• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.949-956
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• 2021

Objective: This study was focused on the estimation of parameters of Wood's model and description of the lactation curve using the cows which were lactated over 24 months on the first lactation. Methods: The database included 1,333 pure-bred dairy Simmental primiparous cows which lactated for 24 months (732 days). The initial dataset entering the procedure of assessment of parameters of Wood's function included 35,826 milk yield records. Milk yield was recorded throughout lactation, with the earliest record taken on day 6 and the latest on day 1,348 of lactation. This dataset was used for the assessment of parameters a, b, c of Wood's model using the non-linear statistical procedure. These parameters were estimated for different length of lactation. The assessed parameters were used for calculation of some characteristics of lactation curves. Results: The lowest value of a parameter (15.2317) of Wood's model of lactation curve was found out in lactations up to 305 days long, contrary to b and c parameters which were highest in those lactations (0.1029 and 0.0015, respectively). The maximum value of a parameter (17.4329) was found out in lactations up to 640 days long, unlike b and c parameters which were minimal in those lactations (0.0603 and 0.0010, respectively). Conclusion: It can be concluded that the parameters of Wood's model and the shape of lactation curve are changing with the growing number of milk yield records. Also, the assessed parameters revealed a significant milk production potential after 305 days of lactation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.315-320
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• 2002

Test-day records (n=13677) sampled from 896 ewes in 5-9 (${\mu}$=7.5) monthly test-days were used to estimate genetic and phenotypic parameters of test-day yields, lactation milk yield (TMY), length of the milking period (DAYS) and three measures of persistency of milk yield in Boutsico dairy sheep. Τhe measures of persistency were the slope of the regression line (${\beta}$), the coefficient of variation (CV) of the test-day milk yields and the maximum to average daily milk yield ratio (MA). The estimates of variance components were obtained under a linear mixed model by restricted maximum likelihood. The heritability of test-day yields ranged from 0.15 to 0.24. DAYS were found to be heritable ($h^2$=0.11). Heritability estimates of ${\beta}$, CV and MA were 0.15, 0.13, 0.10, respectively. Selection for maximum lactation yields is expected to result in prolonged milking periods, high rates of decline of yields after peak production, variable test-day yields and higher litter sizes. Selection for flatter lactation curves would reduce lactation yields, increase slightly the length of the milking period and decrease yield variation as well as litter size. The most accurate prediction of TMY was obtained with a linear regression model with the first five test-day records.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1073-1082
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• 2012

We first sought to clarify the effects of discounted rate, survival rate, and lactation persistency as a component trait of the selection index on net merit, defined as the first five lactation milks and herd life (HL) weighted by 1 and 0.389 (currently used in Japan), respectively, in units of genetic standard deviation. Survival rate increased the relative economic importance of later lactation traits and the first five lactation milk yields during the first 120 months from the start of the breeding scheme. In contrast, reliabilities of the estimated breeding value (EBV) in later lactation traits are lower than those of earlier lactation traits. We then sought to clarify the effects of applying single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on net merit to improve the reliability of EBV of later lactation traits to maximize their increased economic importance due to increase in survival rate. Net merit, selection accuracy, and HL increased by adding lactation persistency to the selection index whose component traits were only milk yields. Lactation persistency of the second and (especially) third parities contributed to increasing HL while maintaining the first five lactation milk yields compared with the selection index whose only component traits were milk yields. A selection index comprising the first three lactation milk yields and persistency accounted for 99.4% of net merit derived from a selection index whose components were identical to those for net merit. We consider that the selection index comprising the first three lactation milk yields and persistency is a practical method for increasing lifetime milk yield in the absence of data regarding HL. Applying SNP to the second- and third-lactation traits and HL increased net merit and HL by maximizing the increased economic importance of later lactation traits, reducing the effect of first-lactation milk yield on HL (genetic correlation ($r_G$) = -0.006), and by augmenting the effects of the second- and third-lactation milk yields on HL ($r_G$ = 0.118 and 0.257, respectively).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1285-1290
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• 2003

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of test day milk yield, test day evening milk yield, parity, stage of lactation and body weight on milk urea and milk protein concentration. A total of 319 milk samples was collected from buffaloes over four month's period and subjected to urea and protein analysis. Milk urea concentration (mg/dl) was significantly (p<0.01) increased with increasing test day milk yield. The lowest value ($57.03{\pm}1.13$) was observed in the milk yield group ${\leq}4.5kg/day$ and the highest value ($64.15{\pm}1.13$) in the group 7.7-10.7 kg/day. However, test day evening milk yield had no significant effect on milk urea concentration. Milk protein did not vary significantly with the test day milk yield as well as test day evening milk yield. A clear decreasing trend of milk urea concentration (mg/dl) was found with the increasing parity. The highest MU concentration ($64.03{\pm}1.14$) was found in the first parity and the lowest ($55.67{\pm}1.22$) was found in the sixth and above parity. Whereas, stage of lactation had no effect on milk urea concentration. Moreover, parity and stage of lactation did not have any significant effect on milk protein concentration. Body weight (kg) was also found negatively (p<0.05) related with urea content (mg/dl) in milk. The highest mean MU concentration ($64.34{\pm}0.88$) was found when body weight was between 532 and 598 kg and lower mean values ($59.24{\pm}0.94$ and $59.33{\pm}1.23$) were observed in 599 to 665 kg and ${\geq}666kg$ group. Body weight also had significant (p<0.05) effect on milk protein content. The highest milk protein content (%) was found in ${\geq}666kg$ group and the lowest in <531 kg group. In conclusion, for proper interpretation of milk urea values to monitor protein nutrition status of the buffaloes parity, milk yield and body weight should be considered.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.479-484
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• 2004

The study was conducted to assess the effect of milk production, parity, stage of lactation, season and individual milk components themselves on milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentration and other milk components of 3,219 Holstein dairy cows in Korean dairy farms. The MUN concentrations in Korean dairy cows were estimated to 16.68$\pm$5.87 mg/dl. Milk yield was negatively correlated with fat and protein contents and somatic cell counts (SCC) in milk (p<0.01). The increasing MUN concentration has positive correlation with yield and fat content. By increasing somatic cell, milk yield was reduced and MUN level was increased. Cows in spring and winter produced more milk over 1.43 and 0.93 kg/day, respectively, than cows in summer (p<0.01). Milk urea nitrogen concentrations of milk produced in summer and fall were significantly lower (p<0.01) than those in spring and winter. Both MUN concentration and somatic cell counts were highest in winter. Milk yield was lower (p<0.01) in the first calving than other calving time and was tended to increase until the fifth parity and then decrease. Milk urea nitrogen and SCC were not related to parity of cows in this study. Milk yield and SCC were positively related to lactation period while MUN concentrations and milk fat and protein contents were negatively influenced by stage of lactation. In the present study, the relationship between MUN and reproduction of dairy cows was also investigated. Cow produced milk in high MUN concentrations (greater than 18 mg/dl) had more open days than cows in MUN concentrations less than 18 mg/dl. However, no significant difference between MUN concentration levels and frequency of artificial insemination was found in this study. It is suggested that although MUN values for nutritional management and measures of production or reproduction are used, non-nutritional factors should be considered.

• 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.33 no.11
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• pp.1741-1754
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to estimate genetic parameters for milk yield traits using daily milk yield records from parlour data generated in an intensively managed commercial dairy farm with Jersey and Jersey-Friesian cows in Sri Lanka. Methods: Genetic parameters were estimated for first and second lactation predicted and realized 305-day milk yield using univariate animal models. Genetic parameters were also estimated for total milk yield for each 30-day intervals of the first lactation using univariate animal models and for daily milk yield using random regression models fitting second-order Legendre polynomials and assuming heterogeneous residual variances. Breeding values for predicted 305-day milk yield were estimated using an animal model. Results: For the first lactation, the heritability of predicted 305-day milk yield in Jersey cows (0.08±0.03) was higher than that of Jersey-Friesian cows (0.02±0.01). The second lactation heritability estimates were similar to that of first lactation. The repeatability of the daily milk records was 0.28±0.01 and the heritability ranged from 0.002±0.05 to 0.19±0.02 depending on day of milk. Pearson product-moment correlations between the bull estimated breeding values (EBVs) in Australia and bull EBVs in Sri Lanka for 305-day milk yield were 0.39 in Jersey cows and -0.35 in Jersey-Friesian cows. Conclusion: The heritabilities estimated for milk yield in Jersey and Jersey-Friesian cows in Sri Lanka were low, and were associated with low additive genetic variances for the traits. Sire differences in Australia were not expressed in the tropical low-country of Sri Lanka. Therefore, genetic progress achieved by importing genetic material from Australia can be expected to be slow. This emphasizes the need for a within-country evaluation of bulls to produce locally adapted dairy cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1338-1350
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• 2012

This review focuses on the nutritional effects from birth until age at first calving on growth, mammary developmental changes, and first-lactation milk yield in heifer calves. The advancement in the genetic potential and the nutritional requirements of the animals has hastened the growth rate. Genetic selection for high milk yield has suggested higher growth capacity and hence increasing nutritional inputs are required. Rapid rearing by feeding high energy or high concentrate diets not only reduces the age of sexual maturity but also lowers the time period of attaining the age of first calving. However, high energy diets may cause undesirable fat deposition thereby affecting future milk yield potential. Discrepancies exist whether overfed or overweight heifers at puberty can influence the mammary development and future milk yield potential and performance. The data on post-pubertal nutritional management suggested that body weight at calving and post-pubertal growth rate is important in first lactation milk yield. There is a continuous research need for strategic feeding that accelerates growth of dairy heifers without reduction in subsequent production. Nutritional management from birth, across puberty and during pregnancy is critical for mammary growth and for producing a successful cow. This review will mostly highlight studies carried out on dairy breeds and possible available opportunities to manipulate nutritional status from birth until age at first calving.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.575-579
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• 2000

First lactation records of 683 Murrah buffaloes maintained at NDRI, Karnal which were progeny of 84 sires used for comparing the heritability estimates of age at first calving, first lactation milk yield and first service period under single and multiple trait models using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method of estimation under an individual animal model. The results indicated that the heritability estimates may vary under single and multiple trait models depending upon the magnitude of genetic and environmental correlation among the traits being considered. Therefore, a single or multiple trait model is recommended for estimation of variance components depending upon the goal of breeding programme. However, there may not be any advantage of considering a trait with zero or near zero heritability and having no or very low genetic correlation with other traits in the model. Lower heritability estimates of part lactation yield (120-day milk yield) implied that there may not be any advantage of considering this trait in place of actual 305-day milk yield, whereas, comparable heritability estimates of predicted 305-day milk yield suggested that it could be used for sire evaluation to reduce the cost of milk recording under field conditions.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.585-589
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• 1999

Six crossbred goats in their 2nd or 3rd lactation, were administered bromocryptine at 5 mg/day during early lactation of 15-20 days (period I) and thereafter again at an interval of 13 days, bromocryptine was given for 5 days (period II). Blood samples were collected before (-5, -4, -3, -2, -1) during (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and after (+1, +2, +3, +4, +5) administration of bromocryptine in both the periods of study. In period I, administration of bromocryptine resulted in a decrease in milk yield to the extent of 16..8% in comparison to before treatment, and 28.5% after the cessation of treatment. The glucose content of blood increased (p<0.01) as the milk yield decreased without any change in NEFA concentration. During period II of bromocryptine treatment the milk yields did not change in spite of a decline in prolactin level, perhaps the effect of previous treatment was prolonged. A decline in protein and lactose content of milk after bromocryptine treatment in both the periods of study, when prolactin level also declined suggests a role of prolactin in protein synthesis and also a depressing effect on lactose synthesis.