Red Holstein Cows Research Articles

Type Traits of Holstein-Friesian and Red-Holstein Cows Raised Together in a Private Farm in Aydın Province

This study was aimed at comparing the conformation traits of two different cattle breeds such as Holstein-Friesian (HF) and Red-Holstein (RH) cows raised together in a farm in Aydın, Türkiye. In this study, 102 HF and 19 RH cows in different lactations numbers (LN) forming a total of 121 cows were used. The type traits were determined using Linear Type Traits (LTT) based on 9 points scoring system and non-linear 100 points method. The LTT were composed of body traits such as Stature (St), Chest Width (CW), Body Depth (BD), Rump Angle (RA), Rump Width (RW) and Body Condition Score (BCS); foot and legs traits: Rear Legs Set Angle (RLA), Rear Legs Rear View (RLV), Real Legs Knee Structure (RLS) and Foot Angle (FA); udder traits: Fore Udder Attachment (FUA), Rear Udder Height (RUH), Rear Udder Width (RUW), Central Ligament (CL), Udder Depth (UD), Rear Teat Placement (RTP), Fore Teat Length (FTL) and Mammary Acuity (MA); and according to the non-linear 100 points method: Dairy Strength (DS, 15%), Frame (20%), Foot and Legs (FL, 25%) and Udder (40%). The results of variance analysis showed that no differences between breeds and LN were found in body composite traits while, for Foot and Legs traits, only the RLA was found significant (P

Assessment of welfare indicators in dairy farms offering pasture at differing levels

In terms of animal welfare, farming systems of dairy cows are perceived positively by consumers when compared to pigs or poultry. A main reason is that the majority of consumers associate dairy farming with pasture, which in turn they relate with benefits for animal health and welfare. However, holistic scientific assessments of the effects of pasturing on animal welfare are rare. Hence, it was the aim to study the animal welfare level in 61 German loose housing dairy farms by using the measures of the Welfare Quality® protocol for dairy cattle (WQP). Data were collected twice per farm at the end of the pasture season (July to October) and approximately 6 months later at the end of the barn season (December to April). Farms were classified based on the duration cows had access to pasture per day during the pasture season: group 1 (G1)>10 h; group 2 (G2) 6 to 10 h; group 3 (G3)<6 h and group 4 (G4) without pasture access. The average herd size was 129 Holstein-Friesian or Red-Holstein cows (range 58 to 527). In addition to WQP data, performance data were gathered from routine herd data recordings. The indicators were aggregated to criteria applying the scoring system of the WQP. G4 received lower scores at the first than at the second visit for the criterion absence of hunger, while there were no differences between visits in the other groups (P=0.58 – group×farm visit effect). All pasturing groups were scored better at the end of the pasture season than G4 for the criterion comfort around resting (P<0.01). Compared with G1 for both farm visits and G2 for the end of the barn season, G4 reached inferior scores for the criterion absence of injuries, including indicators such as hairless patches, lesions, and swellings and lameness. At both assessments G2 was scored higher than the other groups for the criterion absence of diseases (P=0.04). In conclusion, pasture access had positive effects only on selected welfare indicators, however, these effects were not maintained throughout the barn season.

Does access to pasture affect claw condition and health in dairy cows?

The aim of this study was to examine effects of pasturing in dairy cows on claw condition (claw length, hardness) and on the prevalence of claw diseases. At claw trimming,...

Evaluation of visible eye white and maximum eye temperature as non-invasive indicators of stress in dairy cows

The aim of this study was to investigate if visible eye white and eye temperature measurements are feasible non-invasive physiological indicators of acute stress in cows when they are exposed to cattle crush treatment for claw trimming.In the experimental setting, 30 cows of two breeds (Red Holstein and Brown Swiss) were exposed to a non-stressful (feeding) and a stressful situation (claw trimming in a cattle crush) for 10min each. We took pictures of the eyes at 0, 5 and 10min after starting of exposure to measure the percentage of visible eye white (from photographs) and the maximum eye temperature (from thermographs). Heart rate and heart rate variability parameters were recorded continuously throughout both situations. Twenty minutes after the beginning of each situation, saliva samples were taken to determine the cortisol concentration.As expected, sympathetic activity and cortisol concentration were higher in the claw trimming than in the feeding situation. However, neither maximum eye temperature nor percentage of visible eye white differed between treatments. Instead, the results of these measurements differed between the breeds. The maximum eye temperature increased during and after both situations in Brown Swiss cows, whereas in Red Holstein cows, it increased after (but not during) both situations. Furthermore, we found that Red Holstein cows had a lower percentage of visible eye white than Brown Swiss in general. This finding might be due to differences in eye coloration patterns, with Red Holstein cows having more contrast between eye white and iris and Brown Swiss having less contrast because of their darker eye white. This breed effect might have masked potential treatment effects.

Effects of Some Environmental Factors on Milking Time Milk Yield in Red Holstein Cows

The purpose of this study is to investigate the environmental factors on the milking time milk yield of Red Holstein cows. For this aim, 172,826 morning milk yield (MMY) and 172,771 evening milk yield (EMY) data collected between 2001 and 2010 from a dairy farm in Aydin Province, Turkey were used. The THI is over 72 from June to August in the region. The effects of calving month, calving year, parity, lactation month and milking month on MMY and EMY were found to be statistically significant. For every month, year and parity, the MMY means were higher than those of the EMY. The peak daily milk yield was determined on the 46th day of lactation (31.7±0.013 kg). For parity, the highest milk yield means were detected for the third parity: 13.69±0.023 kg for MMY and 11.70±0.021 kg for EMY. In conclusion, taking precautions to protect the cows from heat stress especially for the cows calved in summer and keeping the milking interval equal for whole year would help increasing the milk yield.

The Study of the Main Milk Production Traits of Red Holstein Breed, Raised in Conditions Salaj County

In order to increase the quantity and quality of milk production, animal fertility and natality, many dairy farmers grow specialized dairy breeds, including Red Holstein breed, or practice some crossbreeding with those breeds. The aim of this work was to determine the production potential of Red Holstein cows, and milk quality, in terms of somatic cell count and total germ number. The study was conducted on a herd of 20 Red Holstein cows from the S.C. Agro Laura farm, SAƒlaj County, which was analysed in terms of quantity and quality of milk produced in 2012-2014. The amount of milk was estimated based on daily production obtained from the total number of milked cows, while milk quality was established based on milk samples collected monthly and analysed by standard procedure in a specialised laboratory. In the analysis performed we found that daily milk production was on average about 22.4 kg/head, while somatic cell count and total number of germs were within the standard limits of 136-506 cells/ml x 103, with an average of 258 cells/ml x 103, and 24-279 germs/ml x 103, with an average of 120.5 germs/ml x 103. This research has confirmed the good potential for milk production of the studied cattle breed, with the productive performance over 10,000 kg milk, close to the real genetic potential of the breed.

Effects of Somatic Cell Count and Some Environmental Factors on Milk Yield and Constituents of Red-Holstein Cows

In this study, the effects of somatic cell count (SCC) and various environmental factors on milk yield and foremilk constituents in Red-Holstein (RH) cows raised under Mediterranean climatic conditions in Aydin Province in Turkey were determined. A total of 891 foremilk samples collected from 129 cows during morning and evening milkings in winter and summer seasons between 2009 and 2012 were analysed for protein content (PC), lactose content (LC), nonfat dry matter content (NFDMC), and SCC. SCC data were split into 6 groups ( 750,000 cells mL -1 ) before statistical analysis. LS MEANS of sampling time milk yield (STMY), PC, LC, NFDMC, and Log 10 SCC for winter and summer seasons were 11.27±0.253 kg and 10.59±0.226 kg (P 0.05), 8.68±0.045% and 8.50±0.040% (P<0.01), and 5.051±0.0508 (112,461 cells mL -1 ) and 4.914±0.0428 (82,035 cells mL -1 ) (P<0.05), respectively. Compared to the first SCC group, STMY, LC, and NFDMC decreased to 1.1 kg (9.4%), 6.4%, and 3.8% in the fifth group and 1.49 kg (12.7%), 11.3%, and 6.3% in the sixth group, respectively (P<0.05). In conclusion, LC could be used as a mastitis marker due to a distinct decrease in LC as SCC increases. Additionally, due to significant reductions in the STMY, PC, and NFDMC in the summer season, some precautions are required to prevent possible heat stress in this herd and the herds managed in the regions with hot summer months.

Effects of somatic cell count and various environmental factors on milk yield and foremilk constituents of red-holstein cows

Effects of somatic cell count and various environmental factors on milk yield and foremilk constituents of red-holstein cows

Relationship between herd-level incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases, general risk factors and claw lesions in individual dairy cows recorded at maintenance claw trimming

BackgroundLaminitis and energy-related postpartum diseases share several risk factors, indicating a common etiology. Thus, a herd’s incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases, such as displaced abomasum and clinical ketosis, might reflect the likelihood of cows to suffer from laminitis-related claw lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between herd-level incidence rate of displaced abomasum and clinical ketosis, general risk factors, and claw lesions in individual cows recorded at maintenance claw trimming.MethodsThe dataset consisted of 6773 trimmings, performed between 2004 and 2006 by professional trimmers, from 3607 Swedish Red and Swedish Holstein cows in 26 herds. The herds were classified as having a high, inconsistent-high or low incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases, based on the number of recorded cases of veterinary-diagnosed displaced abomasum and clinical ketosis in the Swedish national animal disease recording system during 2002 to 2006, and observations and interviews in connections with herd visits. Generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate the association between herd-level incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases and laminitis-related lesions including sole ulcer and sole hemorrhage; and hygiene-related lesions including interdigital dermatitis, digital dermatitis, heel-horn erosion, verrucose dermatitis, and interdigital hyperplasia; and absence of any claw lesion. Systematic effects, including first-order interactions, with P < 0.05 were included in the models. Herd classification was forced into the models, and a random effect of herd was included.ResultsIn comparison to herds with a high incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases, low-incidence herds showed a lower odds ratio (OR; 0.2) for laminitis-related lesions in cows trimmed during the summer months. Low-incidence herds also showed numerically lower OR estimates for laminitis-related lesions in all parity classes and a numerically lower OR for hygiene-related lesions. In addition, low-incidence herds showed tendencies towards a numerically higher OR for absence of any lesion, irrespective of trimming season or parity.ConclusionsOnly a few statistically significant associations were found, but several tendencies pointed towards better claw health in herds with low as compared with high incidence rate of energy-related postpartum diseases.

Short communication. Effects of some environmental factors and extended calving interval on milk yield of Red Holstein cows

The effects of extended calving interval (CI), calving month, calving year and parity on lactation length (LL), lactation milk yield (LMY), the first 305 days milk production of the lactation (305-dMY) and daily milk yield (DMY) of Red-Holstein cows were investigated. A total of 286 CI and lactation records were collected from 116 cows in a dairy farm located in Aegean Region of Turkey between 2001 and 2010. The CI data were divided into three classes: CI12 (12 months), CI15 (15 months) and CI18 (18 months). The CI class affected LL (p0.05) and by 15.9% in CI18 (p&lt;0.01). Because of the higher temperature and relative humidity in summer months, it is advised that some extra precautions need to be taken to compensate the adverse effects of heat stress in cows in the region. In addition, extending CI from 12 to 15 months did not cause any significant production losses; however extending CI to 18 months resulted in a significant decrease in DMY.

Effects of induced energy deficiency on lactoferrin concentration in milk and the lactoferrin reaction of primary bovine mammary epithelial cells in vitro

A dietary energy restriction to 49% of total energy requirements was conducted with Red Holstein cows for three weeks in mid-lactation. At the last day of the restriction phase, primary bovine mammary epithelial cells (pbMEC) of eight restriction (RF) and seven control-fed (CF) cows were extracted out of one litre of milk and cultured. In their third passage, an immune challenge with the most prevalent, heat-inactivated mastitis pathogens Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was conducted. Lactoferrin (LF) was determined on gene expression and protein level. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to determine LF in milk samples taken twice weekly throughout the animal trial, beginning on day 20 pp (post-partum) until day 150 pp, in cell culture total protein and in cell culture supernatant. Milk LF increased throughout the lactation and decreased significantly during the induced energy deficiency in the RF group. At the beginning of realimentation, LF concentration increased immediately in the RF group and reached higher levels than before the induced deficit following the upward trend seen in the CF group. Cell culture data revealed higher levels (up to sevenfold up-regulation in gene expression) and significant higher LF protein concentration in the RF compared to the CF group cells. A further emphasized effect was found in E. coli compared to S. aureus exposed cells. The general elevated LF levels in the RF pbMEC group and the further increase owing to the immune challenge indicate an unexpected memory ability of milk-extracted mammary cells that were transposed into in vitro conditions and even displayed in the third passage of cultivation. The study confirms the suitability of the non-invasive milk-extracted pbMEC culture model to monitor the influence of feeding experiments on immunological situations in vivo.

The influence of genetic provenience on metabolic blood profile of dairy cows

Availability of easily accessible methods and apparatus for establishing the essential parameters that indicate physiological status of animals at different stages of productive life may have greater application in daily controls on smaller farms in order to remove, in time, the causes and consequences of disturbances in the reproductive and productive cycle of cows. Two groups were formed, Domestic spotted cattle and Red Holstein, and in the blood serum from tested animals following parameters were determined: glucose, urea, total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), and inorganic phosphorus. Determined glucose concentration of 2,97 mmol/L in redholstein cows is within physiological range, while in domestic spotted cows it is in hypoglycemia (1,14 mmol/L). Statistical significance also demonstrate derived concentrations in different genotypes of blood urea (3,42 : 4,90 mmol/L) and GLDH (12,19 : 5,76 IU/L).Differences in concentrations of certain parameters of the examined blood serum, and variations amplitude that occur between groups, as well as statistical analysis of results and the test of significance, just confirm the hypothesis that for each animal breed, reference values related to narrow distribution area of growing should be established.

Paratuberculosis in breeding stock of red Holstein cows

This paper describes paratuberculosis in an isolated breeding herd of 25 high-yield dairy cows of the Red Holstein breed. The animals were examined clinically and then given the test for ldelayed type hypersensitivity and their blood serum was examined for the presence of specific antibodies against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map). The clinical examination revealed that two cows exhibited symptoms of the disease that indicated an advanced stage of paratuberculosis. The following parameters were examined in the blood of the cows that showed clinical signs of the disease: leukocytes and erythrocytes count, concentrations of total proteins, albumin, iron, sodium, potassium, and activity of creatine kinase. The analysis of the red blood cell count revealed certain digressions that indicated the existence of hypochromic microcytic anaemia. The number of leukocytes was within the physiological values, but the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was disrupted and stood at almost 1:1. The results of the biochemical analyses of the blood serum of diseased cows indicated hypoproteinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, hypoferremia, hyposodiumaemia, hypokalemia, and increased activities of creatine kinase enzymes. A suspect reaction on the site of application of avian tuberculin was determined in two animals. Animals with clinical signs of the disease reacted negative to the test of delayed type hypersensitivity. The presence of specific antibodies against the cause of paratuberculosis was proven in four animals (16%), including two animals with clinical signs of the disease and one that had a suspect reaction on the site of application of avian tuberculin. Furthermore, one animal that died exhibited macroscopic and microscopic changes regarding the intensity and distribution of lesions, the type of cellular infiltrate, and the number of present acidresistent bacteria, and the changes were characterized as diffuse changes of multibacillary type. The cause of bovine paratuberculosis was isolated from the altered organs.

Suitability of Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) Hay as a Supplement to Fresh Grass in Dairy Cows

Two experiments were carried out to determine the utility of sainfoin hay, a temperate tanniferous forage legume, as a dietary supplement for grass-fed cows. The condensed tannins (CT) of sainfoin might counteract the typical metabolic ammonia load of cows in intensive grazing systems. Furthermore, the physical fibrousness of sainfoin might improve ruminal pH stability. In the preliminary experiment, the eating rate of non-lactating Holstein cows of two tanniferous hays, sainfoin and birdsfoot trefoil, was compared to that of a grass-clover hay after specific periods of time (n = 4). The eating rate of sainfoin was superior to that of the other forages. In the main experiment, designed as a replicated 3x3 Latin square, six ruminally-cannulated, lactating Red Holstein cows received grass, concentrate and either no supplementation, 3 kg/d of grass hay or 3 kg/d of sainfoin hay (n = 6). Measured intakes of the grass hay and the sainfoin hay were 2.0 and 1.5 kg DM, and two cows entirely refused to eat the sainfoin hay and had to be excluded from data analysis. Grass DMI was similar for cows supplemented with sainfoin hay and cows fed only grass whereas intake of concentrate was higher (p<0.01) for the latter treatment. Continuous measurement of ruminal pH showed that the minimum pH at night tended to be lower (p<0.10) with grass-only feeding compared to sainfoin supplementation, but pH did not decline below the threshold of subacute acidosis for a longer period of time. The slightly higher intake of nitrogen (N) for cows supplemented with sainfoin hay (413 g/d) compared to cows fed only grass (399 g/d) was accompanied by an increased (p<0.05) fecal N excretion and a tendency for an increased (p<0.10) urinary N excretion. Ruminal ammonia concentration, as well as plasma and milk urea, were not affected by sainfoin supplementation. In conclusion, the lack of positive effects typical for CT might be explained either by the limited CT content of this plant species (55 g/kg DM) or the relatively low proportion of sainfoin in the total diet or both. Moreover, due to the unexpected low grass quality, the general ammonia load might have been too low for CT to have an impact.

Incontinentia Lactis: Physiology and Anatomy Conducive to Milk Leakage in Dairy Cows

Incontinentia lactis is a possible predisposing factor for an elevated level of intramammary infection. The goal of the present study was to investigate possible causes of incontinentia lactis in dairy cows. Two farms that differed in breed composition, but that had similar average milk yields were studied: herd A, 28 kg/d, 31 Red Holstein cows; and herd B, 26 kg/d, 16 Brown Swiss cows. Herd A was classified into 2 groups: incontinentia lactis (ILA group) and control, whereas herd B was exclusively a control herd. Milk samples that represented foremilk and the main milk fraction were collected during 4 milking sessions. In addition, milk leakage samples from the ILA group were collected at different time intervals from 0 to 5h before milking. Measurements of the teat, milk flow, fractions of cisternal and alveolar milk, intramammary pressure, and blood oxytocin pattern also were obtained. The ILA cows did not have differences in fat content between milk leakage and cisternal milk fraction. Milk fat content, however, increased during milking in response to continuous milk ejection (1.95, 1.99, and 4.61% for milk leakage, cisternal, and main milk samples, respectively). Teat canals were 9% shorter in the ILA cows, which showed greater milk yield, peak, and average flow rates. Quarter cisternal milk yield of ILA cows tended to be greater (0.50 vs. 0.23 and 0.28kg for ILA and controls from herds A and B, respectively), whereas percentages of cistern milk and alveolar milk did not differ from controls. The greater pressure in the ILA group, both before and after manual udder stimulation (ILA: 4.0 and 6.4 kPa; control: 2.0 and 5.0 kPa, respectively), could be an important cause for the leakage. Nevertheless, the increase in IMP that occurred after udder preparation affirms that milk ejection occurred in response to the tactile teat stimulation, but not before the onset of leakage. Blood oxytocin concentration in ILA cows was low until the start of udder preparation and increased in response to the milking stimulus (reaffirming the hypothesis that milk leakage occurred in the absence of milk ejection). In conclusion, milk losses by leakage are likely due to the large amount of cisternal milk, which creates pressure and causes leakage, in the absence of milk ejection.

Body condition scores in dairy cows: associations with metabolic and endocrine changes in healthy dairy cows.

Relationships between body condition scores (BCS), metabolic profiles and endocrine traits were investigated in 53 healthy Red Holstein cows. Cows were categorized into groups based on BCS ante-partum (a.p.: >3.25 or < 3.25) and on BCS losses during the first 8 weeks after calving (ABCS8 > 0.75 or < or = 0.75). Blood samples were collected 1 week before calving and every 2 weeks post-partum (p.p.). Cows with BCS a.p. >3.25 and deltaBCS < or = 0.75 were oldest and cows with BCS a.p. < or = 3.25 and deltaBCS < or = 0.75 were youngest. Cows with BCS > 3.25 a.p. and that lost > 0.75 BCS in the first 2 months of lactation exhibited signs of subclinical ketosis. If statistically adjusted for the effect of lactation number, average milk yield within the first 8 weeks p.p. and milk fat concentrations were similar between BCS groups, whereas milk protein concentrations differed significantly between BCS groups. Significant differences between groups were observed for blood plasma glucose, bilirubin, beta-hydroxybutyrate, non-esterified fatty acids and insulin concentrations. No differences were seen for albumin, urea, insulin-like growth factor-1, and 3.5.3'-triiodothyronine concentrations and for plasma activities of glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase. There was a good agreement between BCS and profiles of metabolites and hormones related to energy metabolism in clinically healthy cows. Cows in good body condition a.p. had greater risks of metabolic problems because of excessive mobilization of body reserves. However, the metabolic status was best in cows with a BCS > 3.25 a.p.. if they did not lose much body condition p.p.

Effects of an abrupt increase of starch-rich concentrates in the diet of dairy cows on concentrations of volatile fatty acids in the rumen and large intestine and on myoelectric activity of the spiral colon.

To describe the effects of an abrupt increase of concentrates in the diet of dairy cows on myoelectric activity of the spiral colon and on fermentation patterns in the rumen and large intestine. 6 healthy lactating Simmental x Red-Holstein cows. The diet of 6 cows implanted with bipolar electrodes in the spiral colon was changed from hay only to a ration of 50% hay:50% starch-rich concentrates during a period of 60 hours. Myoelectric activity of the spiral colon, concentrations of absolute and undissociated volatile fatty acids (VFA), and pH of ruminal and large intestinal contents were monitored before, during, and after the dietary change. Significant changes in patterns of myoelectric activity of the spiral colon were restricted to phases III and IV of the bovine migrating myoelectric complex and to propagation velocity. Significant alterations were not observed in pH or VFA concentrations in ruminal fluid, but pH decreased and VFA concentrations increased significantly in fecal specimens after the change of diet. Although rumen fluid is of limited value for measurement of certain indicators of fermentation, fecal samples can be used for measurement of pH and VFA concentrations, which serve as indicators of fermentation patterns in the large intestine. Increased concentrations of VFA and low pH in large intestinal digesta have a minimal influence on myoelectric activity of the spiral colon. Increased luminal VFA concentrations are unlikely to play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of motility disorders of the large intestine in cattle.

Association of casein haplotypes with casein composition and size of micelles in milks from Simmental x Red Holstein cows.

The casein micelles of bovine milk are large aggregates of roughly spherical shape consisting of the four phosphoproteins αs1-, αs2-, β- and κ-casein (CN). They are polydisperse colloidal particles with weight-average diameters between about 50 and 500 nm (Horne, 1984). Since αs1-, αs2- and β-CN are sensitive to calcium it is assumed that they are located predominantly within the micelle, whereas κ-CN is mainly on the surface of the micelles and serves as a stabilizer for the aggregates owing to its hydrophilic C-terminus. Inorganic calcium phosphate interacts with the phosphate groups of the caseins. This conformation of caseins, calcium and phosphate also contains small amounts of magnesium and citrate. Of the dry matter of the micelle, ∼93% is casein and ∼7% inorganic components, mainly calcium and phosphate (McMahon &amp; Brown, 1984; Holt &amp; Horne, 1996).In several studies it has been demonstrated that milk with the κ-CN B variant has on average smaller micelles than κ-CN A milk (Morini et al. 1975; Nuyts Petit et al. 1997). Compared with κ-CN variants, there are only a few studies on the association of αs1-, αs2- and β-CN variants with casein content and micelle size. In the milk of β-casein-deficient mice, casein micelles were smaller than in normal mouse milk but still present. The lack of β-CN was partly compensated by an increased whey protein content (Kumar et al. 1994). A comparison of the cheesemaking properties of Tarentaise milks containing the A (A1 or A2, without distinguishing between these variants) and C variants of β-CN revealed that the most significant characteristic for discriminating the two types of milk is the average diameter of the casein micelles: 293 nm in β-CN C type milk, 187 nm in the A type (Delacroix-Buchet &amp; Marie, 1994).The objective of the present study was to investigate the micelle size and the casein composition of milk from half sibs within Simmentals cross bred with Red Holsteins (Simmentaler Fleckvieh, SI×RH) sires heterozygous for A1A2 of β-CN.

Frequência da prenhez nos cornos uterinos e sua relação com o sexo do produto em fêmeas bovinas da raça Holandesa

Through retal palpation the pregnant uterine horn was determined. Thus 1009 single pregnancies of Holstein and red Holstein cows, pure breed and cross-breed, were analysed.Through X 2 (chi-square) analysis, fixing the rejection level of nullity hypothesis at 5% (P < 0.05), differences between pregnant uterine horns were statistically significant. Values were greater in the right uterine than in the left uterine hom in pure breed and cross-breed Holstein cows, being this distribution note similar in the pure breed cross-beed red Holstein cows. Both in Holstein and red Holstein cows the correlations between the sex of the calves and the pregnant uterine horns were not statistically significant.