• 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.23 no.4
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• pp.491-500
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• 2010

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of polyurethane coated urea on in vitro ruminal fermentation, ammonia release dynamics and lactating performance of Holstein dairy cows fed a steam-flaked corn-based diet. In Exp. 1, a dual-flow continuous culture was run to investigate the effect of polyurethane coated urea on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation parameters and microbial efficiency. Three treatment diets with isonitrogenous contents (13.0% CP) were prepared: i) feedgrade urea (FGU) diet; ii) polyurethane coated urea (PCU) diet; and iii) isolated soy protein (ISP) diet. Each of the diets consisted of 40% steam-flaked corn meal, 58.5% forages and 1.5% different sources of nitrogen. PCU and FGU diets had significantly lower digestibility of NDF and ADF (p<0.01) than the ISP diet. Nitrogen source had no significant effect (p = 0.62) on CP digestibility. The microbial efficiency (expressed as grams of microbial N/kg organic matter truly digested (OMTD)) in vitro of the PCU diet (13.0 g N/kg OMTD) was significantly higher than the FGU diet (11.3 g N/kg OMTD), but comparable with the ISP diet (14.7 g N/kg OMTD). Exp. 2, an in vitro ruminal fermentation experiment, was conducted to determine the ammonia release dynamics during an 8 h ruminal fermentation. Three treatment diets were based on steam-flaked corn diets commonly fed to lactating cows in China, in which FGU, PCU or soybean meal (SBM) was added to provide 10% of total dietary N. In vitro $NH_3-N$ concentrations were lower (p<0.05) for the PCU diet than the FGU diet, but similar to that for the SBM diet at all time points. In Exp. 3, a lactation trial was performed using 24 lactating Holstein cows to compare the lactating performance and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations when cows were fed PCU, FGU and SBM diets. Cows consuming the PCU diet had approximately 12.8% more (p = 0.02) dietary dry matter intake than those consuming the FGU diet. Cows fed the PCU diet had higher milk protein content (3.16% vs. 2.94%) and lower milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentration (13.0 mg/dl vs. 14.4 mg/dl) than those fed the FGU diet. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration was significantly lower for cows fed the PCU (16.7 mg/dl) and SBM (16.4 mg/dl) diets than the FGU (18.7 mg/dl) diet. Cows fed the PCU diet had less surplus ruminal N than those fed the FGU diet and produced a comparable lactation performance to the SBM diet, suggesting that polyurethane coated urea can partially substitute soybean meal in the dairy cow diet without impairing lactation performance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.960-966
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of protein supplementation of green tea waste (GTW) on the performance of lactating cows. Another aim was to increase resource utilization and to eliminate any environmental negative impact from the tea waste. GTW from a beverage company was ensiled at a low pH (<4.0) and high acetic acid and lactic acid concentration, and it contained high crude protein (CP, 34.8%), total extractable tannins (TET, 9.2%) and condensed tannin (CT, 1.7%). Two experiments were conducted to investigate the palatability and performance in lactating cows fed GTW. In the palatability trial, three lactating cows were allocated to three dietary treatments in a 3$\times$3 Latin square design. The animals were offered a total mixed ration (TMR) including GTW at rates of 0, 2.5 and 5.0% on a dry matter (DM) basis. Total DM intake was not different among the treatments. In the performance trial, four lactating cows were used in a 2$\times$2 Latin square design with a 3 week sampling period. GTW was incorporated into TMR at a rate of 5.0% on a DM and 10.0% on a CP basis. Thus GTW replaced alfalfa hay and soybean meal at a level of 25.0% on a DM. DM and CP intake were not affected by the inclusion of GTW, whereas TET and CT intake were significantly increased (p<0.001). Milk production, milk composition and the efficiency of milk production were not altered by the GTW inclusion. Although ruminal pH and VFA, and blood urea nitrogen were not changed, ruminal $NH_{3}-N$ and plasma total cholesterol were relatively low in the GTW group, but not significantly different. The excretion of urinary purine derivatives and estimated MN supply were also not significantly affected by GTW treatment. It is therefore concluded that GTW can be used as a protein source without any detrimental effects on the performance of lactating cows.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.523-527
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• 1995

Two on farm feeding trials were conducted at the Pabna milkshed area during July to October 1993, to evaluate the response of feeding urea molassesed straw (UMS) on milk production of Pabna milking cows and its economics. A feeding trial of 60 days with 50 Pabna milking cows showed that the cows fed UMS as a replacer of dry straw increased daily milk yield by 1.37 litre. Moreover, it reduced the daily requirement of concentrate by 1.0 kg/head. In the second trial, a herd of 52 animals including 14 milking cows were fed UMS in place of traditionally used dry straw. Introduction of UMS increased the milk production by 1.0 litre/cow/day and saved concentrate by 1.5 kg/cow daily. Urea molassesed straw can safely and economically be fed to lactating cows.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.635-646
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• 1996

To establish the effective ways to prevent bovine mastitis, the study has been performed to investigate the attributable factors causing down-regulation of immune responses in mammary gland of non-lactating cows. Lymphocytes from peripheral blood and mammary gland secretions(MGS) were obtained from normal healthy cows and mastitic cows, respectively. Cellular immune responses were examined by comparison of proportion of lymphocyte subpopulations using a set of monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. The results obtained are as follows. 1. Proportions of peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations expressing BoCD2 and BoCD4 molecules were 32.9%, 15.4% in mastitic cows and 43.3%, 28.3% in normal healthy cows, respectively. The ratios of BoCD4 to BoCD8 were 0.76 and 1.47, respectively. 2. Proportions of mammary gland lymphocyte subpopulations expressing BoCD2 and BoCD4 molecules were 18.5%, 8.3% in mastitic cows and 38.2%, 14.2% in normal healthy cows, respectively. The ratios of BoCD4 to BoCD8 were 0.6 and 2.0, respectively. 3. Proportions of T lymphocyte subpopulations from MGS were significantly lower than those from peripheral blood both in mastitic cows and normal healthy cows. However, lymphocyte subpopulations expressing ACT2 and ACT3, which represent activated T suppressor cells, were significantly higher in MGS than those in peripheral blood.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.88-95
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• 2003

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of exogenous bovine somatotropin on the mammary function in late lactating crossbred Holstein cows. Twelve 87.5% late lactating Holstein cows, approximately 30 weeks postpartum, were divided into two groups of 6 animals each. Animals in the control group were given sodium bicarbonate buffer by subcutaneous injection, while animals in the treated group were given recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) by subcutaneous injection with 500 mg of bST (14 day prolonged-release bST). After bST injection, milk yield significantly increased from the control level on day 8 to day 20 (p<0.05) with a concomitant increase in mammary blood flow (p<0.01). An increase in mammary blood flow in response to bST treatment was greater than an increase in milk production. An increased plasma concentration of IGF-I coincided with an increase in mammary blood flow in animals treated with bST. There were no significant changes in the concentration of arterial plasma glucose concentration, the arteriovenous concentration difference (A-V difference) and mammary extraction ratio while the mammary glucose uptake increased when compared to the control group. The concentration of arterial plasma triglyceride decreased throughout the experimental period in animals give bST. The plasma concentration of acetate, and the mammary uptake for acetate significantly increased (p<0.05) after bST treatment. The action of bST did not affect the plasma concentration, A-V difference and extraction ratio across the mammary gland for $\beta$-hydroxybutyrate. The concentrations of milk fat and lactose tended to increase during bST treatment. Milk protein concentration initially increased in the first few days and decreased after bST injection when compared to the pretreated period. The present results indicated that bST could affect the mammary function in late lactating cows by increase in milk yield involving changes in both extra-mammary and intra-mammary mechanisms. The exogenous bST exerted its galactopoietic action through an increase in circulating IGF-I of the late lactating Crossbred Holstein cattle.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.343-348
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• 2018

In this study, the effect of daily short-distance walking exercise on milk production and metabolic status of the lactating dairy cows was investigated. The experiment was conducted with 10 lactating dairy cows comprising 2 groups (5 dairy cows/group), which were walking activity and non-walking activity. The walking activity (WA) group lactating dairy cows walked outdoors for 1 km/d, and the non-walking activity (non-WA) lactating dairy cows were maintained within a cowshed from $18^{th}$ April to $30^{th}$ May. The activity volume of the neck was not significantly different between the groups, but the activity volume of the leg was higher in WA group compared with non-WA (p<0.05). The rectal temperature was higher in the WA group ($38.6^{\circ}C$) compared with non-WA ($38.2^{\circ}C$) (p<0.05). No significant differences in dietary NE intake, milk production and milk composition were found between the groups. The plasma cortisol concentration was higher in WA group ($2.14{\mu}g/dl$) compared to non-WA ($0.95{\mu}g/dl$) (p<0.05). However, plasma cortisol level of WA dairy cows was significantly decreased as compared with non-WA cows. On the contrary, the level of plasma melatonin was increased in WA cows than that of non-WA dairy cows. It may be interpreted as a change in physical fitness. From this study, we suggest that walking activity can be improved energy balance. Further investigation is needed to determine whether different combinations of distance, rate or doing in morning or afternoon will stimulate energy balance.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.1021-1027
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• 1999

This study was carried out to determine the effects of ${\beta}-carotene$ on the control of mastitis in dairy cows during the dry period. The relationship between the levels of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ and the status of udder health in Holstein dairy cows were investigated. Blood samples were collected from 117 cows to compare the levels of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ in lactating cows. The levels of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ were $1.82{\mu}g/ml$ in healthy cows(n = 65) and $1.12{\mu}g/ml$ in mastitic cows(n = 52), respectively(p < 0.01). In the experiment to compare the level of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ in the cows at different stages of lactation, the plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ levels were $1.73{\mu}g/ml$ in lactating cows(n = 22), $1.29{\mu}g/ml$ in nonlactating cows(n = 35) and $0.43{\mu}g/ml$ in cows after calving(n = 16)(p < 0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.677-685
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• 2018

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine ammonium chloride tolerance of lactating dairy cows, by examining effects of negative dietary cation anion difference (DCAD) induced by ruminal ammonium chloride infusion on performance, serum and urine minerals, serum metabolites and enzymes of lactating dairy cows. Methods: Four primiparous lactating Chinese Holstein cows fitted with ruminal cannulas were infused with increasing amounts (0, 150, 300, or 450 g/d) of ammonium chloride in a crossover design. The DCAD of the base diet was 279 mEq/kg dry matter (DM) using the DCAD formula (Na + K - Cl - S)/kg of DM. Ammonium chloride infusion added the equivalent of 0, 128, 330, and 536 mEq/kg DM of Cl in treatments. According to the different dry matter intakes (DMI), the resulting actual DCAD of the four treatments was 279, 151, -51, and -257 mEq/kg DM, respectively. Results: DMI decreased linearly as DCAD decreased. Yields of milk, 4% fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, milk fat, and milk protein decreased linearly as DCAD decreased. Concentrations of milk protein and milk urea nitrogen increased linearly with decreasing DCAD. Concentration of Cl- in serum increased linearly and concentration of PO43- in serum increased quadratically as DCAD decreased. Urine pH decreased linearly and calculated urine volume increased linearly with decreasing DCAD. Linear increases in daily urinary excretion of $Cl^-$, $Ca^{2+}$, $PO_4{^{3-}}$, urea N, and ammonium were observed as DCAD decreased. Activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transferase in serum and urea N concentration in serum increased linearly as DCAD decreased. Conclusion: In conclusion, negative DCAD induced by ruminal ammonium chloride infusion resulted in a metabolic acidosis, had a negative influence on performance, and increased serum enzymes indicating potential liver and kidney damage in lactating dairy cows. Daily ammonium chloride intake by lactating dairy cows should not exceed 300 g, and 150 g/d per cow may be better.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.319-322
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• 1990

The studies were conducted on 12 lactating animals comprising of six Karan Swiss (KS) cows and six Murrah buffaloes in second and third lactation. At the start of experiment the cows had completed on an average 51 days in lactation and were yielding an average of 15.1 kg milk a day. The buffaloes had completed 53 days in lactation and were yielding an average of 11.6 kg milk a day. At fortnightly intervals jugular blood samples were drawn at morning, noon, evening and night hours. Plasma growth hormone concentrations were highest during morning and thereafter decreased. In both the species there was a definite trend in the change of growth hormone concentrations during the day. In general growth hormone concentration decreased as the stage of lactation advanced. The overall average values of plasma growth hormone in cows and buffaloes were 2.95 and 2.48 ng/ml which were not statistically different. With the advancing lactation, the decline in milk yields in both the species was positively correlated with the growth hormone concentrations.