Grass Silage: Factors Affecting Efficiency of N Utilisation in Milk Production

Key points Low efficiency of N utilisation for milk production in cows fed grass silage-based diets is mainly due to excessive N losses in the rumen. The type and extent of in silo fermentation can alter the balance of absorbed nutrients. There is very little experimental evidence that the capture of N in the rumen can be improved by a better synchrony between energy and N release in the rumen. Nitrogen losses in the rumen can be reduced by decreasing the ratio between rumen degradable N and fermentable energy. Rapeseed meal has increased milk protein output more than isonitrogenous soybean meal supplementation, probably due to higher concentration of histidine in rapeseed protein. Efficiency of N utilisation for milk production is not necessarily lower for the grass silage based diets compared to other diets

The Effect of Harvesting Strategy of Grass Silage on Milk Production

Timing of harvest in primary growth of grass is a major factor affecting D-value (digestible organic matter, g/kg DM) of silage and dry matter (DM) consumption and milk production of dairy cows (Rinne, 2000). The objective of this research was to investigate whether there is a similar pattern in regrowths of grass

The Effect of Harvesting Strategy of Grass Silage on Milk Production

Timing of harvest in primary growth of grass is a major factor affecting D-value (digestible organic matter, g/kg DM) of silage and dry matter (DM) consumption and milk production of dairy cows (Rinne, 2000). The objective of this research was to investigate whether there is a similar pattern in regrowths of grass

Prediction of Indigestible NDF Content of Grass and Legume Silages by NIRS

The future feed evaluation systems based on mechanistic digestion models require reliable estimates of forage digestible and indigestible NDF content (DNDF and INDF). The objective of this study was to examine the potential of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) in predicting INDF content of grass and legume silages

Digestibility Estimates Based on a Grass Growth Model Are Distributed via Internet to Finnish Farmers

Optimising the harvesting time of grass in primary growth is difficult under Finnish climatic conditions, because the digestibility of grass decreases on average by 0.5 percentage units daily. We constructed a model based on cumulative temperature and geographical location which estimates the digestibility of grass. This model is used to produce estimates utilising real time weather information. The estimates are presented as a map, which is revised daily. Farmers have free access to the maps via Internet

Between-cow variation in milk fatty acids associated with methane production

We evaluated the between-cow (b-cow) variation and repeatability in omasal and milk fatty acids (FA) related to methane (CH4) emission. The dataset was originated from 9 studies with rumen-cannulated dairy cows conducted using either a switch-back or a Latin square design. Production of CH(4)per mole of VFA (Y_CH(4)VFA) was calculated based on VFA stoichiometry. Experiment, diet within experiment, period within experiment, and cow within experiment were considered as random factors. Empirical models were developed between the variables of interest by univariate and bivariate mixed model regression analysis. The variation associated with diet was higher than the b-cow variation with low repeatability (< 0.25) for milk odd- and branch-chain FA (OBCFA). Similarly, for de novo synthesized milk FA, diet variation was similar to 3-fold greater than the b-cow variation; repeatability for these FA was moderate to high (0.34-0.58). Also, for bothcis-9 C18:1 andcis-9cis-12cis-15 C18:3 diet variation was more than double the b-cow variation, but repeatability was moderate. Among the de novo milk FA, C4:0 was positively related with stoichiometric Y_CH(4)VFA, while for OBCFA,anteisoC15:0 and C15:0 were negatively related with it. Notably, when analyzing the relationship between omasal FA and milk FA we observed positive intercept estimates for all the OBCFA, which may indicate endogenous post-ruminal synthesis of these FA, most likely in the mammary gland. For milkisoC13:0,isoC15:0,anteisoC15:0, and C15:0 were positively influenced by omasal proportion of their respective FA and by energy balance. In contrast, the concentration of milk C17:0,isoC18:0, C18:0,cis-11 C18:1, andcis-9cis-12cis-15 C18:3 were positively influenced by omasal proportion of their respective FA but negatively related to calculated energy balance. Our findings demonstrate that for most milk FA examined, a larger variation is attributed to diet than b-cow differences with low to moderate repeatability. While some milk FA were positively or negatively related with Y_CH(4)VFA, there was a pronounced effect of calculated energy balance on these estimates. Additionally, even though OBCFA have been indicated as markers of rumen function, our results suggest that endogenous synthesis of these FA may occur, which therefore, may limit the utilization of milk FA as a proxy for CH(4)predictions for cows fed the same diet

The use of learner-generated drawings in the development of music students’ teacher identities

Identity development is a continuous process framed within changing social contexts, and is particularly problematic for musicians and other artists whose work contradicts the mythologized image of the artist. The purpose of this article is to examine the professional growth of music students in relation to developing teacher identities. The article reports on the use of learner-generated drawings and journal reflections produced by music performance and education majors; in particular, the article probes students’ perceptions of teaching within a traditional career hierarchy that favours performance and artistic creation above all else. Whilst initial student drawings illustrated traditional images of the teacher as knowledge giver, these gave way to student-centred images in which students appeared to identify with teaching in new ways. The combination of textual and non-textual data provided insights that would not otherwise have been evident, and the consideration of ‘possible selves’ became a useful tool in the explorations of identity and career

Development of a framework for radiographer online clinical education (FORCE): the specifc strand of nuclear medicine within this european project

The overall aim of the FORCE project is to develop virtual web-based learning resources where Radiography undergraduates can engage in interactive, problem-based development of radiographic knowledge, ability and professional awareness. This European-funded project is internally divided in three diferent strands (Radiology Diagnostic Imaging, Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine). The aim of this presentation is to present the global project, mainly focusing developments, achievements and challenges within the Nuclear Medicine specifc strand.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Artturi Assists Finnish Advisers and Farmers to Succeed in Grass-Based Dairy Production

Artturi is a collective name for a wide range of services. It is a common tool for different bodies who share an interest in strengthening grass-based dairy production in Finland: research, advisory service and industries. The Service is named after A. I. (Artturi Ilmari) Virtanen, the Finnish scientist who was awarded the Nobel prize in 1945, partly based on his work in developing the ensiling process of grass. The Artturi web site is available in Internet at: http://www.agronet.fi/artturi. Access to Artturi Services is free and no registration is required. The language used is Finnish. During summer 2003, 15,000 visits were recorded at the web site

Musicians as teachers: Developing a positive view through collaborative learning partnerships

Previous research with classical instrumental musicians has highlighted the intrinsic benefits of teaching in addition to the perhaps more obvious benefits of securing a regular income, and yet despite the presence of educational activities in the portfolio of most musicians it remains on the periphery of many music performance programs. The hierarchical inference in musicians? self-report of success as a soloist, instrumentalist or teacher is perpetuated in the separation of education and performance students during their university education. This study investigated the effects of providing a positive engagement with teaching through a unit of study delivered to a combined cohort of 2nd year undergraduate music education, composition and performance students. The unit was designed to increase students? understanding of the realities of professional practice, and to form productive and mutually beneficial partnerships: promoting a better appreciation of career development and self-identity during the formative years of study. Students? responses were gauged with the use of surveys implemented at the commencement and conclusion of the unit. Performance and composition majors reported a positive change in their perception of the role of teaching in their careers, and music education majors reflected a growing awareness of the benefits of working in partnership with performers. The study demonstrated that positive teaching experiences within the training of musicians, increases the likelihood that students will plan a positive engagement with teaching