Military Farms Research Articles

Effect of Non Genetic Factors and Sire on Lactation Length in Frieswal Cattle

Lactation length is a very important trait of dairy animals directly affecting the milk yield. Shorter or extended lactation lengths are not desirable as it affects the milk yield. Therefore the study of factors affecting lactation length is of most important. The present study was conducted on data of 9094 lactations collected from 3425 Frieswal lactating cattle (Holstein Friesian x Sahiwal cattle) born to 239 sires maintained at Military Farm, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra from the year 1983 to 2018 to quantify effect of certain non genetic factors on lactation length. The normalized data were analyzed using PROC GLM procedure of SAS to study the effect of various genetic (sire) and non genetic (period, season and parity) factors on lactation length. The age at first calving was used as a covariate. The effect of period of calving was found to be highly significant ( less than 0.001) on lactation length. The season, parity and age at first calving were significantly affecting the lactation length. Parity two to six does not differ significantly in lactation length. Among the genetic factors effect of sire was significant on lactation length.

Study of effect of various genetic and non-genetic factors on milk yield in Frieswal cattle

The present study was carried out on data of 3,425 Frieswal cattle (Holstein Friesian × Sahiwal cattle) maintained at Military Farm, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra. Total 9,094 lactation records were collected from 3,425 cows born to 239 sires. The data were analyzed using SAS software. The collected data were normalized and utilized for studying effect of genetic and non-genetic factors on milk yield. The PROC GLM procedures of SAS were used to quantify the effect of non-genetic factors on milk yield. The non-genetic factors considered for the present study were period of calving, season of calving and parity whereas, the covariate considered was age at first calving (AFC). The estimated overall least squares mean of lactation milk yield was observed as 3188.65±10.93 kg in Frieswal cattle. The effect of period of calving, and parity was highly significant on lactation milk yield while the season of calving had significantly affected the milk yield. The age of first calving as a covariate had highly significant effect on milk yield. Amongst the genetic factors, the effect of sire was considered and found to be highly significant on lactation milk yield.

Milk composition at different stages of lactation in first-calving cows of Military Farm at Savar, Bangladesh

Objectives: The present research work was taken up to examine the changing pattern of colos¬trum to normal milk and also to monitor the effect of phages of lactations on compositional changes of milk produced by Holstein-Friesian Crossbred cows of Military Farm Savar. Materials and Methods: A total of 05 milking cows from the first calving were selected. Colostrum samples were gathered on calving and the 5th day after calving. The concentration of major ingre¬dients [fat, protein, lactose, total solids (TS), solid-not-fat (SNF), and ash] changed significantly after birth, the day on 5, similar to normal milk. The average values of specific gravity, fat, protein, lactose, TS, SNF, and ash content of colostrum were observed on day 1 and day 5. Results: The specific gravity was 1.045 and 1.031, respectively. The fat, protein, and lactose con¬tents of colostrum on day 01 and day 05 after calving showed a significant difference. The compo¬sition of whole milk showed that the specific gravity was 1.029. According to the different stages of lactation, it was found that the protein, lactose, fat, TS, SNF, and ash content were lower in the first 2 months of lactation. After 3 months of lactation, it started to increase, and there was a significant change at the end of the sampling period. Conclusion: The composition of colostrum and milk of Holstein-Friesian crossbred cows was within the normal range, and the changing pattern was similar to the other dairy breeds.

From the policy of “Ngu binh u nong” in the monarchy period to the military farm modelduring the 1956-1960 period in North Vietnam

From the policy of “Ngu binh u nong” in the monarchy period to the military farm modelduring the 1956-1960 period in North Vietnam

Effect of non-genetic factors on first lactation production and reproduction traits in Frieswal cattle

The present study was undertaken on first lactation production and reproduction records of 1470 Frieswal cows maintained over a period of 10 years (2003–2012) at two military farms, viz Meerut and Ambala at CIRC, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. The data were classified according to farm, season, period, and age groups. The overall least squares means of AFC, FL305DMY, FLMY, FLL, FSP, FDP and FCI were 921.35±05.17 days, 2658.57±42.59 kg, 2718.28±44.40 days, 304.15±1.4 days, 163.19±24.75 days, 114.20±5.94 days and 459±8.06 days, respectively. Period had highly significant effect on AFC, FL305YP, FLMY, and FLL, while it had non-significant effect on FSP, FDP and FCI. The effect of season of birth on AFC was statistically non-significant. The average FL305DMY for Meerut farm was 2879.13±41.28 kg while the corresponding estimate for Ambala farm was 2438.02±61.79 kg and the difference was statistically highly significant. The analysis on the effect of season on FL305DMY revealed that the cows calved in summer season had the maximum FL305DMY of 2700.61±57.02 kg followed by the winter (2639.75±50.38 kg) and rainy calvers (2635.37±65.81 kg). The study also revealed that the differences between different seasons were not statistically significant. The least squares analysis revealed that the AFC group had highly significant effect on the FL305DMY.

Sire Evaluation Based on First Lactation 305 Day Milk Yield and Individual Part Lactation Records in Frieswal Cattle

Background: Frieswal, the crossbred cattle, between sahiwal and Holstein Friesian breed with 62.50 per cent of exotic (inheritance) with total lactation milk yield of (4000 Kg) with average lactation length 300 days (PDC Annual Report, 2015-16). Presently, the Frieswal Animal is mainly maintained at 36 Military Farms located in various agro-climatic regions in the country.Methods: The present study was undertaken on first lactation 305 days and part lactation records of 1470 Frieswal cows maintained over a period of 10 years (2003-2012) from military farm at CIRC Meerut Uttar Pradesh as well as Ambala. The success of any breed improvement programme depends mainly on the Sire evaluation which involves the estimation of expected breeding value of the bulls on the basis of average first lactation 305-day or less milk yield and part lactation records of their daughters (FL305DMY).Result: The estimate breeding value of 55 Frieswal sires on the basis of first lactation 305-day or less milk yield and individually part lactation records, by LSM, BLUP and DFREML methods were 2701.48 kg and 2660.70 kg, followed by 333.40, kg and 329.17 kg, respectively. A number of 55 Frieswal sires with three or more daughters were evaluated and ranked on the basis of first lactation 305-day milk yield and individual third month part lactation was having better heritability and comparatively higher genetic correlations with the first lactation 305-days or less milk yield.

Genetics and Phenotypic Analysis of First Lactation Production, Reproduction and Part Lactation Traits in Frieswal Cattle

Background: The Frieswal cattle a crossbred cattle breed having 62.50 per cent of exotic (inheritance) having total lactation milk yield of 4000 Kg with average lactation length 300 days (PDC Annual Report, 2015-16). Presently, the Frieswal Animal is mainly maintained at 36 Military Farms located in various agro-climatic regions in the country. Methods: The present study was undertaken on first Part lactation production, reproduction and part lactation records of 1470 Frieswal cows maintained over a period of 10 years (2003-2012) two military farms viz Meerut and Ambala at CIRC, Meerut. Result: The estimate the heritability of production and reproduction traits were 0.29 ±0 .098,0.142±.081, 0.130±0.079, 0.087 ±.074, 0.631 ± 0.255, 0.345 ± 0.247 and 0.100 ± 0.153 for standard 305 days milk yield, age of first calving (AFC), First lactation total milk yield (FLMY), First lactation 305-day or less milk yield (FL305DMY), First lactation length (FLL), Inter calving interval (ICI), First dry period (FDP), First Service Period (FSP), respectively. All the genetic and phenotypic correlation among different production and reproduction traits were high and positive. The estimates of heritability of first lactation individual part monthly yields in Frieswal cattle were found to be 0.100 ± 0.069, 0.105 ± .070, 0.100 ± 0.069, 0.112 ± 0.071, 0.204 ± 0.086, 0.160±0.079, 0.176 ± 0.081, 0.221 ± 0.088, 0.213 ± 0.087 and 0.192 ± 0.09, respectively.

The socioeconomic effects of extreme drought events in northern China on the Ming dynasty in the late fifteenth century

This paper analyzes reconstructed data on temperature, precipitation, and extreme drought events in the late fifteenth century in Northern China, as well as historical records on population migration, financial crises, military farms, and national decisions during the Ming dynasty. We specifically examine the socio-economic effects of extreme drought events, which led to long-term changes causing the collapse of the Ming dynasty. Our results indicate that the first Cold Valley and the frequent extreme drought events of the Little Ice Age in the late fifteenth century led to a sharp reduction in the military farm system. Extreme droughts caused a large-scale population migration in Northern China and led to the collapse of the tax payment and corvee systems. To cope with the extreme droughts, the local financial reserve was reduced by 51.3%. As a result, local finances became extremely tight. To alleviate fiscal pressures, the court was forced to change the socioeconomic model implemented in the beginning of the Ming dynasty to the corvee equalization method and silver coin tax collection method. These new measures resulted in a decline of the dynasty’s control over households, to the abandonment of military farms, and to reduced control over the country’s social risks. This article explains the mechanism through which climate events led to the collapse of the Ming dynasty. We specifically explore the relationship between socioeconomic transformation and extreme drought in the late fifteenth century in order to better understand the relationship between climate change and social response.

(Clinical and biochemical investigations on bacterial diarrhea in Egyptian Buffalo Calves)

The objective of the present study was to evaluate clinico-biochemical changes occurred in bacterial diarrhea in Egyptian Buffalo calves less than three months old. The study was carried out on 50 buffalo calves in El-Galaa Military farm that located in Ismailia Governorate, 40 diarrheic calves aged 55-75 days with an average body weight (35±2.5) kg were detected and 10 apparently healthy calves were kept as a control group to investigate the clinico-biochemical profiles. E. coli mixed or co-infection of Acinetobacterbaumannii/Iwoffiiss species with Klebsiella and pseudomonas species were isolated from the diarrheic calves. Diarrheic calves show signs of anorexia, weakness, dullness, staggering movement, weight loss, pale mucous membranes with sunken eyes and dehydration. Analysis of clinical and biochemical profile of the diarrheic calves revealed significant increase in body temperature, respiratory rate, skin fold test, serum potassium, chloride, urea, creatinine, ALT, AST, GGT, triacylglycerols, cortisol, CRP and CPK withsignificant decrease in pulse rate, serum sodium, glucose and total protein concentrations.It could be concluded that, bacterial diarrhea has a severe negative impact on the clinical and biochemical profile of the affected buffalo calves.

Between militants and “mafia”: Interrupting dispossession in rural Pakistan

In 2000, one of Pakistan’s largest social movements began: a tenant struggle for land rights on the country’s military farms. Though the military tried to subdue the movement, it eventually succeeded insofar as many tenants stopped paying rent. As a result, villagers experienced a generalized (albeit uneven) prosperity. Certain movement leaders, in particular, became especially wealthy, relocating from their mud houses to big bungalows, replacing their motorbikes with SUVs, and transitioning from tenant farming to lucrative businesses in nearby cities. They also started moving around with armed security, allying with urban elites, and entering Pakistan’s major political parties. Rumors also began spreading that some leaders were using violence or intimidation to accumulate this political-economic power. In the movement’s afterlife, ordinary villagers began to wonder: were their leaders still committed to militantly pursuing villagers’ collective interests? Or were they now using the movement for their own private, even criminal, ambitions?

«НА КОНЯ, ПРОЛЕТАРИЙ». РУССКИЙ ВСАДНИК В МИЛИТАРИСТСКИХ МИФАХ О ВЛАСТИ

The consequences of the First World War had the most serious impact on the development of the national myth of power, where the image of the rider played a dominant role. After the October revolution, the development of the symbolic image of the Russian rider shifted to the sphere of revolutionary cult. Heroic myths about red riders embodied in artistic images of mass culture, understandable to the proletariat. The image of the Russian rider received the most stable connotations in the militaristic scenario: Russia's special historical path determined the originality of its national symbols. The main essential characteristic of the image of the Russian rider was his connection with the cycle "death-rebirth- immortality" due to the special mission of the hero as a defender of the Fatherland. The apotheosis of the development of the symbolic image was the triumphant departure of "Victory Marshal" G. K. Zhukov at the Parade on July 24, 1945. "It was the last day when the dead stood in columns next to the living", - wrote the biographer of "Victory Marshal". In 1950s the cavalry in the Soviet army was disbanded, the activities of military stud farms were stopped. However, the symbolic images of remote riders throwing their horses into a rapid attack remain clear to most of us even now.

Evolution of Frieswal cattle: A crossbred dairy animal of India

Frieswal cattle is one of the crossbred strains having 5/8 Holstein Friesian and 3/8 Sahiwal inheritance, develo pedby ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, in collaboration with Ministry of Defence. The projectwas started in 1987 for the evolution of a new crossbred national milch breed: Frieswal – (Holstein×Sahiwal), yielding 4,000 kg of milk with 4% butter fat in a mature lactation of 300 days. It is the only project in the country where such a huge population of animals (more than 20,000) is available with accurate production and pedigree records of each and every animal over generations, with well-established progeny testing network in 37 military farms to cover all the agro-climatic zones of the country. In this review, an attempt has been made to analyze the genesis, present status and future prospects of Frieswal cattle in India.

Estimation of factors for standardizing lactation yield to mature equivalent basis and factors affecting 305 day mature equivalent milk yield in Frieswal cattle

Data pertaining to 29,427 lactation records of Frieswal cows maintained at various Military Farms from 1987 to 2015 were used in the study. A prediction equation was developed for the first time for calculating the adjustment factors to mature age and various adjustment factors were calculated based on age in months. In the present study, the mature equivalent age of Frieswal cows were calculated as between 77 and 94 months of age, as the highest milk yield was produced during this age group. Results of the study also clearly indicate that the non-genetic factors like farm, season and period of calving had significant effect on the 305 day mature equivalent milk yield. So the proper management interventions should be followed to improve the performance of Frieswal cows in Military Farms.

Evaluation of non-genetic factors affecting lactation traits of Frieswal cows in northern zone of India

Data pertaining to 9,148 lactation records of Frieswal cows sired by 97 bulls from 1991 to 2012 and maintained at Military Farms (Meerut and Ambala) were used in the study. Results of the study clearly indicated that the non- genetic factors like farm, parity, season and period of calving had significant effect on the lactation traits like total lactation milk yield, peak yield and lactation length. So the adjustments have to be taken for accurate estimation of genetic parameters and breeding values. Since the Frieswal cattle is affected by non-genetic factors, proper production strategies should be adopted to improve the performance of Frieswal cows.

Mao’s Lost Children: Stories of the Rusticated Youth of China’s Cultural Revolution, edited by Ou Nianzhong and Liang Yongkang, translated by Laura Maynard. Portland, ME: Merwin Asia, 2015. xv+364 pp. US$65.00 (cloth), US$28.00 (paper).

<i>Mao’s Lost Children: Stories of the Rusticated Youth of China’s Cultural Revolution</i>, edited by Ou Nianzhong and Liang Yongkang, translated by Laura Maynard. Portland, ME: Merwin Asia, 2015. xv+364 pp. US$65.00 (cloth), US$28.00 (paper).

The moral ecology of colonial infrastructure and the vicissitudes of land rights in rural Pakistan

ABSTRACTFor the last 10 years, the Pakistan army has not been able to collect rent from tenant farmers on its military farms in central Punjab. In this article, I analyse the historical and cultural significance of this contested land by using insights from recent literature on the politics of infrastructure to examine the contingency of rule in Pakistan, a postcolonial state, which is dominated by its army. I illustrate these dynamics by exploring the challenge brought up by a peasant movement to tacit cultural understandings about land and political subjectivity in central Punjab, the folkloric heartland of Pakistani nationalism. I argue that place-based movements, like the Punjab Tenants Association, can radically challenge our sense of place by giving a relational account of land as both a material substance and a crucial link in the set of relations that define moral, economic and political life. This approach broadens the emerging study of infrastructures by engaging insights from science/technology studies and subaltern studies to examine how cultural legacies of colonial infrastructure projects shape state–society relations in Pakistan.

Risk factors associated with abnormal parturition and their effects on production and reproductive performance in Frieswal cattle of India

Records of 1024 Frieswal cows maintained at the Military Farm, Meerut, India over a period of 20 years from 1989 to 2008, sired by 91 bulls were included in the present study to assess the incidence and risk factors associated with abnormal parturition like dystocia, stillbirth, premature birth and abortion. The overall incidence of abnormal parturition in this herd of Frieswal was 14.01%, out of which 7.91, 3.99, 1.12 and 0.99% correspond to stillbirth, abortion, dystocia and premature birth. Wald Chi square analysis revealed season of calving (p&lt;0.04), period of calving (p&lt;0.0001) and parity (p&lt;0.0008) influenced normal calving. The effect of abnormal parturition on the total milk yield, lactation length, calving interval and dry period was also assessed along with other non-genetic factors viz., season, period of calving and parity. A reduction in milk yield was observed (p&lt;0.01) in animals which had undergone abnormal parturition (2723.75± 67.88 kg) in comparison to normally calved animals (3310.08± 35.36 kg). The dry period was also found to be longer in abnormally calved animals (127.18±4.63 days) than normal ones (117.75±2.39 days). Regular monitoring and better reproductive management will surely reduce the incidence of abnormal parturition, and thereby increase the production and reproductive performance of the animals.

Genetic analysis of reproductive performance of Frieswal cattle at Military Farm, Ambala.

Aim:This study was carried out to investigate the genetic analysis of reproductive performance of Frieswal cattle at Military Farm, Ambala.Materials and Methods:A total number of 3005 lactation records of 1147 Frieswal cows over a period of 15 years extending from 1993 to 2007 were used to study at Military Dairy Farm, Ambala. The study period was divided into 5 period of 3 years each. The average performances of reproduction traits, effect of genetic and non-genetic factors were analyzed, and estimation of genetic and phenotypic parameters of reproduction traits was undertaken.Results:The age at first calving (AFC) differed significantly across the periods of calving. The AFC was lowest during the third period (1999-2001) and longest in the first period (1993-95). The effect of season and period of calving, lactation order and regression of AFC on dry period, calving interval and service period was highly significant. The effect of sire was non-significant. The heritability estimates were low for almost all the traits under study. The service period had a high genetic correlation with dry period and calving interval. The dry period also found to have a low genetic correlation with calving interval in Frieswal cows. Service period had a high phenotypic correlation with dry period and very high with a calving interval. The phenotypic correlation between the dry period and calving interval was recognized high.Conclusions:Low heritability estimate for the reproduction traits indicates that there is a very little additive genetic variance in these traits, and individual selection will not be helpful for improving them. Improvement may be brought through better feeding and management of cows by reducing the environmental variability.

Comparative performance evaluation of Frieswal bulls in organized farms and farmers' herds

The present study was focused to determine the genetic worth of Frieswal bulls under farm and field conditions and to assess their rankings in both production systems. The first lactation records of 3,582 crossbred cows maintained at Military Farms (2,851) and in farmer’s herds (731) which were daughters of 32 bulls and calved during 14 years from 1998 to 2011 were used in the present study. The average first lactation milk yield in crossbred cows was 2,886.60± 32.78 and 2,666.17± 71.21 kg at Military Farms and field units respectively. Year of calving in farms and season of calving in field had significant effect on the first lactation milk yield. Herd/location of the farm was found significant in both conditions. Breeding value estimates of the sires ranged from 2,824.28 to 2,919.19 and from 2,650.41 to 2,758.81 kg under farm and field conditions respectively. Eight bulls (25%) under farm conditions and 27 bulls (84%) under field conditions exceeded their breeding value over the herd average. The low and nonsignificant product moment correlation (–0.261) and rank correlation (–0.296) between breeding values of bulls under farm and field conditions revealed that bulls with higher ranks for milk production under farm conditions did not retain their superiority in field conditions. Therefore top ranked Frieswal bulls tested under farm conditions cannot be recommended for their use as proven bulls in field conditions. The breeding program should also be optimized to respond to multiple environment requirements, as re-ranking of bulls occurred in the 2 environment conditions.

How climate change impacted the collapse of the Ming dynasty

Based on the reconstructed temperatures, precipitation changes, and occurrences of extreme climate events, together with historical records on fiscal deterioration, food crises, and the frequencies of popular unrest, rebellions and wars, we identified three principal ways in which climate change contributed to the collapse in the Ming dynasty. Firstly, cooling, aridification, and desertification during a cold period destroyed the military farm system, which was the main supply system for the provisioning of government troops on the northern frontiers; these impacts increased the military expenditure from 64 % of total government expenditure in 1548–1569 to 76 % in 1570–1589 and thus aggravated the national fiscal crisis that occurred during the late Ming dynasty. Secondly, climate deterioration (e.g., cooling, aridification, and an increase in the frequencies of frost- and drought-related disasters, etc.) led to a 20–50 % reduction in the per capita production of raw grain in most areas of China, which resulted in widespread food crises and exacerbated the vulnerability of social structures during the last several decades of the Ming dynasty. Thirdly, the severe droughts occurring in 1627–1643 were a key trigger to the peasantry uprising. These droughts also played a significant role to promote the peasantry uprising, especially reviving the peasantry troops by recruitment of famine victims when they nearly perished in 1633 and 1638, and severely disrupting the food supply for the government troops, resulting in the final defeat of the government troops by the peasantry troops. This study contributes to an understanding of the climate-related mechanisms behind the collapse of the Ming dynasty, and provides a historical case study that enhances our understanding of the nature of interactions between climate change and social vulnerability.