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Dairy Science DigestAuthor: reaganbluel
Dairy Science Digest - a podcast developed to share the MOST current research published in the Journal of Dairy science. Hear directly from the research authors on how their results can impact your herds profitability. Science you can base your management decisions around. Designed to rarely exceed 30 minutes, this podcast provides ONLY the need to know info for dairy producers. Keywords: dairy, science, reproduction, production, extension, cattle, MIZZOU, MU, Dairy Team, #2xAg2030 Language: en Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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DSD 7.4 | Impact of infection on mammary development in pregnant heifers
Episode 71
Wednesday, 15 April, 2026
The trajectory of the success for a dairy cow begins with mammary development, long before lactation begins. Dr. Benjamin Enger, Associate Professor for The Ohio State University in Wooster, has worked with his team for years to best understand how infection can change the development and if the timing of infection impacts that response. He was specifically interested in Staphylococcus aureus (SA), a common contagious pathogen in dairy farms. To study this, 21 bred heifers at three stages (6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 months) of pregnancy were inoculated, and tissue samples were collected 21 days later to determine the damage done. In this edition, there is much discussion about the physiology of mammary gland development and how different stages of pregnancy impacts progress towards lactation. Understanding the development of the mammary, will likely illuminate the importance of seemingly meniscal management steps. Analyzing your farm’s data could hold the key to eliminating what might be the source of this devastating pathogen. Listen in today to learn more! Topics of discussion 1:40 Introduction of Dr. Ben Enger 3:08 Project set up 3:47 Knowledge gained in projects leading up to this hypothesis 6:53 What is mammary epithelial cells (MEC) and stromal cells 10:18 How did Staph Aureus (SA) impact amount of MEC and stromal cells in infected quarters 13:21 Cellular changes in heifers 6.5 vs 8.5 months pregnant 17:00 Cellular differences between the edge tissue vs the center (pic p4) 18:40 Duration of impact as the result of SA infection in pregnant heifers 20:54 How does SA get into calves prior to freshening? 22:53 Did you observe immunotolerance in the pregnant heifers? 25:53 What do you want ‘boots on the ground’ dairymen to know about your project 27:26 Experimental increase of milk using blanket therapy to heifers precalving 28:17 Examine first test SCC in first calf heifers 27:20 What do you want ‘boots on the ground’ dairymen to know about your project Featured Articles: Impact of Staphylococcus aureus intramammary infection on cellular proliferation and apoptosis on developing mammary glands of pregnant dairy heifers Supporting article: Impact of intramammary infections on mammary gland development in pregnant dairy heifers during late gestation #2xAg2030; #journalofdairyscience; #openaccess; #MODAIRY; #SA; #staphaureus ; #SA; #mammary; #mammarydevelopment; #heifer; #milk; #dairysciencedigest; #ReaganBluel
