• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1542-1549
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• 2018

Objective: Because lactation periods in dairy cows lengthen with increasing total milk production, it is important to predict individual productivities after 305 days in milk (DIM) to determine the optimal lactation period. We therefore examined whether the random regression (RR) coefficient from 306 to 450 DIM (M2) can be predicted from those during the first 305 DIM (M1) by using a RR model. Methods: We analyzed test-day milk records from 85,690 Holstein cows in their first lactations and 131,727 cows in their later (second to fifth) lactations. Data in M1 and M2 were analyzed separately by using different single-trait RR animal models. We then performed a multiple regression analysis of the RR coefficients of M2 on those of M1 during the first and later lactations. Results: The first-order Legendre polynomials were practical covariates of RR for the milk yields of M2. All RR coefficients for the additive genetic (AG) effect and the intercept for the permanent environmental (PE) effect of M2 had moderate to strong correlations with the intercept for the AG effect of M1. The coefficients of determination for multiple regression of the combined intercepts for the AG and PE effects of M2 on the coefficients for the AG effect of M1 were moderate to high. The daily milk yields of M2 predicted by using the RR coefficients for the AG effect of M1 were highly correlated with those obtained by using the coefficients of M2. Conclusion: Milk production after 305 DIM can be predicted by using the RR coefficient estimates of the AG effect during the first 305 DIM.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.157-161
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• 1988

To study the effect of moisture content of the diet on drinking behaviour and the amount of water drunk, observations were made on 8 Holstein steers fed either fresh cut forage or first cut hay. The observations were made in a barn with a mean temperature of about $13^{\circ}C$. Drinking occurred mainly within 3 hours after feeding for the steers fed hay, while those fed soilage drank casually. Frequency of drinking (F) was related to the dry-matter concentration (DMC, %) of herbage: F = 0.47 (${\pm}0.09$) DMC - 6.5, $SE={\pm}0.4$, r = 0.86, P<0.01. Intake of drinking water for each 100 kg of live weight (IDW/100kg) for steers fed soilage was related to the dry-matter concentration: IDW/100kg = 0.55 (${\pm}0.06$) DMC - 8.7, $SE={\pm}0.3$, r = 0.94, P<0.01. The intake of water in each drinking period for animals fed fresh forage was curvilinearly related to the drinking frequency; for the hay-fed steers there was a negative linear relationship. When the drinking frequency for steers fed the fresh forage increased to the same as that observed for the hay, water intake in each drinking period was the same as found for the hay-fed steers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.640-645
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• 2001

In order to evaluate the change in plasma and fecal mineral content of calves to 6 days of age, and to clarify the relationship between electrolyte status and fecal consistency in calves at 6 days of age, data were collected from 52 Holstein calves. Fecal DM and Na of calves decreased at 6 days of age, but fecal Ca, P, Mg, K, Fe and Zn increased. Plasma Ca, inorganic P, Mg, Na, and Fe as well as blood hematocrit and hemoglobin of calves decreased at 6 days of age, but plasma alkaline phosphatase increased. Colostral Ca, P, Mg, Fe and Zn decreased with time postpartum, but colostral Na and K were not affected. The high plasma Na and K of calves at 6 days of age were influenced by the values at birth. There were negative correlations between fecal DM and fecal Na, and fecal K, of calves at 6 days of age, negative correlations between fecal DM and plasma Na, with plasma K. Plasma and fecal Na as well as plasma and fecal K of calves at 6 days of age were increased by the occurrence of diarrhea. These results suggest that the electrolyte status of calves at 6 days of age is adversely affected by the occurrence of diarrhea, and high plasma K and Na of calves at 6 days of age may be partly due to the electolyte status of calves at birth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.1111-1115
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• 1999

In order to determine the appropriate sampling time for blood metabolites of periparturient cows, the changes of the blood composition in relation to time of day were evaluated in sixteen multiparous Holstein cows at 1 wk prepartum, 1 and 6 d postpartum. Blood samples were collected at 08:30, 10:00, 15:30 and 17:00 h in each sampling day, and the sampling times at 08:30 and 15:30 h were prior to feeding. The rectal temperature of cows increased gradually from 08:30, to 17:00 h, but blood Hct and Hb decreased constantly. Plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration at 08:30 h was two-fold higher than those at 10:00, 15:30 and 17:00 h from 1 wk prepartum to 6 d postpartum, and the value was maximum at 1 d postpartum. The highest plasma urea-N was observed at 10:00 h from 1 wk prepartum to 6 d postpartum. Plasma glucose and total protein were not affected by sampling time. The data indicated that blood samples of periparturient cows should be collected before morning feeding for the diagnosis of energy status, because plasma NEFA was the highest before morning feeding.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.739-745
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• 1998

Sixteen periparturient Holstein cows calving during summer and autumn were fed to meet maintenance plus last 2 month of gestation level of TDN (MP) and 1.2 time of MP level (HMP). Dry matter intake of cows fed at HMP level during summer and autumn decreased by 1 and 2% of the offered feed in 1 week prepartum, respectively, and cows fed at MP level consumed all of the offered feed. Rectal temperatures at 08 : 30 h of cows fed at HMP level were higher than those of cows fed at MP level. Blood hematocrit and hemoglobin of cows increased during summer and were higher for cows fed at HMP level. Plasma total protein and glucose of cows during summer were higher than those during autumn, and the increased feed intake elevated plasma total protein and glucose. Plasma urea-N of cows fed at MP level was higher than that of cows fed at HMP level during autumn. The increased feed intake decreased plasma nonesterified fatty acid of cows during summer and autumn. These results suggest that blood components of periparturient cows are altered by calving season and feeding level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.1409-1418
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• 2001

Two trials were carried out during two different grazing seasons to evaluate effect of grass silage supplementation, when amount of pasture is limited on dry matter intake (DMI), milk production, and gross energetic efficiency (GEE) of grazed lactating cows on a high forage-based diet. Fifty-one Holstein cows were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments: high pasture group or high silage group. In the spring flush, pasture and silage DMI, milk yield, milk fat percentage, and GEE were not different between the dietary groups. After the spring flush, pasture and silage DMI were higher for the high silage group than for the high pasture group. After the spring flush, although these were the higher total DMI of the high silage group than the high pasture group, milk yield was significantly (p<0.05) higher for the high pasture group than the high silage group. Milk fat percentage tended to be higher for the high silage group than the high pasture group. The GEE was significantly (p<0.05) higher for the high pasture group than the high silage group during after the spring flush. This study indicated that supplementation of grass silage, especially after the spring flush, can have a significant effect of increasing of forage intake and maintenance of the milk fat percentage; but not increase milk yield and GEE.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 1992

Body water compartments in vivo were determined in Holstein cattle with age ranging from 5 to 521 days to obtain an equation to estimate volumes of body water. Live weight ranged from 47 to 480 kg. Compartments were determined as antipyrine space for total body water (TBW), thiocyanate space for extracellular water (ECW) and Evans blue dye space for plasma water (PW). Body water compartments expressed as a percentage of live weight decreased as age in days increased and significantly correlated with age in days. Regression analyses revealed that prediction equations had low accuracy. Regression equations of body water compartments on live weight (WT, kg) were useful for the prediction of body fluid with a high accuracy. Live weight significantly regressed on age in days (Day), which was inferred to be utilized for estimation of standardized live weight in case animals were emaciated by certain causes such as severe diarrhea or dehydration. In conclusion, following equations were presented to estimate body water compartments of cattle in vivo : TBW in liters = $0.556({\pm}0.007)WT+10$, r = 0.993, $SE{\pm}0.7$ ECW in liters = $0.321({\pm}0.008)WT+10$, r = 0.978, $SE{\pm}0.8$ PW in liters = $0.0502({\pm}0.0012)WT+1.6$, r = 0.0983, $SE{\pm}0.1$ WT (kg) = $0.772({\pm}0.018)Day+24$, r = 0.982, $SE{\pm}2.3$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.347-354
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• 2017

Objective: The effects of the pre- and postpartum supplementation of cows with Se on their plasma P4 concentrations after calving were investigated. Methods: Thirty-four Holstein cows were used to investigate the effects of dietary selenium supplementation on the postpartum recovery of the luteal function in cows. Selenium-rich yeast (containing 300 ppm selenium) was mixed with total mixed ration fed to 17 pregnant cows from 30 days before they were due to calve (10 g yeast daily) to 100 days after calving (20 g yeast daily). The control cows (n = 17) were fed the same amount of ordinary yeast. The cows' plasma progesterone concentrations were determined every two days using an enzyme immunoassay after calving. Results: Feed intake (total digestive nutrient, crude protein), milk production, body weight and the biochemical properties of blood plasma did not differ between the two groups; however, the plasma selenium concentrations of the supplemented animals were significantly greater than those of the controls at and after calving. The postpartum plasma progesterone concentrations of the selenium-yeast-supplemented group increased earlier than those of the control group. Moreover, during the estrus cycle after the 3rd ovulation or ovulation with estrus between 60 to 80 days after calving, the selenium-supplemented cows exhibited greater progesterone concentrations than the control cows. Conclusion: Selenium supplementation promotes the postpartum progesterone production of cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1466-1472
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• 2008

Variations in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentrations in Holstein dairy cows milk, depending on feeding systems in different seasons was investigated. Milk samples were collected from Holstein dairy cows, which either grazed for whole days (WG), only daylight hours (TG), or were offered a total mixed ration (TMR) and experienced no grazing (NG), from April to December of 2005. In April, November and December, the cows in TG and WG treatments received grass silage and some concentrate, while from May to October, the cows grazed on temperate pasture. The cows in NG treatment received the TMR throughout the season. The major fatty acid obtained in the pastures was linolenic acid. There was no significant difference in the pasture's linolenic acid concentrations from May to September, but there was a significant decrease in October. However, the linolenic acid concentrations obtained in the pasture were always much higher than those obtained from the TMR. Linoleic acid was also the major fatty acid in the TMR, but these concentrations were higher in the TMR than in the pasture. There was no significant difference in milk cis9trans11CLA (c9t11CLA) concentrations between the three feeding systems while the cows were fed on conserved pasture in April, November and December. Although c9t11CLA concentrations were lower in the TMR, it was found that the cows which grazed in fresh pasture experienced significantly higher concentrations of c9t11CLA in their milk than those which received only TMR. It was also found that cows in the WG treatment experienced higher c9t11CLA concentrations than those in the TG treatment. In the WG and TG treatments, c9t11CLA concentrations were highest in June, after which, they gradually decreased (p<0.01) until October. For the NG treatment, there was no significant change in the concentrations of c9t11CLA (p>0.05) with season. Overall, trans11C18:1 and c9t11CLA were greatly influenced by season, with higher variation in the WG treatment than in the TG treatment and no variation in the NG treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.511-516
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• 2007

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of differently maturing corn hybrids on silage production and milk production per unit area in the northern part of Japan, where grain development occurs under decreasing ambient temperature. Both hybrids were harvested at the same time. The stages of maturity for the early-maturing hybrids (EH; 80 d relative maturity) and the mid-maturing hybrids (MH; 93 d relative day) were early dent and late dough stage, respectively. The plant yields for MH were higher than those for EH. The dry matter (DM) content of MH was lower than that for EH, and the effluent loss for MH silage was greater than that for EH silage. Therefore, the DM yields of prepared silage per area were similar for both treatments. Twelve multiparous mid-lactation Holstein cows ($58{\pm}13$ days in milk) were fed diets based on EH or MH silage in a crossover design with two 3-week periods. Cows were fed 3 kg of hay crop silage (DM basis) and either EH or MH silage ad libitum, and concentrates were supplied to meet NRC requirement for dairy cows. Silage DM intake for EH was found to be higher (p<0.05) than that for MH (10.0 vs. 9.1 kg/day). Milk production and milk composition for EH were similar to those for MH. Feed efficiency per total feed intake was similar in both treatments, although the feed efficiency per concentrate intake tended to be higher for the EH than that for the MH diet. These results indicate that differences in maturation in corn hybrids affect the effluent production of silage and the silage intake of dairy cows. It may be advantageous to plant early hybrid corn with a reduction in effluent production of silage as well as a reduction in purchased feed costs for dairy cows under the climatic conditions of the northern part of Japan.