scholarly journals Evaluation of Beef Cow Colostrum with a Refractometer

Author(s):  
Garland R. Dahlke ◽  
Devin Jakub
Keyword(s):  

The use of a handheld refractometer measuringpercent Brix can be used to provide an estimate of colostrum quality in beefcows as it does in dairy cows.

1978 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. L. P. Le Du ◽  
R. D. Baker ◽  
J. M. Barker

SummaryTwo experiments with dairy cows and one with suckler cows and their calves were conducted to examine the use of secretion rate measurements for estimating total milk production. In the first experiment both 4- and 6- h intervals between measurements gave similar estimates of total 7-d milk yield. The second experiment compared estimated and measured milk composition as well as yield. Milk and solids-not-fat yields were underestimated with dairy cows as a result of an extended milking interval before measurement. However, fat yield was overestimated, indicating that all residual milk was not removed at the first oxytocinaided milking. It was concluded that for the beef cow, previous interval effects would be eliminated by the frequency of calf suckling, but that residual milk effects might cause a 3–6% and a 16% overestimation of milk and fat yields respectively.In the third experiment, the milk yield of suckler cows was estimated from measurements of secretion rate and from changes in calf weight; good agreement was obtained provided there were at least 3 consecutive controlled sucklings.


Author(s):  
I.A. Wright ◽  
A.J.F. Russel ◽  
T.K. Whyte ◽  
A.J. McBean

Compared with other species of farm livestock the reproductive performance of beef cows is poor. Mating and calving periods are frequently extended to avoid having a large proportion of barren Cows. vs. For example the ‘average’ MLC recorded herd has a calving period of over 4months. This makes management of beef cow herds difficult and has a deleterious effect on biological efficiency and profitability.One of the major limitations to improvement of reproductive efficiency in beef cattle is the extended post-partum anoestrus. Beef cows have longer post-partum anoestrous periods than dairy cows. In one study of three different herds (Peters and Riley, 1982) the mean length of the anovulatory period ranged from 24 to 88 days.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1260
Author(s):  
Minglu Wang ◽  
Bruce A. McCarl

Livestock production is a valuable part of US agriculture as it contributes 50% of total agricultural value. Climate change is likely a threat to livestock production, but research regarding the impact of climate change on livestock sectors is limited. This paper examines how climate change affects livestock mix and location. Specifically, we examine climate effects on grazing animals and, in particular, on beef cattle, dairy cattle, goats, and sheep. We examine this in the US based on county-level data by using fractional multinomial logit econometrics. Our results show that climate is an influential determinant of where livestock herds are located and species mix. The impacts of climate vary by species and region. We also find significant influences from geographic characteristics and animal product prices. Subsequently, we project how climate change would influence future livestock mix and location. It reveals a likely growth in beef cow land shares across most of the US with the largest gains in the northwest. We also find substitutions between species as climate change progresses with dairy cows exhibiting the largest reduction.


2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 1381 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Hickson ◽  
N. Lopez-Villalobos ◽  
P. R. Kenyon ◽  
S. T. Morris

Feed requirements for maintenance contribute a large proportion of the feed requirements of a beef cow so lighter cows may be more efficient producers of weaned calves, provided that such cows do not result in a comparative reduction in calf weaning weight. Beef-cross-dairy cows have increased milk yield compared with straight-bred beef cows and have the potential to wean heavier calves. Crossbred cows may also offer potential increases in production through heterosis. This experiment examined the performance of straight-bred Angus (AA), Holstein Friesian (FF) and Jersey (JJ) cows and of Angus-sired F1 crossbreds with Holstein Friesian (AF), Jersey (AJ) and Holstein Friesian-cross-Jersey (Kiwicross; AK) cows to identify breed and heterosis effects on milk intake and liveweight of calves and liveweight, reproductive performance and fatness of cows in their first lactation. Days to calving and weaning rate from first joining were similar among genotypes, but only 50% of FF cows conceived to second joining, compared with 90–98% for the other genotypes (P < 0.05). Estimated milk intake of calves was least (P < 0.05) for calves born to AA cows, and was generally similar (P > 0.05) among calves born to crossbred cows. There were positive heterosis effects between Angus and Jersey and between Angus and Holstein Friesian on milk intake of the calf. Straight-bred FF cows weaned the heaviest calves (least-squares mean + s.e.: 241 ± 5 kg; P < 0.05). Calves born to AF and AK cows were weaned at similar liveweight (229 ± 3 kg and 226 ± 4 kg, respectively; P > 0.05), and were heavier (P < 0.05) than calves born to JJ and AJ cows, which were similar (208 ± 5 kg and 215 ± 3 kg, respectively; P > 0.05). Calves born to AA cows were lightest at weaning (196 ± 3 kg; P < 0.05). Estimates of heterosis for weaning weight were 11 ± 4 kg (P < 0.01) between Angus and Holstein Friesian, and 14 ± 4 kg (P < 0.001) between Angus and Jersey. Angus-cross-dairy cows offered production advantages over straight-bred AA cows as dam lines in a terminal cross. These advantages were partially due to heterosis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 333-337
Author(s):  
P.D. Muir ◽  
B.C. Thomson ◽  
K.R. Ward ◽  
N. Bicknell

On East Coast hill country, climate change and variable pasture growth mean that there is an opportunity for a more flexible cattle system than the traditional beef cow. Cull dairy cows were purchased in autumn/winter across 3 years and several properties and used to clean up low quality winter feed (8.3 MJME/kg DM; crude protein content, 10.7%). In spite of the low quality feed on offer, winter liveweight gains averaged 238 g/day. Cows were set stocked over spring and growth rates averaged 749 g/day. Cows were slaughtered/sold when the spring/summer "clean-up" had been completed. Across three quite different years, cows were typically farmed for 34 weeks, put on an average of 115.3 kg and had estimated returns of 14.1 c/kg DM consumed. Variation in purchase price, weight gain and timing of slaughter resulted in returns ranging from 8.7 to 28.1 cents/kg DM consumed. These calculated returns do not include the effects of removing low quality feed on other farm enterprises. Keywords: cull dairy cows, pasture management, flexibility, gross margin, East Coast dryland, hill country


2014 ◽  
Vol 156 (10) ◽  
pp. 483-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Rüegsegger ◽  
J. Ruf ◽  
A. Tschuor ◽  
Y. Sigrist ◽  
M. Rosskopf ◽  
...  

2000 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 92-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burim Ametaj ◽  
Brian Nonnecke ◽  
Ronald Horst ◽  
Donald Beitz

Individual and combined effects of several isomers of retinoic acid (RA) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) on interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) secretion by blood mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) from nulliparous and postparturient Holstein cattle were evaluated in vitro. In the first experiment, effects on incubation period (24 to 72 hours) and time of supplementation (0 to 32 hours) with all-trans, 9-cis, 13-cis-, and 9,13-dicis-RAs (0 to 100 nM) on IFN-gamma secretion by pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated (0 and 10 mug/ml) MNL from nulliparous cattle were evaluated. In the second experiment, MNL from postparturient cows (bled at 0, 2, 4, and 16 days postpartum) were stimulated with PWM (0 and 10 mug/ml) in the presence of RA isomers (9-cis- or 9,13-dicis-RA; 0 to 100 nM), 1,25-(OH)2D3 (0 to 100 nM), or with combinations of these metabolites. The results show that individual isomers of RA had no effect on IFN-gamma secretion by PWM-stimulated MNL from nulliparous or postparturient cows. Furthermore 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibited IFN-gamma secretion by MNL from nulliparous and postparturient dairy cows; however, the degree of inhibition was greater when 9-cis- and 9,13-dicis-RA were also present in the cultures. Finally mononuclear leukocytes from postparturient dairy cows produced substantially less IFN-gamma than did MNL from nulliparous cattle. It is concluded that retinoic acids individually did not affect the capacity of leukocytes from dairy cattle to secrete IFN-gamma. This result is in marked contrast to studies in monogastric species indicating that RAs inhibit IFN-gamma secretion by peripheral blood T cells. Inhibition of IFN-gamma secretion by 1,25-(OH)2D3 was potentiated by 9-cis- and 9,13-di-cis-retinoics acids, suggesting that an excess of dietary vitamins A and D may compromise further the naturally immunosuppressed postparturient dairy cow. Additional research is necessary to determine if the combined effects of these metabolites on IFN-gamma secretion represent an increased susceptibility of the dairy cow to infectious diseases during the periparturient period. Lower secretion of IFN-gamma by MNL from postpartutient dairy cows, relative to nulliparous cattle, suggests that recently-calved cows are naturally immunosuppressed.


Planta Medica ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Walkenhorst ◽  
S Ivemeyer ◽  
J Spranger ◽  
G Arndt ◽  
R Schaette

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (05) ◽  
pp. 289-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Seyrek-Intas ◽  
K. Failing ◽  
G. Yilmazbas Mecitoglu ◽  
H. Bostedt ◽  
D. Seyrek-Intas

Summary Objective: To determine the intravascular electrolyte status in dairy cows with respect to age and different courses of parturition to clarify etiological factors influencing peri- or intrapartal imbalances of electrolyte homeostasis. Material and methods: A total of 64 cows at birth were evaluated (primiparous n = 34, pluriparous n = 30). Thirty-three cows showed normal delivery, while 31 cows had a complicated birth. Blood samples were collected intra partum (i. p.) and 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24 h post partum (p. p.) as well as [2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 days p. p. and levels of total calcium (Catotal), ionized calcium (Caion), inorganic phosphate (Pa), Mg, Na, K, Cl were determined. Results: The results revealed that electrolytes show great fluctuation during and immediately p. p. in relation to age. Already during parturition pluriparous cows had a lower Catotal and Pa concentration compared to primiparous animals. Cows with dystocia exhibited a more intensive and longer lasting decrease of Ca compared to cows with normal birth. In relation to age and severity of birth Pa concentration showed a differing but basically typical course for this electrolyte. Mg, Na, K and Cl concentrations were higher during and immediately after birth compared to p. p. values. Until day 10 p. p. these electrolyte concentrations declined more in older cows with dystocia compared to younger animals. However, the influence of dystocia on concentration of these electrolytes was milder in contrast to Ca and Pa. Conclusions: In summary, primarily older cows are predisposed to imbalances of electrolyte homeostasis intra partum and at the beginning of the lactation. These changes are potentiated in case of complications during parturition. Intravascular Catotal, Caion as well as Pa are most severely affected. Clinical relevance: These results may constitute the basis for a comprehensive metaphylaxis during the peripartal period, especially in cows after dystocia, to positively influence the early convalescence phase.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 79-102
Author(s):  
NR Sarker ◽  
F Tabassum D Yeasmin ◽  
MA Habib ◽  
MR Amin

This study was undertaken to develop a year round fodder production model for small scale dairy farmers. Five pregnant dairy cows of Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) genotype were selected. For rearing five cows, 66 decimal of land was selected from existing fodder plots under Pachutia Research Farm at Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar, Dhaka. The selected land was divided into two parts (33 decimal in each). One part was brought under perennial (Napier-4 and Splendida) and the 2nd part of land for seasonal (Maize & Matikalai) fodder production. Data on live weight and live weight gain of cows, birth weight of calves, feed intake, milk production, actual biomass yield for both perennial and seasonal fodder, yearly manure production were recorded and calculated. Napier-4 grass, splendida, maize, straw, silage were supplied to the experimental cows according to the seasonal availability in different months. Concentrate mixture were also supplied consisting of wheat bran, kheshari (red gram), soybean meal, maize crushed, til oil cake, DCP and common salt. Economics of the model revealed that considering the sale of milk, calves and manure and cost included only feed and land leased, a farm/family rearing 5 indigenous dairy cows with his/her family labours, he/she could earn around BDT 98 thousand in a year (1$ = 85 BDT) and the benefit cost ratio of the model on total variable cost and total cost were 1.86 and 1.66, respectively. Therefore, it may be recommended that a farmer having 5 adult dairy cows with 66 decimal land under fodder cultivation may earn substantial share of his/her family income as small-scale rural dairying. Bang. J. Livs. Res. Vol. 26 (1&2), 2019: P. 89-102


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