The fatty acid (FA) composition of animal tissues is influenced by many factors including age, dietary forage to concentrate ratio, breed and energy status. Despite a high degree of bio-hydrogenation of unsaturated FA’s in the rumen, another crucial influence on tissue FA composition is the FA composition of the diet. Feeding linseed has been shown to increase omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in beef. Altering the fat content and composition of the bovine digital cushion has potential implications for lameness in cattle. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that cattle offered extruded linseed would show a marked difference in FA composition in the lipids of the digital cushion compared to cattle offered a diet with no linseed.

Dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been recognized as having potential positive effects on human health (Lock and Bauman, 2004). Furthermore, alteration of the fatty acid (FA) composition of milk through targeted manipulation of dairy cow diets can be achieved (Dewhurst et al., 2006). Although breed effects on the FA composition of milk have previously been reported (Kelsey et al., 2003), most work to-date has been conducted under high input TMR based systems. Furthermore, little is known on the effects of heterosis on concentrations of FA in milk. The objective of this study was to examine whether differences in milk FA concentration exist between two contrasting breeds of dairy cow and their F1 hybrid managed under a grazing based production system.

Milk production from grass by autumn calving dairy cows can be increased through extending the grazing season in early spring, therefore reducing the reliance on more expensive conserved forage and concentrates (Peyraud et al., 2004). Turning cows out to pasture earlier in the spring has also been associated with an increase in milk and milk protein yield (Sayers and Mayne, 2001). In contrast, milk fat content may be decreased, possibly due to the lower fibre content of spring grass (Sayers and Mayne, 2001). The inclusion of chopped straw in the ration offers the potential of increasing dietary fibre intake and therefore maintaining milk fat levels (Ferris et al., 2000). The objectives of the current study were to determine the effect of extending the grazing season in spring and increasing the fibre content of the ration on the intake and performance of autumn calving dairy cows.

Apple pomace (AP) is the by-product obtained when apples are pressed to make juice and is produced in huge (97,000 tons/year) amounts in Iran. It’s characterized by low starch and high NDF concentrations and accompanied by appreciable quantities of poorly identified components, including soluble carbohydrates and pectin. Optimal utilisation of diets by dairy cows is influenced by the chemical composition and physical characteristics of the ration. Physical characteristics can influence animal health, rumen fermentation and utilisation, animal metabolism, and milk fat production independently of the amount or composition of chemically measured components (Mertens, 1997). Water holding capacity may affect rumen liquid pool size and the rate and extent of rumen digestion (Allen and Mertens, 1988). The purposes of the current study were to determine the physical effectiveness of ensiled apple pomace (EAP) and its effects on passage rate from the rumen of Holstein dairy cows.

Without a detailed understanding of how calf rearing is performed in practice, it is difficult to establish 1) the effectiveness of technology transfer initiatives and 2) how best to focus future research efforts. In view of this, the objective of the current study was to investigate calf rearing practices on Northern Ireland dairy farms.

The teat canal in dairy cows is lined with keratin, which is considered to be a natural physical and chemical barrier involved in providing resistance to bacteria gaining entry into the mammary gland. Keratin is partially removed during milking therefore requiring regeneration. It has been estimated that a cow needs to regenerate 1.3 mg per teat between each milking to replace the amount lost (Capuco et al., 1992). Zinc is important in the process of keratinisation and previous studies have reported an 2.4 kg/d increase in milk yield when supplemented with Zn in an organic form at the recommended level and an increase in somatic cell counts (SCC) in cattle receiving 0.66 of the recommended level of dietary Zn (Atkin et al., 2007), although mechanisms for this observation are unclear. The objective of this study was to establish the effect of level and form of Zn (organically chelated (Bioplex ZnTM; Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, USA) vs. inorganic (ZnO)) and no supplemental Zn on dairy cow performance and keratin production in the teat canal.

Accurate prediction of the ME concentration of fresh grass is vital in developing appropriate feeding regimes for grazing animals. While AFRC (1993) proposed an equation to calculate grass ME concentration from digestible OM in total DM (DOMD), the accuracy of this approach has been questioned (Yan and Agnew, 2004). The objective of the present study was to develop a prediction method for ME concentration of fresh grass from nutrient digestibility.

Milk and dairy products are the major source of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in the European diet and there is evidence that replacing SFA with cis-monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) will improve risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Rapeseed in dairy cow diets simultaneously reduces milk SFA and increases cis-MUFA, but also increases milk trans MUFA. A new variety of rapeseed with higher oleic acid content (therefore less potential for increasing milk trans-MUFA) was compared with a normal oleic acid rapeseed, and both compared with a control diet.

Milk fat is characterised by the complexity of its components both in biosynthesis and structure. It has often been linked with negative effects on human health although some milk fatty acids (FA) have been found to have a beneficial effect on human health (German and Dillard, 2006). Saturated fatty acids (SFA) have been associated with the increase of risk of cardiovascular heart disease, high concentrations of LDL-cholesterol and insulin resistance. However, milk also contains unsaturated fats both monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) which have been reported to benefit human health (Givens and Shingfield, 2004). PUFA can be further categorized as ω-3 and ω-6 FA. The main ω-3 FA in milk is α-linolenic acid (ALA) and the main ω-6 FA in milk is linoleic acid (LA) both of which are important, since they cannot be synthesised in mammals and have to be supplied from dietary origins (Ruxton et al., 2005). Other beneficial FA in milk include cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (c9t11 CLA) and trans-11 C18:1 (VA), a precursor of CLA. PUFAs have been shown to be involved with protection against coronary heart disease, prevention of cancer, neurological functions, brain and visual development on infants and antiobesity (Shingfield et al., 2005). The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in fatty acid composition between organic and conventional commercial whole milk during winter and summer seasons.

Antioxidant mechanisms, immune responses, reproduction, thyroid metabolism are processes in which the trace element selenium (Se) is involved. In beef production with suckling herds, a Se deficiency could impair animal health resulting in reduced incomes. In Belgium the Se content in locally produced feedstuffs is low and thus, in beef farms where locally produced feedstuffs are fed for the entire year, symptoms of Se deficiency are observed. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect, of Se enriched fertilizers on the Se content of feedstuffs and on the Se status of cattle.

Naturally grown in the vast majority of Brazilian territory, Solanum lycocarpum (SL, popularly known as wolf’s apple) can be used as alternative feed additive for ruminants. Despite its significant amount of secondary metabolites, it is known to be eaten by cattle and a specific species of wild wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus). However the effects of these organic compounds on ruminal fermentation are still unclear and a dose-response is expected to turn a potential feedstock into an undesirable baneful aliment (Goel et al., 2008). As a result scientific investigation regarding this highly promising plant is needed to test its potential as a supplement to support sustainable livestock production systems. Thus this study compared the effects of different dried meal-like fractions (fruit, leaf, flower, root, stem) of this plant at two different levels (0.2 and 0.4 g) on the in vitro dry matter (DM) degradability (IVD) at three different times of incubation.

Results of yeast effects on in vitro rumen fermentation are inconsistent (Sullivan et al., 1999; Yang et al., 2004). In addition, there is no data on the effect of mannan-oligosacchrides (MOS) and their interaction with yeast on rumen fermentation. This trial was conducted to study the effects of yeast and MOS on rumen fermentation of different substrates.

Approximately 80% of all production costs are related to the purchase of forages and other feeds in dairy enterprises in Mexico. Resource poor, smallholder (campesino) systems are heavily reliant on the use of maize stover, noncultivated/cultivated grass species and weeds to feed their dairy cattle, thus a nutritional understanding of local forage resources would be of considerable economic benefit. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritive value of non-cultivated pastures (NcP) across the growing season.

Palm oil petiole (POP) is a pruning by-product from palm oil plantations. POP is the stalk of the palm oil frond (POF) without the leaflets and the outer layer. By weight, it contributed about 30 percent of POF. POP was a possible alternative for POF in feeding Bali cows (Bos sondaecus) since Bali cows we observed to reject fresh POF. Central Bureau of Indonesian Statistics (2006) reported that the production of POF was around 10,869,365 t from around 3,682,900 ha of palm oil plantation in Indonesia which is equivalent to 3,260,810 t of POP. POF are successfully used as feed for Bos taurus and Bos indicus and there are a lot of studies being done, especially in Malaysia. Alimon and Hair Bejo (1995) reported that the chemical composition of POF is 47, 385, 787, 556 g kg-1 and 5.65 MJ kg-1 for crude protein (CP), crude fibre, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and metabolisable energy respectively. However, there is no information on the nutritive value of POP and its palatability in Bali cows. The aims of this study were to evaluate the nutritive value of POP, and palatability of POP types by Bali cows when processed in several forms.

High-yielding dairy cows are at risk of injuries causing lameness due to the hard, abrasive nature or slipperiness of the usual concrete floor surface (Cook et al., 2004). These problems can be exacerbated by the milking procedure that includes crowding of cows and possible sharp turns at the entrance and exit of the parlour. Rubber mats on walkways have been shown to reduce injury (Rushen and Passillé, 2006) and are preferred by cows to a concrete or slatted surface (Telezhenko et al., 2007). A recent installation of rubber matting in the milking stalls of a 15 cows per side (30-30) rapid exit parlour provided an opportunity to observe potential effects on cow behaviour. The mats were introduced to one side at a time and then to both sides and the aim was to determine whether the rubber matting had any significant effects on social interaction immediately prior to entering the milking stalls and the time taken for 15 cows to take their places.

The term hock lesion describes incidences of hair loss, thickened skin, wounds, scabs, and swellings occurring over the tarsal joint. Hock lesions in dairy cattle are a widespread problem around the world. In the UK, a recent study found approximately 99% of examined cows had at least some callused area over a hock (Haskell et al., 2006). The presence of hock lesions is correlated with injuries of the teat, carpal joints and skin, as well as increases in mobility score, high somatic cell counts, a greater incidence of clinical mastitis, and higher culling and annual death rates. Differences in the prevalence and severity of hock lesions according to the lying surface and cubicle design have been identified. Cow-related factors and management variables have also been postulated as possible risk factors. Recognition of the condition and practical solutions aimed at resolving it have however, been limited. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hock lesions in lactating cattle on dairy farms in the East Midlands of the UK, and the significance of potential risk factors in the development of the lesions.

Domestic sheep have a strong social tendency (Dwyer and Lawrence, 1999). Sheep recognise members of their own flock, and social bonds can determine grazing distribution. The distribution and distance between grazing ewes can vary widely depending on availability and quality of vegetation. However it tends to be a characteristic of breed (Sibbald and Hooper, 2003). Hill sheep breeds are known to have a higher flexibility than lowland breeds (Dwyer and Lawrence, 1999) and tend to have less need to be close to other animals in free ranging environments. The aim of this study was to monitor the behaviour and grazing patterns of a traditional upland breed, Scottish Blackface ewes in comparison to a range of other crossbred ewes.

Work on lameness has been focused on meat sheep but there is limited information on dairy sheep. Lameness is a welfare problem, which reduces productivity and it is a major problem in most sheep keeping countries (Winter, 2008). The latter is important for Greece which is ranked second (after Italy) in milk sheep production in Europe (deRancourt et al. 2006). The objective of this study was twofold. Firstly, to characterise the farming system in a representative sample of dairy sheep flocks, and to categorise them in certain clusters in relation to predisposing factors of lameness. Secondly, to assess the prevalence and the major epidemiological characteristics of lameness.

Neonatal lamb mortality represents both a welfare issue and an important production inefficiency. Approximately 80% of lamb mortality can be attributed to the starvation-mismothering-exposure complex and occurs in the first 3 days after birth. Sub-optimal supply of trace elements and vitamins to the ewe is a potential risk factor in lamb mortality with Se, vitamin E and fatty acids the most likely candidates (Rooke et al. 2008). Responses to vitamin E supplementation above requirement in the last third of gestation are variable probably because of differences between studies in route of administration, dose administered and pre-experiment vitamin E status of the ewe population. The object of the experiment was to characterise responses in lamb viability to supplementation of the maternal diet with vitamin E above the stated requirement.

There is a trend in the UK towards larger dairy herds increasing the number of cows per stockperson and reducing available time for routine observations. A slightly difficult calving can have an economic loss of £110 with up to £400 for a difficult calving (McGuirk et al, 2007). These losses are incurred in lost milk production, increased labour costs and delayed calving to conception interval. Therefore, it would be advantageous for the stockpersons to have an automated alert of the onset of calving as soon as possible to allow assistance to be given if required and to highlight cows for observation.