Assessment of the breeding value of Holstein-friesian cows for milk performance traits by application of the selection index method.

Istraživanje je sprovedeno na grlima holštajn-frizijske i crno-bele rase koja su gajena na farmama Poljoprivredne korporacije Beograd. Istraživanjem je obuhvaćeno 5238 krava koje su ostvarile 10963 laktacija. Od ukupnog broja grla obuhvaćenih istraživanjem, 175 grla je odabrano za bikovske majke koje su ostvarile 400 laktacija. Sve krave su gajene na 6 farmi Poljoprivredne korporacije Beograd u periodu od 2006. do 2014. godine i predstavljaju potomke 61 bika. Istraživanjem su obuhvaćene sledeće osobine mlečnosti: trajanje laktacije, prinos mleka (kg), sadržaj mlečne masti (%), prinos mlečne masti (kg), sadržaj proteina (%), prinos proteina (kg) i prinos 4% mast korigovanog mleka. Osobine mlečnosti su posmatrane u celoj i standardnoj laktaciji. Istraživanjem su obuhvaćene i sledeće osobine plodnosti: trajanje servis perioda, trajanje međutelidbenog intervala i trajanje bremenitosti. Varijabilnost osobina ocenjena je metodom najmanjih kvadrata primenom GLM (General Linear Model) procedure u programskom paketu SAS. Ocena komponenti varijanse i kovarijanse izvršena je primenom SIRE modela u programskom paketu „VCE-6“. Priplodna vrednost ocenjena je metodom selekcijskog indeksa. Za konstrukciju jednačina selekcijskog indeksa korišćene su osobine mlečnosti posmatrane u standardnoj laktaciji (305 dana) i osobine plodnosti. Ekonomska vrednost osobina mlečnosti uključenih u selekcijski indeks predstavljena je kao relativna vrednost i izračunata na dva načina: (1) preko standardne devijacije, koji su predložili Falconer i Mackay (1996) i (2) preko heritabiliteta posmatranih osobina, koji predlaže Lamont (1991). U laktaciji koja je prosečno trajala 373,89 dana grla holštajn-frizijske rase proizvela su 8705,33 kg 4%MKM. Prosečan prinos mleka za celu laktaciju je 9452,52 kg sa 3,48% mlečne masti i 3,23% proteina. Prosečan prinos mlečne masti i proteina u celoj laktaciji je 328,29 kg odnosno 304,50 kg. Posmatrano po kategoriji grla trajanje laktacije bikovskih majki je 395,84 dana u toku koje su proizvele 10322,44 kg 4%MKM...The study was carried out on the Holstein-Friesian and Black and White animals, which were reared on farms of the Agricultural Corporation Belgrade. The study included 5238 cows that had realized 10963 lactation. Of the total number of animals involved in the study, 175 were selected for bull dams who had realized 400 lactations. All cows were reared on 6 farms of the Agricultural Corporation Belgrade in the period from 2006 to 2014 and represent the progeny/offspring of 61 bulls. The study included the following milk traits: lactation duration, milk yield (kg), milk fat content (%), milk fat yield (kg), protein content (%), protein yield (kg) and yield of 4% fat corrected milk. Milk properties were observed in the whole and standard lactation. The study included the following fertility properties: duration of service period, duration of calving interval and duration of gestation. The variability of the properties was evaluated using the least squares method using the GLM (General Linear Model) procedure in the SAS software package. The evaluation of the variance and covariance components was carried out using the SIRE model in the VCE-6 program package. Breeding value was evaluated by the method of selection index. For the construction of the equation of the selection index, the milk properties observed in the standard lactation (305 days) and fertility were used. The economic value of the milk properties included in the selection index is presented as the relative value and calculated in two ways: (1) through the standard deviation proposed by Falconer and Mackay (1996) and (2) through the heritability of the observed properties proposed by Lamont (1991). In the lactation lasting 373.89 days on average, the Holstein-Friesian animals produced 8705.33 kg of 4% FCM. The average milk yield for whole lactation was 9452.52 kg with 3.48% milk fat and 3.23% protein. The average yield of milk fat and protein in total lactation was 328.29 kg and 304.50 kg, respectively..

Laparoskopsko osemenjavanje ovaca u Republici Srbiji

This paper describes a procedure of laparoscopic insemination (LAI) performed in 42 Ile de France ewes with deep-frozen rams' semen. Frozen semen doses was imported from France, originating from two rams (A and B), and used intermittently in three LAI cycles on different females. The ewes were examined ultrasonographically for pregnancy, two months following insemination and data of lambing were recorded at the end. Total achieved lambing rate was 61.90% (26/42) and total number of lambs was 49 (prolificacy 1.88; 1.16 lambs per sheep included in LAI protocol). Three labs from 2 ewes were stillborn and one dyed at 10th day after lambing. Lambing rates for rams A and B were 53.85% (14/26) and 75.00% (12/16), respectively. Introduction of laparoscopic insemination of sheep with imported deep-frozen semen of top quality rams, gaining technical experience and achieving conception rate over 65% could make this technique acceptable in improving genetic potential of top quality sheep flocks.U radu je opisan postupak laparoskopskog osemenjavanja (LAO) primenjen kod 42 ovce rase Ile de France duboko zamrznutim semenom. Tokom tri ciklusa osemenjavanja naizmenično je korišćeno seme dva ovna (A i B), uvezeno iz Francuske. Nakon dva meseca od osemenjavanja ovce su pregledane na sjagnjenost ultrasonografskom metodom i analizirani su podaci o jagnjenju. Ostvarena je koncepcija od 61,90% (26/42) i dobijeno je ukupno 49 jaganjaca (indeks jagnjena 1,88 po ojagnjenoj ovci, odnosno, 1,16 jagnjeta po ovci uključenoj u protokol LAO). Tri jagnjeta od dve ovce bila su mrtvorođena i jedno jagnje je uginulo 10. dana nakon jagnjenja. Sjagnjenost od semena ovna A iznosila je 58,85% (14/26) a od ovna B 75,00% (12/16). Uvođenje laparoskopskog osemenjavanja ovaca, uvoz duboko-zamrznutog semena vrhunskih ovnova, sticanje iskustva i ostvarenje koncepcije od preko 65% može ovu tehniku učiniti prihvatljivom u popravljanju genetskog potencijala kvalitetnih stada ovaca

PROCJENA KOLIČINE MAKRO I MIKROELEMENATA U HRVATSKIM TRADICIJSKIM KULTIVARIMA GRAHA (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) KORIŠTENJEM SPEKTROSKOPIJE U BLISKOME INFRACRVENOM PODRUČJU (NIRS)

In this study, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to predict the contents of essential macro- and microelements in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) accessions of most widespread Croatian landraces. Total of 175 samples were used for the model development by modified partial least square (MPLS), principal component regression (PCR) and partial least square (PLS) techniques. Based on the coefficients of determination (R2), standard error of calibration (SEC) and error of prediction (SEP) the models developed were (i) nearly applicable for nitrogen (N) (0.89, 0.12 and 0.45 respectively), (ii) poor for iron (Fe), cinc (Zn), potassium oxide (K2O) and potassium (K), (iii) usable for phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5), phosphorus (P), phytic acid (PA) and manganese (Mn). The MPLS regression statistics suggested the most accurate models developed comparing with PLS and PCR. It was concluded that a wider set of common bean samples needs to be used for macro- and microelements prediction by NIRS.U ovome je istraživanju korištena spektroskopija u bliskome infracrvenom području (NIRS) za procjenu količine esencijalnih makro- i mikroelemenata u uzorcima najčešće uzgajanih kultivara graha (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) u Republici Hrvatskoj. Ukupno 175 uzoraka graha korišteno je za razvoj kalibracije uporabom modificirane metode najmanjih kvadrata (MPLS), metode regresije osnovne komponente (PCR) i metode najmanjih kvadrata (PLS). S obzirom na koeficijent korelacije (R2), standardnu grešku kalibracije (SEC) i standardnu grešku procjene (SEP), razvijeni kalibracijski modeli su (i) gotovo primjenjivi za procjenu dušika (N) (0,89; 0,12 i 0,45), (ii) slabo primjenjivi za procjenu željeza (Fe), cinka (Zn), kalijevog oksida (K2O) i kalija (K) te (iii) upotrebljivi za fosfor pentoksid (P2O5), fosfor (P), fitinsku kiselinu (PA) i mangan (Mn). Najpouzdaniji kalibracijski modeli razvijeni su korištenjem regresijskoga modela MPLS u usporedbi s kalibracijskim modelima dobivenim korištenjem PLS-a i modelima PCR-a. Zaključeno je da je za procjenu makro- i mikroelemenata spektroskopijom u bliskome infracrvenom području (NIRS) potrebno prikupiti veći broj uzoraka graha širih varijacija istraživanih makro- i mikroelemenata

Production performances and herd book of simmental and holstein friesian cattle in central Serbia

Central Serbia has a long tradition of cattle farming and, as a hilly-mountainous area it favors rearing of dual purpose Simmental breed, and to a lesser extent, Holstein-Friesian dairy breed. The first Herd Book of Serbia was founded in 1935. The high quality breeding animals registered are under the control of production performance properties. According to expert report of the Institute for Animal Husbandry and the results of the implementation of the breeding program in 2018 in the territory of Central Serbia, there were a total of 153.979 quality breeding animals of Simmental and 16509 quality breeding animals of Holstein-Friesian breed in the main herd. Both breeds are of national interest and are included in the breeding-selection program for dairy cattle that are implemented through the cooperation of breeders and breeding organizations in the field. In Central Serbia, there are 157 registered breeding organizations involved in breeding and livestock recording activities. In this paper, data of the Head breeding organization in cattle farming, the Institute for Animal Husbandry, as well as reports issued by the same entity each year were used. A tabular analysis and a five-year trend are presented according to: the number of recorded animals, primiparous females in linear evaluation, the realized yield of milk, milk fat and protein, as well as the trend of the number of bull dams in the population. Based on the analysis of the results of work on cattle breeding and selection, it can be concluded that some progress has been made in milk production of both breeds. It is important to emphasize that there is a significant effect of mentioned factors on the productivity of entire cattle population in Central Serbia. Systematic work on the breeding and selection of cattle is an important work that should be carried out in high quality, continuously and appropriately in order to achieve maximum effects in cattle production

Variability and heritability of milk traits of holstein - frisian bull dams and their progeny

The research was performed on Holstein-Friesian and Black and White bull dams reared on five farms of Agricultural Corporation of Belgrade - PKB. The study included 575 lactations of cows selected as bull dams and their progeny calved in the period from 2007 - 2014 and represent progeny of 24 bulls. The following dairy traits were analysed in a standard lactation (305 days): milk yield (kg) - MY, milk fat content (%) - % MF, milk fat yield (kg) - MFY, protein content (%) - % PC and protein yield (kg) - PY. Holstein-Friesian bull dams and their progeny, in standard lactation, produced on average 9239.84 +/- 1607.64 kg of milk, with a milk fat content of 3.44 +/- 0.20 and protein content of 3.21 +/- 0.12. The impact of bull - sire, year of birth, lactation order, farm, year and calving season was present at different levels of statistical significance on yield traits, while the genetic group had no influence on any of the milk traits. Bull sire, year of birth, lactation order and calving season did not influence the variability of milk fat and protein content. Heritability of observed milk traits was medium to low. The content of milk fat and protein had the lowest values of heritability, 0.014, and 0.024, respectively. The heritability of milk yield, milk fat yield and protein yield was 0.293, 0.319 and 0.273, respectively

Cattle Herd book and Record Keeping in Central Serbia

Serbia has a tradition of cattle production, and the area of Central Serbia, as a hilly region is suitable for farming of the combined Simmental and dairy Holstein-Friesian breed. The first Herd Book of Serbia was founded in 1935. The high quality breeding animals registered in the main register and the herd book are under the control of production performance. According to the expert report of the Institute for Animal Husbandry and the results of the implementation of the breeding program in 2017, on the territory of Central Serbia, there were 147,997 high quality breeding animals of the Simmental and 17,192 of Holstein-Friesian breed in the main/parent herd. Both breeds of national interest for rearing in the territory of Central Serbia are included in the breeding – selection programs for cattle for milk production, which are implemented through the cooperation of farmers and local breeding organizations in the field. In the territory of Central Serbia there are 157 registered local breeding organizations that are carrying out the activities of cattle recording/registering and selection. In this paper the data of the Main Breeding Organization in cattle breeding, the Institute for Animal Husbandry, and its annual report are used. A tabular analysis and a five-year trend of animals are presented according to: the number of registered animals, linearly evaluated first calving females, the realized yield of milk, milk fat and protein, as well as the trend of the number of bull dams in the population. Based on the analysis of the results of work on the selection of bovine animals, it can be concluded that some progress has been made in the production of milk of both breeds. It is important to emphasize that the mentioned results are reflected on the productivity of the entire population of cattle in Central Serbia

BENTONITE IN NUTRITION OF DAIRY CATTLE

There are numerous methods for decontamination of animal feed, and a relatively inexpensive method is the application of inorganic adsorbents. Adsorbents from the group of alumosilicates are particularly important, especially bentonite. Inorganic adsorbents are able to detoxify foods contaminated with mycotoxins by their adsorption power, while minimizing the negative effects on the organism. The aim of this study was to examine and determine whether the use of natural bentonite has an effect on adsorption of aflatoxins from food. The influence of daily intake of bentonite at different doses (30 and 50 g / head) on the content of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk of examined cows was examined. By mycotoxicological analysis of the feed it was determined that maize grains were infested with aflatoxin B1 (1.24 μg/kg) and that this was the cause of the AFM1 metabolite in raw milk of cows. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that the content of AFM1 in milk of cows consuming food with a daily intake of 30 and 50 g bentonite was significantly reduced

Rezultati biološkog testa bikova simentalske rase u centralnoj Srbiji

Exceptionally important aspect in cattle production, from the aspect of production and economy, is ensuring normal and regular fertility. Every cattle breeder wants to have high-yielding animals which at the same time have good fertility. In proper cattle breeding this means that from each cow during single year one healthy calf is obtained. Use of artificial insemination has enabled that one breeding male is used as sire for several tens of thousands of progeny, however, there is always the risk that sires could be carriers of lethal and semi-lethal genes, which can cause huge losses of calves. In order to bring these undesirable occurrences to a minimum, so called bilogical test is included in the breeding and selection activities, i.e. bulls are tested through their progeny for presence of difficult calving (dystocia) abd calf losses caused by genetic anomalies. In Republic of Serbia, this test is carried out on ehtire Simmental population in an exchange of data produced by primary breeding organizations. Per each tested bull, it is necessary to have data on minimum 50 randomly selected calves. Calves are examined visually 65 days after the birth, at the latest. In the present study, the results of the biological testing of 35 Simmental bulls, sires of total 3572 calves on the territory of Central Serbia, in the period 2008-2009, are used. The effect of sires on parameters of biological test were studied: body mass of calves at birth, calf score and calving score. Also, bulls were ranked based on said parameters, male/female calves ratio and percentage of twins and still-born calves for each bull individually were determined. After the rank of bulls was established, the correlation between the rank and studied fertility traits was determined. Correlations were expressed using the Spearman coefficient. Research results show that the effect of bulls was very high p (lt) 0,001 on all three parameters of the biological test, and also that the percentage of still born calves for all bulls was within limits, with the exception of bulls Zahlo (HB 1497) and Woz (HB 1433) where it was above 5.Izuzetno važan aspekt u govedarskoj proizvodnji, gledano sa proizvodnog i ekonomskog stanovišta je obezbeđivanje normalne i redovne plodnosti. Svaki odgajivač goveda želi da ima grla koja su visoko proizvodna i istovremeno poseduju dobru plodnost. Za pravilno odgajivanje goveda to znači da se od svake krave u toku godine dobije po jedno zdravo tele. Upotreba veštačkog osemenjavanja omogućila je da jedan priplodnjak bude otac nekoliko desetina hiljada potomaka. Međutim, uvek postoji rizik da su očevi nosioci letalnih i semiletalnih gena, što može prouzrokovati velike gubitke teladi. Da bi se ove nepoželjne pojave svele na najmanju moguću meru u odgajivački i selekcijski rad uključeno je ispitivanje bikova po potomstvu na teška teljenja i gubitke teladi izazvane genetskim anomalijama, tzv. biološki test. Ovaj test se u Republici Srbiji vrši jedinstveno za čitavu populaciju simentalske rase, razmenom podataka između odgajivačkih organizacija. Po svakom biku koji se testira, neophodno je imati podatke za najmanje 50 slučajno odabrane teladi. Vizualni pregled teladi se obavlja najkasnije do 65 dana, od datuma rođenja teleta. U ovom istraživanju korišćeni su rezultati biološkog testa 35 bikova simentalske rase koji su bili očevi ukupno 3572 teladi na teritoriji centralne Srbije u periodu 2008. i 2009. godine. U radu je ispitivan uticaj očeva na parametre biološkog testa: telesnu masu teladi po rođenju, ocenu teleta i ocenu toka teljenja. Takođe je izvršeno rangiranje bikova na ove parametre, kao i utvrđivanje odnosa muške i ženske teladi, procenat bližnjenja kao i procenat mrtvorođene teladi za svakog bika posebno. Nakon utvrđenog ranga bikova izvršena je korelacija ranga ispitivanih osobina plodnosti. Korelacije su iskazane Spirmanovim koeficijentom. Rezultati istraživanja pokazali su da je uticaj bikova izuzetno visok p (lt) 0,001 na sva tri parametra u biološkom testu, kao i da je procenat mrtvorođene teladi kod svih bikova u dozvoljenim granica, osim bikova Zahlo (HB 1497) i Woz (HB 1433) gde je iznosio preko 5

Neutrophil phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity of dairy cows during the transition period and early lactation

Introduction: Hormonal and metabolic changes, as well as energy imbalance, can affect health, production and reproductive performance of dairy cows. In the present study, we evaluated phagocytosis and respiratory burst neutrophil activity during the transition period and early lactation and compared it with biochemical and hematological parameters in dairy cows. Methodology: Simmental cows (n = 21) were enrolled in the study. Whole blood samples were collected weekly from 3 weeks pre- calving until 6 weeks post calving. Basic metabolic and blood parameters were assessed by routine laboratory analyses, while neutrophil functions were analyzed by commercial test kits. Results: Optimal neutrophil response was observed pre and post calving. The highest value was recorded in the 6th week after calving (89.54 +/- 7.61%) and being significantly higher (p < 0.01) as compared to values recorded at two and one week before and one week after calving. The percentage of activated neutrophils was high during the entire study period: from 70.80 +/- 5.22% at the beginning of the study to 89.54 +/- 7.61% at the end of the study. During the study period, production of Reactive Oxidative Species by neutrophils was positively correlated with beta-hydroxybutyrat and non-esteri tied fatty acids values (0.454** and 0.423**, respectively) and calcium levels (0.164* and 0.212**, respectively). Conclusions: The most prominent changes in all parameters had no influence on phagocytic and respiratory burst activity of neutrophils. Neutrophil function is preserved at the optimal level during the transition period and early lactation in Simmental cows

Varijabilnost osobina fundamenta kod prvotelki simentalske rase

Visual evaluation and recognition of dairy traits of cows are preliminary indicators of milk yield, longevity, and reproductive ability of the individual animal, which is very important from the aspect of the economics of milk production. The deficiencies in the fundament traits lead to poor production, poor health and premature culling of cows from the herd. The paper examines the frequency of preferred scores of a certain trait in the first calving heifers according to the housing method (animals reared by individual agricultural producers and farm animals) and their origin (domestic and imported animals), as well as the impact of these two factors on the observed properties. Four fundament traits were analysed: the position of the hind legs, the development of the hocks/joints, the pastern joints and the height of the feet on a total of 954 first-calving Simmental heifers. Observed by the housing method, the higher frequency of the preferred scores for all of the fundament traits, was achieved by the farm cows, while according to the origin of the cows, the higher frequency of the preferred scores for all of the fundament traits was realized by imported animals in relation to domestic cows. The influence of the factors of the housing method and origin of animals examined by χ2 test on all the tested linear scores (frequency of scores) of the fundament traits was statistically very significant (p≤0.001), while the analysis of the variance (F test) determined high significance (p≤0.001) of the interaction between the origin and housing method on the height of the feet, as well as significant effect (p≤0.05) on the position of the hind legs, while on other linear scores of the fundament traits it did not exhibit statistical significance (p>0.05).Vizuelna procena i prepoznavanje mlečnih karakteristika krava su preliminarni pokazatelji mlečnosti, dugovečnosti, kao i reproduktivnih sposobnosti grla, što je veoma važno sa aspekta ekonomičnosti proizvodnje mleka. Nedostaci u osobinama fundamenta dovode do slabije proizvodnje, lošeg zdravstvenog stanja i preranog isključenja krava iz zapata. U radu je ispitivana učestalost poželjnih ocena određene osobine kod prvotelki podeljenih po načinu držanja (grla kod individualnih proizvođača i grla sa farme) i podeljenih po poreklu (grla domaćeg odgoja i grla iz uvoza), kao i uticaj ova dva faktora na posmatrane osobine. Analizirane su četiri osobine fundamenta: položaj zadnjih nogu, razvijenost skočnog zgloba, kičični zglobovi i visina papaka na ukupno 954 prvotelke simentalske rase. Posmatrano prema načinu držanja, veću frekvenciju poželjnih ocena za sve osobine fundamenta iskazane u ocenama ostvarile su krave sa farme, dok su prema poreklu krava, veću frekvenciju poželjnih ocena za sve osobine fundamenta iskazane u ocenama ostvarile krave poreklom iz uvoza u odnosu na krave domaćeg porekla. Uticaj faktora načina držanja i porekla grla ispitivani χ2 testom na sve isptitivane linearne ocene (frekvenciju ocena) osobina fundamenta bio je statistički vrlo visoko značajan (p≤0,001), dok je analizom varijanse (F test) utvrđena visoka značajnost (p≤0,001) interakcije porekla i načina držanja na visinu papaka, kao i značajnost (p≤0,05) na poziciju zadnjih nogu, dok na ostale linearne ocene osobina fundamenta nije ispoljila statističku značajnost (p>0,05)