Medicine of High Milk Production Dairy Cows

- To get students acquainted with the main pathologies associated to the high production dairy cow (HPDC).
To analyze the basic aspects enabling the control of diseases with greater incidence on high production cows, with the aim of achieving the profitability of the productive activity of these females. This can be divided into the following specific objectives:
- To study the repercussions of nutritional diseases on dairy production.
- To study the effects of dairy production on reproductive efficiency.
- Assess the diagnosis methods of the different diseases linked to dairy production.

Expositive teaching:
It will be carried out in the classroom requested from the Faculty
BLOCK I MEDICINE (5 h)
Theme 1.- Metabolic energy syndrome. Negative energy banlance. Ruminal acidosis. Ketosis.
Theme 2.- Metabolic mineral syndrome. Hypocalcaemia, Fallen cow syndrome.
Theme 3.- Herd health and management. Foot diseases.
Theme 4.- Inmunitary system of HPDC. Differentials from nervous system diseases
Theme 5.- Diagnostic semiology of the high producing dairy cow. Sampling. Normal values. Parameters of health and disease.
BLOCK II, REPRODUCTION (9 h)
Theme 6.- Relationship between milk production and reproductive performance. Economic consequences of subfertility. Physiologycal changes associated to high milk production that influence fertility
Theme 7.- Causes of reduced fertility: metabolic stress, environmental and management stress, mastitis.
Theme 8.- Reproductive management strategies applied to improve fertility in high producing dairy cows: hormonal treatments. Automation of heat detection. Management of twin pregnancies.
Theme 9.- Genetic strategies to improve fertility in high producing dairy cows: fertility as object of genetic selection. Genomic selection. Control of inbreeding. Outcrossing with other dairy breeds.

Interactive teaching:
VLAP C1 (5 horas). Visit to the Experimental Farm in which the facilities, the welfare parameters on the animals and the productive and reproductive data will be evaluated..
VLAP C2 (5 horas) Visit to the Experimental Farm in which the different pathologies associated with production will be evaluated

GENERAL BIBLIOGRAFY

Church, D.E. (1993). El rumiante: fisiología digestiva y nutrición. Acribia, Zaragoza.
García Partida P.; Prieto F.; Gutiérrez C. (1999). Exploración clínica veterinaria. Ed. Universidad de León, León.
Manual Merck, de Veterinaria (2009) El manual Merck de veterinaria. 6ª ed. Oceano Centrum, Madrid.
Pastor Meseguer J. (2006). Manual de Propedéutica y Biopatología Clínica veterinarias. Mira, Zaragoza.
Radostits, O.M (ed) (2001) Herd Health: Food animal production medicine. WB Saunders Company
Radostits, O.M., Gay, C.G., Clive, C., Blood, D.C., Hinchcliff, K.W. (2001) Medicina Veterinaria: Tratado de las enfermedades del ganado vacuno, ovino, porcino, caprino y equino. Interamericana-McGrawHill. Madrid.
Radostits, O.M., Mayhew, I.G., Houston, D.M. (2002) Examen y diagnóstico clínico en veterinaria. Harcourt. Madrid.
Rebhun, WC. (1999). Enfermedades del ganado vacuno lechero. Acribia, Zaragoza.
Rosenberger, G. (2005) Medicina Interna y Cirugía del Bovino. Ed. Intermédica. Buenos Aires. (Argentina)
Rosenberger, G. (1983) Enfermedades de los bovinos. I y II. Hemisferio Sur, Buenos Aires. (Argentina)
Rosenberger G. (1994). Exploración clínica de los bovinos, 3ª ed. Hemisferio Sur, Buenos Aires. (Argentina)
Smith, B.P. (2019) Large animal internal medicine. 6rd ed. Mosby Inc, St. Louis.
Suttle, N.F. (2010) The mineral nutrition of livestock. 4rd ed. CABI Publishing, Wallingford.
Hansen PJ (2007). Improving Dairy Cow Fertility through Genetics. Proceedings 44th Florida Dairy Production Conference, Gainesville
Hopper RM (2015) Bovine reproduction. Willey-Blackwell. Oxford (UK)
Womack, JE (2012) Bovine genomics. Willey-Blackwell. Oxford (UK)

General Competencies
GVUSC01. Ability to learn and adapt.
GVUSC02. Capability for analysis and synthesis.
GVUSC04. Planning and work management.
GVUSC05. Capability to put knowledge into practice.
GVUSC06. Capability to work both independently and as part of a team.
GVUSC09. Capability to communicate in different areas.

Specific Competencies Disciplinary
CEDVUSC 03. Livestock breeding, genetic improvement, management and animal welfare.
CEDVUSC 08. Knowledge and diagnosis of the various animal diseases, both individual and collective, and its prevention measures with special emphasis on zoonoses and notifiable diseases.
CEDVUSC 10. Knowledge of the techniques applicable to domestic animals, including those with direct influence on animal and human health.
CEDVUSC 11. Knowledge of the functional and optimization bases of plant and animal production systems and its environment impact.
CEDVUSC 13. To know the organizational, economic and management aspects in all fields of the veterinary profession.
CEDVUSC 14. To know the veterinary rules and laws, as well as animal trade regulations.
CEDVUSC 16. To know the basic analytical techniques and its interpretation.

Specific Professional Competencies
D1VUSC 03. Perform standard laboratory tests, and interpret clinical, biological and chemical results.
D1VUSC 04. Diagnose common diseases using complementary protocols and diagnostic techniques.
D1VUSC 09. Implement basic procedures to ensure proper reproductive activity, and carry on technological processes to solve obstetric problems.
D1VUSC 10. Identify raw materials for animal feeding and management of dietary programs appropriate to the species and condition of the animals.
D1VUSC 11. Evaluate and interpret health and production parameters of an animal group, considering the economic, environmental and welfare aspects, and seeking their optimization.
D1VUSC 14. Conduct a risk assessment, including those related to environmental and biosafety, as well as assessment, management and monitoring of quality management systems.

Specific Academic Competencies
CEAVUSC 01. Analyze, synthesize and solve problems and make decisions within the scope of the Veterinary profession.
CEAVUSC 02. Be aware of the ethical responsibilities of the veterinary profession in relation to the society.
CEAVUSC 03. Disclose information obtained during the Veterinary professional practice in a easy oral and written way, with other colleagues, authorities and society in general.
CEAVUSC 04. Search and manage information related to veterinary practice.
CEAVUSC 05. Know and apply the scientific method in professional practice, including evidence-based medicine.
CEAVUSC 08. Being aware of the need to keep profesional

Transversal competences
CTVUSC 01. Capacity for reasoning and argument.
CTVUSC 02. Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information by various means such as literature and Internet information, and critically analyze it.
CTVUSC 03. Ability to develop and present an organized and understandable text.
CTVUSC 04. Ability to make a clear, concise, and consistent public presentation
CTVUSC 05. Skill in the use of ICTs.
CTVUSC 06. Use information in a foreign language.
CTVUSC 07. Ability to solve problems through the Integration and application of knowledge.

The methodology to teach the subject will be based on the master class, team work and individualized work (through study, organized work or access to specific computer programs for reproduction control).
In the theoretical class we will make use of plenty of audiovisual media (slides, videos, sound recordings, web sites) with the aim of introducing the essential contents which will be reinforced in the practical sessions. Finally, different real clinical situations, taken out from clinical cases presented by veterinary professionals in various forums are presented.
In the practical sessions, carried out with animals in different sites, the teachers will present the general guidelines for the practice to be carried out. From then on, and during the rest of the time, the student, in small groups, will work on the different contents suggested. The duration of each session will vary according to the syllabus. At all times the student will count on the guidance of the teachers present. Likewise, all the necessary material will be available for carrying out the different diagnostic tests, getting the student introduced into the knowledge of their management.

Problem based learning: Some of the contents about reproduction will be taught using this method. Lectures on reproduction will consist of 4 expositive hours, computer practice y 5h of clinical practices. After a presentation to explain what is this block about, computer and bibliographic tools will be available so that the students can evaluate the problema case. The problema will consist of performing an audit on a dairy farm. After data collection, the students will have to explain which is the current situation of the farm, with especial emphasis on its main strengths and weaknesses, and propose measures for improvement.

A continuos evaluation of student progress will be done, having into account active participation of the students on interactive and expositive sessions, as well as assays submitted during the course.

Attendance at scheduled activities will be compulsory, but the scores obtained in the previous course in the practical sessions will be kept.

In cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, will be applied the guidelines for evaluating academic performance of students and scores review.

Classroom work

Master classes: 14h
Clinical practice: 10h
Tutoring in small groups: 3h
computer practice: 3h
Total hours of classroom work: personal 30h

Work student

Individual study: 20h
Elaboration of works: 8h
Literature review, library, etc.: 5h
Resolutions of cases/troubleshooting: 7h
Examinations: 5h
Total personal student work hours: 45h


Total student work: 75horas

Because of the teaching methods used in this subject, attendance to lectures is mandatory; lectures will be highly useful to understand the practical sessions addressing specific aspects of the HPDC. For an optimal achievement the student is recommended to have passed the following subjects: anatomy, physiology, epidemiology, agrarian economy, propedeutics, general pathology, pathologic anatomy, nutrition, genetics, infectious and parasitic diseases, and reproduction and obstetrics I and II; to make the long story short: please, have all the subjects imparted in previous courses approved.