Comparison of breed of dairy cow under grass-based spring milk production systems

End of project reportThe objective of this study was to investigate the potential differences among different dairy cow breeds across two feeding systems on milk production, udder health, milking characteristics, body weight, body condition score, hormone parameters, ovarian function, survival and overall reproductive efficiency. The breeds investigated included Holstein-Friesian (HF), Montbéliarde (MB), Normande (NM), Norwegian Red (NRF) and Holstein- Friesian × Montbéliarde (MBX) and Holstein- Friesian × Normande (NMX). Selection within the HF breed has, until recently, been predominantly for milk production with little or no direct selection for functional traits other than those correlated with superior type. The MB and the NM have been simultaneously selected for both milk and beef production in the past. The NRF were imported as calves and come from a more balanced total merit index incorporating production and cow functionality since the early 1970s. The dairy cow breeds were grouped into blocks of two within breed groups and randomized across two spring-calving grass-based feeding systems: low concentrate feeding system (LC) and high concentrate feeding system (HC). Those on LC feeding system were offered approximately 530 kg/cow over the total lactation, while those on HC feeding system were offered approximately 1030 kg/cow

Major management factors associated with the variation in reproductive performance of Irish dairy herds

End of project reportThe results highlight the importance of BCS in achieving good reproductive performance. The likelihood of reproductive success was best predicted by BCS around the time of breeding and, for cows calving in good BCS (3.0 or greater) the level of BCS loss between calving and first service. A low BCS pre-calving (3.5) results in excessive BCS loss (>0.5) post-calving. On the basis of these findings a pre-calving BCS of no greater than 3.25 is a sensible target for pasture-based spring calving systems in Ireland. It is necessary to maintain BCS at 2.75 or greater during the breeding season, and loss of body condition between calving and first service should be restricted to 0.5 BCS units.National Development Plan (NDP

An Evaluation of High Genetic Merit Cows Using Forage and Pasture-based Systems.

End of Project ReportThe rate of genetic improvement in Ireland up until the mid-80’s was low (approx. 0.5% per year) compared to North America where genetic merit for milk production was increasing by 1.5% per year (Funk, 1993). Since 1985 the rate of genetic improvement increased markedly to about 1.5% per year in 1992 (Coffey, 1992). This high rate of genetic progress has mostly been achieved through the importation of North American and European genetics. The relative merit of these sires has been obtained from the performance of their progeny in systems of milk production which differ greatly from those operated in Ireland. The term “high genetic index” (HGI) is used to describe a cow, which as a result of selection, is generally predisposed to produce significantly more milk than a cow of lower merit status. Studies from New Zealand have shown that cows of high “genetic index” at pasture, produce more milk (20 to 40%), consume more herbage (5 to 20%), were more efficient convertors of food into milk (10 to 15%) than lower merit cows (Holmes, 1988). However, these “high” genetic index cows would be considered “low” when compared to present-day genetics. Recent results from Langhill (Veerkamp et al., 1994) have shown that increasing genetic index results in major increases in feed efficiency, reflecting increases in milk yield with cows fed indoors on silage/concentrate diets. There is little information available on the performance of present-day HGI dairy cows, on seasonal calving, grass-based systems of milk productio

Dairy cattle breeding objectives combining production and non-production traits for pasture based systems in Ireland.

End of Project ReportThe objectives of this study were: 1) to estimate genetic (co) variances among body condition score, body weight, milk production, linear type traits and fertility, and 2) to investigate the presence of genotype by environment interactions for milk production, body condition score, and body weight, in Irish grass based seasonal calving herds. Genetic parameters were estimated from a potential 8928 primiparous and multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows over two years (1999 and 2000). Heritability estimates for body condition score (BCS) and body weight (BW) were found to be moderate to high; estimates ranged from 0.27 to 0.51 for BCS, and from 0.39 to 0.61 for BW. Heritability estimates for BCS change and BW change at different stages of lactation were all less than 0.11. Heritability for the linear type traits varied from 0.11 to 0.43. Phenotypic and genetic correlations between BCS and BW at the same stage of lactation were all close to 0.50 indicating that approximately 25% of the genetic and phenotypic variation in BW may be attributed to differences in BCS. Genetic correlations between BCS and milk yield tended to be negative (-0.14 to –0.51) and genetic correlations between BW and milk yield were close to zero (-0.07 to 0.09). However, the genetic correlations between BW adjusted for differences in BCS were positive (0.15 to 0.39). Genetic correlations between BCS and the fertility traits investigated were all favourable, indicating that cows with a superior genetic merit for BCS are on average likely to be served sooner, receive less services and have higher pregnancy rates. The genetic correlations between linear type traits and milk yield indicate that selection for milk production has resulted in taller, deeper cows that tend to be more angular and have less body condition. Genetically these cows are predisposed to inferior reproductive efficiency. Moderate genetic correlations were found between some of the linear type traits investigated and somatic cell count. A comparison of BCS, as recorded by Teagasc personnel (scale 1-5) and Holstein herd-book classifiers (scale 1-9) indicated consistency between the two sources. Phenotypic and genetic correlations of 0.54 and 0.86, respectively, were observed between the two measurement sources on the same animals. Genotype by environment interactions, were found for milk yield across different silage quality environments, and for BCS across different herd-year milk yield, concentrate, grazing severity and silage quality environments

'Going the Distance': An Evaluation of Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services Mobile Garda Youth Diversion Project

Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) are a regional youth organisation and a member region of Youth Work Ireland (YWI) based in County Cork. CDYS provide a range of service to young people including youth clubs, targeted youth projects and Local Training Initiatives. CDYS have successfully operated Garda Youth Diversion Projects in Cobh (established 2002) and Mallow (established 2007) for a number of years. In so doing they have built a solid base of professional expertise and established excellent linkages with the Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLO) from An Garda Síochána and relevant agencies such as the schools. In 2017, CDYS with the support of An Garda Síochána applied to the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) to provide a ‘Mobile Garda Youth Diversion Project’ (MGYDP) in County Cork to cater for the hitherto unmet needs of the young people in Cork North Garda Division (Northern and Eastern areas) by providing intense support and intervention to high risk young people (CDYS, 2017). At the time it was (conservatively) estimated that CDYS could not work with 50 to 60 young people who would benefit from engagement with a diversion project. The mobile initiative would rectify this situation. This application was successful, and the project commenced operations in September 2017. In July 2019 this research study was contracted to evaluate the project’s performance to date

Perceptions of assessment: Do students realise what lecturers are trying to assess?

Educational research tells us that student learning is driven to a large extent by assessment. Thus many lecturers are making changes to their assessment, to encourage desirable kinds of learning. These changes will be effective only if the students recognize their implications and adopt appropriate styles of learning. In 1996, the Faculty of Science at Adelaide University conducted a review of assessment in the Faculty. Lecturers in undergraduate subjects were surveyed to establish the procedures used to assess students’ knowledge and understanding, skills and attitudes, and the relative weighting accorded to these attributes. Student perceptions of assessment were also explored by surveying students in their first year of study and students who had been at University for at least five semesters. The intention was to paint a broad picture of assessment within the Faculty, rather than to obtain information about specific subjects. The research indicated that whereas lecturers believe that most of their assessment tasks require understanding and critical analysis, students perceive that most of the assessment requires rote-learning. If students believe that assessment tasks require rote-learning, they will prepare accordingly. The next phase in the research is to identify ways of encouraging students to see that their assessment outcomes will be improved by deep learning, and to find ways of measuring changes in their perception

The effect of Holstein-Friesian genotype and feeding system on selected performance parameters of dairy cows on grass-based systems of milk production in Ireland

End of project reportThe overall objective of this project was to assess, the effect of strain of Holstein-Friesian dairy cow, pasture-based feed system (FS) and their interaction on animal performance in terms of milk productivity and lactation profile, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), feed intake and energy balance (EB), reproductive performance and overall economic profitability

Intake, efficiency, and feeding behavior characteristics of Holstein-Friesian cows of divergent Economic Breeding Index evaluated under contrasting pasture-based feeding treatments

peer-reviewedThe objective of the current study was to explore differences in dry matter intake, intake capacity, production efficiency, energy balance, and grazing behavior, of 2 divergent genetic groups (GG) of lactating Holstein-Friesian, selected using the Irish Economic Breeding Index (EBI). The GG were evaluated across 3 spring calving pasture-based feeding treatments (FT) over 3 yr. The 2 divergent GG were (1) high EBI, representative of the top 5% nationally (elite), and (2) EBI representative of the national average (NA). In each year 90 elite and 45 NA cows were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 FT: control, lower grass allowance, and high concentrate. Although FT did affect animal performance, there were few notable incidences of GG × FT interaction. The elite cows expressed lower daily milk yield (−1 kg) compared with NA. Elite cows did, however, express higher daily concentrations of milk fat (+3.7 g/kg) and protein (+2.1 g/kg) compared with NA. Daily yield of milk solids and net energy of lactation (NEL) was similar for both GG. Body weight (BW) was greater for NA (+13 kg) compared with elite, whereas mean body condition score was greater (+0.14) for elite compared with NA. Intake did not differ significantly between GG. Intake capacity, expressed as total dry matter intake/100 kg of BW, was greater with elite compared with NA. Production efficiency expressed as yield of milk solids per 100 kg of BW was greater with elite compared with NA, although milk solids/total dry matter intake did not differ between GG. Expressed as NEL as a proportion of net energy intake minus net energy of maintenance (NEL/NEI – NEM) and NEI/milk solids kg, indicated a slight reduction in the utilization of ingested energy for milk production with elite compared with NA. This is, however, suggested as favorable as it manifested as a more positive energy balance with elite compared with NA and so is likely to enhance robustness, increase longevity, and increase overall lifetime efficiency. Noteworthy was a consistent numerical trend toward more intense grazing activity with elite compared with NA cows, exhibited in the numerically greater grazing time (+19 min) and total number of bites per day (+2,591)

Relationships Among Milk Yield, Body Condition, Cow Weight, and Reproduction in Spring-Calved Holstein-Friesians

peer reviewedRelationships among milk production, body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), and reproduction were studied using logistic regression on data from 6433 spring-calving Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in 74 commercial herds. Multivariate models were adjusted for herd, breeding value for milk yield, proportion of Holstein-Friesian genes, lactation number, calving period, and degree of calving assistance. Significant associations between reproductive measures and components of energy balance were identified. Higher 200-d milk protein content and higher protein-to-fat ratio at start of breeding were associated with increased likelihood of submission for breeding in the first 21 d of the breeding season (SR21). High 100-d cumulative milk yield as a proportion of estimated 305-d milk yield (low persistency) was associated with a lower likelihood of pregnancy to first service (PREG1), whereas cows reaching peak milk yields earlier tended to have higher PREG1. Cows that reached nadir milk protein content relatively late in lactation had lower PREG1. Milk yield at first service and 305-d milk protein content were positively associated with the likelihood of pregnancy after 42 d of breeding (PR42). Higher 305-d milk lactose content was associated with increased PREG1 and PR42. Mean BCS at 60 to 100 d of lactation was positively associated with both SR21 and PR42, whereas nadir BCS was positively associated with PREG1. Cows with precalving BCS > 3.0 that also lost > 0.5 BCS unit by first service had lower PR42. More BW gain for 90 d after start of breeding was associated with higher SR21 and PREG1; more BW gain for 90 d after first service was associated with higher PR42. Milk protein and lactose content, BCS, and BW changes are important tools to identify cows at risk of poor reproduction.AIB Bank, Holstein UK and Irelan