Milk urea concentration (MU) has been extensively studied and is often used to evaluate energy and protein balance in dairy cattle diets, but not to this extent in dairy goat diets. The aim of this ...study was to determine the relationship between MU concentration and crude protein content (CP) in the diet of Alpine goats in order to reduce excessive nitrogen excretion from the organism. For this purpose, 72 goats were randomly divided into three equal groups (24 animals) and fed a concentrate mix containing 14%, 16%, and 18% CP, respectively. The chemical composition of milk samples was determined and the ratio of milk fat to protein was calculated. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the MIXED procedure (SAS V8 software package). Increasing CP from 14% to 16% in the diet increased daily milk yield by 0.4 kg (p<0.001), and MU concentration from 35.01 to 41.24 mg/100 mL (p<0.001). Based on the calculated inflection point of daily milk yield and protein content in milk, the range of MU concentration from 40.00 to 45.00 mg/100 mL can be considered optimal and is a good indicator of a balanced diet for goats.
Istraživan je utjecaj infekcije virusom artritis encefalitisa koza (AEK), kliničkog artritisa i subkliničkog mastitisa na trajanje laktacije, ukupno mlijeko i sastav mlijeka. Istraživanje je ...provedeno na uzorku od 808 koza pasmine francuska alpska koza s proizvodnih mliječnih farmi u Hrvatskoj. Uzeti su uzorci krvi za serološka testiranja i uzorci mlijeka za detekciju subkliničkog mastitisa. Prisutnost kliničkog artritisa dijagnosticirana je pregledom i palpacijom zglobova. Podaci o laktacijama i proizvodnji preuzeti su od Hrvatske poljoprivredne agencije (HPA). Zasebno su testirani utjecaji AEK infekcije i kliničkog artritisa na ukupno mlijeko, trajanje laktacije i sastav mlijeka (mast, protein, laktoza) pomoću GLM procedure za modele koji su uključivali godinu mjerenja, broj laktacije i subklinički mastitis. Infekcija AEK virusom potvrđena je u 53,72 % koza od ukupnog broja koza. Od ukupnog uzorka 23,08 % inficirano je s AEK i imalo subklinički mastitis bakterijske etiologije. Nadalje 22,47 % od ukupnog broja imalo je klinički artritis. Od ukupnog broja 16,95 % bilo je AEK pozitivno i imalo klinički artritis. Utjecaj infekcije virusom AEK potvrđen je za sva analizirana svojstva u smislu smanjenja proizvodnih rezultata. Klinički artritis je pokazao značajan utjecaj na smanjenje većine proizvodnih vrijednosti osim na ukupno mlijeko, udio (%) masti laktoze i ukupnu laktozu (kg). Subklinički mastitis nije značajno utjecao na trajanje laktacije, kao ni udio (%) i udio masti, proteina i laktoze.
The aim of this study was to investigate characteristics of calves rearing technologies at family farms in northern Croatia (Varazdin and Medjumurje County). Calves up to eight weeks of age at family ...farms in Varazdin County were kept mostly tied (57.7%). After eight weeks of age, calves in both analysed Counties are dominantly kept tied. First colostrums ration was given to calves within first three hours after calving, i.e. on 99.2% of analysed farms in Varazdin County and 90% of analysed farms in Medjimurje County. On the majority of farms colostrums is given to the calves in amount of 1-1.5 litres (51.9% Varazdin, i.e. 65% Medjimurje County). Freezing of colostrum is done at 10.5% of analysed farms in Varazdin and 15% of analysed farms in Medjimurje County. In Varazdin County farmers feed calves with milk or milk replacer significantly longer (P<0.001) than farmers in Medjimurje County. Consequently, calves in Medjimurje County consumes significantly lower quantities of milk or milk replacer (P<0.001). Calves in the Medjimurje County are significantly earlier fed with solid feed: hay (P<0.05), pre-starter or starter (P<0.001), and water (P<0.001) than on farms at the Varazdin County. Total mixed ratio (TMR) was used neither in Varazdin nor in Medjmurje County in calves’ nutrition, and colostrums quality was checked only at 3% of farms in Varazdin County (4 farms), and only at one farm in Medjimurje County.
Mastitis represents a big problem in modern cattle production, both in economic terms and in terms of diagnostic. Direct economic losses for the manufacturers occur due to reduction of milk ...production, changed composition of the milk, medical expenses, loss of one or more quarters of the udder, the withdrawal period and higher expenditure of labor. The greatest damages in dairy production are caused by subclinical (invisible) inflammation. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity of some bacterial mastitis pathogens to antimicrobial agents in the compositions for the treatment of mastitis that are used in the Republic of Croatia. Pathogens which causes mastitis were isolated on esculin blood agar culture medium and subjected to a sensitivity analysis on eight antimicrobials. Highest sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus strains was determined to amoxicillin with clavulanic acid and cefoperazone, while the distinct resistance was observed to penicillin and ampicillin (almost 100 %). Also it has been determined a relatively high efficiency of ampicillin (96.1 %), amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (94.1 %) and penicillin (92.8 %) on the strains of Streptococcus uberis, while the lowest sensitivity, bacteria have had on streptomycin. According to results of the analysis, it is evident that a growing number of bacteria developed resistance to certain antimicrobial agents.
Prevalence of Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) and occurrence of clinical arthritis were investigated on 543 goats of French Alpine breed on six intensive production farms in North-Western ...Croatia. The aim of the study was to determine seropositivity to CAEV and to examine the occurrence of clinical arthritis in relation to CAEV seropositive goats. All goats were examined clinically and presence of arthritis was noted. The blood samples were tested for antibodies against CAEV using the immunoenzyme test. All collected data were cross-classified in two-way contingency tables. Of the total number of goats, CAEV was serologically confirmed in 50.8% and 31.6% of all goats were diagnosed with clinical arthritis. CAEV seropositive goats were 21.9% and they also expressed clinical signs of arthritis. Statistical tests confirmed positive association between clinical arthritis diagnosis and seropositivity to CAEV with Phi coefficient of 0.25 (P<0.01). Results suggest that serious eradication programs should be introduced in north western Croatian goat herds, but also that further investigations in all Croatian herds should be conducted and measures should be applied on all herds.
The aim of this study was to research changes in metabolic and antioxidative status of Saanen goats of different parity occurring during the peripartum period. Blood samples were taken on 10–7 and ...3–1 d prepartally and 1–3, 14 and 28 d postpartally from goats allocated in three groups according to their parity: primiparous (PRIM), goats that kidded the 2nd or 3rd time (MID), and goats that kidded 4 or more times (MULTI)). Metabolic profile parameters (non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose, triglycerides, albumin and urea) and indicators of oxidative stress ((superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA)) were determined. Intense metabolic changes associated with late pregnancy and onset of lactation were pronounced the most in MULTI goats that also had the biggest litter per goat. Significant differences were found in metabolic parameters NEFA, BHB, glucose, triglycerides within groups during peripartum period, as well as between them (the effect of parity). MDA concentrations were indicative of increased lipid peroxidation around parturition, especially pronounced in MULTI group 1–3 d prepartally, when the highest GSH-Px/SOD ratio was also found. Postpartally, antioxidant enzymes ratio in MID and MULTI group decreased while MDA concentrations remained high, suggesting antioxidant system inefficiency. Significant time × group interaction was observed for most of the parameters. The obtained results show that the goats of higher parity display higher levels of metabolism intensity and consequently, varying levels of oxidative stress during the peripartum period. Further studies should determine applicability of NEFA and BHB in periparturient metabolic profiling in dairy goats as well as establish normal ranges and cut-off levels for these biomarkers.
The excess of protein and lack of energy in the diet of goats cause an excess of nitrogen compounds in the rumen with the release of ammonia and the increase of urea concentration in blood and milk, ...which adversely affects: production and processing properties of milk, environmental pollution and reproductive performance. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of short-term (30 days) changes of meals in the view of different content of crude protein (CP) to: daily milk yield (DMY), the concentration of urea (U) and the ratio between fat and protein (F/P) in milk. Preliminary research was conducted on 72 Alpine goats, grouped into three groups (I, II, III), with 24 randomly selected goats. From kidding to weaning, goats were fed with the same meal (11 % CP), which was followed by period of short-term feeding with different amounts of CP in the meal (I -14 % low proportion, II - 16 % optimal proportion, III - 18 % high proportion). The increase of CP in portion for 4 %, 4 % and 6 % resulted in an increase of the DMY for: 1.29 L, 1.48 L and 1.91 L, and also the concentration of urea for 16, 26 and 30 mg/100 mL. The ratio of F/P decreased in I, II, and III group from 1.55 to 1.24; from 1.53 to 1.18 and from 1.39 to 1.12. Optimizing nutrition in terms of a more rational protein intake as the most expensive components of a meal, balance of the energy and protein, as well as defining the limit value of urea concentration in milk are a prerequisite for intensive production of goat’s milk.
Animal‐inflicted injuries to humans are a major public health problem around the world resulting in great morbidity, money loss, and mortality. They are related to wild and domestic animals alike. ...Animals can cause injuries by various mechanisms—biting, stinging, crushing, goring, stomping, butting, kicking, pecking, etc. We present a case of a ram's attack with fatal consequences. A 4‐year‐old, 120 kg jezersko‐solčava breed ram with prior history of aggressive behavior inflicted multiple injuries to his 83‐year‐old owner, who died in the hospital a few hours later due to severe blunt force injuries sustained in the attack. The autopsy revealed the cause of death to be multiple injuries of the thorax and the head. Sheep, even though they are not considered aggressive or large farm animals such as cattle and horses, can inflict serious injuries with devastating results.
Goat milking is optimal if maximum milk yield is obtained in the minimum time frame. Prestimulation influences milk yield and other milking characteristics. The aim of this study was to determine ...optimal milking characteristics for different times spent on prestimulation during machine milking of goats. Prestimulation of 30 s was optimal to achieve maximum milk yield and flow in the shortest time. Longer milking interval resulted in higher milk yield, milk flow, but also in the longest milking time. Milking goats in 4th parity had higher average and peak flow rate, while goats in third parity had longer milking time, with higher milk yield. The results of this study show that prestimulation time longer than 30 s is not necessary to obtain optimum milking characteristics during machine milking of goats.
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