Tierärztl. Hochsch., Diss., 2004--Hannover.

Milk, fat and protein first lactation records of 27,137 British Columbia Dairy Herd Improvement cows were analysed for gross genetic and environmental influences. The average production was 5,663 kg of milk containing 3.59% fat and 3.23% protein. Age at freshening accounted for 3.0, .3.7, 3.7, .0.28 and 0.15% of the variance in milk, fat, protein, percent fat and percent protein respectively. Cows freshening in the winter had higher average milk, fat and protein yields than those freshening in summer; however, the percentage constituents of both fat and protein were higher for the summer cows than for the winter cows. Heritability of each characteristic and the phenotypic and genetic correlations between different characteristics were derived from paternal half-sib analyses with 100 sire groups. Heritability values were: milk 0.18; fat 0.24; protein 0.21; % fat 0.38, and % protein 0.47. Within herd-year-season phenotypic correlations between milk yield and the percentages were both negative, whereas the correlation between the constituent percentages was positive. Genetic trends in the cow population averaged 51.5 kg, 2.77 kg, 1.87 kg, 0.015% and -0.049% for milk, fat and protein yields and fat and protein percentages respectively. The dollar returns from incorporating milk, fat and protein yields and/or the constituent fractions in various selection indices were estimated for different levels of protein payment. Higher dollar returns will be expected from selection based on total yields than from selection based on either fat or protein percentage. Measuring protein for a genetic program will be feasible only when unrealistically high prices are paid for protein. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

Sodium discharge from dairies in California has been identified as an important contributor to soil and water pollution. The Waste Discharge Requirements General Order For Existing Milk Cow Dairies (2007) aims to minimize the amount of fixed solids, including Na, that are discharged from dairies, aiming to maximise the useable lifespan of water resources. As sodium bicarbonate (SB) contains 270 g/kg Na, SB supplementation can substantially increase Na discharge from dairies. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of SB and a potentially alternative buffer that does not contribute to Na discharge and related negative impacts on soil and water quality, (i.e., calcium magnesium carbonate (CMC)), on the performance of high producing California dairy cows. This could help establish if CMC could substitute for SB while maintaining potential benefits of SB. It is well known that SB is a rumen buffer, but research indicates that its benefits are limited mainly to corn silage-based diets. Californian dairies use a wide range of forages, and tend not to base their diets solely or mainly on corn silage. Therefore, typical Californian lactation diets do not always conform to those reported in research publications involving SB. In addition, research parameters such as milk yield, DM intake and dietary ADF often differ substantially between reported studies and conditions present on commercial California dairies, and results are therefore not always practically applicable. Apart from its rumen buffering capacity, SB also has an influence on dietary cation anion difference (DCAD), and can therefore elicit a response via a change in blood acid base balance of cows. The experiment was a Latin square design with 3 treatments (i.e., control (C), SB and CMC), 3 pens of ~310 early lactation cows each, and 3 periods of 28 d. Sodium bicarbonate supplemented cows had elevated milk fat proportion, but a reduced milk yield, resulting in similar milk fat yield between SB supplemented and C cows. Based on a tendency for elevated faecal and in vitro rumen fluid pH, SB had a buffering effect on the gastrointestinal tract GIT, most likely in the rumen. However, it is likely that the difference in DCAD between the C and SB diets played a role in affecting milk yield and milk fat proportion, and a high intake of Na may have been the cause for a reduction in milk yield resulting in passive increase in milk fat proportion. There were no differences between C and CMC treatments, except for an elevated faecal pH of CMC cows. As CMC is not generally soluble at normal rumen pH, buffering likely occurred in the abomasum and small and large intestines. However, a lack of difference in productivity indicates that the buffering effect on the hindgut was not physiologically required. While there were no productive benefits of SB use, it likely substantially increased Na discharge, resulting in an increase in soil and water sodicity and the associated deterioration in soil and water quality. While CMC did not improve productivity or efficiency of cows, it also did not increase Na discharge from the dairy and therefore did not contribute to soil or water sodicity. It can be concluded that SB or CMC supplementation is not advisable for diets and conditions comparable to those present in this study, i.e., high producing dairy cows fed a diet with ‘normal’ aNDF levels and relatively low proportions of corn silage and starch (334.0, 104.0 and 160.3 g/kg DM, respectively, in our study). Copyright / Dissertation (MSc(Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

No description available.

No description available.

Dissertation--Odense, 2005. / Bibliogr. p. 421-437 du vol. 2. Résumé en allemand.

Univ., Diss.--Kiel, 1995.

Thesis (MSc (Agric)(Production Management)) -- University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MSc (Agric)(Animal Science: Animal Nutrition)) -- University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Two studies were performed to investigate the ability of a portable near-infrared spectrophotometer (NIRS) for on-site analysis of nutrient components in feces from cattle. In trial 1 of study 1, growing dairy steers were fed diets containing either 86 or 90% concentrate. Regression values from a calibration set of 56 samples were promising for CP, DM, and NDF, but not for ADF or starch. In trial 2 of study 1, finishing dairy steers were fed diets containing either thick (512 g/L) or thin (460 g/L) steam-flaked corn. Regression values from a calibration set of 126 samples were poor for all nutrients. Both studies showed statistically valid NIRS calibrations, but further validation was required to make regression values acceptable (R² > 0.80) for all fecal nutrient components. In study 2, NIRS analysis was employed on novel research. Young dairy bull calves were fed diets containing either whole or steam-flaked corn from pre-weaning until 8 weeks post-weaning when the first animal was heavy enough for inclusion into a commercial feedlot. Again, although statistically valid, regression values from a calibration set of 220 samples were promising for CP and ADF, but not predictive for DM, NDF, ash, and starch. Growth performance parameters were similar between diets, with starch digestibilities diverging after weaning and changing to a Holstein starter diet. These 2 studies show that commercial and research application of a portable NIRS for on-site analysis of the nutrient composition of feces from young, growing, and finishing dairy steers statistically possible but requires further validation research. Also, results from the second study imply that there is no advantage in feeding steam-flaked corn to dairy calves from pre-weaning to 8 weeks post-weaning or until reaching feedlot weight. However, starch digestibility begins to improve for steam-flaked corn to whole corn once the animal has been weaned.