JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE OF BIH

INFLUENCE OF FARMING SYSTEMS ON INDICATORS OF BEEF CALVES GROWTH

J. Ducháček — 2019-04-08

The aim of this study was to evaluate growth ability of Charolais calves in different systems of farming. The observations were performed in period of 8 years (2007 - 2014) in one herd, which was transiting from conventional to ecological farming system. Period from 2007 to 2010 was of conventional character, 2010 to 2012 transition phase, and from 2012 to 2014 ecological phase. This transfer is directly linked to changes in cow´s welfare and nutrition. Growth ability (live weight at birth, 120, and 210 days of age, average daily gain from birth to 120, from birth to 210, and from 120 to 210 days of age) of 518 Charolais calves was measured. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS 9.3 software, GLM procedure. The model equations contend effect of sex, number of parity, month of calves birth and type of farming system. Difference in birth weight of calves between farming systems was small and insignificant. This fact may be due to breeding system focused on easy calving. Increase of values measured in different age and average daily gains were statistical significant (P < 0.05) between conventional and ecological farming. The increase of parameters of weight and average daily gain could be largely connected with genetic progress in Charolais population in Czech Republic and following good selection of bulls to insemination and natural breeding. Nevertheless, the transition from conventional to ecological farming system did not affected growth ability of beef cattle negatively and, in contrary, results of growth improved farm economy.

HEAT STRESSED HOLSTEIN HEIFERS - THRESHOLD DETERMINATION IN CENTRAL CROATIA

V. Gantner — 2019-04-08

In the light of increasingly rapid climate change worldwide, and with the purpose of reduction of financial losses of dairy farmers and enabling the sustainable farming, the necessity of implementation of breeding values for heat resistance in breeding strategies, have become more and more pronounced. Estimation of breeding values requires determination of THI threshold value. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the THI threshold value for Holstein heifers in environmental conditions in Central Croatia. With that purpose individual test-day records of Holstein heifers with records of ambient temperature and relative humidity in the barns collected in regular milk recording from January 2006 to December 2012 were analysed. The THI threshold values for daily milk yield were determined by least square analyses of variance for each given THI value (from 65 to 76) using the PROC MIXED (SAS). The THI ≥ 65 cause significant change in Holstein heifers’ daily production. Significant decrease of daily milk yield was observed at THI = 65 with estimated drop from 0.087 till 0.254 kg milk/day (THI from 65 – 76). The THI = 65, as the lowest value at which significant decrease in daily milk yield was determined was taken as the threshold value for Holstein heifers in Central Croatia.

MICROCLIMATE PARAMETERS AND VENTILATION INSIDE THE BARNS IN THE LOWLAND REGION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

V. Jovović — 2019-04-08

Purpose of this paper is analysis of microclimate parameters in dairy cow barns in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republic of Srpska), and examine the impact of the ventilation on the microclimate inside the barns. The study included 38 dairy barns in the lowland region of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republic of Srpska), during the winter season. The following microclimate parameters were measured: air temperature, relative humidity of air, air velocity and concentration of gases (NH3 and CO2). Statistically significant correlations were determined between NH₃ concentration and air temperature (P<0,001) and between temperature and concentration of CO₂ (P<0,05). Also, are established positive and statistical significant correlation between manure gases (NH₃ and CO₂). The research has also shown that the average concentration of CO₂ in relation to the open area in the barn statistically significant (P<0,05).

PRODUCTION OF DAIRY COWS AT DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL CLIMATIC PARAMETERS

P. Mijić — 2019-04-08

Cattle have a constant body temperature, which held up to a certain limit. Due to changing ambient climatic parameters (temperature, humidity, THI index), can lead to certain consequences which have a deleterious effect on the health of the animals, and even can cause death of the animal. The assumption of this research was that the environmental climatic parameters have an impact on cows in milk production.
The study involved 50 Holstein cows, which were divided in the same building and in the two groups: the first (n = 25) = 30 kg milk and 2 (n = 25) = 30 and more kg of milk. The results showed that the surface temperature of the body was measured on the left side of the body cows (area rumen) increased no matter what was the level of milk production. However, the surface temperature of the udder measured from the back of the cows showed a different trend. The temperature of the udder of the cow in the first (with a milk production of less than 30 kg) was constant (average of 34.95 ° C), in contrast to the other groups of cows (with a milk production of 30 kg or more), where the surface temperature is increased as the udder increased and THI index in the barn.
The increase in metabolic activity in animals (such as dairy cows) and leads to an increase in surface heat in certain parts of the body, and what is even more pronounced when the animals are in inadequate surroundings or barn that is not adapted to cows with high milk production.

THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURES ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF CZECH FLECKVIEH COWS

M. Večeřa — 2019-04-08

A group of 98 Czech Fleckvieh cows (one section) was observed over the period of one year with the aim to determine the variation in their milk performance and behaviour at cowshed different cowshed temperatures. Behaviour were recorded once a week (on the same day) at 10:00. Periods of 8 weeks with the highest temperature (hot period – H) and of 8 weeks with the lowest temperature (cold period – L) were then compared. The cows were housed in one section (1/4 of the total capacity) of the free-cubicle shed and where the cubicles were distributed into three rows. Row A (32 cubicles) was close to the feeding plateau, row B (33 cubicles) was in the centre and row C (38 cubicles) was peripheral, close to the side wall. The cowshed temperature was monitored on a daily basis and the mean temperature was 23.2 °C in the hot period and -1.7°C in the cold period, relative humidity 60.2 % (H) and 74.6 % (L) and THI 69.4 (H) and 33.4 (L). The behaviour of the cows was recorded 1568 times, showing them mostly lying down (1037) or standing (531). The cows tended to prefer lying down on their left sides (594 observations) as opposed to their right sides (443).

EFFECT OF CERTAIN BARN CONSTRUCTION CHARACTERISTICS ON INDOOR CLIMATE STATUS IN DAIRY BARNS IN BOSNIA AND HEREGOVINA

M. Erbez — 2019-04-08

The aim of this field study was to describe climatic status in dairy barns in lowland and in mountainous regions of BiH, and to examine correlations between chosen housing parameters and indoor climate. Totally 76 herds were visited once by a team of trained observers in 18 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. All barns in mountain region had tie-stall housing system (MH), while 30 barns in lowland regions had tie-stall system (LTS) and 8 of those loose housing (LLH) with or without cubicles. Presence of CO2 was quite different between groups, the average lowest was found in LLH and it was 627.5 ppm (ranging from 390 – 890), in LTS 936.7 (390-1690), in MH 1105.7 (390-5390). The highest measures roof temperatures were at LTS, and the average was 12.7, while in LLH were 10.49, MH 11.14 and AF 11.70. Mean floor area per animal for all farms was 6 m2/animal, in MH 6.4, LTS 5.4 and LLH 6 m2/animal. Mean barn volume for all farms was 27.9 m3/animal, in MH 25.5, LTS 26.5 and LLH 44.2 m3/animal. Average barn height was 3.6 m for AF, 5.7 m for LLH, 4 m for LTS and 2.8 meters for MH. The negative correlations between construction environment parameters was found for all combinations except for the air velocity in LTS barns. Some of the construction parameters could help in overall estimation of the housing quality in dairy cattle barns.

THE SIZE OF THE FARM AND ITS INFLUENCE AT CLEANLINESS OF THE COWS AND MILK HYGIENE

A. Marić — 2019-04-08

For animals the sense of physical comfort is necessary (physical comfort). When animals feel physically comfortable, it means that every part of their bodies is in harmony with the surrounding area. Therefore, the farms are usually build in accordance with the number of cattle that will be hold in designed facilities, which provide a higher degree of cows cleanliness. Cleanliness of cows is important in order to produce hygienically clean milk and to achieve the cattle welfare of dairy cows too. Cleanliness of animals mostly depends on what kind of object they are placed in. Hygienically proper milk includes the number of microorganisms up to 100,000 / ml and the number of somatic cells to 400,000 / ml, which are regulated by the "Regulations on quality of fresh raw milk." For this research farms are divided into three groups according to the number of cows. The first group included the number of cows from 1 to 9, the second group included 10 to 19, and a third group 20 or more cows. The aim of this paper is to examine whether there is an influence of the size of farms (number of cows) on the subjective cow cleanliness and hygienic quality of milk.

CHARACTERISCS OF INDOOR MICROCLIMATE STATUS IN GOAT BARNS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

B. Važić — 2019-04-08

The aim of this paper is to explain microclimatic indicators in the winter inside buildings for of goat housing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data processed in this paper were collected from ten goat farms which are deployed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the housing facilities for goats for whose were determined the microclimate status, the average temperature was in the range of optimal values. Average airflow in facilities for goats in Bosnia and Herzegovina was below the 0.2 m/s during the winter period. The average relative humidity in the goat barns in Bosnia and Herzegovina ranged permitted values. The average determined concentration of ammonia in the air barn goat farm is located above the allowable limit. On based of established levels of CO 2 in goat barns in Kozara region of Bosnia and Herzegovina could be concluded that there is above the allowable limit. Reducing the levels of harmful gases in the facilities may be required in increasing the air change in buildings either natural or artificial ventilation.

SYSTEM OF ACTIVE STABLING FOR HORSES

P. Zejdová — 2019-04-08

Horses are animals, which are naturally accustomed to all day movement and grazing with their herd. But the typical modern stabling of horses usually looks like so that a horse is 23 hours per day in a box alone. The welfare of horses is very bad in such case, but it is very comfortable for its keepers. Now, a new technology is available on market presenting a compromise for both sides - for the horses and for the human. 'System of active stabling' allows the horses to move freely in paddock and stable area. Each horse has a chip which communicates with the sensors placed on the requisite point and it also sends information to the operating computer. Feeding is done by feeding stations, in which a number and composition of the feed can be set for each individual animal. Thus, breeder has always a review available of how much his horse walked or how much of feed ate. And he has the option to direct horse choice, too.

TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORWEGIAN DAIRY SECTOR

Lars Erik Ruud — 2019-04-08

Arable land is covering less than 3% of the total area of Norway, and is partly situated north from the Arctic Circle. The remaining part is mainly forests and mountains. The history of the Norwegian people and agriculture was hence a history about poverty. Before the industrial revolution in the middle of the 17th century, the population lived on small farms where they grew what they needed for their self-sufficiency. Farmers made their own farm buildings and equipment according to their own ideas and regional traditions. The buildings were small, specialized and normally had a short lifespan. Typical building materials were timber and stone. Indoor climate was far from good. The total workload was high, however, the work force was large as a lot of people lived on the farms.From approx. 1850 a big change took place in Norway as industrial products became available. A lot of people moved to the cities (or immigrated to USA) to live from industry or trade. The cities became a new market for agricultural products, the farmers got an income (as cash) and could buy “modern” factory built farm equipment. As people left the countryside for a better life (!?) in the city, farmers also had to select more efficient solutions to be able to run their farms with less hands involved. The monetary housekeeping also made it possible to loan money. Loan money was invested in more robust buildings, better solutions, e.g. for taking care of the manure and for storing food etc. As these buildings were more expensive, different productions were gathered in fewer buildings. What was called the “unity building” became the new standard. In those buildings, the manure was typically stored in the cellar, animals were kept on the main floor, and food was stored above there again. The gravity became the farmers “helping hand”. A great improvement in work load, animal welfare, hygiene and production was achieved, and traditional housing methods were soon forgotten, however, the debt increased.In the years after world war II, the spread of electricity and combustion motors made room for another change; mechanization replacing manual work and gravity. Milking machines replaced hand milking, and feed and manure work were mechanized using mass-produced equipment.Today mechanization has developed into automation, and at the same time market forces has multiplied production volumes. The unity barn is also replaced with wide one-level buildings. The normal situation today, is also that one person is normally running several farms. Hence, to raise new buildings the work load is too big for the farmer, and the result is that he have to buy both building materials as well as hands to build – and the debt is increasing even more…