Crossbred Holstein Friesian Cows Research Articles

Effects of Parity on Service per Conception, Gestation Length, Milk Yield, Calving Interval, and Calf Birth Weight of Crossbred Dairy Cows

AbstractThe average lactation number for a stable herd dairy cow would be 3.4 and many dairy farmers do not keep dairy cows for extended lactation numbers beyond the 6th lactation number. Thus, there is a limited number of information focused on the later lactation number or parity (6-10) effect on lactation traits. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of lactation number on the number of services per conception, gestation length, lactation milk yield, lactation length, calving interval, and calve weight in crossbred Holstein Friesian cows. The record data at Haramaya University dairy farm was collected and compiled to assess the effects of lactation numbers. Retrospective data records of 1863, 1742, 1280, 1280, 1329, 1170, and 848 data of dairy cows were respectively used for evaluating the number of services per conception, gestation length, lactation length, lactation milk yield, calving interval, and calf birth weight. The study revealed that lactation number significantly affected the total lactation milk yield, lactation length, calving interval, and calf birth weight but it did not affect the number of services per conception and gestation length. Based on this study result, crossbred Holstein Friesian cows could be productive until the 8th lactation number without a significant decrease in the lactation milk yield. Therefore; lactation number should be used as an important trait in the performance of dairy cattle. Further study should be conducted to evaluate the effect of lactation number on other lactation traits such as dry period, days open, and milk composition.Keywords: Birth weight; Calving interval; Gestation; Lactation; Milk yield; Parity

Effect of herbal liver stimulant (GenoLiv) on liver enzymes, milk production and composition in crossbred Holstein friesian cows facing challenges related to liver health

Effect of herbal liver stimulant (GenoLiv) on liver enzymes, milk production and composition in crossbred Holstein friesian cows facing challenges related to liver health

Microbial Fermented Liquid Supplementation Improves Nutrient Digestibility, Feed Intake, and Milk Production in Lactating Dairy Cows Fed Total Mixed Ration.

The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effects of MFL supplementation on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, milk yield, and milk composition in early lactating dairy cows. Twelve, Thai crossbred Holstein Friesian cows in early lactation, 500 ± 30 kg of body weight (BW), were randomly assigned according to a completely randomized design (CRD). MFL supplementation levels of 0, 100, 200, and 300 mL/d were used as treatments. Experimental animals were fed a total mixed ration (TMR) with a roughage to concentrate ratio (R:C ratio) of 40:60, which contains 12% crude protein (CP) and 70% total digestible nutrient (TDN). Rice straw was a roughage source. MFL supplementation levels had no effect (p > 0.05) on body weight change and dry matter intake (DMI) expressed as %BW, whereas DMI expressed as metabolic body weight (BW0.75) was linearly (p < 0.05) increased, with the highest at 200 mL/d in the YFL supplementation group (147.5 g/kg BW0.75), whereas feed intake of organic matter (OM), CP, ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) did not significant (p > 0.05) difference among treatments. Related to apparent digestibility, MFL levels did not affect (p > 0.05) on DM, OM, and EE digestibility, while apparent digestibility of CP, NDF, and ADF were linearly increased (p < 0.05) when increasing MFL supplementation levels, and the highest (p < 0.05) were the 200 and 300 mL/d FML supplemented groups. BUN at 0 h post feeding did not show a significant difference (p > 0.05) between treatments, while at 4 h after feeding, BUN was linearly (p < 0.05) increased from 0, 100, 200, and 300 (mL/day) MFL supplementation, the values were 12.9, 13.1, 19.7, and 18.4 mg/dL, respectively and the highest was 200 mL/head/day for the MFL supplemented group. MFL supplementation did not affect (p > 0.05) milk fat, lactose, solid not fat (SNF), and specific gravity of milk, while MFL supplementation at 200 mL/day caused a linear increase (p < 0.01) in BUN, MUN, milk yield, milk protein, total solids (TS) and 3.5% FCM when supplement levels were increased. In conclusion, MFL supplementation in early lactating dairy cows could improve feed intake, nutrient digestibility, milk yield, and milk composition.

Subclinical ketosis: Prevalence and risk factor analysis in early lactation dairy cattle of Thrissur district

Present study was conducted in Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University farms, various organized and unorganised farms and individual households in Thrissur district during the period of May 2021 to April 2022 with the objectives of estimation of prevalence of subclinical ketosis (SCK) by screening dairy cows on 14th and 28th day post-partum. Multiparous cows with a blood beta-hydroxy butyrate (BHB) value ≥ 1.2 mmol/L without any overt clinical signs were considered as positive for SCK. One hundred and fourteen animals from second to seventh lactation were screened for SCK. Prevalence of SCK was 23.7 per cent on 14th day and 14.04 per cent on 28th day with a total prevalence of 27.2 per cent. Occurrence of SCK was highest in animals in second lactation (54.8 per cent) with more occurrence in crossbred Holstein Friesian cows. Maximum number of positive cases were observed in dairy cows of age between four to six years (54.8 per cent). Body condition score of diseased animals were higher than normal animals. Prevalence was highest in animals calved between months of July to September and 58.1 per cent of affected animals had male calf. Concurrent abnormalities during transition period were also assessed based on clinical examination and farm records.

Effects of Beta-lactoglobulin Gene Polymorphism and Some Factors on Milk Quality and Yield in Dairy Cattle of Kashmir, India

Background: Polymorphisms in candidate beta-lactoglobulin genes are associated with traits of economic importance in cows and are related to milk composition, quality, production as well as cheese-production. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of breed, season and polymorphism on milk quality and yield in Jersey and Crossbred Holstein Friesian cows. Methods: The quality traits studied were fat %, lactose %, protein %, SNF, density and ash while quantity traits were average monthly milk yield, protein yield and fat yield. The beta-lactoglobulin gene exon IV (262 bp) was screened for polymorphisms by PCR-RFLP using BsuRI (Hae III) enzyme. Result: Our investigation revealed only two patterns AA and AB in both the breeds under study. BB genotype was absent. AA genotype was most abundant in Jersey cows (0.68) and crossbred HF cows (0.56). A allele frequency was highest in Crossbred HF cows (0.72) and Jersey cows (0.66). In Jersey genotype AB was observed to be responsible for high milk yield, protein and fat yield in each season whereas it was genotype AA of crossbred HF cows affecting milk yield, protein and fat yield. In crossbred HF cow, genotype effect was observed to be non-significant (p greater than 0.05) on all quality traits and effect of season was significant on lactose % and fat %. In Jersey cows, genotype and season effects were significant (P less than 0.05) on fat % concluding that the breed, season and genotype affectmilk quality and yield.

Comparative effect of Volvariella volvacea-treated rice straw and purple corn stover fed at different levels on predicted methane production and milk fatty acid profiles in tropical dairy cows

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different concentrations of rice straw (RS) and purple corn stover (PCS) treated with Volvariella volvacea fed in total mixed rations (TMR) on ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites, calculated methane (CH4) production, and milk fatty acid profile in mid-lactation crossbred Holstein Friesian cows. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Factor A included roughage type (V. volvacea-treated RS and V. volvacea-treated PCS), and Factor B included roughage (R)-to-concentrate (C) ratio (R:C) (50:50 and 60:40). The four dietary treatment combinations were 1) RS with an R:C ratio of 50:50 (RS50); 2) RS with an R:C ratio of 60:40 (RS60); 3) PCS with an R:C ratio of 50:50 (PCS50); and 4) PCS with an R:C ratio of 60:40 (PCS60). Different roughage sources did not alter total tract digestibility of DM, OM, and NDF (P > 0.05), but PCS increased NDF digestibility by 4.6 percentage units and CP digestibility by 15.6 percentage units. Roughage types influenced rumen propionic acid (C3) concentration 4 h after feeding with PCA increasing higher C3 concentration compared to RS at both R:C ratios. There was no interaction between roughage types and the R:C ratio for CH4 emission calculated based on volatile fatty acid profiles. However, roughage type impacted CH4 emission. Calculated CH4 concentration was lower in PCS than RS. Changing the R:C ratio did not alter milk production, milk composition, or somatic cell count (SCC). Moreover, roughage type did not influence milk production and milk composition, except for SCC which was lower in PCS. Roughage type and the R:C ratio independently influenced milk fat arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) concentration. Furthermore, the PCS group had higher conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than the RS groups. The proportion of total C18:0 and cis-9 C18:1 in milk fat increased 10% with the feeding of PCS50 and PCS60. However, milk cis-9, trans-11 C18:2 increased by 61% in the PCS group (P < 0.01). In conclusion, PCS increased rumen C3 and milk fat CLA and arachidonic acid concentration and decreased CH4 production compared to the RS. The PCS treated with V. volvacea could be used for up to 60% of TMR for dairy cows.

Clinical study on short axis M-mode echocardiography in Crossbred Holstein Friesian Cows

The present study was conducted in apparently healthy Crossbred Holstein Friesian cows (n=40) to establish normal echocardiographic indices. The short axis M-mode echocardiography was conducted in non-sedated standing Crossbred Holstein Friesian cow using cardiac probe of 2.8 to 3.6 MHz from right parasternal short axis view. The clinico-physiological parameters were within the normal ranges. The mean ± SE of RVIDd was 3.40 ± 0.06 (2.61 - 4.42) cm, IVSd 1.88 ± 0.06 (0.95 -3.17) cm, IVSs 2.72 ± 0.07 (1.77-3.81) cm, LVIDd 7.35 ± 0.14 (4.82-9.23) cm, LVIDs 4.37 ± 0.12 (2.04-5.87) cm, LVPWd 1.76 ± 0.06 (1.03-2.56) cm, LVPWs 2.80 ± 0.08 (1.58-3.96) cm, RWTd 0.50 ± 0.02 (0.35-0.85) cm, RWTs 1.31 ± 0.06 (0.84-2.83) cm, MWTd 1.89 ± 0.06 (1.23-3.03) cm, MWTs 2.76 ± 0.06 (1.85-3.74) cm, IVS % (46.17 ± 2.46), LVPW % (60.39 ± 2.64 ), LVM (1007.35 ± 53.78) g, LV myocardial fraction (0.33 ± 0.01), EPSS (0.86 ± 0.02) cm, FS % (40.68 ± 1.20), heart rate (66.15 ± 0.96) beats /min and body weight was 426.78 ± 7.79 kg. The correlation with the body weight revealed negative correlation (p less 0.01) for the parameters viz RWTs.

Feeding values of conventional diets and their effects on the performances of dairy cows in Central Myanmar

The conventional diets have been fed to dairy cows since many years ago in Myanmar, however there is a little scientific information regarding the use of those diets as feed. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the feeding values of conventional diets and their effects on the performances of dairy cows in Central Myanmar. Nine cross-bred Holstein Friesian cows (460±22kg) with the 12th week of lactation were randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups with three replicates in a completely randomized design. The three treatments were Diet-ST (common diet from Sin Tel, Tatar U Township), Diet-MN (common diet from Myay Ngu, Tatar U Township) and Diet-AM (common diet from Amarapura Township). Cows were fed treatments for 60 days. The roughage to concentrate ratios ranged from 53:47 to 72:28 and the nutritive values were significantly different (p&lt;0.05) each other. The highest nutrient intakes were observed in dairy cows fed on Diet-MN, however the nutrient digestibility were not different (p&gt;0.05) except the CP and ether extract digestibility (CPD and EED). The nitrogen utilization was highest in dairy cows fed on Diet-ST and the lowest value was observed in the dairy cows fed on Diet-AM. Although the milk compositions were not different (p&gt;0.05), the average milk yield of dairy cows offered the Diet-MN was significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) than those of dairy cows fed on other diets. The highest total feed cost (p&lt;0.05) was found in Diet-AM and the lowest value (p&lt;0.05) was in Diet-MN. According to these findings, it was concluded that the highest feeding value was observed in Diet-MN and its effect on the performances of dairy cows was also greater than others. Moreover, it would be suggested that better bean residues and sesame residues could be used as fibre sources in the diets of dairy cows.

Effect of leucaena forage and silage substitution in concentrates on digestibility, nitrogen utilization and milk yield in dairy cows

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feeding leucaena forage and silage substitution in concentrate on the performances of dairy cows. Nine cross-bred Holstein Friesian cows (410±12kg) in the 12th week of lactation were randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups with three replicates/treatments in a completely randomized design. The three treatments were control diet without substitution of leucaena forage and silage (DLFS0), diet with substitution of leucaena forage 10% (DLF10) and diet with substitution of leucaena silage 10% (DLS10). Cows were fed treatments for 60 days. Although nutrient intakes were not significantly different (p&gt;0.05) each other, digestibility of DLFS0 was significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) than others. Conversely, nitrogen utilization and average milk yield of cows offered DLFS0 were significantly lower (p&lt;0.05) than those of cows fed on DLF10 and DLS10. The highest feed cost (p&lt;0.05) per kg of milk was found in DLFS0 and the lowest cost was observed in DLF10. Therefore, although the leucana forage and silage could be substitute up to 10% of concentrates without adverse effects on the performances of dairy cows, the substitution of leucaena forage gave the better performances than that of leucaena silage.

Effect of Inclusion of &lt;i&gt;Albizia saman&lt;/i&gt; Pods in the Diet on the Performances of Dairy Cows

Ruminants can achieve high productivity when the diet includes concentrates; however these are often expensive due to competition with humans and mono-gastric animals. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of partial inclusion of Albizia saman pods (ASP) in a Commercial Concentrate (CC) on the performances of dairy cows. Twelve cross-bred Holstein Friesian cows (472±13 kg) in the 12th week of lactation were randomly allocated into four treatment groups with three replicates accoding to the completely randomized design. The four treatments were control diet-CD [35% urea-treated-rice-straw (URS; 79g crude protein (CP)/ kg dry matter (DM)) and 65% CC (contained 40% cottonseed cake, 35% broken chickpea and 25% chickpea husk on an as fed basis and provided 200g CP/kg DM)], D1[35% URS + 60% CC + 5% ASP (189g CP/kg DM)], D2 (35% URS +55% CC + 10% ASP) and D3 (35% URS + 50% CC + 15% ASP). Cows were fed treatments for 60 days. Dry matter intake was significantly higher (p<0.05) for cows in the D3 treatment compared with the other three treatments, however there were no significant differences in the DM digestibility of treatments. Nitrogen intake and faecal-nitrogen of cows offered the D3 treatment were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of cows offered the other three treatments. In contrast urine-nitrogen and nitrogen utilization were not significantly different among the treatments. The average milk yield (4% fat-corrected-milk) increased as the percentage of ASP was increased in the diets, however the composition of milk did not differ significantly between treatments. The costs of TDN/kg and per kg of milk was highest for the CD treatment and the lowest was found in D3 treatment (p<0.05). These results suggest that Albizia saman pods could be replace up to 15% of the commercial concentrate fed to lactating Holstein Friesian cross-bred cows without detrimental effects.

Effects of Cooling and Exogenous Bovine Somatotropin on Hematological and Biochemical Parameters at Different Stages of Lactation of Crossbred Holstein Friesian Cow in the Tropics

Effects of cooling and supplemental recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on hemato-biochemical characteristics were studied at different stages of lactation of crossbred Holstein Friesian cows in a tropical environment. Ten primiparous cows were divided into two groups of five animals each. The first group was housed as the non-cooled animals in an open-sided barn with a tiled roof in a normal shaded house (NS), while the second group was housed as cooled cows in an open-sided barn with a tiled roof under misty fan cooling (MFC). Three injections with rbST (500 mg per dose) at each stage of lactation (early, mid and late lactation) significantly increased total milk yield as compared with pretreatment in both cooled and non-cooled cows. Milk fat was significantly increased, while total solids, solid not fat, milk protein and lactose were not affected by the rbST treatment. Hematological parameters, plasma proteins, albumin, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), plasma inorganic phosphate and the activities of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were not affected by supplemental rbST in cooled and non-cooled cows. Supplementation of rbST caused a significant decrease in plasma urea concentration, while plasma FFA concentrations significantly increased in both cooled and non-cooled cows. The results of the present study suggest that exogenous rbST is efficacious in increasing milk yield without adverse effects on lactating crossbred Holstein cows in a tropical environment.

Effects of Protected Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation on Milk Fatty Acid in Dairy Cows

The objective was to determine the effects of supplementation of protected conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), CLA-20 comprising 10% each of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12, on milk production and fatty acid profiles in plasma and milk in lactating dairy cows. Five mid-lactation, multiparous crossbred Holstein Friesian cows with average 402±20 kg BW were used in a 5x5 Latin square design for 21-d periods. Cows were given a total mixed ration (TMR) and supplemented with CLA-20 at 0, 20, 40, 80 and 160 g/d. The results showed that dry matter intake depression occurred in cows supplemented with CLA-20 at 160 g/d. Milk production slightly increased when CLA-20 supplementation was at 20, 40 and 80 g/d. However, 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM) was not affected by CLA-20 supplementation. Increased levels of CLA-20 supplementation resulted in a significantly decreased percentage of milk fat. Plasma concentrations of fatty acid were not altered by the amounts of CLA-20 supplementation except for the concentration of trans10, cis-12 CLA. For all dietary treatments, percentages of fatty acids (C4:0, C6:0, C8:0, C13:0, C14:0 C14:1 C15:0 C15:1 C16:0, C16:1, C18:1n9t, C18:2n6t, C18:2n6c, C20:0, C18:3n6, C18:3n3, C20:1 and C20:3n6) in milk fat were similar. Concentrations of C10:0, C11:0, C12:0 and C18:1n9c were decreased cubically and C18:0 was elevated linearly (p<0.01) according to the increased amounts of CLA-20 supplemented. The linear increase was observed for cis-9, trans-ll CLA (0.62, 1.17, 1.94, 1.87 and 1.82% of total fatty acid), trans-10, cis-12 CLA (0.01, 0.63, 0.67, 0.93 and 0.95% of total fatty acid) and total CLA (0.80, 2.25, 3.16, 3.97 and 3.94% of total fatty acid) in milk fat from 0 to 160 g/d of CLA-20 supplement. In conclusion, concentration of cis-9, trans-ll CLA in milk fat was concomitantly elevated at an increasing rate with the increased amounts of CLA-20. Based on the results in this study, supplementation of CLA-20 at 80 g/d optimally enhanced total CLA in milk fat.

Voluntary automatic milking in combination with grazing of dairy cows: Milking frequency and effects on behaviour

Automatic milking systems (AMS) enable cows to be milked without human interference. Such systems are more acceptable to consumers and from the animal welfare point of view if they can be combined with grazing in the summer season. In this study, grazing was combined with fully automatic milking for a group of 24 crossbred Holstein–Friesian cows. It was assumed that the cows would visit the AMS voluntarily. Zero grazing (G0) was compared with restricted grazing (cows could spend up to 12 h outdoors daily; G12) and unrestricted grazing (cows could spend up to 24 h daily at pasture; G24). The AMS was continuously available in the cowshed adjacent to the pasture of 1.5 ha. Water was available in the barn, but not at pasture. The average daily milking frequency was 2.3 in G24 compared with 2.5–2.8 in the other treatments ( p<0.01). The reason was that the cows spread their visits to the AMS less evenly over the day in G24 (more visits in the afternoon and less visits at night; p<0.01). In the grazing treatments, the cows spent more time eating forage ( p<0.01). The lying times did not differ between the treatments, but the cows lay between 80 and 99.6% of their total lying time at pasture when they had the opportunity to be outdoors. In the grazing treatments, cows entered or left the barn in the company of at least one other cow in 76.6 to 90.7% of the cases. The cows' arrival times at the barn or pasture were not randomly distributed ( p<0.01). In G24, cows spent less time in the pasture between 1000 and 1700 h when the Black Globe Humidity Index was high ( p<0.01), and, related to that, a likeliness for conditions of heat stress. It was concluded that automatic milking on a voluntary basis can indeed be combined with grazing. Grazing seems to be advantageous for the welfare of the cows, as they clearly preferred to lie in the pasture rather than in the cubicles. For the farmer, restricted grazing is more reliable than unrestricted grazing, as milking frequency will be higher on average. Farmers wishing to apply automatic milking with grazing should manage this flexibly, in accordance with ambient conditions, as the weather affects cow behaviour.