A survey of northern Victorian dairy farmers to investigate dairy calf management: colostrum feeding and management

Objectives

To describe colostrum management practices carried out in northern Victorian dairy herds and to identify weaknesses in these areas that may affect calf health and welfare by comparing the results with the current industry recommendations

Methods

A questionnaire to obtain information about colostrum management and calf‐rearing practices was sent to commercial dairy farming clients of Rochester Veterinary Practice between June and September 2013. The questionnaire consisted of a general herd overview and colostrum harvesting practices.

Results

The response rate was 39% (58/150). Many dairy producers were not meeting the current industry recommendations in the following areas: (1) time of removal calf from the dam, (2) relying on calf suckling colostrum from the dam to achieve adequate passive transfer, (3) failing to supplement calves with colostrum, (4) feeding inadequate volumes of colostrum, (5) delayed colostrum harvesting, (6) pooling of colostrum, (7) failing to objectively assess colostrum quality or relying on visual assessment and (8) storing colostrum for a prolonged periods of time at ambient temperatures.

Conclusion

The results from this survey highlight the need for greater awareness of industry standards for colostrum management and feeding hygiene.

     

Improved milk production through PG–PL system by provision of in‐house shelter management in lactating Murrah buffaloes during winter season

Comprehensive information on the role of β‐casein and plasminogen–plasmin (PG–PL) system in milk secretion of Murrah buffaloes during winter season is lacking, although effects of cold stress can be ameliorated to an extent by altering microclimate at farm level. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the changes in productivity along with PG–PL system of milk, plasma hormones and metabolites of buffaloes during winter (December–January) season under two different management systems. Average minimum temperature and wind chill index during this season were 7.02 and 12.74 °C respectively. Buffaloes were divided in two groups of six animals each: control and treatment, where treatment group animals were placed in‐house with floor bedding of paddy straw and the control group animals in loose housing system without straw bedding. Physiological responses were recorded, and milk and blood samples were collected at weekly intervals for six‐week experimental period. Under in‐house management system, buffaloes experienced better comfort by alleviating environmental stress as their physiological responses such as respiration rate and pulse rate were significantly reduced (p < 0.01) as compared to the control, which subsequently resulted higher milk yield by 9.92% (p < 0.05). Analysis of milk samples revealed higher concentration of plasminogen (10.6 vs. 8.05 μg/ml; p < 0.01) and β‐casein (p < 0.05), and lower plasmin level (0.299 vs. 0.321 μg/ml; p < 0.05) in buffaloes under treatment group. It was also found that plasma cortisol, glucose and non‐esterified fatty acids levels were higher (p < 0.01) in control group as compared to the treatment animals by 13.6%, 8.14% and 12.6% respectively. However, milk composition, growth hormone, epinephrine and norepinephrine level in plasma were similar in both the groups. Hence, it may be concluded that provision of in‐house shelter management with floor bedding of paddy straw during winter was effective to minimize environmental stress and improved milk production through manipulation of PG–PL system in buffaloes.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情下武汉市粮食应急管理经验与启示——基于权变理论视角的分析

阐析新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情对粮食安全的冲击及其诱发危机的特征,引入权变理论,分析粮食应急管理中的权变思想,构建权变理论下的粮食应急决策模型和应急管理框架.在此基础上,从监测预警机制、应急管理体制、应急保障机制,以及常态化疫情防控机制等体制机制层面探析武汉市粮食应急管理经验.融合权变理论,从管理者的权变素质、应急组织的敏捷...     

电子商务环境下中小型饲料企业物流管理创新研究

随着互联网技术的飞速发展,饲料企业面临着转型升级的巨大挑战.在电子商务背景下,饲料企业,特别是中小型饲料企业也发生着翻天覆地的变化.这些变化影响着饲料企业的物流管理.本文从企业物流管理的概念入手,对目前电子商务背景下中小型饲料企业的物流管理现状和问题进行分析.针对这些问题提出相应的电子商务环境下饲料企业物流创新性对策建...     

根际生命共同体：协调资源、环境和粮食安全的学术思路与交叉创新

植物营养学研究近年来在植物养分高效分子机理、植物-微生物互作、根际互作与微生态调控、农田养分管理等研究领域取得了一系列原创性进展。然而,当前如何协调粮食安全、资源高效和环境可持续性仍面临巨大挑战。针对这一重大问题,本文提出"根际生命共同体(Rhizobiont)"学术思路,围绕"根际互作与养分高效"这一重大科学命题,构建"植物-根系-根际-菌丝际-土体及其微生物"根际生命共同体理论体系,突破植物-微生物、微生物-微生物关键界面互作机制,阐明根际生命共同体结构、功能及其在养分活化、吸收与利用中的作用机制,建立共同体多界面互作增效的生物学调控新途径,开辟植物-土壤-微生物交叉创新领域,根际生命共同体理论创新有助于破解粮食安全、资源高效、环境保护多目标协同的难题,支撑我国农业绿色发展。文章指出了根际生命共同体与养分高效研究的重点方向与内容,尤其是深入揭示和调控植物第二基因组——微生物组的作用正成为农业科学的研究前沿。     

基于粮食安全保障体系的经济管理与政策效应分析

探讨了粮食安全保障体系,即粮食安全的基本概念、保障体系的结构、经济管理机制以及政策效应。粮食安全概念包含四个方面：粮食获取、可达性、利用效率及供应稳定性,其不仅关乎总体生产规模,还涉及资源分配与市场运作。生产力、储备、运输、分配、消费以及政策与管理等多个环节构成了保障体系的架构。经济管理机制的核心关注点包括宏观经济政策、市场调控以及应对市场波动的策略。通过跨国案例研究,揭示了政策在推动农业产出、加强市场稳健性和提升农民生活品质等方面的具体作用。     

养分管理对安溪茶园土壤肥力及茶叶品质的影响

安溪是铁观音的主产区,茶园养分管理滞后已成为该地区茶叶生产的瓶颈,本研究旨在为该地区茶园的养分管理提供科学依据。试验于2015年在安溪县采集了50个茶园的茶青与土壤样品,测定了土壤5项主要肥力指标和茶青中9种主要次生代谢物含量;并根据茶农氮肥用量调研数据,初步将茶园养分管理划分为:少量、中量和过度型等三种方式。限制性主坐标轴分析发现,此分类方式可解释34.4%(P<0.001)茶园土壤肥力参数的总体差异,说明此分类方式能反映出不同茶园养分管理的总体水平;并且,养分管理对表层土壤有效磷的影响最为显著。进一步分析表明,养分管理对茶青综合品质的影响可解释品质总差异的7.48%(P<0.001);大部分茶青次生代谢物在中量型管理下含量最高。说明养分管理影响安溪茶园土壤的肥力状况,施肥量过高或过低均不利于高品质茶叶的生产,该地区的建议施氮量约为200～400 kg·hm^–2·a^–1。     

基于CF接口的奶牛电子耳标阅读器的设计

设计了一种CF接口的RFID阅读器,硬件由MCU、RFID协议收发芯片、CF接口转换芯片及外围电路组成,软件包括MCU子系统软件和Pocket PC驱动程序。CF接口RFID阅读器与Pocket PC集成,开发运行于Windows Mobile平台的支持移动数据库的Pocket PC软件,构成一套奶牛个体信息采集无线终端,提供奶牛场管理信息系统的移动解决方案。