Butterfat Percentage Research Articles

Studies in grazing management. VI. The influence of free- and strip-grazing and of nitrogenous fertilizers on production from dairy cows

1. An experiment with dairy cows is described in which the production per animal and per acre obtained in three methods of grazing management were compared during 2 years.(A) An intensive method. Strip-grazing daily on heavily fertilized grass sward.(B) A modified intensive method. Continuous, free-range grazing on a heavily fertilized grass sward.(C) An extensive method. Continuous, free-range grazing on a grass and clover sward receiving a basic application of phosphate and potash only.The intensively fertilized swards received a total of 212 lb. fertilizer nitrogen per acre, together with adequate amounts of phosphate and potash throughout the grazing season. No supplementary foods of concentrate type were fed to the cows during the experiment.2. For the comparison of production per animal 3 × 3 Latin-square experimental design, with twelve Ayrshire cows and periods of 3 weeks' duration, was used. Two separate trials were conducted during the grazing season of 1955 and a third trial during 1956.3. The different methods of grazing management and intensive use of fertilizer had little influence on the milk yield and butterfat percentage of the milk of the cows.

The effect of undernutrition after calving on the quantity and composition of the milk produced by dairy cattle

Fourteen pairs of monozygous twin cows of mixed ages were used to determine the effect of underfeeding from the 3rd to the 8th week inclusive after calving on milk and butterfat production and on the composition of the milk.Those cows which were well fed over the 6-week period produced more milk and a larger weight of butterfat than their sisters which had been poorly fed. The milk from the well-fed cows had a lower percentage of butterfat, but higher percentages of solids-not-fat and total protein, than the milk from the poorly fed cows.The complete lactation averages failed to show statistical significant differences in all characteristics except in the case of solids-not-fat percentage. The mean difference between the two groups for solidsnot-fat was found to be highly significant.In general, the results support the conclusions of other workers, that underfeeding dairy cows may depress the solids-not-fat content of the milk.It appeared that differences between the two groups in butterfat percentage over the 6-week experimental feeding period were strongly correlated with differences in weight changes and that the small amount of variance associated with milk yield differences was not significant.

Cottonseed vs. Cottonseed Meal and Corn as a Protein Source in a Concentrate Mixture for Dairy Cows

Summary Cottonseed and cottonseed meal were compared as protein sources in a 17% protein mixture in a double reversal feeding trial. Differences in production of fat-corrected milk and butterfat percentages in favor of the cottonseed ration were highly significant (P

Production Characteristics of Crossbred, Backcross, and Purebred Red Sindhi Cattle in the Gangetic Plains Region

Summary In the herd of crossbred Jersey×Red Sindhi backcross and purebred Red Sindhis of the Allahabad Agricultural Institute, dairy performance as related to breeding has been studied. In percentage of butterfat in the milk, the crosses have shown slight but nonsignificant increases over the purebred Red Sindhis; neither have there been significant differences in the length of calving intervals or in survivability of young calves for the different groups. In comparison with purebred Red Sindhis, great differences have appeared in the advantages of the crossbreds particularly, and to a lesser degree of the backcrosses, in ages at first calving and in the production of butterfat in lactation periods of 305 days. Of the cows having first lactations, over twice the proportion of crossbred cows have remained in the herd for a period of six lactations as have purebred Red Sindhis. If total production for the number of years cows remain in the herd is computed from the data on age at first calving and production in the first lactation, then the production of a herd of F 1 Jersey×Red Sindhi would exceed by 2.09 times that of a herd of purebred Red Sindhis. The ratios of calculated lifetime productions of populations of backcrosses to the Red Sindhi were as follows: 3 4 Jersey, 1.47; 1 4 Jersey, 1.39; 1 8 Jersey, 1.18; 1/16 Jersey, 1.25. These ratios were computed by weighting the number of cows of different ages by the advantage of each of the breeding groups at that age. It appeared as a result of this study that all proportions of Jersey breeding used exceeded the production of the Red Sindhi, with the amounts decreasing as relationship to either Jersey or Red Sindhi deviated from 50 per cent.

493. Concerning the interpretation of observations, obtained from records and experiments, on milking dairy cows

1. Some questions concerning the interpretation of observations on milking dairy cattle are considered.2. A formula is presented for analysing the contributions of changes in the numerator and denominator to the changes in a percentage or fraction, and the formula is applied to changes in the composition of milk.3. The depressions of the butterfat and solids-not-fat percentages consequent on diets reduced in hay in a dairy-cattle feeding experiment are examined with this constituent analysis.The contributions of changes in the magnitudes of the aqueous, butterfat and solids-not-fat constituents to the difference between the butterfat percentages of cows on two treatments, 18 lb. hay/day (control) and 6 lb. hay /day, are about equal. There is an apparent qualitative difference between the effects of the two non-control treatments, and a reduced yield of butterfat would alone largely account for the lower butterfat percentage of cows on the 2 lb. hay /day treatment.

The effect of environment and heredity on lactation III. Butterfat percentage

1. On the basis of 5000 records from twelve leading herds of Ayrshire cattle in south-west Scotland for the period 1930–9, a statistical study has been made of some of the causes of variations which occur in butterfat percentage.2. Butterfat percentage was found to be affected only very slightly by month of calving, age and length of calving intervals.3. Selection for milk yield would not affect butterfat percentage adversely to any appreciable extent.4. The average repeatability of butterfat percentage was 0·691 in the present material, and heritability was of the order of 0·50–0·60.5. Mass selection would be an effective tool in bringing about improvement in butterfat percentage.

The effect of undernutrition before calving on the quantity and composition of milk produced by two-year-old heifers

Six pairs of 2-year-old monozygous twin heifers were used to determine the effect of underfeeding for 10 weeks prior to calving. Those which had been well fed before calving produced more milk than their sisters which had been poorly fed.There was no effect on milk or butterfat composition, probably because none of the animals lost much weight after calving.The effect of the treatment differed markedly between twin pairs, the maximum difference in milk yield being 2866 lb., the minimum 135 lb., and the mean 1057 lb. for 270 days' lactation.The ratios of between-twin-pair to within-twin-pair variance for butterfat, total protein and lactose percentages of the milk were as follows:

390. The estimation of losses of butterfat in churning

The Bird & Derby method of calculating percentage butterfat loss in buttermilk is in error because it assumes that all the buttermilk in the granules at draining is retained in the buttermilk, whereas much of it is washed out in the wash water. Lactose estimations in butter and buttermilk confirm Udy's finding that butter contains about 10% of buttermilk. The Udy formula, viz.is therefore in this respect correctly based and can be applied to individual churnings of butter in the same way as the Bird & Derby formula has been applied. The Bird & Derby formula should be discarded except for use when the granules are not washed with chill-water.Both the Udy and the Bird & Derby formulae do not allow for the content of fat in the buttermilk retained in the butter or for the influence of fat content of the buttermilk on the calculated quantity of serum lost. When these factors are taken into account the Udy formula becomesThe correction +0·0012f F is not significant.

Growth and Production of Inbred and Outbred Holstein-Friesian Cattle

Summary Growth and production data of inbred and outbred progeny of Holstein-Friesian sires in three Wisconsin State Department of Public Welfare herds were collected and analyzed to determine the effect of inbreeding on body dimensions (height at withers, circumference of shin bone, heart girth and width of hips) at 6 and 18 months of age and at maturity and on milk and butterfat production and butterfat test. The average intra-sire partial regression (holding mature size of dam constant) of dimension on inbreeding was used to measure this effect. The partial regression of dimensions on inbreeding was essentially zero, except for heart girth at 18 months and maturity, which was significant only at 18 months. Intra-sire partial regressions (holding dam's record constant) of milk and butterfat production of 42 inbred and 47 outbred cows on inbreeding were significant and amounted to an average decrease of 74lb. of milk and 2.3lb. of butterfat for each 1 per cent increase in inbreeding. No evidence of an effect of inbreeding on butterfat percentage was indicated. Considerable variation was found in the partial regression coefficients of sires, indicating that offspring of some sires could be inbred without any apparent decrease in body size or production, possibly in part because the beneficial effect of increasing the relationship to a sire transmitting a superior level of production tends to offset detrimental effects of inbreeding to him.

The Influence of Tocopherols and Cod-Liver Oil on Milk and Fat Production

Summary Feeding 1 g. of natural mixed tocopherols daily to dairy cows during both winter and pasture feeding for periods of 4 to 5 weeks had no significant influence on milk or fat production. However, feeding 5 oz. of cod-liver oil daily to cows during winter feeding decreased the butterfat percentage approximately 14 per cent, but increased the total milk production 6 per cent. Tocopherol supplementation did not counteract the butterfat depressing effect of cod-liver oil. The tocopherol content of the milk fat and blood plasma was increased by feeding tocopherols, but was decreased by feeding cod-liver oil. Cod-liver oil had a depressing effect on the carotene content of the milk fat and blood plasma, but this was counteracted somewhat by feeding tocopherols with the cod-liver oil. The vitamin A content of the milk fat and blood plasma was increased by feeding cod-liver oil.

Inheritance in Crosses of Jersey and Holstein-Friesian with Aberdeenangus Cattle. III. Growth and Body Type, Milk Yield and Butterfat Percentage

Data are presented on the birth weight, heart girth, milk yield and butterfat percentage of animals in the Wisconsin cattle crossbreeding experiment. In the Holstein x Angus cross F1 daughters of Angus dams showed a slightly higher heart girth than F1 daughters of Holstein dams. In milk yield and butterfat percentage no significant difference between cows from the reciprocal crosses was found, and the variation was not greater in the F2 than in the F1 generation. Most F1 animals were intermediate to the parental breeds in all the characters studied.

Manufacture of Powdered Cream for Whipping by Aeration

Summary Studies were made of variations in percentage of butterfat, milk solids-not-fat, and emulsifying agents in powdered cream-mixes. A product consisting of approximately 30 per cent butterfat, 7 to 8 per cent milk solids-not-fat, 5 per cent sugar, 0.3 per cent emulsifying agent and 0.1 per cent vanilla concentrate on a reconstituted basis gave satisfactory results. This cream-mix, when whipped by aeration, produced results similar to those obtained with the undried product. There were no noticeable differences in whipping properties of reconstituted whipped cream-mix made from cream-mix sprayed with nozzle nos. 64, 72 and 79. The capacity of the drier was lowered by using nozzles with smaller orifices. The packing density was increased by using nozzles with larger orifices. High spray pressures were found to be detrimental to the whipping properties of the reconstituted cream-mix, producing a product lacking in stability, containing large gas cells and having a moist appearance. The keeping quality of the powdered cream-mix can be improved by packing in inert gas and by the addition of certain antioxidants before drying. As with powdered milk, it is desirable when storing the powdered cream-mix in inert gas to obtain a low oxygen content of the head-space on desorption. The antioxidants seemed to be more effective when the samples were packed in inert gas than in air. The most effective antioxidant was pure vanilla concentrate. Others that were effective were NDGA, gallic acid and Viobin.

Variation in the Constituents of Milk Under Arizona Conditions. I. Variations of Individual Cows within Breeds by Calendar Months

Summary (1)In general, a corresponding rise was noted in the total solids, serum solids, and protein when the butterfat content increased, except that in some cases samples were abnormally high in fat and low in serum solids. (2)An increase in the protein content was accompanied by increased butterfat, total solids, and serum solids, and by a decrease in the ratio of fat to serum solids. (3)An inverse relationship existed between milk production and total solids, serum solids, and butterfat percentages of the milk. (4)In general, an inverse relationship was present between the lactose and the protein percentage of the milk. (5)The total solids, butterfat, and serum solids content of the milk was higher in winter and lower in summer. The difference presumably is due mainly to the higher environmental temperatures of the summer months. (6)The lower butterfat test of the Guernsey milk is due primarily to the higher environmental temperature. Milk from Guernsey cows had the greatest variation in fat test by season of the three breeds studied. (7)Environmental temperatures appear to exert a greater influence on milk and butterfat production than does the advancing stage of lactation. (8)The percentage of samples of milk falling below the minimum state requirement for serum solids and fat, respectively, were: Holstein, 47.5 and 22.7; Guernsey, 2.2 and 0.6; Jersey, 2.5 and 0. (9)Using averages for all animals as the basis of calculation, the butterfat content of milk decreased 0.1 per cent for each 10° rise in mean maximum temperature between 65 and 105° F. under Arizona conditions. (10)A Jersey cow family was found to produce milk 0.31 per cent lower in lactose than normal for the Jersey breed.

Effect of Thyroprotein upon Vitamin Content of Milk

Graham reported that the feeding of thyroxine to dairy cows in the declining phases of lactation caused a distinct rise in the amount of milk produced and in the percentage of butter fat. Synthetic thyroprotein (iodinated casein or protamone) has been reported in a number of papers to produce the same effect.

The Use of Urea in Commercial Dairy Feeds

1.Urease activity was observed in all silage samples tested; but under average conditions of time, temperature, and moisture there was no practical destruction of urea when added to a dairy ration and placed over the silage in the manger.2.No condition of unpalatability or digestive disorder in any commercial or test ration containing urea could be traced to the use of this ingredient.3.The percentage of butterfat and protein in the test group and in the control group did not differ significantly.4.Milk production during the first seven months of lactation was the same in the test group as in the control group.

The Recognition of the Influence of Age on Butterfat Percentage When Calculating Mature Equivalents

Summary A study of 34,176 lactation records not exceeding 305 days in length shows a definite decrease in the butterfat percentage of the milk of Ayrshire cows from the first lactation to old age that is statistically significant. Because of this decline in butterfat percentage with age it is suggested that it would be more nearly accurate to use age conversion factors for both milk and butterfat production, or to use a fat percentage differential as a correction factor when using only one set of age conversion factors for both milk production and butterfat production.

Composite vs. Fresh Samples of Milk for Determining Percentage Butterfat of Cows on Herd Test

Composite vs. Fresh Samples of Milk for Determining Percentage Butterfat of Cows on Herd Test

A Soybean and Silage Ration for Dairy Cows

Summary Cows yielding as much as 50 pounds of milk daily (one cow averaged 40 lbs. daily during experimental period) were successfully carried over a period of 22 weeks on silage, fed ad libitum , and soybeans, fed at the rate of 1 pound per 5 pounds of milk produced. The silage was corn silage, sorghum silage or sorghum silage supplemented with 1 pound of corn per 20 pounds of silage. Bonemeal and salt were also provided. Silage consumption averaged about 6 pounds daily per hundred pounds live weight. Up to 9 pounds daily of soybeans were consumed by a single cow. No indications of nutritional deficiencies were observed. The cows practically maintained their weight while being fed soybeans and silage. As compared with paired cows on a normal grain and roughage ration the cows on the experimental ration produced slightly less milk but more butterfat. These differences were not statistically significant. The cows receiving the experimental ration produced milk with a significantly higher percentage of butterfat in it than did the cows on normal feed. No differences were found in the protein content of the milk produced by the two lots of cows, but there were significant differences in the iodine, Reichert-Meissl, and Polenske values. The iodine number was raised and the Reichert-Meissl and Polenske numbers were lowered by the experimental feeding. The experimental ration of soybeans and silage caused no marked change in milk flavor.

“Nicking” in Dairy Cattle

Summary The records used to prove 13 bulls in Kansas Dairy Herd Improvement Associations were examined by the analysis of variance to see whether there were significant differences among the daughters of each bull when the daughters were grouped according to their maternal grandsires. For 9 bulls out of 13, the variance in milk production between groups exceeded the variance within groups. The mean square for the sire's index for milk production was larger between groups than within groups in only 5 out of 13 cases. In 6 out of 13 cases the mean square for butterfat percentage was larger between the groups than within the groups. As concerns the sire index for butterfat percentage, the variance between groups exceeded the variance within groups in only 4 cases out of 13. Using linear regression to correct daughters’ records for differences in the records of their dams gave results similar to those secured by the other two methods. The data from these 13 bulls gave no indication that “nicking” is generally important enough to need much attention when proving sires. Differences between groups could easily have been due to chance variation in the sample of inheritance transmitted by the bull, or to differences in the environments that affected the different groups of daughters when their records were made.

A study of the effect of feeding oils to dairy cows and of the value of the Latin square lay-out in animal experimentation

1. A description is given of an adaptation of the Latin square lay-out to experiments with dairy cows. Experiments were conducted to test the effect of adding various fats and oils to the ration, and since effects were rapidly produced the Latin square technique proved very efficient, experimental errors being rather lower than those usually obtained in experiments with crops.2. Seventeen separate experiments, including, in all, twenty-one different cows (many of whom were used more than once), were conducted; fourteen of these were short-term experiments with unit periods of 5 days, two were medium-term with unit periods of 10 days and one long-term with 20 days.3. Palm oil, butter, lard and possibly cotton-seed oil were found to increase butterfat yield, chiefly by raising the butterfat percentage of the milk. Soya-bean, linseed and whale oils were without effect. Cod-liver oil definitely decreased butterfat percentage and butterfat yield.4. It appears that the beneficial oils are those containing a large proportion of the saturated fatty acids.5. Experiments with the same oil were not always consistent, and it appears that the effect may vary from cow to cow, and also with the same cow at different times.