Red Sindhi Research Articles

406 EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE DOSES ON SUPEROVULATORY RESPONSE OF Red Sindhi COWS

The use of bovine embryo transfer to increase the reproductive potential of animals with high genetic merit is unquestionable. However, studies that evaluate the response to exogenous FSH stimulation in Red Sindhi cows are rare. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the superovulatory response of Red Sindhi cows treated with 3 different doses of FSH (Folltropin®-V, Bioniche Animal Health, Belleville, Ontario, Canada). The animals used had body condition scores ranging from 3.5 to 4.0 (1-5 scale), were between 6 and 10 years of age, and were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups. Three doses of FSH were administered: 100 mg (n = 16); 133 mg (n = 13), and 200 mg (n = 14). The treatments were initiated on random days of the estrous cycle. On Day 0, animals received 2 mg of estradiol benzoate i.m. (Estrogin®, Farmavet, Jaboticabal, Brazil) and an intravaginal device (CIDR; InterAg, Hamilton, New Zealand) with 1.9 g of progesterone. On Day 4, donors received FSH in 8 i.m. injections that decreased in dose during 4 consecutive days. A dose of 265 μg of cloprostenol (Ciosin®, Schering-Plough, Cotia, Brazil) was given i.m. concomitantly with the fifth FSH injection. Twelve hours after the last FSH injection, donors received 25 μg of lecirelin i.m. (GnRH; Gestran Plus®, ARSA SRL, Buenos Aires, Argentina). TheAI were performed 12 and 24 h after GnRH. Seven days after the first AI, embryos were recovered and classified as described in the IETS manual. Data were evaluated using KruskalWallis test at a 5% level of significance. Ovarian ultrasonography was also performed to count the number of CL present at the time of ova/embryo collection. Results are summarized in Table 1. The number of CL and total ova/embryos was higher in donors receiving 200 mg of FSH than in those in the other groups. However, the number of transferable or cryopreserved embryos did not differ among groups. In conclusion, the dosage of 200 mg of Folltropin®-V seemed to be the more adequate dosage for this breed of cattle. Table 1.Effect of different follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) doses on CL number, total structures, transferable embryos, and cryopreserved embryos in Red Sindhi cows (mean ± SEM) Financial support provided by FAPERJ (E26-170.529/2007).

Estimation of Ruminal Degradation and Intestinal Digestion of Tropical Protein Resources Using the Nylon Bag Technique and the Three-step In vitro Procedure in Dairy Cattle on Rice Straw Diets

The experiment was carried out using fistulated multiparous Holstein Friesian crossbred (75% Holstein Friesian and 25% Red Sindhi) dairy cows in their dry period fed on untreated rice straw to evaluate the nutritive value of local protein feed resources using the in sacco method and in vitro pepsin-pancreatin digestion. Experimental feeds were cottonseed meal (CSM); soybean meal (SBM); dried brewery's grains (DBG); palm kernel meal (PSM); cassava hay (CH); leucaena leaf meal (LLM). Each feedstuff was weighed into duplicate nylon bags and incubated in each of the two rumen fistulated cows for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h. Rumen feed residues from bags of 16 h incubation were used for estimation of lower gut digestibility by the technique of in vitro pepsin-pancreatin digestion. Ruminal ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations did not differ between treatments or time with a mean of 5.5 mg%. Effective degradability of DM of CSM, SBM, DBG, PSM, CH and LLM were 41.9, 56.1, 30.8, 47.0, 41.1 and 47.5%, respectively. Effective degradabilities of the CP in feedstuffs were 49.6, 59.2, 40.9, 33.5, 47.3 and 65.0% for the respective feedstuffs. The CP in vitro pepsin-pancreatin digestibility as ranked from the highest to the lowest were SBM, CSM, LLM, CH, DBG, PSM, respectively. The intestinal and total tract digestion of feedstuffs in the current study were relatively lower than that obtained from previous literature. The results of this study indicate that SBM and LLM were highly degradable in the rumen, while CH, CSM and DBG were less degradable and, hence resulted in higher rumen undegradable protein. Soybean meal and LLM could be used to improve rumen ecology whilst CH, CSM and DBG could be used as rumen by-pass protein for ruminant feeding in the tropics. (Key Words : Rumen Degradability, Rumen By-pass Protein, In sacco, Three-step Technique, Protein Sources, Digestibility, Rice Straw, Cassava Hay)

Comparison of fatty acids and cholesterol content in the milk of Pakistani cow breeds

This study evaluates the milk fatty acid (FA) composition and cholesterol content in two main dairy breeds of Pakistani cows, i.e., Red Sindhi and White Thari ( n = 2 4 for each breed). The cows were housed together and received the same diet. The results show a significant variation ( P < 0.0 5 ) in the various FA content of the two breeds. The White Thari cows produce a higher amount ( P < 0.0 5 ) of saturated fatty acids (SFA) content (60.58 g/100 g) than the Red Sindhi cows (55.53 g/100). The sum of the mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was lower in Thari breed as compared to Sindhi breed cows (26.81 vs. 30.06 g/100 g and 4.85 vs. 4.96 g/100 g). Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content was found to be higher ( P < 0.0 5 ) in Sindhi breed (1.30 g/100 g) than in Thari breed cows (1.09 g/100 g). The difference of the mean cholesterol content between the two breeds was not significant ( P > 0.0 5 ), and was found to be in the range of 10.20–19.68 mg/dl. The present study indicates that the breed of the cow has a pronounced effect on FA composition of milk, and breeding programs could be used to alter the FA composition to a profile, which would be more beneficial for human health.

Estrutura genética da raça Sindi no Brasil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever a estrutura genética da raça Sindi no Brasil, utilizando dados do registro genealógico de animais nascidos entre 1955 e 1998. O banco de dados foi separado nos seguintes períodos: 1979-1983, 1984-1988, 1989-1993 e 1994-1998. A endogamia total aumentou de 0,38 para 10,13%; a esperada sob acasalamento ao acaso, de 0,07 para 5,65%; e a endogamia atribuída à subdivisão populacional, de 0,30 para 4,74%, considerando os períodos inicial e final, indicando a existência de subdivisão genética na raça Sindi. O tamanho efetivo populacional estimado pelo coeficiente total de endogamia decresceu vertiginosamente de 161 para 9. Tendo-se como base a probabilidade de origem do gene, foram calculados os números efetivos de fundadores, de ancestrais e de genomas remanescentes, os quais decresceram, ao longo do período total, atingindo valores de 16, 9 e 7, respectivamente.

259PRODUCTION OF TROPICAL DAIRY CALVES BY EMBRYO TRANSFER USING LOCAL LAISIND (BOS INDICUS) RECIPIENTS AND INTERCONTINENTAL FRESH IVF SHIPPED EMBRYOS

Increasing the diary population and milk production is a goal of many tropical developing countries. We report in this paper an attempt to develop a system of intercontinental shipping for transfer of fresh crossbred Bos taurus×Bos indicus IVF embryos into local Laisind (Bos indicus) recipients as a way to produce tropical dairy calves with highly improved milk productivity. The production of embryos was done at BOMED, Inc (Madison, WI, USA). Oocytes collected from ovaries of Holstein (Bos taurus) at slaughter and semen from milking Gir (Bos indicus) were used for IVP. Cleaved embryos were selected for air shipping in portable incubators at Day 4 (Group 1), Day 3 (Group 2) or Day 2 (Group 3) after IVF. The duration of shipping varied from 60 to 65h. Embryo transfer was done in Vietnam. Laisind cows (Yellow cattle×Red Sindhi) with body weight more then 280kg and normal reproductive activity were selected for treatment of estrous synchronization with double 11-day interval injection of PG2α (Intervet, Boxmeer, The Netherlands) and single injection of eCG (SABC Vietnam) two days before the second injection of PG2α. Timing of injections was calculated according to the IVF schedule. Embryos collected from portable incubators were transferred to a CO2 incubator for further culture at 39°C. Two experiments were carried out: (1) transfer of embryos without sexing;; (2) transfer of embryos after biopsy and sex determination by PCR. In experiment 2, compact morulae or morula-blastocysts were selected for sex determination. Four to five blastomeres were aspirated from each embryo using a cutting pipette and an aspiration pipette of 30-μm diameter. PCR was done as previously described (Uoc et al., 1999 J. Biology). After biopsy, embryos were kept in culture for one day to observe the development in vitro. Embryos developed to morula-blastocyst or hatching blastocyst at Day 7 or Day 8 after IVF were transferred nonsurgically to recipients with estrus detected in the period from 0 to 12h before or after the starting IVF. Pregnancy was confirmed by rectal palpation 3 months after embryo transfer. The average rate of embryos developed into morula-blastocyst was more then 50% (Table 1) and there were no significant differences among different shipping groups. For experiment 2, more then 87 % of embryos biopsied developed in vitro to expanding and hatching embryos. The average rate of female embryos was 56.3%. The pregnancy rate at 3 months was more then 44% (n=188). The first group of calves was born without unusual birthing problems. In conclusion, the system of embryo transfer using intercontinental shipping of fresh IVF embryos and local Bos indicus recipients can be applied for production of dairy calves. Supported by grant from the AIRE-Development agency. Table 1 Development in vitro of IVP embryos

The Impact of Crossbred Cattle (Red Sindhi×Yellow Local) on Smallholder Households in the Mountainous and Lowland Zones of Quang Ngai, Vietnam

This research investigates the use of crossbreed cattle (Red SindhixYellow Local cattle) at household level in the lowland and mountainous zones in Quang Ngai province, Vietnam. The internal and external inputs and outputs of mixed farming systems were analysed to quantify the productivity and efficiency of the use of the crossbred and yellow local cattle. In the mountainous zone, households with crossbred cattle had a lower crop and farm efficiency rate than households without crossbred cattle, but in terms of crop, livestock and farm productivity they did not differ. In the lowland zone, households with crossbred cattle had a higher crop, livestock and farm productivity and crop efficiency rate than households without crossbred cattle, but did not differ in terms of farm efficiency rate. The lowland zone had higher off-farm income, crop and household productivity, but lower livestock productivity, livestock and farm efficiency rate than the mountainous zone. Households with crossbred cattle had lower off-farm income than households without crossbred cattle. The results suggest that interactions between zone and kind of household occur at the households and show that the yellow local cattle is a better breed in the mountainous zone and more or less comparable with crossbred cattle in the lowland zone. The extrapolation of the use of crossbred cattle should be carefully considered in line with feeding practice and management.

Effect of Different Seasons on Cross-Bred Cow Milk Composition and Paneer Yield in Sub-Himalayan Region

The study was designed to evaluate the seasonal influences on cross-bred cow milk composition and paneer yield in Dhauladhar mountain range of sub-himalayan region. Fifty samples from each season were collected from a herd of Jersey×Red Sindhi ×Local cross-bred cows during summer (April-June), rainy (July-September) and winter (November-February) and analyzed for fat, total solids (TS) and solids not fat (SNF). Paneer was prepared by curdling milk at 85±2°C with 2.5 per cent citric acid solution. Overall mean for fat, TS and SNF content of milk and paneer yield were 4.528, 13.310, 8.754 and 15.218 per cent respectively. SNF and TS content varied among seasons being highest in winter (8.983% and 13.639%) followed by summer (8.835% and 13.403%) and lowest in rainy season (8.444% and 12.888%). Paneer yield was lowest (14.792%) in rainy season and highest (15.501%) in winter season. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 4 : 528-530)

Statistical Genetic Studies on Cattle Breeding for Dairy Productivity in Bangladesh: I. Genetic Improvement for Milk Performance of Local Cattle Populations

Genetic parameters for dairy performance traits were estimated, breeding values for the traits of all breeding sires and cows were predicted and the genetic trends were estimated using the breeding values in the Central Cattle Breeding Station (CCBS). A total of 3,801 records for Bangladeshi Local, 756 records for Red Sindhi and 959 records for Sahiwal covering the period from 1961 to 1997 were used in this analysis. Traits considered were total milk production per lactation (TLP), lactation length (LL) and daily milk yield (DMY). The genetic parameters were estimated by the REML using MTDFREML program. The breeding values were predicted by a best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). In all sets of data, the genetic trends for the dairy performance traits were computed as averages of breeding values for cows born in the particular year. The estimates of heritability for TLP (0.26 and 0.27) and DMY (0.28 and 0.27) were moderate in Bangladeshi local and Red Sindhi breed, respectively. Furthermore, the heritability estimate for LL (0.24) was moderate in Red Sindhi. The estimates of heritabilities for all traits were low in Sahiwal. The repeatability estimate was high for TLP, moderate for LL and moderate to high for DMY. All variances estimated in Bangladeshi Local were low, comparing the respective values estimated in both Red Sindhi and Sahiwal. On the other hand, additive genetic variances for the three traits were estimated very low in Sahiwal. The genetic trends for the three dairy production traits have not been positive except for the recent trend in Bangladeshi Local.

Statistical Genetic Studies on Cattle Breeding for Dairy Productivity in Bangladesh: II. Estimation of Reciprocal and Heterosis Effects and Optimum Crossbreeding System between the Local Breeds and Exotic Breeds for Milk Performance

Reciprocal effects among local breeds and additive and heterosis effects were estimated for total milk production per lactation (TLP), lactation length (LL) and daily milk yield (DMY). Procedures for an optimum crossbreeding system were examined by comparing various crossbred combinations. Three data sets were chosen from the total records collected from 1962 to 1997. Data set I with a total of 5,938 records composed of 9 breed groups for reciprocal crosses, data set II with a total of 6,064 records composed of 5 breed groups for additive and heterosis effects and data set III with a total of 10,319 records composed of 42 breed groups for optimum crossbreeding system were analyzed. The least squares ANOVA was used. The reciprocal crosses between Red Sindhi and the Bangladeshi Local showed significant difference. When the Red Sindhi was used as cow, the cross was superior to the opposite in terms of the three performance traits. The results showed that additive breed effects on both TLP and DMY were positive and highly significant between Bos indicus and Bos taurus, whereas the individual heterosis effects were not significant. In general, any local breeds were improved two to three times by crossing with the Friesian once or twice. However, the effect was reduced when the grading up with the Friesian was repeated more than twice. On the other hand, when the local breed was crossed with the other breeds such as Holstein and Jersey, the improvement of TLP was less. Crossing the F1 cows with the Friesian bull gave further improvement. Almost the same trends were found also for LL and DMY. The local breeds and their crosses are raised mainly for draft animals, then it is recommended that the crossbreds between the local cows and Friesian are used for dairy purposes and more than 75% Friesian bloo di s used for beef. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 6 : 777-782)

Studies on the Mode of Uptake of Plasma Glucose, Acetate, β-hydroxybutyrate Triglyceride Fatty Acids and Glycerol by the Mammary Gland of Crossbred Holstein Cattle Feeding on Different Types of Roughage

The present experiment was carried out to study the utilization of substrates in the mammary gland of crossbred Holstein Friesian during feeding on different types of roughage. Sixteen pregnant crossbred Holstein heifers consisted of two breed types of eight animals each; Holstein Friesian×Red Sindhi (50:50=50%HF) and Holstein Friesian×Red Sindhi (87.5:12.5=87.5%HF). Animals were divided into four groups of the same breed type in each group which were fed with either rice straw treated with 5% urea or pangola hay (Digitaria decumbens) as the source of roughage throughout the experiments. Four consecutive experimental periods were carried out in late pregnancy (20-23 days before parturition), early lactation (30 days postpartum), mid-lactation (120 days postpartum) and late lactation (210 days postpartum). Measurement of mammary blood flow in combining with measurement of AV difference was performed for the mammary uptake of substrates. In the period of lactation, udder blood flow was nearly three times higher than that of late pregnant period (p<0.05) in both 50%HF and 87.5%HF feeding on either hay or urea treated rice straw. During mid- and late lactation of both groups of 87.5%HF animals, mammary blood flow and milk yield showed decrease when compared to those during the early lactating period while the trends for persistency were apparent in both groups of 50%HF animals throughout experimental periods. The mean arterial plasma concentrations of glucose, acetate, β-hydroxybutyrate and free glycerol in each group remained constant throughout experimental periods. During late pregnancy in all groups, the AV difference and extraction ratio of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate and triacylglycerol across the mammary gland markedly lowered (p<0.05), which coincided with a lower net uptake by the mammary gland in comparison to the early lactating period. The mean arterial plasma concentration, AV difference and extraction ratio for acetate showed no significant differences between late pregnancy and the early lactating period. The AV difference of free glycerol showed apparent release from mammary tissue during late pregnancy in all groups. In mid- and late lactation, the mammary uptake for glucose, acetate and β-hydroxybutyrate in both groups of 87.5%HF animals showed apparent decrease as compared to that in the early lactating period, whereas no appearances were observed in 50%HF animals feeding either hay or urea treated rice straw. The mean arterial plasma concentrations for free fatty acid (FFA) and triacylglycerol (C16 to C18) were higher in late pregnancy than in early lactation in both types of crossbred animals. The values of AV difference and the net uptake by the mammary gland for FFA were variable during late pregnancy and lactating periods in all groups. There were no significant differences for AV difference, extraction ratio and net uptake of triacylglycerol during lactation advance in both groups of 50%HF and 87.5%HF animals feeding either hay or urea treated rice straw. These results suggest that the adaptations to either hay or urea treated rice straw by the mammary gland of crossbred HF animals allow for an adequate nutrient supply during pregnancy and lactation. There is no difference in the mode of mammary uptake of substrates in the same crossbred animals in response to feeding hay or urea treated rice straw. The differences in utilizing nutrients by the mammary gland for milk production between 87.5%HF and 50%HF animals would be dependent on changes in both intra-mammary factors and extra-mammary factors. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 10 : 1445-1452)

Nutritive Value and Utilization of Perennial Grasses Intercropped with Soybean Fodder by Crossbred Heifers in Humid-subtropics of Himachal Pradesh

A study was carried out to investigate the nutritive value and utilization of hybrid sorghum and perennial grass species viz. setaria (Setaria anceps) and hybrid napier when intercropped with soybean by growing Jersey crossbred heifers. Fifteen growing crossbred heifers (Jersey×Red Sindhi) of between 7-10 months age and pre-trial average body weight of 49-50 kg were divided on the basis of weight in to three treatment groups viz. T1-hybrid sorghum+soybean, T2-setaria+soybean and T3-hybrid napier+soybean in a completely randomized block design. Intercropped forages were harvested fresh, chaffed and mixed before they were offered to the heifers. Chemical composition of the herbage, dry matter intake (DMI), body weight gain and nutrient digestibility co-efficients were estimated. The herbage mixtures had crude protein (CP) content in the range of 11.87 to 13.86% and ether extract (EE) contents were 2.91 to 3.11%, respectively. The herbage mixtures were rich in minerals (ash). The gross energy (kcal/g DM) was higher in hybrid napier+soybean, while hybrid sorghum+soybean and setaria+soybean herbage mixtures had lower value for gross energy. The hybrid sorghum+soybean and setaria+soybean herbage mixtures had higher contents of NDF, ADF, cellulose, lignin and silica as compared to that of hybrid napier+soybean herbage mixture. The heifers fed hybrid napier+soybean herbage mixture had significantly (p<0.05) higher DMI g/kg W 0.75 (97.41±4.34) as compared to hybrid sorghum+soybean (88.31±2.66) and setaria+soybean (79.29±1.06) herbage mixtures. Nutrients digestibility, DCP percent, DCP intake and nitrogen balance were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the heifers fed on hybrid napier+soybean herbage mixture. There was a significant (p<0.05) difference among different herbage mixtures in TDN. The heifers on setaria+soybean herbage mixture had lower average body weight gain (g/day) than those on hybrid sorghum+soybean and hybrid napier+soybean herbage mixtures. Data obtained in this experiment demonstrated that herbage mixture of hybrid napier+soybean was better than hybrid sorghum+soybean and setaria+soybean herbage mixtures in the nutrition of growing heifers. It had highest nutritive value, better digestibility co-efficients which showed better growth rate and higher feed efficiency. In ranking, hybrid napier+soybean herbage mixture was better followed by hybrid sorghum+soybean and setaria+soybean in nutritive value in the parameters studied. For future wasteland development program in humid-sub tropics of Himachal Pradesh hybrid napier and its intercropping with soybean is recommended for general adoption because of its better adaptability and higher nutritive value. (Asian- Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 12 : 1754-1759)

Parâmetros Populacionais do Rebanho Sindi Registrado no Brasil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever a estrutura da população do rebanho Sindi registrado no Brasil. Foram geradas estatísticas descritivas da distribuição do número de progênies, estimados o intervalo de gerações e o tamanho efetivo da população, usando o registro genealógico de animais nascidos entre 1955-1998. O intervalo de gerações médio calculado para o arquivo completo foi de 7,65 anos e para o período 1994-1998 foi de 7,96 anos. Os tamanhos efetivos da população nos quatro períodos (1979-83, 1984-88, 1989-93 e 1994-98) foram, respectivamente, 501, 26, 20 e 19.

Glucose metabolism in crossbred Holstein cattle feeding on two types of roughage at different stages of lactation

An experiment was performed to study the glucose kinetics of crossbred Holstein cattle feeding on either hay or 5% urea-treated rice straw during early lactation (30 days post partum), mid-lactation (120 days post partum) and late lactation (210 days post partum). Two breeds: Holstein Friesian×Red Sindhi (50:50=50% HF) and Holstein Friesian×Red Sindhi (87.5:12.5=87.5% HF) were used. In early lactating 87.5% HF animals feeding on either hay or urea-treated rice straw, the high milk yields and lactose secretion were related to glucose uptake by the udder and udder blood flow as compared with those of 50% HF animals. Marked decreases in udder blood flow, glucose uptake, lactose secretion and milk yield were apparent in mid- and late lactation of both groups of 87.5% HF animals. In contrast, both groups of 50% HF animals showed no significant changes in udder blood flow, udder glucose uptake, lactose secretion and milk yields throughout the course of lactation. Total glucose entry rate using 3-[ 3H] glucose infusion, recycling of glucose carbon and plasma glucose clearance significantly increased during late lactation for 50 and 87.5% HF animals feeding on urea-treated rice straw. The utilization rates of glucose using [U- 14C] glucose infusion were not significantly different among groups of animals and periods of lactation. It can be concluded that 87.5% HF animals have the genetic potential for a higher milk yield, but a shorter peak yield and poorer persistence in comparison with 50% HF animals. Changes in the utilization of glucose by the mammary gland for milk production in both groups of crossbred animals during feeding on either hay or urea-treated rice straw would be dependent on intramammary changes.

Glucose metabolism in vivo in crossbred Holstein cattle feeding on different types of roughage during late pregnancy and early lactation

An experiment was carried out to study the glucose kinetics of crossbred Holstein cattle feeding on either hay or 5% urea treated rice straw during late pregnancy (21 days prepartum) and early lactation (30 days postpartum). In all 16 pregnant heifers (23–25 months of age) were selected for the experiments, including eight animals of two breed types, Holstein Friesian×Red Sindhi (50:50=50% HF) and Holstein Friesian×Red Sindhi (87.5:12.5=87.5% HF). They were divided into four groups of four animals each. Animals from the same breed type in each group were fed with either rice straw treated with 5% urea or pangola hay ( Digitaria decumbens) as the source of roughage throughout the experiments. The glucose turnover rate in both types of crossbred Holstein cattle was determined using a continuous infusion of [U- 14C] and 3-[ 3H]glucose during late pregnancy and early lactation. Total glucose entry and utilization rates increased significantly during lactation for all groups. Recycling of [C]glucose was, approximately, 20% in both crossbred cattle fed either hay or urea treated rice straw and was unaffected by the stage of late pregnancy or early lactation. Comparing 50 and 87.5% HF animals, arterial plasma glucose concentrations were slightly higher during pregnant periods but significantly higher in lactating periods in 50% HF animals. The ratio of specific radioactivity of arterial blood bicarbonate relative to that of arterial blood [ 14C]glucose in the lactating period, significantly decreased in 50% HF animals fed either urea treated rice straw or hay. An increase in udder blood flow during early lactation was significantly higher in 87.5% HF animals than in 50% HF animals. The uptake, arteriovenous differences and extraction ratio for glucose across the udder, significantly increased in the lactating period for all crossbred animals. Glucose uptake by the udder of 87.5% HF animals accounted for 65% of the total glucose turnover rate compared to a value of 46% in the lactating 50% HF animals. It can be concluded that both crossbred cattle fed either urea treated rice straw or hay exhibit the same body glucose turnover rate. The 87.5% HF animal has the genetic potential for a high milk yield and has high body and udder glucose metabolisms compared with 50% HF animals.

Dairy performance of Red Sindhi cattle in Pakistan

Dairy performance of Red Sindhi cattle in Pakistan

Mpwapwa cattle: An Indo-Euro-African synthesis

Mpwapwa cattle are a synthetic dual-purpose breed developed in the Livestock Production Research Institute at Mpwapwa in Tanzania. The breed has received about 60% of its inheritance from improved dairy breeds originating in the Indian subcontinent (Red Sindhi and Sahiwal), about 30% from African zebu breeds (Boran and Tanzania Shorthorn zebu) and the remaining 10% from European breeds (mainly Ayrshire). The breed comprises only about 1,000 animals in two major herds and is threatened by extinction. The following production parameters have been reported for the herd at the Livestock Production Research Institute, Mpwapwa: age at first calving 45.4 months; calving interval 447 days; lactation milk yield (short lactations deleted) 1,447 to 1,628 kg; daily gain 259 g; carcass weight of steers (four years) 229 kg.

Environmental and genetic variation in milk yield of native cattle and crosses with Brown Swiss in India.

Effects of year, season, parity, age, their two-way interactions, lactation length and calving interval on milk yield were investigated utilizing 9,086 lactation records collected from 1930 to 1975 from six breed groups kept in one herd at Karnal, India. The breed groups involved three native breeds (Sahiwal, Red Sindhi and Tharpakar) and three crossbreds with Brown Swiss (F1 crosses between Brown Swiss and three native breeds, inter se crosses, and 3/4 Brown Swiss). Breed, year, season, parity, age and all of the two-way interactions with the exception of breed X season and parity X season were important. Tharpakar produced more milk than Sahiwal and Red Sindhi by 232 and 204 kg. The milk production difference between Sahiwal and Red Sindhi was only 28 kg. The three crossbreds outproduced the purebreds by an average of 766 kg; however, differences in management could have favored crossbreds. Among the crossbreds, F1 crosses were superior. The linear and quadratic regressions on lactation length accounted for 28% of the variation in milk yield after year, season, parity, age and their interactions were absorbed. Calving interval and lactation length together accounted for 29%. Estimates of heritability, from paternal half-sib analyses, and repeatability of milk yield for Red Sindhi, Sahiwal and Tharpakar ranged from .10 to .30. Differences among heritability estimates from different parities were small when more than 500 records were involved.

Estimation of milk fat, solids-not-fat and total solids production in zebu and their brown swiss crosses

ABSTRACTThe present study estimates the mean fat and solids-not-fat concentrations, and 305-day yields of fat, solids-not-fat, total solids and milk for three zebu breeds (Tharparkar, Sahiwal and Red Sindhi) and for halfbred F1 and F2 Brown Swiss ♂ × Sahiwal ♀ and ¾ Brown Swiss ♂ × Sahiwal 9 cattle maintained at this Institute during the period 1972–75. Mean fat and solids-not-fat concentrations ranged from 46·4 to 47·8 g/kg and 90·3 to 90·9 g/kg respectively, which were similar for all breeds. The 305-day fat, solids-not-fat, total solids and milk yields differed significantly between different breeds (P &lt; 0–01). These yields were similar for the three zebu breeds (86 to 96 kg fat, 164 to 186 kg solids-not-fat, 250 to 282 kg total solids and 1 814 to 2 054 kg milk), but crossbreds showed significantly higher yields (125 to 171 kg, 242 to 332 kg, 368 to 503 kg and 2 670 to 3 676 kg, respectively), the highest being for F1 halfbreds. Season of calving had no significant effect on mean fat and solids-not-fat concentrations whereas the lactation yield parameters were found to be significantly higher for Tharparkar, Sahiwal and F1 Brown Swiss × Sahiwal cattle calving in the winter, followed in order by those calving in the monsoon and those calving in the summer. Selection of animals based on milk production alone was also found to increase the yield of milk constituents.

Estimation of average productive life of cattle on a modern dairy farm: Sharma, K. N. S. and S. Singh: Indian J. Anim. Sci., [formula omitted]:145, 1974. National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India

In the herd of crossbred Jersey × Red Sindhi backcross and purebred Red Sindhis of the Allahabad Agricultural Institute, dairy performance as related to breeding has been studied. In percentage of butterfat in the milk, the crosses have shown slight but nonsignificant increases over the purebred Red Sindhis; neither have there been significant differences in the length of calving intervals or in survivability of young calves for the different groups. In comparison with purebred Red Sindhis, great differences have appeared in the advantages of the crossbreds particularly, and to a lesser degree of the backcrosses, in ages at first calving and in the production of butterfat in lactation periods of 305 days. Of the cows having first lactations, over twice the proportion of crossbred cows have remained in the herd for a period of six lactations as have purebred Red Sindhis. If total production for the number of years cows remain in the herd is computed from the data on age at first calving and production in the first lactation, then the production of a herd of F1 Jersey × Red Sindhi would exceed by 2.09 times that of a herd of purebred Red Sindhis. The ratios of calculated lifetime productions of populations of backcrosses to the Red Sindhi were as follows: 34 Jersey, 1.47; 14 Jersey, 1.39; 18 Jersey, 1.18; 1/16 Jersey, 1.25. These ratios were computed by weighting the number of cows of different ages by the advantage of each of the breeding groups at that age. It appeared as a result of this study that all proportions of Jersey breeding used exceeded the production of the Red Sindhi, with the amounts decreasing as relationship to either Jersey or Red Sindhi deviated from 50 per cent.

Calf mortality in pure and crossbred Zebu cattle and Murrah buffaloes reared artificially from birth

SummaryMortality to one year of age was studied in artificially-reared calves of Tharparkar, Sahiwal and Red Sindhi breeds together with Murrah buffaloes and Brown Swiss x Sahiwal and Brown Swiss x Red Sindhi. Data covered 6267 animals over the period 1952–71. There were significant breed differences with the Brown Swiss crosses and buffaloes suffering higher losses than the Zebu breeds. Age effects (0 to 1, 1 to 3, 3 to 6 and 6 to 12 months) showed that losses were greatest in the first month of life and declined thereafter. There were significant year effects but seasons (summer, monsoon and winter) showed no significant effects although a tendency to higher losses in winter did exist. Sex effects showed no differences. Pneumonia was the major cause of loss to 6 months accounting for 30 to 40% of deaths with scours and enteritis being the second most serious factor (15 to 35% of losses).