bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of atropine on the concentration and composition of milk protein in dairy cows
Authors: Auldist M.J. , Menzies C.M. , Hooper R.J. , Prosser C.G. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe objective of this study was to measure the effects of varying doses of atropine on the concentration and composition of milk protein and on blood α-amino N levels. Four treatments were administered to each of 12 cows over 12 days in a replicated Latin square experiment. There were at least 2 days between each of 4 treatment days. Treatments were: control (C; saline); low dose (L; 30mg atropine/kg LWT); medium dose (M; 40mg atropine/kg LWT); and 2 x low dose (2L). All treatments were administered via subcutaneous injection immediately after the morning milking; the second dose of the 2L treatment was given two hours later. Milk was sampled from each cow at the morning milking (time 0 h). Cows were then milked again 2, 6 and 10 h after treatment, and milk samples again collected. Blood samples were drawn from the coccygeal vein of each cow after each milking. Atropine decreased milk secretion at 6 h for the 2L treatment and 10 h for all treatments. Atropine reduced concentrations of milk protein and casein at 2 h and 6 h, but not at 10 h. Concentrations of whey proteins and of α-casein were depressed by atropine only at 6 h post-treatment, while a reduction in α-lactalbumin due to atropine was observed at 6 and 10 h post-treatment. In contrast, atropine increased concentrations of IgG and BSA at 6 h and 10 h post-treatment. Atropine also increased the ratio of casein:total protein at 6 h after injection. There was no difference between the effects of the low and medium doses of atropine, but the double low dose induced effects which were greater than for the single doses. Effects of a single dose of atropine were greatest for most milk proteins at 6 h post treatment; thus this would be the most useful milk sampling time for future experiments. Atropine did not significantly affect α-amino N concentrations in whole blood, although there was a trend for a reduction for all treatments at 2 h after treatment. Atropine may be useful for reducing milk protein concentrations and circulating levels of certain blood amino acids to base levels, during studies designed to elucidate the effects of perturbations in the blood amino acid profile on milk protein composition.
The effect of suckling following mechanical milking on milk yield, milk composition and somatic cell count in dairy cattle
Authors: Margerison J.K. , Phillips C.J.C. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractSuckling following mechanical milking is common practice in organic dairy production systems and in developing countries. The objective of the experimental work was to assess the effect of suckling and suckling frequency following mechanical milking on milk yield, milk composition and somatic cell count. Two experiments were completed using multiparous dairy cows allocated at 3 days post partum to their respective treatment groups. In experiment one, twenty–four multiparous dairy cows were allocated to one of two treatments for 305 days; 12 cows not suckled (NS) and 12 cows, which were suckled twice daily following mechanical milking (S2). Daily milk yield was significantly greater (P<0.05) in suckled cows, NS 8.0, S2 8.9 (sem 0.18) kg/d. Milk fat content was significantly lower (P<0.05) in suckled cows (NS 32.0, S2 30.7 (sem 0.56) g/kg). However, milk protein was not significantly different in suckled cows, NS 29.2, S2 27.6 (sem 10.79) g/kg compared with non suckled cows. Somatic cell count was significantly lower (P<0.05) in suckled cows NS 106, S2 85 (sem 2.85) 000/ml, compared with non suckled cows. In experiment two, thirty-eight cows were allocated one of two treatments for 120 days; 19 cows not suckled (NS) and 19 cows, which were suckled once daily following the afternoon milking (S1). Suckling took place for fifteen minutes daily following machine milking only. The calves were weaned at 6 months of age. Total daily milk yield was significantly greater (P<0.05) in suckled cows, NS 11.7, S1 12.5 (sem 0.04) (kg/d) compared with non suckled cows. The milk fat and protein content were not significantly different in suckled and non suckled cows. Milk fat content NS 33.4, S1 32.9 (sem 0.14) g/kg and milk protein content NS 29.8, S1 30.0 (sem 0.07) g/kg. In conclusion, suckled cows had significantly higher milk yields. Cows suckled twice daily had significantly lower milk fat content. Suckling did not affect milk protein content. Suckling cows twice daily significantly reduced SCC.
Non-nutritional (novel) techniques for manipulation of milk composition
Authors: Knight C.H. , Sorensen A. , Muir D.D. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThis review considers the control of milk composition by endocrine factors and local mechanisms operating within the udder, and the impact of management systems and the environment on these control systems. Much less is known about control of milk composition than yield, although one can propose that prolactin is more concerned with control of lactose and protein secretion whilst growth hormone has a bigger role to play in fat secretion. Molecular biological approaches have the potential to increase understanding and, in the distant but foreseeable future, to manipulate milk composition on a commercial scale. The feedback inhibitor of lactation (FIL), which is responsible for local control of milk yield, has equal effects on lactose, fat and protein secretion, so changes in milking frequency do not alter gross milk composition. During the course of lactation the processing properties of milk gradually deteriorate as a consequence of proteolytic degradation of caseins, but new research shows that this can largely be prevented by milking thrice–daily. This has significant implications for future milking strategies such as robotic milking and extended lactation.
Modifying milk fat composition – An example of current technology in practice
Authors: Fearon A.M. , Mayne C.S. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractIn the autumn of 1997 a butter manufacturer in Northern Ireland was approached by their principal buyer and asked to consider how the store's own brand creamery butter product could be improved in order to compete with the new spreadable butters and spreads arriving in the marketplace. In succeeding months, meetings between groups representing the dairy processing industry, animal production specialists, food scientists and animal feed manufacturers set in motion a major project aimed at managing the transfer of scientific technology into a commercial operation. Each group within the project had their own objectives and the level of risk associated with their involvement varied between the groups. However, it was undoubtedly the interaction between groups that was the most significant factor in the overall success of the project in producing a naturally spreadable creamery butter which has received extremely favourable consumer feedback.
Applying current technology to improve milk protein at farm level
Authors: Shanahan T. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractImproving milk protein concentration at farm level can add fifty pounds per cow to milk sales annually. The benefit for processors is an increase in protein supply by ten percent and improved milk processability. The farm changes needed to improve milk protein content can also lead to a reduction in milk production costs of at least fifty pounds per cow. The objective of the Kerry Agribusiness/Teagasc “Focus on Profit” project was to adopt current technology in relation to improving milk protein at farm level to enable farmers to improve their income. Specifically to improve milk value by 0.85 p/litre by increasing milk protein content from 32 g/kg, the Kerry average for 1994, to 34 g/kg by the year end 2000. Thirty five farmers were selected to represent each category of milk supplier to Kerry Agribusiness in relation to scale of production, size of holding, soil type, farm management practices and farm location. Herds were milk recorded. Milk volume, protein and butterfat concentration, production costs, farm characteristics and management practices were monitored. Current information/technology from research on improving milk protein content and reducing costs was communicated to monitor farms by means of farm visits, farm walks, demonstrations, discussion groups, clinics, seminars, newsletters, booklet, press articles and the radio by advisors and research personnel from Kerry Agribusiness, Teagasc, Munster Cattle Breeding Society, Department of Agriculture and New Zealand. From 1994, milk protein concentration has increased by 1.1 g/kg from 31.7 to 32.8, butterfat concentration has increased by 2.4 g/kg from 35.2 to 37.6 g/kg and milk value has increased by 0.97 p/litre from 20.23 to 21.20 p/litre. The best improvement in milk protein was observed during January, February and March — 0.27 g/kg, 0.36 g/kg and 0.24 g/kg respectively. Twelve monitor farmers had protein content in their milk greater than 32.0 g/kg in 1994. This increased to 33 farmers by 1998 of which 14 had milk protein content greater than 33.0 g/kg. Thirty two (91%) of monitor farmers improved milk protein by over 0.1 g/kg, six increased milk protein by over 2.0 g/kg. Milk costs were reduced by 0.7 p/litre by monitor farmers when 1995 was compared to 1998. This reduction was 1.74 p/litre from 4.66 p/litre to 2.92 p/litre when 1995 was compared with 1997. By applying current information/technology, Kerry Agribusiness monitor farmers increased milk protein content and reduced milk production costs.
The effects of fish oil supplementation to dairy cattle on milk fat content and composition
Authors: Keady T.W.J. , Mayne C.S. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractA partially balanced changeover design experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effects of level of fish oil inclusion in the diet on milk fat concentration and composition when offered to 50 lactating dairy cows in early lactation, which were offered either 5 or 10 kg concentrates/cow/day. Concentrates were formulated to contain similar concentrations of crude protein (CP), effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP) digestible undegradable protein and starch and to provide 0 (T0), 150 (T150), 300 (T300) or 450 (T450) g fish oil/cow/day or 300 g (T300B) fish oil/cow/day from a commercial fish oil premix. All animals were offered 5 kg treatment concentrate in two equal feeds through the in-parlour feeder at each milking. Additionally, cows offered the higher level of concentrates received a further 5 kg of T0 concentrate in two equal feeds per day through out-of-parlour feeders. Increasing the level of fish oil increased milk yield (P<0.01) and decreased the concentrations of fat (P<0.001) and protein (P<0.001). Increasing the level of fish oil decreased the concentrations of C6:0, C8:0, C10:0, C16:0, C14:0 and C18:0 and increased the concentrations of C18:1t, C20:0, C20:1, C20:4w6, C18:2c, C23:0, C20:5w3 and C18:2t. Relative to T300, T300B significantly decreased the concentrations of C20:4w6, but did not alter any of the other fatty acids. The transfer from feed to milk of EPA and DHA averaged 0.61 and 0.19 respectively across the three levels of fish oil supplementation. For T300 the efficiency of transfer of EPA was higher while the efficiency of transfer of DHA was lower to that for T300B. It is concluded that increasing fish oil supplementation decreased milk fat concentration by up to 15 g/kg. Also feeding fish oil is an efficient method of increasing EPA in the human diet through transfer into milk.
The effect of heifer rearing regime on milk yield and composition during the first lactation
Authors: Carson A.F. , Dawson L.E.R. , Gordon F.J. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractOne hundred and thirteen Holstein Friesian heifers (PIN (95) £88 s.d. 11.1) were used in a study to determine the effect of rearing regime, in terms of diet offered and target calving weight, on milk production in high genetic merit heifers. Eighty of the heifers were supplied from 11 commercial farms, the remainder were supplied from the herd at the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland. The heifers commenced the experiment at 7 weeks of age when they were allocated on the basis of source, live weight and genetic merit to one of four rearing regimes. The target weights at calving were 540 kg (Treatment 1) and 620 kg (treatments 2, 3 and 4). Treatments 1 heifers were offered grass silage-based diets during the winter and grass–based diets during the summer. Treatment 2 heifers were offered the same forage base along with additional concentrate supplementation. Treatment 3 heifers were offered a straw/concentrate diet during the winter and grass-based diets during the summer. Treatment 4 heifers received the same diets as treatment 3, apart from the first summer period when they were housed and offered a straw/concentrate diet. The heifers were mated at 14 months of age and were returned to the 11 farms one month prior to calving. Heifers reared on treatment 1 weighed less had a lower withers height (P<0.001) and were of a lower condition score (P<0.001) before calving than heifers reared on the other treatments. During early lactation (3 months post-calving) heifers reared on treatment 1 lost less weight and condition score than the heifers reared on treatments 2, 3 and 4. Over the winter housing period (mean 140 days) the average milk yield was lower for heifers reared on treatment 1 compared with heifers reared on treatments 2 (P<0.05), 3 (P=0.08) and 4 (P<0.05). Milk protein content was higher in animals reared on treatment 1 compared with treatment 2 (P<0.01), 3 (P<0.05) and 4 (P=0.12). Overall milk fat plus protein yield was lower for heifers reared on treatment 1 compared with treatments 2 (P<0.05), 3 (P=0.06) and 4 (P<0.05).
Green engineering for livestock production systems
Authors: Kelly M. , Boyd J. E. L. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThis paper concentrates on livestock production systems by introducing sustainable housing characteristics, and the type of information required to make an informed choice on environmentally sound materials and systems. It then compares energy use in two contrasting beef cattle systems, one a conventional straw-bedded court and roofed silo, with feed delivered by a side-delivery wagon, and the other a roofless woodchip corral and earth-bank silo, with feed delivered by fore-end loader. The woodchip corral system requires 70% less energy than the conventional bedded court, when the total energy inputs are analysed for preparation of the building materials, construction of the livestock accommodation with associated feed and waste storage, and manufacture and operation of machinery. However, when energy used in feed production is included this dominates the energy budget, accounting for 60% of all energy used in the conventional bedded court, and 85% of energy used in the woodchip corral system.
Biosensors for livestock production
Authors: Persaud K. C. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe rapid development and application of biosensors is likely to have considerable impact on livestock management. Biosensors are considered to be analytical devices incorporating a biological material, or a biologically derived material intimately associated with or integrated within a physicochemical transducer or transducing microsystem. For livestock production it is useful to consider where sensors may be used effectively. These may include monitoring of the living environment to ensure that adequate hygiene and animal welfare are maintained, waste management, monitoring of the metabolic state of the livestock so that adequate intake of nutrients is maintained, detection of oestrus or other conditions, monitoring for bacterial or viral infections, both in live animals, and during the processing of animal products. For animal welfare, biosensors are needed to measure biological effects e.g. genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, biotoxins and endocrine effects. The concentrations of specific analytes that are difficult to detect are important contaminants of water, waste, soil or air (e.g. surfactants, chlorinated hydrocarbons, sulphophenyl carboxylates, sulphonated dyes, fluorescent whitening agents, napthalensulphonates, carboxylic acids, dioxins, pesticide metabolites etc). The development of practical biosensing systems capable of operation under realistic conditions is discussed.
An overview of integrated management systems for sustainable livestock production
Authors: Frost A. R. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractLivestock systems are comprised of sets of complex interconnected processes each with their own outputs eg growth, yield, animal health, welfare and environmental emissions. Livestock management decisions are currently based almost entirely on the judgement and experience of the stockman who has to estimate or guess the likely effects of any control action.An integrated management system for a livestock production enterprise would be one which controlled all relevant processes. For example if the purpose of the system was to regulate nutritional input in order to control animal growth and pollutant emissions, the controller would calculate input values which would enable growth and emissions criteria to be satisfied simultaneously.The essential components of an integrated management system are sensors and models. Developments in sensor technology will make available increasing amounts of information relevant to monitoring animals and their environment. Model-based control systems are particularly appropriate for accommodating the variability of most livestock production processes. Models exist for most of the economically important and scientifically interesting processes in livestock production. However the requirements of a process model that is to be incorporated into a controller are different from those of a model which is aimed at demonstrating understanding of the process. Areas where process models are lacking include those involving interactions between production and environmental factors.
A vision of dairy production in the UK
Authors: Knight C. H. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThis review considers the likely impact of changing consumer requirements, political pressure, economics and technological advances on the dairy production industry of the future. The vision is one of diverse strategies of production, the majority of milk being produced from cows managed technologically with much greater regard for welfare, with a number of ‘romantic’ strategies such as organic, extensive or dual-purpose production supplying niche markets. The important novel feature of the technological strategy will be an escape from the intensive twelve-month lactation cycle to extended lactations of, say, eighteen months, since this will reduce the number of times the cow is exposed to metabolic and other stresses associated with parturition, peak lactation and rebreeding.
Engineering technologies enable real time information monitoring in pig production
Authors: Bird N. , Crabtree H. G. , Schofield C. P. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractReliable and affordable technology for collecting and managing livestock production process information is being developed. The advances in data measurement, collection and transfer technology enable us to retrieve information from one or more remote sites to be processed and managed centrally. This opens up the opportunity to advance from open loop, prescriptive production to closed loop systems where factors influencing the actual performance of animals are used to modify and improve their production parameters (feed, environment, medication). We strive from producing animals by predicting what is needed using outdated data, to measuring what is actually happening as they grow, processing this information and acting to optimise animal performance by modifying production parameters in real time.This paper describes commercially available systems that make possible the retrieval, collection, processing and distribution of near real time production information. Various aspects of production management using this technology are discussed, and examples of how it can be applied to monitor water usage, how it relates to pig performance and how energy usage can be influenced, are considered.
Nutritional management of meat poultry
Authors: Filmer D. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe shortcomings of current feeding practices for meat poultry are illustrated and alternative systems discussed. These include automatic blending between high and low protein feeds at each poultry house, to deliver appropriate predetermined nutrient intakes daily. The benefits of using whole cereal as the low protein feed on gut pH, viscosity of gut contents, nutrient digestibility, litter quality and reductions in atmospheric pollution, and coccidial damage are discussed.Comparisons between current ad-lib feeding and various developmental stages of “Automated Controlled Feeding” are made. The alternative systems lead to proper function of birds' gizzards and crops and the benefits in terms of bird health, reduced mortality and variability, improved behaviour, and feed efficiency are illustrated.Currently available integrated management systems are described, and the principles behind a current MAFF LINK project discussed. This involves a real-time growth model that uses recorded liveweight, feed and nutrient intakes to date, to calculate the next day's nutrient intakes that will get birds back on target if they start to deviate from it.Future developments where the objective function could include minimising costs per kg liveweight or breast meat or maximising margin per bird placed or per square metre per year are discussed.
Effect of replacing rolled wheat with a moist food co-product on the yield and composition of milk from Holstein Friesian dairy cows fed a grass silage based diet
Authors: Chaudhry A S. , Taylor W. , Rowlinson P. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThis study compared the effect of feeding AmyPlus, a moist feed, as opposed to rolled wheat on the yield and composition of milk from dairy cows consuming grass silage based total mixed ration (TMR). Seventy-two Holstein-Friesian cows were distributed into AmyPlus (Treatment) and Wheat (Control) groups and loose housed on straw in an open shed. Each kg Wheat based concentrate contained 345g rolled wheat, 230g rapeseed meal, 115g sugarbeet pulp, 115g Molaferm 20, 115g soybean meal, 56g barley straw and 24g vitamin-minerals. In contrast, each kg AmyPlus based concentrate contained 501g AmyPlus (480g DM /kg), 105g rapeseed meal, 126g sugarbeet pulp, 126g Molaferm 20, 84g soybean meal, 41g barley straw and 17g vitamin-minerals. Here, AmyPlus was loaded directly into the mixer wagon to prepare fresh AmyPlus based TMR with a silage to concentrate ratio of 68:32. Each TMR was fed once daily to the corresponding group of cows also receiving 2kg of Distillers’ grains per cow in the parlour during milking. Daily milk yield and composition was recorded from November 1999 to February 2000. The overall daily Dry matter intake (DMI) of each TMR per cow remained uniform (20.19 vs 20.15 kg for Treatment and Control group respectively) across both groups. Daily milk yield and total cell counts per cow did not vary significantly (P>0.05) between groups during various months. While, milk fat and protein contents were greater in Treatment than Control group during each month, the differences were significant (P<0.05) only during November and December for fat and in January for protein. On average, the Treatment group tended to show a non-significant increase (P>0.05) in daily milk yield per cow by 0.144 kg than the Control group. The fat (46.2 vs 43.7) and protein (34.5 vs 33.5) contents in g /kg milk were also increased significantly (P<0.001) in Treatment compared with Control group. Total cell counts did not vary significantly (P>0.05) and remained within the acceptable limits. The cows consuming AmyPlus maintained their health as indicated by their intake, production, cell counts and general appearance. It would appear that AmyPlus can replace rolled wheat in TMR. However, it may be necessary to evaluate the storage, economic and environmental implications of using such moist co-products in silage based dairy rations.