• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.509-514
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• 1993

The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different fiber levels on milk production of crossbred Holstein milking cows fed urea-treated rice straw (UTS) as a roughage. Eight cows were allotted into 2 squares of 4 cows each with 4 treatments by a balanced design. The treatments were 17%, 22%, and 24% crude fiber (CF) diets and Thai feeding system (free choice of roughage and 1 kg of concentrates/2 kg of milk) as a control. Body weight change was not significantly different among the treatments during the experiment. Milk production (4% FCM) and milk protein content wee not different among the treatments, but milk fat content was low in the 17% CF group and high in the control group. Cows fed the 17% CF diet consumed less UTS and more concentrates than the others, and consequently total DM intake was not different among the treatments. The feed conversion ratio was significantly higher in the control. Feed cost per kg milk was lowest in the control and highest in the 17% CF diet. The fiber content of the diet would be more than 17%, preferably 22-24% for normally producing Thai crossbred Holstein cows when the UTS was fed as a main roughage source.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.230-238
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• 2011

Effects of cooling and supplemental recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on hemato-biochemical characteristics were studied at different stages of lactation of crossbred Holstein Friesian cows in a tropical environment. Ten primiparous cows were divided into two groups of five animals each. The first group was housed as the non-cooled animals in an open-sided barn with a tiled roof in a normal shaded house (NS), while the second group was housed as cooled cows in an open-sided barn with a tiled roof under misty fan cooling (MFC). Three injections with rbST (500 mg per dose) at each stage of lactation (early, mid and late lactation) significantly increased total milk yield as compared with pretreatment in both cooled and non-cooled cows. Milk fat was significantly increased, while total solids, solid not fat, milk protein and lactose were not affected by the rbST treatment. Hematological parameters, plasma proteins, albumin, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), plasma inorganic phosphate and the activities of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were not affected by supplemental rbST in cooled and non-cooled cows. Supplementation of rbST caused a significant decrease in plasma urea concentration, while plasma FFA concentrations significantly increased in both cooled and non-cooled cows. The results of the present study suggest that exogenous rbST is efficacious in increasing milk yield without adverse effects on lactating crossbred Holstein cows in a tropical environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.88-95
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• 2003

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of exogenous bovine somatotropin on the mammary function in late lactating crossbred Holstein cows. Twelve 87.5% late lactating Holstein cows, approximately 30 weeks postpartum, were divided into two groups of 6 animals each. Animals in the control group were given sodium bicarbonate buffer by subcutaneous injection, while animals in the treated group were given recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) by subcutaneous injection with 500 mg of bST (14 day prolonged-release bST). After bST injection, milk yield significantly increased from the control level on day 8 to day 20 (p<0.05) with a concomitant increase in mammary blood flow (p<0.01). An increase in mammary blood flow in response to bST treatment was greater than an increase in milk production. An increased plasma concentration of IGF-I coincided with an increase in mammary blood flow in animals treated with bST. There were no significant changes in the concentration of arterial plasma glucose concentration, the arteriovenous concentration difference (A-V difference) and mammary extraction ratio while the mammary glucose uptake increased when compared to the control group. The concentration of arterial plasma triglyceride decreased throughout the experimental period in animals give bST. The plasma concentration of acetate, and the mammary uptake for acetate significantly increased (p<0.05) after bST treatment. The action of bST did not affect the plasma concentration, A-V difference and extraction ratio across the mammary gland for $\beta$-hydroxybutyrate. The concentrations of milk fat and lactose tended to increase during bST treatment. Milk protein concentration initially increased in the first few days and decreased after bST injection when compared to the pretreated period. The present results indicated that bST could affect the mammary function in late lactating cows by increase in milk yield involving changes in both extra-mammary and intra-mammary mechanisms. The exogenous bST exerted its galactopoietic action through an increase in circulating IGF-I of the late lactating Crossbred Holstein cattle.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.235-238
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• 2002

The present study was undertaken to find out possibilities for superovulation and recovery of freezable/transferable embryo from repeat breeding crossbred cows. For this study a total of 10 Holstein crossbred cows having history of failure of conception even after more than 4~5inseminations were taken and superovulated using Folltropin-V at 100 to 140% dose schedule. The results indicated that out of 10 donors, 8 responded to superovulatory treatment and yielding a total of 94 embryos, out of which 45 were of transferable/freezable quality. The mean ovulations and mean transferable embryos were 11.5$\pm$2.91 and 4.5$\pm$1.66, respectively. These observations suggests that the repeat breeding cows having conception failure after several artificial inseminations can be used as donors for production of embryos and calves through embryo transfer technology.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.493-498
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• 1994

The response of crossbred Holstein milking cows to the neutralized urea-treated rice straw feeding was investigated. Rice straw was treated with 6% urea for at least 21 days and further with sulfuric acid for overnight to complete the neutralization. The neutralized straw was then sun-dried and its feeding value was compared with that of the dried non-neutralized urea-treated straw. They were fed to the cows with concentrates either by the ration formulation based on the nutrient requirements for milk production recommended by NRC or by the traditional way in which straw was fed ad libitum and concentrates at 1 kg/2 kg of milk production. The results showed that milk production as well as milk composition of cows were not different between neutralized and non-neutralized straw. The feeding of the neutralized straw could significantly reduce the supply of protein-rich feed such as soybean oil meal, and it was demonstrated that ammonium sulfate in the neutralized straw could be utilized as effective as the plant origin protein. The results also suggested that if the traditional feeding method is applied to the dairy cattle, protein content of the supplementing concentrates should be increased to meet the requirement.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.435-438
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• 1992

Data were collected on productive and reproductive performance of different $F_1$ crossbred cows (Deshi cows joined by A.I. to Sindhi, Sahiwal, Jersey or Holstein-Friesian Bull semen) reared by farmers in and around the Bangladesh Agricultural University campus at Mymensingh. The traits considered were birth weight, age at first heat, age at first calving, gestation length, post-partum heat period, milk yield, lactation length, dry period and calving interval. Data were analyzed statistically using a completely randomized design and Duncan's Multiple Range Test to compare and determine the significance of between individual group means. It was observed that the Holstein $\times$ Deshi had the highest birth weight (21.4 kg) followed by Sahiwal (17.6 kg), Jersey (16.7 kg) and Sindhi (16.1 kg). Shortest age at first heat (854 and 920 days) and age at first calving (1002 and 1201 days) were found for the Jersey $\times$ Deshi and Holstein $\times$ Deshi crosses respectively. The post-partum heat period were significantly different between breeds with Jersey and Holstein sired calves having the shortest intervals. There was no difference in the gestation length of the four crosses. Holstein $\times$ Deshi and Jersey $\times$ Deshi cows gave the highest milk yields due to longer lactation periods and higher daily milk production. Similarly, Holstein $\times$ Deshi and Jersey $\times$ Deshi crosses had significantly shorter dry periods and Jersey $\times$ Deshi had a shorter calving interval. From this study it may be concluded that exotic genotypes such as Holstein-Friesian and Jersey can perform very well under rural conditions in Bangladesh.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.355-365
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of supplemental recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) and cooling with misters and fans on renal function in relation to regulation of body fluids in different stages of lactation in crossbred Holstein cattle. Ten, 87.5% crossbred Holstein cattle were divided into two groups of 5 animals each, housing in a normal shaded barn (NS) and in a shaded barn with a mister-fans cooling system (MF). The experiment in each group was divided into 3 phases, early- (Day 75 postpartum), mid- (Day 135 postpartum), and late stage of lactation (Day 195 postpartum). The pre-treatment study was conducted on the starting day of each stage of lactation and the treatment study was performed after the end of the pre-treatment, during which the animal was injected with 500 mg of rbST (POSILAC) every 14 days for three times. During the study, ambient temperature at the hottest period daily in the MF barn was significantly lower, while relative humidity was higher than that of the NS barn. The temperature humidity index (THI) in both barns ranged from 79-85 throughout the periods of study. Cows in the MF barn showed a lower rectal temperature and respiration rate as compared with cows in the NS barn. The effect of rbST administration increased both rectal temperature and respiration rates of cows housed in either the NS or MF barn. Milk yield significantly increased in cows treated with rbST in all stages of lactation. Increases in mammary blood flow, accompanied by increases of total body water (TBW), extracellular fluid (ECF), blood volume (BV) and plasma volume (PV), were observed in both groups of cows receiving rbST in all stages of lactation. No alterations of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate were observed in cows receiving rbST, but decreases in urinary excretion and fractional excretion of sodium, potassium and chloride ions appeared to correlate with reduction in the rate of urine flow and osmolar clearance during rbST administration. These results suggest that the effect of rbST supplementation to cows housed either in NS or MF barns on body fluid volume expansion is attributable to changes in the rate of electrolyte excretion by the kidney. The increased availability of renal tubular reabsorption of sodium, potassium and chloride ions during rbST treatment was a major factor in retaining body water through its colligative properties in exerting formation of an osmotic force mechanism.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.345-349
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• 2005

A study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding chopped whole sugar cane compared to corn silage on performances of dairy cows during the dry season. Twenty four Holstein Friesian crossbred (>87.5% Holstein Friesian) lactating dairy cows in mid lactation; averaging 16.5${\pm}$2.0 kg of milk, 121${\pm}$22 days in milk, 54.5${\pm}$4.5 months old and 440${\pm}$31 kg live weight, were stratified for milk yield, days in milk, age, stage of lactation and body weight, and then randomly allocated to two treatment groups (12 cows in each group). The first group was fed corn silage together with commercial concentrate while the second group was fed chopped whole sugar cane together with commercial concentrate. All cows consumed similar DM, however, cows on corn silage consumed more CP while cows on chopped whole sugar cane consumed more $NE_{LP}$. No significant differences in performances between the two groups were observed except for final live weight and body weight change. Cows on chopped whole sugar cane showed higher final live weight and gained more weight than cows on corn silage. The present study clearly indicates that chopped whole sugar cane can be fed to lactating dairy cows, while giving similar milk yield to corn silage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1125-1129
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• 2005

A study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding sugar cane silage compared to chopped whole sugar cane or grass silage on performances of lactating dairy cows during the dry season. Twenty four Holstein Friesian crossbred (>87.5% Holstein Friesian) lactating dairy cows in mid lactation; averaging 15.4${\pm}$3.2 kg of milk, 120${\pm}$23 days in milk, 50.5${\pm}$6.5 months old and 432${\pm}$39 kg live weight, were stratified for milk yield, days in milk, age, stage of lactation and body weight, and then randomly allocated to three treatment groups (8 cows in each group). All cows were fed 7.5 kg/d commercial concentrate plus ad libitum roughage according to treatment groups, which were grass silage, sugar cane silage or chopped whole sugar cane respectively. All cows consumed similar DM and produced similar milk and milk composition yields. However, cows on grass silage lost more weight than the other cows. The present study indicated that, during the dry season, sugar cane silage can be fed to lactating dairy cows, while giving similar milk yield to grass silage or chopped whole sugar cane.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 1997

Holstein Friesian and Jersey crossbreds are being widely introduced in the state of Gujarat in India. This paper evaluates feeding practices at farm level and examines whether the crossbreds fit into the existing mixed farm systems. Over a period of four years milk-offtake and feeds offered were recorded for 1331 cows at fortnightly intervals. The breed and the amount of concentrates fed contributed most to the variation in milk offtake. The introduction of crossbred cattle has a major impact on smallholder mixed farming systems. Crossbreds produced, on average, 1.8 times more milk than Desi, Gir, and Kankrej cows. They were fed 1.4 times more concentrates, and about 1.2 times more green and dry feeds than local cows. The major limiting constraint is the quality of the roughages offered. Farmers with crossbreds try to adjust their feeding of concentrates according to the needs of their cows. On tribal farms, local cows produced less milk than on non-tribal farms, whereas crossbreds produced the same amount of milk on both tribal and non-tribal farms. Crossbreds fit into the farming systems of both tribal and non-tribal farmers. The differences in agro-climatic characteristics between different areas in Gujarat were not reflected in differences in milk offtakes.