• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1098-1105
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• 2001

There is little information on smallholder dairy farming in Zimbabwe. With such inadequate knowledge, no meaningful decisions on how to improve these systems can be made. A study was, therefore, carried out in Nharira communal area and Lancashire small-scale commercial area to provide information on the viability of dairy farms. This paper is based on data obtained through participatory monitoring of 13 smallholder dairy farms in 1996 and 1997. All the four farms in Lancashire were found to be viable in both years. In Nharira, two out of the nine farms in 1996 and three farms in 1997 failed to break even. There were considerable inter-farm differences in the contribution of milk sales towards total income from dairy farming, ranging from 41% to 99% in Nharira and 71% to 81% in Lancashire in 1996. Corresponding estimates in 1997 were 51-95% and 72-78%, respectively. Expenses on cattle feeds contributed 36-84% in 1996 and 37-80% in 1997 towards total variable costs in Nharira. In Lancashire, the respective estimates were 15-33% and 22-36%. Seven out of the nine studied farms in Nharira and three out of four in Lancashire realized higher gross margin (GM) in 1997 than in 1996. All these farming households had conserved considerable amounts of farm-grown feeds. It was concluded that feed costs, number of cows and sizes of land holdings were the main factors determining viability of smallholder dairy farming. The major challenge to smallholder dairy farming in Nharira, in particular, was to develop low-cost feeding strategies.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.53-56
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection in dairy cattle of northern Gyeonggi province in Korea. A total of 716 dairy cattle from 14 dairy farms were tested for the presence of antibodies against N. caninum using a commercial ELISA test kit. Herd and individual seroprevalences of N. caninum were 92.8% (13/14) and 23.1% (166/716), respectively. The seroprevalence of dairy cattle according to age was the highest at 49~72 months (27.4%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). No significant relationship between N. caninum seropositivity with the herd size of the dairy farms was found (P>0.05). The results indicate that N. caninum infection spreads widely in dairy farms of northern Gyeonggi province in Korea.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.184-195
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate the micro-agribusiness realities of dairy farms by surveying both farmers' opinions and consumers' recognition of dairy farm products for in a value-chain analysis. In most cases, dairy farms produced fermented milk for sales and to prepare cheese both for sales and for providing the necessary material for farm visitors. Value-chain analysis did not seem to be a viable strategy for dairy farmers, except when assessing the quality of farmstead milk products in comparisons of dairy farm milks and commercial milk products. Consumers had a wide range of experience with milk products and had no willingness to buy products from dairy farms because of the high cost and the lack of product diversity. Our findings established three strategies for improving the economic feasibility of dairy farms. First, the price should be reduced by adopting a production balance to establish a farm-gate price, i.e., not as quota milk but as surplus milk. Second, consumers should be educated on the prescription of cheese at home. Third, a value-chain based on cooperative partnerships should be established among dairy farms. In addition, to improve the consumers' satisfaction on the diversity and quality of farm dairy products, developments of new value-added milk products made from the milk of cows allowed to graze on mountain pastures are needed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.855-857
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• 2001

The aim of this study was to assess the associations of some potential risk factors and occurrence of calf mortality in large-scale dairy farms. Njoro area of the Rift valley, Kenya was selected due to its potential of large-scale dairy farms, since the time of the Europeans settlers. The study was retrospective and focused on the calves dying from January 1996 through October 1998. Sample of studied population consisted of 105 calves extracted from the farm records. Data was collected using a questionnaire and were grouped into farm-level and animal-level factors. Calf mortality was 15.6% and important risk factors for calf mortality were sex of calf, season of birth, pneumonia disease, age of dam when calf was born and house type for calves. Female calve born during colder wet seasons and born to dams of 2-4.5 years of age were equally at higher risk. Calves raised in movable pens compared to those raised in permanent pens were at higher risk of mortality from pneumonia. Animal level factors were major causes of calf mortality in commercial farms used in this study and therefore details study is needed in these factors in controlling the calf mortality rates.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1525-1538
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• 2007

Because of the increasing evidence of potential benefits of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on human health, there is a need to investigate its status in commercial dairies and develop feeding strategies to enhance the content and supply of CLA in milk and milk products. A two-year experiment was conducted to study the status of milk fat c-9, t-11 CLA on four selected commercial dairy farms in Utah (two) and Idaho (two), USA. Farms A and C grazed cows on pasture and supplemented with 7.0 kg/cow per day of their respective grain mixes during summer, while conserved forage and grain mix was fed during winter. Farm B fed a total mixed diet all year, with 10% of diet dry matter as fresh cut pasture during summer. Farm D had 1/3 of its cows grazed on pasture and supplemented with a total mixed diet during summer, while the rest were fed a total mixed diet. All cows in Farm D were fed a total mixed diet during winter. Farms A, B, C, and D had on average 80, 400, 150, and 500 milking cows, respectively, with Holstein or its crosses as the major breed. On a year-round basis, Farms A and C produced milk with 60% or more milk fat c-9, t-11 CLA and transvaccenic acid (TVA) contents than Farm B. Similarly, Farm D produced 30% or more c-9, t-11 CLA and TVA in milk than Farm B. Milk fat content of CLA and TVA was 150-200% more during summer compared with winter. Individual cows varied from 0.16 to 2.22% in milk fat c-9, t-11 CLA contents and 89% of the cows had c-9, t-11 CLA contents between 0.3 and 1.0% of milk fat. Individual cow variation was larger on Farms A and C compared with Farm D, with least variation on Farm B. Variation was larger in summer than in winter. The bulk tank milk c-9, t-11 CLA content varied from 0.27 to 1.35% of milk fat. Cows on Farms A and C produced similar or higher amounts of milk fat c-9, t-11 CLA on a daily basis even though their milk yield was lowest among the dairies. Concentration and supplies of c-9, t-11 CLA and TVA were highest from June through September and lowest from February through April, which should be the months for targeting improvement in the content and supply of milk fat c-9, t-11 CLA and TVA.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.58 no.7
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• pp.24.1-24.7
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• 2016

Background: Clinoptilolite is a natural zeolite with high adsorption capacity for polar mycotoxins such as aflatoxins. The efficacy of clinoptilolite in ameliorating the toxic effects of aflatoxicosis has been proven in monogastric animals, but there is no such evidence for ruminants. The aim of this study was to evaluate, under field conditions, whether the dietary administration of clinoptilolite in dairy cows could reduce the concentration of aflatoxin M1 ($AFM_1$) in bulk-tank milk, in farms with higher than or close to $0.05{\mu}g/kg$ of milk (European maximum allowed residual level). An objective of the present study was also to investigate the effect of particle size of clinoptilolite on aflatoxin binding. Methods: Fifteen commercial Greek dairy herds with AFM1 concentrations in bulk tank milk ${\geq}0.05{\mu}g/kg$ were selected. Bulk tank milk AFM1 was determined prior to the onset and on day 7 of the experiment. Clinoptilolite was added in the total mixed rations of all farms at the rate of 200 g per animal per day, throughout this period. Two different particle sizes of clinoptilolite were used; less than 0.15 mm in 9 farms (LC group) and less than 0.8 mm in 6 farms (HC group). Results: Clinoptilolite administration significantly reduced $AFM_1$ concentrations in milk in all farms tested at an average rate of 56.2 % (SD: 15.11). The mean milk $AFM_1$ concentration recorded on Day 7 was significantly (P < 0.001) lower compared to that of Day 0 ($0.036{\pm}0.0061$ vs. $0.078{\pm}0.0074{\mu}g/kg$). In LC group farms the reduction of milk $AFM_1$ concentration was significantly higher than HC group farms ($0.046{\pm}0.0074$ vs. $0.036{\pm}0.0061{\mu}g/kg$, P = 0.002). As indicated by the Pearson correlation, there was a significant and strong linear correlation among the milk $AFM_1$ concentrations on Days 0 and 7 (R = 0.95, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Dietary administration of clinoptilolite, especially of smallest particle size, at the rate of 200 g per cow per day can effectively reduce milk $AFM_1$ concentration in dairy cattle and can be used as a preventive measure for the amelioration of the risks associated with the presence of aflatoxins in the milk of dairy cows.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.274-277
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• 2016

To determine the concentrations of commercial milks and the effect of different teat dipping methods on iodine concentrations of bulk tank milk, iodine concentration was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The 59 bulk tank milk samples were collected. The 8 brands of commercial whole milk and 5 brands of commercial organic milk were purchased. The iodine concentrations of bulk tank milks of 59 dairy farms were in the range from 42.7 to $562.5{\mu}g/L$. The iodine levels of 4 different teat dipping methods with pre-dipping, post-dipping, pre & post-dipping, and non-dipping were $138.9{\pm}41.1$, $200.6{\pm}106.9$, $205.1{\pm}93.2$, and $110.9{\pm}70.4{\mu}g/L$, respectively. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed among 4 different teat dipping methods. Iodine concentrations of commercial whole milks were in the range from 149.1 to $210.4(178.8{\pm}22.0){\mu}g/L$, and iodine concentrations of commercial organic milks were in the range from 85.0 to $356.9(214.2{\pm}123.3){\mu}g/L$. Iodine concentrations of commercial milk in Korea are relatively low comparing with those of other countries.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.634-639
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of heating of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine before injection, on the incidence of lesions at the injection site (pork butt), amount of discarded meat, and economical benefit. Methods: In total, 101,086 piglets raised in 30 farms, were vaccinated in the neck with 2 mL of FMD vaccine at 56 d and 84 d of age using a commercial syringe. The heat treatment group (48,511 pigs) was injected with the FMD vaccine after it had been heated in a water bath at 40℃ for 20 min. After slaughter, the incidence of lesions on the pork butt was inspected, and the subsequent amount of discarded meat was recorded. Results: Heat treatment of FMD vaccine reduced the incident rate of lesions on the pork butt (p<0.01). Overall, 17.81% of the pigs in the heat treatment group had lesions, while the incident rate in the control group was 21.70%. The amount of discarded meat per head of total pigs and per head of pigs with lesions were significantly lower in the heat treatment group than the control group (p<0.01). Thus, the proportion of discarded meat to dressed carcass was lower in the heat treatment group (0.249%) compared with the control group (0.338%) (p<0.01). Farms that rear 1,000 sows can gain 1,863,289 KRW (1,600 USD) in one year when they adopt heat treatment of FMD vaccine before injection. Conclusion: Heat treatment of FMD vaccine using simple heat equipment (water bath) can be effective in reducing lesions caused by FMD vaccination and increase the economic benefits in pig farms.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to understand the management level of pathogenic bacteria in HACCP system implemented animal farms. Microbial samples were collected from manure, floor, compost depot, manure on belt, low milk tank, dust in laying house and egg collector in HACCP system implemented Korean beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, and laying Hens farms. O157, O111 and O26 strains of E. coli were not detected in HACCP system implemented Korean beef cattle farm. The detection rate of E. coli from manure and floor in HACCP system implemented cattle farms (Korean beef cattle and dairy farm) was lower than those of non-HACCP system implemented cattle farm. Salmonella spp. was detected in HACCP system implemented cattle farms (Korean beef cattle and dairy farm). Compared with pervious studies, lower detection rate of Salmonella spp. at floor and compost depot in HACCP system implemented swine and commercial layer farms were indicated. In conclusion, implementation of HACCP system in animal farms would enhance the management level of biological hazard compare to normal animal farms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.8_spc
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• pp.1244-1255
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• 2019

Dairy goat production continues to be a socially, economically and culturally important part of the livestock industry in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean islands. Goat milk, cheese and other dairy products offer consumers food products with nutritional, health and environmental benefits. In North America, Mexico produces the greatest volume of goat milk, but most is for family or local consumption that is typical of a mixed farming system adopted by subsistence farmers in dry areas. The United States is not yet a large global goat milk producer, but the sector has expanded rapidly, with dairy goat numbers doubling between 1997 and 2012. The number of dairy goats has also increased dramatically in Canada. Commercial farms are increasingly important, driven by rising demand for good quality and locally sourced goat cheese. In South America, Brazil has the most developed dairy goat industry that includes government assistance to small-scale producers and low-income households. As of 2017, FAO identified Haiti, Peru, Jamaica, and Bolivia as having important goat milk production in the Western Hemisphere. For subsistence goat producers in the Americas on marginal land without prior history of chemical usage, organic dairy goat production can be a viable alternative for income generation, with sufficient transportation, sanitation and marketing initiatives. Production efficiency, greenhouse gas emission, waste disposal, and animal welfare are important challenges for dairy goat producers in the Americas.