• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.11
• /
• pp.1569-1576
• /
• 2011

Accurate assessment of the nutritional status of Nguni cattle is becoming increasingly important in determining their mechanism for adaptation to challenging environments. Changes in body weights and concentrations of total protein (TP), albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), phosphorus (SIP), calcium and magnesium were determined in Nguni and crossbred calves raised on natural pasture from birth until weaning. At an early age, TP concentration in crossbreds was higher (p<0.05) than that of Nguni calves. However, TP levels increased with age in Nguni calves so that Nguni's had higher (p<0.05) TP levels than crossbreds at weaning. Nguni calves had higher (p<0.05) glucose concentrations than crossbreds in all the ages except in the third month. Serum NEFA levels in Nguni calves were higher (p<0.05) than in crossbreds at all ages except for the second month. Calcium levels decreased (p<0.05) with age in both genotypes. The blood TP concentrations tended to decrease (p<0.05) as body weight increased up to 80 kg, thereafter blood TP concentration increased (p<0.05) as body weight increased. Calcium concentrations in crossbred calves decreased (p<0.05) quadratically as the body weight increased. There was, however, a linear increase (p<0.05) in calcium concentrations in Nguni calves. The higher NEFA and TP concentrations at weaning and the TP increase in Nguni calves beyond 80 kg suggest that Nguni's utilise fibrous feeds better than crossbreds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 1997

Appropriation of partial substitution of concentrate mixture by urea-molasses-mineral block (UMMB) lick supplements for 20 lactating crossbred cows in 2nd and 3nd lactation was studied. Animals fed on wheat straw ad lib. and Berseem (Trifolium alaxandrium) fodder @ 1.5 kg/d on dry matter basis. Animals of control group were given concentrate supplement, while in treatment groups 10% of the concentrate requirement was substituted with 3 different types of UMMB lick type A ($T_1$), type B ($T_2$) and type C ($T_3$). CP content of the ration was 15%. Total dry matter intake (DMI) was about 1.0 kg/kg of fat corrected milk (FCM) yield and was not significantly different between control and treatment groups. Digestibility of neither proximate principles nor cell wall constituents were deviated on UMMB licks partial supplementation. FCM yield was increased by 140, 410 and 460 g/d, in $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$, respectively, in comparison to control group but differences were statistically invalid. Though fat per cent was reduced, fat yields were remain constant among treatments. Milk composition was unaltered except significant difference (p < 0.01) in non-protein nitrogen (NPN) content. Gross-N and digestible-N conversion was significantly higher (p < 0.01) with $T_1$, $T_2$ and $T_3$ than control group. Energy utilization efficiency for milk production was only 36%. Result demonstrated that UMMB licks could be partial supplemented up to 10% of the concentrate requirement of crossbred cows yielding on an average 14kg/d without any adverse effect on feed intake, nutrient utilization and mild production. Comparatively, UMMB lick type B and C was proved better than type A and also economically viable.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.188-194
• /
• 2002

To study the effect of wheat bran and lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) on the performance of calves, 20 crossbred male cattle calves (day old), distributed into two groups were fed on calf starters containing 50 or 0% maize grain, along with green berseem ad libitum and milk as per body weight. Each group was further divided into two sub groups and one subgroup of each group was supplemented with mixed culture of LAB (Lactobacillus acidophilus L. casei, L. Jugarti). Milk feeding was discontinued after 8 weeks of age. The addition of culture increased (p<0.05) DM intake in calves receiving grainless diet from eighth week to the thirteenth one. There was about 21% higher body weight gain and 14% lower feed : gain ratio in culture supplemented calves. DM digestibility was significantly lower (p<0.05) in calves getting grain without culture. The crude protein NDF and ADF digestibility was higher (p<0.05) in grainless than the grain fed group. No major change on rumen fermentation pattern among different treatments was found. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) and protozoa count was higher (p<0.05) in grain fed group. However, lactic acid concentration was higher and rumen pH was lower due to culture feeding. The incidence as well as severity of diarrhoea was reduced in culture supplemented group. The results indicate that crossbred calves can be reared successfully on grainless diet and berseen fodder. The performance of calves was also improved by LAB supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.117-120
• /
• 1998

Relationships of breeding values of sires for first lactation milk yield with pedigree information or indices were examined to identify the optimal criteria of selecting young dairy bulls for future use in artificial insemination (AI). Records of performance data on 1087 crossbred daughters (Holstein - Friesian, Jersey and Brown Swiss with Hariana) of 147 sires, generated at Livestock Production Research (Cattle and Buffaloes) Farm, IVRI, Izatnagar, U.P., during 1972 - 1995 were used to obtain the estimates of sire's breeding values (EBV) using the Best Linear Unbiased Prediction Procedures. The correlations between young bull's EBV and the dam's first lactation milk yield was non-significantly different from zero. However, the young bull's EBV was negatively and significantly related (r = - 0.275 ; P < 0.05) to the dam's best lactation milk yield, suggesting that the selection of young dairy bulls from high yielding elite dams is not a suitable criteria for genetic improvement. The correlations of sire's and paternal grandsire's EBV's with young bull's EBV were high and positive (0.532, 0.844; P < 0.01). The maternal grandsire's EBV was positively but non-significantly related to grandson's EBV. The pedigree index incorporating dam's milk records and sire's EBV's showed a negative and non-significant correlation with young bull's EBV. However, the correlation of a pedigree index $(I_3)$ combining information on sire's and paternal grand-sire's EBV's with young bull's EBV's was considerably high and positive (0.797; P < 0.01). The regression coefficients of young bull's EBV on pedigree index $I_3$, was higher than those on other pedigree information. These results revealed that there was no advantage in basing selection on dam's performance or maternal grand-sire's EBV and that sire's and paternal grandsire's EBV's were reliable pedigree information for selection of young dairy bulls for future use in AI.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.625-634
• /
• 2003

Oil palm fronds (OPF) are one of the main by-products of the oil palm industry in Malaysia. It contains about 38.5 % crude fibre with ME values of about 5.65 MJ/kg dry matter. OPF has great potential to be utilized as a roughage source or as a component in a complete feed for ruminant animals. This paper briefly reviews the availability of OPF in Malaysia and its importance in the local beef and dairy industry. About 26 million metric tonnes of OPF are produced on dry matter basis annually during pruning and replanting operations in the plantations. The nutritive value of OPF and studies to improve its feeding value is highlighted. The optimum level of inclusion for ruminant feeding is 30 % and improvement to intake and digestibility can be further enhanced with addition of other oil-palm by-products. Performances of beef and dairy cattle fed fresh OPF or as silage, pellets and cubes are shown. Good quality OPF silage can be produced without using any additive and the significant improvement on the rate of growth and milk yield were shown. With good formulations, OPF based diets can allow live weight gains of between 600-850 g/day and for local crossbred dairy animals, milk yield of about 11.1 to 20.3 liter/day can be obtained. Pellet based on ground OPF seemed to be less well utilized for ruminant feeding due to its smaller particle size. OPF based cubes which have longer particle size is more suitable for beef and dairy cattle. Long-term feeding of OPF based feeds have been shown to produce good quality carcasses, and the meat is safe for consumption.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.474-477
• /
• 2000

Two experiments were conducted to study the use of urea-treated rice straw (UTRS) and whole sugar cane (WSC) crop as roughage sources for dairy cattle during the dry season. Experiment I, four rumen-fistulated dairy crossbred steers were assigned to receive roughage treatments according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design: $T_1=urea-treated$ (5%) rice straw, $T_2=UTRS$ and WSC at 75:25% DM, $T_3=UTRS$ and WSC at 25:75% DM, and $T_4=WSC$. Experiment II, three rumen fistulated, late lactating multiparous Holstein-Friesian crossbreds were randomly allotted to a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design to receive three types of roughages; $T_1=WSC$, $T_2=UTRS$, $T_3=WSC+UTRS$ at 50:50% DM. It was found that combination of UTRS and WSC at 75:25 ratio significantly increased DM intake while intake of WSC alone was lowest. Moreover, inclusion of UTRS into WSC enhanced digestibilites (Exp. I). In Exp. II, combination of UTRS with WSC at 50:50 ratio (DM) enhanced DM intake (kg/d) (p<0.05) and especially milk yield, milk fat and protein percentages. The findings suggest the combined use of WSC and UTRS improved the feeding values of these roughages for dairy cattle during the dry season.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.952-961
• /
• 2003

In the first part of the study, rates of estrus occurrence and success of A.I. service in the Thai-native and Friesian crossbred, and purebred Friesian cows fed in the National Dairy Training and Applied Research Institute in Chiang Mai, Thailand were traced monthly throughout a year. An electric fan and a water sprinkler cooled the stall for the purebred cows during the hot season (March-September). Both rates in pure Friesians were at their highest in the cold-dry season (October- February), but they decreased steadily during the hot-dry season (March-May) and were at their lowest in the hot-wet season (June-September). Seasonal change of a similar pattern was observed in the incidence of estrus, but not in the success rate of insemination in the crossbred cows. By the use of reproductive data, compiled in the same institute, on the 75 % cross- and purebred Friesian cows, and climatological data in Chiang Mai district, effects of ambient temperature and humidity on the reproductive traits of cows were examined by regression analysis in the second half of the study. Significant relationships in the crossbred, expressed by positive-linear and parabola regressions, were found between reproductive parameters such as days to the first estrus (DTFE), A.I. service (DTFAI), and conception, the number of A.I. services required for conception and some climatic factors. However, regarding this, no consistent or intelligible results were obtained in purebred cows, perhaps because electric fans and water sprinklers were used for this breed in the hot season. Among climatic factors examined, the minimum temperature (MINT) in early lactation affected reproductive activity most conspicuously. As the temperature during one or two months prior to the first estrus and A.I. service rose, DTFE and DTFAI steadily became longer, although, when MINT depleted below $17-18^{\circ}C$, the reproductive interval tended to be prolonged again on some occasions. The maximum temperature also affected DTFE and DTFAI, but only in limited conditions. The effect of humidity was not clear, although the inverse relationship between DTFE and minimum humidity during 2 months before the first estrus in the crossbred seemed to be significant. Failure to detect any definite effect of climate on the reproductive traits of pure Friesians seemed to indicate that forced ventilation by electric fans and water sprinklers were effective enough to protect the reproductive ability of this breed from the adverse effects of a hot climate.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.57 no.9
• /
• pp.35.1-35.8
• /
• 2015

Background: An experiment was conducted in Vietnam to test the hypothesis that total dry matter (DM) intake and liveweight (LW) gain would increase in a curvilinear manner with increasing amounts of concentrate offered. Method: There were five treatments: a basal diet of Guinea grass fed at 1 % of LW and rice straw fed ad libitum (T0), or this diet supplemented with concentrate at 0.6 (T1), 1.2 (T2), 1.8 (T3), or 2.4 % of LW (T4). The concentrate comprised locally available ingredients, namely cassava chips, rice bran, crushed rice grain, fishmeal, salt, and urea, mixed manually. Results: Concentrate intake increased from T0 to T3, but there was no difference in concentrate intake between T3 and T4. Total feed intake increased in a curvilinear manner from 4.0 to 6.4 kg DM/d as the quantity of concentrate consumed increased. The substitution of concentrate for grass and rice straw increased with increasing consumption of concentrate and was as high as 0.49 kg DM reduction per kg of concentrate consumed. LW gain increased curvilinearly, with significant differences between T0 (0.092 kg/d), T1 (0.58 kg/d) and T2 (0.79 kg/d); but there were no significant differences in LW gain between T2, T3 (0.83 kg/d) and T4 (0.94 kg/d).With increasing amount of concentrate in the diet, the digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and crude fat increased, but NDF digestibility decreased. Conclusion: Based on these results, young Vietnamese Brahman-cross growing cattle will respond to a locally-sourced concentrate mix offered at a level of up to 1.2 % of LW.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.9
• /
• pp.1407-1416
• /
• 2007

Ten, first lactation, 87.5%HF dairy cattle were used to investigate effects of long-term administration of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on nutrient uptake by the mammary gland at different stages of lactation. Measurements of arterial plasma concentrations and arterial-venous differences of metabolites across the mammary gland were performed in combination with measurment of mammary blood flow to estimate the mammary uptake. Animals in experimental groups were injected subcutaneously every 14 days from day 60 of lactation with a prolonged-release formulation of 500 mg of rbST (POSILAC, Monsanto, USA) or with sterile sesame oil without rbST in the control group. During early lactation, the milk yield of rbST-treated animals was higher than that of the control animals (p<0.05). The peak milk yield in both groups of animals declined from the early period of lactation with progression to mid- and late-lactation. No significant changes were observed in the concentration of milk lactose, while the concentrations of milk protein significantly increased as lactation advanced to mid- and late-lactation in both groups. Milk fat concentrations were significantly higher in rbST-treated animals than in control animals, particularly in early lactation (p<0.05). Mammary blood flow (MBF) markedly increased during rbST administration and was maintained at a high level throughout lactation. The mean arterial plasma concentrations for glucose and acetate of rbST-treated animals were unchanged. The net mammary glucose uptake of rbST-treated animals increased approximately 20% during early lactation, while it significantly decreased (p<0.05), including the arteriovenous differences (A-V differences) and extraction ratio across the mammary gland, as lactation advanced to mid- and late-lactation. A-V differences, mammary extraction and mammary uptake for acetate increased during rbST administration and were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the control animals in early and mid-lactation. Mean arterial plasma concentrations for ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate and free glycerol were unchanged throughout the experimental periods in both groups. A-V differences and extraction ratio of ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate across the mammary gland did not alter during rbST administration. Mean arterial plasma concentrations for free fatty acids ($C_{16}$ to $C_{18}$), but not for triacylglycerol, increased in rbST-treated animals and were significantly higher than in control animals during early lactation (p<0.01). These findings suggest that an increase in MBF during rbST administration would not be a major determinant in the mediation of nutrient delivery and uptake by the mammary gland for increased milk production. Local changes in biosynthetic capacity within the mammary gland would be a factor in the utilization of substrates resulting in the rate of decline in milk yield with advancing lactation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.852-862
• /
• 2003

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of ionophore enriched cold processed mineral block supplemented with urea molasses on microbial growth and rumen fermentation. Twelve adult male crossbred cattle were divided into four groups on body weight basis. Animals were given wheat straw as a basal diet. The animals of group I and II were supplemented with concentrate mixture and animals of group III and IV were supplemented with cold processed urea molasses mineral block (UMMB). Thirty mg monensin/day/animal were supplemented to the animals of group II and 35 ppm monensin were incorporated in the UMMB supplemented to the animals of group IV. Dry matter (DM) intake did not differ significantly among groups. Mean rumen pH was higher in UMMB fed animals. Total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) concentration (mmole/L strained rumen liquor (SRL) in group III (113.19) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of group I (105.83) and II (108.74) but similar to group IV (109.34). TVFA production (mole/day) was similar in all the groups. The molar proportion of acetate was significantly (p<0.01) higher in the group I (59.56) than those of group II (51.73) and IV (55.91) but similar to group III (57.12). The molar proportion of propionate was significantly (p<0.01) higher in the monensin treated groups i.e. group II (38.38) and IV (36.26) than those of group I (27.78) and III (33.06). Butyrate molar percent was significantly (p<0.01) higher in group I (12.65) than those of group II (10.19), group III (9.83) and IV (7.84). The reduction of acetate and butyrate was due to UMMB and monensin resulted in lower A:P ratio. Average bacterial pool and bacterial production rate did not differ significantly among groups. Total N concentration (mg/100 ml SRL) was significantly (p<0.01) higher in the group I (55.30) and III (57.70) as compared to the group II (47.97) and IV (47.59). Ammonia-N concentration (mg/100 ml SRL) of group III (34.99) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that of the group I (25.76) which was again significantly (p<0.01) higher than that of the group II (20.79) and IV (19.83) indicating slower release of ammonia due to monensin in diet. Total bacterial, cellulolytic, proteolytic bacterial and fungal count at 4 h post feeding did not differ significantly (p<0.05) among treatment groups. However, methanogenic bacterial count was significantly (p<0.01) higher in the group I (11.80) compared to the group II (8.43) which was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that of the group III (4.70) and IV (2.90). Average protozoal population was affected by both treatments. Thus feeding of UMMB and monensin in diet affected the rumen fermentation pattern towards propionate production, slower release of ammonia and reduction in methanogenic bacteria in the rumen.