Dairy animal rearing is an inseparable and integrated part of smallholder subsistence farming system. Dairy cattle production in the country is characterized by low productivity levels due mainly to genetic and nutritional constraints. Unless feeding management is improved these animals may be limited to fully express their potential genetic superiority. It is fundamental approach to provide good quality diets to dairy cattle in sufficient amount to maximize production. Dairying provides women with a regular daily income vital to household good security and family well being. Quantitative and qualitative shortage of feeds and fodder affects the performance of milking animal. Local cows yield on average 1.5 Lit. milk per day against 5-8 Lit. in cross bred cows, require better feeding mainly concentrates, which is not available to the farmers at the affordable prices. But income of farmers can be increased up to two fold (Tk.58 vs 115) by rearing cross bred cows. Since feed cost is becoming the most important factor in livestock production, increasing self sufficiency in feed production will be an important factor in future development programs.

Abstract. The data obtained from the dairy herd of the Arab Company for Agricultural Production and Processing (ACAPP) in a semi arid area 40 km south of Khartoum involved 337 cows with a total of 1049 records from 16 years between 1986 and 2002. The least squares means for age at first calving, calving interval, days open, lactation milk yield, daily milk yield, lactation length and dry period were 29.76±0.40 months, 433.12 ± 6.70 days, 167.79±7.08 days, 3475.53±78.89 kg, 12.29±0.28 kg, 294.10±3.62 days and 164.08 ± 6.70 days, respectively. The analysis of variance showed that the parity number had significant (p<0.05) influences on all studied traits, while year-season of calving influenced (p<0.05) age at first calving, milk yield per lactation and daily milk yield. The sire of cow influenced (p<0.05) lactation yield, daily yield, lactation length and days open. The effects of linear and quadratic regressions of both lactation yield and daily yield on length of lactation were also highly significant (p<0.01). Heritability estimates of age at first calving, calving interval, milk yield per lactation, daily milk yield, lactation length and dry period were generally low (0.098±0.104, 0.047±0.046, 0.130±0.042, 0.123±0.041, 0.172±0.062 and 0.044±0.031, respectively) except the heritability of days open which was 0.51±0.37. The productivity of the herd in this study which averaged 12.3 kg/cow/day was much lower than the expected productivity of Holstein Friesian cows, which reflects the negative impact of the prevalent environment in the Sudan. More records and economic data are required to examine the economic feasibility of raising pure Friesians under Sudan conditions.

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In Kenya, selection of dams for the national contract mating scheme is based on 305-day lactation milk yield (TMY) performance across parities. At farm level, only cows that had good TMY performance in previous parity are retained for the subsequent lactation. This strategy has resulted in improved milk production performance, although increased incidences of physiological disorders, mastitis and reduced fertility have been reported in high-yielding cows. Records on functional traits relative to milk yield are scant. Properties of lactation curves could be used indirectly to explain the productive and functional efficiency of dairy cows. This study assesses the relationship between lactation traits, based on the lactation curve, to evaluate the effects of selection for TMY on lactation curve properties and to assess the effects of selection decisions based on first lactation on performance in later lactations. A repeatability analysis revealed negative genetic correlations between peak milk yield (MYmax) and persistency (S); MYmax and days in milk at peak (DIMP); and TMY and DIMP. Genetic correlations were positive between DIMP and S, and TMY and MYmax. This implies that selection for high TMY would result in high MYmax and a reduction in DIMP. This alters the shape of the lactation curve, shifting production pressure to early lactation, which aggravates a negative energy balance, thus compromising the physiological integrity of the cow. Continuous selection for high TMY could be responsible for the reported decline in reproductive efficiency and lactation physiology. Correlation estimates between traits in different parities were bidirectional (correlation estimates changed signs (+/-) in different parities), implying that selection decisions made in lactation 1 may not have similar outcomes in lactations 2 and 3. Selection at farm level should be optimised by using records from three parities, as is done in the contract mating scheme. ______________________________________________________________________________________

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Cetacean strandings provide important opportunities to extend current knowledge on species or populations, particularly for species that are notoriously difficult to study, such as sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus (parāoa). Between 25 May and 9 June 2018, 13 male sperm whales stranded in Taranaki, New Zealand (NZ), with an additional male stranding 1 mo later in Clifford Bay, Marlborough. We profiled these 14 males for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to examine their similarity to sperm whales from other geographic areas. Analyses of mtDNA revealed 7 haplotypes, including 1 not previously described (‘New’), and an additional haplotype (‘M’) new to NZ that had been previously reported in sperm whales of the Pacific region. Analysis of rare haplotypes found in NZ males suggested genetic links within NZ and the Southwest Pacific. Differences in stable isotope ratios indicated that, despite the close temporal proximity of these stranding events, individuals originated from at least 2 separate groups, with the whale stranded in Clifford Bay identified as being a regular visitor to Kaikōura, South Island. The analysis of stranding records in NZ dating back to 1873 indicated an increase in recorded single strandings since 1970, and a peak in single strandings in the austral summer months, but no seasonality for mass strandings. Sex predicted latitudinal location for single strandings, with 95.1% of female strandings occurring north of 42° S, fitting the general global distribution of female sperm whales limited to lower latitudes. This study provides the first temporal and spatial assessment of sperm whale strandings in NZ and highlights the need for future research on movements and genetic exchange between NZ sperm whales and sperm whales in the wider Pacific region.

The objective of the study was to compare the provision of the existing artificial insemination service delivery system (AI-SDS) among public, private and autonomous institutions to the small-scale dairy farmers in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by using a pre-tested and pre-designed questionnaire and face-to-face interview technique. A stratified-purposive sampling technique was applied to select 165 small-scale dairy farmers from four study areas. Descriptive statistics were performed to know the frequency of the provision of AI services. Public services were available in all study areas whereas autonomous services were only delivered in Mymensingh district. The private service was increasing faster than the public and autonomous service. The public service had higher incentives and network coverage compared to private and autonomous services. The results also showed that 50% of the respondent perceived the AI service as "public goods" and showed no willingness to pay (e.g., free of charge for public service). The demand for the services has been increasing but the existing organizations were not able to provide the services especially to the remote areas. From this study, it is recommended that farmers' needs should be translated in a way that they get access to their required services in a satisfactory manner.