• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.483-490
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to measure particle size and evaluate the effect of increasing alfalfa hay particle size on production characteristics in lactating Holstein dairy cows. Ninety multiparous Holstein cows in early to mid-lactation were randomly assigned in a complete randomized design for a 30-day period. Animals were offered one of the three diets, which were identical in energy, protein, and chemical composition, but differed only in particle size of alfalfa hay. The treatments were A) total mixed ration (TMR) in which only fine chopped alfalfa hay was incorporated in the ration, B) the same diet in which half of the alfalfa hay was fine chopped and incorporated in the mixed ration and half was long hay and offered as a top dressing, and C) the same diet with long hay alfalfa offered as a top dressing. Distribution of particle size of rations was determined through 20,000, 8,000 and 1,000 ${\mu}m$ sieves. The new method of quantitative determination of manure index was examined for each cow on different treatments. The geometric mean length of particle size in the rations was 5,666, 9,900 and 11,549 ${\mu}m$ for treatments A, B and C, respectively. Fat corrected milk (4%), milk fat percentage and production were significantly different (p<0.05) in treatment A versus B and C (fat corrected milk (FCM, 4%)) 28.3 vs. 35.2 and 32.3 kg/d, fat percentage 2.89, 4.04 and 3.62; but the change of ration particle size had no significant effect on milk production (p>0.05). Blood concentration of cholesterol in treatment A was significantly higher (p<0.05) than treatment B and C (181.0 vs. 150.0 and 155.2 mg/dl). Manure index in treatment C was significantly different (p<0.05) from treatment B (15.86 vs. 17.67). Based on these experimental findings, it is concluded that an increase in the ration particle size can increase milk fat percentage due to providing more physically effective fiber, which in turn could effect changes in manure consistency.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to estimate the mineral intakes and serum mineral levels of pregnant and lactating women. The subjects consisted of 34 non-pregnant, 56 pregnant and 20 lactating women. Nutrients intakes were investigated by the 24-hr recall method, and serum major and trace minerals were analyzed by the ICP-spectrometry. Calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn) intakes were observed lower than RDA especially for both pregnant and lactating women. Iron (Fe) intake of pregnant women was $85 - 139\%$ RDA through Fe supplementation, and that of lactating women was lower than RDA. Compared with non-pregnant women, the pregnant women had similar Ca intake and higher magnesium (Mg) intake. Comparing with the non-pregnant women, serum Ca level in pregnancy was lower, and that of lactating women was not significantly different. Serum phosphorus and Mg levels were not significantly different among the groups. Serum Fe level of pregnant and lactating women was lower than that of the non-pregnant women. Serum Zn level of pregnant women was lower than those in the lactating and non-pregnant women. Serum copper level decreased as the pregnancy progressed. Serum sodium (Na) level was higher in 2nd- and 3rd trimester and potassium (K) level was higher in 3rd trimester and lactating period than other groups. Na/K ratio was not significantly different among the groups. During all periods, there was no correlation between dietary intakes and serum levels in each minerals. Serum Ca level positively corrleated with serum Mg level, especially in 3rd trimester and lactating women. In general, serum mineral levels in pregnancy were changed compared to the levels in non-pregnancy and restored in lactation to the levels for non-pregnancy.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.35-49
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• 1986

Recipients are an integral part of embryo transfer and they are expensive to maintain as a good recipient. Recipient management is one of the most important components in a successful embryo transfer program. Management includes selection and subsequent care of the animals. A good recipient is basically on "open" cows or heffers whose reproductive tract is capable of receiving one or two embryos and incubating it to term. Potential recipients should be always be healthy and cycling normally ranging from 18 to 23 days. A thorough veterinary examination is recommended for candidate of recipients and cattle for questionable health should be eliminated from the recipient herd. Age and size of recipients are particularly important considerations when heifers are used, because of most embryos available for transfer are from large dams and sires. Body condition can influence a recipient's production, reproduction and health. Obese and underconditioned cattle should be avoided for use. Transfer of fresh embryos especially requires precise synchronization of donors and recipients. For estrus synchronization, PGF$_2$$\alpha$ is injected twice 10 to 12 days apart and short4erm progestagen treatment is applied to potential recipient cattle by coil into vagina (PRID) or ear implant (Synchro-Mate-B). The highest pregnancy results are achieved in recipients at exact synchrony with donors or 12 to 24 hr earlier than donors. Estrus detection is a major factor in breeding efficiency. High accuracy can be achieved by use of heat mount detection alds or by obserbing cattle for 30-minute peroids 3 times daily. Assay progesterone in milk can be used to discrIminate between pregnant and nonprenant recipients. Rectal palpation on day 35 to 70 after is an accurate and safe method of pregnancy diagnosis. Embryonic mortality in recipients may be associated with factors such as high environmental temperature and nutritional or lactational stress in early lactation period. Achievement of short calving interval requires concentrated management activity during the first 90 days following calving. Acceptable candidate for a recipient should be routinely vaccinated for infectious diseases. Proper nutritional programs according to NRC requirements and body condition scoring system for recipient cattles are vital to the ultimate success of an embryo transfer program.r program.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2007

Myelin basic protein (MBP), a major structural protein of the myelin, is thought to be important for the maintenance of myelin in the central nervous system (CNS). We investigated the effect of maternal folic acid nutritional status on the folate level and the synthesis of MBP in the offspring. In order to test this hypothesis, female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either folic acid sufficient (8 mg/kg diet) or deficient (0 mg/kg diet) diet from 2 wks prior to the mating throughout the entire pregnancy, lactation and weaning period. We examined plasma folate level by the radioimmunoassay and homocysteine level by HPLC, respectively. The MBP expression was measured by the western blot analysis. The maternal folic acid deficiency decreased plasma folate level with a concomitant increase in plasma homocysteine level in their offspring. The maternal folic acid deficiency decreased hepatic levels of SAM and SAM/SAH ratio with a concomitant increase in hepatic levels of SAH and the MBP expression of spinal cord in their offspring at 7 wks of age. These results suggest that maternal folic acid nutritional status affect plasma folate and homocysteine level in their offspring. Moreover, the maternal folic acid deficiency mi호t inhibit the MBP expression of the spinal cord and disrupt many other vital CNS reactions in their offspring.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.242-248
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• 1985

Weanling female Sprague Dawley rats were fed diets containing 22mg pyridoxine HCI/kg diet(control diet) and 1.2mg pyridoxine HCI/kg diet(deficient diet). One deficient group and one control group were fed their diets throughout the period of growth, gestation and lactation. After the pups were born and weaned, the deficient group was divided into two groups. Therefore, one(DC) switched to control diet and the other continued the same deficient diet until 10 week-old. Analysis of chemical composition of fatty acid in the total brain lipid was conducted in the pups of 5, 10, 15, 21, 35, 50 days of age. Arachidonic acid content was significantly decreased in the deficient group at 5 days compared to the control, but at almost all ages, there were no significant differences in fatty acid contens among all the groups. The fatty acid compositions of the brain phospholipids were determined on pups at 1, 14, 21, 35, 70 days of age. The content of $C_{20}\;_{4}$ in the brain phosphatidylcholine birth and contents of $C_{22}\;_{4}$ and $C_{22}\;_{5}$ at birtd, and $C_{22}\;_{5}$ and $C_{22}\;_{6}$ at 14 days in the phosphatidylethanolamine were depressed in the deficient group. These changes were not consistent with ages. Therefore, it may reflect that the major part of the changes occuring in the pyridoxine depleted rats depends, not so much on the pyridoxine depletion itself, as on the age or development of the rats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 1995

In this study an attempt was made to evaluate the economics of dairy farming in selected areas of Bangladesh. Data from 20 randomly selected farms were collected by survey method. Results show that cross-bred cows were more in number (2.55) in those farms than that of local cows (0.65). The number of cross-bred cows increased as the farm sizes increased. The production of milk per cross-bred cow was higher (5.66 litres) than the local ones (2.23 litres). Highest (5.74 litres) milk yield per cross-bred cow was recorded in large farms. The average lactation period for crossbred cows was higher (304 days) than the local cows (210 days). In production cost of farms, concentrates took the highest share (35.19%) followed by labour charges (23.64%). The production cost and gross returns for mini dairy farms were higher in large farms (TK. 183,005 and TK. 187,544, respectively), compared to medium and small farms. The benefit-cost ratio of all farms was 1 : 1.03, indicating that mini dairy farming is economically profitable. In addition, each farm created an annual employment opportunity of 649.70 man-days which was met by both male and female labourers. The small farms employed more female family labourers while the large farms depended more on hired labourers. The expansion of dairy farming with cross-bred cows is suggested for accelerating income and employment opportunities in rural Bangladesh.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.555-559
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• 1993

Studies at freezing point depression (FPD) for goat milk are described in this paper. The 432 samples of raw goat milk collected in a period of two years and analysed by the use of an electronic cryoscope gave a mean value of FPD: $-0.565{\pm}0.01^{\circ}C$. Statistical significant differences were found between the morning and evening milk. The evening milk showed better quality considering the lactose and others dissolved solutes. Among the Brown, Saanen and Anglo-nubian goats, the greatest increase in FPD, occurred in the Anglo-nubian breed. The statistical analysis revealed a significant breed difference (p<0.05), when climate variation was observed. The superior and inferior values found to the FPD of the caprine milk (-0.545 to $-0.585^{\circ}C$), is important in establishing regional rules, to improve the quality control criteria and legal interpretation of standards found in the pertinent legislation. The results are also important to improve herd management so that one can increase the animal production which will affect the technological composition, and the nutritional characteristics of the resultant products.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1138-1147
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• 2020

Objective: A study was made investigate factors affecting body surface temperature changes after weaning in sows, whether these can be used to aid detection of natural estrus and how they relate to subsequent reproductive performance. Methods: A total of 132 sows were selected during summer from a breeding farm, with mean parity of 3.6±2.3 and 28.5±0.9 days lactation length. Four daily measurements (6:00, 8:00, 16:00, and 18:00) of vulva (VST), udder (UST), ear base and central back skin temperatures for individual sows were taken by an infrared thermometer, continuing up to 8 days post weaning. Results: The VST obtained from sows showing estrus at 4 days post-weaning (4DPW), 5DPW, and 6DPW showed a peak at the fourth day post-weaning, but then started to decrease. The VST of sows not detected in standing heat (NDPW) remained at a lower level during the experiment, but UST was increased soon after weaning. The VST-UST temperature differences during daytime of sows that were showing behavioural standing heat on 4DPW, 5DPW, 6DPW, and 7DPW were 0.46℃±0.123℃, 0.71℃±0.124℃, 0.66℃ ±0.171℃, and 0.58℃±0.223℃, respectively. The NDPW sows had the highest UST observed, but also the lowest VST so that a more negative value of temperature difference (-0.31℃) was seen during first few days post-weaning. A total of 119 sows were observed to show standing heat and were bred. The later the estrus, the smaller the litter size (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Sows which did not show behavior indicative of stable standing heat after weaning had a VST which remained at a lower level, but the UST increased soon after weaning. Therefore, for sow heat detection under field conditions, the changes of VST and UST and difference between the two should be considered together to increase the accuracy of detection.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 1982

A quantitative restriction of maternal diet was given to the Sprague Dawley rats during the lactation. The control group were fed a commercial diet ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Dietary restriction started from birth to weaning in deficient group. After weaning at 21 days, all offsprings were fed the same diet ad libitum for 4 weeks of rehabilitation. They were analyzed for body weight, muscle protein, muscle 3-methylhistidine and serum protein level of offsprings at 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 weeks. Body weight of offsprings of deficient group were significantly lower than the control group, but after rehabilitation there were no significant differences between two groups. Maternal dietary restriction caused a decrease in the 3-methylhistidine, protein content in muscle and total protein level in serum, and rehabilitation after weaning induced a marked increase. These results suggest that there is a quantitative reduction in 3-methylhistidine metabolism in the undernourished rats and these reductions can be nearly recovered by 4 weeks of dietary rehabilitation after weaning.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.141-152
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• 1994

The effects of feeding diets with different fatty acids on the composition of fatty acids and vitamin E status in maternal milk & serum and pup's serum were studied. Dietary fats(10% by wt) include on oil(CO), soybean oil(SO), perilla seed oil(PO : about 60% , C18 : 3 $\omega$3) and fish oil(FO : rich in C20 : 5$\omega$3, eicosapentaenoic acid = EPA & 22 : 6$\omega$3, docosahexaenoic acid = DHA), Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-250g, were fed experimental diets from pregnancy through lactation period. Maternal milk was obtained by gentle squeezing after 30 minutes of oxytocin(0.2 IU, intraperitoneal) injection. The fatty acid compositions of milk and serum were analyzed at day-2 and day-15. The concentrations of vitamin E in maternal milk and serum and pup's serum were also analyzed. The groups of CO, SO and PO which had no DHA in their diet, contained DHA in their milk, The rations of EPA+DHA/arachidonic acid(AA) were higher in PO group than those in either CO or SO group. This seemed to be due not only to more conversion from C18 : 3$\omega$3 to C20 : 5$\omega$3 and C22 : 6$\omega$3 but also to inhibition of C18 : 2$\omega$6 conversion to C20 : 4$\omega$6. More DHA was found in day-2 milk than in day-15 milk. It was also noted that milk contained more DHA was found in day-2 milk than in day-15 milk. It was also noted that milk contained more DHA than serum and this difference was larger in day-2 than in day-15 milk. Even though the concentrations of vitamin E both in maternal serum and milk were lower in PO and FO groups fed highly unsaturated fat than in CO or SO groups, pup's serum did not show a significant difference among all the experimental groups indicating that the pups man secure their essential nutrients by the biomagnification mechanism.