In this study, corn stalk (CS) and sugar beet head and leaf (SBHL) silage were used to determine the effect of increasing milk yield on lambs' survival and end of fattening weight in sheep with multiple births. In the study, 17 Bafra sheep with multiple births and 38 lambs obtained from these sheep were used as animal material. The study was divided into two groups as experimental group (EG) and control group (C). The milk yields of the EG group were 293.00 g, 345.00 g and 576.39 g for the 5th, 35th and 65th days and the milk yield of the control group were 276.31 g, 236.38 g and 223.13 g for the 5th, 35th and 65th days. No statistically significant difference was found in milk yields between the EG and C groups of sheep on the 5th and 35th days, but a statistically significant difference was found in milk yields on the 65th day. Sheep weights were weighed at the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 11th and 12th weeks and sheep weights were higher in EG than in C. There was a statistical difference between EG and C in terms of roughage consumption, incremental feed amount and net amount of roughage + concentrate consumed. The birth weights of the lambs were 3.25 kg and 2.80 kg for EG and C groups, and the average live weights at the end of the study were 17.71 kg and 12.40 kg for EG and C groups. Lamb survival rates between the EG and C groups were 95.0% and 83.3%, and mortality rates were 5% and 16.7%, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of lamb survival and mortality rates. In conclusion; feeding of sheep with CS + SBHL silage after parturition increased milk yield, sheep weights, lamb live weights and lamb survival rate in Bafra sheep with multiple births.
The primary goal of breeding organisations focused on sustainable and profitable milk production is to improve milk yield traits in dairy cattle. For this reason, the dairy industry has prioritised improving the genetics of dairy cattle to increase milk yield. The objective of this study was to estimate variance components and genetic parameters for 305-day milk yield (305-dMY), and to determine the effects of environment (calving season)-and animal-based factors (breed and parity) on 305-dMY in Simmental, Holstein, and Brown Swiss cows. The data set consisted of 19,454 records of 305-dMY obtained from 10,282 lactating Simmental, Holstein and Brown Swiss cows and 1,045 sires collected by the Cattle Breeders Association, between 2004 and 2018 in Kastamonu, Turkiye. A mixed ANOVA model was used to determine the effect of breed, parity, calving season and farms on the 305-dMY of cows. The model included three fixed effects: breed, parity and calving season and a random effect: farms. Variance components and breeding values were estimated in a Bayesian JWAS framework, using the conventional model within a Bayesian setting. Genetic parameter estimates were derived from the posterior distributions of the effects, obtained from an Markov Chain Monte Carlo run of 50,000 iterations with a first 5,000-iteration burn-in. The results indicated that 305-dMY was significantly affected by breed, parity, and calving season (P<0.001). The highest 305-dMY in Holstein cows was determined to be 5264.16 +/- 25.77 kg. The 305-dMY of cows calving in winter was higher than in other seasons (spring, summer and autumn). The mean inbreeding coefficient was found to be 0.091. The estimates of heritability for Simmental, Holstein, and Brown Swiss were 0.061, 0.208 and 0.129, respectively. The genetic trend for estimates of breeding values (EBVs) of 305-dMY was found to be 5.62 kg/year. The repeatability estimates for Simmental, Holstein and Brown Swiss were observed as 0.100, 0.277 and 0.199, respectively. The results indicate that the moderate heritability and repeatability estimate for 305-dMY, suggest that genetic gain can be obtained for these traits through genetic selection of Holstein cows. However, improving the performance traits of Simmental and Brown Swiss cows could be obtained through improving management conditions.
Mastitis is a significant challenge in dairy farming, traditionally managed with antibiotics. However, the widespread use of antibiotics has raised concerns regarding antibiotic resistance and animal welfare. As a result, alternative treatments such as laser therapy have gained increasing attention. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of near-infrared (NIR) Multiwave Locked System (MLS (R)) laser therapy in the treatCows were randomly assigned to either the control or treatment groups, with the treatment group receiving MLS (R) laser therapy over a two-week period. Milk samples were analyzed for Somatic Cell Count (SCC), Differential Somatic Cell Count (DSCC), lactose, and fatty acid profiles at multiple time points (day 0, 7, 14 and 21 after the treatment). In CSM cases laser therapy showed a trend towards reduced SCC compared to controls with significant differences in De Novo fatty acids suggesting improvements in udder health. However, lactose reduction in the control group indicated ongoing inflammation, potentially exacerbated by environmental stressors. In ASM cases significant decreases in DSCC were observed post-treatment suggesting a potential benefit of laser therapy in managing acute inflammatory responses. While the study's small sample size and short follow-up limit the generalizability of the findings, the results suggest that MLS (R) laser therapy may be an effective alternative treatment for managing both chronic and acute subclinical mastitis in dairy cows. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are necessary to confirm these results and assess the longterm efficacy of laser therapy in mastitis management.
Urea poisoning is one of the leading causes of accidental poisoning in cattle herds. The presented study aimed to evaluate the clinical and biochemical findings of natural urea poisoning in Angus heifers. Clinical signs including dyspnea, ataxia, and spasms were observed in four animals from the two paddocks where the initial feed ration was distributed.Urea poisoning was suspected, serum and plasma samples were obtained from 4 sick animals(group GU) and 4 healthy animals located in different paddocks that had not yet consumed feed (group GC). Blood ammonia, albumin, Alnesium(Mg), Non-esterified fatty acids(NEFA), Total Protein(TP) and Triglyceride(TG) analyzes were performed. Although urea had been routinely supplemented at 30 g/animal/day, investigation revealed that moisture exposure caused urea solidification in sacks, leading to inadequate homogenization within the TMR. Rumen pH was determined to be above 8.5 in all poisoned animals. A difference was determined in average ammonia (GU=456 & micro;mol/l; GC= 272 & micro;mol/l), AST (GU=138 U/L; GC=75.6U/L), Phosphorus (GU=2.45 mmol/L; GC=1.83 mmol/L), BUN (GU=10.71 mmol/L; GC= 9.28 mmol/L) and Triglyceride (GU=0.51 mmol/L; GC=0.17 mmol/L) levels in the GU and GC groups. Routine parameters including AST, phosphorus, triglycerides, and BUN - unlike ammonia which requires specific handling - may serve as practical diagnostic markers for urea poisoning in field conditions.
In this descriptive review we aimed to provide succinct yet comprehensive overview of ichthyosis (IT) in cattle, focusing on clinicopathological presentations, genetic aetiology, and potential management strategies. IT is an inherited disorder characterised by excessive keratinization and scaling of the skin. Two major forms with known causal variant have been identified in bovine species: Ichthyosis Fetalis (IF) and Ichthyosis Congenita (IC). IF is widely recognised as the most severe form, associated with foetal death, stillbirth or death in the first days of life. IF is autosomal recessively inherited, with clinicopathological characteristics of hyperkeratosis, scaling of the epidermis, alopecia, eclabium, ectropion and microtia. The ABCA12 gene has been associated with IF in Chianina, Shorthorn, and Polled Hereford breeds. The frequency of the IF allele has been estimated at 3.8% in the Shorthorn population and less than 3% in the Chianina population. IC is a less severe form of IT, observed in different breeds. In Scottish Highland cattle the IC presents clinicopathological characteristics which include hyperkeratosis, epidermal hyperplasia, diffuse alopecia, and keratoconjunctivitis. These manifestations are associated with a recessively inherited missense variant in the DSP gene. Similar clinicopathological findings are present also in the Italian Chianina cattle. In addition, Chianina IC-affected animals can also show cystitis and urolithiasis. In this breed IC is caused by a recessively inherited variant in the FA2H gene with an allelic frequency of 7.7%. Foetal and calf mortality, stillbirth and euthanasia of severely affected animals may have significant economic and welfare impact. Additionally, complications such as dystocia and secondary skin infections (e.g. pyodermitis) also in milder forms may adversely affect longevity, productivity and health. Additional economic damages are due to the compromised quality of the leather products also in the cases of mild disease of IC. So far, no specific treatments are available for both IT, with symptomatic derGenetic testing and selective breeding programmes are the best strategies for addressing recessively inherited disorders like IT.
