In situ provision of drinking water to grazing dairy cows improves milk production

AIMS: To determine the effect of providing water within the area grazed by dairy cows on milk yield and quality, compared to requiring cows to walk to a distant water trough, on a dairy farm in the Pampa region of Argentina during summer.

METHODS: Holstein dairy cows were allocated to two herds with similar parity, days in milk and milk production. They were grazed in one paddock that was divided in two, with a fixed water trough at one end. Cows were moved twice daily to grazing plots within the paddock. Control cows (n=66) could only access water from the fixed trough, whereas supplemented cows (n=67) also received water from a mobile trough within the grazing plot. Milk production of each cow, and water consumption of the two herds were measured daily over 62 days. Milk composition for each herd was determined weekly from Days 18 to 60 of the study, and grazing behaviour was observed between 08:00 and 16:00 hours on Days 11–15, 19–22 and 39–43.

RESULTS: Over the 62 days of the study, supplemented cows produced 1.39 (SE 0.11) L/cow/day more milk than Control cows (p=0.027). Estimated mean daily water intake was 50.4 (SE 2.1) L/cow/day for supplemented cows and 58.2 (SE 2.7) L/cow/day for Control cows (p=0.004). Percentage total solids in milk was higher for supplemented (12.5 (SE 0.06)%) than Control (12.4 (SE 0.04)%) cows (p=0.047). During the periods of behavioural observation, a higher percentage of cows in the water supplemented than the Control herd were observed in the grazing area (p=0.012).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This preliminary study demonstrated that provision of water to dairy cows within the grazing plot was beneficial for milk production and composition, and may be associated with longer periods spent within the grazing area, during hot weather in the Pampa region of Argentina.     

Innovative layer genetics to handle global challenges in egg production

1. In commercial layer breeding, extensive gene pools are tested and selected for market requirements which must be anticipated at least 5 years ahead. Field results confirm a continuous positive genetic trend in egg output and better feed efficiency which can be converted into land savings.

2. Animal welfare and cage-free housing dominate future needs of the market. Nesting behaviour and minimal tendency to develop feather-pecking or cannibalism without beak treatment are key trait complexes. Stronger shells for longer production cycles without moulting have to be combined with better bones.

3. No single big gene effect can be expected to control the multifactorial problem of feather-pecking. Adjusting the shape of the beak, with a heritability of .10–.25, can contribute to reducing the risk of severe cannibalism.

4. For better skeletal integrity, the assessment of bone quality in pedigree birds housed in enriched cages is done by keel bone palpation or ultrasound measurement of the humerus. Both traits show similar heritabilities in the range of .15–.30 and can be included in a balanced selection approach for performance, quality and welfare traits.

5. The combination of performance testing and genome-wide DNA marker analysis is a promising tool to generate more progress for a balanced performance and behaviour profile.     

The effect of dietary supplementation with Aurantiochytrium limacinum on lactating dairy cows in terms of animal health,productivity and milk composition

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA )‐rich microalgae, Aurantiochytrium limacinum (AURA ), on a variety of health and productivity parameters in lactating cows. Twenty‐four cows were blocked by parity and number of days in milk and then randomly assigned to a control (CON ; n  = 12) group with no algal supplementation, or a treatment group (AURA ; n  = 12) provided with 100 g AURA  cow^?1 day^?1 or 16 g DHA  cow^?1 day^?1. A variety of health and productivity measurements were taken, and results indicated that supplementation had no negative effects on animal health in terms of somatic cell count, haematological and biochemical blood parameters, while body condition was marginally improved by algal supplementation. No differences were found for the various production parameters measured; however, a tendency towards increased milk production was observed for the AURA group during the final stage of the study (+4.5 kg cow^?1 day^?1, day 78–84). The fatty acid profile of milk was improved by supplementation, with significantly lower saturated fatty acids, significantly higher omega‐3 fatty acids and an improved omega‐3/omega‐6 ratio observed when compared to the control group. The amount of DHA in the milk of cows provided 105 g AURA  head^?1 day^?1 was 4.7 mg/100 g milk with a peak transfer efficiency from feed to milk at day 49 of 8.3%. These results indicate that supplementation with 105 g AURA  head^?1 day^?1 resulted in the successful enrichment of milk with DHA without negatively impacting the health or productivity of the animals.     

Gas and short‐chain fatty acid production from feeds commonly fed to red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and incubated with rumen inoculum from red deer and sheep

Efficient red deer supplementary feeding depends on estimations of the nutritive value of offered feeds, frequently estimated with the use of equations derived from domestic ruminants. The aim of this study was to compare the 24‐hour in vitro true dry matter degradability (ivTD₂₄), in vitro gas production (GP) kinetic parameters, GP in 24 hr of incubation (GAS₂₄) and short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) and microbial biomass (MBS) produced after 24‐hour incubation of feeds in inoculum prepared from sheep and red deer rumen fluid. Eleven feeds, frequently consumed by red deer in Slovenia, which occur either naturally (two fresh grasses, chestnut fruits and common and sessile oak acorns) or are fed as winter supplemental feeds (two grass hays, two grass silages, apple pomace, fresh sugar beetroot), were investigated. The in vitro GP kinetic parameters, GAS₂₄ and ivTD₂₄, did not differ between animal species. Amounts of SCFAs were greater (p < 0.05) when feeds were incubated in sheep inoculum, while molar proportions of acetic and propionic acids did not differ. Molar proportions of butyric acid produced during incubation of high fibre feeds did not differ between animal species, but were higher (p < 0.05) when feeds high in starch or sugar were incubated in red deer inoculum. Greater production of SCFA by sheep rumen microbes suggests better coverage of host animal with energy precursors, while greater production of MBS by red deer rumen microbes suggests better coverage of host animal with protein. Results also suggest that rumens of sheep and red deer are inhabited by different microbial communities, which did not affect the extent of in vitro GP and degradation of feeds used in the present experiment. However, the possibility exists that the divergent nutrient use could be a consequence of different priming by different feeds of the donor animal diets.     

Estimated Breeding Value in Iranian Buffaloes

This study was conducted from 1992-2002 on 65,534 individual milk records and fat percentage in 473 herds, in six provinces of Khuzestan, Mazndaran, W. Azerbaijan, E. Azerbaijan, Ardabil and Gilan. The data was analyzed by SAS sotfware using GLM procedure. The heritability and breeding value of 1,195 animals were calculated by DFRML procedure. The average milk yield per lactation, days of lactation, fat percentage and LSM of fat percentage were 1,513 kg, 202 days, 5.04 and 6.77, respectively. The estimated heritability of milk was 0.16. The LSM of average milk production in the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, E. Azerbaijan, W. Azerbaijan, Khuzestan and Ardabil were： 1,452, 1,586, 1,382, 1,183, 2,135 and 1,189 kg, respectively. These results indicated that Khuzestan province has the highest potential in the field of milk production. The top five highest breeding value bulls have been introduced to artificial insemination＇s station in the city of Uremia.     

The Situation for Quinoa and Its Production in Southern Bolivia: From Economic Success to Environmental Disaster

In Bolivia, one of the world’s most important centres of plant domestication, there is growing awareness of the value of native Andean crops, both for domestic consumption and for market sale – notably the virtually boom‐like consumer demand for quinoa around the world. The southern altiplano of Bolivia, south of Oruro, relies almost purely on the production of quinoa and breeding of llamas, which have also been selected as the two commodities of priority to the government to increase the income of the country. Presently, however, quinoa is facing increasing problems in production, owing to its increasing export market and price. The flat areas around the salt desert of the southern altiplano, previously characterized by natural vegetation fed by the llamas, are being increasingly sown with quinoa, hence transformed into deserts, because intensive cultivation methods make the soil loose its fertility. Possible solutions to these problems will require extensive efforts in the south, in addition to various strategies, which also include other parts of the Bolivian altiplano and a strengthened focus on other Andean crops.     

12份燕麦品种在阿鲁科尔沁旗地区的生产性能研究

【目的】筛选适宜内蒙阿鲁科尔沁旗地区种植的燕麦品种。【方法】对12份燕麦(Avena sativa)品种的生育期、草产量、茎叶比、营养特性等进行测定和分析,并运用灰色关联度分析法对各品种的生产性能进行综合评价。【结果】12份供试燕麦品种均能在阿鲁科尔沁旗地区完成整个生育期,表现出较好的适应性,生育期为83～94 d,其中枪手的生育期最短(83 d),爱沃的生育期最长(94 d)。贝勒二代和牧王的株高均达到100 cm以上。枪手、贝勒二代和牧王的干草产量较高,分别为9.99,8.69和8.59 t/hm~2。贝勒二代的茎叶比最低(1.12),适口性最好;美达的茎叶比最高(3.19)。爱沃和贝勒二代的粗蛋白含量(质量分数)较高,分别为12.20%和11.90%;太阳神、贝勒二代和领袖的中性洗涤纤维及酸性洗涤纤维含量较低,领袖和贝勒二代的相对饲喂价值较高。灰色关联度分析表明,综合评价排在前2位的燕麦品种为贝勒二代和牧王,其加权关联度分别为0.838 2和0.799 1。【结论】燕麦品种贝勒二代和牧王综合表现最好,适宜在阿鲁科尔沁旗地区推广种植。     

海水中规模化培养西藏拟溞的技术优化研究

为了给北方海水鱼虾蟹类育苗增添一种新的生物活饵料,利用循环水培养装置研究了西藏拟溞Daphniopsis tibetana Sars在稀释海水(盐度为18~20)中规模化培养的技术工艺参数,即起始放养密度、充纯氧和日采收率。结果表明:起始放养密度对西藏拟溞种群增长和日产量影响显著(P0.05),不同起始放养密度(200、550、900、1250 ind./L)培养试验中,放养密度为1250ind./L时,培养第33天时种群密度达最高,为(9500±550.73)ind./L,平均日产量为(125.00±8.35)g/(m3·d);充纯氧与充空气相比较,充纯氧能显著提高种群密度和日产量(P0.05),当放养密度为1250 ind./L、充纯氧时,西藏拟溞种群密度最高达(11 600±560.45)ind./L,平均日产量为(156.82±8.49)g/(m3·d);日采收率对西藏拟溞的种群增长和日产量也有显著影响(P0.05),日采收率为20%时最佳,放养密度为1250ind./L、日采收率为20%时,西藏拟溞种群密度最高为(12 900±995.04)ind./L,平均日产量为(176.52±15.08)g/(m3·d)。     

浅谈林业生产中的造林及抚育技术

在林业生产的过程中,采用正确、合理的造林技术和抚育技术,能够提高造林成活率,确保林木健康生长,并在短时间内构建完善的林分结构。而科学的抚育管理,又能进一步挖掘林业发展潜力,提升林地质量和产量,为林业发展创造更多的空间。同时做好造林和森林抚育工作,能够有效地促进林业科学发展,更好地应对全球气候变化的挑战。