Economic and production aspects of milking management in dairy farming

The Brazilian dairy sector is important for the world agricultural production; however, it presents problems in production efficiency and milk quality, since the occurrence of mastitis in the herds can reach 47%. The present study analyzed data from a rural property with 100 lactating cows in a semi-intensive breeding system, which did not adopt adequate hygiene management for milking processes. Corrective measures were proposed, such as daily strip cup test, biweekly California Mastitis Test, formation of a new milking line, and daily pre dipping and post dipping and cleaning of teat cups. Milk samples from 10 animals with positive clinical mastitis, 10 animals with positive subclinical mastitis, and from the cooling tank were collected at one day before and 90 days after the implementation of the proposed measures and sent to a laboratory for analysis of somatic cell counting (SCC) and total bacteria counting (TBC). An increase of 17% in milk production and decreases of 64% and 40% in clinical and subclinical mastitis, respectively, were found after 90 days, with a consequent decrease in SCC and TBC. The milking duration after this period denoted an adaptation of the employees to the new procedures. The production financial yield was calculated based on the implementation costs of the adopted adequations and increases in milk production, representing a profitability increase of 10.4%. The implemented adequations were efficient for the control of mastitis and increase in milk yield and quality, resulting in a positive economic return

Occurrence of unstable non-acid milk in dairy farms in northern Tocantins state, Brazil

The diagnosis of unstable non-acid milk (UNAM) in Brazil is overlooked due to the lack of information about this problem available to dairy farmers, mainly in the North region of the country. This report describes the occurrence of UNAM in three dairy farms of family farmers in northern Tocantins state, Brazil, who use animal feed based on Urochloa brizantha without mineral supplementation. The animals had been subjected to a poor feeding practice, with low quantity and quality, due to the dry period in the region and inappropriate nutritional management. Fourteen animals that presented alterations in milk characteristics were subjected to 72% alizarol test, California mastitis test, strip cup test, somatic cell count (SCC), boil test, physical-chemical and microbiological analyses, and search for undesirable substances. The time of lactation, udder health, and serum glucose level of animals, and soil and forage quality were also evaluated. The results showed 42% animals diagnosed with mastitis, 21% of them with clinical and 21% with subclinical mastitis; and 78% of animals with samples positive for the alizarol and boil tests, and Dornic acidity between 14° and 18°, characterizing positive cases for UNAM. Only one animal presented SCC above the limit established by the Brazilian legislation. The animals presented undamaged teats and no alteration in glycemia. Changes in nutritional management were recommended and done and the alizarol tests were redone after 14 days, showing all negative results for UNAM. The conclusion is that incorrect nutritional management is the main cause of UNAN in the studied cases

Mapping the high-affinity binding domain of 5-substituted benzimidazoles to the proximal N-terminus of the GluN2B subunit of the NMDA receptor

10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00549.xBritish Journal of Pharmacology1592449-46