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Beef production from cull cows is an additional source of income for dairy farms and greatly contributes to red meat production, but the sources of variation of live animal characteristics and the carcass traits of cull cows have rarely been examined. This study investigated the effects of the farm type, breed, age at slaughter (AGE) and calving to culling interval (Calv_Cull) on the body traits and carcass characteristics of dairy and dual-purpose cull cows. Data from 555 cull cows from 182 herds belonging to five farm types, characterised by a combination of housing and feeding systems, were recorded and analysed. Dairy breeds, such as Holstein Friesian and Brown Swiss, and dual-purpose breeds (Simmental, Rendena) were included in the trait assessments. The day before slaughter, the cows were weighed and scored for body condition (BCS) and fleshiness, and then, their heart girth and wither height were measured. At the slaughterhouse, the carcass weight (CW), dressing percentage (DP), carcass conformation and fatness scores, carcass price per kg and carcass total value were obtained. On average, the cows were slaughtered at nearly 71±27 months of age, 285±187 days after the last calving; 615±95 kg BW; and provided a 257±51 kg CW. Nearly 50% of the cows fell within the BCS range of 2.75 to 3.50, and the carcasses were mostly graded in the lowest class of conformation and fatness scores. Cull cows from free-stall farms had a higher DP, carcass conformation score and price than those from traditional tie-stall farms. The breed influenced the AGE, live animal characteristics and carcass traits. Cows from dairy breeds were younger at slaughter, had a lower BCS and fleshiness, and greater body measurements, but a lower DP and carcass price than those from dual-purpose breeds, although differences between the breeds were found within both groups. The age of the cows at slaughter influenced the Calv_Cull and increased the BW, body measurements and CW, but not the fleshiness and fatness appreciation (both in vivo and postmortem) or carcass price. The increasing Calv_Cull improved the BW, BCS, fleshiness, CW and carcass conformation and fatness. In conclusion, the decision to cull dairy cows should also take into account the factors that affect their carcass value in regards to improving the carcass price of cows.

The objective of this thesis was to assess the eating quality of beef from young male Holstein-Friesian (HF) and Jersey×Holstein-Friesian (JEX) dairy cattle from different production systems. Bulls were slaughtered at 15, 19 and 22 months, after finishing on diets differing in energy content. Longissimus thoracis (LT), Semitendinosus (ST) and Gluteus medius (GM) muscles were assessed primarily from bulls. Effects of carcass suspension method and ageing time on eating quality were also investigated. Standard eating quality variables assessed were post-mortem pH-temperature window, ultimate pH, colour, WarnerBratzler variables (WBSF, WB-slope, WB-area), cooking loss, intramuscular fat (IMF), moisture and protein content, collagen characteristics, fatty acid (FA) composition and sensory attributes. Raman spectroscopy (RS) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were explored as rapid methods to predict eating quality characteristics. The JEX breed type had superior eating quality to HF, while their FA profiles were similar. Slaughter age affected collagen characteristics. Higher energy diets produced beef with relatively better eating quality, but a less healthy FA profile than mainly forage diets. However, amount of concentrates in the first or second grazing season had limited effects on meat quality traits. Quality varied between muscles and the interaction between muscle and production system was significant for IMF content and FA profile. Eating quality of LT was superior but FA profile was inferior to GM and ST. Steer beef had superior eating quality to bull beef. Compared to Achilles tendon suspension (AS), Pelvic suspension (PS) improved tenderness up to 7 days of ageing and accelerated ageing processes. Both RS (1300-2800 cm-1) and NIRS (400-1900 nm) showed considerable potential for assessing physico-chemical quality traits from young male dairy beef, with RS demonstrating enhanced prediction performance. Consistent and significant correlations were also obtained among technological, compositional, sensorial and nutritional quality traits for dairy beef.

Lang niet iedereen is overtuigd van de hedendaagse melktypische Holstein-Friesian-koe. Volgens sommige veehouders moeten oude rassen in ere worden hersteld.

Prions are responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), also called scrapie in sheep. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PRNP have been shown to play a crucial role in terms of incubation period and/or susceptibility to scrapie. Considering codons 136, 154, 171, five main alleles, associated with different degrees of susceptibility to classical scrapie have been detected. Homozygous ARR sheep are resistant to scrapie infection, however this genotype is not so frequent in some breeds. VRQ and ARQ alleles on the other hand are associated with a high susceptibility to scrapie. Additional polymorphisms within the ARQ allele, have been associated with scrapie resistance. Therefore, it is important to assess the frequency of both main and minor allelic variants, in order to develop a breeding programme based on genetic selection that simultaneously, increases scrapie resistance, and maintains a high variability of PRNP. Allelic and genotypic PRNP frequencies, at the three main codons, were determined in four sheep breeds reared in central Italy (Appenninica, Bergamasca, Comisana and Sarda). Moreover homozygous ARQ sheep have been investigated to measure the frequencies of minor allelic variants. In this study the AT112RQ and ARQK176 protective allelic variants were detected. The AT112RQ allele was observed (ranging from 6.3% to 31.8%) in all the analysed breeds with the exception of Sarda sheep. The ARQK176 allele by contrast was observed only in Sarda breed (4.6%). Moreover five non synonymous polymorphisms were also found (Q101R, G127S, L141F, H143R, and H180Y).

Lang niet iedereen is overtuigd van de hedendaagse melktypische Holstein-Friesian-koe. Volgens sommige veehouders moeten oude rassen in ere worden hersteld.

Проведено порівняльну оцінку відтворних здатностей корів українських чорно-рябої та червоно-рябої молочних порід в оптимальних умовах приватної агрофірми (ПАФ) «Єрчики» Житомирської області. Встановлено, що дещо кращими за відтворною здатністю виявилися червоно-рябі ровесниці. Доведено вплив рівня молочної продуктивності корів та їх генотипу на відтворні здатності., Проведен сравнительный анализ воспроизводительных способностей коров украинских черно-пестрой и красно-пестрой молочных пород в оптимальных условиях частной агрофирмы «Ерчики» Житомирской области. Установлено, что несколько лучшими воспроизводительными способностями отличаются коровы украинской красно-пестрой молочной породы. Доказано влияние уровня молочной продуктивности коров и их генотипа на воспроизводительную способность., A comparative analysis of reproductive capacity of new Ukrainian black-and-white and red-and-white dairy breeds in the optimum conditions of a private agrofirm «Yerchyky» Zhytomyr oblast was made. It was established that cows of Ukrainian red-and-white breed have appeared the best reproductive capacity. Influence of milk productivity of cows and genotype on reproductive capacity was determined.

Cattle are one of the main instruments for economic (e.g., milk, meat, and cattle sale) and social (e.g., marriage, death, dispute settlement, and gift giving) exchange in Uganda. They serve as the main source of livelihood for a large majority of rural Ugandans, especially in the cattle corridor. Recent statistics demonstrate that the livestock sector contributes 13.1 percent of the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and 5 percent of the national GDP. Since 1991, the output of the livestock sector has grown on an average of 2.2 percent per annum, with most of the growth coming from the dairy sector. Dairy is an important and growing sector of Uganda's economy, and it is increasingly proving to be a lucrative livelihood option for a large number of households engaged in milk production and trade. Frequent realization of risks, however, impacts the performance of the supply chain. Effective management of these risks will require increased efforts to mitigate the identified risks and strengthen coping mechanisms. However, rather than a stand-alone risk management strategy, these efforts should be an integral component of a broader dairy development policy and strategy.

In het kader van het vervolg van het Eurecaproject werd door CGN/WUR een onderzoek gedaan naar 'Wat is een lokaal runderras de burger waard?'. In dit artikel staat het verslag.

In het kader van het vervolg van het Eurecaproject werd door CGN/WUR een onderzoek gedaan naar 'Wat is een lokaal runderras de burger waard?'. In dit artikel staat het verslag.

Entre agosto 2003 y febrero del año 2004 se evaluaron las características de los pezones en 1263 vacas Carora, 403 Holstein y 118 Jersey ubicadas en Venezuela. La forma del pezón fue clasificada como embudo, cilíndrico y botella, mientras que la punta del pezón se clasificó de la siguiente manera: puntiaguda, redondeada, plana, disco, invertido y prolapsada. Se midió también, el largo y para cada pezón. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto raza sobre las características morfológicas de los pezones. El largo y diámetro fueron analizados con un modelo mixto incluyendo como efectos fijos la raza, edad de la vaca, la interacción rebaño - año de nacimiento y el efecto aleatorio de la vaca dentro del rebaño. Los tipos de pezones y las puntas de los mismos se analizaron por medio del SAS versión 8,0 con el Proc. Freq y el Proc. Univaríate. Para la asociación de las características de los pezones con las razas se utilizó la prueba de Ji cuadrado (x²). La raza Carora mostró un efecto significativo sobre el largo y diámetro del pezón: el largo estimado fue 5,9; 5,4 y 5,3 cm y el diámetro estimado fue 2,3; 2,2 y 2,1 para Carora, Holstein y Jersey, respectivamente. Ningún efecto significativo de raza fue encontrado para la forma y tipo punta de pezón, pero hubo predominio en las tres razas de la forma redondeada, seguido de los puntiagudos. Morphological traits of teats and teat-end were evaluated from August 2003 to February 2004 in 1263 Carora, 403 Holstein and 118 Jersey cows reared in Venezuela. Teat type was classified as funnel, cylindrical and bottle whereas teat-end was classified as pointed, round, flat, disk, funnel shape and prolapsed. Also, the length and diameter were measured for each teat. The aim of this work was to evaluate the morphological effect of breed on the teat treats. Teat length and diameter were analyzed by a mixed model including the fixed effects of breed, age of cows, herd- birth year interaction and the random effect of the cow within herd. Teats and teat-end types were analyzed by SAS version 8.0 with the Proc. Freq and Proc. Univaríate. In order to associate the teat traits with the breed was used Chi square (x²). Carora breed showed a significant effect on teat length and diameter: the estimated teat length was 5.9, 5.4 and 5.3 cm and the estimated teat diameter was 2.3, 2.2 and 2.1 for Carora, Holstein and Jersey, respectively. Teat length and diameter increased as the age increases. No significant effect of breed was found for teat and teat-end type but in the three breeds there was predominance of round and pointed shape. 393 - 400 Bimestral

Al vele jaren wordt er gepraat over de ontwikkeling van een biologische melkveefokkerij. De meningen zijn vaak verdeeld. Een tiental biologische melkveehouders van de netwerkgroep Duurzame Fokkerij vindt dat de discussies niet llanger de drempel mogen zijn voor acties. Deels fokken zij met eigen stieren op het bedrijf en daarnaast willen ze een biologische fokkerij-KI opzetten.

Проведено оцінку господарськи корисних ознак корів-первісток новостворених молочних порід різних конституціональних типів та їхню відповідність параметрам бажаного типу. На теренах України створено національні молочні породи інтенсивного типу, зокрема українську чорно-рябу та українську червоно-рябу. Подальше удосконалення і консолідація цих порід базуються на використанні багатьох селекційних чинників, у тому числі на відборі за екстер’єрно-конституціональними типами., Проведена оценка хозяйственно полезных признаков коров-первотелок новосозданных молочных пород различных конституциональных типов и их соответствие параметрам желаемого типа. На территории Украины создано национальные молочные породы интенсивного типа, в том числе украинскую черно-пеструю и украинскую красно-пеструю. Дальнейшее совершенствование и консолидация этих пород основаны на использовании многих селекционных факторов, в том числе на отборе по экстерьерно-конституциональным типам., The estimation of economically useful signs of cows-the firstborn newly created dairy breeds different constitutional types and their compliance with the parameters of the desired type. On the territory of Ukraine stvorenonatsionalni intensive dairy breed type, including Ukrainian Ryaba black and red-Ukrainian Ryaba. Further improvement and consolidation of these species are based on the selection of many factors, including the selection for exterior-constitutional types.

Een terugblik op de ervaringen van het Lagekostenbedrijf met de Montbéliarde en de Holstein-koeien wat betreft productie, vruchtbaarheidskenmerken, gezondheid en conditiescore

Entre agosto 2003 y febrero del año 2004 se evaluaron las características de los pezones en 1263 vacas Carora, 403 Holstein y 118 Jersey ubicadas en Venezuela. La forma del pezón fue clasificada como embudo, cilíndrico y botella, mientras que la punta del pezón se clasificó de la siguiente manera: puntiaguda, redondeada, plana, disco, invertido y prolapsada. Se midió también, el largo y para cada pezón. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto raza sobre las características morfológicas de los pezones. El largo y diámetro fueron analizados con un modelo mixto incluyendo como efectos fijos la raza, edad de la vaca, la interacción rebaño - año de nacimiento y el efecto aleatorio de la vaca dentro del rebaño. Los tipos de pezones y las puntas de los mismos se analizaron por medio del SAS versión 8,0 con el Proc. Freq y el Proc. Univaríate. Para la asociación de las características de los pezones con las razas se utilizó la prueba de Ji cuadrado (ji2). La raza Carora mostró un efecto significativo sobre el largo y diámetro del pezón: el largo estimado fue 5,9; 5,4 y 5,3 cm y el diámetro estimado fue 2,3; 2,2 y 2,1 para Carora, Holstein y Jersey, respectivamente. Ningún efecto significativo de raza fue encontrado para la forma y tipo punta de pezón, pero hubo predominio en las tres razas de la forma redondeada, seguido de los puntiagudos. Morphological traits of teats and teat-end were evaluated from August 2003 to February 2004 in 1263 Carora, 403 Holstein and 118 Jersey cows reared in Venezuela. Teat type was classified as funnel, cylindrical and bottle whereas teat-end was classified as pointed, round, flat, disk, funnel shape and prolapsed. Also, the length and diameter were measured for each teat. The aim of this work was to evaluate the morphological effect of breed on the teat treats. Teat length and diameter were analyzed by a mixed model including the fixed effects of breed, age of cows, herd- birth year interaction and the random effect of the cow within herd. Teats and teat-end types were analyzed by SAS version 8.0 with the Proc. Freq and Proc. Univaríate. In order to associate the teat traits with the breed was used Chi square (chi2). Carora breed showed a significant effect on teat length and diameter: the estimated teat length was 5.9, 5.4 and 5.3 cm and the estimated teat diameter was 2.3, 2.2 and 2.1 for Carora, Holstein and Jersey, respectively. Teat length and diameter increased as the age increases. No significant effect of breed was found for teat and teat-end type but in the three breeds there was predominance of round and pointed shape.

Проведена порівняльна оцінка морфологічних та функціональних властивостей вимені новостворених українських молочних порід різних генотипів., Проведена сравнительная оценка морфологических и функциональных особенностей вымени новосозданных украинских молочных пород разных генотипов., The paper presents the comparative estimation of morphological and functional characteristics of udders of newly-bred Ukrainian dairy cows of different genotypes.

Uitgaande van de bedrijfsresultaten van het gemiddelde van de gespecialiseerde melkveebedrijven op de zandgrond van de LEI-steekproef van 1992-'93 zijn de resultaten voor het roodbont- en voor het zwartbontveebedrijf voor het jaar 2005 voorspeld

Uit de rasgegevens van de veestapels van 93 biologische bedrijven is nagegaan welke melkveerassen in de periode 1984-2003 in de biologische melkveehouderij werden toegepast.