• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제33권8호
• /
• pp.1360-1368
• /
• 2020

Objective: The aim of our study was to determine the associations of heifer reproductive performance with survival up to the first calving, first-lactation milk yield, and the probability of being culled within 50 days after first calving. Methods: Data from 33 large Holstein-Friesian commercial dairy herds were gathered from the official milk recording database in Hungary. The data of heifers first inseminated between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2014 were analyzed retrospectively, using Cox proportional hazards models, competing risks models, multivariate linear and logistic mixed-effects models. Results: Heifers (n = 35,128) with younger age at conception were more likely to remain in the herd until calving, and each additional month in age at conception increased culling risk by 5.1%. Season of birth was related to first-lactation milk yield (MY1; n = 19,931), with cows born in autumn having the highest milk production (p<0.001). The highest MY1 was achieved by heifers that first calved between 22.00 and 25.99 months of age. Heifers that calved in autumn had the highest MY1, whereas calving in summer was related to the lowest milk production (p<0.001). The risk of culling within 50 days in milk in first lactation (n = 21,225) increased along with first calving age, e.g. heifers that first calved after 30 months of age were 5.52-times more likely to be culled compared to heifers that calved before 22 months of age (p<0.001). Calving difficulty was related to higher culling risk in early lactation (p<0.001). Heifers that required caesarean section were 24.01-times more likely to leave the herd within 50 days after first calving compared to heifers that needed no assistance (p<0.001). Conclusion: Reproductive performance of replacement heifers is closely linked to longevity and milk production in dairy herds.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
• /
• 제30권4호
• /
• pp.265-270
• /
• 2015

Growth rate during rearing, which varies depending on provided nutrition, has been related with age at $1^{st}$ calving (AFC). This study investigated the effect of upgrowth parameters during the rearing period on the reproduction of nulliparous Holstein heifers. The study comprised 77 successively born heifers from the same herd. Growth rate and fertility traits were measured during rearing and fertility parameters were recorded in lactations 1. Growth parameters (body weight, height, heart girth and body length) were measured at the approximate birth time, 270 and 450 d of age. Reproduction data collected included age at $1^{st}$ breeding, number of services per conception (S/C), pregnancy rate to $1^{st}$ artificial insemination, AFC. Animals were subsequently divided into 4 AFC groups for analysis: <23 mo, 23~25 mo, 26~30 mo and >30 mo. The AFC reflected both upgrowth rate and heifer reproduction, with later calving heifers smaller. Increased skeletal growth (at 270 and 450 d) was related with a reduced AFC (p<0.05). Early calving animals (<23 mo) had the best reproduction as nulliparous heifers, with most conceiving at first service (87.5%). Fertility in the first lactation was the worst in the oldest AFC group (>30 mo). In the 1st lactation period, a number of services per conception ($3.1{\pm}0.3$) increased with increasing AFC (>30 mo). Sub-optimal upgrowth related with an increased AFC could be mitigated by improved monitoring of replacement heifers during the rearing period.

• 농업생명과학연구
• /
• 제50권5호
• /
• pp.153-162
• /
• 2016

본 연구는 국내 실정에 맞는 적정 TDN/CP 비율을 결정하기 위하여 4.6:1(T1)과 4.3:1(T2)의 비율로 생후 13개월령 육성우에게 급여하여 영양소 섭취량, 소화율, 반추 위액 특성 및 혈액조성에 대하여 조사하였다. 건물 섭취량은 9.0kg/day로 동일하였으며, 조단백질 섭취량은 T1이 1.34kg/day, T2가 1.45kg/day로 T2가 조금 높았으나 유의적인 차이는 없었다. 섬유소 섭취량과 소화율은 T1이 조금 높은 경향을 보였으나 유의적인 차이는 없었다. 사료 섭취 후 4시간째 위액의 pH, ammonia-N, VFA 농도를 비교한 결과 처리구간 유의적인 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 전반적인 VFA 수치는 TDN/CP 비율에 따라 큰 영향이 없었으나 T1 처리구에서 iso-butyrate, iso-valerate 및 A/P ratio가 유의적으로 높은 결과를 보였다(p<0.05). 혈액 특성에는 처리구간 유의적인 차이를 나타내지 않았다. TDN/CP 비율이 4.3:1과 4.6:1 수준은 반추위 특성에 큰 영향을 미치지 않았지만, 소화율과 비교하였을 때 생후 13개월령 육성우 시기에는 섬유소 섭취량과 소화율이 증가되는 4.6:1 수준이 보다 적합할 것으로 판단된다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제24권9호
• /
• pp.1318-1328
• /
• 2011

The tropics is not an ideal location for calf rearing as the high temperatures and humidities introduce many potential disease problems to milk fed calves. In addition, the type of dairy farming (generally poorly resourced small holder farming) and the general lack of awareness of the long term implications of poorly reared stock do not encourage farmers to pay close attention to their calf and heifer rearing systems. Surveys of calf rearing systems in Asia, tropical Africa and South America highlight the high calf and heifer mortalities. A range of 15 to 25% pre-weaning calf mortality is typical on many tropical dairy farms. It is often as high as 50%, indicating very poor calf management. This contrasts with US findings of less than 8% mortality from birth to 6 months while surveys of Australian farmers report only 3% losses. Simple extension programs on farms in Sri Lanka and Kenya have drastically reduced calf mortalities and improved pre-weaning growth rates. Improved management strategies leading to lower calving intervals, higher calving rates, reduced still born and pre-weaned calf mortalities and fewer non pregnant heifers can supply many more dairy herd replacements than currently occurs. Such strategies can increase the number of replacement heifer calves in the herd from 15 to over 35%, thus allowing farmers to increase their herd sizes through natural increases. Simple management procedures such as ensuring adequate intake of good quality colostrum within the first 12 hours of life, housing and good hygiene to minimise disease transfer, providing clean drinking water, developing appropriate feeding protocols to encourage early rumen development and paying closer attention to climate control and animal health can all lead to improved calf vigour and performance. Good record keeping is also important so farmers can more easily identify susceptible calves and quickly treat potential problems.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제17권1호
• /
• pp.18-26
• /
• 2004

This study evaluated the impact of an AI heifer calf rearing scheme on dairy stock development, in a coconut grazing and a peri-urban smallholder dairy production system in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. The heifer rearing scheme included free advice on calf rearing, drugs, acaricides, minerals and subsidised concentrates for 30 months. The farmers in the coconut growing area integrate dairying with their plantation, they sell their milk to the main processors. The peri-urban farmers are intensive milk producers, who sell their milk at informal markets. To estimate the effect of the heifer rearing scheme on dairy replacement stock development, scheme farmers were compared with farmers who did not participate in the scheme. Calf mortality was twice as high in non-scheme farms (23-28%) as in scheme farms (12-14%). The scheme had a positive effect on weight development and scheme heifers calved 4.5 months earlier than non-scheme heifers. The calf rearing package is cost effective in both farming systems, however, the required cash inputs are a major constraint. The costs per in-calf heifer under the scheme are much lower than the production of such animals by either multiplication in state farms or importing them. The coconut grazing system showed the highest potential for producing surplus dairy stock.

• 농업과학연구
• /
• 제39권2호
• /
• pp.227-242
• /
• 2012

Accurate estimation of milk production cost is very important for dairy farmers in establishing strategies for business management (e.g. planning a program for milk production, deciding the size of business and investment, determining the milk price for sale). Since the estimated cost of milk production is used as an important index to determine the basal price of milk in Korea, there has been much interest and debate on the method used to estimate milk production cost among the stakeholder. This study was thus carried out to identify problems in the current methodology for estimating cost of milk production, and to find a better way to improve it. We propose several alternatives and better ways to improve the current method for estimating cost of milk production. Estimation of the income and cost per head should be based on the number of cattle converted to grown cows. Cost estimation per liter of milk should be made for both whole milk and 3.4% milk fat corrected milk. The value of purchased cows and raised replacement heifers should be the same as their market value. The productive life span of cows should be less 4 years, and the terminal or salvage value of cows needs to be 30 to 40% less than her initial value. When calculating depreciation of cows over the productive life span, however, the salvage value should be 0 or 1 Korean won. On calculating labor costs, the farm labor wage corresponding to the average wage of nonfarm industrial workers should be assumed. Beside of these, better estimation procedures for other items are also given. The proposed methods from this study should improve the accuracy of estimation of milk production cost and help to achieve consensus among the stakeholder.

• 한국초지조사료학회지
• /
• 제36권2호
• /
• pp.115-123
• /
• 2016

본 연구는 수정 전 단계인 생후 12~14개월령의 육성우에게 급여하는 사료의 적정 영양소 수준에 대해 알아보고자 에너지와 단백질의 비율에 따른 영양소 이용성 및 증체량에 미치는 영향을 평가하였다. 건물 섭취량은 T1 (TDN/CP 비율, 5.0:1), T2 (TDN/CP 비율, 4.5:1) 그리고 T3 (TDN/CP 비율, 4.0:1)가 비슷한 수치를 보였다. 분 중 회분은 T1이 11.07%로 T3 (9.69%) 보다 유의적으로 높아졌으며, TDN/CP 비율이 높아질수록 분 내 회분 함량도 증가되었다. 초기 체중과 상관없이 증체량은 실험 개시 후 30일째 사료 내 CP 비율이 높아질수록 유의적으로 증가하였으나 60일째에는 T2가 유의적으로 가장 높은 증체를 보였다 (p<0.05). TDN 비율이 감소하거나 단백질 비율이 높아질수록 증체량은 유의적으로 증가되었다(p<0.05). 실험 종료 시의 혈중 GPT는 T1과 T3 (112.6, 88.3 u/l)가 T2 (50.9 u/l) 보다 유의적으로 높은 수치를 나타냈으며, phosphorus는 T1 (46.3 mg/dl)이 다른 처리구보다 유의적으로 높은 값을 보였다(p<0.05). HDL cholesterol은 T2 (145.2 md/dl)가 T1 (121.0 mg/dl)과 T3 (132.3 mg/dl) 보다 유의적으로 높았으며, triglyceride는 T3 (40.6 mg/dl)가 T1, T2 (20.7, 29.0 mg/dl) 보다 유의적으로 높은 수치를 보였다(p<0.05). BUN 농도를 비롯한 그 외의 혈액 분석항목들에서는 처리구별에 있어서 유의적 차이가 없었다. 결과적으로 섭취량과 증체율에서는 TDN/CP 비율이 4:1이 가장 좋았으나 체지방 축적이 과잉될 가능성이나 혈액대사 수치를 함께 고려한다면 이 시기에서는 4.5:1의 비율이 바람직한 것으로 판단된다.