• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1699-1707
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• 2000

Thirty-one multiparous Bos indicus${\times}$Bos taurus cows were offered concentrate supplements based on (1) 2 kg wheat bran; (2) 4 kg wheat bran; and (3) concentrate (30 maize: 67 wheat bran) at 0.5 kg per 1.0 kg milk produced, in a one year study in India. All supplements also contained 2 parts of a mineral mixture and 1 part salt. Cows were allocated to treatments at calving on parity (2nd and 3rd calf) with 13, 8 and 10 cows respectively in treatments 1, 2 and 3. They were individually fed for whole lactation, the basal diet being ad libitum berseem clover plus 2 kg wheat straw in the cool season/winter (period 1) and chopped maize in summer (period 2). Diets with berseem offered TDN and CP contents of 67.6, 18.2; 65.5, 16.8; and 67.5, 16.8 percent; and with maize fodder 62.6, 12.0; 62.6, 12.5; and 63.3, 12.5 percent for treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Total dry matter (DM) intakes (1) 9.9 kg, (2) 10.9 kg and (3) 11.1 kg DM/day and intake of nutrients (TDN, CP) increased with level of supplementation (p<0.01), but effects of treatment on animal performance were not significant. Cow milk yields averaged (1) 7.9 kg, (2) 8.1 kg and (3) 8.8 kg milk/day (p>0.05) for lactation lengths of 252, 270 and 220 days (p>0.05) and cows gained +7.3; +8.1; and +12.0 kg respectively over their lactation (p>0.05). Wheat bran was used effectively as the sole energy component in concentrates for lactating dairy cows. Its use could potentially reduce feed costs and demands for cereal grain. Reduced concentrate levels may be considered if green forages of high nutrient content are fed ad libitum. Associated economic advantages or disadvantages require further evaluation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.326-332
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• 2001

On a urea-molasses-straw (3:15:82; UMS) based diet effect of graded levels of cottonseed cake (CSC) supplementation on the performance of native (Bos indicus) bulls has been studied for 167 days. Eighteen growing bulls of $129{\pm}13.4kg$ weight and about 14 months old were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments designed in a completely randomized design, having six animals in each treatment. Three dietary treatments were 0, 0.5 and 1.0 kg CSC per head/d. In addition, each animal also received ad lib. UMS, 4 kg Napier (Pennisetum purpureum) grass, 500 g of each of rice and wheat bran and 60 g mineral mix daily. For unit increase in CSC, total DM intake was increased by $1g/kg\;W^{0.75}/d$ but the straw DM intake decreased by $0.54g/kg\;W^{0.75}/d$. Whole gut digestibility of DM and OM was not effected but N and ADF digestibility increased with incremental increase in dietary CSC. For unit (1kg) increase in dietary CSC intake N and ADF digestibility increased by 10 (${\pm}1.155$) and 3 (${\pm}1.732$) unit respectively. Microbial N yield for the 0, 0.5 and 1.0 kg CSC were 5.63, 5.28 and 5.16 g/kg OM apparently fermented in the rumen respectively. For each gram increase in CSC, N intake and N balance increased by 0.626 (${\pm}0.015$) and 0.625 (${\pm}0.0814$) mg/kg $W^{0.75}/d$. High apparent N balance was contrasted with low live weight gain, e.g., for 1 kg increase in CSC supplementation, live weight gain increased by only 0.077 (${\pm}0.00288$) kg/d ($r^{2}=0.99$; p<0.01). The conversion efficiency was 12.98 kg CSC per kg of live weight gain. It was concluded that unless the protein is being protected from the rumen degradation, addition of CSC to UMS diet would have little nutritional or economic advantages.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1381-1386
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• 2014

In spite of variation in coat color, size, and production traits among indigenous Bangladeshi cattle populations, genetic differences among most of the populations have not been investigated or exploited. In this study, we used a high-density bovine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 80K Bead Chip derived from Bos indicus breeds to assess genetic diversity and population structure of 2 Bangladeshi zebu cattle populations (red Chittagong, n = 28 and non-descript deshi, n = 28) and a semi-domesticated population (gayal, n = 17). Overall, 95% and 58% of the total SNPs (69,804) showed polymorphisms in the zebu and gayal populations, respectively. Similarly, the average minor allele frequency value was as high 0.29 in zebu and as low as 0.09 in gayal. The mean expected heterozygosity varied from $0.42{\pm}0.14$ in zebu to $0.148{\pm}0.14$ in gayal with significant heterozygosity deficiency of 0.06 ($F_{IS}$) in the latter. Coancestry estimations revealed that the two zebu populations are weakly differentiated, with over 99% of the total genetic variation retained within populations and less than 1% accounted for between populations. Conversely, strong genetic differentiation ($F_{ST}=0.33$) was observed between zebu and gayal populations. Results of population structure and principal component analyses suggest that gayal is distinct from Bos indicus and that the two zebu populations were weakly structured. This study provides basic information about the genetic diversity and structure of Bangladeshi cattle and the semi-domesticated gayal population that can be used for future appraisal of breed utilization and management strategies.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1431-1441
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• 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the effects of replacing rice straw with different proportions of cassava pulp on growth performance, feed intake, digestibility, rumen microbial population, energy partitioning and efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization in beef cattle. Methods: Eighteen yearling Thai native beef cattle (Bos indicus) with an average initial body weight (BW) of $98.3{\pm}12.8kg$ were allocated to one of three dietary treatments and fed ad libitum for 149 days in a randomized complete block design. Three dietary treatments using different proportions of cassava pulp (100, 300, and 500 g/kg dry matter basis) instead of rice straw as a base in a fermented total mixed ration were applied. Animals were placed in a metabolic pen equipped with a ventilated head box respiration system to determine total digestibility and energy balance. Results: The average daily weight gain, digestible intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and non-fiber carbohydrate, total protozoa, energy intake, energy retention and energy efficiency increased linearly (p<0.05) with an increasing proportion of cassava pulp in the diet, whereas the three main types of fibrolytic bacteria and energy excretion in the urine (p<0.05) decreased. The metabolizable energy requirement for the maintenance of yearling Thai native cattle, determined by a linear regression analysis, was $399kJ/kg\;BW^{0.75}$, with an efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization for growth of 0.86. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that increasing the proportion of cassava pulp up to 500 g/kg of dry matter as a base in a fermented total mixed ration is an effective strategy for improving productivity in zebu cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1176-1181
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• 2005

This study investigated the effects of restricted suckling (RS) on some physiological and behavioural stress parameters compared to temporal weaning (TW). Twenty Brahman (Bos indicus) cow-calf pairs were assigned to one of two groups: Calves in the RS group were limited to suckle their dams once daily for 30 min during days 30 to 33, while calves in the TW group were removed from their dams during days 59 to 62 postpartum. Heart and respiratory rates, serum cortisol concentration and body temperature were registered in cows and calves. In addition, the number of steps was also registered in calves. All parameters were recorded 24, 48 and 72 h after the beginning of the two treatments, respectively. In TW calves, higher (p<0.05) cortisol concentration and number of steps were recorded in the 1st samples and 1$^{st}$ and 2$^{nd}$ observations, respectively. No difference was found in body temperature between treatments. However, respiration and heart rates differed in the 1$^{st}$ and 2$^{nd}$ observations, respectively. In general, a significant decrease (p<0.05) in these three parameters was observed over time. In cows, no differences were found in cortisol concentration or body temperature between treatments or with time. Heart and respiratory rates were lower (p<0.05) in the TW treatment only 24 h after beginning of treatment. It was concluded that (a) RS resulted in less behavioural and physiological indices of distress compared to TW in calves, although in general, differences were found only in some variables, mainly during the 1$^{st}$ day following start of the treatment, and there in a chance of age effects. (b) Cows were less affected than their young, regardless of the treatment applied.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1552-1558
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• 2021

Objective: This work was carried out to evaluate the effects of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) and ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) combined with immunocastration on the welfare traits of feedlot Nellore cattle. Methods: Ninety-six Nellore males (average body weight [BW] = 409±50 kg; average 20 mo of age) were divided into two groups according to BW; half of the animals in each group received two doses of an immunocastration (ImC) vaccine in a 30 day interval, and the other half did not receive the vaccine (NoC). Afterward, the animals were housed and fed a common diet for 70 days. Then, they were split into three groups and fed one of the following diets for 30 additional days: control (CO) diet, with no β-AA; ZH diet, containing 80 mg/d ZH; and RH diet, containing 300 mg/d RH. Welfare traits were assessed by monitoring body surface temperature using infrared thermography (IRT) and plasma cortisol and temperament measurements. Results: There was no interaction between sexual condition and diet for any trait. The ImC and NoC groups did not differ in rectal and ocular temperatures. The ImC animals had higher flight speeds (p = 0.022) and tended to have higher cortisol levels (p = 0.059) than the NoC animals. Animals fed ZH and RH did not differ in cortisol levels, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, temperature measured by IRT, or temperament behaviour. Conclusion: The ImC animals showed a less stable temperament during handling practices than NoC, whereas ZH and RH supplementation had no adverse effects on animal welfare.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1393-1400
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• 2018

Objective: This study was carried out to assess the haplotype diversity and population dynamics in cattle populations of Ethiopia. Methods: We sequenced the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of 76 animals from five indigenous and one Holstein Friesian${\times}$Barka cross bred cattle populations. Results: In the sequence analysis, 18 haplotypes were generated from 18 segregating sites and the average haplotype and nucleotide diversities were $0.7540{\pm}0.043$ and $0.0010{\pm}0.000$, respectively. The population differentiation analysis shows a weak population structure (4.55%) among the populations studied. Majority of the variation (95.45%) is observed by within populations. The overall average pair-wise distance ($F_{ST}$) was 0.049539 with the highest ($F_{ST}=0.1245$) and the lowest ($F_{ST}=0.011$) $F_{ST}$ distances observed between Boran and Abigar, and Sheko and Abigar from the indigenous cattle, respectively. The phylogenetic network analysis revealed that all the haplotypes detected clustered together with the Bos taurus cattle and converged to a haplogroup. No haplotype in Ethiopian cattle was observed clustered with the reference Bos indicus group. The mismatch distribution analysis indicates a single population expansion event among the cattle populations. Conclusion: Overall, high haplotype variability was observed among Ethiopian cattle populations and they share a common ancestor with Bos taurus.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.401-409
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• 1992

Genotype $\times$ environment (G $\times$ E) interactions must be understood if they are to be exploited to improve animal production, particularly in production systems associated with large environmental variations. The measurement and evaluation of G $\times$ E are discussed. Examples are presented that demonstrate G $\times$ E in different breeds of beef cattle for high temperatures, internal and external parasites and changes in quantity and quality of nutrition. It is demonstrated that productivity differences between genotypes or breeds under grazing conditions arise because of differences between genotypes in the combination of production potential and resistance to environmental stresses in relation to the levels of the relevant environmental stresses that are operating at the time. The $F_1$ cross between genotypes with high production potential (e.g. European Bos Taurus breeds) and those with high resistance to environmental stress (e.g. Asian and African Bos indicus and sanga breeds) is an exceptional genotype with a unique combination of these two sets of attributes. The principles for G $\times$ E developed for beef cattle are briefly discussed in relation to dairy cattle, pigs, poultry and buffalo.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.911-921
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• 2015

At least 150 indigenous African cattle breeds have been named, but the majority of African cattle populations remain largely uncharacterized. As cattle breeds and populations in Africa adapted to various local environmental conditions, they acquired unique features. We know now that the history of African cattle was particularly complex and while several of its episodes remain debated, there is no doubt that African cattle population evolved dramatically over time. Today, we find a mosaic of genetically diverse population from the purest Bos taurus to the nearly pure Bos indicus. African cattle are now found all across the continent, with the exception of the Sahara and the river Congo basin. They are found on the rift valley highlands as well as below sea level in the Afar depression. These unique livestock genetic resources are in danger to disappear rapidly following uncontrolled crossbreeding and breed replacements with exotic breeds. Breeding improvement programs of African indigenous livestock remain too few while paradoxically the demand of livestock products is continually increasing. Many African indigenous breeds are endangered now, and their unique adaptive traits may be lost forever. This paper reviews the unique known characteristics of indigenous African cattle populations while describing the opportunities, the necessity and urgency to understand and utilize these resources to respond to the needs of the people of the continent and to the benefit of African farmers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.946-951
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• 2003

The Genetic diversity and relationship of native Siri (Bos indicus) cattle populations of Bhutan were evaluated using 20 microsatellite markers. A total of 120 Siri cattle were sampled and were grouped into four populations according to their geographical locations which were named Siri West, Siri South, Siri Central and Siri East cattle. For each, 30 individuals were sampled. In addition, 30 samples each of Indian Jaba (B. indicus), Tibetan Goleng (B. taurus), Nepal Hill cattle (B. indicus), Holstein Friesian (B.taurus) and Mithun (B. frontalis) were typed. The mean number of alleles per loci (MNA) and observed heterozygosity (Ho) were high in the Siri populations ($MNA=7.2{\pm}0.3$ to $8.9{\pm}0.5$ and $Ho=0.67{\pm}0.04$ to $0.73{\pm}0.03$). The smallest coefficient of genetic differentiation and genetic distance ($F_{ST}=0.015$ and $D_A=0.073$) were obtained between Siri West and Siri Central populations. Siri East population is genetically distinct from the other Siri populations being close to the Indian Jaba ($F_{ST}=0.024$ and $D_A=0.084$). A high bootstrap value of 96% supported the close relationship of Siri South, Siri Central and Siri West, while the relationship between Siri East and Jaba was also supported by a high bootstrap value (82%). Data from principal component analysis and individual assignment test were in concordance with the inference from genetic distance and differentiation. In conclusion we identified two separate Siri cattle populations in Bhutan at the genetic level. One population included Siri cattle sampled from the West, Central and South of the country and the other Siri cattle was sampled from the East of the country. We suggest that Siri cattle conservation program in Bhutan should focus on the former population as it has received less genetic influence from other cattle breeds.