• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1110-1120
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• 2024

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of offering (OSF) or not (NSF) supplemental feed at milking on temperament (TS), udder hygiene (UHS) and body condition (BCS) scores, and milk yield per milking (MYM), milk quality traits, and profitability of primiparous Anatolian buffalo cows at 90 days of lactation confined in closed-tied (CB) or semi-open free-stall (OB) barns. Methods: In Experiment I, 108 cows were selected to encompass four treatments (OBOSF, OB-NSF, CB-OSF, and CB-NSF) of 27 cows, considering barn type (OB and CB) and supplementary feed (OSF and NSF) at milking. In Experiment II, 60 OB cows were selected to encompass one of five groups of 12 cows each: i) no supplemental feed (CON), ii) commercial concentrate (CC), iii) CC + corn silage (CCS), iv) CCS + alfalfa hay (CSA), or v) CC + ryegrass silage (CRS) at milking. Results: The TS and UHS of the OB and OSF cows were lower (better) than those of the CB and NSF cows, respectively. The OSF increased milk protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat but decreased milk freezing point and electrical conductivity compared with the NSF. The MYM and milk fat of the OB-OSF cows were higher than those of the OB-NSF and CBNSF cows. The TS and UHS of the cows negatively correlated with MYM and some milk chemicals (fat, protein, and solids-not-fat), but BCS correlated positively. The TS and milk electrical conductivity of the CCS, CSA, and CRS cows were lower than those of the CON and CC cows, but BCS, MYM, and milk fat were higher. Partial budget analysis identified a higher net profit for supplemental feed-offered groups (OB-OSF, CCS, CSA, and CRS). Conclusion: Offering roughage with concentrates at milking for indoor primiparous buffalo cows is more conducive to well-being, milk yield, milk quality, and economy.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.588-595
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of heat stress on milk traits in South Korea using comprehensive data (dairy production and climate). The dataset for this study comprised 1,498,232 test-day records for milk yield, fat- and protein-corrected milk, fat yield, protein yield, milk urea nitrogen (MUN), and somatic cell score (SCS) from 215,276 Holstein cows (primiparous: n = 122,087; multiparous: n = 93,189) in 2,419 South Korean dairy herds. Data were collected from July 2017 to April 2020 through the Dairy Cattle Improvement Program, and merged with meteorological data from 600 automatic weather stations through the Korea Meteorological Administration. The segmented regression model was used to estimate the effects of the temperature-humidity index (THI) on milk traits and elucidate the break point (BP) of the THI. To acquire the least-squares mean of milk traits, the generalized linear model was applied using fixed effects (region, calving year, calving month, parity, days in milk, and THI). For all parameters, the BP of THI was observed; in particular, milk production parameters dramatically decreased after a specific BP of THI (p < 0.05). In contrast, MUN and SCS drastically increased when THI exceeded BP in all cows (p < 0.05) and primiparous cows (p < 0.05), respectively. Dairy cows in South Korea exhibited negative effects on milk traits (decrease in milk performance, increase in MUN, and SCS) when the THI exceeded 70; therefore, detailed feeding management is required to prevent heat stress in dairy cows.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.770-782
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of three approaches (the seasonal auto-regressive integrated moving average [SARIMA] model, the nonlinear autoregressive exogenous [NARX] artificial neural networks and Wood's model) to the prediction of milk yield during lactation. Methods: The dataset comprised monthly test-day records from 965 Polish Holstein-Friesian Black-and-White primiparous cows. The milk yields from cows in their first lactation (from 5 to 305 days in milk) were used. Each lactation was divided into ten lactation stages of approximately 30 days. Two age groups and four calving seasons were distinguished. The records collected between 2009 and 2015 were used for model fitting and those from 2016 for the verification of predictive performance. Results: No significant differences between the predicted and the real values were found. The predictions generated by SARIMA were slightly more accurate, although they did not differ significantly from those produced by the NARX and Wood's models. SARIMA had a slightly better performance, especially in the initial periods, whereas the NARX and Wood's models in the later ones. Conclusion: The use of SARIMA was more time-consuming than that of NARX and Wood's model. The application of the SARIMA, NARX and Wood's models (after their implementation in a user-friendly software) may allow farmers to estimate milk yield of cows that begin production for the first time.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1430-1443
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• 2020

Objective: Twenty-four pregnant Nellore primiparous grazing cows were used to evaluate the effects of energy-protein supplementation and supplementation frequency during pre (105 d before calving) and postpartum (105 d after calving) on performance and metabolic characteristics. Methods: Experimental treatments consisted of a control (no supplementation), daily supplementation (1.5 kg/d of concentrate/animal) and infrequent supplementation (4.5 kg of concentrate/animal every three days). During the pre and postpartum periods, concentrations of blood metabolites and animal performance were evaluated. Ureagenesis and energy metabolism markers were evaluated at prepartum period. Results: Supplementation frequency did not alter (p>0.10) body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and carcass traits during pre and postpartum. The BW (p = 0.079), adjusted BW at day of parturition (p = 0.078), and ADG (p = 0.074) were greater for supplemented cows during the prepartum. The body condition score (BCS; p = 0.251), and carcass traits (p>0.10) were not affected by supplementation during prepartum. On postpartum, supplementation did not affect animal performance and carcass traits (p>0.10). The dry mater intake was not affected (p>0.10) by supplementation and supplementation frequency throughout the experimental period. Daily supplemented animals had greater (p<0.001) glucose levels than animals supplemented every three days. Supplementation and supplementation frequency did not alter (p>0.10) the levels of blood metabolites, neither the abundance of ureagenesis nor energy metabolism markers. Conclusion: In summary, our data show that the reduction of supplementation frequency does not cause negative impacts on performance and metabolic characteristics of primiparous grazing cows during the prepartum.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.630-637
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• 2013

To determine the effects of dry period (DP) length on milk yield, milk composition, some blood metabolites, complete blood count (CBC), body weight and score and follicular status, twenty five primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to a completely randomized design with DP-60 (n = 13) and DP-20 (n = 12) dry period lengths. Cows in the DP-60 produced more milk, protein, SNF, serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and beta hydroxyl butyrate acid (BHBA) compared with cows in DP-20 ($p{\leq}0.05$). Serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urea, and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) were all similar among the treatments. Body Condition Score (BCS), body weight (BW), complete blood count (CBC) and health problems were similar between the treatments. Diameter of the first dominant follicle and diameter of the dominant follicle on d 14 were different among the treatments. Thus, results of this study showed that reducing the dry period length to DP-20 had a negative effect on milk production, milk composition and reproductive performance in Holstein dairy cows.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.575-583
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of parity and the stage of lactation on the metabolic profile of cows based on the basic chemical milk components and the blood parameters. Methods: The study material consisted of high-yielding Holstein-Friesian cows. In total, 473 cows were examined. According to the parity, cows were divided into four groups: primiparous (P), and multiparous in the second (M2), in the third (M3), and in subsequent lactations (M4). The feeding of cows was based on total mixed ration (TMR) ad libitum. Milk and blood samples were collected individually from each cow three times per standard lactation period. Results: Greater exacerbation of changes in the dynamics of the blood plasma parameters examined was proved for multiparous cows. The highest value of β-hydroxybutyrate acid (0.946 mmol/L) was found for multiparous cows from group M3 at the beginning of lactation. However, it was still in the normal range. The results showed aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities in dairy cows during lactation had significant variations taking in to account stage of lactation. The highest activity of GGT was found in the group of the oldest cows and measured from 26.36 U/L at the beginning of lactation to 48.75 U/L at the end of the lactation period. Conclusion: The time-related changes in the concentrations of the biochemical parameters described differ markedly among lactating cows, though the housing conditions on the research dairy farm are highly standardised. This indicates that the ability to cope with metabolic stress is mainly affected by the individual predispositions of cows and feed nutrient supply in different stage of lactation. Especially, the feed nutrient supply (in net energy for lactation), which was the best in TMR 1 in comparison TMR 3.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.661-668
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of environmental factor on milk yield and to estimate lactation curve in Korean cattle. The data for milk yields were collected from 118 cows from 1997 to 2000 at National Livestock Research Institute in Daekwanryoung, Kangwon-do. Average daily milk yields for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th month after calving were 3.74kg, 3.64kg, 3.26kg and 2.99kg. Average daily milk yield for the four months was 3.52kg. The milk yields for cows calved in spring were larger than those calved in fall. Lactation curve of Korean cattle was $y_n$=$2.4845n^{0.1734}e^{－0.0060n}$. Peak milk yield was 3.75kg on 29.03 day after calving. The peak milk yields for multi-parous cows were larger than those of primiparous cows. The peak milk yields for multi-parous cows reached later than those for primiparous cows. The cows calved in spring had higher and earlier peak milk yields than those calved in fall had.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.204-210
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• 2003

To see the effect of Beragfat T-300, a by pass fat, on the production and composition of milk, four primiparous crossbred cows in their early lactation were used in a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square Design. Each period was of 30 days including 15 days of adjustment period. The diets were formulated to contain 0, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5% of Bergafat and were isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. The intake of DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, Cellulose and ADL were not affected, however, the EE intake was increased by the supplementation of Bergafat in the diet of cows. The digestibilities of NDF and EE remained unaffected, whereas the digestibilites of DM, OM and CP were reduced. Milk yield remained unaltered, while 4%FCM yield increased as a result of adding Bergafat in the daily ration. Bergafat upto 4.5% of the diet DM can be added in the diet of crossbred cows without any adverse effect on the DM intake and digestibilities of DM and NDF. Furthermore, Bergafat does not cause any butter fat depression in the milk of cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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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.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1675-1688
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• 2022

Objective: Pregnant Nelore heifers (n = 417) were used to evaluate the effects of supplementation with monensin-molasses multinutrient block (B) during pre and/or postpartum on reproductive and progeny performance. Methods: Heifers were allocated in four treatments: i) CC: heifers received control supplement (C) in loose meal form (0.06% of body weight [BW] offered daily before and after parturition; n = 108); ii) CB: received C before parturition and B (0.07% of BW offered weekly after parturition; n = 117); iii) BC: received B before and C after parturition (n = 103) and iv) BB: received B before and after parturition (n = 89). During pre and postpartum periods, concentration of metabolites/hormones and cow/calf performance was evaluated over time. Cows were synchronized twice for fixed timed artificial insemination (FTAI) using an estradiol/progesterone-based protocol. Data was analyzed by orthogonal contrasts (C). Results: B increased pregnancy at first FTAI (p = 0.04) and overall pregnancy rate (C1: CC vs BB+BC+CB; p = 0.05). Supplemented cows had greater body condition score (BCS) only at parturition (D0; p = 0.04) and at D40 (p = 0.02). B increased BW (p = 0.03), glucose concentrations (p = 0.01) and subcutaneous fat thickness (p = 0.03) only at D40. Concentrations of insulin were higher in supplemented cows (p = 0.008). Calves born by cows supplemented before and after parturition (C2: BB vs BC+CB) were heavier at 80 (p<0.001), 120 (p<0.001), 170 (p = 0.002) and 210 (p = 0.02) days old. Conclusion: Regardless of period of treatment, block supplementation increased pregnancy at first FTAI and overall pregnancy rate. Additionality, block supplementation during both pre and postpartum periods improved progeny weight until weaning. Block supplementation can be a tool to optimize fertility and calf performance in Nelore primiparous cows.