Microclimatic conditions in facilities for housing and rearing young category of breeding dairy cattle at the first 30 days after birth, have a significant impact on the quality of welfare, ...especially in intensive production. The parameters most often taken into account when evaluating microclimate conditions are: temperature and air humidity, the mutual relationship of which represents the THI (temperature-humid index) index; speed of air flow; air quality (presence of dust and ammonia) and level of light in the facility. The quality of the microclimate in the facilities is directly influenced by the climatic conditions in the external environment, therefore study period on 2 farms (A and B) with an intensive production system was divided into 4 seasons (autumn, winter, spring and summer). Holstein Friesian calves were observed in the period from birth to 30 days of age. The worst microclimatic conditions were recorded during the summer season on both farms (1129 on farm A and 1114 calves on farm B suffered), while the situation was more favorable during the colder period. Also, the best conditions, on both farms, were provided for calves in the first 7 days of life. The most unfavorable impact was the high air temperature, while the air flow, paradoxically, improved the air quality, especially during that period. The overall welfare quality score was similar on the observed farms, 2.25 on farm A and 2.12 on farm B, which can be considered acceptable. At the same time, it indicates the presence of serious problems, the solution of which must be approached most seriously.
The study of the link between genes controlling protein polymorphism and milk
performance traits of domestic animals has great economic importance from a
selection point of view, as it reduces the ...generation interval, leading to
increased productivity in livestock. The objective of this paper was to
establish the influence of genetic ? -lactoglobulin polymorphism on the
quantity and quality of milk of the simmental breed in Serbi?. For the
research blood samples were taken from a total of 157 Simmental cows. The
genotypes of Simmental cows for ?-lactoblobulin and their effect on
quantitative milk performance traits were determined using the PCR-RFLP
analysis. The variability of traits influenced by the genetic polymorphism
of ?-lactoblobulin was statistically very highly significant (p <0.0001) for
milk yield in standard lactation and milk fat and protein yields, while it
showed no statistically significant variability (p> 0.05) for content of
milk fat and protein. The genotype cows achieved a 121 kg and 338 kg
increase in milk production compared to the BB genotype and AA genotype
cows, respectively.
IGFBP-3 is responsible for the multiple effects of growth factors in most
mammalian species and is considered the major transport factor of growth,
used as a marker for different body functions such ...as growth, metabolism,
reproduction, body weight control, immunity, energy balance, and so on.
Considered as a candidate gene, used as a marker for the growth and
production traits as its essential role in the growth and development of the
animals. For the DNA extraction, the blood samples are obtained in the
jugular vein using a 10 ml vacutainer containing EDTA as a coagulant in the
blood collection of each animal Mis breed of sheep (M), Ile de France (F),
and Wurttemberg (W). Isolation of DNA performed using the extraction kit
(Quick DNA kit) with primers set the Forward and Reverse. The body weights
of lambs from birth to 90 days of age, also been calculated. The results of
the agarose gel electrophoresis of PCR amplified IGFBP-3 genes for sheep
populations Wurttemberg (W), Mis (M), and Ile de France (F) had 654 bp. In
our results showed an absence of polymorphism of the IGFBP-3 gene on the
tested sheep populations. The results that there is no polymorphism between
the examined sheep breeds, in terms of IGFBP-3 genes, we were interested
whether there are differences in the body development of lambs of the
mentioned populations because IGFBP-3 is related to the growth of animals.
All three breeds have similar weights and growth dynamics, which could link
to the growth hormone. Analyzing obtained results, we can suggest that
absence of a large difference in the growth of the three breeds of sheep W,
M, F does not have to be related to the absence of polymorphism of the
IGFBP-3 gene but also other genetic and non-genetic factors can affect this
trait. To detect the association between genetic polymorphism in IGFBP-3
genes and body development in lambs, DNA sequencing is required, which will
be the subject of our future research.
The Simmental breed of cattle is mostly reared in the central part of the
Republic of Serbia, where it makes up about 80% of all breeds. In areas of
more intensive cattle production, populations of ...cattle with pronounced milk
yield are reared. In more extensive, as well as hilly and mountainous areas,
somewhat less productive animals are raised. The main goal of this study was
to examine the variability of genetic correlations of milk and fertility
traits on the farms of individual agricultural producers using modern
methods, depending on the breeding area, i.e. the region in which they are
bred and reared. This study included 2589 controlled Simmental heifers, with
lactations concluded during one year. All first calving heifers were housed
and reared on agricultural family farms in the area of Central Serbia. The
paper examines genetic correlations between the following traits of milk
yield and fertility: duration of lactation, milk yield in standard
lactation, milk fat content in standard lactation, milk fat yield in
standard lactation, yield of 4% FCM in standard lactation, age at first
calving, duration of service period. The results of the study of genetic
correlations were obtained using mixed LSMLMW models (Harvey 1990). The
examined genetic correlations of milk yield and fertility traits in
Simmental cows showed pronounced variability depending on the breeding area
where the cows are reared.
In the last decades, there has been a trend present in the world to increase
the size of dairy herds while increasing the yield of milk per head. In
addition to environmental and economic benefits, ...this trend carries certain
risks for the welfare of cows because in conditions of increased
agglomeration of cattle the possibility of spreading of pathogens is also
increased, there are less opportunities for adequate control and cows are
exposed to greater selection and production stress. Research of the
relationship between herd size and welfare quality parameters is still not
sufficient to make relevant conclusions. Starting from that, the aim of this
study, conducted in Serbia, is to examine the influence of herd size on
parameters related to providing good feeding and housing conditions as
important segments of the overall welfare of dairy cows. The assessment of
given welfare parameters was done by Welfare Quality? Assessment Protocol
for Cattle (2009) on 16 dairy farms of different herd sizes (large, medium
and small) and housing management. The results indicate that there are
significant variations in welfare indicators in each of the observed groups,
which is why the size of the herd cannot be taken as a parameter that
explicitly determines the quality of welfare. However, individual
observation and comparison of welfare parameters between groups indicate
that small herds in our production conditions could be identified as the
greatest risks to the welfare of cows. In small herds, the highest share of
cows of poor (4.62%) and fattened condition (8.76%) was found, as well as
the lowest freedom of movement because cows on small farms are mostly reared
in a tied system. Average values of indicators: lying down time (6.24s),
frequency of collisions with equipment (13.25%) and high dirt contamination
of cows (65.6-89.8%) further emphasize the issue of providing comfort in
small herds.
Milk fat content stands out as a crucial production trait in cows, and this study delves into its variability based on various factors. The research investigated how the housing method (large farm or ...individual producers), origin (domestic-rearing or imported cows), and calving season collectively impact this trait. Cows reared on the farm exhibited a higher milk fat content compared to those raised by individual producers. Additionally, primiparous cows from domestic rearing displayed lower milk fat content than their counterparts of imported origin. Among primiparous cows on the farm, those calving in the summer and autumn produced the highest milk fat content. Conversely, primiparous cows calving in the spring season and raised by individual producers recorded the lowest milk fat content. The statistical analysis revealed a highly significant influence of calving season, with a noteworthy interaction among housing method and origin on the observed trait. The significance ranged from statistically highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) to statistically very highly significant (P ≤ 0.001).
The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of κ-casein (κ-CN) and β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) genotypes in the autochtonous (Busha) and dairy (Holstein-Friesian, HF) cattle breeds with ...PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism). For the amplification of κ-CN and β-Lg gene fragments specific primers were used. After digestion with specific endonucleases genotypes were determined for both genes in 18 Busha and 19 HF cows. The results showed that κ-CN gene was represented with the AA genotype in 31.58 % HF cows, AB in 52.63 % cows, whilst the genotype BB was found in 15.79 % cows only. Among the examined Busha cattle 44.44 % cows had AA genotype and 55.56 % genotype AB for κ CN. As for β-Lg gene in HF breed, AA genotype was found in 26.31 % cows, AB in 63.16 % and BB in 10.53 % cows. In Busha cows the following genotypes were established for β-Lg gene: AA in 44.44 % cows and AB in 55.56 %, whilst BB genotype was not found. These results indicate that Busha cows had a higher presence of A allelic forms of both genes (k-CN and β-lactoglobulin) than HF cows.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effect of adding flax seed
to the cattle diet in the final stage of fattening. A total of 30 male
Simmental cattle of uniform initial weight were ...selected for the trial,
which were divided into 2 groups (KON (control) and LS (experimental)).
Animals in the control group did not consume flax seed as a dietary
supplement, and animals in the experimental group consumed flax seeds in the
amount of 3.75% of the concentrated portion of the meal in the last 90 days
of fattening, i.e 300 g per day. After slaughtering and cooling, the left
carcass side was cut into basic parts according to the Regulation. The study
included examination of the tissue fraction of parts of the carcass of the
young, determined by dissection. The results of the study showed that the
addition of flax seed in the diet had no statistically significant effect on
the composition of the carcass parts of the young bulls at the end of the
experiment.
Visual assessment and recognition of milk performance traits of cows are
preliminary indicators of milk yield, longevity, as well as reproductive
abilities of the animal, which is very important from ...the aspect of economy
of milk production. Deficiencies in udder traits lead to poorer production,
difficult milking and premature weaning of cows from the herd. The paper
examines the frequency of desirable scores for a certain trait in
first-calving heifers distinguished by way of keeping (heads reared by
individual producers/holdings and heads reared on the farm) and by origin
(domestic and imported animals), as well as the influence of these two
factors on the observed traits. Five udder traits were analyzed: front udder
length, rear udder length, rear udder height, central ligament, and udder
depth on a total of 954 first-calving Simmental heifers. Observed by the way
of rearing, higher frequency of desirable scores for all udder traits were
achieved by cows reared on the farm, while according to the origin of cows,
higher frequency of desirable scores for all udder traits was achieved by
imported cows compared to domestic cows. The influence of factors of
housing/keeping and origin, examined by ?2 test on all examined linear
scores (frequency of scores) of udder traits was statistically very highly
significant (p?0.001), while the analysis of variance (F test) showed very
high significance (p?0.001) of interaction of origin and method of rearing
on the traits of the central ligament and the udder depth, and significance
(p?0.05) on the height of the rear udder, however, no statistical
significance (p>0.05) of this interaction was established on other linear
scores of udder traits (length of the front and rear udder).
In order to examine the variability of production performance traits
(lactation duration, milk yield for the whole lactation, milk yield in
standard lactation, milk fat content, milk fat yield in ...standard lactation,
protein content and yield in standard lactation), 954 cows, domestic and
imported Simmental populations, were included in the study, with a total of
3641 completed lactations. Cows were located in the area of Toplica
district, reared on individual farming households (tied system) and on the
farm with intensive farming (free system). Based on the rearing method and
origin, animals were divided into four groups: Group 1 (domestic animals
reared by individual agricultural producers on individual farming
households); Group 2 (imported animals reared by individual agricultural
producers on individual farming households); Group 3 (domestic animals
reared on the farm) and Group 4 (imported animals reared on the farm). The
fourth group of studied cows showed the highest yield and protein content,
while the cows of the third group had the longest lactation and the highest
milk fat content. All production performance traits varied highly
significantly (p?0.001) under the influence of the combined factor of
housing/rearing method and origin.
PDF
