Instant Insights: Heat stress in dairy cattle

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Smallholder Dairy ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Economic Constraints ◽  
The Impact

This specially curated collection features four reviews of current and key research on heat stress in dairy cattle. The first chapter outlines technologies to breed for more heat tolerant dairy cattle, exploiting either between or within breed genetic variation in the trait. It discusses future perspectives on the use of different tools to achieve accelerated improvements of this important trait. The second chapter discusses breeding goals and multi-trait selection to balance production and non-production traits. It considers newer breeding objectives such as ensuring that cattle can adapt to a changing climate, including breeding for heat tolerance. The third chapter reviews challenges facing smallholder dairy farmers in Asia. These include the impact of high temperatures and humidity on milk yield, reproductive efficiency and animal health. The chapter places these challenges in the context of the broader economic constraints faced by smallholders and how they can be overcome. The final chapter highlights constraints in improving smallholder dairy production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Issues include developing breeds balancing yield with resilience to local climatic conditions. The chapter reviews ways of Improving breeding and productivity, as well as broader organisational support.

scholarly journals A Review of the Impact of Mycotoxins on Dairy Cattle Health: Challenges for Food Safety and Dairy Production in Sub-Saharan Africa

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 222 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Chebutia Kemboi ◽  
Gunther Antonissen ◽  
Phillis E. Ochieng ◽  
Siska Croubels ◽  
Sheila Okoth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Aspergillus Species ◽  
Aflatoxin M1 ◽  
Tropical Condition ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi that contaminate food and feed and have a significant negative impact on human and animal health and productivity. The tropical condition in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) together with poor storage of feed promotes fungal growth and subsequent mycotoxin production. Aflatoxins (AF) produced by Aspergillus species, fumonisins (FUM), zearalenone (ZEN), T-2 toxin (T-2), and deoxynivalenol (DON) produced by Fusarium species, and ochratoxin A (OTA) produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus species are well-known mycotoxins of agricultural importance. Consumption of feed contaminated with these toxins may cause mycotoxicoses in animals, characterized by a range of clinical signs depending on the toxin, and losses in the animal industry. In SSA, contamination of dairy feed with mycotoxins has been frequently reported, which poses a serious constraint to animal health and productivity, and is also a hazard to human health since some mycotoxins and their metabolites are excreted in milk, especially aflatoxin M1. This review describes the major mycotoxins, their occurrence, and impact in dairy cattle diets in SSA highlighting the problems related to animal health, productivity, and food safety and the up-to-date post-harvest mitigation strategies for the prevention and reduction of contamination of dairy feed.

scholarly journals Milk production, mortality, and economic parameters in the context of heat-stressed dairy cattle.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (062) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachael Vriezen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Economic Decision Making ◽  
Economic Parameters ◽  
The Impact

Abstract As climate change progresses, higher temperatures and longer periods of extreme weather are likely to increasingly impact the production and health of dairy cattle, in turn affecting farm-level profits and economic decision-making. This review identifies and summarizes the currently available research on the effect of climate-related heat stress or heat stress mitigation measures on milk yield, mortality, and economic parameters on dairy farms. A scoping review approach was adopted to map the volume, range, and characteristics of the existing body of evidence and to identify research gaps. Through a comprehensive search, 286 studies published between 2010 and 2020 were identified and underwent data extraction and analysis. These studies were conducted in 46 countries, and encompassed both research and non-research herds as well as simulation models. The Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) was the most common indicator of heat stress, although a range of atmospheric, physiological, and descriptive indicators were used. Three-quarters of these studies examined at least one heat stress mitigation strategy, such as genetic manipulations, mechanical interventions, and diet manipulation. Approximately 97% of studies evaluated the impact of heat stress on milk yield, and 10% of studies examined at least one economic parameter. Research gaps exist in the analysis of economic parameters related to heat stress in dairy cattle. Given the urgent and increasing nature of climate challenges, additional economic analyses of the effects of heat stress in dairy cattle are needed to inform production and animal health decisions in a rapidly changing environment.

Climate change and human heat stress exposure in sub-Saharan Africa.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (049) ◽  
Author(s):  
Desalegn Yayeh Ayal
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Political Crises ◽  
Climate Change Risks ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sahel Region ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Agricultural Food

Abstract The sub-Saharan Africa region has been affected by multifaceted interrelated challenges including climate change risks, environmental degradation, political crises, demographic, and food security. The region is geographically exposed to and heavily depends on heat stress-sensitive livelihood and economy. Unlike drought, flood, and erratic rainfall, the situation and impact of heat stress are not well documented. This paper summarized the impact of heat stress on various sectors of the Sahel region. The result revealed that exposure to heat stress contributed to water, agricultural, food security, health, and economic adverse impacts in sub-Saharan Africa. The study also shows in sub- Saharan Africa especially in semiarid and arid areas the future impact of heat stress in various sectors is expected to be more severe. The changes and impacts of heat stress are not uniform across the region. For instance, East Africa is at higher risk of acquiring concurrent health impacts. West Africa is projected to experience severe impacts on food production. South Africa observes the strongest decrease in precipitation with concurrent risks of drought. Thus, understanding the effect of heat stress on humans and various heat-sensitive sectors should be the focus of researchers. However, given the degree of uncertainty of the models' results and effect of heat stress in the region, it is important to develop adaptive capacities at different ecological settings that enable the region population to adapt to risk factors related to climate change and heat stress.

scholarly journals Breeding strategies for improving smallholder dairy cattle productivity in Sub‐Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aluna R. Chawala ◽  
Enrique Sanchez‐Molano ◽  
Richard J. Dewhurst ◽  
Andrew Peters ◽  
Mizeck G. G. Chagunda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Breeding Strategies ◽  
Smallholder Dairy ◽  
Sub Saharan

Highlights on a UNESCO/Sida project to assess the environmental and health challenges of mining activities in Sub-Saharan Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toteu S. Félix
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Development Cooperation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

<p>Mining is an important pillar of economic growth of many African countries. However, problems arising from this activity pose serious challenges, which most of these countries have difficulties to address properly because of poor environmental governance as highlighted in the Africa Mining Vision. Many African countries also lack a precise inventory and assessment of environmental impacts of abandoned and derelict mines. As a consequence, there is an urgent need to evaluate the true extent of the detrimental effects of metal and metalloid pollutants and their impact on human and animal health, as well as on ecosystems. Between 2013 and 2017 and thanks to a Partnership Programme between UNESCO and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), a network of over 100 Earth scientists from 29 Africa assessed the impacts of mining activities in sub-Saharan Africa. The project intended to provide crucial scientific knowledge that will contribute to understanding the factors that control cycling of pollutants from mine sites (abandoned or active) to soils, water and vegetation and the impact on the food chain. We anticipate that the results of the project will be used to improve the environmental norms in individual countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the efficiency of governments in addressing the challenges related to the adverse effects of mining activities. The preliminary results of the project have recently been published as a Special Issue in the Journal of Geochemical Exploration. During the presentation, we intend to highlight few examples where mining activities alone or in interaction geological background are contributing to threat the ecosystem and health of neighbouring communities. We will also draw the lessons learnt from the implementation of this continental-scale project.</p>

scholarly journals Holstein Friesian dairy cattle edited for diluted coat color as adaptation to climate change

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Laible ◽  
S-A. Cole ◽  
B. Brophy ◽  
J. Wei ◽  
S. Leath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Coat Color ◽  
Dilution Effect ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
White Coat ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
The Impact

AbstractHigh-producing Holstein Friesian dairy cattle have a characteristic black and white coat pattern where black frequently comprises a large proportion of the coat. Compared to a light coat color, black absorbs more solar radiation translating into radiative heat gain which is a contributing factor to heat stress in cattle, negatively impacting on their production levels, fertility and welfare. To better adapt dairy cattle to the rapidly changing climatic conditions with predictions for more frequent and prolonged hot temperature patterns, we aimed to lighten their coat color by genome editing. Using gRNA/Cas9-mediated editing, we introduced a three base pair (bp) deletion in the pre-melanosomal protein 17 gene (PMEL) proposed as the causative variant responsible for the semi-dominant color dilution phenotype seen in Galloway and Highland cattle. Calves generated from cells homozygous for the edited mutation revealed a strong color dilution effect. Instead of the characteristic black and white coat color patterning of control calves generated from unedited parental cells, the edited calves displayed a novel pattern of grey and white markings and absence of any black areas. This, for the first time, verified the causative nature of the PMEL mutation for diluting the black coat color in cattle. With these edited animals, it is now possible to dissect the effects of the introgressed edit and other interfering allelic variants that might exist in individual cattle and accurately determine the impact of only the three bp change on important health, welfare and production traits. In addition, our study proved targeted editing as a promising approach for the rapid adaptation of livestock to changing climatic conditions.

Predicting energy and protein supply and milk production of dairy cows consuming high forage rations in the central highlands of Kenya

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 132-132
Author(s):  
F.V. Nherera ◽  
A.N. Pell ◽  
D.G Fox ◽  
L.O Tedeschi ◽  
D.M Mbugua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
East African ◽  
Smallholder Dairy ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
East African Highlands ◽  
High Forage

Level 1 of the Cornell Net carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) model has not yet been used to predict animal performance on smallholder dairy farms in African conditions. Over 60% of the smallholder dairy cattle in sub-Saharan Africa are in the East African highlands. Although the level of production is low, dairy cattle contribute significantly to the livelihoods of rural families. If the model predictions reflect animal performance, the CNCPS model could be a useful tool to develop feeding strategies to enhance animal production. The objectives of our study were to: (1) evaluate the accuracy of the predictions of dry matter intake, milk production and phosphorus excretion of the CNCPS model for dairy cattle on smallholder farms; (2) predict nutrient requirements and supply of confined and lactating crossbred cows consuming high forage rations and (3) determine the variation in feed quality and milk production.

Conflicts in Biafra, Katanga and Cabinda as a result of the geopolitical legacy of colonialism

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (10-3) ◽  
pp. 238-246
Author(s):  
Olga Dzhenchakova
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Economic Factor ◽  
Colonial Period ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact

The article considers the impact of the colonial past of some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and its effect on their development during the post-colonial period. The negative consequences of the geopolitical legacy of colonialism are shown on the example of three countries: Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Angola, expressed in the emergence of conflicts in these countries based on ethno-cultural, religious and socio-economic contradictions. At the same time, the focus is made on the economic factor and the consequences of the consumer policy of the former metropolises pursuing their mercantile interests were mixed.

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