Swine production in Nigeria is still at a very low level, though it has been gaining some attention, especially in the South western Nigeria. Being monogastric in nature, the cost of feed in a pig enterprise is enormous and could be as high as up to 75-80% in the fattening herd and 60-65% in the breeding herd. However, to reduce this high cost of dietary ingredients and feeding that are associated with intensive animal production system, more attention should be paid to unused resources which are regarded as useless for human consumption or nutrition and non competitive (Ter Meulen and El-Harith, 1985). Both cassava flour wastes and palm kernel cake fall into this class (Tegbe et al, 1995). The aim of this study therefore, was to replace the maize fraction in the diet of the growing pigs with two levels of cassava flour waste (CFW) supplemented with palm kernel cake (PKC).

Adequate disease resistance in the immediate post parturient period is essential for the health and survival of a calf. Immunoglobulins (Igs) are proteins produced in response to stimulation by antigens (foreign substances) that subsequently inactivate or destroy these antigens. The sera of neonatal calves is essentially devoid of Ig or agammaglobulinaemic (Stromont, 1972). Thus they are entirely dependent on the Igs received through the ingestion of colostrum to provide passive immunity. IgG1 is the most abundant Ig present in colostrum. The IgG1 concentration of the colostrum, in addition to colostrum intake, influences the immune status of the calf. McGee (1997) has identified breed effects for serum and colostrum Ig status in suckler cows and consequently serum Ig status of their progeny. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cow breed type on (a) cow serum and colostrum IgG1 concentration and (b) subsequent calf serum IgG1 concentration and zinc sulphate turbidity (Z.S.T.) units.

Milk production in the tropics will typically follow one of two general strategies: either the use of crossbreeding using exotic cattle on the indigenous cattle or the maintenance of purebred Bos taurus dairy breeds. The current work investigates the use of the Holstein as a producer of fresh milk and replacement stock (RS) in Indonesia. In an attempt to ensure a sustainable system which maintains RS, one dairy breeding station (BS) was operated with intensive management in a favourable elevated location in Banyumas district, Central Java. A number of smallholder dairy farmers (SF) were established on the surrounding lower area to provide RS at the village level. On both BS and SF AI was the sole mating method using semen from imported Holstein bulls. Maintaining optimal reproductive efficiency is required to achieve proper dairying profitability as inefficient reproduction not only reduces milk yield and the available RS, but also increases culling due to reproductive failure, breeding cost and veterinary fees (Esslemont et al., 2001). The aim of this research is to evaluate the various indices of reproductive performance in Holsteins in the two locations.

Poor reproductive performance is a major problem on dairy farms throughout the United Kingdom, resulting in reduced financial returns for the farmer. As the genetic merit of the cow increases, an increasing proportion of nutrients are partitioned towards milk production and this can result in the cow entering into a more severe negative energy balance (NEB). Previous studies have shown that the extent of NEB may influence the expression of oestrous behaviour (Orihuela, 2000). The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of offering a high or low proportion of concentrate (70% and 40% respectively, with the balance being grass silage) in the total diet, on the expression of oestrous behaviour of high genetic merit Holstein Friesian lactating dairy cows, using optical electronic oestrous detection equipment.

Pressure to reduce farm costs in milk production has seen an increasing demand on Milk Recording Organisations (MROs) to provide alternatives to the standard supervised recording scheme based on testing two milkings within a 24 hour period at 4-weekly intervals. With alternative schemes, a balance has to be sought between cost reduction and maintaining accuracy so that herd management decisions and genetic evaluations are not compromised. An am-pm recording scheme has been introduced by MROs as a way of reducing cost. It is based on testing one milking at 4-weekly intervals with the monthly test alternating between the morning and the evening milking. There is a need to establish how accurate this scheme is in estimating daily yield and to determine the weights required so that this information can be suitably included in the national genetic evaluation system.

Previous work has reported an increase in the unsaturated fatty acid composition of cows milk when diets containing malt distillers grains (Draff) are fed (Hyslop and Roberts, 1988). However, the underlying nature and efficiency of the transfer of dietary fatty acids (FA) to milk fat remains to be examined. The objective of this study is to quantify the relationships between intake of C:16 - C:20 dietary FA and their output in milk.

Starch digestion in the rumen and large intestine yields volatile fatty acids that are either ketogenic (acetate, butyrate) or glycogenic (propionate) precursors, whereas starch digestion in the small intestine yields mainly glycogenic precursors. Therefore, supply of ketogenic and glycogenic precursors from starch is related to the site of digestion. In this study the site of digestion of starch from wheat, maize and potato was estimated by in vitro methods, i.e. the gas production technique and an enzymatic technique, and the nylon bag technique. The in vitro and in situ results were validated by in vivo experiments with dairy cows, determining the site and extent of starch degradation.

The early lactation period in dairy cattle is characterized by negative energy balance (NEB). Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) have an important role in regulating nutrient utilization and act as a mediator of the effects of energy balance on reproduction. The capacity of IGF-I to access cell surface receptors is controlled by insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs). Insulin is a key signal of metabolic status and its infusion altered IGF-I and IGFBP concentrations in plasma (Butler et al., 2003). The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of dietary supplementation of fish meal (FM) or Ca salts of fish oil fatty acids (CaFOFA) on energy balance during early lactation period and on the circulating concentrations of insulin and IGFBPs on d 32 post-partum (PP).

Corn silage is a popular feed for dairy cows in Iran. Corn plant as silage produces the highest amount of digestible nutrients per acre after sugarcane and casava. The well-fermented corn silage contains medium to high content of digestible energy but its level of digestible crude protein is usually low. This is the main reason for application of nitrogenous additives such as urea and ammonia during ensiling. This kind of supplementation also increases air stability of the silage after opening. The ammonia-treated silage gives higher content of digestible energy because of the restriction of fungal growth. It has been shown that urea and ammonia treating corn silage increase dry matter intake and milk yield in dairy cows (Huber and Santana 1973). The aim of this study was to investigate the result of these hypothesises in an intensive dairy production.

Carbohydrate not recovered in NDF is referred to as nonfibre carbohydrate (NFC) and includes starch, sugars, pectins and beta glucans. The optimal level of dietary NFC for lactating cows is not clearly defined. It has been demonstrated that milk production was decreased when dietary NFC was greater than 45 to 50% or less than 25 to 30% of dry matter. However, only small differences in milk production occurred as dietary NFC was varied from 35 to 40% (Batajoo et al, 1994). Replacement of NSC with suplemental fat decreases the amount of energy that is available for growth of ruminal microorganisms and may decrease microbial protein synthesis. The quantity of fermentable carbohydrate is the single most important determinant of microbial protein production and may have a great impact on ruminal metabolism and the overall performance of dairy cows (Elliott et al, 1995). The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of supplemental fat in concentrates containing different amount of NFC on performance of dairy cows.

There has been a special interest in legume silage research, not only they can provide high level of protein of plant origin, but also these silages are the most difficult to ensile. This is due to their low sugar content, high buffering capacity, high protein and high moisture content (Broderick et al., 2000). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the response of lactating cows fed diets containing tropical lucerne silage treated with sulphuric acid (SA) and urea (U).

It is well known that milk production and its composition is highly correlated to the amount of energy consumed by lactating cows. Maize silage is an ideal forage for dairy cow diet in the developing countries located in the tropical areas. Maize silage is an excellent source of energy. However, its low nitrogen concentration is a limited factor for high producing dairy cows. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of maize silage treated with urea (U) and sulphuric acid (SA) on lactating dairy cow performance.

Pervious studies have suggested that yeast culture supplementation may have a significant impact on the productive performance of lactating cows. Improvements in dry matter intake (williams et al.,1991), milk yield (wohlt et al.,1991), milk fat and milk protein percentages have been reported in various studies (Harris et al.,1992). However, some studies have shown no significant response in lactating cows fed diets with yeast supplementation (Kim et al.,1992). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of diet supplemented with saccharomyces cerevisiae upon milk production and milk composition of early lactating Holstein cows.

Ensiling of forage rather than drying for hay become more common in many area where drying is difficult. In addition, in some area that the weather condition is suitable for drying forage, because of the field losses, molds and the other risks, the ensiling of lucerne is common. Applying chemical preservations to unwilted silage may affect proteolysis in lucerne and bring about response, similar to that of wilting and so the risk of filed losses and lowered nutritive value of crop. Lucerne protein is subject to extensive degradation during ensiling. As much as 75% to 87% of total N in lucerne silage maybe NPN. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of formic and sulphuric acids on chemical composition of lucerne silage ensiled at 2 different dry matter content (22% and 33%).

corn silage use in large industrial farm for dairy cows but it is low in protein. ammonia and urea has been used for increase the N content of corn silage. Also it seems are they can increase milk production in cows. Ammonia can increase true protein of silage and it has mould killed properties in silage and can delay the growth of mould and yeast in opened silages. Ammonia can increase butyric acid content in silage so increase milk fat in dairy cows.

Greater feeding value of lucerne silage (LS) than Lucerne hay has been a common finding of ruminant feeding studies in tropical countries. There are lower field losses and weather damage when lucerne (L) has been ensiled compared with lucerne hay. However, during ensiling, much of the crude protein (CP) of L is broken down to non protein nitrogen (NPN). Additives such as HCl may reduce proteolysis during L ensiling. More recently, work conducted with LS, indicated that LS improved milk yield. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of diets containing LS treated with HCl and urea on feed intake and milk production of fresh cows (cows with DIM<30 days).

Bovine somatotropin is a peptide hormone that produced in anterior pituitary gland and released under the influence of growth hormone releasing factor. Somatotropin release can be inhibited by somatostatin a 14 amino acid peptide hormone. Since the early 1980s larg amount of highly purified somatotropin have been produced, using recombinant DNA methods. Somatotropin has been short- and long-termeffects on metabolism that booth coordinate and result from its stimulus to milk production. Bovine and human somatotropin (hST) are about 65% homologus and not simillar enough for recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) to be active in human if injected. It is unclear that human somatotropin can bind with bovine growth hormone receptors and produce the physiological effects? The goal of this experiment is try to indicate the probable physiological effects of hST in dairy cows.

Considerable variation has been observed between studies investigating the milk yield (MY) response (MYR) to exogenous growth hormone (GH) in dairy cows. Daily injections of 25 mg/day of the recombinant product caused a MYR of over 10 kg/d (Bauman et al. 1985), a level of response rarely repeated since. Other studies using apparently similar doses and management regimes have reported no substantial effect of the hormone on MYR (e.g. Hof et al. 1991). While these studies are extreme examples, it is clear that variability in MYR has occurred between trials. In contrast, relatively little information has been published concerning variation in the MYR between treated cows. Indeed, the notion of individual variation in the MYR to GH remains contentious: Bauman (1992) suggested that the variation in the MY of GH treated cows was similar to that of control cows, and that variation in the MYR between individuals does not exist. The object of this experiment was to investigate the extent of the individual variation of the MYR to GH in dairy cows, and to relate this to changes in plasma concentrations of hormones and metabolites.

Mammary gland development and lactation are complex processes, predominantly governed by the reproductive state of the female. The many hormones, growth factors and cell types make the in vivo elucidation of the roles of these factors in mammary development and lactation difficult. Therefore, an in vitro model would be very useful. A step towards this goal was demonstrated when a mammary epithelial cell (MEC) clone was isolated by limiting dilution methodology, and morphological and functional differentiation on a reconstituted basement membrane was brought about (Rose et al. 2002). The aim of this study was to build upon these earlier observations, and establish a representative model of the bovine mammary gland using a MEC clone capable of mammary specific function.

Daidzein, an isoflavonic phytoestrogen, is presented in bean legumes (Zheng et al, 2002). Feeding the isoflavons-containing herbage can promote udder growth and lactation in sheep and cow (Millington, 1964). The diets with daidzein added prompt growth development and lactation in rats, pigs, and sheep, which is possibly due to the effect of daidzein on the endocrine system and metabolism (Han, 1999). The objective of this study is to determine the effect of daidzein on the plasma contents of some hormones in first foetus dairy cows.