Abstracts volume 52 (2009) 6, 553-649
Genetic parameters for calving ease, gestation length and stillbirth in three endangered Austrian blond cattle breeds
Supawadee Manatrinon, Birgit Fürst-Waltl and Roswitha Baumung
Arch Tierz 52 (2009) 6, 553-560 PDF
Genetic parameters were estimated for stillbirth, calving ease and gestation length in three endangered Austrian blond cattle breeds, Carinthian Blond, Murboden and Waldviertel Blond. REML analysis based on an animal model including direct and maternal genetic effects was applied. Direct heritability estimates for calving ease, stillbirth and gestation length varied from 0.003 to 0.111, 0.006 to 0.044 and 0.235 to 0.512, respectively, while maternal heritabilities ranged from 0.001 to 0.007 for calving ease, 0.005 to 0.014 for stillbirth, and 0.002 to 0.063 for gestation length. All pairwise genetic correlations for direct traits were generally moderate to high except for stillbirth-calving ease (−0.077, Carinthian Blond). The genetic correlations of all pairs of the 3 direct traits were positive for Murboden (0.520 to 0.700) and Waldviertel Blond (0.253 to 0.707) while negative genetic correlations were detected for Carinthian Blond (−0.077 to −0.943). Close positive genetic correlations were found between direct stillbirth and calving ease of Murboden (0.700) and between direct calving ease and gestation length of Waldviertel Blond (0.707), while a close negative genetic correlation was found between direct calving ease and gestation length of Carinthian Blond (−0.943).
Population genetic analysis of White Park Cattle in Germany
Günter Biedermann, Werner Hecht, Eike Fandrey, Heike Rudolph and Kai Frölich
Arch Tierz 52 (2009) 6, 561-573 PDF
The population of White Park Cattle in Germany is composed of 11 males and 33 females. This group of cattle has been analysed with regards to generation intervals, coancestry, and inbreeding on the basis of three generations of ancestors. The average interval between the current and the parental generation amounts to seven years. The average coefficient of coancestry in the population is estimated to be 18 % and the average degree of inbreeding at 16 %. The rate of inbreeding in the last generation is approximately 12 %. These values exceed those reported for most breeds of production animals.
Effects of the stage and number of lactation on milk yield of dairy cows kept in open barn during high temperatures in summer months
Pavel Novak, Jitka Vokralova and Jan Broucek
Arch Tierz 52 (2009) 6, 574-586 PDF
Objective of this paper was evaluating the effect of high temperatures on production of milk of dairy cows in southern Moravia (Czech Republic, East Central Europe). We tested hypotheses that the milk efficiency of dairy cows kept in free-stall open barn without supplemental cooling is influenced of a month of summer period, lactation stage (LS) and lactation number (LN) of dairy cows. 193 Holstein cows were used. Three stages were stated according to the days in milk at the July 1: Stage 1-peak (0-50 d); Stage 2-mid lactation (51-120 d); Stage 3-late lactation (121-200 d). We found 63 summer (SumD) and 14 tropical days (TropD), 86 days with the temperature-humidity index (THI) above 72.0, and 26 days with the THI above 78.0, from May to September. The average monthly milk yields were statistically differed (P<0.001) among LS, also among LN. We found significant interactions between LS and LN (May, P<0.05; June, P<0.01; July, P<0.001; August and September, P<0.01). The average monthly milk yields of Stage 1 were gradually increased from May to July (from 33.94 ± 8.99 kg on 36.62 ± 6.62 kg), then decreased to September (30.05 ± 5.69 kg). Depression of milk was significant between July and August (36.62 ± 6.62 kg vs. 32.26 ± 5.88 kg; P<0.01). Milk yield in the Stage 2 was the highest in May (41.55 ± 7.93 kg) and then gradually decreased until October (27.69 ± 5.12 kg). Comparisons of months, LS and LN for whole observed period from May to October differed very highly significantly, there were recorded interactions month:LS (P<0.001), month : LN (P<0.01), and LS : LN (P<0.001). Dairy cows of Stage 1 were affected by the high temperatures in milk production for 305 days lactation significantly more than cows from Stage 2 (8 954.4 ± 1 526.9 kg vs. 9 614.1 ± 1 488.6 kg; P<0.05).
Quantitative results for methane production of cattle in Germany
Werner Jentsch, Bernhard Piatkowski, Monika Schweigel and Michael Derno
Arch Tierz 52 (2009) 6, 587-592 PDF
An extensive number of investigations on the energetic utilization efficiency of nutrients and feedstuffs by cattle were carried out in the former Oskar-Kellner-Institute (now the »Oskar Kellner« Research Unit of Nutritional Physiology at the Research Institute for the Biology of Farm Animals (FBN), Dummerstorf). The amounts of methane (CH4) that they produced were compiled and stratified with regard to various performances, dietary nutrient composition and nutrition levels. With increasing food intake and performance, an increase of CH4 emission per animal was observed. However, with increasing performance, a strong decrease of CH4 production per unit of product was determined. Altogether, the 12.74 million cattle in Germany produce 1.04 million tons of CH4 per year. This represents 1.25 % of the CH4 production of the 1.3 thousand million (UK)/billion (US) cattle in the world or 0.22 % of the total emission on the earth. As a greenhouse gas, CH4 from cattle worldwide and from cattle in Germany account for 3.5 % and 0.04 % of global warming, respectively. In addition, opportunities for a further reduction of enteric CH4 release are discussed.
Effect of the backfat thickness of sows in late pregnancy on the composition of colostrum and milk
Karolina Beyga and Anna Rekiel
Arch Tierz 52 (2009) 6, 593-602 PDF
The aim of the work was to determine the effect of the condition of the sows in high pregnancy, being expressed by fat reserves and body weight, and of lactation period on chemical composition and energy content as well as physical and cytological parameters of colostrum and milk of the sows. The studies were conducted with 100 sows (PLW × PL), classified into the groups according to backfat thickness: I – (P2 + P4)/2>20 mm and II – (P2 + P4)/2≤20 mm. The experiment was performed since 104th day of pregnancy till weaning of piglets after 21-day lactation. Fatness (points P2 and P4) and their changes during the periods: high pregnancy – parturition – weaning as well as physical and cytological parameters and colostrum and milk composition were examined. Domination of fatness in highly pregnant sows from group I vs. II was maintained during parturition and weaning (P≤0.001). Any effect of the sow condition on colostrum and milk quality was not found. In case of lower fat reserves in sows (group II vs. I) only lower fat content in colostrum and its lower energy content (by 16.3 % and 4.9 %, respectively), was found. For the majority of parameters no significant differences between the two groups were found. Only the bodyweight at weaning in group II, despite smaller number of piglets in the litter, was found to be significantly lower.
Analysis of agonistic interactions between sows with different rank position during mixing
Catrin Borberg and Steffen Hoy
Arch Tierz 52 (2009) 6, 603-612 PDF
Ninety-six sows in twelve groups of eight sows were continuously video-observed during 48 hours after weaning and mixing. The occurrence and the outcome of all agonistic interactions (AI) were recorded and data of wins and defeats were transformed into a 8 × 8 (winner-loser) matrix. Aggressor and receiver of the attacks and fights in the dyads have been determined and the rank index for each sow was calculated leading to the individual rank place RP (1 to 8) and to the classifying into high ranking (HRS: RP 1 to 4) and low ranking sows (LRS: RP 5 to 8). Based on a total number of 2 414 AI dominant sows with RP=1 initiated 94.3 % of the AI they were involved in and were the receiver in 5.7 % of the AI. In contrast, every fourth AI was orientated towards the subdominant sow with RP=8. The sows with RP 7 or 8 were the receivers in nearly half of all AI (44.9 %). Fights occurred more frequently between sows with a low rank place difference. More than 60 % of the attacks and more than 40 % of the fights were initiated from high ranking sows towards low ranking sows even though 28.6 % was the estimated value for those dyads. In only 2 % of the attacks and 18.8 % of the fights LRS engaged HRS which means that HRS usually react with a counter-attack when being attacked by a LRS.
Association between PrP genotypes and selected growth traits of Hungarian Merino and German Mutton Merino rams (Short Communication)
Barbara Nagy, István Anton, László Sáfár, László Fésüs and Attila Zsolnai
Arch Tierz 52 (2009) 6, 613-617 PDF
In sheep, susceptibility to scrapie is associated with the prion protein (PrP) gene polymorphism. In this study the association between selected growth traits (daily weight gain from birth to weaning and in farm fattening performance test, as well as body weight at one and two years) and PrP genotypes ARR/ARR, ARR/XXX and XXX/XXX (XXX representing AHQ, ARQ, ARH or VRQ) has been investigated in Hungarian Merino (n=286) and German Mutton Merino (n=215) rams. No significant association was found among the studied growth traits and the PrP genotypes in the Hungarian Merino breed. In case of a group of German Mutton Merino rams lamb daily gain was significantly (P≤0.05) – but in a small extent – associated with PrP genotype, which influenced the daily gain values by 9.6 %.
Effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation on fattening performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality traits of Karya male lambs
Okan Atay, Özdal Gökdal, Vadullah Eren, Şevki Çetiner and Hakan Yikilmaz
Arch Tierz 52 (2009) 6, 618-626 PDF
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin E supplementation on performance, slaughter-carcass characteristics and meat quality traits of Karya male lambs. Lambs weaned approximately at 10 weeks of age were divided into two groups. After the 10 days adaptation period, control group (CG, n=7) and vitamin E group (VEG, n=6) lambs were fed on with concentrates ad libitum and 100 g hay/lamb/day for 70 days. In addition the VEG received a supplement on concentrates of 45 mg/lamb/day vitamin E during the fattening period. The meat quality traits were determined using m. longissimus dorsi (LD) obtained from split between 12th and 13th ribs on both groups lambs. Daily gain and feed conversion efficiency were 259 g and 5.3 for CG and 266 g and 4.7 for VEG, respectively. There was no vitamin E supplementation effect on the average daily weight gain and feed conversion efficiency (P>0.05). However, VEG had 10.5 % higher feed conversion efficiency than control lambs. Slaughter and carcass characteristics of lambs were not significantly affected from vitamin E supplementation (P>0.05). There were no effects of vitamin E supplementation on lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*) and pH during 12-day aerobic storage. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values at day 2 were not affected by the vitamin E treatment. However, TBARS values on day 4 and 8 (P<0.05), and day 12 (P<0.01) were higher in the CG than in the VEG. Although not significant, 10 % higher feed conversion efficiency in VEG animals might suggest that vitamin E supplementation is useful to improve fattening performance.
Changes in milk fatty acid composition of goats during lactation in a semi-intensive production system
Cengiz Ataşoğlu, Çiğdem Uysal-Pala and Yonca Karagül-Yüceer
Arch Tierz 52 (2009) 6, 627-636 PDF
This study aimed at investigating changes in the fatty acid (FA) profile and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentration of milk fat during lactation from goats managed in a semi-intensive production system, which consisted of grazing on a woody and herbaceous pasture with the supplementation of mixed concentrate and vetch hay. A total of 21 lactating goats were used. Milk samples were collected at different periods (25 April, 29 June, 25 August and 4 October) during lactation and analysed for their chemical composition and FA profile. The most abundant FA in the milk fat of goats was palmitic (C16:0) acid, followed by oleic (C18:1 n-9), stearic (C18:0), capric (C10:0) and myristic (C14:0) acids. These acids accounted for about 88 % of the total milk FA of goats in all sampling periods. The two medium chain FA; capric (P=0.0001) and lauric (C12:0; P=0.0014) acid were affected by the sampling period, whereas myristic (P=0.4469) and palmitic (P=0.4418) acids did not change. Stearic (P=0.0128), oleic (P=0.0001), linoleic (C18:2; P=0.0088) and linolenic (C18:3; P=0.0001) acids also exhibited significant variations between the sampling periods. However, the CLA (C18:2 c9, t11 and C18:2 t10, c12) contents of milk fat did not change during the entire study regardless of the sampling period (P=0.2448). Milk fatty acid composition of goats, which meet a major part of their nutrient requirements through grazing or browsing in a natural pasture, shows a seasonal variation with milk fat in summer representing a better fatty acid profile for product quality.
Oxidative stability and quality of raw Saanen and Alpine goats milk
Terezija Silvija Marenjak, Nina Poljičak-Milas, Jasna Piršljin, Blanka Beer Ljubić and Suzana Milinković Tur
Arch Tierz 52 (2009) 6, 637-646 PDF
The milk composition and concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in fresh and refrigerated raw goat milk of Saanen and Alpine breed at the breeding period were investigated. Low average milk fat, SNF and lactose content were determined in both breeds with no significant differences between breeds regarding the milk yield and milk composition. The significantly higher somatic cell count (SCC) was detected in Saanen goats. The SOD activity and TBARS concentration were significantly higher 14 h after the collection and cold storage in both breeds of dairy goats with no difference between the breeds. In the Alpine goats the TBARS concentration was negatively correlated with urea concentration, and in the milk of the Saanen goats the TBARS was positively correlated with proteins and SCC. The higher SCC in the Saanen goats may have caused higher production of secondary oxidative products catalysed by the enzyme superoxide dismutase from polymorphonuclear granulocytes present in the udder, or by some other enzymes that participate in oxidation of the milk constituents. The energy shortage and protein surplus in the diet of the dairy goats may have induced the higher degree of lipid mobilisation and a consequent increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that are easily prone to oxidation and formation of the secondary oxidative products.
Amplification created restriction sites for genotyping SNPs in the bovine ABCG2 and its association with milk production traits (Brief Report)
Inga Kowalewska-Łuczak, Hanna Kulig and Marek Kmieć
Arch Tierz 52 (2009) 6, 647-649 PDF
ABCG2 (ATP-binding cassette, subfamily G, member 2) belongs to the superfamily of ATPbinding cassette (ABC) transporters. In ATP-dependent processes, ABCG2 is responsible for transporting xenobiotics and cytostatic drugs across various cellular membranes. The ABCG2 gene is expressed in the apical membrane of alveolar mammary epithelial cells and is responsible for the active secretion of substrates into mouse milk. Other members of the ABC subfamily G are sterol transporters. It therefore appears that ABCG2 might transport cholesterol into milk (COHEN-ZINDER et al. 2005). In the study by COHEN-ZINDER et al. (2005), several SNPs were detected in the ABCG2 gene but only two were genotyped – in exon 14 and in intron 3. In the case of SNP A/C in exon 14 resulting in an amino acid change Y581S, it was demonstrated that this substitution affects milk yield and composition. To detect theses polymorphisms in our study we used a new PCR-RFLP method based on an amplification created restriction site (ACRS). This method has been frequently used by various researchers in recent times (e.g. ZYCH et al. 2007). The aim of this study was to estimate the frequencies of genotypes and alleles and to investigate possible associations between ABCG2 polymorphisms and milk production traits in Jersey cows.