The Research Column

by Heinz Meissner

Click on any of the publications below to read more about the specific topic:

Calf birth weight and its effects

It is known that heavier calves tend to be more prone to stillbirths, dystocia and lower calf survivability than lighter, smaller calves, but it is not known whether calf birth weight is also associated with other factors affecting the economic efficiency of the dairy herd. A number of such factors were included in the study of T.C. Linden and co-workers reported here; the title being: Calf birth weight and its association with calf and cow survivability, disease incidence, reproductive performance, and milk production. The paper was published in the Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 92 of 2009, page 2580 to 2588.
Calving interval is a fertility trait that can be used in selection programs to minimize the negative association of selection for production on fertility.

Calving interval is a fertility trait that can be used in selection programs to minimize the negative association of selection for production on fertility. Genetic parameters were therefore calculated for South African dairy breeds to estimate breeding values that can be used in the National Dairy Genetic Evaluations of South Africa. The research by B.E.
Can propionic acid bacteria in yogurt be beneficial?

Researchers F.Y. Ekinci and M. Gurel thought so and tested the concept in their research published in the paper: Effect of using propionic acid bacteria as an adjunct culture in yogurt production. The paper was published in The Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 91, pages 892-899.
Coping with ruminal acidosis in the high-yielding dairy cow - the success of the lactic acid utilizing organism Megashaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125

Coping with ruminal acidosis in the high-yielding dairy cow – the success of the lactic acid utilizing organism Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125.
How can the dairy industry limit its environmental impact?

This question was discussed in an Invited Review by S.E. Place and F.M. Mitloehner of the University of California in the US, in a paper entitled: Contemporary environmental issues: A review of the dairy industry’s role in climate change and air quality and the potential of mitigation through improved production efficiency, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 93 of 2010, pages 3407 to 3416.
How can the Dairy Industry limit its Environmental Impact?

Coping with ruminal acidosis in the high-yielding dairy cow – the success of the lactic acid utilizing organism Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125. The organism, further referred to as ME, is a South African invention; the results of the research with relevance to the dairy cow are reported in a number of scientific papers which have been reviewed by Meissner and co-workers in the paper: Ruminal acidosis: A review with special emphasis on the controlling agent Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125, published in 2010 in the South African Journal of Animal Science, Volume 40, pages 79 to 100.
How do twin pregnancy and dry period feeding affect milk production, energy balance and metabolic disease indicators in the blood of high-producing dairy cows?

How do twin pregnancy and dry period feeding affect milk production, energy balance and
metabolic disease indicators in the blood of high-producing dairy cows? These
questions were addressed in a study by Dr Silva-del-Rio and colleagues in a
study published in 2010 in the Journal of Animal Science, Volume 88, pages 1048
to 1060. The title of the paper appropriately was Effects of twin pregnancy and dry period feeding strategy on milk
production, energy balance, and metabolic profiles in dairy cows.
How do twin pregnancy and dry period feeding affect milk production, energy balance and metabolic disease indicators in the blood of high-producing dairy cows?

These questions were addressed in a study by Dr Silva-del-Rio and colleagues in a study published in 2010 in the Journal of Animal Science, Volume 88, pages 1048 to 1060. The title of the paper appropriately was Effects of twin pregnancy and dry period feeding strategy on milk production, energy balance, and metabolic profiles in dairy cows.
How does infection with Johne's disease affect milk production in dairy herds?

Smith and co-workers studied the status of the disease in three herds in the US and tried to predict the impact on milk production when the condition is latent or when the cows are actually shedding cells. The study was published in the Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 92 of 2009, pages 2653 to 2661, with the title: A longitudinal study on the impact of Johne's disease status on milk production in individual cows.
How does infection with Johne’s disease affect milk production in dairy herds?

Smith and co-workers studied the status of the disease in three herds in the US and tried to predict the impact on milk production when the condition is latent or when the cows are actually shedding cells. The study was published in the Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 92 of 2009, pages 2653 to 2661, with the title: A longitudinal study on the impact of Johne’s disease status on milk production in individual cows.