Genetic and environmental factors that might affect gestation length (GL) were investigated. Data included information from >11 million parturitions from 1999 through 2006 for 7 US dairy breeds. Effects examined were year, herd-year, month, and age within parity of conception; parturition code (sex and multiple-birth status); lactation length and standardized milk yield of cow; service sire; co...

Four US genetic-economic indices for dairy cattle were retrofitted to illustrate differences in phenotypic response observed for retrospective selection over 2 generations for currently evaluated traits, even though producers did not have evaluations available at the time for direct selection for those traits. Differences among cows were compared based on ranking of their sires and maternal gra...

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding direct-fed microbial (DFM) products containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Propionibacteria freudenreichii on the performance, nutrient digestibility, and rumen fermentation of Holstein dairy cows in midlactation. Experiments were conducted from February to May 2003. Cows were fed 1 of 3 dietary treatments: 1) 1 x 10(9) colony...

the final goal of all dairy cow raising systems in the world is to use the available capacities and the cooperation of other sectors in order to solve the problems and issues, such as the limitations in time, man power and financial resources, for providing a complete answer. therefore, the need for optimization of cow raising systems by prioritization of measures and plans is the most obvious ...

Beef production is a recognized source of greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia (NH(3)) emissions; however, little information exists on the net emissions from beef production systems. A partial life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted using the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM) to estimate GHG and NH(3) emissions from representative beef production systems in California. The IFSM is a process-le...

Efficient pasture-based milk production systems require a compact calving pattern aligned to the onset of the grazing season, a 365-day calving interval and low culling rates for infertility. Achievement of these targets requires high herd reproductive performance. While high genetic merit Holstein cows produce more milk in grass-based systems their fertility is compromised. Management of the m...

The objective of this study was to quantify the efficacy a second intrauterine cephapirin treatment administered 14 d after initial one on subsequent reproductive performance postpartum dairy cows affected by purulent vaginal discharge (PVD) or endometritis (ENDO). In total, 4,140 Holstein from 30 commercial herds were enrolled in randomized clinical trial. At 36 (±7) milk, examined using Metri...

We aimed to evaluate the inclusion of expeller soybean meal on quality and milk production Holstein cows, as well estimate compare inherent parameters in vitro ruminal kinetics. Data collection was carried out a private property, interior municipality Dois Vizinhos - Paraná, Brazil. Twenty cows were used, divided into two treatments: one with other conventional meal. The design used completely ...