Large Herds Research Articles

Transition cow health and management in pasture-based dairy herds: A farmers' survey.

Seasonal-calving pasture-based systems characterize Irish dairy production. During the dry period, cows are housed and offered predominantly grass silage, providing unique transition cow management opportunities. This study aimed to describe transition period disease incidence and management strategies reported by farmers, and to evaluate their associations with herd size and calving pattern to inform and guide research activities and national advisory. An online survey distributed amongst 3,899 Teagasc Technical Dairy Advisory clients yielded 525 responses suitable for analysis. Results are presented for all respondents, by herd size and by the two most common calving systems (spring- [84.3%; 439/521] and split-calving [12.9%; 67/521]). Disease incidence was reportedly highest in cows within their first 3 weeks postpartum (58%; 299/519), in cows calving at the end of the calving season (48%; 245/510) and in multiparous cows (52%; 266/513). Respondents reported treating >3% of their herd for milk fever (23%; 120/521) and retained placenta (13%; 68/518), and <1% of their herd for grass tetany (82.6%; 419/507) and ketosis (72.7%; 368/506). Regarding management, dry cow body condition monitoring (73%; 365/497), dry cow mineral supplementation (61%; 304/497), and Ca supplementation at calving (61%; 314/487) were most commonly reported. Other milk fever prevention strategies supported by research in other production systems were not commonly reported (low K [20%; 101/497] and negative dietary cation-anion difference diet [6%; 31/497]). The odds of reporting keeping records of antibiotic treatment for milk fever were higher (OR = 3.20) for farmers from small compared to large herds. In conclusion, responses to our survey suggest that milk fever is a transition cow health concern in Irish dairy farms. Efforts should be devoted to enhance farmers' uptake of existing research-supported prophylactic strategies for milk fever and to optimize commonly reported management strategies in the Irish dairy production context.

Herd and animal level seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Leptospira interrogans sensu lato serovar Hardjo in cattle in southwest Ethiopia

Leptospirosis is a significant zoonotic disease that causes high economic losses in cattle production due to its association with abortions, stillbirths, infertility, and reduced milk yields. However, the epidemiology of bovine leptospirosis in Ethiopia is poorly understood. From October 2020 to October 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of serovar Hardjo in cattle in southwest Ethiopia, as well as the associated risk factors. To test for the existence of L. Hardjo antibodies, blood samples were taken from 461 cattle. Indirect ELISA was used to identify the presence of antibodies against L. Hardjo in sera samples. We conducted a multivariable random-effect logistic regression analysis to identify potential risk factors associated with L. Hardjo seropositivity. An overall L. Hardjo seroprevalence of 24.7% (95% CI: 20.2–48.8) and 53.5% (95% CI: 45.7–90.5) was recorded at the animal level and the herd level, respectively, in the study areas. This study revealed six factors influencing L. Hardjo seropositivity in cattle herds. Large herds had twice the odds of seropositivity (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1–3.8) compared to small herds. Co-grazing cattle exhibited higher odds (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2–4.1) of seropositivity. Extensive management systems significantly increased the odds (OR = 10.3, 95% CI: 1.7–61.8) compared to semi-intensive systems. Highland cattle had higher odds (OR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.4–10.3) than lowland cattle. Older cattle (OR = 4.6, 95% CI: 2.4–8.9) were more likely to be seropositive. At the herd level, extensive management (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.3–5.8) and large herds (OR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3–4.7) increased the risk of seropositivity. Herds with sheep/goats (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.3–4.1) were also at higher risk, highlighting significant L. Hardjo seropositivity risk factors in cattle herds. The study findings showed that leptospirosis was highly prevalent across the study areas. As a result, use proper management, raise zoonotic awareness for leptospirosis, and conduct molecular bovine leptospirosis research in study areas were recommended.

Genetic analysis of daily milk weights in U.S. Holsteins using pen-based contemporary groups

The availability of daily milk weights and pen location information provides an interesting opportunity to capture additional data and review how contemporary groups are defined for dairy cattle genetic evaluations. In the US, dairy cows in larger herds are grouped into pens according to various characteristics like parity, production level, reproductive status, lactation stage, and health status. Our data set included pen location information for each daily milk weight, so instead of using herd-year-season of calving to form contemporary groups, we used herd-pen-milking date to more precisely model the environmental effects cows experience at the pen level on a given day. Our data set included 21,000,951 aggregated daily milk records from 114,243 first parity Holstein cows milked 3 times daily in conventional parlor systems in 157 herds representing 29 US states. Our phenotype of interest was daily milk weight, and alternative repeatability animal models were used to estimate genetic parameters and predict breeding values. Age at first calving (6 levels) and days in milk (10 levels) were included as fixed effects and cow (114,243 levels) was included as a random effect. Contemporary group effects included a fixed or random herd-year-season of calving effect (1,492 levels) and/or a fixed or random herd-pen-milking date effect (285,592 levels). Genetic parameters (kg2; posterior SD) were estimated using GIBBSF90+ software. The additive genetic variance ranged from 10.48 (0.60) to 24.12 (0.66), herd-year-season variance was 10.34 (0.40), herd-pen-milking date variance ranged from 4.91 (0.02) to 4.96 (0.02), permanent environmental variance ranged from 10.65 (0.44) to 16.94 (0.30), and residual variance ranged from 11.81 (0.01) to 14.60 (0.01). Heritability estimates ranged from 0.21 (0.01) to 0.47 (0.01), while repeatability estimates ranged from 0.51 (0.01) to 0.71 (0.01), and mean reliability of sires' breeding value predictions ranged from 0.81 to 0.89. Although caution is needed when disentangling associations between genetic effects, permanent environmental effects, and herd-pen-milking date contemporary groups, our results suggest that using daily milk weights and pen locations may improve the precision of genetic evaluations through increased sire PTA reliabilities for milk production traits in dairy cattle.

Influence of different concentrations of milk urea nitrogen on the reproductive performance of Holstein cows.

The purpose of this study was to assess how various MUN levels affected the reproductive performance traits of Iranian Holsteins. The dataset used in this study included reproduction performance records for 16,000 Holstein cows and was gathered by the Animal Breeding Center and Promotion of Animal Products of Iran on 30 large dairy herds during 2018-2021. The MUN concentrations were grouped into four classes: [Formula: see text] mg/dL (MUN1), [Formula: see text] mg/dL (MUN2), [Formula: see text] mg/dL (MUN3), and [Formula: see text] mg/dL (MUN4). The study took into account various reproductive and fertility traits, such as the number of inseminations per conception (NINS), the percentage of pregnant cows till 120 days in milk (PP120), the calving interval (CI), the days open (DO), the days from calving to the first service (DCFS), the first service conception rate (FSCR), and the abortion rate (ABR). The impact of MUN levels on the incidence of abortion and non-pregnancy in dairy cows was investigated using logistic regression models. Also, to evaluate the effect of MUN concentrations on reproduction traits, a generalized linear model was used. The MUN2 group had the greatest odds of non-pregnancy (P < 0.05; OR = 2.81; MUN2 vs. MUN1). Also, the MUN4 group had the greatest odds of abortion (P < 0.01, OR = 3.36; MUN4 vs. MUN1). The MUN2 and MUN4 groups had the greatest (51.91%) and the lowest (34.32%) FSCR, respectively. MUN classes had a significant influence on DO (P < 0.05), and MUN4 had the largest value (145.44 days). The results indicated the negative association between MUN with reproduction and fertility in Iranian Holsteins.

Automating hock wound detection in dairy cattle

Hock scoring in dairy cattle is a crucial welfare assessment tool used to evaluate the condition of a cow's hocks, particularly for signs of injury, swelling, or lesions. These scores provide insight into the overall well-being of the animals and are essential for ensuring proper management and housing conditions. Accurate hock scoring is vital because it can indicate issues such as poor bedding quality or inadequate space, which directly affect the health and productivity of the herd. Traditionally, hock scoring is performed manually by trained observers. However, consistency in scoring can be a challenge. Two studies were conducted to quantify inconsistency in hock scoring. In one study, manual scoring repeatability was measured. In the second study, manual and video scoring repeatability was measured. Repeatability was quantified with a weighted Cowen's kappa metric. Manual scoring was found to be inconsistent but more consistent than video scoring. This variability highlights the need for a more reliable, objective method of scoring. To address this, we explored the automation of hock score detection using artificial intelligence. Specifically, we employed a simple U-net semantic segmentation algorithm to detect wounds on the hocks without classifying them into specific categories. Automating the detection process can reduce observer bias, improve consistency, and allow for continuous monitoring of large herds. This approach holds promise for enhancing animal welfare by providing a more efficient and accurate method of assessing hock health in dairy cattle.

Needs for increasing the storage infrastructure for manure in Poland in the light of the requirements of the new action programme to implement the Nitrates Directive

The aim of the research was to determine the need to increase the infrastructure for storing livestock manure in Poland in groups of farms divided on the basis of the number of animal herds. Using individual data from Statistics Poland and using the balance method, the maladjustment of the infrastructure to the new legal requirements regarding the storage of manure was estimated. It was determined that meeting the standards included in the new action program in force in the country under the Nitrates Directive will require the construction or expansion of manure plates with an area of 2,539.6 thousand m2, new tanks with a capacity of 3,437.2 thousand m3 and covering the existing ones with a capacity of 3,170.6 thousand m3. Total investment costs were estimated at PLN 5,907,913.40 thousand, i.e. approximately EUR 1.4 billion. The requirements in force for most entities since January 1, 2025, will bring far-reaching changes, leading to the concentration of animals in very large herds and deepening the regionalisation of production. Both positive and negative effects of this process on the natural environment were indicated.

Prevalence of and potential risk factors for multiple resistance to acaricides in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks: A survey in the state of Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil.

The cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Ixodida, Ixodidae) is responsible for significant economic losses in bovine production in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Control of this tick predominantly involves the use of chemical acaricides; however, their indiscriminate use has led to the selection of resistant populations. A survey on tick populations was conducted in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, to assess the prevalence of multiple resistance to acaricides in cattle farms. Additionally, questionnaires were administered to identify potential risk factors associated with multiple resistance to acaricides. In total, 176 farms with a bovine population of ≥40 cattle were randomly assigned for tick sampling. The resistance to six acaricidal compounds was investigated by bioassays. A larval packet test was performed for amitraz, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, fipronil and ivermectin. Fluazuron was screened using an adult immersion test. Multiple resistance to acaricides (i.e., resistance to three or more compounds) was detected in 173 samples, representing 98% of the total samples. Among these samples, 125 (71%) showed resistance to all six compounds tested. Additionally, we classified the resistance intensity into four levels (I to IV) based on the quartile distribution of the bioassay data. Ten samples (6%) showed high and very high levels (III and IV) of resistance to all six compounds tested. Three variables were significantly associated with multiple resistance to the six acaricides tested: (i) use of injectable acaricides to control ticks, (ii) application of more than five acaricide treatments per year, and (iii) farms with larger herds (≥232 animals). These results regarding widespread resistance and the emergence of multiple resistance to acaricides ticks are alarming and highlight the significant challenge of tick control in southern Brazil.

Strategies of positive deviants in fodder conservation among smallholder dairy farming systems in highlands and midlands of Kenya.

Fodder scarcity and low quality affect the productivity of dairy cattle in Kenya yet only few smallholder dairy farmers show positive deviance in fodder conservation. Information on the strategies of such positive deviant (PD) farmers is scanty. The objective of this study was to determine strategies that distinguish PDs from peers (non-PDs) in fodder conservation among smallholder dairy farmers in highlands and midlands of Kenya. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among farms producing and conserving fodder in Tharaka Nithi County. Multistage sampling procedures was used; purposive sampling of the Sub-counties and locations, random selection of villages and proportional selection of 246 farms through snowball chain referral. Data were collected on demographic, socio-economic, farm characteristics and fodder conservation. Farms were categorized as PDs (n = 24) or non-PDs (n = 97). The PDs conserved fodder adequate to last dry season (about 3 months) and had milk yield 15kg/cow/day and above, while non-PDs do not qualify for both criteria. Chi-square and T-test were used to analyze categorical and continuous variables respectively. Logit regression was used to examine independent variables that influence probability of PDs. Farmers with high school and tertiary education who accessed extension services were PDs while non-PDs had non-formal and primary education and access extension less. Farms conserving hay and silage dominated PDs. Land in hectare (ha) and herd sizes in Tropical Livestock Unit (TLU) distinguished PDs (1.7ha and 9.0 TLU) from non-PDs (0.7ha and 3.3 TLU). The strategies that distinguished PDs from non-PDs were allocating land to fodder production, high milk yield kg/cow/day, large herd size and access to extension services. Increasing access to extension and resources (land) raised chances of PDs in fodder conservation. Knowledge of PDs strategies is important for fodder conservation, improve productivity and inform direction of future research.

Impact of a forage legume or nitrogen fertilizer application on ammonia volatilization and nitrous oxide emissions in Brachiaria pastures

ABSTRACT The largest proportion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Agriculture sector of the Brazilian national GHG inventory is derived from the large (&gt;200 million head) herd of cattle. The greatest contribution to these emissions comes from the enteric methane from cattle, but the direct and indirect emissions of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) from cattle excreta and N fertilizer are responsible for approximately 9 % of all national anthropogenic GHG emissions. Ammonia (NH 3 ) can be volatilized from N fertilizer and cattle excreta and deposited in sites remote from the source, constituting an indirect source of N 2 O. This study aimed to determine whether direct N 2 O emissions and NH 3 volatilization from N-fertilized pastures were greater than those derived from a mixed grass-legume pasture without N fertilizer addition. Emissions of N 2 O and NH 3 from excreta and N fertilizer from a Palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) monoculture fertilized with 2 × 60 kg N ha -1 yr -1 urea were compared to those from a mixed Palisade grass-forage peanut (Arachis pintoi) pasture. Dung and urine were collected from these cattle, and NH 3 losses and N 2 O emissions from the excreta and from N fertilizer were monitored using static chamber techniques. Volatilization of NH 3 and N 2 O emissions were found to be greater from urine than from dung. Ammonia losses from excreta and urea fertilizer were low, not exceeding 6.8, 1.1, and 4.7 % of the N applied as urine, dung, and fertilizer, respectively. The N 2 O emissions showed a tendency to be greater for the urine from the N-fertilized compared to the mixed grass-legume pasture, and the N 2 O emissions from the urine of the N-fertilized pasture ranged from 0.08 to 0.94 % of applied urine N. The N 2 O emission from the N fertilizer was at maximum 0.46 % of the applied N. The direct N 2 O emissions and the loss of NH 3 by volatilization (indirect N 2 O emission) from the excreta of cattle grazing the mixed grass-legume pasture were similar to, or lower than, the grazed grass monoculture fertilized with 120 kg N ha -1 yr -1 . As the mixed pasture received no N fertilizer and hence no GHG emission from its manufacture or application, introducing forage peanut to the Urochloa brizantha pastures shows potential to be responsible for lower GHG emissions than the N fertilized grass pasture.

Post-release dispersal and home range of translocated red deer in the Vojvodina province (Serbia)

Monitoring of 38 (12 male and 26 female) red deer translocated from Ivo Wildlife Park (Romania) to hunting ground "Bosutske Forest" (Vojvodina, Serbia) was conducted from 2017 to 2021. The red deer were translocated in lieu of the managing authority's efforts to counteract the effects of red deer losses due to catastrophic flooding in the region. All animals were ear-tagged, while 7 males and 10 females were fitted with GPS collars. A total of 2,288 valid signals were analyzed (565 from males and 1,723 from females). In addition, 1,333 sighting records were collected from eight observation posts (480 in 2019, 670 in 2020 and 183 in 2021). We determined the movements and spatial distribution of translocated animals in the new habitat and estimated their home range sizes. Home range was calculated using the minimum convex polygon method, while the core area was calculated using the kernel density estimator method. The greatest straight-line distance from the acclimatisation enclosure was essentially the same for both sexes (average 6.0 km for males and 6.4 km for females). A non-significant relationship existed between the number of days in captivity and the greatest straight-line distance, as well as between days in captivity and the core area of the home range. The estimated home range of males was 12.8 km2 (range 0.2‒36.1), smaller than that of females (20.6 km2, range 0.4‒68.7), but this difference was not statistically significant. Observations made independently showed mostly herds of 4 to 6 individuals (52.3%), while large herds (≥ 10 individuals) were rare. Participation of translocated and resident animals in mixed herds was common during the monitoring period (62.3%). Our results showed that a high level of acceptance of the new habitat and social cohesion between translocated and resident animals was achieved. We believe that this is due to two main reasons: firstly, the long-term stay in a large acclimatisation enclosure prior to release and secondly, year-round supplemental feeding coupled with an abundant natural food supply in this unique forest area also contributed to successful acclimatisation. Keywords: Cervus elaphus; population; habitat; home range size; red deer; management

A longitudinal study of the dynamics of Mycoplasma bovis antibody status in primiparous cows and bulk tank milk in Swedish dairy herds

Mycoplasma (M.) bovis is an important pathogen causing pneumonia, mastitis, and arthritis in cattle all over the world entailing reduced animal welfare and economic losses. In this longitudinal study, we investigated the presence of M. bovis antibodies in bulk tank milk (BTM) and in milk from primiparous (PP) cows at 4 sampling occasions over 2 years. Herd characteristics associated with a positive antibody test result in PP cows were investigated. The participating dairy herds (n = 149) were situated in southern Sweden, samples were collected and analyzed with ID Screen antibody ELISA. Information on herd characteristics was retrieved from the national Dairy Herd Improvement database. To identify herd characteristics associated with the presence of antibodies in PP cows, mixed linear regression with herd and sample as random factors were used. The apparent herd-level prevalence of M. bovis infection based on antibodies in BTM was 17% but with the addition of PP cows the prevalence increased to 28%. The results showed that larger herds and introduction of cattle was associated with higher antibody levels in PP cows. In conclusion, this study showed a clear difference in the apparent prevalence of M. bovis infection based on antibodies in BTM or in PP cows, the no. of positive herds were almost doubled when including PP cows. This motivates repeated sampling of a few PP cows to find newly infected herds in an early stage. Finally, the results showed that introduction of cattle influences the level of M. bovis antibodies. This is important in the control and prevention of further spread of the infection. It is essential for free herds to know their M. bovis status and antibody testing is highly recommended if introducing cattle.

Association between perinatal mortality and the management of cows before and at calving in large dairy herds

Stillbirths account for a relevant proportion of total calf mortality on dairy farms. In addition, the stillbirth rate is an important criterion for assessing animal welfare. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the stillbirth rate and aspects concerning the management of cows ante partum and during the calving period in larger dairy herds. In 97 dairy farms with an average herd size of 550 cattle (≥24 months old), data concerning farm management and animal health were collected as part of a farm inspection using a questionnaire. The stillbirth rate of the respective farms was determined based on the farm's own data on the milk yield test and analyzed for possible correlations with farm management using a multivariable factor analysis. A higher stillbirth rate was found on farms with particularly lean and overconditioned transit cows in the herd. A positive association to the stillbirth rate was also found for farms using a special birth monitoring system for heifers and those with more than 20% assisted calvings. There was no association with herd size. Regardless of herd size, factors that are related to the stillbirth rate may be determined by analyzing the farm management. The body condition of the cows is a key parameter. The introduction of special birth monitoring for heifers can probably be interpreted as a reaction to increased stillbirths in the herd. Conditioning cows before calving is an important field of action for herd managers in order to avoid stillbirths. The cows should not approach the calving period in an overly lean or over-conditioned state. When in such state, however, it is advisable for these cows to be monitored more closely in order to allow for professional assistance at the pertinent time period. Integration of body condition scoring of cows at dry-off, calving and the end of the high-yielding period, assessment of calving conditions and training of staff involved in obstetrics into veterinary herd management is warranted.

Association of Production and Selected Dimensional Conformation Traits in Holstein Friesian Cows.

The objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of dairy production traits and that for dimensional traits and to calculate the correlation between the two heritability values in a Holstein Friesian cow herd bred in Hungary. Data of 15,032 Holstein Friesian cows born in the period 2008-2018 from 666 sires were collected for the study in 6 large dairy herds. Among the conformation traits, stature (ST), chest width (CW), body depth (BD), and rump width (RW), and for production traits, in the first lactation of cows, the 305-day milk yield (MY), milk butterfat yield (FY), and milk protein yield (MY) were evaluated. Heritability estimates of ST, CW, BD, and RW were 0.49, 0.25, 0.31, and 0.30, and those of MY, FY, and PY were 0.40, 0.35, and 0.30, respectively. BD and RW had no phenotypic (b = -0.01) or genetic (b = 0.00-0.01) change. The production traits (MY, FY, PY) increased to a greater extent (b = 2.2-43.3) than the examined conformation traits over time. Consequently, it is indicated that the selection for dairy production did not result in an increase in the studied dimensional traits.

Rutting calls of harem‐holders, harem‐candidates and peripheral male Siberian wapiti Cervus canadensis sibiricus: Acoustic correlates of stag quality and individual identity

AbstractThis study investigates the effects of individuality and harem‐holding status on the acoustic parameters of rutting calls (bugles) of 14 stags of Siberian wapiti Cervus canadensis sibiricus. The stags competed for mating with hinds in a large herd, free ranging inside a fenced area with complex landscape. We considered as harem‐holders the stags, which kept a harem of 5 or more hinds for at least 2 days. Of the 15 days of observations enveloping the most active rutting period, during 3 days there was only one harem in the enclosure, during 9 days two harems, during 2 days three harems and during 1 day four harems. Stag bugles displayed both individual and status‐related variation. Harem‐holders compared with peripheral stags had shorter bugles with higher minimum fundamental frequency. After winning a harem and changing status from harem‐candidate to harem‐holder, stags shortened the duration of their bugles, lowered the beginning and maximum fundamental frequency and increased the minimum fundamental frequency. Significantly higher than the levels expected by chance, discriminant analysis classified 78.9% of bugles by the correct stag status and 53.2% of bugles by the correct individual callers. Different acoustic parameters encoded the status and individuality of the bugles. Status was encoded by the duration of the start and end parts and by the beginning and end fundamental frequencies. Individuality was encoded by the maximum fundamental frequency. We discuss that rutting calls of Siberian wapiti, although individualized, do not represent vocal signatures. However, these calls reliably mark stag harem‐holding status.

Physiological and Biochemical Blood Indicators of Boer X Saanen Crossbred Goats Raised in Binh Duong Province, Vietnam

This paper presents the results of a study on the physiological and biochemical blood indices of F1 (Boer x Saanen) crossbred goats raised in Binh Duong province, Vietnam. Blood samples from 160 goats were taken by venipuncture from each animal in the morning, data were collected by sex and two age groups (3-12 months and 12-24 months). Blood physiological indices were measured using a Hemascreen 18 hematology analyzer. Blood biochemical indices were measured using an Abaxis Vetscan 2 chemistry analyzer. The results showed that the WBC, Mono and Neut indices varied according to age and sex (P0.05). RBC, HGB, MCV, MCH had no statistically significant differences between ages and sexes (P&gt;0.05). The average protein concentration was 64.82-81.85 g/L, with significant differences between the study groups (P0.05). Statistically significant differences in mean values between age groups were investigated in the following parameters: Glucose, creatinine, AST, ALP, K, Ca, P, Cl. This study provides data on physiological and biochemical blood indices of Hybrids goats F1 (Boer x Saanen) as a basis for periodic health diagnosis of goat herds, promptly detecting health abnormalities. The data obtained can be used as reference limits related to physiological changes in livestock due to disease, nutritional deficiencies or other health-affecting factors. This is also the premise for studies on large goat herds to build a database of physiological and biochemical blood indices of goat breeds raised in Vietnam.

Идентификация гаплоблоков, потенциально ассоциированных с эмбриональной смертностью крупного рогатого скота черно-пестрого корня

Abstract. In modern realities, the problem of cattle reproduction is becoming one of the most important issues in managing a large herd. The long-term desire of breeders in all countries of the world to increase milk productivity in dairy cattle has led to the degradation of their reproductive capacity. The service period has increased by more than 40 days, the insemination index has increased almost 2 times, the intercalving period has become 3 months longer than a year. Due to intensive selection aimed at milk production and a decrease in reproductive capacity, a cow does not give birth to a calf every year, and the percentage of pregnant animals after the first insemination has sharply decreased to 30%. In terms of the degree of loss of reproductive function in cows, embryonic mortality ranks first, due to which up to 70% of pregnancy losses occur in the first 45 days after fruitful insemination. Accelerating the pace of breeding progress requires the use of genomic selection in animal husbandry, which will make it possible to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with indicators of productive longevity and fertility of cows and to identify genomic regions subject to the greatest selection pressure for indicators of productive longevity and reproductive function of dairy cattle. Purpose of the work: Identification of haplotypes responsible for reproductive function of cattle. Research methods. The studies were conducted on the Holstein breed of cattle. Identification of homozygous haplotypes was carried out using the GHap package in R software. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the identification of homozygous haplotypes responsible for early embryonic mortality and affecting fertility in a population of Holstein cows of the Ural type, Results. During the processing of the data obtained, chromosomes with haploblocks were identified, which may be responsible for early embryonic mortality and affecting the fertility of cattle.

Utilization Patterns of Milk and Milk Products among Various End Users in Karnataka, India: A Comparative Analysis

The utilization patterns of milk and milk products in Karnataka were investigated through a study of 100 farmers and 50 consumers. The focus was on how milk was retained, consumed and transformed into various products. It was found that significant variation existed in milk production and consumption across different herd sizes. Small, medium, and large farmers were reported to produce an average of 33.80, 45.18 and 66.26 liters of milk per day, respectively, with family consumption accounting for 19.23 per cent, 17.37 per cent and 15.84 per cent of their production. Larger herds were associated with increased milk production, which allowed for a greater surplus to be sold. Utilization patterns showed that small farmers retained 6.5 liters of milk daily, consuming 32.94 per cent as liquid milk and converting 64.23 per cent into curd, with minimal ghee production. In contrast, large farmers retained 10.5 liters daily, consuming 43.80 per cent as liquid milk and converting 53.12 per cent into curd. This indicated a trend towards higher liquid milk consumption and varying product transformation depending on herd size. Consumer data indicated that rural households spent an average of ₹141.18 on 2.41 kg of milk products daily, while urban households spent ₹142.10 on 2.25 kg. Despite higher costs, urban consumers spent more on liquid milk, whereas rural consumers allocated more to curd and ghee. These findings reflected regional price differences and consumption preferences. Overall, the study highlighted the complex dynamics of milk utilization, with varying consumption patterns and product transformations observed across different farmer categories and consumer demographics. This information was deemed crucial for optimizing milk production and distribution strategies in Karnataka.

Detection of the effect of the KISS1 gene on reproductive parameters in Saanen goats

The KISS1 gene, which activates G protein-coupled receptor-54 (GPR54) and plays a crucial role in the neuroendocrine regulation of GnRH secretion, is known to encode a family of neuropeptides called kisspeptins. Therefore, the KISS1 gene is thought to be associated with sexual maturity, offspring development, and estrus. The g.2124T&amp;gt;A polymorphism of the KISS1 gene, is believed to affect the reproductive system, has been studied in Indonesian goat breeds, Damascus, Zarabi, Baladi, Gaddi, Kaligesing, Guanzong, Xinong Saanen and Boer goat breeds until now. These studies are generally related determining polymorphism frequencies or the effect of genotype on litter size. The study aims to determine the allele and genotype frequencies of the KISS1 gene g.2124T&amp;gt;A SNP by the PCR-RFLP method and define the relationship between the genotypic structures and reproductive parameters such as luteal growth, maximum corpus luteum diameter, and mating rate in Saanen goats (n=30). According to the results, the genotype frequencies in Saanen goats for the KISS1 gene g.2124T&amp;gt;A were 10.35%, 55.17%, and 34.48% for AA, TT and AT, respectively. Moreover, the genotypic structure did not have a statistically significant effect on the investigated fertility characteristics. The average values of expected heterozygosity (He), observed heterozygosity (Ho), the effective number of alleles (Ne), fixation index values (FIS), and the polymorphism information content (PIC) were 0.3996, 0.3448, 1.6655, 0.8629 and 0.855, respectively. The Hardy-Weinberg chi square (χ2) value was found to be 0.5435. In conclusion, it was found necessary to study the KISS1 - g.2124T&amp;gt;A polymorphism in larger herds with different gene pools as a reason for the existence of genotypic variation and the narrow population size.

A narrative review of factors affecting the welfare of dairy cows in larger Australasian pasture-based production systems

On the basis of current growth trajectories, pasture-based dairies of the future are likely to be bigger, have higher stocking rates and feed more concentrate to cows. This review uses the five-domains framework to consider risks to the welfare of dairy cows in these larger intensified pasture-based production systems. The factors considered in this review can be broadly categorised as (1) emerging welfare risks that can be managed, (2) emerging welfare risks that require research to be managed, or (3) persisting and/or exacerbated welfare risks. First, large herds could be subject to welfare risks associated with more stock per labour unit, longer milking times and longer distances walked to and from the dairy. To counter this, the time that cows in large herds spend off pasture can be reduced by splitting the herd into several more manageable groups, and animal-monitoring technologies can help identify health challenges with a reduced stockperson to animal ratio. Cow body condition and productivity can be maintained at high stocking rates by improving pasture production and feeding a higher proportion of concentrate. The risk of ruminal acidosis may then be reduced by appropriate transition feeding regimes and rumen buffers. Second, ensuring social stability and reducing competition may become difficult as herd sizes increase and feeding becomes more intensive. The resulting variability in feed intake, increased agonistic behaviour and social stress present emerging risks to cow welfare. Research is needed to better understand the social behaviour of cows in large intensive pasture-based herds, and how the design of the pre-milking area, the feeding pad and pasture feeding regimes (i.e. quantity and timing of pasture allocation) can improve accessibility for more vulnerable animals. Finally, intensive pasture-based dairies of the future will continue to face welfare challenges relating to lameness, mastitis and cull-cow management, whereas risks due to environmental exposure may be exacerbated by the removal of shelterbelts to facilitate irrigation. These require continued efforts in research (e.g. ways of incorporating shelter into intensive grazing systems), development (e.g. pathway to market for aged beef) and extension (e.g. improved record keeping and benchmarking of lameness and mastitis).

Vegetation, Climate and Habitability in the Marseille Basin (SE France) circa 1 Ma

The environment of the Marseille basin in the Early Pleistocene was reconstructed through a multiproxy study of fluvial tufa deposits. Palaeomagnetic measurements revealed the Jaramillo subchron and dated the tufa to within the 0.8–1.5 Ma interval, probably between 0.9 and1.2 Ma. Sedimentological studies show varied depositional environments comprising natural dams formed by accumulations of plants promoting the development of upstream water bodies. The very negative δ13C values indicate that the Marseille tufa is not travertine sensu stricto but tufa deposited by local cold-water rivers. Palynological analyses indicate a semi-forested, diverse, mosaic vegetation landscape dominated by a Mediterranean pine and oak forest. Along the streams, the riparian forest was diverse and included Juglans, Castanea, Platanus and Vitis. The potential diet reconstructed from pollen was varied. The most surprising discovery was the presence of proto-cereals, which could potentially enrich the diet with carbohydrates. The identification of spores of coprophilous fungi seems to indicate the presence in situ of large herbivore herds. It is possible that, as in Anatolia, the disturbance of ecosystems by large herbivores was responsible for the genetic mutation of Poaceae and the appearance of proto-cereals. Climatic reconstructions indicate a slightly cooler and wetter climate than the present.