Genotypenvergleich im Hinblick auf Milchleistung, Fruchtbarkeit und Gesundheitsparameter bei unterschiedlichem Weideumfang

Within a pasture genetics project 540 cows with a common German Holstein sire (VG) served as comparison group for 110 daughters of “pasture sires” from Germany suited to grazing conditions (D) and 150 cows with a New Zealand sire (NZ). According to the pasture amount (PA) from May to October the 22 farms were separated into three groups. Mean yields for milk were decreasing from 20-23kg/day to 19-20kg/day when PA increased. In farms with PA of >60% the pasture genetics (NZ and D) were superior. Mean fat and protein contents of the milk were generally higher for daughters of NZ sires. These cows also needed least time until mating after their first calving and were less susceptible to hock lesions and lameness. Daughters of D bulls had the most hock and claw problems, but were less dirty and could be inseminated earlier in farms with PA>60%. Their yields ranged between those of the other two Holstein lines

Genotypenvergleich im Hinblick auf Merkmale des Wohl-befindens in Milchviehbetrieben mit Schwerpunkt Weidehaltung

Parts of the herds of several pasture-based dairy farms mainly located in North-western Germany are inseminated with two strains of Holstein-Friesian genetics (New Zealand vs. others) for a comparison of traits reflecting health and welfare. Daughters of NZ bulls tend to be less dirty, healthier with regard to feet and legs, and less sensitive to losses in body condition. Further investigations will include cow and herd specific factors as a basis for comparisons including economically important production and functional traits of ongoing lactations and generations

Selbstmedikation bei Schafen als eine Ökologisierungsmaßnahme für die Landwirtschaft

Self-medication describes the free choice behaviour of animals to select food - and/or medical plants depending on their health status. In 2007 a case study about endoparasitic nematodes (MDS) in sheep was done. This included the monitoring of MDS in fresh animal manure and the foraging behaviour of the flock. As a result, adult sheep seemed to be able to control the level of MDS on a moderate level, whereas the first year lambs obvious failed to do so. Looking at the corresponding forage behaviour a few plants could be detected with a possible characteristic of animal self-medication of MDS through sheep. Further analysis of plant metabolites and experimental on-farm research with a mix of plants should clear this hypothesis

Breed comparisons and genetic parameters regarding dairy cattle health and welfare in pasture based production systems

Extract from attached abstract: ... results from the present study do not justify general utilization of HF sires from NZL to improve productivity and functional traits in grassland systems in Germany. Heterogeneous results were found with e.g. advantages for NZL_HF regarding health composites of feet and legs, but in contrast impaired udder health. The broad pool of German Holstein sires should be used to select specific sires for distinct environments and breeding goals, e.g. HF_DEU_P for grassland systems. Furthermore, the present study revealed genetic background for traits that are generally related to cattle husbandry and farm management, e.g. the welfare indicator THS

Auswirkungen der Rohproteinversorgung auf die Qualität von Schweinefleisch

The current experiment was conducted to specify the effect of different diets on the quality of pork with emphasis on the intramuscular fat content in the M. longissimus. The results confirm the preliminary conclusions of a former experiment that it is possible to affect the amount of intramuscular fat content by a feeding strategy adapted to the organic framework conditions without increasing the overall fat content of the carcass