holstein steers (276 kg) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were used to study the effect of buffers on rumen parameters, turnover and abomasal gastric secretions. In a 5 × 5 Latin square design, treatments were control, 0.8% magnesium oxide, 0.8% sodium bicarbonate, 0.96% limestone and 0.8% magnesium oxide + 0.8% sodium bicarbonate. Di...

Two experiments were conducted to examine dietary effects of .8% sodium bicarbonate and 1.4 kg/d of alfalfa hay on performance and rumen metabolism of lactating dairy cows fed 50% wheat silage and 50% concentrate (dry basis). In Experiment 1 with 12 midlactation Holsteins in a 4 X 4 Latin square design, intake, milk production, and milk composition...

The possibility exists that antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents will be used indiscriminately in attempts to reduce leukocyte or somatic cell counts in mammary secretions to conform with Interstate Milk Shippers quality standards for raw milk to be implemented July 1, 1986. Recent in vivo studies evaluating the effect of intramammary drug inje...

A total of 156 dairy cows was randomly assigned to one of four groups at drying off over an 18-mo period: untreated control or intramammary treatment of each mammary quarter with either 400 mg novobiocin, 300 mg cephapirin, or 1 g dihydrostreptomycin with 1 million units penicillin. Quarter foremilk samples were aseptically collected from each cow...

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of endophyte (Acremonium coenophialium) toxic tall fescue seed on serum prolactin, daily feed intake, and average daily weight gain in male rats. Thirty Sprague-Dawley male rats (218 g) were randomly assigned to treatments of (I) rat chow (50%) plus an endophyte-free tall fescue seed (50%), (II)...

Thirty-six Holstein cows were fed a diet of 50% concentrate and 50% corn silage (dry matter) for 12 wk postpartum. Treatments were 0, .4, and .8% magnesium oxide with or without .8% sodium bicarbonate in a 2 X 3 factorial arrangement. Dry matter intake was not different among treatments although the combined buffers had higher intake. Milk producti...

Efficacy of an iodine backflush system for reducing new intramammary infection was tested in two 11-wk trials. Forty cows in each trial were paired by breed, age, stage of lactation, and intramammary infection status. Each pair was assigned randomly either to a group milked with clusters that were reverse flushed with water, 25 ppm iodine, water an...

The DMS Staph-Trac system was evaluated as a means for identifying the species of bovine strains of staphylococci routinely isolated from quarter-milk samples. The species identity of 83 of 91 (91.2%) isolates of staphylococci was correctly determined by this method. One isolate could not be identified by this system. The Staph-Trac system was able...

Seeds of the tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb .) cultivars Kentucky 31 and an experimental ryegrass X tall fescue hybrid derivative strain (G1-307), and orchard grass (OG) seed were fed in a carrier diet to calves in controlled environmental rooms (31 to 32 C). Both tall fescue varieties produced symptoms of summer toxicosis in dairy steers...

In three trials, young Holstein steers housed in restraint type crates in a controlled environment room were fed tall fescue hay or seed diets to determine the ability of the diets to produce signs of summer syndrome. Trial 1 examined the effects of dehydration and extended storage of G1-307 fescue compared to alfalfa on dairy steers. Calves fed G1...

The API Staph-Ident system was evaluated as a means for identifying the species of bovine strains of staphylococci routinely isolated from quarter-milk samples. The species identity of 314 of 581 (54%) isolates of staphylococci was correctly determined by this method. The API Staph-Ident system was more accurate in correctly identifying Staphylococ...

Twenty-four cows each in two trials were paired on age, stage of lactation, and projected milk production to compare the incidence of mastitis with milking two or three times per day over 12 wk. Teats of all cows were dipped daily in a suspension of Streptococcus agalactiae (one of two strains). Average daily milk production for the combined trials...

The process of neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) migration in the bovine mammary gland during experimental Staphylococcus aureus challenge was studied using light and electron microscopies. The PMN were observed in various stages of margination in capillary lumens and migration into perivascular spaces. In infected tissue showing littl...

The lactoferrin ( lf ) concentration of bovine blood and milk neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes ( pmn ) was determined and an estimate made of the pmn contribution to the elevated lf concentrations in milk during inflammation of the mammary gland. The mean blood and milk pmn concentrations of lf were 8.63 and 2.98 μg/10 ⁶ pmn , respectively...

An experimentally induced Escherichia coli infection of a bovine mammary gland resulted in a 30-fold increase in lactoferrin (Lf) concentration in the mammary secretion by 90 h postinoculation and a 4-fold increase in total daily production of Lf by 264 h postinoculation in the infected quarter. A simultaneous rise and fall of bovine serum albumin...

The mean lactoferrin (Lf) concentration determined by electroimmunodiffusion ( eid ) assay of whey preparations from 80 quarters of 20 normal lactating cows was 0.35 mg/ml. The mean α -lactalbumin ( α - lac ) and bovine serum albumin ( bsa ) concentrations were 2.01 mg/ml and 0.29 mg/ml, respectively. The mean cell count was 250,000 cells/ml. The L...

Summary Seeds of the tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) cultivars Kentucky 31 and an experi- mental ryegrass  tall fescue hybrid derivative strain (G1-307), and orchard grass (OG) seed were fed in a carrier diet to calves in controlled environmental rooms (31 to 32 C). Both tall fescue varieties produced symptoms of summer toxicosis in dair...

Fuente: 1998 NMC Regional Meeting Proceedings, pp 40-50. Introducción Los conteos de células somáticas (SCC) están fácilmente disponibles para cada productor lechero en los EE.UU. mensualmente y a los productores en la mayoría de los países desarrollados. Los mismos son aceptados como un estándar internacional de calidad de leche y, por esta razón,...

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio State University. Bibliography: leaves 98-109.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Guelph, 1977. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-157). Microfiche of typescript.