Purebred Holstein-Friesian cows are the main exotic breed used for milk production on large, medium, and small farms in Kenya. A study was undertaken on seven large-scale farms to investigate the genetic trends for milk production and fertility traits between 1986 and 1997 and the genetic relationships between the traits. This involved 3,185 records from 1,614 cows, the daughters of 253 sires. ...

The data pertaining to variable production and reproduction traits of Murrah buffaloes (1980 lactation records of 698 Murrah buffaloes) were collected from the Central Cattle Breeding Farm, Alamadhi, Tamil Nadu, India. The overall leastsquares means (± SE) for peak yield, days to attain peak yield, 305-day milk yield, lactation length, lactation milk yield, service period, calving interval and ...

Characterization of factors influencing estrus and ovulation in sows may facilitate development of procedures for improving reproductive performance. The experiment was conducted in confinement during 1997 to 1999 using 174 Large White x Landrace sows. After weaning, sows were checked for estrus twice daily. In the 1st yr, transrectal ultrasound was performed once daily and in the 2nd yr twice ...

Fifty-three primiparous sows were used to study the effects of a high-energy, fat-supplemented diet on sow lactation and rebreeding performance. Sows received either a low [Lo, 12.5 Mcal metabolizable energy (ME)/d] or high (Hi, 16.0 Mcal ME/d) energy sorghum-soybean diet during a 28-d lactation. At weaning, sows were randomly allotted, within lactation treatment, to a low (lo, 5.54 Mcal ME/d) ...

The transition from pregnancy to lactation is the most stressful period in the life of a cow. During this transition, homeorhetic adaptations are coordinated across almost every organ and are marked by changes in hormones and metabolism to accommodate the increased energetic demands of lactation. Recent data from our laboratory showed that changes in circadian clocks occur in multiple tissues d...

Fatty acids in milk are one of the most important components of milk. The aim of this study was to determinate relationships between groups of fatty acids and body condition score change in Czech Fleckvieh cows. Fatty acids were classificated along its length of chain and its origin. A total of 50 Czech Fleckvieh cows with different parity were included to observation. During the first 4 weeks ...

Although the intensive production system of Lacaune dairy sheep is the only profitable method for producers outside of the French Roquefort area, little is known about this type of systems. This study evaluated yield records of 3677 Lacaune sheep under intensive management between 2005 and 2010 in order to describe the lactation curve of this breed and to investigate the suitability of differen...

The Norwegian cow index of 1978 is described. The formula is standard and is based on information from a) lactation yield per year, b) corresponding herd averages, c) indexes of sire and maternal grandsire, and d. average of indexes of sires included in the herd averages. Analysis of data from 242 501 cows is also presented. Following conclusion may be drawn :-The cow index used seems to work w...