• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2003

Progesterone levels in the blood plasma or skim milk of cows are considered to be very useful indicator fur the detection of estrus cycle and early pregnancy diagnosis. During 13 to 14 days after estrus the level of progesterone in plasma or skim milk were not different between the inseminated arid non-inseminated cows. In the pregnant cows the peak level of progesterone reached on 14th day after artificial insemination (AI), but in the absence of conceptus the level declines after the 14th day slowly, and then very rapidly towards the basal level after the 17th day. This low level persists about 4 days, including those of estrus and ovulation a highly characteristic pattern which differs so markedly from that in the pregnant cows. Progesterone levels in blood plasma or skim milk can provided a reliable diagnosis of early pregnancy and monitoring ovarian activity in cows. The mean $\pm$ standard deviation of milk urea nitrogen(MUN) and protein concentration in the cows at 9 herds were 17.7$\pm$2.35 mg/dL and 3.2$\pm$0.17%, respectively. The days of nonpregnant after parturition was shorter in the cows in which the lower level of MUN than higher level of MUN concentration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.7-10
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• 2002

The breeding data relating to Hariana herd spread over 18 years (1979-96) were analysed to estimate genetic, phenotypic and environmental changes in characters of economic importance which might have taken place during the several years of selective breeding practiced in the herd. The average genetic changes in a given character were estimated by four methods. The phenotypic trends observed for different economic traits were not significant. On changing the method of estimation, magnitude and direction of genetic trends changed. Comparison of estimates of genetic trends by different methods showed that adjustments for biases due to non-random allotment of dams with respect to their age and merit suggested by Powell and Freeman (1974) were useful for increasing the precision of the estimates. Hence, this method was found to be the best method for estimation of genetic trends. The estimate of genetic trends by this method were 4.03${\pm}$6.21 days, 3.24${\pm}$5.33 kg, 0.15${\pm}$0.43 days, 0.09${\pm}$0.59 days, 0.01${\pm}$0.02 kg and 0.01${\pm}$0.01 kg for age at first calving, first lactation milk yield, first lactation length, first calving interval, first lactation milk yield per day lactation length and first lactation milk yield per day of calving interval, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1540-1546
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• 2009

One hundred and forty-four piglets with an average birth weight of 1,672${\pm}$13.4 g were used to evaluate different feeding strategies for piglets reared from birth on a dummy sow. A 3${\times}$2 factorial experiment compared three nursing frequencies (1, 3 or 6 h intervals) and two feeding regimes (milk only, or milk combined with access to creep feed and water). The piglets which were nursed at one hour intervals had the lightest body weights at all days, and the poorest combined milk and creep feed dry matter conversion efficiency to piglet body weight gain in the second week. Piglets which were nursed at 3 h intervals had the heaviest body weight at day 15 and 22, but those nursed at 6 h intervals achieved similar body weight by days 29 (milk withdrawal) and 36. Piglets offered creep feed were observed to wean themselves before cessation of milk availability, and the timing of this self-weaning depended on the nursing frequency. The piglets nursed at one hour intervals weaned themselves between day 22 and day 29, those nursed at 3 h intervals weaned themselves between day 15 and day 22, whilst those nursed at 6 h intervals weaned themselves between day 8 and day 15. The piglets which were nursed at 6 h intervals had the highest total dry matter intake in weeks 3 and 4 when fed with milk, creep feed and water but not when fed milk only. They consequently had the poorest dry matter conversion efficiency in the fourth week and overall when fed with milk, creep feed and water, but not when fed milk only. It is concluded that the optimal management routine under these conditions is a 3 h nursing cycle with provision of supplementary creep feed and water.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.229-237
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• 2023

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of dandelion supplements on lactation performance, circulating antioxidative activity and plasma metabolomics in primiparous dairy cows. Methods: A total of 60 mid-lactation dairy cows (milk yield = 34.29±0.34 kg/d; days in milk = 151.72±2.36 days) were divided into 4 treatment groups randomly, comprising the addition of dandelion at 0, 100, 200, 400 g/d per head. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks with an extra 10 days' pre-feeding period. Milk and blood samples were collected, and plasma samples were selected to perform metabolomics analysis. Results: Supplementing 200 g/d of dandelion increased the yield of milk and lactose (p≤0.05). The milk somatic cell counts (p≤0.05) were lower in all dandelion groups than those in the control group. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (p≤0.05) and superoxide dismutase (p≤0.05) were increased and plasma malondialdehyde (p = 0.01) was decreased when cows were fed 200 g/d dandelion. Plasma metabolomics analysis showed that 23 hub differential metabolites were identified in the 200 g/d dandelion group. These metabolites such as ribose, glutamic acid, valine, and phenylalanine were enriched in D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism (p = 0.06, impact value = 1), phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis (p = 0.05, impact value = 0.5), and starch and sucrose metabolism (p = 0.21, impact value = 0.13). Moreover, correlation analysis showed that circulating ribose, mannose, and glutamic acid were positively related to milk yield. Conclusion: Dandelion supplementation could improve lactation performance and elevate the plasma carbohydrate and amino acids metabolism and antioxidative activity. Supplementation of 200 g/d dandelion is recommended for lactating dairy cows.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.181-188
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• 1994

In 60 dairy cows with inactive ovaries, follicular cyst, luteal cyst, persistent corpus luteum and silent heat as diagnosed by rectal palpation, and those that had not resumed ovarian cycles until 60 days postpartum, progesterone concentrations for differential diagnosis of reproductive disorders were measured and were compared in matched plasma, skim milk and milk fat samples at 10 days interval. The incidence rate of reproductive disorders were as follows; inactive ovaries 20(33.3%), silent heat 11(18.3%), follicular cyst 7(11.7%), luteal cyst 7(11.7%), persistent corpus luteum 7(11.7%), pyometra 4(6.7%), vaginitis 2(3.3%), cystic corpus luteum 1(1.7%), and endometritis 1(1.7%), respectively. Cows having a progesterone concentration in plasma and skim milk < 1.0 ng/ml, and in milk fat < 80.0 ng/ml were considered to have inactive ovaries or follicular cyst. Those with concentrations in plasma and skim milk ${\geq}1.0ng/ml$, and in milk fat ${\geq}80.0ng/ml$ were regarded as the cases of luteal cyst or persistent corpus luteum. Progesterone concentrations in above cows did not differ significantly between the time of initial determination and the 10 days after initial determination. But progesterone concentrations in cows with silent heat did differ significantly between the time of initial determination and the 10 days after initial determination(P<0.05). The accuracy of rectal palpation for making a differential diagnosis of ovarian dysfunction, as defined on basis of progesterone concentrations, were as follows; follicular cyst 55.6%, luteal cyst 50.0%, inactive ovaries 90.5% and persistent corpus luteum 60.0%, respectively. It may be concluded that progesterone determinations at 10 days interval is practical as an aid to diagnosing ovarian dysfunction, particularly follicular cyst and luteal cyst.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1098-1104
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• 2005

The trial was carried out on twenty-one Friesian cows at the end of eight months gestation, nine multiparous and twelve primiparous; allocated into three groups (1 control, 2 and 3 experimental). The same diet was administred to all three groups before partum (12.8 kg DM/head/day) and after partum (18.8 kg DM/head/day). The cows in groups 2 and 3 received two different daily quantities of amino-acid chelated chromium (0.6 and 1.2 mg Cr/kg DM) from 4 weeks prior to presumed parturition to 6 weeks after. The milk yield control was carried out at 15, 30, 42 and 60 days. All animals were immunised two weeks prior to the presumed parturition and two weeks after with the following antigens: ovalbumin and brucellergene. Blood samples were collected weekly to monitor humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. When analysing the results of antibody immunity (ovalbumin) in the sixth blood collection both treated groups significantly increased compared to group 1 (0.5230 and 0.4536 vs. 0.1812 OD; p<0.05). The results of the cell-mediated immune response (brucellergene) had significant differences (p<0.10) in correspondence to the third (between group 2 and control) and the fifth (between groups 3 and 2) blood collection. Significant differences in fat corrected milk were observed at 42 days between group 3 and the other two groups (31.01 vs. 26.99 and 28.66 kg/d, p<0.05) and at 60 days between group 3 and control (30.88 vs. 26.69 kg/d, p<0.05). Before partum and at partum a positive immune response was obtained with a lower dose of chromium. After partum a positive immune response, anti-OVA indicator, was obtained with the higher dose of chromium while, $\gamma$-IFN indicator, with the lower dose. A significant increase of the milk yield resulted at both 42 and 60 days with the highest level of chromium.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.111-114
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the reproductive performance of average (less than 10,000 liters milk in 305 days) and high yielding (more than 10,000 liters milk in 305 days) Holstein cattle at commercial dairy herds (n=22). Data on milk progesterone (10 to 60 days postpartum), days to post-partum estrous, days to post-partum conception, service per conception and calving interval were recorded for two consecutive years. Post-partum milk progesterone concentration and days to reach peak milk progesterone concentration were similar in high and average yielding cows. High yielding cows took more days to show signs of first postpartum estrous than average yielding cows. Post-partum conception was 20 days earlier in average yielding cows than high yielding cows. Artificial insemination per conception was similar between average and high yielding cows. Calving interval was 26.9 days longer in high yielding cows compared to average yielding cows. In conclusion, better reproductive and feeding management may help improve the reproductive performance of high yielding dairy cattle in commercial dairy farms.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.60 no.7
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• pp.18.1-18.12
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• 2018

Background: Xanthosine treatment has been previously reported to increase mammary stem cell population and milk production in cattle and goats. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with the increase in stem cell population and milk production remain unclear. Methods: Primiparous Beetal goats were assigned to the study. Five days post-partum, one mammary gland of each goat was infused with xanthosine (TRT) twice daily ($2{\times}$) for 3 days consecutively, and the other gland served as a control (CON). Milk samples from the TRT and CON glands were collected on the 10th day after the last xanthosine infusion and the total RNA was isolated from milk fat globules (MEGs). Total RNA in MFGs was mainly derived from the milk epithelial cells (MECs) as evidenced by expression of milk synthesis genes. Significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) terms using PANTHER and gene networks were generated using STRING db. Results: Preliminary analysis indicated that each individual goat responded to xanthosine treatment differently, with this trend being correlated with specific DEGs within the same animal's mammary gland. Several pathways are impacted by these DEGs, including cell communication, cell proliferation and anti-microbials. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into transcriptomic changes in milk producing epithelial cells in response to xanthosine treatment. Further characterization of DEGs identified in this study is likely to delineate the molecular mechanisms of increased milk production and stem or progenitor cell population by the xanthosine treatment.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2013

This study aimed to improve the reproductive efficiency of dairy herds by comparison and analyzing estrous appearance rate, conception and non-conception rate according to the stage of lactation using the lactation and reproductive records of average (less than 10,000 liters milk in 305 days) and high yielding (more than 10,000 liters milk in 305 days) Holstein cows (n=102). Milk production and reproduction data were collected between January 2010 and December 2012 from Holstein cows kept in the commercial dairy farms. Average (n=32) and high yielding (n=24) Holstein cows used to analyze the relationship between milk yield and reproductive performance. Our results showed that estrous appearance rate according to the stage of lactation was 25.0% (30~59d), 40.6% (60~89d), 25% (90~110d) and 9.4% (>111d) in average yielding cows and 16.7% (30~59d), 20.8% (60~89d), 12.5% (90~110d) and 50.0% (>111d) in high yielding cows, respectively. Conception rate according to the stage of lactation was 87.5% (30~59d), 61.5% (60~89d), 75.0% (90~110d) and 66.7% (>111d) in average yielding cows and 25.0% (30~59d), 0% (60~89d), 33.3% (90~110d) and 50.0% (>111d) in high yielding cows, respectively. Days between parturition and conception was 23.7% (<149d), 0% (150~209d) and 0% (>210 d) in average yielding cows and 69.0% (<149 d), 77.8% (150~209d) and 38.9% (>210d) in high yielding cows, respectively. Conception rate from 110 days postpartum in high yielding cows was 41.7% (110~150d), 50.0% (151~180d) and 50.0% (>181d). Body condition score (BCS) in 120 days postpartum was $2.64{\pm}0.1$ in average yielding cows and $2.28{\pm}0.1$ in high yielding cows, respectively.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.253-260
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• 2024

Objective: The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of once-a-day milk feeding on growth performance and routine behavior of preweaning dairy calves. Methods: At 22nd day of age, twenty-four Holstein calves were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (n = 12/treatment) based on milk feeding frequency (MF): i) 3 L of milk feeding two times a day; ii) 6 L of milk feeding once a day. The milk feeding amount was reduced to half for all calves between 56 and 60 days of age and weaning was done at 60 days of age. To determine the increase in weight and structural measurements, each calf was weighed and measured at 3 weeks of age and then at weaning. The daily behavioral activity of each calf was assessed from the 22nd day of age till weaning (60th day of age) through Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek (NEDAP) software providing real-time data through a logger fitted on the calf's foot. Results: There was no interaction (p≥0.17) between MF and sex of the calves for routine behavioral parameters, body weight and structural measurements. Similarly, there was no effect of MF on routine behavioral parameters, body weight and structural measurements. However, the sex of the calves affected body weight gain in calves. Male calves had 27% greater total body weight and average daily gain than female calves. There was no effect of the sex of the calves on behavioral measurements. Collectively, in the current study, no negative effects of a once-a-day milk feeding regimen were found on routine behavioral and growth parameters of preweaning calves in group housing. Conclusion: Once-a-day milk feeding can be safely adopted in preweaning calves from 22nd day of age.