Approximately 20% of the beef tonnage produced in the United States is derived from Holsteins, through harvested dairy beef or cull dairy cows (Randy Blach, Cattle-Fax, personal communication). This represents a significant contribution to the U.S. beef supply. More and more large commercial feed yards have seen the opportunity available with feeding Holstein steers. Inherent variation between ...

Calving is a key event on any cattle farm, with both economic and animal welfare consequences when complications arise. Although mostly reported in highly selected breeds, problematic calving performance is also a worry to the unselected dualpurpose Murboden breed, local to Austria. Th is study presents genetic parameter estimates for calving ease and stillbirth in Murboden cattle. Furthermore,...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of birth weight (BW) on future milk production and reproductive performance in Iranian Holstein cattle. Records of Holstein cows between 1967 and 2010 were obtained from the Animal Breeding Center of Iran. Birth weights within each herd were grouped into five categories based on the standard normal distribution curves (z ≤-0.8416, -0.841...

A high incidence (about 70%) of alteration in endometrial epidermal growth factor (EGF) profile, i.e., loss of 2 peaks on days 2-4 and 13-14, has been linked to a reduced fertility in multiparous repeat breeder Holstein cows. However, the EGF profile in Holstein heifers and other breeds (types) of cattle has not been investigated. In study 1, EGF concentrations were determined using endometrial...

According to the most recent National Animal Health Monitoring System for dairy cattle (National Animal Health Monitoring System, 2008), leading causes of morbidity in dairy cattle are clinical mastitis, lameness, infertility, retained placenta, milk fever, reproductive problems, and displaced abomasum. Of cows removed from herds, about 53% leave for one or more of the above reasons. Additional...

In this study, 400,729 Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) records collected on 77,178 cows in 692 Midwest herds over 29 mo (January 1999 to May 2001) were used to analyze milk urea nitrogen (MUN) as collected the day of the test in 6 breeds. Records of Holsteins, Jerseys, and Brown Swiss were subjected to stepwise backward elimination analysis with a model including parity (primiparous vs. multiparou...

Calving traits for frequently used dairy breeds and crossbreeds were investigated using calving records collected in Australia over a period of 18 years. Dystocia (calving difficulty) was highest for heifers calving to Holstein-Friesian bulls, and Jersey calves caused the least dystocia. Incidence of dystocia in Holsteins was influenced by the season (gestation lengths were longer in winter, re...

This review paper preSents information on the nutritional and management factors that can predispose dairy animals to laminitis. The suggestions regarding various feeding and management practices that may help in preventing laminitis are also discussed. Lameness in dairy animal is a ~rious problem as it cauSes significant economic loss todairy farmers. The outbreak of laminitis can occur at any...

The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic correlations among body condition score (BCS), dairy form, milk yield, and days open in US Holsteins and investigate the potential of using BCS or dairy form evaluations as early indicators of days open. Dairy form and BCS obtained from the Holstein Association USA, Inc., were merged with mature equivalents (ME) for milk yields and days open...

the possible relationships between trace elements, oxidative stress and subclinical ketosis during the transition period were evaluated in dairy cows. blood samples were obtained by jugular venipuncture at four times of the transition period: 3 weeks and 1 week before and 1 week and 3 weeks after calving. the highest concentrations of malondialdehyde (mda) and betahydroxybutyrate (bhb) were obs...