A5022219619- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Livestock Management and Performance Improvement
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Agricultural Economics and Policy
- Milk Quality and Mastitis in Dairy Cows
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- Turfgrass Adaptation and Management
- Agriculture, Soil, Plant Science
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- Livestock Farming and Management
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Animal health and immunology
Agri Food and Biosciences Institute
2015-2024
Authorised Association Consortium
2021
Queen's University Belfast
2019
Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran
1994-1999
Unbalanced metabolic status in the weeks after calving predisposes dairy cows to and infectious diseases. Blood glucose, IGF-I, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) are used as indicators of cows. This work aims (1) evaluate potential milk mid-IR spectra predict these blood components individually (2) possibility predicting based on clustering components. samples were collected from 241 Holstein six experimental farms, at days 14 35 calving. analyzed by reference...
Abstract Allowing dairy cattle to access pasture can promote natural behaviour and improve their health. However, the psychological benefits are poorly understood. We compared a cognitive indicator of emotion in either with or without access. In crossover experiment, 29 Holstein–Friesian cows had 18 days overnight full-time indoor housing. To assess emotional wellbeing, we tested on spatial judgement bias task. Subjects learnt approach rewarded bucket location, but not another, unrewarded...
Dairy cows are increasingly housed indoors, either year-round or for long stretches over the winter and around parturition. This may create health welfare issues. In cattle, lying walking highly motivated, herds synchronize behavior when they have comfortable surfaces little competition space. Lying activity can, therefore, indicate good welfare. Using a repeated measures crossover design, we gave 29 Holstein–Friesian dairy 18 days of overnight pasture access (PAS treatment) indoor housing...
Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) at both the individual cow and herd level has become a key target in dairy production systems, for environmental economic reasons. Cost-effective large-scale phenotyping methods are required to improve NUE through genetic selection by feeding management strategies. The aim of this study was evaluate possibility using mid-infrared (MIR) spectra milk predict during early lactation. Data were collected from 129 Holstein cows, calving until 50 d milk, 3...
Although interest in crossbreeding within dairy systems has increased, the role of Jersey crossbred cows high concentrate input received little attention. This experiment was designed to examine performance Holstein-Friesian (HF) and × (J HF) a total confinement system (CON) medium grazing (GRZ). Eighty spring-calving were used 2 (cow genotype) (milk production system) factorial design experiment. The commenced when calved encompassed full lactation. With GRZ, offered diets containing grass...
A statistical re-assessment of aggregated individual cow data was conducted to examine trends in fat-to-protein ratio milk (FPR), and relationships between FPR energy balance (EB, MJ ME/day) Holstein-Friesian dairy cows different parities, at stages lactation. The were collected from 27 long-term production trials 1996 2016 the Agri-Food Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. In total, 1321 lactations (1 20 weeks milk; WIM), derived 840 fed mainly grass silage-based...
Homeorhetic mechanisms assist dairy cows in the transition from pregnancy to lactation. Less successful develop severe negative energy balance (NEB), placing them at risk of metabolic and infectious diseases reduced fertility. We have previously placed multiparous Holstein Friesian 4 herds into clusters, using as biomarkers measurements plasma nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, glucose IGF-1 collected 14 35 d milk (DIM). This study characterized global transcriptomic profiles...
Sixty Holstein/Friesian dairy cows, 28 of high genetic merit and 32 medium merit, were used in a continuous design, 2 (cow genotypes)×4 (concentrate proportion diet) factorial experiment. High animals had Predicted Transmitting Abilities for milk fat plus protein yield, calculated using 1995 as the base year (PTA 95 protein), 43·3 kg 1·0 respectively. Concentrate proportions diet 0·37, 0·48, 0·59 0·70 total dry matter (DM), with remainder being grass silage. During this production trial, 24...
This study examined the relationships between milk yield and diet composition, nutrient intakes, feed use efficiency when concentrates were offered using a feed-to-yield (FTY) approach. The was conducted on 26 dairy farms in Northern Ireland. Cows (n = 3471) fully housed an FTY basis. Individual cow genetic information obtained for 18 herds. Concentrate intakes of individual cows either from or calculated, while composition data test-day recording. Mean yields during months 2 to 5...
At the individual cow level, sub-optimum fertility, mastitis, negative energy balance and ketosis are major issues in dairy farming. These problems widespread on farms have an important economic impact. The objectives of this study were: 1) to assess potential milk Mid Infrared (MIR) spectra predict key biomarkers deficit (citrate, isocitrate, glucose-6P, free glucose), (BHB acetone), mastitis (NAGase LDH), fertility (progesterone); 2) test alternative methodologies partial least square...
Forty-eight high genetic merit Holstein/Friesian dairy cows with Predicted Transmitting Abilities for milk fat plus protein yield, calculated using 1995 as the base year (PTA 95 protein), of 40·0 kg, were used in an eight treatment, two period (period length = 8 weeks) change-over design experiment. Diets offered ad libitum form a complete diet. Treatments comprised and medium feed value silage, concentrates being incorporated into diet at proportional inclusion rates 0·10, 0·30, 0·50 0·70...
The aim of this work was to study the behavioural activities two cow genotypes, Holstein-Friesian (HF) vs. Jersey × (Jx), when managed within production systems, a low inputs grazing (G) system high confinement (C) system. Eighty spring calving cows (HF, n=40 and Jx, n=40), from AFBI Hillsborough (Northern Ireland) experimental dairy cattle, were randomly assigned one systems (G, C, n=40) in block design with 2×2 factorial arrangement four treatments (HF-G, HF-C, Jx-G Jx-C). Cow (feeding,...
Twenty-eight high genetic merit and 32 medium Holstein/Friesian dairy cows with Predicted Transmitting Abilities for milk fat plus protein yield, calculated using 1995 as the base year (PTA 95 protein) of 43·3 1·0 kg respectively, were used in a continuous design, 2 (cow genotypes)×4 (concentrate proportion diet) factorial experiment consisting eight treatments. Concentrate proportions diet 0·37, 0·48, 0·59 0·70 total dry matter (DM), while forage component was grass silage. Diets offered ad...
This review paper examines a number of the challenges pasture-based dairy systems. Ensuring adequate nutrient intakes highyielding cows within grazing systems is one key being faced by many farmers. Options examined to increase include: increasing herbage allowances, manipulating sward structure, modifying composition, and use both forage concentrate supplements. The potential achieve high levels animal performance with grazed grass combined supplementation examined, while supplements appear...