Keynote Speakers & Topics

Prof. Munashe Chigerwe, BVSc, MPH, PhD, DACVIM, MSc Vet Educ 

Prof. Arcangelo Gentile, Dipl. ECBHM

Neurological Diseases

Practical Approach To The Neurological Diseases of Cattle

The neurological investigation forms an integral part of the clinical investigation. The most practical aspect of the neurological investigation together with some examples of neurological diseases in cattle will be presented.

Prof. John F. Mee, PhD, MVM, MVB, MRCVS, Dipl. ECBHM, FRCVS

Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases

The Dairy Cow Transgenerational Metabolic Disease Complex

The dairy cow transgenerational metabolic disease complex. This lecture will discuss the impacts of dysregulation of maternal metabolism on the foetus and offspring of dairy cows with regards to colostrogenesis and immunity, health and growth.

Prof. Sarne De Vliegher, DVM, MSC, PhD, Dipl. ECVPH

Mastitis

Bovine Mastitis: What's New?

Bovine mastitis remains an important challenge for dairy farmers world wide. Where before it was possible to cover up management flaws with antibiotics, this option has become less accepted by society and prophylactic use has been prohibited through European legislation at the same time. Now is the right time to resume all that we have learned to prevent and control mastitis yet adapted to this new reality.

Prof. Dr. Árpád Csaba Bajcsy, Dipl. ECBHM

Reproduction

What Characterises Contractility of The Early Postpartum Uterus And How Can It Be Stimulated In Dairy Cows?

In dairy farms, the postpartum period is of particular importance regarding to the success of subsequent conception. The role of a proper smooth muscle activity of the uterus after calving to promote emptying of its cavity and shrinking it, thereby supporting the physiological processes of involution, seems obvious. Various treatments are used world-wide to facilitate and regulate these changes during the early stage of the puerperium. Among them, a few ones are targeting to enhance contractility of the uterus. The real effects of treatments with certain drugs used to stimulate early postpartum uterine contractility will be illustrated during the presentation.

Prof. Dr. Ottó Szenci, PhD, DSc, Dipl. ECBHM

Reproduction

Recent Possibilities for Diagnosing Early Pregnancy and Embryonic Mortality in Dairy Cows

Pregnancy diagnosis plays an essential role in decreasing days open in dairy farms, therefore it is very important to select an accurate method for diagnosing early pregnancy. Besides traditional pregnancy diagnoses made by rectal palpation of the uterus from 40 to 60 days after AI and measuring the serum or milk progesterone concentration between 18 to 24 days after AI, there are several new possibilities to diagnose early pregnancy in dairy farms, however, it is very important to emphasize that before introducing any new diagnostic test we need to make sure the accuracy of that particular test in order to be able to decrease the rate of iatrogenic pregnancy losses caused by prostaglandin or resynchronization treatments.

Attila Dobos DVM, MSc, PhD, MRCVS

Infectious Diseases

Prevalence of Coxiella Burnetii in Dairy Cattle and Farm Workers and Associated Bovine Reproductive Disorders in the Central European Region

Current information on Q fever in dairy cattle farms in the Central and Eastern European region was limited. The prevalence of Q fever is highly variable by country. The main reservoirs of the disease are the same domestic ruminant species everywhere, but the epidemiological profile depends on the features of the specific reservoir. The high Coxiella burden in dairy farms underlines the importance of controlling the disease.

Prof. Dr. Vet. Med. Alexander Starke Dipl. ECBHM

Lameness

Surgery of the Foot in Cattle

The high prevalence of severe or long-lasting lameness is not only a welfare issue, but currently also one of the major causes of culling in the dairy population. The currently high prevalence of lame cows in dairy farms can be traced back to a high incidence of claw diseases, but also to individual animals with a severe insult on the foot or of cases that have been chronically lame for long periods. The reason for the second group is, that cases of common, uncomplicated claw disorders, because of inadequate or late treatment, become profound septic inflammatory processes of the corium can develop and spread to neighbouring structures. In most these cases radical surgical treatment is necessary. The challenge is to establish treatment methods that can be carried out under conditions in dairy farms and with acceptance of the owner. The presentation will illustrate, that even under field conditions cows with complicated claw disorders can have the same life expectancy as their unaffected herdmates when appropriate surgical treatment and aftercare is provided. 

Univ. Prof., Dr., Walter Baumgartner, Dr.h.c., Dipl. ECBHM

Herd Health and Management

Relationship of Clinical Examination and Antibiotic Use in Cattle

Many veterinarians increasingly prefer to work from their home offices around the world and therefore forego an exact clinical examination of individual sick cattle, sheep and goats directly in the stables on the farms. Whether this leads to the correct diagnosis of a disease can be doubted. For this reason, antibiotics and other drugs are used far too often as therapy, but also for prevention. Why do many veterinarians no longer use the clinical examination of ruminantson a regular basis?