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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.
Leverage of Essential Oils on Faeces-Based Methane and Biogas Production in Dairy Cows
Currently, there is an ongoing intensive search for solutions that would effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions (mainly methane) into the environment. From a practical point of view, it is important to reduce methane emissions from cows in such a way as to simultaneously trim emissions from the digestive system and increase its potential production from feces, which is intended as a substrate used in biogas plants. Such a solution would not only lower animal-based methane emissions but would also enable the production of fuel (in chemical form) with a high yield of methane from biogas, which would boost the economic benefits and reduce the use of fossil fuels. We tested the effect of administering an essential oil blend consisting of 5.5% oils and fats on methane and biogas production from dairy cow feces during fermentation. Three subsequent series (control and experimental) were conducted in dairy cows fed a total mixed ration (TMR) rich in brewer’s cereals and beet pulp, with 20% dry matter (DM) of the total diet. Cows from the experimental group received 20 g/cow/day of essential oil blend, namely a commercial additive (CA). The study showed that CA can increase the production of methane and biogas from dairy cow feces. It can be concluded that in the experimental groups, approx. 15.2% and 14.4% on a fresh matter basis and 11.7% and 10.9% on a dry matter basis more methane and biogas were generated compared to the control group, respectively. Therefore, it can be assumed that the use of CA in cow nutrition improved dietary digestibility, which increased the efficiency of the use of feces organic matter for biogas production.
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.
Associations between udder and skin cleanliness and somatic cell counts, yield and composition of milk of Polish Holstein-Friesian Black-and-White cows in the autumn-winter season
The aim of this study was to determine the associations between the cleanliness of the udder and skin of the hind part of body and somatic cell counts in milk as well as milk yield and its composition in Polish Holstein-Friesian Black-and-White cows in the autumn-winter season. Animals were kept in the freestall cubicle barn with access to a hardened surface outdoor run. In the roofed part the run was regularly bedded with barley straw. In the milking parlour during test milkings each animal was subjected to a visual inspection performed to evaluate the cleanliness status of the udder, the underbelly, tail base, as well as the upper part of the hind limbs and the lower part of the hind limbs. Soiling on the skin with feces in each analysed cow’s body section had a significant effect on the somatic cell counts in milk. Results of this study indicate a greater effect of the cleanliness status of the hind quarters of the udder on the SCC in milk. An increased degree of soiling on the skin in the underbelly, tail base as well as the upper and lower parts of the hind limbs significantly reduced the contents of protein, casein and dry matter in milk.
Lactose Content and Selected Quality Parameters of Sheep Milk Fermented Beverages during Storage
The aim of the research was to evaluate lactose content and rheological, physical, chemical, and organoleptic parameters during the storage of fermented beverages made from sheep’s milk. The research was carried out on natural, probiotic, and Greek-type yogurts, as well as kefir. The products were made using the thermostat method from the milk of 42 East Frisian sheep in the middle lactation period, in duplicate. Lactose contents, active and titratable acidity, color by the L*a*b*C*h* system, and rheological parameters (hardness, consistency, consistency, and viscosity) were tested, and organoleptic assessments were carried out on the first, seventh, fourteenth, and twenty-first days of storing the drinks at 4 °C. Of all drinks, the highest reduction in lactose after 21 days of storage was found to occur in kefir (52% reduction) and, among the yogurts, in the Greek yogurt (41% reduction). The product with the lowest lactose content, regardless of the storage period, was kefir. This indicates that kefir is more suitable than yogurt for people with partial lactose intolerance. Effects of both inoculation type and beverage storage time were shown to exist for all parameters. It was also found that kefirs suffered deterioration in most rheological parameters and, in general organoleptic evaluation in the final period of storage. Based on our analysis, the optimal storage time for natural yogurts and sheep’s milk kefirs at 4 °C was 21 and 14 days, respectively.
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.
Assessment of breeding and milking performance of Polish holstein-friesian black-and-white cows (HO) and crosses with the Norwegian Red Breed (HO x NR)
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.