• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.243-252
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• 2001

Milk constituents and somatic cell count (SCC) were analysed for 4,059 milk samples from 178 dairy farms from April to December in 1999. Correlations among each milk constituents, milk urea (MU) concentration and SCC in association with lactation stage, milk yield and parity, and balancing status of nutrients' supplies were analysed, and the results are summarized as follows; Averages of milk fat percent, total solids percent and milk yield were $3.72{\pm}0.91%$, $12.50{\pm}1.31%$ and $23.80{\pm}8.54kg$, respectively, whereas those were significantly lower during the summer season. In contrast, average of MU concentration was $0.0361{\pm}0.0006%$ which was significantly higher during the summer season. With milk yield, concentrations of fat, protein and SCC in milk decreased but concentrations of lactose and urea in milk and body condition score (BCS) were not altered. Concentrations of fat, protein, lactose, total solids, SNF, and urea in milk were significantly affected by stage of lactation ($P{\leq}0.0001$) but SCC was not changed. Parity of dairy cows had a significant effect on concentrations of fat ($P{\leq}0.02$), lactose ($P{\leq}0.0001$), total solids ($P{\leq}0.002$), and SNF ($P{\leq}0.0001$) in milk and milk yield ($P{\leq}0.0005$) but did not change concentrations of urea and protein in milk. Somatic cell count had significant positive correlationship with percentages of fat, protein and total solids ($P{\leq}0.0001$), respectively, but had negative correlationship with percentages of urea and lactose in milk and milk yield ($P{\leq}0.0001$). Milk urea concentration was negatively correlated with concentrations of protein, fat, total solids, and SNF in milk and milk yield ($P{\leq}0.0001$) and, according to regression analysis using milk urea concentration and SCC, following equation was obtained; $Y(MU)=3.688{\times}10^{-2}-4.04{\times}10^{-7}{\times}X(SCC{\times}1,000)(r^2=0.0038$, $P{\leq}0.0001$). We studied balance between protein and energy supplies to dairy cows in each farm based upon milk urea and protein concentrations, and results showed that 137 of total 178 farms fed cows unbalanced amounts of dietary protein and energy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1116-1122
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effect of sunflower seeds, either as whole or as oil, on rumen fermentation, milk production, milk composition and fatty acids profile in dairy goats. Fifteen lactating Damascus goats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 5) fed a basal diet of concentrate feed mixture and fresh Trifolium alexandrinum at 50:50 on dry matter basis (Control) in addition to 50 g/head/d sunflower seeds whole (SS) or 20 mL/head/d sunflower seeds oil (SO) in a complete randomized design. Milk was sampled every two weeks during 90 days of experimental period for chemical analysis and rumen was sampled at 30, 60, and 90 days of the experiment for ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids (tVFA), and ammonia-N determination. Addition of SO decreased (p = 0.017) ruminal pH, whereas SO and SS increased tVFA (p<0.001) and acetate (p = 0.034) concentrations. Serum glucose increased (p = 0.013) in SO and SS goats vs Control. The SO and SS treated goats had improved milk yield (p = 0.007) and milk fat content (p = 0.002). Moreover, SO increased milk lactose content (p = 0.048) and feed efficiency (p = 0.046) compared to Control. Both of SS and SO increased (p<0.05) milk unsaturated fatty acids content specially conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) vs Control. Addition of SS and SO increased (p = 0. 021) C18:3N3 fatty acid compared to Control diet. Data suggested that addition of either SS or SO to lactating goats ration had beneficial effects on milk yield and milk composition with enhancing milk content of healthy fatty acids (CLA and omega 3), without detrimental effects on animal performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.960-964
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• 2014

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of diets containing coarse-texture rice straw and small particle size alfalfa pellets as a part of total mixed ration (TMR) on milk productivity and chewing activity in lactating dairy cows. Sixteen multiparous Holstein dairy cows ($670{\pm}21kg$ body weight) in mid-lactation ($194.1{\pm}13.6$ days in milk) were randomly assigned to TMR containing 50% of timothy hay (TH) or TMR containing 20% of rice straw and 30% of alfalfa pellet mixture (RSAP). Geometric mean lengths of TH and RSAP were found to be 5.8 and 3.6, respectively. Dry matter intake, milk yield and milk composition were measured. Moreover, eating and ruminating times were recorded continuously using infrared digital camcorders. Milk yield and milk composition were not detected to have significant differences between TH and RSAP. Dry matter intake (DMI) did not significantly differ for cows fed with TH or RSAP. Although particle size of TH was larger than RSAP, eating, ruminating and total chewing time (min/d or min/kg of DMI) on TH and RSAP were similar. Taken together, our results suggest that using a proper amount of coarse-texture rice straw with high value nutritive alfalfa pellets may stimulate chewing activity in dairy cows without decreasing milk yield and composition even though the quantity of rice straw was 40% of TH.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.1433-1442
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• 2021

In this study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture fluid (SCCF) has been added to a diet of lactating dairy cows to attempt to improve the ruminal fermentation and potentially increase the dry matter intake (DMI) and milk yield. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of SCCF on the milk yield and blood biochemistry in lactating cows during the summer. Twenty-four Holstein dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: (1) total mixed ration (TMR-1) (Control); (2) TMR-1 supplemented with SCCF (T1); (3) TMR-2 (containing alfalfa hay) (T2); and (4) TMR-2 supplemented with SCCF (T3). SCCF (5 ml/head, 2.0×10⁷ CFU/mL) was mixed with TMRs daily before feeding to dairy cows. The mean daily temperature-humidity index (THI) during this trial was 76.92 ± 0.51 on average and ranged from 73.04 to 81.19. For particle size distribution, TMR-2 had a lower >19 mm fraction and a higher 8-9 mm fraction than TMR-1 (p < 0.05). The type of TMR did not influence the DMI, body weight (BW), milk yield and composition, or blood metabolites. The milk yield and composition were not affected by the SCCF supplementation, but somatic cell counts were reduced by feeding SCCF (p < 0.05). Feeding SCCF significantly increased the DMI but did not affect the milk yield of dairy cows. The NEFA concentration was slightly decreased compared to that in the control and T2 groups without SCCF. Feeding a yeast culture of S. cerevisiae may improve the feed intake, milk quality and energy balance of dairy cows under heat stress.

• 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.5
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• pp.738-742
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• 2003

The monitoring was carried out for one year on 20 farms of Mediterranean buffalo situated in central Italy. The milk yield, the somatic cell count, the coagulating properties and some components were determined. The average value of somatic cells was $21.28n{\times}10^3/ml$. Milk production decreased when somatic cell numbers increased. The rennet clotting time increased significantly when somatic cells were higher than $300.00n{\times}10^3/ml$, the curd firming time was significantly higher when somatic cells were more than $1,000.00n{\times}10^3/ml$ and the curd firmness increased up to $200.00n{\times}10^3$/ml, then gradually decreased. Protein and casein decreased when somatic cells increased and the same trend was shown by casein/protein ratio. Both for these components and the coagulating properties the threshold limit of somatic cells to obtain better results was $200.00n{\times}10^3/ml$. The somatic cell number did not show a trend which was strictly influenced by the lactation stage, contrary to what happened in the other species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1271-1277
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• 2008

The effects of feeding soybean oil (SBO) or rumen protected conjugated linoleic acid (RP-CLA) on CLA accumulation in milk, and performance of lactating dairy cows were studied. Twenty four Holstein Friesian crossbred lactating dairy cows, averaging $126{\pm}45days$ in milk, $15.6{\pm}2.43kg$ of milk and $452{\pm}51kg$ body weight were stratified randomly and assigned in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) to three treatments of 8 cows each. The treatments were control, 150 g of SBO and 150 g of RP-CLA supplementation. Performance parameters showed that DM intake, NELP intake and body weight change were similar across treatments, while CP intake was decreased by SBO and RP-CLA supplementation. Milk yield and milk composition were not significantly different among treatments, except for milk fat percentage and fat yield which were significantly decreased by 27% (p<0.05) and by 28% (p<0.01), respectively, by RP-CLA supplements compared with control treatment. Feeding RP-CLA reduced 3.5% FCM compared with the other treatments (p<0.003). Both SBO and RP-CLA supplementation reduced ${\geq}C18:0$ and CLA concentration in milk fat.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1235-1238
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• 2000

Thirty-six Holstein dairy cows were used to evaluate the effect of a rumen protected methionine supplement (RPMet). The cows were divided into two groups of 18 each (control/experimental). The experimental group was given 15 g/d of RPMet (Mepron $^{(R)}$M85, Degussa) from the 4th to the 26th week postpartum. All cows were fed a similar amount of forage including alfalfa silage, corn silage and timothy silage. Concentrate mixture was offered in proportion to the milk yield of each cow. Sufficiency of major metabolizable AAs was checked. Milk yield and milk composition was monitored for each individual cow. A metabolic profile test (MPT) was carried out at the 7th, 11th and 21st week postpartum. Without supplement, both methionine and leucine fell short of the daily requirement. Supplementation with 15 g/d RPMet was calculated to be within a sufficient margin of safety. Milk yield tended to remain higher in the supplemented group than in the controls during supplementation with RPMet. The differences in weekly milk production at the 17th, 18th, 19th and 22nd weeks postpartum were significantly high in the RPMet group (p<0.05). The average 305-d milk yield and the percentages of milk fat, milk protein and solids-not-fat were not affected by the treatment. No differences were observed in either the somatic cell count in the milk or the reproductive status. Judging from MPT, all the cows were in good health during lactation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.368-374
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• 1998

The study was conducted on six multiparous Murrah buffaloes which were earlier artificially induced into lactation. During the experimental period of 15 days, buffaloes were managed in a loose housing system. All the buffaloes were administered a single injection of bromocryptine (@ $100{\mu}g/kg$ body weight) subcutaneously in the neck region at 08:30 A.M., 50 days postpartum (early lactation). Blood samples were collected from four buffaloes for a period of 5 days before the administration of bromocryptine i.e. on days -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, on day of treatment (day 0) and thereafter daily for a period of 9 days i.e 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 to determine the hormones and blood metabolites. Homogeneous milk samples from all the buffaloes were collected at morning and evening milkings on days coinciding with the days of blood sampling for analysis of milk constituents. Administration of bromocryptine resulted in a significant inhibition of plasma prolactin within 24 hrs of treatment, but the response in all the buffaloes was not uniform. The effect of bromocryptine on plasma prolactin hormone lasted for 1-4 days but Cortisol concentration were not altered. Administration of bromocryptine neither affected blood glucose nor plasma non-esterified fatty acids concentration. Irrespective of level of milk production from different buffaloes, there was no effect of bromocryptine on milk yield which indicated that prolactin is not required for milk secretion during early lactation in buffaloes. Milk constituents like fat, protein and lactose were not affected by bromocryptine may be due to no effect of bromocryptine of milk yield.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.901-903
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• 1999

Twenty-four multiparous crossbred Friesian dairy cows (60-90 days in lactation) were randomly assigned into a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design. Factors were two levels of concentrate supplementation (1:2, high vs 1:1.2, very high; concentrate:milk yield) and two levels of high-quality feed block (HQFB) supplementation (non vs ad libitum block licking). Ruzi grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) was fed as a roughage throughout the 70 day feeding trial. High level of concentrate fed group resulted in higher roughage and HQFB intakes, compared with very high concentrate supplemented group. HQFB supplementation tended to increase roughage intake and significantly improved milk yield (2 kg/hd/d in high concentrate supplementation) and quality (% fat) which resulted in higher economical return. HQFB was recommended to be used as a strategic supplement in lactating dairy cows especially when fed on low-quality roughages or crop residues.