• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.227-242
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• 2012

Accurate estimation of milk production cost is very important for dairy farmers in establishing strategies for business management (e.g. planning a program for milk production, deciding the size of business and investment, determining the milk price for sale). Since the estimated cost of milk production is used as an important index to determine the basal price of milk in Korea, there has been much interest and debate on the method used to estimate milk production cost among the stakeholder. This study was thus carried out to identify problems in the current methodology for estimating cost of milk production, and to find a better way to improve it. We propose several alternatives and better ways to improve the current method for estimating cost of milk production. Estimation of the income and cost per head should be based on the number of cattle converted to grown cows. Cost estimation per liter of milk should be made for both whole milk and 3.4% milk fat corrected milk. The value of purchased cows and raised replacement heifers should be the same as their market value. The productive life span of cows should be less 4 years, and the terminal or salvage value of cows needs to be 30 to 40% less than her initial value. When calculating depreciation of cows over the productive life span, however, the salvage value should be 0 or 1 Korean won. On calculating labor costs, the farm labor wage corresponding to the average wage of nonfarm industrial workers should be assumed. Beside of these, better estimation procedures for other items are also given. The proposed methods from this study should improve the accuracy of estimation of milk production cost and help to achieve consensus among the stakeholder.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 1994

This study was conducted to compare the of rearing native and cross-bred dairy cows and returns received from them. For this purpose, 144 cows of 132 household from 24 villages were randomly selected. of them, 96 were native cows and 48 were cross-bred cows. The study revealed that among the structure of cost components, labour charge occupied the major share in the total cost of milk production per litre. The total cost of rearing native and cross-bred cows was Tk. 14,155 and Tk. 19,854 per annum, respectively. The average net cost of milk production per litre was Tk. 14.12 for native cows and Tk. 0.52 and for cross-bred cows were Taka 3.40. The benefit-cost ratio of milk per litre was higher (1:1.33) in cross-bred cows than native ones (1:1.04). The study further showed that in comparing with bulk line cost, the price of milk per litre received by the farmers was higher in cross-bred cows than native cows. Therefore, the study recommends dairying with cross-bred cows as encouraging and viable commercial enterprise in Banfladesh.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.187-191
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• 2017

Objective: An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of dietary supplementation of dried and ground foliage of black gram (Vigna mungo L.) on feed intake and utilization, and production performance of crossbred lactating cows. Methods: Eighteen lactating crossbred (Bos taurus${\times}$Bos indicus) cows (body weight $330.93{\pm}10.82kg$) at their second and mid lactation (milk yield $6.77{\pm}0.54kg/d$) were randomly divided into three groups of six each in a completely randomized block design. Three supplements were formulated by quantitatively replacing 0, 50, and 100 per cent of dietary wheat bran of concentrate mixture with dried and ground foliage of black gram. The designated supplement was fed to each group with basal diet of rice straw (ad libitum) to meet the requirements for maintenance and milk production. Daily feed intake and milk yield was recorded. A digestion trial was conducted to determine the total tract digestibility of various nutrients. Results: The daily feed intake was increased (p<0.05) with the supplementation of black gram foliage. Although the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and ether extract did not vary (p>0.05), the fibre digestibility was increased (p<0.05), which ultimately improved (p<0.05) the total digestible nutrients content of composite diet. Although, the average milk yield (kg/animal/d) and composition did not differ (p>0.05) among the groups, milk yield was increased by 10 per cent with total replacement of wheat bran in concentrate mixture with of black gram foliage. The economics of milk production calculated as feed cost per kg milk yield (INR 10.61 vs 7.98) was reduced by complete replacement of wheat bran with black gram foliage. Conclusion: Black gram foliage could be used as complete replacement for wheat bran in concentrate mixture of dairy cows in formulating least cost ration for economic milk production in small holders' animal production.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 1999

Korean dairy industry is placed on the very critical situation with the progress of free trade marketing system internationally. To keep and improve the dairy food market, better measures are imperative for dairy industry. Especially, the milk distribution system is premodern to some extent, in comparison with both the production and the processing part of dairy industry. Reform measures for the promotion of domestic milk consumption by lowering the distribution cost are as follows. First, out-sourcing of the logistics department can decrease the circulation cost of milk. Secondly, milk should be packed into large-size package(more than 1 liter) to save both package and distribution cost. Thirdly, milk should be distributed from plant to consumers through the hygienic distribution system including perfect cold chain system, Above reform measures can not come true through the efforts taken by one company but through co-worker, concerted research, and joint in-vestment among dairy companies that can reduce the distribution cost and provide consumers with the best service, eventually resulting in the increment of milk consumption.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.255-259
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• 1998

Sixteen Friesian Cows were allocated equally into 4 groups in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to evaluate the effects of utilizing bean by-products on the feed intake and milk production. Cows were fed on 4.5% of their body weight fresh alfalfa; the remainder of their requirements were covered by one of 4 experimental concentrate treatments: 1) commercial concentrate (CC), 2) 70% CC + 30% bean hulls (BH), 3) 70% CC + 30% Polished bean (PB) and 4) 70% CC+ 15% BH + 15% PB. Results showed that the inclusion of bean hulls at 30% improved (p<0.05) milk yield, 4% fat corrected milk yield, feed conversion ratio and fat percent of the milk over the other treatments. Feeding cows on a commercial concentrate plus 30% BH or 30% PB or 15% from each of BH and PB decreased the cost of feed per kg milk by 13.6, 2.5 and 1.3 %, respectively, lower than those fed on the commercial concentrate.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.58 no.8
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• pp.30.1-30.12
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• 2016

Background: The effect of choline chloride supplementation through forced drinking combined with concentrate diets containing Ca-fish oil on milk production and milk composition of Etawah Grade goats was evaluated. Choline chloride is an essential component in ruminant diets as it is required for fat metabolism. Method: The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with three types of treatments and eight replications. The trial had two successive experimental periods; the first, during the eight weeks of late pregnancy, and the second, during the first 12 weeks of lactation. Twenty-four Etawah Grade does in the second gestation period were divided into three treatment groups. Commercial choline chloride 60 % in corncobs-based powder was used as a source of choline chloride. The treatments were no supplementation (control) and supplemented with either 4 g or 8 g/2days of choline chloride. Choline chloride was given to the animals through a forced drinking technique, after dissolving it in 60 ml drinking water. The initial body weight of does was $38.81{\pm}3.66kg$. The does were penned individually, and were given fresh chopped King Grass ad libitum and 700 g/day of concentrate diets containing Ca-fish oil, starting eight weeks prior to expecting kidding and continuing for 12 weeks of parturition. Results: All nutrient intakes were not significantly different (p > 0.05) among the treatments during the late pregnancy and the lactation periods. Supplementation did not affect (p > 0.05) the average daily gains and feed conversion ratio during pregnancy but gave effects (p < 0.05) on the average daily gains, feed conversion ratio and income over feed cost during lactation. The highest average daily milk yields and 4 % fat corrected milk yields were found in goats supplemented with 4 g/2days of choline chloride and increased by 17.00 % and 24.67 %, respectively, compared to the control. Moreover, milk composition percentage and milk constituent yields improved significantly (p < 0.05) in those supplemented with 4 g/2days of choline chloride. Conclusion: The supplementation of 4 g/2days of choline chloride through forced drinking increased milk yields, the 4 % fat corrected milk yields, milk composition, milk constituent yields, and improved feed conversion ratio and income over feed cost of Etawah Grade goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.650-657
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• 2002

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of forage:concentrate ratios and feeding principles on milk yield, milk composition, body weight change, postpartum oestrus and feed cost. A total of 36 crossbred F1 cows (Holstein Friesian${\times}$Local Yellow) in the 8th week of lactation were used. In each experiment, animals were divided into three groups using a randomized block design according to the milk yield of the previous eight weeks. Cows were fed 30, 50 and 70% concentrate in the diet based on DM. In experiment 1 (Fc), cows were given the same amount of DM with constant ratios of forage and concentrate within treatments. In experiment 2 (Fa), cows were given the same constant amounts of concentrate as in experiment 1 and ad libitum forage. The forage consisted of a natural grass mixture based on 5 species of grasses with high nutritive values. There was no difference in total DM intake between treatments within experiments. However, cows fed forage ad libitum had higher DM intakes compared to cows fed constant forage (1.6, 4.5 and 9.5% for cows fed 70, 50 and 30% forage, respectively). Daily milk yield of cows fed forage ad libitum was higher than that of cows fed constant forage:concentrate ratio. Within experiment, milk yield was highest for cows fed 30% DM forage, followed by cows fed 50% and then cows fed 70% forage (11.17, 10.98 and 10.71 for the 30Fc, 50Fc and 70Fc cows; 11.73, 11.16 and 10.81 kg for the 30Fa, 50Fa and 70Fa cows, respectively). Decreased forage ratio in the diets resulted in decreased milk fat content and tended to increase milk protein. Increased concentrate ratio in the diet and feeding forage ad libitum increased body weight gain. The effect of forage:concentrate ratio on postpartum oestrus was not significant. The feed cost per kg milk produced was lowest for the cows fed 70% forage. It is concluded that increased ratio of concentrate resulted in increased body weight gain, milk yield, milk protein, and decreased milk fat. Feeding forage ad libitum increased feed intake, milk yield and body weight gain. The ratio of 50% forage is more suitable for milk production and animal condition, but in terms of feed cost and under the conditions of small dairy farmers, the 70% ad libitum forage feeding is recommended.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1132-1137
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• 2012

Objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of partial substitution of barley grain with bread by-product (BB) on performance of Awassi ewes and their lambs. Forty Awassi ewes rearing single lambs were randomly allotted into four experimental diets containing various levels of BB. The experimental diets contained 0 (BB0), 10 (BB10), 15 (BB15), and 20% (BB20) of BB on dietary dry matter (DM). The study lasted for eight weeks, in which the first week was used as an adaptation period and seven weeks of data collection. Ewes and their lambs were penned individually where they were fed their lactating diets ad libitum. Ewes and lambs body weights were measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. However, milk production and composition were evaluated biweekly. Feeding BB had no effect (p>0.05) on dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) intakes. However, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was the lowest (p<0.05) for the BB20 and BB15 diets followed to BB10 diet (i.e., 640, 677, 772 g/d, respectively) while the highest NDF intake was for the BB0 diet (i.e., 825 g/d). Similarly, NDF intake decreased linearly (p<0.001) as the BB content increased. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) intake was highest (p<0.05) for the BB0 and BB10 diets (425 and 416 g/d, respectively) followed by the BB15 and BB20 diets (359 and 342 g/d, respectively). Moreover, a linear (p<0.001), quadratic (p = 0.04), and cubic (p = 0.04) effects were observed in ADF intake among diets. Nutrient digestibility was similar among different diets. Bread by-product had no effect (p>0.05) on ewes body weight change and on lamb performance (i.e., weaning body weight and average daily gain). Similarly, no differences (p>0.05) were observed either in milk production or composition by the BB substitution. Inclusion of BB reduced feed cost by 9, 14, and 18% for the BB10, BB15, and BB20 diets, respectively. No differences were observed in milk efficiency (DM intake: milk production; p>0.05) among diets. However, cost of milk production ($US/kg milk) was the lowest (p<0.05) in the diet containing BB20. Results of the present study indicate that feeding bread by-product up to 20% of the diet DM had no effect on performance of Awassi ewes and their lambs and reduced feed cost.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.735-741
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• 1999

The effects of supplementation with nitrogen molasses mineral blocks and molasses urea mix during and immediately prior to the dry season on the production of dairy cows were studied on-station and on-farm near Morogoro, Tanzania. Supplementation of blocks to on-station cows also receiving ad libitum grass hay and 6 kg/d of maize bran increased milk production from 6.7 L/d to 11.2 L/d (p<0.05), increased dry matter intake from 10.1 kg/d to 12.0 kg/d (p<0.05), but did not significantly affect milk composition, intake of hay, and live weight changes. This increase in milk yield is mainly explained by increased intakes of energy and nitrogen. Supplementation with the molasses urea mix increased daily milk yield from 6.7 L/d to 8.8 L/d (p<0.05), but did not significantly affect the other measured production parameters. The on-farm supplementation of the blocks increased daily milk yield by 1.5 L/d in the dry season (p<0.05). This supplementation did not increase milk yields prior to the dry season, since quality forage was still available. Taking the production costs into account, supplementation with the blocks and supplementation with mix were cost effective if milk yields increased by 0.7 L/d. Hence supplementation with blocks and supplementation with mix were effective on-station, and supplementation with blocks was cost effective on-farm during the dry season.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.769-775
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• 2008

This study was on the relative net income (RNI) for 18,286 Iranian Holstein cows from 799 herds, with first freshening between 1991 and 2000. Two kinds of production system, which differed mainly in milk pricing system and feed cost, were considered. Four different models adopted from the literature were examined to find the optimum model. They differed by the cost of rearing and growth after first calving and they needed different amounts of economic data at the farm level. Results showed that four measures of RNI were highly correlated (>0.96) and could be used equally to measure lifetime profitability of cows. Therefore, in herds without a regular system for recording economic and management data, use of the simplest model is recommended. Multiple regression analysis revealed that RNI was affected by age at first freshening, milk yield and days of productive life (DPL), regardless of production system, and a similar breeding goal could be defined for the two systems. Multiple regression analysis of RNI showed that in order to obtain an unbiased estimate of economic value for DPL, the per day milk yield, not total lifetime milk yield, should be included in the regression model along with DPL. Regression analysis suggested that it is possible to predict RNI using information on age at first freshening along with the length of first lactation and per day milk yield with a coefficient of determination ranging from 0.44 to 0.47.