• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권10호
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• pp.1400-1410
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• 2004

Eight crossbred (75% Holstein Friesian) cows in mid-lactation were randomly assigned to a switchback design with a 2x2 factorial arrangement to evaluate two nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) sources (corn meal and cassava chips) with different rumen degradability and used at two levels of NSC (55 vs. 75%) with protein source (supplied by urea in the concentrate mix). The treatments were 1) Low degradable low level of corn (55%) 2) Low degradable high level of corn (75%) 3) High degradable low level of cassava (55%) and 4) High degradable high level of cassava (75%). The cows were offered the treatment concentrate at a ratio to milk yield at 1:2. Urea-treated rice straw was offered ad libitum as the roughage and supplement with 1 kg/hd/d cassava hay. The results revealed that total DM intake, BW and digestion coefficients of DM were not affected by either level or source of energy. Rumen fermentation parameters; NH3-N, blood urea nitrogen and milk urea nitrogen were unaffected by source of energy, but were dramatically increased by level of NSC. Rumen microorganism populations were not affected (p>0.05) by source of energy, but fungal zoospores were greater for cassava-based concentrate than corn-based concentrate. Milk production and milk composition were not affected significantly by diets containing either source or level of NSC, however concentrate than corn-based concentrate averaging (4.4 and 4.2, respectively). Likewise, income over feed, as estimated from 3.5% FCM, was higher on cassava-based concentrate than corn-based concentrate averaging (54.0 and 51.4 US$/mo, respectively). These results indicate that feeding diets containing either cassava-based diets and/or a higher of oncentrates up to 75% of DM with NPN (supplied by urea up to 4.5% of DM) can be used in dairy rations without altering rumen ecology or animal performance compared with corn-based concentrate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.946-951
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• 2003

The Genetic diversity and relationship of native Siri (Bos indicus) cattle populations of Bhutan were evaluated using 20 microsatellite markers. A total of 120 Siri cattle were sampled and were grouped into four populations according to their geographical locations which were named Siri West, Siri South, Siri Central and Siri East cattle. For each, 30 individuals were sampled. In addition, 30 samples each of Indian Jaba (B. indicus), Tibetan Goleng (B. taurus), Nepal Hill cattle (B. indicus), Holstein Friesian (B.taurus) and Mithun (B. frontalis) were typed. The mean number of alleles per loci (MNA) and observed heterozygosity (Ho) were high in the Siri populations ($MNA=7.2{\pm}0.3$ to $8.9{\pm}0.5$ and $Ho=0.67{\pm}0.04$ to $0.73{\pm}0.03$). The smallest coefficient of genetic differentiation and genetic distance ($F_{ST}=0.015$ and $D_A=0.073$) were obtained between Siri West and Siri Central populations. Siri East population is genetically distinct from the other Siri populations being close to the Indian Jaba ($F_{ST}=0.024$ and $D_A=0.084$). A high bootstrap value of 96% supported the close relationship of Siri South, Siri Central and Siri West, while the relationship between Siri East and Jaba was also supported by a high bootstrap value (82%). Data from principal component analysis and individual assignment test were in concordance with the inference from genetic distance and differentiation. In conclusion we identified two separate Siri cattle populations in Bhutan at the genetic level. One population included Siri cattle sampled from the West, Central and South of the country and the other Siri cattle was sampled from the East of the country. We suggest that Siri cattle conservation program in Bhutan should focus on the former population as it has received less genetic influence from other cattle breeds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.555-560
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• 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
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• 제24권7호
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• pp.898-904
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• 2011

The PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in and around TM4 of SLC11A1 gene and its association with the incidences of brucellosis in Hariana breed (Bos indicus) and Holstein Friesian crossbred (Bos indicus${\times}$Bos taurus) cattle was examined. A fragment of 954 bp encoding the TM4 was amplified, and RFLP was identified by digestion of the amplicon independently with AluI and TaqI. The amplicon (GenBank Acc. No. AY338470 and AY338471) comprised of a part of exon V (<59 bp) and VII (62>), and entire intron 5 (423 bp), exon VI (71 bp) and intron 6 (339 bp). Digestion with AluI revealed the presence of two alleles viz, A (281, 255, 79 and 51 bp) and B (541, 255, 79 and 51 bp). The frequency of A allele was estimated as 0.80 and 0.73 in Hariana and crossbred cattle, respectively. Due to presence of a polymorphic TaqI site at intron 5, two alleles: T (552 and 402 bp) and Q (231, 321 and 402 bp) were identified. The frequency of T allele was estimated as 0.96 and 0.97, respectively. For association study, on the basis of serological tests and history of abortion, the animals were grouped into "affected" and "non-affected". However, no association could be established with the observed RFLPs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.733-736
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• 2004

The study was carried out on eight Bos indicus cattle breeds namely, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Nimari, Khilari, Deoni, Amritmahal, Hariana and Hilly cattle; two Bos taurus cattle breeds namely, Jersey and Holstein Friesian and Indicine${\times}$Taurine crossbred cattle to find out the polymorphic pattern of beta-lactoglobulin gene. The polymorphism at beta-lactoglobulin gene was detected by conducting PCR-RFLP studies on 398 bp fragment spanning over 104 bases of exon IV and 294 bases of intron IV. Two alleles A and B and three genotypes AA, AB and BB were observed in all the cattle breeds. The frequency of B allele was comparatively higher than that of A allele. The allelic frequency of A varied from 0.20 to 0.30 in Bos indicus cattle breeds and 0.19 to 0.34 in Bos taurus breeds while in crossbred cattle the frequency was estimated as 0.21. The weighted frequency of A allele was highest in Indian cattle and lowest in crossbred cattle while the frequency in taurine cattle was found to be in between indicus and crossbred cattle. The non-significant differences of allelic frequency amongst Bos indicus, Bos taurus and crossbred cattle was observed. The effect of genotype on fat percentage was also found to be non-significant in cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.816-820
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• 2001

This study aimed at relating body condition score (BCS) to ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous fat over the areas most commonly used to BCS Holstein-Friesian cows, and determining the practicality of ultrasound measurement of subcutaneous fat for assessment of energy status of the cow. Twenty-eight cows were scored to the nearest quarter point on a scale of 1-5 (1=thin and 5=fat) using both visual and tactile techniques. On the same day, ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous fat were obtained at the lumbar transverse process, thurl and near the tailhead areas on both sides of the cow making six locations. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between the six ultrasound locations ranged from 0.72-0.93 and were all significantly different from zero (p<0.01). Correlation coefficients between BCS and the mean lumbar, thurl and tailhead ultrasound measurements ranged between 0.67-0.72 and were also significantly different from zero (p<0.01). BCS was highly and significantly correlated to ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous fat. Ultrasound can be used independently or in conjunction with BCS to estimate the nutrition and energy status of cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제13권10호
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• pp.1461-1466
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• 2000

The use of the dairy male calf for beef production has been found to be economically unprofitable during the past due to high cost of feeds and relatively low beef price. However, due to current shortage of domestic beef supply and rising beef price, this research aimed to assess feeding methods and costs and returns in raising dairy male calves for beef production under changing economic conditions. Two diets were compared: calves on an optimal feeding level were given milk replacer for 44 d and a concentrate (with ad lib. hay) to 150 kg bodyweight that contained 16% crude protein; those given a sub-optimal diet, more appropriate for smallholder farms, received milk replacer for 30 d and 14% CP concentrate. Twelve pairs of dairy male calves (average age 32 days) of Holstein-Friesian high grades were used, each pair having similar influencing factors such as weight, age, and genotype. Each animal was kept in a separate feeding stall until reaching the final weight of 150 kg. The results from this experiment showed that the differences of traits concerning growth performance and feed efficiency of the animals raised under the two feeding regimes were statistically nonsignificant. The optimal group was just slightly better, but the cost of production of the sub-optimal group was 24 percent lower (4,667 vs. 6,144 baht per animal) and the cost difference was highly significant. The results from this investigation showed that beef production from dairy male calves can be economically viable when sub-optimal feeding method is used and market beef price is at current level.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.30-34
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• 1998

To compare response of feeding concentrate mixtere and wheat straw (Group I) with either urea molasses liquid diet (UMLD) as sole ration (group II) or UMLD (similar to protein equivalent of concentrate mixture) plus wheat straw (group III) on intake and utilisation of nutrients and overall performance, twelve crossbred adult male cattle (Holstein Friesian ${\times}$ Hariana) aged about 2.5 years and weighing 342 kg were randomly allotted into three equal groups following completely randomised design and fed respective diets for a period of 60 days. Thereafter, a metabolism trial of seven days duration was conducted to assess nutrient utilisation and nitrogen balance. Animals fed UMLD as sole ration consumed significantly (p < 0.01) less amount of most of the nutrients as compared to other two groups, except crude protein, intake of which was higher in this group but it was comparable between II and III and III and I. On the other hand, digestibilities of nutrients were higher (p < 0.01) in group II, though it was comparable between other two groups, except ADF, the digestibility of which was lower in group II. Inspite of positive nitrogen balance in all the three groups, being significantly (p < 0.01) higher in group I, animals of group II and III lost their body weight especially to the utmost extent in group II, although the amount of energy (TDN) intake were similar statistically. Results indicate that during a scarcity period and economic compulsions, feeding of UMLD can be practised to replace only concentrate mixture from the maintenance ration of adult crossbred cattle for shorter duration as roughage part seems to be essential for the normal functioning of the rumen microbes and overall performance of the animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.113-118
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• 1995

Eighteen Holstein Friesian ${\times}$ Native heifers with an average live weight of $175.4{\pm}27.8kg$ were allotted to 3 dietary groups. All animals were kept individually in a stanchion barn with free access to water and urea-treated rice straw (UTS). The supplemented feeds were as follows: Group (Gr) 1 - concentrate mixture (15% CP) at 1% body weight (BW), Gr 2 - concentrate mixture at 0.7% BW + free licking of multinutrient block (MNB), Gr 3 - as Gr 2 + 0.3% BW ground com. Multinutrient block composed of 20% mineral mixture, 10% urea, 18% molasses, 20% soybean meal, 22% sesame meal, 10% cement, 0.15 million IU and 50 IU/kg MNB of vitamin A and E. The experimental period lasted 12 weeks. The result revealed that MNB enhanced intake of UTS and total dry matter intake. Animals in Gr 3 consumed a higher amount of feed than the other 2 groups, thus resulting in the highest live weight gain and tended to possess the best feed conversion ratio. Heifers in Gr 2 also performed better than Gr 1 although the difference was not significant. Average MNB intake found to be 0.65 kg/day. Feed cost per kg gain was not significantly different amon groups. However if the cost of MNB could be lower, it would benefit the production cost of animals. The advantage of MNB is the safety of using a high level of urea. Although it was supplemented to UTS which also contained non-protein nitrogen (NPN), no toxic sign was shown. The results indicated that MNB could be partially substituted to concentrate mixture and it was even better when used incombination with soluble carbohydrate feed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.11-15
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• 2002

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effects of non-genetic factors and association among replacement and lifetime production traits. The data on 542 Holstein Friesian cows maintained during 1975-98 at State Cattle Breeding Project, Sector III, Hisar, were utilized. The average sex-ratio, abnormal births, mortality, culling and replacement rates on total calf born and total female calf born basis were 51.62, 8.50, 17.52, 31.05, 22.78 and 51.41 per cent, respectively. The study revealed that a minimum of 4 to 5 progenies are required per cow over its lifetime to replace itself. It indicated that each cow should produce a minimum of 2 female calves during its life so as to replace herself before being lost. The least-squares means for productive herd life, longevity and lifetime production were $1439.32{\pm}87.64$ and $2419.18{\pm}8.25$ days and $11317.95{\pm}913.15kg$, respectively. The heritability estimates for all replacement traits were very low indicating that sire selection may bring no desirable change in these traits. Heritability estimates were $0.178{\pm}0.157$, $0.288{\pm}0.184$ and $0.096{\pm}0.195$ for corresponding lifetime production traits. Breeding values and ranking of sires were generated for replacement and lifetime production traits to estimate the rank correlations between these traits. Moderate desirable rank correlations were obtained between replacement rate and lifetime production traits indicating that sires proven on the basis of milk production are also expected to have better replacement rate.