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In this paper, the nutritional quality, digestibility, and chemical composition of major feed types as well as the use of those feeds in rations by medium-scale dairy farmers in the Kurunegala district of Sri Lanka were studied. Nine dairy farms were visited fortnightly over a five-month period to identify the feeds that were commonly used. All farms operated under a stall-feeding system in which a manually mixed ration (MMR) was fed 2–3 times daily. Four forages were identified: Guinea grass ecotype A (Panicum maximum), called Guinea grass; Hybrid Napier CO-3 (Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum americanum), called CO-3 grass; Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium); and maize stover (Zea mays L.), along with three other supplementary feeds (maize silage, barley distillers’ by-products, and commercially formulated cattle feed). These feeds were subjected to proximate analysis and in vitro digestibility analysis. The metabolisable energy (ME) of the forages ranged from 7.5–10.0 MJ/kg dry matter (DM), with the ME of Guinea grass and CO-3 grass (7.5 and 8.0 MJ/kg DM, respectively) being lower than that of Gliricidia (10.0 MJ/kg DM). The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentration of both Guinea grass and CO-3 grass (both 72% DM) was much higher than that of Gliricidia (47% DM). Crude protein (CP) was higher in Gliricidia (17.5% DM) than in either Guinea grass or CO-3 grass (8.0 and 8.8% DM, respectively). The ME of the supplementary feeds varied between 11.0 and 12.8 MJ/kg DM, while CP varied between 15.0 and 24.0% DM. The daily ME intake of cows was consistently 10% lower than their calculated daily energy requirement; for dry cows, the mean intake was 90 MJ/cow/day supplied vs. 101 MJ required, while for cows in early lactation the mean intake was 126 MJ/cow/day supplied vs. 140 MJ required. The average CP intake of lactating cows (13.5% DM) was inadequate (requirements: 16 to 17.5% DM), while the average CP intake of dry cows (11.8% DM) was satisfactory (requirements: 11 to 12% DM). The current study shows that the majority of the feed types used in these medium-scale dairy farms provide insufficient ME or CP to meet the nutritional requirements of either lactating or dry cows irrespective of the quantity of feed provided.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of exogenous pregnant mare serum Gonadotrophin (PMSG) and Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on weaned sows bred by artificial insemination. Chilled semen at 24 hours after the onset of standing heat was used for the experiment. In the treatment group (experiment 1), sows (n = 32) were injected with 500 IU of PMSG at weaning and 50 μg of GnRH injection was given at the time of insemination. As the control, sows (n = 33) were inseminated without giving any hormones. Weaning to estrus interval, conception rate and litter size were recorded. Results were analyzed using the Minitab Statistical Software version 14, 2010. The means were compared using the Student’s t-test. Results revealed that in group 1, the PMSG treated sows had significantly (p Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 24 (3): 270-278 (2013

The success of embryo transfer in cattle may depend on several factors. The blood progesterone level of the embryo recipient would be one of the main factors secondary to the size and quality of the corpus luteum. Per-rectal palpation and by-hand grading of corpora lutea have been practiced routinely, even under commercial embryo transfer programs in cattle. This experiment aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the per-rectal hand grading technique of mid-phase corpora lutea in embryo recipient cows. A group of healthy cows (Friesian× Jersey, n=25), which had been selected as recipient animals with the special consideration of reproductive history in an embryo transfer program, was used in this study. Estrous of those animals were synchronized using a standard progesterone intravaginal devise-PGF2α protocol. Conventional evaluation and grading of corpora lutea were conducted at the per-rectal hand grading as 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'Cystic' (If diameters; < 1cm=C, 1-1.9cm=B, 2-2.5cm= A, >2.5cm= Cystic). In this study, the accuracy of those hand-grading techniques was evaluated using ultra-sound scanning technology on the same day. Identification accuracy of grades C, B, A, and Cysts in hand grading technique was 45%, 56%, 67%, and 50%, respectively. The average accuracy in the hand grading technique was 52%, and identification accuracy as suitable (A or B) corpora lutea for embryo transfer was 76%. Results raised the 24% probable loss of embryo transferrable recipients due to the hand-grading technique. Further, 8% of unsuitable cows can be selected as embryo recipients due to the practice of hand-grading techniques at embryo transfer programs. Although higher accuracy is a characteristic of the hand grading technique, the technology causes considerable loss due to inaccurate selection probability of recipients at embryo transfer programs.

The success of embryo transfer in cattle may depend on several factors. The blood progesterone level of the embryo recipient would be one of the main factors secondary to the size and quality of the corpus luteum. Per-rectal palpation and by-hand grading of corpora lutea have been practiced routinely, even under commercial embryo transfer programs in cattle. This experiment aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the per-rectal hand grading technique of mid-phase corpora lutea in embryo recipient cows. A group of healthy cows (Friesianx Jersey, n=25), which had been selected as recipient animals with the special consideration of reproductive history in an embryo transfer program, was used in this study. Estrous of those animals were synchronized using a standard progesterone intravaginal devise-PGF2α protocol. Conventional evaluation and grading of corpora lutea were conducted at the per-rectal hand grading as 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'Cystic' (If diameters; < 1cm=C, 1-1.9cm=B, 2-2.5cm= A, >2.5cm= Cystic). In this study, the accuracy of those hand-grading techniques was evaluated using ultra-sound scanning technology on the same day. Identification accuracy of grades C, B, A, and Cysts in hand grading technique was 45%, 56%, 67%, and 50%, respectively. The average accuracy in the hand grading technique was 52%, and identification accuracy as suitable (A or B) corpora lutea for embryo transfer was 76%. Results raised the 24% probable loss of embryo transferrable recipients due to the hand-grading technique. Further, 8% of unsuitable cows can be selected as embryo recipients due to the practice of hand-grading techniques at embryo transfer programs. Although higher accuracy is a characteristic of the hand grading technique, the technology causes considerable loss due to inaccurate selection probability of recipients at embryo transfer programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]