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End date: 1959Subject: search.filters.subject.Dairy cattle

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    Pasture utilization in relation to New Zealand dairy farming : a thesis presented in part fulfilment of the requirements for the Animal Husbandry section of the degree of Master of Agricultural Science at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1949) McArthur, Alistair Thomas Giles
    The world shortage of food is the most serious crisis which faces mankind today. It is a crisis which has no earlier precedent and one for which remedial measures will be hard to find. The problem, first mentioned by Malthus in 1798, is one of limited food resources combined with an increasing world population. The basis of food production lies in the soil mantle of the world which is limited in extent and decreases yearly both in quantity and quality through the use of bad farming practices which lead to soil erosin. The present level of human nutrition throughout the world is far from adequate. In North .America and Australasia, the average daily consumption of calories per head is above 3000 but in the Middle East it is only 2400 while in the Far East it varies between 1700 and 2100, which is well below requirements (Fawcett (1948)). Not only are these people in need of more food energy but they also require more protein, minerals and vitamins. Livestock products are, of course, rich in these 'protective' foods and the expansion of livestock production will play an important part in raising the level of nut­rition of the world's population. [From Introduction]
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    Studies of variation in the rectal temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate and skin temperature of some New Zealand Jersey cows with particular reference to summer climatic conditions : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Agricultural Science in the University of New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1959)
    The field of research known as Environmental Physiology covers Studies on the physiological responses of animals to variations in their immediate environment and on the adaptation of animals to environment. Generally, studies with cattle in this field have been pursued either in tropical environment or, lately, in very cold climate (see series of papers by MacDonald and Bell, 1958). The use of climatic chambers, such as those described by Brody (1948) and by Findlay (1950), has enabled research workers to study the effects on animals of a wide range of climatic variables but the results have a restricted application in the field. [From Introduction]
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    Observations on ruminant fat metabolism with particular relation to lactation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of M. Agr. Sc. of the University of New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1949) Mayhead, J W
    In that animal fat is a major economic "building block" the mechanism of its production has attracted particular study. Although observations regarding digestion of fats may be traced back as far as those of Asellius in 1622 it was in 1843 that specific investigations into body fat production were first instituted by Lawes and Gilbert. From 1900 onwards biochemical research has made its greatest advances but, in spite of the volume of literature published on the subject of fat metabolism the state of knowledge in this field may yet be in its infancy. The three main experiments to be described relate principally to the changes effected in the degree of unsaturation of milk fat from dairy cows when highly unsaturated oils are included in the daily ration. The immediate effects of short-term inanition are also investigated. Two minor experiments are described; the first concerning the tracing of ingested stained fat into the milk and depot fats of simple-stomached animals; the second relation to the keeping qualities of milk fats of varying degrees of unsaturation.
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    The influence of importations on the New Zealand pedigree Jersey breed and the level of inbreeding, 1895-1950 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science of the University of New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1952) Jhala, Girish Manilal
    Of the 1,845,000 dairy cows in milk in New Zealand in January 1950, 85% were either purebred or grade Jersey cattle (A & P Statistics 1950). With the exception of the Island of Jersey no other country has such a predominance of this breed and it is of interest to both the animal husbandman and the geneticist, to trace not only the growth of the breed in this country but also the changes in its structure during the last half century. There is at present no authoritative information available relating to the breeding methods employed by New Zealand dairy farmers and the lack of comprehensive records of performance in the Jersey breed as a whole makes it unlikely that the selection policies of the last fifty years will ever be adequately presented. The dependence of the more popular breeders on the importations during the present century is, however, generally recognised but no attempt has yet been made to measure the influence of these much popularised animals on the breed as a whole. If imported animals differ in their genotype from New Zealand-bred animals, then a general preference for the former or their descendents should gradually change the average genotype of the breed. That such a preference exists is suggested by Fahimuddin (1952). He found that the Jersey breed was divided into strata and that the herds using imported sires were in the upper and the most important strata. There is no way of calculating whether imported and New Zealand-bred animals do differ genetically, but estimates of the proportion of the genes in the breed as a whole for which imported animals are ultimately responsible are of interest for several reasons.
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    Selection in dairy cattle in New Zealand : a dissertation
    (Massey University, 1939) Gilmer, H G
    Selection is not, in itself, generally believed to be a creative process. Ideally, it is a means by which the good, bad and indifferent elements comprising a given population are identified and classified. As such, selection is necessarily fundamental to any breeding system, whether the aim is consistent improvement or merely the maintenance of advances already achieved. Without some differentiation of the material, no firm basis can be established upon which to carry out further work. The fact that in dairy cattle breeding in particular, it is seldom possible, where characteristics of economic importance are concerned, to conduct an intimate inquiry into the different genetic elements comprising the given subject with any degree of certainty, should not be permitted to detract from the value of preliminary selection as a foundation for more comprehensive determination of worth. With such "aids to selection" as progeny tests, production records, pedigree estimates and type valuations, a fairly accurate estimate of hereditaty constitution can frequently be arrired at in so far as it affects the functions of economic value. The mode of operation of inheritance is now known in considerable detail and the breeders pursuing a broad programme of improvement may "act as if he knew the genes themselves" and make selections accordingly.
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    Herd recording in New Zealand : being a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of M. Agr. Sc., Massey Agricultural College, University of New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1952) Edey, T N
    Recent developments have made herd recording in New Zealand the responsibility of a single organisation, the New Zealand Dairy Board, and since August 1st, 1951, there has been virtually only one system of recording. However, since 1904, when the Department of Agriculture introduced systematic testing in the Weraroa herd, many organisations and numerous systems of recording have contributed to the development of the herd recording movement. The time is opportune, therefore, for a study of this work in New Zealand, embracing the history of production recording, a review of the associated investigational work, and an assessment of the past role and probable future place of herd recording in the improvement of dairy cow production. To supplement data from published material much information has been obtained from private files and personal interviews. In this respect, grateful acknowledgement is due particularly to Professor W. Riddet for access to his private files relating to herd recording, and for helpful discussion. Thanks are due to the Director and staff of the Herd Recording Department of the New Zealand Dairy Board for their assistance: to Mr. H. G. Philpott, late of the Dairy Division, Department of Agriculture; to Mr. C. M. Hume; to my supervisor, Dr. A. Stewart for helpful guidance and criticism; and to many others for their ready co-operation. This work was completed during the tenure of a Victorian Government Scholarship.
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    Genetic changes in a New Zealand pedigree Jersey herd : being a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of M. Agri. Sc., Massey Agricultural College, University of New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1952) Ecka, S T
    The majority of sires used in New Zealand herds are obtained from pedigree breeders and in consequence, the genetic merit of the national herd depends largely upon the quality of the pedigree section of the cattle breeding industry. The continued use of pedigree sires by many commercial farms has probably resulted in a narrowing of the genetic margin between registered and non-registered dairy cattle. Upon this genetic margin the present elite status of pedigree cattle depends and if it were possible to demonstrate that this margin was negligible then the present rigid distinction between pedigree and non-pedigree stock would not be justified. This would have far reaching implications the most important of which would be that there would be little justification in restricting sires used in the industry to those bred in pedigree herds. On the other hand if it were possible to demonstrate that pedigree herds were improving genetically and preserving a genetic margin over commercial herds then the present policy of attempting to effect national herd improvement through the pedigree section of the industry would be vindicated.
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    Measurement of dry matter intake of dry jersey cows on hay and silage alone and in combination : thesis submitted ... for the Animal Husbandry section of the M. Agr. Sc. examination
    (Massey University, 1948) Chau, Hon Kau
    In the provision of an adequate supply of nutrients to dairy cows, primary consideration must be given to the capacity or appetite of the animals for the food offered. This is due to the fact that appetite, measured in terms of dry matter intake per day, limits the quantity of food (dry matter) that a cow consumes. In feeding bulky roughages to dairy cows, appetite is an important factor to be considered. Bulky roughage such as hay has a low nutrient content whereas silage is both low in nutrients and dry matter, when compared with concentrated foods.
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    The influence of temperature on the performance of dairy cattle : with particular reference to the improvement of dairy production in India : dissertation presented for the animal husbandry section of a M. Agr. Sc. degree
    (Massey University, 1948) Afsaruddin, Muhammad
    In India, although there's a huge population of cattle, the milk production is scanty and the consumption of milk per head of human population is meagre. The importance of milk in maintaining the health of the Indian people who are mostly vegetarian cannot he over-emphasised and in view of this point an urgent need has been felt lately to improve dairy production in India. In the past European dairy breeds have been imported into India and have been either bred pure or used to grade up the native cattle but such attempts have turned into failure. In the greater portion of India, excepting at high altitudes on the hills, annual average temperature is high and particularly so during the summer months. It has often been suggested that the high atmospheric temperature has been the cause of degeneration of European cattle in India thus presenting a great obstacle to the improvement of India's dairy production. Very little investigation in this respect has been undertaken in India and there has been a controversy over the importance of high environmental temperature in dairy cattle. The purpose of this dissertation is to study the influence of temperature on the performance of dairy cattle from the observations that have been made in various countries, particularly tropical countries, and to draw a conclusion with regard to the policy of breeding dairy cattle in India in order to increase dairy production. As indicated by the title of the problem this study includes the influence of both high and low environmental temperature.Eff