Phytoestrogens have structures similar to endogenous steroids and may induce or inhibit the response of hormone receptors. The objectives of the present study were to compare the effects of long-term vs. short-term grassland management in organic and conventional dairy production systems, compare organic and conventional production systems and assess seasonal variation on phytoestrogen concentr...

Increasing feed costs and the desire to improve environmental stewardship have stimulated renewed interest in improving feed efficiency of livestock, including that of US dairy herds. For instance, USDA cost projections for corn and soybean meal suggest a 20% increase over 2010 pricing for a 16% protein mixed dairy cow ration in 2011, which may lead to a reduction in cow numbers to maintain pro...

There is growing interest among the public in farm animal welfare and a need for methods to assess animal welfare on farm. A survey on calf rearing practices that might affect dairy calf welfare was performed via a 1-h interview on 115 dairy farms (mean +/- SD: herd size=52.5+/-20.9 cows; milk production=8,697+/-1,153L) distributed throughout the province of Quebec. Despite frequent recommendat...

The present study investigates the gap between the daily milk production potential and the effective milk yields in six herds. These two parameters and their changes were observed in the Gharb irrigation scheme (northwest of Morocco), during a five months study period. They were analyzed in relation to the changes in the rations of the cows and in their live weights. Results reveal that under c...

In ruminants excess dietary Nitrogen (N) is excreted as urea mainly through urine. Urea, the major form of urinary N is rapidly converted to ammonia after excretion. Ammonia is an important environmental pollutant that impacts the quality of human and animal life .The NRC (2001) considered ammonia emissions from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) as a major air quality concern. Ammon...

A total of 21 dairy goats in mid lactation were randomly assigned to three experimental diets in a completely randomized design. The diets contained 0, 3, or 6% WAS, and consisted of 45% forage and 55% concentrates. Milk fat and the ratio of milk fat to milk protein were significantly lower in goats fed diets containing 6% WAS (P≤0.01). Digestibility of crude fat was higher, and that of neutral...

The demand for dairy products is growing rapidly, especially in emerging markets. Dairy products are nutrient rich and, therefore, an important food group for ensuring nutrient security in the future. In many countries, dairy contributes significantly to nutrient intake. Meta-analyses have shown that consumption of dairy may reduce the risk of chronic diseases and thereby lower healthcare costs...

use of raw milk and dairy products containing aflatoxin m1 (afm1) has led to concern inconsumers. the present study determined the afm1 in raw cow's milk in qazvinprovince. in this research, 170 raw cow's milk were collected from dairy farm, dairyfactories, milk collection centers, and milk supply centers in qazvin province during coldseasons in 2013, and all samples were examined for afm1. the...