• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.677-684
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• 2003

Twenty eight multiparous lactating cows were utilized in an experiment to evaluate the response to an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme on their lactational performance during early lactation period (in terms of milk production, milk composition, feed intake, milking efficiency, body weight change) and the exact time of this response. Cows were randomized into two groups (14 each) with similar parities and were fed a concentrate ration of barley, ground corn, soybean meal, and wheat bran and roughage ration of alfalfa hay. One of the two groups was supplemented with the fibrolytic enzyme immediately after parturition up to 100 post partum. The experiment was of two phases with 50 days each. The enzyme, which has a cellulase/hemicellulase activity (derived from Trichoderma group), was added to the concentrate part of the ration in a dry powder form. Milk production, 3.5% fat corrected milk, energy corrected milk were higher (p<0.05) for cows fed treated diet. At the same time, No differences were observed in percentages of milk components, feed intake, body weight, body weight change, or rectal temperature for the whole experimental period or during any of the two phases. Efficiency of milk production was higher (p<0.05) for treatment group cows than for that of the control ones. However, efficiency was better during the second phase than during the first phase. Feeding enzyme treated diets to dairy cows improved lactational performance during early 100 day of the lactation period. However, the first 50 days of lactation looked to be the critical.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.439-447
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• 1996

Monthly test day production for 12,020 records, were collected from six of the largest specialized dairy farms located in central region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The records described lactating cows in four parities and two seasons of calving. Monthly test day records were fitted using Wood's model $At{{^b}{_e}}^{-ct}$ with multiple and additive error term. Linear and non-linear regression models were used to find the estimates of the parameters necessary to draw the lactation curves. The shape of the lactation curves of different parities showed that third lactation has the heighest peak (43.08 kg) for linear regression model and (42.08 kg) for non-linear regression model. Fourth lactation has the lowest peak (24.00kg) for linear regression model and (25.64 kg) for non-linear regression models. Cows of second and third lactations reached the peak at 58 day for both linear and non-linear regression models. Cows of first lactation were more persistent and had late peak at 68 and 67 days for both models respectively. While, third lactation cows were lower persistent and had early peak at 58 day for both models. Cows calved at winter months have higher starting values (A), higher ascending slope (b) and higher decending slope (c). Least square means of milk yield of the first four parities and for overall data were 6,653, 7,659, 7,482, 6,988 and 7,614 kg respectively. The corresponding lactation period were 358, 367, 350, 363 and 364 days respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1323-1331
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• 2020

Objective: Three types of dietary fiber were fed to sows during gestation and lactation stages to monitor their physiological and metabolic adaptations during the pre-partum period and to determine how these effects may influence the lactation period and sow performance. Methods: Soon after breeding, 54 sows were selected and were fed with 20% supplementation as fed of wheat bran (WB), soya hulls (SH), or rice hulls (RH) in diets during gestation and lactation. Sows were weighed, backfat thickness was measured ultrasonically and jugular blood samples were collected from all sows. The litter size was equalized to 10, by fostering piglets from sows on the same treatment. Results: Sows gained 22.0, 21.8, and 25.5 kg of net maternal body weight during gestation (for WB, SH, and RH sows, respectively; p = 0.007). There was no treatment effect on the body weight change during lactation (p = 0.158), however RH sows consumed an average of 133.66 kg of feed, WB sows took 121.29 kg and SH sows took 126.77 kg during lactation (p<0.001). The SH litters gained an average of 59.34 kg of weight during lactation, while other litters gained 51.58 and 49.98 kg (for WB and RH litters, respectively; p<0.001). Exception for aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, measured serum biochemical values were broadly in agreement with earlier reports. Despite the use of additional vegetable oil to balance the energy level, RH sows still had lower concentrations of serum triglycerides in late gestation. Conclusion: Different types of fibrous ingredients in the gestation diet influenced most of the investigated reference values for sows. The values of serum biochemical parameters were generally not affected by fiber type during the lactation stage. The SH supplementation for sows is an effective approach to give heavier litters at birth and weaning and to increase voluntary feed intake in early lactation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.208-215
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• 2003

Bisphenol A (4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol, $C^{15}H_{16}O_{2}$) is the monomer used in the manufacture of polycarbonate. Polycarbonate, in turn, is used in a wide array of plastic products, with new applications continuously being developed. Also it has been used to produce epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics for food container. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of bisphenol A on lactation period to dams and F1. Sprague-Dawley females were mated with on 2 : 1 ratio basis. Various doses of bisphenol A (0, 2, 20, 200, and 2,000 ${\mu}g kg^{-1}$) were daily administered to females for 21 days after parturition. Dams and offsprings were sacrificed at the time of weaning. The results were as fellows, 2000 ${\mu}g \; kg^{-1}$ / of bisphenol A decreased the dams' body weight at post-partum 18 days and also 200 and 2,000 ${\mu}g \;kg^{-1}$ of bisphenol A decreased the body weight of neonates at the days of post-partum 21 days. Bisphenol A increased the relative weights of liver and spleen in male offsprings, depending on the doses. But female offsprings showed high relative organ weights of ovaries, and low relative organ weights of uterine in a some dose-response manners. High dose of bisphenol A induced low viability of neonates exposed during lactation period. The dams treated with bisphenol A showed prematured estrous stage. Bisphenol A was recovered about 21.2% average in serum of dams, and also in offsprings'. The results indicate that the bisphenol A induces estrous cycle during lactation period in dams, also reaches to the offspring through breast milk. Thus bisphenol A exopsed to dams and neonates via lactation induces some estrogenic and tonic effects.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.119-123
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• 2007

The objectives of this study were to characterize the changes occurring in the levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) in bovine milk during a one-year lactation period, and to determine the parameters affecting IGF content in bovine milk. Milk was collected individually from lactating Holstein cows (n=70), and IGF-I and -II levels were determined via radioimmunoassay, using 125I after acid-ethanol treatment. The proximate compositions of the milk samples were determined using a near-infrared milk analyzer. The data were analyzed by the GLM and CORR procedures using SAS software to determine significant differences (p<0.05) occurring within groups (dairy farms, lactation periods, season, and parity). We noted an approximately six-fold reduction in the IGF-I concentration (from 2,462.7 to 353.0 ng/ml) and a three-fold drop in the IGF-II concentration (from 929.1 to 365.7 ng/ml) in the bovine colostrum, between 6 h after parturition and 18 h after parturition. IGF-I and -II content, measured at the early, middle, and late stages of lactation did not change significantly throughout the entirety of the lactation period. Interestingly, parity did not significantly affect IGF-I content, but did significantly affect IGF-II content between the primiparous and multiparous cows. We also found there were no significant relationships between IGF-I and total protein content or somatic cell counts (p<0.05).

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1151-1161
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to estimate the association of age at first calving (AFC) with first lactation traits as well as lifetime performance traits in Murrah buffaloes. Methods: Data on first lactation and life time performance of Murrah buffaloes (n = 679), maintained at Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, India during the period 1983 through 2017, were deduced to calculate heritability estimates, genetic and phenotypic correlation of different first lactation and lifetime traits. The univariate animal model was fitted to estimate variance components and heritability separately for each trait, while bivariate animal models were set to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations between traits under study. Results: The heritability was high for first peak milk yield (FPY, 0.64±0.08), moderate for AFC (0.48±0.07) and breeding efficiency (BE 0.39±0.09). High genetic correlations of first lactation total milk yield (FLTMY) with first lactation standard milk yield (FLSMY, 305 days or less), FPY, and first lactation length (FLL) was seen. Likewise, genetic correlation of AFC was positive with FLTMY, FLL, first dry period (FDP), first service period (FSP), first calving interval (FCI), herd life (HL) and productive days (PD). Significant phenotypic correlation of FLTMY was observed with HL, productive life (PL), PD, total lifetime milk yield (LTMY), standard lifetime milk yield (standard LTMY). Moreover, positive genetic and phenotypic correlation of FPY was observed with HL, PL, PD, total LTMY and standard LTMY. Conclusion: This study reports that AFC had positive genetic correlation with FDP, FSP, FCI, and unproductive days while, negative association of AFC was observed with FLSMY, PL, total LTMY, standard LTMY, and BE. This suggests that reduction of AFC would results in improvement of lifetime performance traits.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2016

Prenatal nicotine exposure over an entire pregnancy has been associated with an increased prevalence of hyperactivity, anxiety-like behavior and depression-like behavior in mature rats. However, the effects of maternal nicotine exposure in late gestation and lactation on the psychology and behavior of adolescent rat offspring are unclear. Thus, we investigated the effect of nicotine exposure during late gestation and lactation on anxiety-like and impulsive decision-making behavior in adolescent offspring of rat. Female rats were orally exposed to nicotine which is within range of plasma level of human chronic smokers during the period of third last period of gestation and lactation. When the offspring were weaned, we observed alterations in the anxiety-like behavior and decision-making ability of adolescent rat offspring using light/dark box test and T-maze delay-based cost-benefit decision-making task. The maternal consumption of nicotine reduced both the time spent in the light compartment and the number of transitions compared to nicotine-free rats. Moreover, such nicotine exposed adolescent offspring rats showed impulsive decision making which chose the instant reward in a decision-making situation. We found that nicotine exposure during late gestation and lactation induces an increase in anxiety-like and impulsive decision-making behavior at this developmental stage. These findings suggest that maternal nicotine-exposed offspring are at an increased risk of developing anxious and impulsive behavior.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.343-348
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• 2004

The objective of the present study was to determine the plasma level of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in relation to mammary blood flow and milk yield including biological variables of relevance to milk synthesis in two different types of crossbred Holstein cattle at 3 different stages of lactation. Eight heifers were 87.5% HF and eight 50% HF animals were selected for the experiments. The three stages of lactation tested were: early lactation (30 days postpartum), mid-lactation (120 days postpartum) and late lactation (210 days postpartum). Animals in each group were fed a concentrate and rice straw treated with 5% urea as the source of roughage throughout the experiments. In early lactation, mammary blood flow and milk yield of 87.5% HF animals were significantly higher than those of 50% HF animals. In mid- and late lactation, both mammary blood flow and milk yield showed a proportional decrease from the early lactating period of 87.5% HF animals. The trends for persistency were observed in 50% HF animals as for udder blood flow and milk yield throughout the experimental periods. The plasma glucose level of the 50% HF animals was significantly higher than those of 87.5% HF animals in both early and mid-lactation. The concentrations of arterial plasma free fatty acids ($C_{16}\;to\;C_{18}$) were higher in 50% HF animals as compared with 87.5% HF animals in all periods of study. In early lactation, the concentration of plasma growth hormone (GH) of 87.5% HF animals was higher than those of the 50% HF animals, thereafter the mean level of plasma growth hormone declined in both mid- and late lactation. The concentration of plasma IGF-I of 50% HF animals was significantly higher than those of 87.5% HF animals in all stages of lactation. There were no differences among stages of lactation for the levels of plasma IGF-I, insulin and growth hormone in 50% HF animals. In 87.5% HF animals, the plasma levels of both IGF-I and insulin were lower in early lactating period while it showed an increase during mid- and late lactation. The present results indicated that the regulatory role for the higher mammary blood flow and milk yield during lactation in 87.5% HF are not mediated via the higher level of circulating IGF-I. Differences in mammary blood flow and milk yield between 50% HF and 87.5% HF animals are in part due to a higher concentration of circulating growth hormone. The lower level of circulating growth hormone in 50% HF animals would be regulated by higher levels of IGF-I, free fatty acid and glucose in plasma.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.511-514
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• 1999

Data pertaining to 1111 first lactation performance record of Karan Fries (Holstein-Friesian $\times$ Zebu) cows spread over a period of 21 years and sired by 72 bulls were used to examine the efficiency of sire indices for lactation milk production using auxiliary traits. First lactation length, first service period, first calving interval, first dry period and age at first calving were considered as auxiliary traits. The efficiency of this method was compared with simple daughter average index (D), contemporary comparison method (CC), least-square method (LSQ), simplified regressed least-squares method (SRLS) and best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) for lactation milk production. The relative efficiency of sire evaluation methods using one auxiliary trait was lower (24.2-32.8%) in comparison to CC method, the most efficient method observed in this study. Use of two auxiliary traits at a time did not further improve the efficiency. The auxiliary sire indices discriminate better among bulls as the range of breeding values were higher in these methods in comparison to conventional sire evaluation methods. The rank correlation between breeding values estimated using auxiliary traits were high (0.77-0.78) with CC method. The rank correlation among auxiliary sire indices ranged from 0.98 to 0.99, indicating similar ranking of sire for breeding values of milk production in all the auxiliary sire indices.