• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.555-560
• /
• 2008

The effects of utilizing evaporative cooling system equipped with tunnel ventilation on postpartum ovarian activities, energy balance and milk production of early lactating dairy cows under hot and humid climates were studied from parturition to 22 wk postpartum. Thirty-four crossbred Holstein-Friesian (93.75% HF$\times$.25% Bos indicus) primiparous cows were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Cooled cows (n = 17; treatment) were housed in the tunnel ventilated barn equipped with evaporative cooling system and uncooled (n = 17; control) were housed in the naturally ventilated barn without supplemental cooling system. Cooled cows had greater (p<0.05) dry matter intake and milk production than uncooled cows. Days to the energy balance (EB) nadir did not differ between groups. However, days to equilibrium EB for uncooled cows was longer (p<0.05) than for cooled cows. There was no significant difference in postpartum anovular condition between cooled and uncooled cows. The interval from parturition to first postpartum ovulation did not differ between groups ($31.4{\pm}4.3$ and $26.1{\pm}3.6$ day, respectively). These results suggest that the evaporative cooling and tunnel ventilation has the potential to decrease the severity of heat stress and improve both milk production and metabolic efficiency during early lactation without affecting reproductive function in dairy cows under hot and humid climates.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.11
• /
• pp.1614-1618
• /
• 2003

Twenty crossbred (HF${\times}$Tharparkar) dry pregnant cows were divided into four equal groups. They were supplemented with 1,000 I.U. $\alpha$-tocopheryl acetate from 0 (group I), 15 (group II), 30 (group III) and 60 (group IV) days before parturition to 1month of lactation. All the cows were kept under similar feeding and management conditions. Blood plasma samples collected on specific days were analyzed for $\alpha$-tocopherol, retinol, total antioxidant activity (FRAP), immunoglobulin and calcium. Plasma $\alpha$-tocopherol concentration at 30 days prepartum averaged 3.5, 4.1, 4.4 and $3.9{\mu}g/ml$ and decreased by 50.0, 41.4, 34.1 and 33.3 percent on the day of parturition in the four respective groups. After calving, plasma vitamin E started to recover earlier in groups II, III and IV as compared to group I. Mean plasma $\alpha$-tocopherol concentration at 21 days postpartum was significantly higher in groups II, III and IV (2.9, 3.5 and $3.1{\mu}g/ml$) compared to group I ($1.9{\mu}g/ml$) cows. Plasma retinol concentration also showed a substantial decrease in all the groups on the day of calving but recovered to its normal value at 3 weeks postpartum. Plasma total antioxidant activity averaged 901, 895, 859 and $875{\mu}mol/l$ in the four respective groups on 30 days prepartum and decreased on the day of calving in all the groups, but the decrease was less in groups III and IV. Plasma immunoglobulin concentration was higher in group IV, followed by groups III, II and I, respectively, showing better immune status of vitamin E supplemented cows due to less oxidative stress. Supplementation of vitamin E resulted in higher plasma calcium concentration. The data showed that vitamin E supplementation should be started at least 30 days prepartum to reduce oxidative stress in periparturient cows.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.123-129
• /
• 2013

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of nitrogen supplementation through urea-molasses multinutrient block (UMMB) on the performance of dairy cows fed good quality forage based diets with rice straw as a night feeding. A total of 10 multiparous crossbred dairy cows in their early lactation were grouped into two categories based on their breed, parity, body weight, milk yield, milk fat and protein contents and daily fed a chopped CO-3 grass (Pennisetum purpureum ${\times}$ Pennisetum americanum; hybrid Napier) ad-libitum, 1 kg of dairy cow concentrate feed during the day time and 5 kg of rice straw (dry matter basis) at night as the basal diet (control) for 5 wk. In addition to the basal diet, the treatment group received 300 g of crushed UMMB daily throughout the experimental period. Cows were milked twice daily and the milk yields were recorded. Milk and feed samples were collected weekly for chemical analysis. Supplementation of UMMB had no significant effects (p>0.05) on straw intake, daily milk yield, contents and yields of milk constituents such as milk fat, protein, lactose and solids-non-fat. In addition, milk urea nitrogen content were not affected (p>0.05) by UMMB supplementation. However, numerical increments in all the parameters measured were observed during the study in cows fed diets supplemented with UMMB. It can be concluded that nitrogen supplied through UMMB had no effects on production performances of dairy cows in this study.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.245-251
• /
• 2015

Records of 490,767 cows collected from 1990 to 2012 by dairy herd milk test of National Agriculture Cooperative Federation The pedigree of dairy cattle were provided by Korea Animal Improvement Association. The data were used to analyze the longevity of dairy cows with the life traits such as days in milk, number of lactation, productive life, and life span. The data were also used to investigate genetic relationship of these longevity traits with profitability of dairy cows, including heritability and genetic correlation. The profitability was calculated with simulation of milk income and production costs for individual cows. Days in milk among the traits had -0.287, -0.572 and -0.536 of genetic correlation with number of lactations, productive life and lifespan, respectively. The heritabilities of life span, number of lactations, productive life, and days in milk were found to be 0.045, 0.047, 0.059 and 0.081, respectively. Genetic correlations of profit with productive life, number of lactations, and days in milk were identified as 0.072, 0.080, 0.098 and 0.101. These results suggested that days in milk was most desirable traits to represent longevity of Holstein dairy cattle. In general, since longevity and profitability were close genetic relationship each other, genetic improvement of longevity is necessary for better profitable cows.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.450-456
• /
• 2009

This study evaluated the efficacy of topical eprinomectin (0.5% pour-on solution, $Eprinex^{(R)}$, Merial) against Chorioptes texanus (C texanus) infestation in dairy cows reared in Korea. Dairy cows naturally infected with C texanus showed skin lesions as alopecia, erythema, excoriations and crusts on the tail head, the caudal folds, the back of udder and the rump area. Fourteen adult Holstein dairy cows with chorioptic mange at National Institute of Animal Science were selected on the basis of gross lesion and microscopic examination. Experimental dairy cows infected with chorioptic mange were treated with eprinomectin ($Eprinex^{(R)}$, Merial, France) at the rate of 1 ml /10 kg/BW. Evaluation of therapeutic effect is based on mite counts and gross lesion at weekly interval for 6 weeks. Milk yields were measured every day and calculate at the mean of milk yield at weekly interval. Mange mites absolutely removed after 1 week of topical eprinomectin against C. texanus infestation on dairy cows. The skin lesion of dairy cows infested with C. texanus recovered normal status after 6 weeks of eprinomectin treatment. After eprinomectin treatment, return to the normal level of milk yields in diary cows infested with C. texanus has indirectly indicated that C. texanus infestation have negative effect on productivity of dairy farm. However, it would be suggested that the investigation of actual condition and the effective control method of C. texanus infestation of dairy farms in Korea should be studied in the future.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.133-143
• /
• 2006

Diagnosis on reproductive failures of dairy cows by ultrasonography was performed for 151 dairy cows. To diagnose types of reproductive failures, ultrasonography (SA 600, Medison, 5.0 MHz rectal linear transducer) was carried out in combination with rectal examination. Of 151 dairy cows, pregnant cows were 13 and the cows in normal estrual cycle were 40 cows, thereby the cows with reproductive failures were 98 cows. 1. Of 98 cows with reproductive failures, the cows with ovarian diseases were 34 cows (34.7%) and the cows with uterine diseases were 41 cows (41.8%). 2. The diameter of follicle in proestrus was 1.94 cm and it was longer than that of follicle in diestrus (p<0.05). 3. The mean size of corpus luteum of pregnant cows was bigger than that of corpus luteum in normal diestrus (p<0.05). 4. The length of cystic corpus luteum was 3.26 and the width of that was 1.91 cm. The length of corpus luteum tissue was 1.95 and the width of that was 1.91 cm excluding the size of cavity in corpus luteum. 5. The mean length of follicular cyst was 3.31 and the mean width of that was 2.3 cm. 6. The mean length and width of luteal cyst was 3.45 and 2.25 cm, respectively. The mean length and width of corpus luteum tissue was 1.15 and 0.67 cm, respectively, excluding the size of cyst in the luteal cyst. 7. The width of uterine horn associated with endometritis was significantly reduced as the period after parturition was elapsed (p<0.05). The mean width of uterine horn within 40 days after parturition was 4.55 cm. These results indicated that ultrasonography is of great use for accurate diagnosis both on ovarian diseases and uterine diseases and that it is very effective to diagnose endometritis in dairy cows.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.200-204
• /
• 2016

This study investigated whether presynchronization with GnRH 6 days before initiation of the Ovsynch program improved reproductive outcomes in dairy cows. Additionally, postponement of initiation of the Ovsynch program for cows during the metestrus phase by 5 days was investigated to determine if it improved reproductive outcomes. To accomplish this, 941 Holstein dairy cows with unknown estrous cycle were randomly allocated into an Ovsynch group (n = 768; $100{\mu}g$ gonadorelin [a GnRH analogue], $500{\mu}g$ of cloprostenol [$PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ analogue] seven days later, $100{\mu}g$ gonadorelin 56 h later and timed artificial insemination [AI] 16 h after) and a G6-Ovsynch (n = 173) that received $100{\mu}g$ GnRH followed by the Ovsynch program 6 days later. Additionally, 272 dairy cows with known estrous cycle (metestrus stage) received the Ovsynch 5 days later (Day 5-Ovsynch group, n = 272). The odds ratio (OR) for pregnancy was analyzed by logistic regression using the LOGISTIC procedure in SAS. The treatment group (p < 0.001) and AI season (p < 0.05) significantly affected the probability of pregnancy, whereas farm, cow parity, calving to AI interval, and body condition score had no affect (p > 0.05). The Day 5-Ovsynch group had a higher probability of pregnancy (OR: 1.71) than the Ovsynch group, while that of the G6-Ovsynch group was intermediate (p > 0.05). Cows inseminated during winter had a higher OR (1.39) than those inseminated during spring. Overall, additional GnRH treatment 6 days before the Ovsynch did not improve reproductive outcomes, whereas postponement of the initiation of Ovsynch by 5 days for cows during metestrus improved reproductive outcomes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.509-516
• /
• 2013

This study estimated the fermentation characteristics and nutrient value of corn-lablab bean mixture silages relative to corn silages. The effects of feeding corn-lablab bean mixture silages on nutrient apparent digestibility and milk production of dairy cows in northern China were also investigated. Three ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were used to determine the ruminal digestion kinetics and ruminal nutrient degradability of corn silage and corn-lablab bean mixture silages. Sixty lactating Holstein cows were randomly divided into two groups of 30 cows each. Two diets were formulated with a 59:41 forage: concentrate ratio. Corn silage and corn-lablab bean mixture silages constituted 39.3% of the forage in each diet, with Chinese wildrye hay constituting the remaining 60.7%. Corn-lablab bean mixture silages had higher lactic acid, acetic acid, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ash, Ca, ether extract concentrations and ruminal nutrient degradability than monoculture corn silage (p<0.05). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentrations of corn-lablab bean mixture silages were lower than those of corn silage (p<0.05). The digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, and ADF for cows fed corn-lablab bean mixture silages was higher than for those fed corn silage (p<0.05). Feeding corn-lablab bean mixture silages increased milk yield and milk protein of dairy cows when compared with feeding corn silage (p<0.05). The economic benefit for cow fed corn-lablab bean mixture silages was 8.43 yuan/day/cow higher than that for that fed corn silage. In conclusion, corn-lablab bean mixture improved the fermentation characteristics and nutrient value of silage compared with monoculture corn. In this study, feeding corn-lablab bean mixture silages increased milk yield, milk protein and nutrient apparent digestibility of dairy cows compared with corn silage in northern China.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.337-341
• /
• 2007

This study determined the effect of postpartum intrauterine infusion of povidone-iodine solution on the subsequent reproductive performance in dairy cows. Six hundred and fifty-eight dairy cows that were around week 4 postpartum were randomly divided into two groups: (1) Cows in treated group received an intrauterine infusion of 100 to 150 ml 2% povidone-iodine solution (treated group, n=269), or (2) Cows that received no treatment were served as the controls (control group, n=389). The cows were bred at observed estrus more than 50 days after calving. Artificial insemination (AI) was done according to the a.m.-p.m. rule. The conception to AI was determined per rectum 60 days after AI by both ultrasonographical observation and manual palpation. The intervals from calving to first service and conception ($94.2{\pm}2.7$ and $144.1{\pm}4.1$ days vs. $88.0{\pm,}2.1$ and $143.5{\pm}4.6$ days, respectively), number of services per conception ($2.0{\pm}0.1$ vs. $2.1{\pm}0.1$), and cumulative pregnancy rates within 90 and 150 days postpartum (31.9 and 61.7% vs. 29.7 and 62.1%) did not differ between the control and treated groups (P>0.05), while conception rate at first service was lower (P<0.05) in the treated group (40.5%) than in the control group (49.4%). Additionally, we could not find any effect of intrauterine infusion of povidone-iodine solution according to cow parity or calving season on the reproductive performance. These results indicate that intrauterine infusion of povidone-iodine solution at week 4 postpartum does not affect the subsequent reproductive performance in dairy cows.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.272-280
• /
• 2019

The present study was designed to determine the effect of barn or cycle of grazing on changes of biochemical metabolites in prepartum and changes of milk composition in postpartum of dairy cows. For this purpose, a total of sixteen 25 months old Holstein primiparous dairy cows were allocated in two groups (n=8) with an average body weight of 571.61 ± 35.30 kg (Barn) and 578.10 ± 39.20 kg (Grazing). The study was conducted from June 2018 to October 2018. Results revealed that barn raised dairy cows had a higher increase in their serum albumin and calcium level on day 14 prepartum. However, the level of palmitic acid, saturated fatty acid increased significantly, and the level of fat, oleic acid, γ-linoleic acid, arachidonic acid and unsaturated fatty acids decreased significantly in barn raised dairy cow's milk on day 14 postpartum. There were no significant differences observed with respect to all other biochemical metabolites, fatty acids and minerals between barn raised and cycle grazing dairy cows during prepartum and postpartum. Our study results could serve to a better understanding of barn raised cow with respect to changes of biochemical metabolites in prepartum and changes of milk composition, fatty acids and minerals content in grazing dairy cows in postpartum for estimating their physiological status.