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Effect of Feeding Dried Apple Pomace on Ruminal Fermentation, Methane Emission, and Biohydrogenation of Unsaturated Fatty Acids in Dairy Cows
Industrial fruit by-products are now being utilized as animal feeds for several reasons. They may substitute the conventional cereal feeds, and also offer economic and environmental benefits. One of the most important industrial fruit by-products is apple pomace, which can be used as a source of energy in the ration of ruminant species, including dairy cattle. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of feeding dried apple pomace to dairy cattle on ruminal fermentation, fatty acid concentration, microbial populations, and methane production. The experiment lasted 64 days and was conducted with 4 cannulated commercial dairy cows. The control animals received a standard diet, while the experimental animals was fed a standard diet supplemented with 150 g/kg DM dried apple pomace. Ruminal fluid samples were collected at three different time intervals. The samples were obtained at 0-, 3-, and 6-h post-feeding. The ruminal fluid was used to assess the ammonia concentration, pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA), long-chain fatty acids (FA), microbial population. A number of ruminal fermentation variables changed as a result of the addition of dried apple pomace to the standard diet. Ruminal pH slightly increased (p < 0.01) while the ammonia concentration decreased (p < 0.01) by 46%. There was a significant decrease in total protozoa count (p < 0.01) and an increase (p < 0.01) in total volatile fatty acids. In addition, there was a decline in methane emission (p = 0.05) by 8% due to dried apple pomace feeding. To sum up, this study demonstrated a positive effect of 150 g/kg DM dietary dried apple pomace on ruminal metabolism including a decrease in ammonia concentration and methane emissions, alongside with an increase in total ruminal VFAs, higher nutrient digestibility, and milk production. Also, beneficial changes to the ruminal fatty acid profile resulting from reduced biohydrogenation were observed although a decreased content of the C18:2 cis 9 trans 11 isomer was also noticed. The dietary inclusion of DAP can serve as a valuable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly dietary component for dairy cows.
Processability of milk in the production of curd cheeses on family farms in the summer and winter seasons
The aim of the study was to compare quality of curd cheeses produced from raw and pasteurized milk in a family farm in the summer and winter seasons. Conducted analyses showed that the season of the year, in which milk was produced, influenced its chemical composition and selected quality attributes. In terms of milk processability a more advantageous composition and better quality attributes were found in winter compared to summer. Quality of produced curd cheeses was affected by the season of milk production as well as milk type (raw vs. pasteurized). In the winter season the yield of curd cheese was over 1.5-fold greater from pasteurized milk in comparison to the summer season. Curd cheeses produced from raw milk were firmer, more elastic and sliceable, while those produced from pasteurized milk were less cohesive and more suitable was spreads. The organoleptic analysis of curd cheeses showed that more advantageous consumer value was found for cheeses produced in the winter season.
The effect of selected factors on rearing performance of charolais calves
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of selected factors on rearing performance of Charolais calves to day 90 of life. The experimental material comprised 83 Charolais cows calving in the winter and spring seasons and calves they reared (84 head) to day 90 of life. All calves born by the experimental females were weighed at birth and then at days 30, 60 and 90 of life. Calves were also subjected to zoometric measurements. Their height at sacrum and width at hips were measured at days 10 and 30 of life. The increments for height at sacrum and width at hips between day 10 and 30 of life were calculated for the calves. Rearing indexes of the calves were assessed in terms of calf sex (heifer vs. bull calves), calving season (winter vs. spring), successive calving of the cow (1, 2, 3 and >3), parturition type (normal vs. dystocia), body condition of the cow after calving (good vs. poor). It was shown that rearing performance of Charolais calves to day 90 of life was significantly affected by their sex, calving season, parturition type and body condition of the dam during calving. The most advantageous results for the assessed rearing parameters of Charolais calves to day 90 of life were recorded for male animals born in the winter season coming from normal births and produced by dams in good body condition during parturition.
Effect of herbal feed additives on milk performance and health status of dairy goats
Abstract Introduction Interest is increasing in natural feed additives that improve animal health, raise farming productivity and enhance the quality of animal products. These additives, especially polyphenols, are biologically active chemical compounds found in plants. Material and Methods Sixty dairy goats were randomly assigned to five feeding groups of 12 animals each. Over 16 weeks, the animals received a polyherbal supplement containing seven or nine herb species at 20 or 40 g/animal/day, along with pelleted concentrate feed. The health status of the animals was assessed based on the concentration of acute phase haptoglobin proteins and serum amyloid A in blood serum. Results A statistically significant positive effect of the herbal mixtures was found on the percentage of milk fat and fat : protein ratio (P-value < 0.05). The time of test-day milking and milk sampling had a significant impact on the level of all examined milk parameters (P-value < 0.001). Moreover, milk yield and fat-corrected milk yield were significantly affected by a feeding group × time of test-day milking and milk sampling interaction, influencing the level of examined parameters. Conclusion The use of herbal supplements in the diet of dairy goats did not negatively affect the goats’ milk production – neither the yield nor composition. A positive effect of the administered multi-herbal mixtures was found on % fat concentration and fat : protein ratio in milk.
The coexistence of several microbial species at the same site of bovine mammary gland parenchyma infection and their mixed infections
<b>The purpose of this study was to analyse both negative results of bacteriological cultures and the coexistence of several pathogens at the same intramammary inflammatory focus within bovine udder parenchyma in order to compare the health status of cows’ udders in 1985 and 2021. Mastitis was diagnosed on the basis of anamnesis, clinical inspection of the udder, milk quality, and somatic cell counts (SCC on the Fossomatic 5000-FC). In 1985, joint bacteriological and mycological diagnosis was based on the guidelines established for bovine mastitis by FIL-IDF (1971), while for 2021, it was based on the National Mastitis Council (NMC) laboratory Handbook on bovine mastitis (Hogan et al., 1999). In the first study (1985), mainly the genus Staphylococcus was isolated, but at present other species may be involved in cases of mastitis. In both periods, both subclinical and clinical cases were registered. In addition, the milk yield of cows was observed to increase over time, with concomitant deterioration of mammary gland immunity. The phenomenon of biofilms was documented in the study, which may be explained not only by the low efficacy of antibiotic therapy against udder disease but also by impaired immunity in cows, as the lymphocytes trapped in the biofilm matrix were inactive with respect to both cellular and humoral responses.