Our objectives were to describe and test refined procedures for quantifying excreta produced from whole pens of dairy heifers. Previous research efforts attempting to make whole-pen measurements of excreta output have been complicated by the use of organic bedding, which requires cumbersome analytical techniques to quantify excreta apart from the bedding. Research pens equipped with sand-bedded...

BACKGROUND Proper calving management of dairy herds is a crucial aspect of the bovine life cycle, as it has profound effects on calf viability and on the post-partum course of the dam. The objectives of this study were to monitor the calving process through the use of a remote alarm system and to determine the impact of prompt emergency obstetric procedures in case of dystocia for the preventio...

Longevity as defined by the Random House Dictionary is “the duration of an individual’s life”. Currently dairy cows average 2.8 calvings in a ‘lifetime (Cassell, 2005). Raising high quality heifers that will express their genetic potential for milk production and allow optimal duration in the milking herd (longevity) is a priority objective to balance the investment of 15-20% of total costs of ...

Use of sexed semen for artificial insemination of US Holstein heifers (1.3 million breedings) and cows (10.8 million breedings) in Dairy Herd Improvement herds was characterized by breeding year, parity, service number, region, herd size, and herd milk yield. Sexed semen was used for 1.4, 9.5, and 17.8% of all reported breedings for 2006, 2007, and 2008, respectively, for heifers, and for 0.1, ...

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effect of pelvic suspension on beef with different background and different genders. The response to pelvic suspension was studied in longissimus, semimembranosus, adductor, gluteus and psoas muscles from young bulls, bulls, heifers and cows. Prolonged ageing time until 14 days was evaluated for longissimus from heifers. It was concluded that pelvic...

J. Anim. Sci. Vol. 88, E-Suppl. 2/J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 93, E-Suppl. 1/Poult. Sci. Vol. 89, E-Suppl. 1 W336 The influence of lipidic sources on the cholesterol plasma levels of beef heifers. M. C. A. Santana*1, T. T. Berchielli1, R. A. Reis1, G. M. P. Melo2, and P. H. M. Dian2, 1São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil, 2Camilo Castelo Branco University, Descalvado, São Paulo, Br...