Veterinary Science Collected Works - Research Publications

Permanent URI for this collection

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Impacts Of Heat Stress On Retail Meat Quality Of 2ND Cross And Dorper Lambs
    Zhang, MH ; Warner, RD ; Dunshea, FR ; DiGiacomo, K ; Hopkins, DL ; Ha, M ; Joy, A ; Payyanakkal, APR ; Osei-Amponsah, R ; Chauhan, SS (ICoMST 2019, 2019)
  • Item
    Thumbnail Image
    Betaine improves milk yield in grazing dairy cows supplemented with concentrates in summer
    Dunshea, FR ; Oluboyede, K ; DIGIACOMO, K ; Leury, BJ ; Cottrell, JJ (MDPI AG, 2019-02-13)
    Betaine is an organic osmolyte sourced from sugar beet that accumulates in plant cells undergoing osmotic stress. Since the accumulation of betaine lowers the energy requirements of animals and, therefore, metabolic heat production, the aim of this experiment was to investigate if betaine supplementation improved milk yield in grazing dairy cows in summer. One hundred and eighteen Friesian X Holstein cows were paired on days in milk and, within each pair, randomly allocated to a containing treatment of either 0 or 2 g/kg natural betaine in their concentrate ration for approximately 3 weeks during February/March 2015 (summer in Australia). The mean maximum February temperature was 30 °C. Cows were allocated approximately 14 kg dry matter pasture and 7.5 kg of concentrate pellets (fed in the milking shed) per cow per day and were milked through an automatic milking system three times per day. Betaine supplementation increased average daily milk yield by over 6% (22.0 vs. 23.4 kg/day, p < 0.001) with the response increasing as the study progressed as indicated by the interaction (p < 0.001) between betaine and day. Milk fat % (p = 0.87), milk protein % (p = 0.90), and milk somatic cell count (p = 0.81) were unchanged by dietary betaine. However, betaine supplementation increased milk protein yield (677 vs. 719 g/day, p < 0.001) and fat yield (874 vs. 922 g/day, p < 0.001) with responses again being more pronounced as the study progressed. In conclusion, dietary betaine supplementation increased milk and component yield during summer in grazing dairy cows.