From the very beginning cattle was linked to the pastures and countryside. Development of the animal production and limited land resources pushed producers to keep cattle in places where they would be collected together. That solution helps to run breeding and husbandry procedures more efficiently. However, even with the support of genetics and management, modern agriculture faces problems related to indoor system. There is a dilemma among farmers to keep animals indoor or outdoor. In the following material attempt will be taken to analyse factors related to grazing and cattle welfare issues. This work will not only focus on Hungarian or European agriculture issues. Experiences and animal policies related to grazing cattle from different countries and regions of the world were also collected. Actions taken in one part of the world might be not applicable in another. However, it is still interesting to see how agricultural production affects nature resources and communities. There is the same background off all stories related to grazing cattle - sustainable development and particular lobby behind. Whether there is a farmer, holding, enterprise or animal welfare organisation. There is only a question if this is going to be more economical or ethical approach.

The profitability of cattle farming is largely determined by ensuring high-quality breeding animals for replacement and longevity in production. The provision of breeding animals requires adequate fertility of the cowherd and then intensive weight gain in the calf rearing period. For ensuring these demands, many management aspects must be considered. Continuous monitoring of the herd’s health status, including redox status, is essential. This review aims to provide a summary of relevant scientific data published in the last few decades regarding the role of oxidative stress (OS) in infertility of dairy cows and developmental diseases in calves, the major predisposing factors, and possible prevention.

The aim of this work was to determine the changes of redox indicators such as reactive oxygen metabolites (dROMs), plasma antioxidant test (PAT) and the oxidative stress index (OSI) in dairy cows at different stages of lactation using a diagnostic equipment which is suitable for in vivo oxidative stress (OS) monitoring procedures. In total, 628 dairy cows were examined in the pre-parturient period (days in milk [DIM]: -21 to -1 day; n = 117), in the calving and maternity period (DIM: 0 to 7; n = 137), in the early lactation period (DIM: 8 to 30; n = 139), and the in the peak lactation (DIM: 31 to 150; n = 235). The dROMs and OSI values were significantly different (P < 0.05) when comparing the 1st and 2nd+ lactation cows in each group. The highest mean value of dROMs was detected at the calving and maternity stage in 1st lactation cows (141 ± 25 U. Carr) and the lowest (103 ± 29 U. Carr) was found in peak lactation. The OSI developed similarly, with the highest value of 5.58 ± 0.94 in the calving and maternity period in the 1st lactation cows and the lowest value of 4.05 ± 1.21 in peak lactation and significant differences were found in many cases. Based on the results, the measurement of dROMs and OSI may be suitable for detecting oxidative stress in different lactation stages.

The aim of this study was to determine whether measurements of certain metabolic (non-esterified fatty acid, beta-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, total protein, albumin, urea-nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, total calcium, inorganic phosphate and magnesium) and endocrine (cortisol, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, insulin and insulin-like growth factor) parameters in the peripartal period (2 months and 3 weeks before expected calving and within 1 hr after calving) were related to the prevalence of stillbirth in a Holstein-Friesian farm in Hungary. All together 155 dairy cattle (n = 22 primiparous, n = 133 multiparous cows) were monitored in two separate years selected randomly on the same farm. Overall, the prevalence of stillbirth was 11% (n = 17). Significantly higher stillbirth rate was detected in case of heifer calvings (OR = 8.5), and when >= 3 assistants (severe dystocia; OR = 8.9) were needed to assist at calving while the body condition score of the dams, the bodyweight and gender of the newborn calves, the percentage of posterior presentations had no significant effect on stillbirth rate. There were no significant differences between cows without and with stillbirth in case of any measured metabolic and endocrine parameters during the examined time periods. At the same time, some of the metabolic parameters (TP, AST and inorg.P) showed some significant differences among the stillbirth groups, but stillbirth could not be predicted by the measured parameters and therefore the role of metabolic and/or endocrine changes on the prevalence of stillbirth needs further elucidation.

Two, non-antibiotic feed additives (Dys-1 and Trial-D1) developed for prevention and alleviation of clinical symptoms of swine dysentery (SD) were studied in an infection model. The feed of two groups (Dys-1, Trial-D1) contained one of the additives and similarly to the third group (T-2) T-2 toxin (2 mg/kg) as well. After 19 days of intake all of the four groups ('Control' group too which did not consume T-2 toxin and any additives) were inoculated with fresh colon scraping of SD affected pigs via gastric tube, Form, appearance and consistency of faeces following the infection was qualified by a 5-grade (0-4) scoring system. Fisher exact probe demonstrated that frequency of diarrhoea scores depended on treatments. Average live weight and daily weight gain of Dys-1 pigs were found superior to that of the others. Gross pathologiacl lesions of SD were foun d exclusively in pigs that showed the clinical signs of the disease at the time of exsanguination. Data of the present experiment justifies further improvement of Dys-1 and semi-field trials with the upgraded additive. The infection model, with minor alterations, seems suitable for further studies with sd

Herd level assessments of claw health status were performed in 8 Hungarian dairy cattle herds. The locomotion and body condition were scored in 2663 animals. The prevalence and severity of tameness varied among herds. There was a negative correlation the between body condition score and locomotion score. Digital dermatitis was the most important hoof problem in the assessed herds. On the basis of the results, there are several factors associated with poor claw health, the most important one are: lack of early detection of tame animals, improper foot bathing protocol, delay in the treatment of tame animals, poor environmental hygiene and poor cow comfort.

A study was conducted in 2001 to screen the incidence rate of subclinical metabolic disorders in large-scale dairy herds in Hungary. The screening involved 75 Holstein Friesian dairy farms and the data represent about 45 000 cows of 3-6 years of age. Clinically healthy cows, selected randomly from groups of dry cows 1-10 days prior to expected calving (Group I., n=454) and from postparturient cows 1-7 (Group II., n=360), 8-30 (Group III., n=580) and 31-90 days (Group IV, n=485) after calving and were subjected to a metabolic profile test. Data of the present investigation are comparable to the figures we obtained in the previous 10 years and reported elsewhere (Brydl et al., 1997; 1998 and Könyves et al., 2001). Likewise to screening data of the previous years high incidence of energy imbalance, aciduria (subclinical acidosis), inadequate protein supply, carotene shortage, and inappropriate sodium-, copperand zinc supplementation was detected among the groups tested. In comparison with data of the previous years no substantial change was observed with respect to occurrence rate of metabolic disorders

The study evaluated the effects of crimped corn preserved either with organic acids or with a microbial inoculant on a range of metabolic and production indicators of dairy cows. Two hundred and sixty in-calf, second and third parity cows were selected into pairs on basis of age, parity, milk production in previous lactation, days in milk and body condition score with the greatest possible conformity within pairs. Cow pairs were assigned into a 2-period crossover experiment (2 × 45 days) and kept in separate groups within the same shed. Dietary treatments were TMR with crimped corn preserved with either organic acids (treatment K) or microbial inoculant (treatment B). Ten superbly matched cow-pairs were selected to form nucleus pairs for metabolic studies. The preservatives had no effect on the nutrient content of crimped corn. Crimped corn preserved with the microbial inoculant were found mouldy, predominantly with Mucor sp. at a number high enough to inhibit the growth of lactic acid bacteria, and had significantly higher pH and ammonium concentration compared to the chemical treatment. The milk yield of treatment K cows was significantly higher than that of treatment B cows with identical feed intake. Blood beta-hydroxy-butyrate concentration was lower and blood aspartate amino transferase activity higher with treatment K compared to treatment B. Results of this study suggest the superiority of total mixed rations containing chemically preserved crimped corn in terms of ammonia and microbiological indicators of crimped corn, significantly higher milk yield, and balanced energy metabolism.

The Department of Animal Hygiene, Herd Health and Veterinary Ethology took part in a European FP7 project between November 2012 and November 2014. The goal of the project was to test the applicability of different precision livestock farming technologies in swine herd environment. The tested technologies were cough detection system, animal activity quantification system feeder level daily feed consumption measuring system. The authors summarize their experiences about the tested technologies and formulate considerations that can be useful for practitioner veterinarians and farmers regarding utilization of other precision livestock farming systems as well.