Milk Production In Dairy Cattle Research Articles

Double trouble: Implications and management of twinning in lactating dairy cows

Over the past 4 decades, twinning increased concurrently with milk production in dairy cattle, but recently appears to have plateaued, likely from the adoption of hormonal synchroniza­tion protocols. Approximately 95% of Holstein twins are dizy­gotic, making double ovulations the primary mechanism for twinning. Decreased progesterone (P4) concentrations dur­ing preovulatory follicle growth increases double ovulations. Increased hepatic catabolism of P4 because of increased feed intake associated with increased milk production provides a physiological mechanism for decreased P4 concentrations and increased double ovulations. Cows with unilateral twins have more pregnancy losses than cows with bilateral twins which were similar to cows with singletons. Selective embryo reduction followed by P4 treatment did not increase the risk of pregnancy loss for cows with unilateral twins, but increased the risk of loss for cows with bilateral twins. Twinning will likely increase concurrently with milk production over time but can be decreased using 2 approaches: 1) submitting cows to hormonal synchronization protocols that increase P4 dur­ing growth of the preovulatory follicle before timed AI; and 2) identifying twins by laterality and allowing cows with bilateral twins to continue through gestation with extra assistance at calving, while selective reduction can be attempted for cows with unilateral twins.

Digital dermatitis in Swedish dairy herds assessed by ELISA targeting Treponema phagedenis in bulk tank milk

BackgroundDigital dermatitis (DD) is a contagious hoof infection affecting cattle worldwide. The disease causes lameness and a reduction in animal welfare, which ultimately leads to major decreases in milk production in dairy cattle. The disease is most likely of polymicrobial origin with Treponema phagedenis and other Treponema spp. playing a key role; however, the etiology is not fully understood. Diagnosis of the disease is based on visual assessment of the feet by trained hoof-trimmers and veterinarians, as a more reliable diagnostic method is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on bulk tank milk samples testing for the presence of T. phagedenis antibodies as a proxy to assess herd prevalence of DD in Swedish dairy cattle herds.ResultsBulk tank milk samples were collected in 2013 from 612 dairy herds spread across Sweden. A nationwide DD apparent prevalence of 11.9% (8.1–14.4% CI95%) was found, with the highest proportion of test-positive herds in the South Swedish regions (31.3%; 19.9–42.4% CI95%).ConclusionsThis study reveals an underestimation of DD prevalence based on test results compared to hoof trimming data, highlighting the critical need for a reliable and accurate diagnostic method. Such a method is essential for disease monitoring and the development of effective control strategies. The novelty of ELISA-based diagnostic methods for DD, coupled with the disease’s polymicrobial origin, suggests an avenue for improvement. Developing an expanded ELISA, incorporating antigens from various bacterial species implicated in the disease, could enhance diagnostic accuracy. The significance of this study is underscored by the extensive analysis of a substantial sample size (612). Notably, this investigation stands as the largest assessment to date, evaluating the application of ELISA on bulk tank milk for DD diagnosis at the herd level.

The Effect of a Direct Fed Microbial on Liveweight and Milk Production in Dairy Cattle.

This longitudinal study aimed to quantify the effects of dietary supplementation of a direct-fed microbial (DFM) consisting of three lactobacilli isolates on milk yield, milk fat and protein yields, somatic cell count (SCC), and liveweight in a single dairy herd in Australia. A total of 150 dairy cows were randomly selected based on parity and days in milk and divided into two groups: control (n = 75) and DFM treatment (n = 75). Throughout the study, the two groups of cows were housed separately in a dry lot yard, and each group had their own feeding area. For the DFM treatment group, selected cows in mid-lactation were supplemented with 10 mL/cow/day of the DFM via top dressing of the feed for the remainder of the lactation and through the dry period, extending into subsequent lactation. The control group had no supplementation. The milk yield and liveweight were recorded daily. Milk samples were collected every two months for milk component analysis (fat, protein, and somatic cell count [SCC]). The DFM-treated cows gained more liveweight across the study (19.40 kg, 95% CI 0.44 kg; 38.30 kg, p = 0.05) compared to the control cows. In the second production year, the DFM-treated cows mobilized more liveweight (-6.06 kg, 95% CI -10.49 kg; -1.61 kg, p = 0.01) and produced more milk (0.39 L/d 95% CI 0.10; 0.89, p = 0.05). Over a full lactation, DFM cows yielded at least 258 L (95% CI 252 L; 265 L) more milk than controls. No significant differences were found in fat and protein yield or SCC. This study suggests that consistent and ongoing supplementation with a Lacticaseibacillus- and Lentilactobacillus-based DFM could have a positive effect on milk production, but further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanism.

Gene expression level and immunohistochemical localization of cannabinoid and cannabinoid-related receptors in the small intestine of Holstein bulls (Bos taurus taurus)

Abstract The gastrointestinal tract plays a crucial role in nutrient absorption, secretion, and motility, ensuring proper digestion and overall homeostasis. Regulation of this complex system involves the coordination of various communication pathways, including neural and humoral mechanisms. One such mechanism is the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a signalling network comprising endogenous cannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes involved in the regulation of physiological processes in mammals and non-mammalian species. While extensive research has been conducted on the ECS in monogastric animals, limited information is available on its presence and distribution in cattle. This study aimed to investigate the distribution and localization patterns of cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 (CB2R) and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) in the bovine small intestine. The study included immunohistochemical analysis of intestinal tissue samples from Polish Holstein-Friesian breed bulls. Gene expression levels of CNR1, CNR2, and TRPV1 genes, encoding CB1R, CB2R, and TRPV1, respectively, were quantified using qPCR analysis. The results showed that all three receptors were expressed in the bovine small intestine, with TRPV1 exhibiting a significant upregulation in the jejunum compared to the duodenum and ileum. Immunoreactivity for CB1R and CB2R was predominantly observed in neurons of the enteric plexuses, while TRPV1 immunolabeling was detected in both enteric neurons and duodenal Brunner’s glands. These findings may establish an anatomical foundation for further investigations, lending support to the potential therapeutic efficacy of cannabinoid receptor agonists in alleviating gastrointestinal motility disorders associated with bovine enteropathies and optimizing milk production in dairy cattle.

Coadministration of ivermectin and abamectin affects milk pharmacokinetics of the antiparasitic clorsulon in Assaf sheep.

In veterinary field, drug exposure during milk production in dairy cattle is considered a major health problem which concerns dairy consumers. The induced expression of the ABC transporter G2 (ABCG2) in the mammary gland during lactation plays a significant role in the active secretion of many compounds into milk. The main objective of this study was to determine the involvement of ABCG2 in the secretion into milk of the antiparasitic clorsulon in sheep as well as the possible effect of the coadministration of model ABCG2 inhibitors such as macrocyclic lactones on this process. Cells transduced with the ovine variant of ABCG2 were used to carry out in vitro transepithelial transport assays in which we showed that clorsulon is a substrate of the ovine transporter. In addition, ivermectin and abamectin significantly inhibited clorsulon transport mediated by ovine ABCG2. In vivo interactions were studied in Assaf sheep after coadministration of clorsulon (in DMSO, 2 mg/kg, s.c.) with ivermectin (Ivomec®, 0.2 mg/kg, s.c.) or abamectin (in DMSO, 0.2 mg/kg, s.c.). After ivermectin and abamectin treatment, no relevant statistically significant differences in plasma levels of clorsulon were reported between the experimental groups since there were no differences in the area under the plasma concentration-curve (AUC) between clorsulon treatment alone and coadministration with macrocyclic lactones. With regard to milk, total amount of clorsulon, as percentage of dose excreted, did not show statistically significant differences when macrocyclic lactones were coadministered. However, the AUC for clorsulon significantly decreased (p < 0.05) after coadministration with ivermectin (15.15 ± 3.17 μg h/mL) and abamectin (15.30 ± 3.25 μg h/mL) compared to control group (20.73 ± 4.97 μg h/mL). Moreover, milk parameters such as half-life (T1/2) and mean residence time (MRT) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) after coadministration of macrocyclic lactones. This research shows that the milk pharmacokinetics of clorsulon is affected by the coadministration of ABCG2 inhibitors, reducing drug persistence in milk.

Milk as diagnostic fluid for udder health management.

Mastitis is the major disease affecting milk production of dairy cattle, and milk is an obvious substrate for the detection of both the inflammation and its causative infectious agents at quarter, cow, or herd levels. In this review, we examine the use of milk to detect inflammation based on somatic cell count (SCC) and other biomarkers, and for the detection of mastitis pathogens through culture-based and culture-free methods. The use of SCC at a cow or bulk milk level to guide udder health management in lactation is well-established, and SCC is increasingly used to guide selective dry cow treatment. Other markers of inflammation include electrical conductivity, which is used commercially, and markers of disease severity such as acute phase proteins but are not pathogen-specific. Some pathogen-specific markers based on humoral immune responses are available, but their value in udder health management is largely untested. Commercial pathogen detection is based on culture or polymerase chain reaction, with other tests, for example, loop-mediated isothermal amplification or 16S microbiome analysis still at the research or development stage. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight (MALDI-ToF) is increasingly used for the identification of cultured organisms whilst application directly to milk needs further development. Details of test sensitivity, specificity, and use of the various technologies may differ between quarter, cow, and bulk milk applications. There is a growing array of diagnostic assays that can be used to detect markers of inflammation or infection in milk. The value of some of these methods in on-farm udder health improvement programs is yet to be demonstrated whilst methods with proven value may be underutilised.

Impact of a feed additive (acidifier and toxin-binder) in milk production in dairy cattle

Dairy cow feeding plays an important role in milk production. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a feed additive (association of acidifier and mycotoxin binder) on milk production in dairy cattle. For this purpose, 22 cows belonging to three breeds (Montbeliard, Holstein, and Flekveih) were used. The cows were divided into two groups; a control group with seven cows and an experimental group with 15 animals. The results showed that the additive had a positive effect on milk production (23.14±5.87 litres for the experimental group vs 18.00±6.90 litres for the control). The additive also had a good effect on the percentage of sub-clinical mastitis: the Californian Mastitis Test (CMT) carried out at monthly intervals showed a clear improvement in the udder health of females in the experiment with 13 positive samples in the first test for nine cows (with four affected teats) and 10 positive samples for the second test in three cows (with three affected teats). Moreover, statistical tests revealed a significant difference in the mean fat content (35 g/L vs 23.86 g/L, respectively) while the average Faeces Consistency Score and Dornic acidity was lower in the experimental group compared to the control (2.23 vs 3.21 and 13.83 vs 16.14, respectively). These results show the importance of incorporating the feed additive into the diet of dairy cows and the need to implement an extension programme and zootechnical supervision of all actors in the sector to ensure the quality of milk production and the performance of dairy cows.

Effect of Yeast Cell Wall on Gut Health, Immunity and Milk Production of Dairy Cattle in Normal and Heat Stress Conditions. Review

This review focuses on the most recent literature to bring to light the major beneficial effects of the yeast cell wall (YCW) and its products on dairy cattle. These products include viable yeast, yeast culture, nutritional yeast, and fractionated yeast products. The yeast cell wall is one of these products and belongs to the fractionated yeast products used to promote production performance and health in dairy cows. The yeast and YCW were proven to have positive impacts on dairy cattle performance in terms of milk yield, milk components, and overall quality. As well, these products showed beneficial effects under heat stress conditions. The YCW is a natural fermentation derivative of yeast cells such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae species consists mainly of β-glucan (29% to 64%), mannan (31%), and some other compounds like protein (13%), lipids (9%), chitin (1–2%) with β-glucan and mannan being the main bioactive molecules. The mode of action through which YCW elicit their beneficial functions in dairy cow explain their effect on cows' metabolism and digestion, immunity, rumen and intestine health, and subsequent performance and well-being. These modes of action include improving gastrointestinal (GI) tract health, stimulating immune system components as it is considered an immunomodulator additive, mycotoxin binding ability, and improving antioxidant capacity. Therefore, yeast and YCW products are one of the promising areas of ruminant nutrition in dairy cows, not only because of their nutritional and health benefits to dairy cows but also due to their negligible residual effects on dairy cows’ bodies and products.

Milk Production of Dairy Cattle Supplemented with Corn-Based Total Mixed Ration with Moringa oleifera (C-TMR-M)

Milk Production of Dairy Cattle Supplemented with Corn-Based Total Mixed Ration with Moringa oleifera (C-TMR-M)

Physical and environmental characteristics of the compost barn system and its effects on the physical integrity, reproduction and milk production of dairy cattle: a scoping review

Compost barn (CB), although recent in Brazil, is increasingly gaining popularity among the intensive breeding systems in the dairy sector. This system promises to offer several advantages to producers and animals: such as providing an environment in which milk production is increased and the physical integrity of cattle is improved, reducing mastitis episodes, and promoting thermal comfort for animals. Another factor that highlights CB concerning other intensive systems is the composting process, generated by the deposition of carbon-rich materials (bedding) with nitrogen sources (urine and feces) from animals. For the full benefits of this composting to be achieved, management, especially of bedding, must be carried out correctly, considering the development requirements of the compost, the use of quality organic material, adequate ventilation, and an ideal rate of animal capacity, so that the generation of heat occurs efficiently. However, there is a general lack of information about the CB system, and hence an increasing need for data surveys of Brazilian regions that can compare the diversity of materials used in bedding, assessing energy efficiency and performance over time. Therefore, the purpose of this bibliographical review was to address the main points of the CB system approach, considering that studies such as this are consistently relevant for rural producers, facilitating decisions regarding the implementation and management of the CB system on their farms.

Effects of sustainable agronomic intensification in a forage production system of perennial grass and silage corn on nutritive value and predicted milk production of dairy cattle.

The objectives were to determine the effects of incrementally applied improved nutrient management, alternative cropping practices, and advanced production technologies in a dual forage system of perennial grass and silage corn on nutrient composition and in vitro ruminal fiber digestibility of the forages and, using these data as inputs into the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System, to predict milk production, indicators of nitrogen (N) utilization, and N excretion of dairy cattle. Farm management systems (farmlets) included a conventional system with whole manure slurry broadcast to a late maturing corn hybrid and grass harvested with 5 cuts per year (F1); improved nutrient management with a separated manure system where the sludge was applied to corn and the liquid was applied to grass (F2); improved nutrient management and alternative cropping practices with separated manure, an early maturing corn hybrid interseeded with a relay winter cover crop, and grass harvested with 3 cuts per year (F3); and improved nutrient management and alternative cropping practices combined with advanced production technologies that included irrigation and a nitrification inhibitor (F4). The field trial was a randomized complete block design over 2 yr with 4 blocks each divided into grass and corn, 4 subplots within each block for each crop, and 2 replicates within each subplot. Diets were formulation with 60% forage and 40% concentrate where the grass and corn as silage was proportional to yield for land allocations of grass and corn of 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, and 20:80. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc.). The intensified management systems (F2, F3, and F4) increased the crude protein (CP) concentration of corn with no effects on starch concentration [32.1% dry matter (DM)] compared with the conventional system (F1). Decreasing cuts of grass from 5 to 3 reduced the CP concentration in the spring harvest (15.8% vs. 12.5% DM), and increased fiber concentration and reduced digestibility in the spring, summer, and fall harvests. A common concentrate was formulated for the conventional farmlet and then combined with the forages for each farmlet within each land allocation. Forages grown under intensified management to improve N capture increased the CP concentration of the diets. However, reducing the number of cuts of grass from 5 to 3, combined with the corn and relay crop to increase yield, reduced milk production across all land allocations. To complement the nutritive value of the forages grown under each management system and land allocation, the concentrates were reformulated, which reduced dietary CP, improved the indicators of N utilization (e.g., milk urea N and milk N efficiency), reduced N excretion, and improved milk yield with no differences among the farmlets. Increasing land allocated to corn supported higher milk yield at lower dietary CP concentrations (16.5% vs. 15.4% DM) with improved milk N efficiency and lower N excretion. Intensified agronomic management increased the CP of the combined forages decreasing the need for supplemental CP in the concentrate and could reduce the importation of feed N to the farm.

THE DAIRY CATTLE BREEDING DEVELOPMENT AT THE APK DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION’S CONDITIONS

Dairy cattle milk production in the country’s food security is involved. The modern milk production and processed dairy products reaches only 80% of given in Doctrine’s level. The cows milk production increasing can reach 22,0% at the total number of livestock reducing and milk yield in 15,5% increasing for 18108,4 thousand of center to achieve. Currently, the category of primary tasks is the products producing to increase and its through digital technologies’ engagement to implement. The current situation in dairy industry reversing it’s possible due to technical-and-technological equipment and by agribusiness’ leaders and state financial support’s strengthening. There is a reason to believe that in the future it will be form a total milk production’s stable level, and milk production declining on private farms will be offset by milk production in agricultural organizations though digital transformation increasing. On the Republic of Tatarstan’s SWOT analysis’s basis, by the authors the region agrarian sector technical-and-technological modernization’s strengths and weaknesses at digital economy’s conditions were identified. According research’s results the livestock industry digital technologies classification, in depending on business’s financial capacity is made. At the same time, in order agribusiness enterprises as specific type, based on generalized scientific data to classify, digital technologies’ classification in depending on the average number of employees, conditional harvesting areas, equipment and livestock’s availability was carried out.

58. Diurnal variation in water-soluble carbohydrate contents of pasture affects milk production of dairy cattle: a simulation approach

58. Diurnal variation in water-soluble carbohydrate contents of pasture affects milk production of dairy cattle: a simulation approach

O145 Effect of fava bean milling on feed intake and milk production of dairy cattle

O145 Effect of fava bean milling on feed intake and milk production of dairy cattle

A factorial interval chance-constrained diet model for dairy farms under climate change: A case study for the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada

A large amount of greenhouse gases is emitted from the dairy industry in Canada. Actions must be taken to achieve Canada's environmental goals of decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030. Dietary management plays an important role in reducing such emission in dairy cattle production for current and future climate change conditions. In this study, a factorial interval chance-constrained diet model has been developed for Saskatchewan's dairy cow farms to control emissions by incorporating factorial analysis, interval linear programming, and chance-constrained programming. Multiple uncertainties (e.g., the price of the milk, the price of the feed, and the disease of animals) have been considered in this model. The chance-constrained programming method, which is effective to tackle uncertainties, has been first integrated in the animal nutrition optimization model. This model can provide the schemes of feed selection for diet formulation under trade-offs between farm profit and environmental impact. In addition, it could facilitate decision-makers to identify interactive relationships among various nutrient levels and manage methane emissions and nitrogen excretion from dairy cattle in dairy farms under various risks. Results show that canola meal, rolled barley grain, soybean meal, and whey would be contained in all optimized diets; the forage proportion would have the most significant effect on methane emissions; factors of forage and crude protein would have negative effects on methane emissions, while the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) would have a positive effect on methane emissions. Results indicate that reducing the number of cows is still an important strategy to mitigate carbon emissions under the condition of meeting the growing milk demand. Overall, this model could manipulate the formula of different types of dairy cattle to maximise the benefits of farm and alleviate its negative environmental impact. • A FICC diet model has been developed for the Province of Saskatchewan. • Uncertainties and complexities existed in the dairy farm diet have been considered. • Various diet schemes of dairy farms have been obtained under different risk levels. • Increasing the milk production in dairy cattle could reduce greenhouse gas emissions .

Effect of acute heat shock on stress gene expression and DNA methylation in zebu (Bos indicus) and crossbred (Bos indicus × Bos taurus) dairy cattle.

Environmental temperature is one of the major factors to affect health and productivity of dairy cattle. Gene expression networks within the cells and tissues coordinate stress response, metabolism, and milk production in dairy cattle. Epigenetic DNA methylations were found to mediate the effect of environment by regulating gene expression patterns. In the present study, we compared three Indian native zebu cattle, Bos indicus (Sahiwal, Tharparkar, and Hariana) and one crossbred Bos indicus × Bos taurus (Vrindavani) for stress gene expression and differences in the DNA methylation patterns. The results indicated acute heat shock to cultured PBMC affected their proliferation, stress gene expression, and DNA methylation. Interestingly, expressions of HSP70, HSP90, and STIP1 were found more pronounced in zebu cattle than the crossbred cattle. However, no significant changes were observed in global DNA methylation due to acute heat shock, even though variations were observed in the expression patterns of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3a) and demethylases (TET1, TET2, and TET3) genes. The treatment 5-AzaC (5-azacitidine) that inhibit DNA methylation in proliferating PBMC caused significant increase in heat shock-induced HSP70 and STIP1 expression indicating that hypomethylation facilitated stress gene expression. Further targeted analysis DNA methylation in the promoter regions revealed no significant differences for HSP70, HSP90, and STIP1. However, there was a significant hypomethylation for BDNF in both zebu and crossbred cattle. Similarly, NR3C1 promoter region showed hypomethylation alone in crossbred cattle. Overall, the results indicated that tropically adapted zebu cattle had comparatively higher expression of stress genes than the crossbred cattle. Furthermore, DNA methylation may play a role in regulating expression of certain genes involved in stress response pathways.

Toward on-farm measurement of personality traits and their relationships to behavior and productivity of grazing dairy cattle

There is growing evidence that animal personality is linked to a range of productivity traits in farm animals, including dairy cattle. To date, the methodology for assessing personality traits of dairy cattle is time consuming and often requires a test arena, which limits the opportunity for commercial farms to use personality traits of dairy cattle for individualized management. This study investigated whether personality traits of pastured dairy cattle, scored in short behavioral tests, are associated with daily behavioral patterns and milk production. Cows (n = 87) were exposed twice to each of 5 behavioral tests, where their responses to novel or putatively stressful situations were scored on an ordinal scale for investigative and reactive behavior toward a novel object and a novel human after exiting the milking parlor, response to restraint in a crush, avoidance distance from an approaching human in the paddock, and response to milking (step-kick behavior). Most behavior test scores were consistent over the 2 test repeats (using repeatability estimates, Mann-Whitney U test of difference between repeats, and Spearman rank correlation). Behavior test scores were subjected to a principal components analysis that revealed intertest relationships in 3 factors of correlated sets of test scores, interpreted as personality traits (fearful of humans, calm-investigative, and reactive to milking). Regression analyses determined how these traits were associated with daily grazing, ruminating, and lying behaviors, and milk production (after controlling for cow age, breed, lactation status, group, and climate variables). Cows that were more fearful of humans (high avoidance distance, reactive toward the novel human) had reduced lying time compared with cows that scored low on this trait. Cows that were more calm (during restraint) and investigative (toward the novel object) had greater grazing time, which likely contributed to their greater milk production compared with cows that scored low on this trait. Cows that were more reactive to milking produced less milk than cows that scored low on this trait. These results indicate that individual differences in daily behavior patterns and milk production of dairy cattle are associated with personality traits of cows, measured using several short behavioral tests. These methods may be useful for characterizing grazing dairy cattle on commercial farms, which could aid in understanding individual behavior patterns and provide opportunities for individualized management.

Udder Health Maintenance to Augment Milk Production in Dairy Cattle: A Review

The burning problems of udder health /subclinical mastitis (SCM) in dairy cattle is considered as a worldwide silent threat which is major reasons for low yield and poor quality milk and causes substantial economic loss. The present work was conducted at ICAR-NDRI, ERS, Kalyani (WB) through a project (2017-2020). The article’s aim is to review important advances in udder health maintenance to ameliorate SCM for higher quantity and quality milk production. Many researchers worked to identify effective practices to control SCM caused by Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus. Worldwide different researchers aimed to achieve better udder health and focused to detect SCM, mechanisms associated with infection, differentiating between clinical and subclinical stages, invent suitable diagnostic tests, understand exposure time, recognize specific characteristics of pathogen and establishing scientific milking procedures, etc. Establishment of standard operative programs, as discussed in this paper, resulted in better udder health maintenance. In changing climatic scenario and varying farm management practices globally researchers worked to redefine procedures to control SCM caused by different biotic and abiotic agents. Although, researchers achieved significant advances in SCM management, however changing herd structure and increased milk demand indicates that SCM /udder health will be one of the major issues to be dealt by scientists, entrepreneurs, dairy workers.

Udder Health Maintenance to Augment Milk Production in Dairy Cattle: A Review

Udder Health Maintenance to Augment Milk Production in Dairy Cattle: A Review

Association of Lactoferrin (LTF) Gene Variation to Milk Yield in Indonesian Friesian Holstein

Abstract Lactoferrin (LTF) is a gene that play role in dairy cattle’s health and immunity. Since animal health is an integral factor supporting milk production in dairy cattle, the purpose of the current study was to find an association between LTF gene variation and the amount of milk yield in Indonesian Friesian Holstein (IFH). Fifty cows were sampled in this study. The PCR – RFLP reaction using EcoRI restriction enzyme was employed to genotype the LTF in individual cow samples. As the result, AB and AA genotype was found, and it has frequencies 0.58 and 0.42 respectively. The AB genotype shows a higher amount of milk per lactation when compared to the AA genotype (3741 ± 1520.29 kg vs. 3338 ± 1317.57 kg), but not significantly different (p &gt; 0.05). In this studied dairy cattle population, the variation of the LTF gene didn’t associate with milk yield.