Milking frequency is known to affect milk production and lactation persistence in dairy cows. Despite this, the mechanisms underlying this effect are only partially understood. Previous work in dairy cows examining increases in milk yield due to increased milking frequency have identified changes in apoptosis and expression of genes regulating cytokine signaling. In addition, changes in mitocho...

the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of milking frequency (three times daily vs. two times daily) on the lactation curve shape, partial and 305-d lactation performance in holstein dairy cows in iran. data from february 2000 to december 2012 comprising 217345 lactations on 141364 cows distributed in 324 herds collected by the animal breeding center of iran were used. the mean milk...

Photoperiod, or the daily sequence of light and dark, has dramatic effects on many physiological systems across animal species. Light patterns alter melatonin secretion profiles and, subsequently, the release profiles and circulating concentrations of several hormones that influence a variety of physiological responses. Although the impact of photoperiod on reproductive processes is perhaps the...

The objectives were to estimate (co)variance components and genetic parameters for lactation curve traits in Holstein dairy cows in Iran. The used data were records on Holstein cows collected during January 2003 to December 2012 by the Animal Breeding Center of Iran (Karaj, Iran). In order to describe the lactation curve, an incomplete gamma function was fitted to 691200 test-day records on 962...

Prolactin in man appears to form an essentialpart of the complex of hormones necessary for milk secretion and lactation. Levels of prolactin during pregnancy gradually increase towards term, and remain elevated for up to 6 weeks post partum. The lactogenic effects ofprolactin appear to be blocked at the mammary gland by the elevated levels of fetoplacental steroids secreted during pregnancy. Th...

When available pasture is greater than 5.5 kg DM/day/100 kg liveweight or post grazing pasture mass is greater than 6-8 cm in height there is no significant increase in liveweight gain in young deer. Feed quality is a problem for summer lactation and it has been shown that the proportion of green leaf in the pasture is closely related to calf liveweight gain. Red clover and the chicory are fora...

A study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of n-3 fatty acids (O3FA) with or without elevated concentrations of protein on the performance of sows during the first and the subsequent parity. Sixty-four pregnant gilts with BW of 195.0 +/- 2.1 kg and backfat (BF) thickness of 12.9 +/- 0.2 mm were assigned to 4 dietary treatments from d 60 of gestation (late gestation...

Lactation is a dynamic process, which evolved to meet dietary demands of growing offspring. At the same time, the mother's metabolism changes to meet the high requirements of nutrient supply to the offspring. Through strong artificial selection, the strain of milk production on dairy cows is often associated with impaired health and fertility. This led to the incorporation of functional traits ...

 In US dairy herds, the current national average age at first calving is 25.2 months. Increasing first-lactation milk yield could improve milk’s life-cycle production efficiency and decrease emissions.  The productive life of dairy Holsteins in the United States born in 2000 decreased by 3.95 months compared with Holstein cows born in 1980. This negative trend needs to be halted to achieve en...

Objectives were to determine effects of lactation and pregnancy on endometrial gene expression on d 17 of the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Heifers (n=33) were assigned randomly after parturition to lactating (L, n=17) or nonlactating (NL, n=16) groups. Cows were subjected to an ovulation synchronization program for a timed artificial insemination (TAI); 10 cows in L and 12 in NL were inseminate...