Effect of the feeding system and the production season on the protein fraction content in milk

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je analizirati sadržaj proteinske frakcije mlijeka, s posebnim naglaskom na protein sirutke, ovisno o sustavu hranidbe krava (grupa 1 - ekstenzivni, 2 - djelomično intenzivni, 3 - intenzivni) kao i sezoni laktacije (proljeće-ljeto i jesen-zima). Kemijske analize krmiva bile su temelj za izračun dostatnosti energije i proteina u dnevnom unosu nutrijenata. Ukupno je ispitano 1133 uzorka mlijeka (550 zimi i 583 ljeti), a određivani su ukupan broj somatskih stanica (SCC), osnovni kemijski sastav, te udjeli kazeina i proteina sirutke - α-laktalbumin, β-laktoglobulin, albumin krvnog seruma (BSA), laktoferin i lizozim. Viši udio ukupnih proteina, uključujući kazein, utvrđen je u mlijeku krava s farmi s djelomično intenzivnim i intenzivnim sustavom hranidbe. Međutim, neovisno o sezoni laktacije, najveće koncentracije proteina sirutke utvrđene su u mlijeku krava svrstanih u grupu 1, čija se hranidba temeljila na kontinuiranoj ispaši (ljeti - ispaša i sijeno; zimi - sijeno i silaža). Porastom udjela silaže i industrijskih krmiva u hranidbi, udjel proteina sirutke (prije svega β-laktoglobulina i laktoferina) je padao, što je potvrđeno i dobivenim negativnim koeficijentima korelacije.The objective of the present research was to analyse the protein fraction content in milk, with particular regard to whey proteins, in dependence on the cows’ feeding system (group 1 - extensive, 2 - semi-intensive, 3 - intensive) and production season (spring-summer and autumn-winter). Chemical analysis of the fodder was the base for calculation of energy and protein coverage of nutritional dose. A total of 1,133 milk samples were evaluated (550 in winter and 583 in summer). The milk samples were examined for the somatic cell count (SCC), the basic chemical composition, casein and whey proteins: α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin (BSA), lactoferrin and lysozyme. Higher content of crude protein, including casein, was noticed in milk obtained from cows coming from semi-intensive and intensive farms. However, milk taken from cows fed according to the group 1, which was based on fodder from permanent grasslands, had the highest concentration of major whey proteins - both in the summer (pasture and hay) and winter (hay and haylage) seasons. With the increase of silage and industrial fodder in the feed ration, the content of whey proteins - mainly β-lactoglobulin and lactoferrin - decreased, which was confirmed by the obtained negative correlation coefficients

RESEARCH ON THE ECONOMIC AND ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF FARMS IN THE PODKARPACIE REGION

The study was conducted in 74 family farms from the region of Podkarpacie. Information for the work was collected directly on farms using a prepared questionnaire. The results show that with the increasing surface, households increased their economic and organisational prosperity expressed by a higher gross margin and higher stocking rates (LU). In smaller farms, the animal-plant production profile typical of Subcarpathian (group II-IV), the growth potential is high. These farms have more land resources and animals that are used for food production. Their further development will be determined primarily by macroeconomic factors, as well as decisions about the way of management made by farmers. It should be emphasized, however, that failure to livestock or reduction (the abandonment of grazing pasture, lower stocking density) will contribute to the growth of uncultivated land surface, mostly on grassland difficult to be utilized in a different manner

Is Grazing Good for Wet Meadows? Vegetation Changes Caused by White-Backed Cattle

Wetland ecosystems are highly productive and valued for numerous reasons including wildlife habitat, biodiversity, water quantity and quality, and human uses. Grazing livestock on wet grasslands can sometimes be controversial due the humidity of the habitat, but on the other hand, it plays an important role in grassland preservation. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of Polish white-backed cattle grazing on changes in the vegetation (13 phytosociological relevés taken in years 2016–2019) of wet meadows as well as forage quality based on the species composition. Biodiversity was estimated based on species richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity and evenness indices, and Rényi diversity profiles. The peatland featured mostly high-sedge and wet meadows communities of the Magnocaricion and the Calthion alliances. The species and biodiversity indices demonstrated significant rising trends. Extensive grazing resulted in the decreased cover of the dominant species of rush meadows, e.g., the common reed, acute, and tufted sedge. The gaps that had emerged thanks to the reduced cover of the dominant species were filled by meadow plants, which led to increased biodiversity. During the four years of grazing, the cattle obtained satisfactory weight gains, particularly in 2019, which indicates that wet meadows are suitable for grazing and can provide sufficient feed for cattle

Is Grazing Good for Wet Meadows? Vegetation Changes Caused by White-Backed Cattle

Wetland ecosystems are highly productive and valued for numerous reasons including wildlife habitat, biodiversity, water quantity and quality, and human uses. Grazing livestock on wet grasslands can sometimes be controversial due the humidity of the habitat, but on the other hand, it plays an important role in grassland preservation. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of Polish white-backed cattle grazing on changes in the vegetation (13 phytosociological relevés taken in years 2016–2019) of wet meadows as well as forage quality based on the species composition. Biodiversity was estimated based on species richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity and evenness indices, and Rényi diversity profiles. The peatland featured mostly high-sedge and wet meadows communities of the Magnocaricion and the Calthion alliances. The species and biodiversity indices demonstrated significant rising trends. Extensive grazing resulted in the decreased cover of the dominant species of rush meadows, e.g., the common reed, acute, and tufted sedge. The gaps that had emerged thanks to the reduced cover of the dominant species were filled by meadow plants, which led to increased biodiversity. During the four years of grazing, the cattle obtained satisfactory weight gains, particularly in 2019, which indicates that wet meadows are suitable for grazing and can provide sufficient feed for cattle

Effect of the feeding system and the production season on the protein fraction content in milk

The objective of the present research was to analyse the protein fraction content in milk, with particular regard to whey proteins, in dependence on the cows’ feeding system (group 1 - extensive, 2 - semi-intensive, 3 - intensive) and production season (spring-summer and autumn-winter). Chemical analysis of the fodder was the base for calculation of energy and protein coverage of nutritional dose. A total of 1,133 milk samples were evaluated (550 in winter and 583 in summer). The milk samples were examined for the somatic cell count (SCC), the basic chemical composition, casein and whey proteins: α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin (BSA), lactoferrin and lysozyme. Higher content of crude protein, including casein, was noticed in milk obtained from cows coming from semi-intensive and intensive farms. However, milk taken from cows fed according to the group 1, which was based on fodder from permanent grasslands, had the highest concentration of major whey proteins - both in the summer (pasture and hay) and winter (hay and haylage) seasons. With the increase of silage and industrial fodder in the feed ration, the content of whey proteins - mainly β-lactoglobulin and lactoferrin - decreased, which was confirmed by the obtained negative correlation coefficients

Assessment of the genetic structure of Central European cattle breeds based on functional gene polymorphism

As many European cattle breeds are considered to be threatened with extinction, and existing genetic variability is increasingly at risk of being irretrievably lost, its assessment is crucial. The aim of the study was to assess the genetic variability of seven breeds of cattle in Central Europe on the basis of polymorphism at the loci of functional genes, encoding β-lactoglobulin (LGB), leptin (LEP), prolactin (PRL), oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and growth hormone receptor (GHR). The research was carried out on 290 individuals – 50 Polish White-backed (PW), 50 Lithuanian White-backed (LWB), 50 Polish Red (PR), 50 Lithuanian Red (LR), 22 Carpathian Brown (CB), 18 Ukrainian Grey (UG) and 50 Slovak Pinzgauer (PG). Gene polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP. The statistical indicators estimated, i.e. the frequency of alleles and genotypes, observed and expected heterozygosity (HO and HE), F-statistics, gene flow (Nm), and genetic distances, were used to characterize the genetic structure of these cattle breeds. The research demonstrated that the populations analysed have undergone a bottleneck process as a consequence of the rapid decline in the size of individual populations. Owing to the introduction of genetic resources conservation programmes, endangered populations can slowly be restored to a state of genetic balance. Keywords: Genetic variability, Functional genes, Central European cattle breeds, Gene polymorphism, Population genetic structur

Polymorphism of the Melanocortin 1 Receptor ( MC1R) Gene and its Role in Determining the Coat Colour of Central European Cattle Breeds

There are many genes responsible for the appearance of different coat colours, among which the melanocortin 1 receptor gene (MC1R) plays an important role. The aim of the study was to characterize genetic variation in Central European cattle breeds based on polymorphism of the MC1R gene and factors determining their coat colour. The study was conducted on 290 individuals of the following breeds: Polish White-Backed (PW), Lithuanian White-Backed (LW), Polish Red (PR), Lithuanian Red (LR), Carpathian Brown (CB), Ukrainian Grey (UG), and Slovak Pinzgau (SP). Polymorphism at the MC1R gene locus was analysed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using two restriction enzymes: Cfr10I and SsiI. The proportions of alleles and genotypes in the MC1R locus indicates a strong relationship between polymorphism and the coat colour of cattle: The ED allele proved to be characteristic for the breeds with a white-backed coat (PW and LW), while the dominant allele in the red breeds (PR and LR) was E+. It is noteworthy that coat colour in the SP population was determined only by the recessive e allele, which resulted in the formation of a separate clade in the phylogenetic tree

Estimating economic and production losses in relation to locomotion score in primiparous Polish Holstein-Friesian cows

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the free approach to automatic milking system of primiparous (PP) Holstein-Friesian cows with varying locomotion score on the milking frequency, yield per milking and daily milk yield in the subsequent phases of lactation, and the consequent production and economical losses. The evaluation of cows’ locomotion was successively repeated in seven consecutive months, using a five-point scale of posture and movement assessment. It has been found that in the case of analysed PP cows with the locomotion score 4 led to reduction in the milk production by 11% in third stage of lactation compared to the healthy PP. PP cows with locomotion score 4 less frequent went to milking robot and was characterized by the lowest daily milk production