admin@milksa.co.za 
012 460 7312
Brooklyn Court, Block B, First floor,
by Heinz Meissner
Click on any of the publications below to read more about the specific topic:
The Research Column
| Title | Date | Discipline | Extract | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of replacing inorganic salts of trace minerals with organic trace minerals in pre- and postpartum diets on feeding behaviour, rumen fermentation, and performance of dairy cows. |
Genetics, Physiology and Reproduction | Pregnant cows and heifers (n = 273) were blocked by parity and body condition score and randomly assigned to either STM or OTM diets at 45 ± 3 days before their expected calving date. Both groups received the same diet, except for the source of trace minerals (TM). The STM group was supplemented with Co, Cu, Mn and Zn sulfates and Na selenite, whereas the OTM group was supplemented with Co, Cu, Mn and Zn proteinates and selenized yeast. |
organic trace minerals , milk yield, transition period, feeding behaviour, nutrition | |
| Predictors of diarrhea, mortality, and weight gain in male dairy calves. |
Animal Health and Welfare | The study used 2616 calves entering a calf-rearing facility for veal calves in Canada. The results nevertheless are considered relevant to rearing of heifer calves on farm. Faecal consistency scores were assigned twice daily for the first 28 days following arrival, where a score of 2, indicating runny consistency, and 3, indicating watery consistency, were classified as diarrhoea. Severe diarrhoea was classified by a score of 3. Serum total protein was measured upon arrival and the source of the calf (i.e., whether the calf came from a calf seller, local farm, or auction) was recorded. |
dairy calf, scouring, health status | |
| Contemporary environmental issues: A review of the dairy industry's role in climate change and air quality and the potential of mitigation through improved production efficiency |
Discipline: carbon footprint; Keywords: methane, nitrous oxide, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, LCA, emissions per unit of production. This question was discussed in an Invited Review by S.E. Place and F.M. Mitloehner of the University of California in the US, in a paper entitled: Contemporary environmental issues: A review of the dairy industry’s role in climate change and air quality and the potential of mitigation through improved production efficiency, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 93 of 2010, pages 3407 to 3416. |
|||
| Ruminal acidosis: A review with special emphasis on the controlling agent Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 41125 |
Discipline: acidosis; Keywords: lactic acid, rumen pH, level of production, feed energy, SARA. |
|||
| Potential for improving the carbon footprint of butter and blend products |
Discipline: carbon footprint; Keywords: GHG emissions, vegetable oil, fat content, type of packaging. |
|||
| Bioactive peptides: Production and functionality. |
Discipline: dairy & health; Keywords: nutritional and functional activities, major body systems, antioxidative and antihypertensity properties. |
|||
| Resistance to antibiotics by microbial pathogens. |
Discipline: antibiotics; Keywords: mastitis causing organisms, performance, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococci, Klebsiella, SCC, drugs. |
|||
| The effect of improving cow productivity, fertility, and longevity on the global warming potential of dairy systems. |
Discipline: environment; Key words: production system, global warming potential, land use, fertility, efficiency. |
|||
| Genetic parameters for predicted production and potential for reducing enteric methane emissions through genomic selection. |
Discipline: carbon footprint; Key words: methane emission, feed efficiency, |
|||
| FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY IN DAIRY COWS: REPEATABILITY, VARIATION IN DIGESTION AND METABOLISM OF ENERGY AND NITROGEN, AND RUMINAL METHANOGENS. |
Discipline: genetic variation; Key words: feed efficiency, energy metabolism, |