• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.147-152
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to obtain an objective index that can be quantified and used for establishing an animal welfare certification standard in Korea. For this purpose rumen pH, ruminating time, milk yield, milk quality, and blood components of cows reared in farms feeding high forage level (90%) and farms feeding low forage level (40%) were compared. Methods: Data on rumen pH, rumination time, milk yield, milk fat ratio, milk protein ratio, and blood metabolism were collected from 12 heads from a welfare farm (forage rate 88.5%) and 13 heads from a conventional farm (forage rate 34.5%) for three days in October 2019. Results: The rumination time was longer in cattle on the welfare farm than on the conventional farm (p<0.01), but ruminal pH fluctuation was greater in the cattle on conventional farm than the welfare farm (p<0.01). Conventional farms with a high ratio of concentrated feed were higher in average daily milk yield than welfare farms, but milk fat and milk production efficiency (milk fat and milk protein corrected milk/total digestible nutrients) was higher in cattle on welfare farms. Blood test results showed a normal range for both farm types, but concentrations of total cholesterol and non-esterified fatty acid were significantly higher in cows from conventional farms with a high milk yield (p<0.01). Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed that cows on the animal welfare farm with a high percentage of grass feed had higher milk production efficiency with healthier rumen pH and blood metabolism parameters compared to those on the conventional farm.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1600-1606
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• 2021

Objective: This study was conducted to enhance our understanding of nitrogen (N) metabolism and mammary amino acid (AA) utilization in lactating cows with divergent phenotypes of residual feed intake (RFI). Methods: Fifty-three multiparous mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows were selected for RFI measurements over a 50-d experimental period. The 26 cows with the most extreme RFI values were classified into the high RFI (n = 13) and low RFI (n = 13) groups, respectively, for analysis of N metabolism and AA utilization. Results: Compared with the high RFI cows, the low RFI animals had lower dry matter intake (p<0.01) with no difference observed in milk yield between the two groups (p>0.10). However, higher ratios of milk yield to dry matter intake (p<0.01) were found in the low RFI cows than in the high RFI cows. The low RFI cows had significant greater ratios of milk protein to metabolizable protein (p = 0.02) and milk protein to crude protein intake than the high RFI cows (p = 0.01). The arterial concentration and mammary uptake of essential AA (p<0.10), branched-chain AA (p<0.10), and total AA (p<0.10) tended to be lower in the low RFI cows. Additionally, the low RFI cows tended to have a lower ratio of AA uptake to milk output for essential AA (p = 0.08), branched-chain AA (p = 0.07) and total AA (p = 0.09) than the high RFI cows. Conclusion: In summary, both utilization of metabolizable protein for milk protein and mammary AA utilization are more efficient in cows with lower RFI than in the high RFI cows. Our results provide new insight into the protein metabolic processes (related to N and AA) involved in feed efficiency.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1407-1413
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• 2005

An experiment was conducted in order to assess the effect of level of RDP:UDP ratio and level of feeding concentrate on milk yield, milk composition and nutrient utilization in lactating crossbred cattle. Twenty four medium producing (-10 kg/d, 45 to 135 days postpartum) lactating crossbred cows were divided into four groups of six animals each in a 2${\times}$2 factorial completely randomized design. The cows in group 1 were fed concentrate mixture I containing 59:41 RDP:UDP ratio (low UDP) at normal plane (LUDP+NP), in group 2 were fed low UDP ration at 115% of NRC (1989) requirements (LUDP+HP), whereas cows in group 3 were fed concentrate mixture II containing 52:48 RDP:UDP ratio (high UDP) at normal plane (HUDP+NP) and in group 4 were fed high UDP ration at 115% of NRC (1989) requirements (HUDP+HP). Green jowar was fed ad libitum as the sole roughage to all the animals. The experimental feeding trial lasted for 105 days. The total dry matter intake (DMI), DMI/100 kg body weight, DMI/kg $W^{0.75}$, digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, CF, EE and NFE and intakes of TDN and DCP did not differ significantly among the different groups and also due to both UDP level and plane of nutrition and also due to their interaction. The total dry matter intake varied from 145 g in group 1 (LUDP +NP) to 152.57 g/kg $W^{0.75}$ in group 2 (LUDP+HP) diet. However, increase in milk yield with increased UDP level and also with increased plane of nutrition was observed consistently throughout the experimental period. The average milk yield was 7.66, 8.15, 8.64 and 9.35 kg in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively and there was no significant difference in milk yield among different groups of cows. The overall daily average milk yields in cows fed with low and high UDP diets were 7.91 and 8.99 kg, respectively and at normal and higher plane of feeding the milk yields were 8.15 and 8.75 kg/day, respectively. Thus, there was 13.65% increase in milk yield due to high UDP level and 7.36% due to higher plane of feeding. The daily 4% FCM yields were 9.20 kg for low UDP diet and 10.28 kg for high UDP diet, whereas it was 9.11 kg at normal plane of feeding and 10.37 kg at higher plane of feeding. Fat yields for the corresponding treatment groups were 0.37, 0.43, 0.41 and 0.48 kg, respectively. The 4% FCM yield and also fat yield did not differ significantly among different dietary treatments and also due to UDP level and plane of nutrition, however, 4% FCM yield was increased by 11.74% with high UDP level and 13.83% with higher plane of feeding. The values for total solids, fat, lactose, solids-not-fat and gross energy contents in milk differed significantly (p<0.05) among the different groups and were significantly (p<0.05) higher in milk of cows fed LUDP+HP diet followed by HUDP+HP diet. Total solids (14.65 and 13.83%), lactose (5.44 and 4.92%), solids-not-fat (9.44 and 8.83%) and gross energy (887 and 838 kcal/kg) of milk decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increased UDP level while total solids (13.84 and 14.64), fat (4.84 and 5.36%) and gross energy (832 and 894 kcal/kg) increased significantly (p<0.05) with increase in plane of feeding. Gross and net energetic efficiencies and also gross and net efficiencies of nitrogen utilization for milk production were not significantly different among different groups and also were not affected significantly due to either UDP levels or plane of feeding. Results of the present study suggest that, increasing UDP level from 41% to 48% of CP in concentrate mixture and also increasing plane of feeding from normal (100%) to 115% of NRC requirements maintain a consistently higher milk production.

• 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.15 no.2
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• pp.222-237
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• 2002

Effects of high and low levels of feeding with or without protected protein on the performance of lactating goats were studied. Twenty four German Fawn goats either from 1st ($43.37{\pm}3.937$ kg and 2 year old) or 3rd $62.64{\pm}6.783$ kg and 4-5 year old) parity were used for the trial. Feeding levels were 7.2 (I) and 5.2 (II) MJ ME/litre of milk of 3.5% fat in addition to that of the maintenance allowance. At each feeding level, diet had either unprotected (U) or formaldehyde protected (P) soya-meal. Thus, four diets were IU, IP, IIU and IIP, having six animals in each. The diets were composed of hay and pellet (10:4:1 of beet pulp : barley : soya-meal). Effect of feeding level, protein protection, parity, health status and kid number on intake, milk yield, milk composition, growth rate of goats were recorded across the 21 weeks of study. High feeding level resulted increase (p<0.001) in estimated metabolizable energy (ME) and metabolizable protein (MP) availability. Dietary inclusion of protected soya-meal increased (p<0.001) the estimated MP but not the ME availability. Animals in 1st parity ate more (p<0.001) DM (111 vs. 102 g/kg $W^{0.75}$/d) than those in 3rd parity. Animals with twin kids (110 g/kg $W^{0.75}$/d) had higher (p<0.001) DM intake than those with single kid (102 g/kg $W^{0.75}$/d). Fat (4%) corrected milk (FCM) yield was not effected by high (1,924 g/d) or low (1,927 g/d) feeding level but increased (p<0.001) with protected (2,166 g/d) compared with unprotected (1,703 g/d) soya-meal. FCM yield for four dietary combinations were 1,806, 2,078, 1,600 and 2,254 g/d for diets IU, IP, IIU and IIP, respectively. For unit increase (g) in estimated MP availability relative to ME (MJ) intake, FCM yield increased ($1,418{\pm}275.6$) g daily ($r^2$=0.58; p<0.001). Milk fat (3.14 vs. 3.54%; p<0.001) and protein (2.94 vs. 3.04% p<0.05) contents were lower at high than the low feeding level. Protected protein increased (p<0.001) the fat, lactose and net energy (NE) content of milk. Milk urea concentration of 175, 183, 192 and 204 mg/l for diets IU, IP, IIU and IIP, respectively indicated lower RDP content of these diets. The RDP contents were 6.97, 6.70, 7.30 and 6.83 g/MJ of ME for diets IU, IP, IIU and IIP, respectively. Live weight change over the experimental period were 41, 6, 17 and 19 g/d. Absence of any positive response of high feeding was probably due to inefficient rumen fermentation resulting from inadequate RDP supply. Protected protein improved production performance apparently by increasing MP:ME ratio in the absorbed nutrient.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.747-753
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• 2001

In this study, the Italian milk recorded buffalo population from 1974 to 1996 was analysed with the purpose to estimate genetic and environmental variability and provide genetic parameters for the most important economic traits. High variability between herds was evident due to the poor knowledge of feeding requirements and husbandry technology in this species compared to cattle. Age at first calving was reduced by 57 days during the considered years following efforts made in better feeding and management from 1990; on the contrary, calving interval has increased by 17 days as a consequence of forcing buffaloes to calve in spring, in order to have the peak milk yield when milk is much better paid. Average milk yield increased by 1853 kg during these years, while lactation duration was reduced by 30 days. Season of calving has no effect on all traits. Calving order has a positive effect on milk yield especially because older cows produce more milk in shorter lactations. Heritability for the age at first calving and calving interval was 0.26 and 0.05 respectively. Heritability of productive traits, milk yield and duration of the lactation was 0.19 and 0.13 respectively, with repeatabilities of 0.40 and 0.26. Genetic trend for milk yield was 2.1 kg milk/year for the bulls and 1 kg for all population. The high genetic variability of milk production as well as duration of the lactation, indicates that there are good opportunities for genetic improvement when including these traits in a selection scheme. The low genetic trend registered over 15 years of recording activity can be explained by the fact that neither progeny testing was performed or selection schemes were implemented, due to the difficulties to use artificial insemination in buffalo.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.915-921
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• 2015

This experiment was conducted to estimate the heritability and coheritablity of daily milk yield, acetone and ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations in raw milk. The average concentrations of acetone and BHBA were $135.54{\pm}96.29{\mu}mol$ and $61.08{\pm}66.76{\mu}mol$, respectively, and the differences between high group and low group cows were highly significant (p <0.01). The estimates of heritability of daily milk yield, acetone and BHBA concentrations were in the range of 0.18~0.21, 0.11~0.13 and 0.01~0.02, respectively. The estimate of heritability of $Log_e$acetone did not change much, while that of $Log_eBHBA$ increased to 0.03~0.04. The estimates of phenotypic and genetic correlation coefficients between acetone and BHBA were 0.44 and 0.48, respectively. In low milk yield group, the coheritability estimates of BHBA and $Log_eBHBA$ when selection was for daily milk yield were 0.26 and 0.32, respectively. These were higher than the coheritability estimate of acetone when selection was for daily milk yield. The same trend was noted in the coherihability estimates from the whole records using both high and low milk yield groups together. BHBA concentration seemed to be more effectively responding than acetone concentration when selection was for daily milk yield.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1549-1554
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• 2001

The application of rumen undegradable intake protein (UIP) on lactating dairy goats was studied. Thirty 2-year-old lactating dairy goats were selected and assigned to dietary treatments begun from the third week to the fourth month postpartum. Experimental diets were formulated into three, low (32% CP), med (35% CP) and high (38% CP), iso-nitrogenous (16% CP) and iso-energetic ($NE_L$ 1.68 Mcal/kg) UIP levels. Results showed that feed intake was not significantly different among the treatment groups. The milk yield in the High UIP group (3.17 kg) was significantly higher than the med (2.95 kg) and low UIP (2.45 kg) groups (p<0.05). The milk compositions, milk fat, milk lactose and milk solids-non-fat (SNF) showed no significant differences among the three treatment groups. The milk protein however was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the low UIP than in the other treatment groups. The milk urea-N was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the low UIP than in the other treatment groups. The mean serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), urinary-N and total protein concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the high and the med UIP groups than in the low UIP group.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.208-215
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• 2017

This study was designed to investigate the carryover effects of high-forage to concentrate (F: C) diet in bred heifers on feed intake, feed efficiency (FE) and milk production of primiparous lactating Holstein cows. The experiment was conducted for 589 days (d) from onset of pregnancy through to the end of first lactation. Twenty-four bred heifers (Body weight: $BW=345.8{\pm}45.4kg$ and $15{\pm}1.2mon$ of age) randomly assigned to two groups of 3 pens containing 4 heifers each and fed high forage (HF) diet with F: C ratio of 91.7: 8.3% and low forage (LF) diet with F: C ratio of 77.8: 22.2% throughout the pregnancy period. After calving, lactating cows were fed total mixed ration (TMR) based diet. No differences (p > 0.05) were observed in dry matter intake (DMI) of bred heifers and primiparous lactating cows in both HF and LF groups. The FE of mid-to-late lactation period was higher (p< 0.05) in HF than LF group. However, the HF group showed higher (p < 0.05) milk yield, 4 % fat corrected milk (FCM) and energy corrected milk (ECM) than LF group during the 305 d lactation. The LF group showed higher (p < 0.05) milk fat, crude protein (CP), milk urea nitrogen (MUN), solid not fat (SNF) and somatic cell count (SCC) than HF group. It is concluded that restriction of F: C ratio to 91.7: 8.3% to bred heifers has the potential carryover effects to maintain higher milk yield and FE with no adverse effect on feed intake and milk composition of primiparous lactating Holstein cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.588-595
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• 2003

The optimum level of fresh granulated low-calcium (0.2%) skim milk co-precipitate, as fat substitute in low-fat ground pork patties was determined on the basis of physico-chemical, cooking and sensory properties. Low-fat ground pork patties (<10% total fat), formulated with 15 per cent water, 4 per cent added fat, 1.5 per cent salt and 4-10 per cent milk co-precipitate, were evaluated for proximate composition, cooking characteristics and compared with control patties with 15 % added fat. The moisture and protein content of raw and cooked low-fat patties were significantly (p<0.05) higher than control. The incorporation of milk co-precipitate in low-fat patties improved cooking yield, fat and moisture retention and reduced shrinkage. The sensory properties of low-fat patties were comparable with control patties. The overall acceptability of low-fat patties formulated with 7% milk co-precipitate was significantly (p<0.05) higher than patties with 10% level and non-significantly (p<0.05) higher than low-fat patties containing 4% milk co-precipitate and control. Instrumental Texture Profiles of developed low-fat patties and control patties were comparable with slight increases in hardness and gumminess of the low-fat product. The developed low-fat ground pork patties (7% milk co-precipitate) had lower TBA values, better microbiological and sensory refrigerated storage stability than high-fat control patties packaged in air permeable films for 21 days.