• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.269-276
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• 1992

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.494-497
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• 2003

The study was carried out in Sahiwal, Holstein Friesian, Jersey and crossbred cattle and Murrah, Bhadwari, Jaffarabadi, Nagpuri and Surti buffaloes maintained at different organized herds to work out the polymorphism at growth hormone locus and study its effect on birth weight. A 223 bp fragment of the gene was amplified and digested with Alu I restriction enzyme. Two alleles, L and V with three genotypes LL, LV and VV were observed in Jersey, Holstein and cross bred cattle. Sahiwal cattle and buffalo were monomorphic for this locus producing only one genotype LL and one allele L. The frequency of L allele was comparatively higher in Holstein and crossbred cattle while in Jersey breed, the frequency of this allele was intermediate. The effect of genotype on birth weight was significant and LV genotype had higher birth weight than other genotypes. Hence, LV genotype in Holstein Friesian favored higher birth weight.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1393-1400
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• 2018

Objective: This study was carried out to assess the haplotype diversity and population dynamics in cattle populations of Ethiopia. Methods: We sequenced the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of 76 animals from five indigenous and one Holstein Friesian${\times}$Barka cross bred cattle populations. Results: In the sequence analysis, 18 haplotypes were generated from 18 segregating sites and the average haplotype and nucleotide diversities were $0.7540{\pm}0.043$ and $0.0010{\pm}0.000$, respectively. The population differentiation analysis shows a weak population structure (4.55%) among the populations studied. Majority of the variation (95.45%) is observed by within populations. The overall average pair-wise distance ($F_{ST}$) was 0.049539 with the highest ($F_{ST}=0.1245$) and the lowest ($F_{ST}=0.011$) $F_{ST}$ distances observed between Boran and Abigar, and Sheko and Abigar from the indigenous cattle, respectively. The phylogenetic network analysis revealed that all the haplotypes detected clustered together with the Bos taurus cattle and converged to a haplogroup. No haplotype in Ethiopian cattle was observed clustered with the reference Bos indicus group. The mismatch distribution analysis indicates a single population expansion event among the cattle populations. Conclusion: Overall, high haplotype variability was observed among Ethiopian cattle populations and they share a common ancestor with Bos taurus.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1600-1608
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• 2005

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of exogenous bovine somatotropin on water metabolism in relation to mammary function in early lactation of crossbred Holstein cattle. Ten, 87.5% crossbred Holstein cattle were divided into two groups of 5 animals each. At day 60 of lactation, the control group was given placebo while animals in the experimental group were given recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) by subcutaneous injection with 500 mg of rbST (14-days prolonged-release rbST). In rbSTtreated animals, milk yield increased 19.8%, which coincided with a significant increase in water intake (p<0.01), while DM daily intake was not different when compared to the control animals. Water turnover rate as absolute values significantly increased (p<0.05), while the biological half-life of water did not change in rbST-treated animals. Total body water (TBW) and total body water space (TOH) as absolute values significantly increased (p<0.01) in rbST-treated animals, while it was decreased in the control animals. Absolute values of empty body water (EBW) markedly increased (p<0.05), which was associated with an increase in the extracellular fluid (ECF) volume. Absolute values of plasma volume and blood volume were also significantly increased (p<0.05) in rbST-treated animals. The increase in mammary blood flow in rbST-treated animals was proportionally higher than an increase in milk production. The plasma IGF-1 concentration was significantly increased (p<0.01) in rbST-treated animals when compared with those of control animals during the treatment period. Milk fat concentration increased during rbST treatment, while the concentrations of both protein and lactose in milk were not affected. The present results indicate that rbST exerts its effect on an increase in both TBW and EBW. An increased ECF compartment in rbST-treated animals might partly result from the decrease in fat mass during early lactation. The action of rbST on mammary blood flow might not be mediated solely by the action of IGF-1 for increase in blood flow to mammary gland. An elevation of body fluid during rbST treatment in early lactation may be partly a result of an increase in mammary blood flow in distribution of milk precursors to the gland.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.104-113
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• 2001

Smallholder dairy production systems in developing countries are discussed with reference to type of systems, their characteristics, potential, and opportunities for improvement. Three types of dairy systems are identified and described: smallholder systems, smallholder cooperative dairy production systems, and intensive dairy production systems. The first two systems are by far the most important, and are associated with increasing intensification. Buffaloes are especially important in South Asia, but elsewhere dairy production mainly involves Holstein-Friesian cross-bred cattle. Dairy goats are important in some countries, but are generally neglected in development programmes. The expansion and intensification of smallholder dairy production is fueled by increased demand for milk with associated problems of milk handling and distribution, hygiene and environmental pollution. The major constraints to production are inter alia, choice of species, breeds and availability of animals; feed resources and improved feeding systems; improved breeding, reproduction, and animal health care; management of animal manure, and organised marketing, and market outlets. These constraints provide major opportunities and challenges for research and development to increase dairy production, efficient management of natural resources, and improved livelihoods of poor farmers. Specific areas for research are identified, as also the need of a holistic focus involving interdisciplinary research and integrated natural resource management, in a shared partnership between farmers and scientists that can demonstrate increased productivity and sustainable production systems. Suggestions for performance indicators in smallholder dairy production systems are indicated.