• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.404-413
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• 2008

Major objectives were to evaluate effects of three schemes of bST-supplementation of Holstein cows (142.8 mg/14 d, POSILAC) during the prepartum and/or postpartum periods through 63 d (${\pm}3d$) of lactation. Measures evaluated the potential of treatments to improve body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS), provoke changes in plasma concentrations of somatotropin (ST) and IGF-I, and improve milk yield, milk composition (percentages of protein and fat, and somatic cell counts), and several calving variables. Multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of treatments (TRT) to give four groups (I = no bST, n = 26; II = bST postpartum, n = 25; III = bST prepartum, n = 27; IV = bST prepartum and postpartum, n = 25). During the prepartum period, cows in groups I and II were not supplemented but those in groups III and IV were supplemented every 2-wk beginning 21 d before expected calving date through calving. During the first 63 DIM only cows in groups II and IV were supplemented with bST. From 64 DIM through the end of lactation cows in all groups were supplemented with the full lactation dose of bST (500 mg/14 d). The BW and BCS were recorded weekly throughout the prepartum and postpartum periods and every 2-wk beyond 70 DIM. Blood samples were collected 3-times a week for analyses of ST and IGF-I. Milk yields were recorded daily though 150 DIM. Prepartum supplementation of bST did not affect BW or BCS, but mean concentrations of ST were increased 12.2% and were 15.5% greater at calving. Overall, mean concentration of IGF-I was not affected by treatment but concentrations were greater at 1 and 2 wk before calving in bST-supplemented cows. During the first 63 DIM the BW and BCS were not affected by treatment. Significant effects of bST-supplementation were detected on concentrations of ST, IGF-I and on milk yield compared to non-supplemented cows in group I. Postpartum concentrations of ST were greater in bST-supplemented cows (TRT II and IV; +41.9 and 54.6%). However, concentrations of IGF-I were greater only in cows in group IV (+25.9%) during the postpartum period. Overall, the three bST-supplemented groups had greater actual milk yield than the control group (I) during the first 63 and 150 DIM. The actual milk yields during 63 and 150 DIM were 6.5 and 4.6 kg/d greater for cows in group IV than cows in group I and the 305-d ME milk yield also was 15.6% greater. No adverse effects of TRT were observed on calf birth weight, colostrum immunoglobulins, ease of calving or other measures evaluated.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.117-120
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• 1998

Relationships of breeding values of sires for first lactation milk yield with pedigree information or indices were examined to identify the optimal criteria of selecting young dairy bulls for future use in artificial insemination (AI). Records of performance data on 1087 crossbred daughters (Holstein - Friesian, Jersey and Brown Swiss with Hariana) of 147 sires, generated at Livestock Production Research (Cattle and Buffaloes) Farm, IVRI, Izatnagar, U.P., during 1972 - 1995 were used to obtain the estimates of sire's breeding values (EBV) using the Best Linear Unbiased Prediction Procedures. The correlations between young bull's EBV and the dam's first lactation milk yield was non-significantly different from zero. However, the young bull's EBV was negatively and significantly related (r = - 0.275 ; P < 0.05) to the dam's best lactation milk yield, suggesting that the selection of young dairy bulls from high yielding elite dams is not a suitable criteria for genetic improvement. The correlations of sire's and paternal grandsire's EBV's with young bull's EBV were high and positive (0.532, 0.844; P < 0.01). The maternal grandsire's EBV was positively but non-significantly related to grandson's EBV. The pedigree index incorporating dam's milk records and sire's EBV's showed a negative and non-significant correlation with young bull's EBV. However, the correlation of a pedigree index $(I_3)$ combining information on sire's and paternal grand-sire's EBV's with young bull's EBV's was considerably high and positive (0.797; P < 0.01). The regression coefficients of young bull's EBV on pedigree index $I_3$, was higher than those on other pedigree information. These results revealed that there was no advantage in basing selection on dam's performance or maternal grand-sire's EBV and that sire's and paternal grandsire's EBV's were reliable pedigree information for selection of young dairy bulls for future use in AI.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1227-1232
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of concentrates containing different levels of a vitamin-trace elements premix on milk yield and composition of dairy cows. The trial, which lasted 14 weeks, was conducted from January to March and used 45 multiparous Brown cows in the early phase of lactation. Cows (n = 15 per treatment) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments: the first group (control, C-0) was fed pelleted concentrate containing background vitamins and trace elements that supplied 1.0 times cows' daily requirements; the second group were fed the same concentrate, but containing 2.5 g/kg of vitamin and trace mineral premix per kg of concentrate (C-2.5); the third group were fed the same concentrate, but containing 5 g/kg of vitamin and trace mineral premix per kg of concentrate (C-5). The daily ration included ad libitum chopped oat hay, and the cows also had 8 h/d grazing on a ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) pasture. During the performance trial, cow milk yield was daily recorded and individual milk samples were analysed for milk composition and to determine milk renneting properties. Cows fed the intermediate premix level (C-2.5) in diet showed the highest fat-corrected milk production (p<0.05) compared to other groups. None of the milk quality parameters studied were influenced by dietary treatment, except for milk rheological parameters (rennet clotting time and curd firmness) that were positively improved in cows fed the C-2.5 diet (p<0.05). The findings from this study show that intermediate level of vitamin-trace elements premix in concentrate can be advantageously used in grazing dairy cows without negative effects on yield and quality of milk produced.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.806-812
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• 2003

Attempts have been made to establish relationship between the response to ACTH challenge in female calves, growth and first lactation performance. A total of 19 Holstein calves weighing 100 kg i. v. were given 0.50 IU of ACTH/kg $BW^{.75}$ (EXACTHIN inj., Richter G., Budapest) at 60 days of age. Serial blood samples were taken at times 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours and analyzed for cortisol, glucose insulin and FFA levels. From challenge series the area under the curve from time of administration and the following 5 h were calculated. Negative, and mostly loose relationship between response to ACTH challenge for cortisol, insulin, or FFA and ADWG during growth have been established (p>0.05) with positive one for glucose. Bivariate coefficients of correlation varied within the range from -0.35 to 0.15. Estimations reveal negative correlation between the length of first lactation and cortisol or insulin (r=-0.80, p<0.001 and r=-0.45, p<0.10, resp.) Close association between cortisol or insulin and actual first lactation milk yield was found (r=-0.48, p<0.10; r=-0.64, p<0.01, resp.). Close relationship between the response to ACTH challenge and milk protein yield was present only for insulin (r=-0.59, p<0.05).

• 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.17 no.9
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• pp.1214-1218
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• 2004

Data on 958 Karan Fries (KF) and 780 Karan Swiss (KS) cows, born during 1974 to 1992 at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal were evaluated for causes of culling and their impact on milk performance and herd strength. Causes of culling were classified as voluntary culling (low milk yield) and involuntary culling (other than milk yield). The milk yield of cows was evaluated inretrospectively by estimating expected breeding value (EBV) on the basis of first lactation yield (FLY) and all available lactation yield (ALY). The culling rate of KF cows over the years varied from 10.89 (1988) to 33.92% (1991) with an overall average of 20.96% and in KS from 19.91 (1984) to 33.74% (1989) with an overall average of 25.01%. Reproductive disorders, teat and udder problems, low milk production, health and locomotive disorders were the major reasons of culling accounted respectively for 5.56, 4.97, 4.61, 3.18 and 2.24% of herd strength in KF cows. The corresponding causes of culling were 6.20, 6.26, 7.69, 1.49 and 2.67% of herd strength in KS cows. The involuntary culling of cows accounted for 82.4% in K F and 76.1% in KS cows of total culling. The average annual disposal rate in KF and KS was 26 and 30% whereas annual replacement rate was 24 and 26% respectively. The EBV of involuntary culled cows on the basis of FLY and ALY was 3,111 and 3,515 kg in KF; and 2,669 and 2,940 kg in KS cows respectively. The EBV of selected cows on the basis of FLY and ALY was 3,242 and 3,549 kg in KF and 2,893 and 3,245 kg in KS cows respectively. The average breeding value of involuntary culled cows was not significantly different from selected cows in both the herds. The high rate of involuntary culling of potential cows might be major factor responsible for declined performance and size in these herds. The results indicated that higher genetic gain (2.14% of herd average in KF and 3.49% of herd average in KS) could be obtained by restricting the involuntary culling (50% of total culling) through improved management practices and increasing replacement rate.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2013

The characteristics of lactation persistency was investigated for new evaluation trait using 4,366,900 milk yield records from 436,690 heads of Korean Holstein dairy cattle. The average lactation persistencies of first parity, second parity and over third parity were 97.5%, 95.1% and 94.6%, respectively and there was a trend that after the peak yield, lactation persistency decreased collectively. The average days of peak milk yields after calving was about 50 days, but only 33.2% of cows reached peak yields at 36~66 days (second test day). Also, there was a difference between the milk yield of cows which reached peak yields at first test day by lactation days and that of cows which reached peak yields at second to fourth test day. The estimates of heritabilty and repeatability for mean lactation persistency were 0.16 and 0.35, respectively. The genetic correlation between cumulative lactation persistency from third to tenth test day and that from third to seventh test day was 0.91 and while it increased in later test day, it decreased sharply in earlier test day. The breeding value correlations of Data II and III for Data I were 0.80 and 0.72, respectively, while the rank correlations were 0.78 and 0.71, respectively. Based on the results, the breeding value and rank correlations decreased when more data were added.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.9
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• pp.37-49
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• 1991

This study was conducted to estimate the effects of year, age of dam at calving, farm and lactation period on milk yield with the data of 4,008 cows' records which were collected at 32 farms by Korea Animal Improvement Association from 1985 to 1989. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows: 1. The average performance of the dairy cattle in the study were $5,959.23{\pm}2,113.03kg$ in actual milk yield, $49.19{\pm}22.77$ months in age of dam at calving, $27.11{\pm}5.13$ months in age at first calving and $255.11{\pm}79.68$ days in lactation period. 2. The percentages of variance component for different sources were 29.39% for the residuals, 1.91% for years, 4.86% for age at calving, 8.89% for farms and 54.94% for lactation period. 3. The overall mean of least-square estimate on the milk yield was 6,229.31kg. In the effects of year, the least-square means of milk yield were estimated 6,000.76kg in 1985-1987, 6,028.11kg in 1988 and 6,659.07kg in 1989. 4. The least-square means of calving age on the milk yield were estimated 5,456.01kg in less than 24 months, 6,565.48kg in 61-66 months which were the highest least-square means. This effects were gradually increased until the 61-66months and gradually decreased after the 61-66months, with highly significant differences among different months of age at calving(p<0.01). 5. In the effects of farm, the least-square means of milk yield were estimated 4,959.50 kg in the lowest farm and 7,497.07kg in the highest farm. Among the milk yield of each farm the effects showed highly significant difference(p<0.01). 6. The least-square means of milk yield in the effects of lactation period were gradually increased with the lapse of the lactation period. Among the lactation period the effects showed highly significant difference(p<0.01).

• 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.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.869-878
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• 2023

Objective: Hyperketonemia remains a major metabolic issue of serious milk production and a major health concern in early lactation cows. Oral supplementation of glucose precursors (GP) can be used to prevent hyperketonemia in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to compare the beneficial effects of orally supplementing a mixture of GP on metabolic health indicators and milk production status of primiparous (PP) and multiparous (MP) dairy cows. Methods: Twenty-eight Holstein cows were blocked by expected date of parturition, previous lactation yield, and parity. The cows were randomly allocated to one of the four treatment groups (n = 7 cows/group) based on their parity and GP supplementation: i) PP cows fed basal diet only (PP-CON), ii) PP cows with oral supplementation of GP (PP-GP), iii) MP cows fed basal diet only (MP-CON), and iv) MP cows with oral supplementation of GP (MP-GP). Glucose precursor (glycoline liquid) was orally drenched (300 mL/d) in GP cows from 7 days prepartum through 7 days postpartum. Other than GP supplementation, all cows were fed similar pre- and postpartum basal diets. Results: In both pre- and postpartum periods, serum glucose concentration was increased, whereas β-hydroxybutyrate and free fatty acids were decreased in GP cows compared with the CON cows. Milk yield and milk components were statistically not different between GP and CON cows over the first 9 week of lactation. The yield of actual milk, energy-corrected milk, 63-days cumulative milk, colostrum yield, and calf birth weight remained higher in MP cows compared with PP cows. Conclusion: Oral drenching of GP around calving can be recommended to successfully improve the metabolic health and reduce the negative effects of hyperketonemia not only in MP but also in PP dairy cows.