• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.901-903
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• 1999

Twenty-four multiparous crossbred Friesian dairy cows (60-90 days in lactation) were randomly assigned into a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design. Factors were two levels of concentrate supplementation (1:2, high vs 1:1.2, very high; concentrate:milk yield) and two levels of high-quality feed block (HQFB) supplementation (non vs ad libitum block licking). Ruzi grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) was fed as a roughage throughout the 70 day feeding trial. High level of concentrate fed group resulted in higher roughage and HQFB intakes, compared with very high concentrate supplemented group. HQFB supplementation tended to increase roughage intake and significantly improved milk yield (2 kg/hd/d in high concentrate supplementation) and quality (% fat) which resulted in higher economical return. HQFB was recommended to be used as a strategic supplement in lactating dairy cows especially when fed on low-quality roughages or crop residues.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.794-799
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• 2003

A study was conducted on 2102 records of 808 crossbred cows of various genetic groups maintained under 'All India Coordinated Research Project on Cattle' at C C S Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, over 25 years period (1968-1993) with an objective to assess and compare the amount of percent improvement and heterotic effect for different performance traits in various genetic groups produced under this programme. Survivability sharply and significantly declined from 1/2 to $3/4^th$ bred and further from $3/4^th$ to inter-se bred. This may be due to periodic and management differences in addition to the higher level of exotic inheritance and decreased heterotic effect over the filial generations. Jersey and Holstein Friesian crosses among 1/2 breds and their 50% inheritance among $3/4^th$ and inter-se breds had highest improvement and heterosis in reproduction and production traits respectively. Among inter se bred genetic groups, BFH (I) had no recombination loss in SP and CI, while FJH (I), JFH (I) and FBH (I) had on recombination loss in AFC, LY, LL and PE. The crossbreeding of zebu cows with exotic breeds brings about spectacular improvement in comparison to the performance of zebu breed, while conventional selection over several generation would lead to only modest improvement. In addition to additive effect, there was sufficient heterosis in Jersey crosses for reproduction and Holstein Friesian crosses for production performance. Three breed crosses with exotic inheritance between 50 and 75 percent incorporating genes (25 to 50%) from both of these breeds is the best combination for stabilization.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1849-1857
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• 2007

The experiment was carried out using fistulated multiparous Holstein Friesian crossbred (75% Holstein Friesian and 25% Red Sindhi) dairy cows in their dry period fed on untreated rice straw to evaluate the nutritive value of local protein feed resources using the in sacco method and in vitro pepsin-pancreatin digestion. Experimental feeds were cottonseed meal (CSM); soybean meal (SBM); dried brewery's grains (DBG); palm kernel meal (PSM); cassava hay (CH); leucaena leaf meal (LLM). Each feedstuff was weighed into duplicate nylon bags and incubated in each of the two rumen fistulated cows for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h. Rumen feed residues from bags of 16 h incubation were used for estimation of lower gut digestibility by the technique of in vitro pepsin-pancreatin digestion. Ruminal ammonia-nitrogen ($NH_3-N$) concentrations did not differ between treatments or time with a mean of 5.5 mg%. Effective degradability of DM of CSM, SBM, DBG, PSM, CH and LLM were 41.9, 56.1, 30.8, 47.0, 41.1 and 47.5%, respectively. Effective degradabilities of the CP in feedstuffs were 49.6, 59.2, 40.9, 33.5, 47.3 and 65.0% for the respective feedstuffs. The CP in vitro pepsin-pancreatin digestibility as ranked from the highest to the lowest were SBM, CSM, LLM, CH, DBG, PSM, respectively. The intestinal and total tract digestion of feedstuffs in the current study were relatively lower than that obtained from previous literature. The results of this study indicate that SBM and LLM were highly degradable in the rumen, while CH, CSM and DBG were less degradable and, hence resulted in higher rumen undegradable protein. Soybean meal and LLM could be used to improve rumen ecology whilst CH, CSM and DBG could be used as rumen by-pass protein for ruminant feeding in the tropics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.383-387
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• 1994

Six heifers each of $F_1$, $F_2$, $F_3$, $F_4$ H. Friesian $\times$ Sahjwal halfbreds and pure Sahiwal with overall average initial age and live weight of $315.6{\pm}134.8 days$ and $143.8{\pm}48.5kg$, respectively were used for this study. The under trial animals were fed according to N.R.C. (1978). The overall average age at maturity, first conception and first calving was $563.8{\pm}116.8$, $675.8{\pm}135.6$ and $956.8{\pm}149.8days$ with live weights as $302.2{\pm}58.6$, $342.6{\pm}41.5$ and $433.9{\pm}38.1kg$, respectively. The overall 305 days and total milk yield for 1st lactation was $2,729.0{\pm}669.3$ and $2,992.7{\pm}377.5litre$ while the FCM (at 4%) was $2,934.2{\pm}410.8litre$. The lactation length was $336.6{\pm}69.6days$. The fat and solids not fat contents were $4.5{\pm}0.2$ and $8.2{\pm}0.3percent$, respectively. The milk production in Sahiwal cows was significantly lower than crossbred cows. The services per conception were $2.5{\pm}1.3$. The overall per head per day consumption of DM, TCP and ME was $10.9{\pm}1.2kg$, $1,399{\pm}199gm$ and $22.6{\pm}2.4 M.Cal.$, respectively. The overall milk producing efficiency for the production of one litre of FCM was $1.12{\pm}0.15kg$ of DM, $142.2{\pm}17.76gm$ of TCP and $2.31{\pm}0.27M.Cal.$ of energy while the feeding cost was Rs. $1.46{\pm}0.22$ per litre of FCM produced. The feeding cost per litre FCM was significantly higher in Sahiwal and $F_2$ than in other genetic groups.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.97-104
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• 2014

This study was conducted to examine the effect of different types of milking instrument and season on milk composition (fat, protein, non-fat milk solids, milk urea nitrogen and somatic cell count) on Holstein-Friesian lactating cows. Raw milk samples were collected from 20 automatic milking system (AMS) installed dairy farms and 85 conventional milking system (CMS) installed dairy farms. Milk fat, protein, NFMS and MUN contents did not changed between AMS and CMS and different seasons. On the other hand, the average SCC in AMS was $239{\times}10^3cells/mL$ which was lower than in CMS ($373{\times}10^3cells/mL$, (p<0.05). In conclusion, present results indicated that SCC in milk might be influenced by AMS. However, this area needed more study to confirm the reason of reducing SCC content from AMS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1455-1463
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• 2006

Effects of different levels of molasses in a concentrate supplement on milk yield of cows grazing Setaria grass pastures were investigated. Thirty Friesian cows, 6-7 years old with mean pre-experimental body weight of $428{\pm}6.5$ kg, in early stage of lactation were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design experiment that lasted for 126 days. Experimental dietary treatments were forage alone and forage/concentrate mixtures with molasses included at 0, 5, 10 or 15% levels designated as $T_1$, $T_2$, $T_3$, $T_4$ and $T_5$, respectively. The parameters studied were voluntary dry matter (DM) intake, average daily live weight change (LWC), milk yield, body condition score (BCS) and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients. The DM and energy contents of Setaria grass were low compared to the concentrate diets. Fibre fractions-NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose; and gross energy were higher in concentrate mixtures than in the forage. Total DM intake (forage+concentrate mixtures) was significantly higher (p<0.001) in cows on the concentrate mixtures. LWC was not significantly different (p>0.05) between the cows. Average milk yields were significantly different (p<0.05) between cows. Fat corrected milk (FCM) was similar among cows in the treatments. BCS was better (p<0.001) in cows on concentrate mixtures. Digestibilities of DM, CP, NDF, ADF, ADL, OM, and energy were significantly higher (p<0.001) in cows on $T_2$, $T_3$, $T_4$ and $T_5$ than in those on $T_1$. There were no significant differences in the digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, ADF and ADL (p>0.001) in cows on concentrate mixtures. This study therefore demonstrated that lactating dairy cows in Fiji need a level of readily fermented energy source such as molasses in their diets; however, a level above 10% is not nutritionally suitable for lactating dairy cows. Based on data on production parameters-milk yield, fat corrected milk, body condition score and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients-molasses levels that range between 5-10% are recommended, however, 10% is the best and therefore recommended for inclusion in the concentrate mixture of lactating dairy cows on a basal diet of Setaria sphacelata in Fiji.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2006

The study was undertaken to investigate the validity of milk urea concentration as an index of the reproductive performances in crossbred Karan-Fries (Holstein Friesian${\times}$Tharparkar) cows under farm condition. Milk urea was analysed in noon milk samples (1200 to 1300 h) to interrelate with the interval from parturition to first service, number of insemination per conception, first service conception rate and service period. Milk progesterone (P4) was analysed in noon milk samples on the day 1, 10, 20 and 30 post insemination to study the effect of milk urea concentration on early embryonic mortality. The interval from parturition to first service was found significantly (p<0.01) higher ($77.2{\pm}5.5$ days) when milk urea concentration was ${\geq}63.4mg/dl$. The average milk urea concentrations (mg/dl) were found $42.1{\pm}2.5$, $47.9{\pm}1.5$ and $50.3{\pm}3.1$, respectively in cows that conceived at $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ insemination. However, the variation was not statistically significant. The first insemination conception rate was found significantly (p<0.05) higher (68.8%) when milk urea level was ${\leq}32.4mg/dl$. The service period was found significantly (p<0.05) higher ($125.4{\pm}8.8$ days) when milk urea concentration was ${\geq}45.1mg/dl$. The milk P4 level indicated that the cows, those were detected as non-pregnant on day 60 post insemination were initially pregnant but the pregnancy was terminated sometime during the day 30 to 60 post insemination. The study indicates that the milk urea values may be used as an index of reproductive performances in dairy herd when individual animals are not being monitored for nutritional status. The altered milk urea values may be utilised by the farmers as ready reference to rectify the protein and energy nutrition in cows to achieve the better reproductive performances in herd.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.519-529
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• 2015

The aims of this study were to determine the effects of feeding medium-roasted soybean meal (SBM) and corn dried distiller's grains with solubles (CDDGS) in dairy cows on milk production and income over feed costs. A randomized complete block design experiment was conducted with 24 crossbred multiparous Holstein Friesian dairy cows in early- and mid-lactation. Four dietary treatments were as follows: basal diet without feed substitute (Control), 7.17% dry matter (DM) roasted SBM replaced for concentrate (R-SBM), 11.50% DM CDDGS replaced for concentrate (DDGS), and 3.58% DM roasted SBM plus 5.75% DM CDDGS replaced for concentrate (SB-DG). The roasted SBM was produced using a medium-heated treatment at $100^{\circ}C$ for 180 min. Dry matter intake was not affected by feeding high rumen undegradable protein (RUP) sources, but the replacement of roasted SBM and CDDGS for concentrate significantly improved (p<0.001) RUP intake (0.90, 0.86, and 0.88 kg/d corresponding to R-SBM, DDGS, and SB-DG) compared to the control (0.61 kg/d). Feeding roasted SBM and CDDGS alone or in combination had no significant effect on milk composition of dairy cows (p>0.05), whereas milk yield was significantly increased by 3.08 kg/d in the SB-DG group relative to the control group (p<0.01). Net income was meaningfully increased (p<0.05) from 4th week post feeding, the SB-DG group reached the greatest net income ($3.48/head/d) while the control group had the lowest value ($2.60/head/d). In conclusion, the use of CDDGS alone or in combination with medium-roasted SBM as substitute for concentrate in lactating dairy cattle diet led to improved milk production and net income over feed costs without affecting total dry matter intake and milk composition, while feeding medium-roasted SBM seemed to show intermediate values in almost parameters.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1800-1807
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of different cooling sessions (CSs) as a water conservation strategy on physiological, and production responses and welfare in Holstein Friesian cows during subtropical summer in Pakistan. Methods: Twenty-one cows were subjected to three CS in a completely randomized design. The treatments were: i) eleven hours continuous cooling with sprinklers - control (CNT), ii) four CS, and iii) two CS. The CNT represented the practices of the commercial dairy farms in the area, while the other CSs were used as water reduction strategies. Each CS lasted for 1 h with a 12 min cycle (3 min water on and 9 min off) with a sprinkler flow rate of 1.25 L/min. Results: The average temperature humidity index of the shed and the outside open area were 81.9 and 82.5, respectively. The results showed that both physiological responses were highest in the 2CS group followed by the CNT and the 4CS (p = 0.001). The CNT and 4CS groups had similar milk yield (p = 0.040). The 4CS group had more lying and eating times than the CNT and 2CS groups (p = 0.000). The cortisol level in the 2CS group was 2.0 and 2.2 ㎍/dL more than the CNT and the 4CS groups, respectively (p = 0.000). Conclusion: In conclusion, the 4CS was more efficient in cooling the cows and had better welfare, as it yielded similar milk yield, and better physiological responses than the CNT despite using 90% less water.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.64-74
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• 2024

This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of regional and seasonal variations on the prevalence of Theileria orientalis and the hematological profile of non-grazed dairy cows in Korea. A total of 365 clinically healthy lactating Holstein Friesian cows from 26 dairy farms in 7 provinces that were categorized into northern, central, and southern regions were sampled during the warm period from July to August and the cold period from October to December. The detection of T. orientalis major piroplasm surface protein gene and the hematology non-grazed dairy cows were analyzed using peripheral blood samples. The T. orientalis prevalence was 20.0% (73/365). The prevalence in the southern region was 35.9%, which was significantly higher than that in the central (21.6%) and northern (12.9%) regions (P<0.05). The prevalence during warm period was higher (43.0%) than that during the cold season (13.5%). The infected cows showed significantly lower erythrocyte counts in the southern region (5.8±0.6 M/㎕) and during the warm period (5.8±0.7 M/㎕) compared with those in the central and northern regions and during the cold season, which affected the extended RBC parameters, including hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations. Our findings revealed the prevalence of T. orientalis in Korea, highlighting its high occurrence during warm periods and in certain geographical regions. Climatic factors could contribute to the health and productivity of cattle, as evidenced by the prevalence of T. orientalis and its negative impact on animals.