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The Research Column

by Heinz Meissner

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

 

Title Date Discipline Extract Keywords
Effects of replacing inorganic salts of trace minerals with organic trace minerals in pre- and postpartum diets on feeding behaviour, rumen fermentation, and performance of dairy cows.
Genetics, Physiology and Reproduction

Pregnant cows and heifers (n = 273) were blocked by parity and body condition score and randomly assigned to either STM or OTM diets at 45 ± 3 days before their expected calving date. Both groups received the same diet, except for the source of trace minerals (TM). The STM group was supplemented with Co, Cu, Mn and Zn sulfates and Na selenite, whereas the OTM group was supplemented with Co, Cu, Mn and Zn proteinates and selenized yeast.

 organic trace minerals , milk yield, transition period, feeding behaviour, nutrition
Predictors of diarrhea, mortality, and weight gain in male dairy calves.
Animal Health and Welfare

The study used 2616 calves entering a calf-rearing facility for veal calves in Canada. The results nevertheless are considered relevant to rearing of heifer calves on farm. Faecal consistency scores were assigned twice daily for the first 28 days following arrival, where a score of 2, indicating runny consistency, and 3, indicating watery consistency, were classified as diarrhoea. Severe diarrhoea was classified by a score of 3. Serum total protein was measured upon arrival and the source of the calf (i.e., whether the calf came from a calf seller, local farm, or auction) was recorded.

 dairy calf, scouring, health status
Associations of soft flooring materials in free stalls with milk yield, clinical mastitis, teat lesions, and removal of dairy cows.

Discipline: housing; Keywords: thermal protection, durable lying surfaces, behaviour, free-stall lying surface softness, culling.

Is there an advantage to having soft flooring material instead of concrete? A recent Danish study investigated whether this was indeed the case; reference: L.E. Ruud, K.E. Bøe and O. Østerås. Associations of soft flooring materials in free stalls with milk yield, clinical mastitis, teat lesions, and removal of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science (2010) Volume 93, pages 1578-1586
Effects of twin pregnancy and dry period feeding strategy on milk production, energy balance, and metabolic profiles in dairy cows.

Discipline: lactation management; Keywords: metabolic diseases, correct feeding strategies, moderate energy, lactation length.

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.
Heat stability of reconstituted, protein-standardized skim milk powders.

Discipline: milk powder; Keywords: heat-treatment, shelf life, pH , protein content, standardization material.
Water and waste-water management in the Dairy Industry

Discipline: effluent management; Keywords: reduced water intake, waste-water disposal, processing, cleaning processes.
Effect of dry period length on reproduction during the subsequent lactation

Discipline: reproduction; Keywords: increased profit, improved overall efficiency, energy reserves, after calving ovulation, artificial insemination. 
Do farm audits improve milk quality?

Discipline: quality; Key words: bulk milk,

Effect of heat stress during the dry period on mammary gland development

Discipline: stress; Key words: heat stress, dry period,

ADAPTIVE IMMUNE RESPONSE, SURVIVAL, SOMATIC CELL SCORE BETWEEN POSTPARTUM HOLSTEIN AND NORWEGIAN RED X HOLSTEIN FIRST-CALF HEIFERS.

Discipline: mastitis; Key words: crossbreeding, immune response, phenotypic correlations, somatic cell score, survival.