The aim of the work is to investigate raw milk from different bulls' daughters to clear up the influence of cows' genetic predisposition to milk microbial contamination and somatic cell count (SCC). Particular attention is paid to develop productive cow milk yield, milk fat, milk protein and in recent years, the SCC heredity. The literature describes a variety of lines and families, representatives of the resistance to certain diseases (leucosis, mastitis, tuberculosis, brucellosis, foot disease), it shows the determination of a genetic factor for this trait. If the selection results show increased resistance to a disease, then this indicates a genetic disease resistance and shy. The paper focuses on microbial contamination of raw milk at 7 different studies of bull daughters in the same line for housing, feeding and conditions of use. Raw milk samples were obtained from the breed Latvian brown (LB) from dairy cows shed of cattle shed Saujas, which belongs to SIA Palsa and is located in the civil parish Varini, Smiltene county in the year 2008/2009. Compared between the lines of bulls' daughter milk yield of the sample average value of the uniformity of variance analysis shows that they significantly differ (F=2.452, p=0.039). Comparing each line of bulls' daughters SCC of the sample average value of the uniformity of variance analysis showed that the SCC was statistically significantly different (F=2.083, p=0.075) of the various lines of bulls daughters.

Genotypes of CSN3 gene were detected in 71 individuals of Latvian Blue breed and in 30 individuals of Latvian Brown breed using a PCR-RFLP method. Animals were chosen at random from each heard. This study investigated the alleles A and B of CSN3 gene, while determining the allele and genotype frequencies and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium proportions in both populations. The results showed that in our analyzed samples from 71 Latvian Blue breed only 7 animals (10%) had the genotype BB, and in analyzed samples from 30 Latvian Brown breed only 3 had the genotype BB (10%). Frequencies of CSN3 genotypes AA, AB, and BB correspond to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium proportions and populations in genetic equilibrium. A wide variation in the B allele frequency among Latvian Blue and Latvian Brown breeds was found suggesting that molecular selection for animals carrying the allele B of CSN3 could impact breeding programs for dairy production in Latvia.

Three spectrophotometric methods were compared for the assessment of milk fat oxidation: the AOCS (American Oil Chemists' Society) 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value direct method, the TBA method of Aristova, and the modified method for the estimation of total carbonyl compounds in oils of Endo et al. Two cow milk fat samples – a fresh fat, obtained from fresh milk, and a rancid fat, obtained from a rancid commercial butter by means of high-speed centrifugation (15.871 × g, 30 minutes at 40 deg C) – were analyzed several times in a 22-day period after sample preparation. A positive linear correlation between absorbance and storage time was established in all used methods. The method of Aristova is appropriate for exact determination of oxidation products. This method had rather good R2 value (0.85) of the fresh fat sample results; however, the coefficient of variation (45.78%) showed rather large deviations between parallel analyses. The methods of AOCS and Endo et al. can be used for the assessment of the dynamics of fat oxidation by reporting absorbance values from the assay directly. By these methods rather high R2 values (0.86, 0.93) of the fresh fat sample results were obtained; the coefficients of variation also were satisfactory (10.13%, 11.12%). The last two methods are cheaper and require smaller sample amounts (less than 0.2 g), while the method of AOCS is the most time-consuming method.

Live weight and body condition are indicators for dairy cow’s (Bos taurus) health, milk productivity and reproduction. Live weight and body condition are defined by genetic and non-genetic factors. These factors are dependent on dairy cows growing and welfare. The aim of research was to analyze body condition relationship with milk productivity and live weight. Data were collected from 49 different breed and lactation dairy cows. Research location was Latvia University of Agriculture Research and Study farm ‘Vecauce’. Data were collected from October 2013 to January 2014. Body condition score of all cows decreased from 2.8 ± 0.05 to 2.5 ± 0.04 points in research period. Milk yield increased from 35.6 ± 0.79 kg in the 1st recording to 40.9 ± 1.12 kg in the 2nd recording. Milk yield decreased in the 3rd recording (p is less than 0.05). Fat content was the lowest in the 2nd recording (35.5 ± 0.09 g kgE-1). Protein content was significantly different in the 1st and 2nd recordings (p is less than 0.05). Somatic cell changes were not significant. Body condition decreased of older lactation cows, but milk yield increased at the same time. Milk yield was significantly the greatest in red breed group, compared with Holstein black and white cows (51.1 ± 3.21 kg vs. 41.4 ± 0.78 kg; p is less than 0.05). Body condition score significantly affected live weight in such body condition score groups: less than 2.5 points, 2.75 to 3.0 points. Effect was not significant on live weight in body condition score 3.25 less than group. Milk productivity and quality traits were not affected by the body condition score (p is less than 0.05).

The aim of the research was to evaluate the variability of milk yield and composition for goats with different kid suckling periods. The research was carried out in 2011 and 2012 on a farm where goats of Latvian breed were reared. In both years goats kidded in February and March. Each group included 10 animals. In the first group the kids were weaned on the first day of kidding (A1), in the second – on the 30th day (A30) but in the third – on the 60th day (A60) after kidding. The amount of the milk yield was measured in five successive days after the kid weaning. Milk samples were analysed in an accredited milk laboratory. The highest milk yield was obtained from the goats when kids were weaned immediately after the birth, and samples were taken starting with the 6th day of lactation (2.10 + 0.05 kg), but the lowest from the goats with suckling period of 60 days – 1.68 ± 0.03 kg. The average milk fat and protein content of the goats from the group A1 (53.6 ± 0.92 and 41.6 ± 0.66 g kgE-1), was significantly higher than from the groups A30 and A60 (p is less than 0.05). The average variability of milk yield proved to be from 4.9% in the group A1 to 10.5% in the group A30. The lowest fat content variability was observed for goats of the group A1 in both years – 8.9% and 10.7%, but the highest 20.5% in the group A60 in the first year. The highest variability of milk protein content was observed in the group A30 – 14.8%.

The aim of the present research was to evaluate the affect of genetic and environmental factors on the variability of the goat milk yield, fat and protein content in goat milk in Latvia. Data of 6067 lactation records from 2400 goats of six different breeds were analysed in the period of 2001 to 2010. The highest milk yield (662.7±14.58 kg) was obtained in 2002, the highest fat content (40.7±0.05 g kgE-1) – in 2004, but highest protein content (32.7±0.19 g kgE-1) – in 2008 (p is less than 0.05). Basically there are two goat breeds in Latvia: Latvian goats and Saanen goats. In the research, 3261 Latvian and 2032 Saanen goats in closed lactations were analysed. It was found that Saanen goats gave the highest milk yield (579.3±5.01 kg), but Alpine goats – the highest fat and protein content (respectively 41.7±0.63 and 32.3±0.30 g kgE-1; p is less than 0.05). It was observed that most of all the goats kidded in winter (2379) and spring (3378). The highest milk yield (583.8±7.39 kg) was determined for goats kidded in winter season, but the highest fat content (41.8±0.06) and protein content (32.3±0.03) – for goats kidded in summer season. The average milk yield in the first lactation (1636) was significantly lower than in the third lactation (578.0±8.34; p is less than 0.05) when the goats produced the highest milk yield in the research.

The objective of the study was to examine how the circumstances of different bull daughters – Latvian Brown cow - group productivity levels correlate with the blood biochemical composition indices in Latvian conditions. The daughters of seven bulls, selected for our research trial, were kept in the same barn and under rearing conditions. Their blood samples were taken in a single sampling activity and analyzed for blood serum biochemical averages. Also Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn and Mg were detected in blood serum and the values found were compared with values fixed in regulatory documents. There were changes in Cu levels (daughter groups of four bulls), in Zn levels (one group); Mn level was lower in all groups and Mg level was higher in 6 groups. The altered biochemical parameters of blood were assessed from the pathogenetical point of view and compared with productivity averages in the progeny groups. The correlation factors suggested that there exist a strong positive correlation (p is less than 0.05) among a number of indicators, such as aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and protein r = 0.823; ASAT and somatic cell count (SCC), r = 0.737; blood protein and milk protein r = 0.903 - 0.917; albumins and protein r = 0.964; blood urea and milk protein r = 0.931 - 0.984 along with additional correlations. The correlation factors for the progeny group of each bull differed. The data obtained shows that the Latvian Brown cows crossed with other breeds produce cows with new genetic traits.

The quality and nutritional value of milk and dairy products are considerably influenced by the stability of its constituents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possibility of enhancing oxidative stability of cow’s milk fat and vitamin B2 using carrots and palm oil feed supplement CAF 100 as sources of natural antioxidants in cow feed. Milk samples were collected after 25-day period of feed supplementation. The intensity of riboflavin losses during its photo oxidative degradation in sunlight was measured by the fluorometric method. A slight and significant (p is less than 0.05) difference in higher vitamin B2 stability was seen in carrot-supplemented group (TG1) milk, where the losses of vitamin B2 were by 3.01% less compared to CG (CG). The oxidative stability of butter oil samples stored in 60 °C temperature was analyzed by peroxide value (PV) method. The oxidative stability of samples initially affected by light from both trial groups was significantly (p is less than 0.05) higher compared to CG showing the good potential of the cow diet enrichment with carotenoid additives. The longest induction period (larger than 14 days) was observed in CAF-100- supplemented (TG2) cow milk fats, which can be explained by carotenoids and tocopherol presence and its possible synergism in fat protection. The induction periods of the TG1 and CG were 12.03 and 10.97 days, respectively.

The aim of our study was to determine up to what extent the number of services per calving (NSPC) affects dairy cow productive and reproductive performance. The study contains data from the Agricultural Data Centre of Latvia about 26888 Latvian Brown (LB) and Holstein Black and White (HBW) breed cows that were born from year 2005 – 2010, closed at least 5 full lactations and were culled from herds. In data set we have included data about cow milk productivity (calculated in ECM), longevity traits and reproduction traits. The reproduction traits included the number of services per conception (NSPC), calving interval (CI) and calving to conception interval (CCI) in the first five lactations. The average lifespan of LB and HBW dairy cows was 3149.5 days and in this period 39570.6 kg ECM were obtained. LB breed cows were characterized by 23.5 days longer lifespan and by 6035.4 kg ECM lower lifetime milk productivity than HBW breed cows, but they showed higher reproduction trait scores than LB breed group. HBW cows had a significantly (p is less than 0.05) higher NSPC, CCI, number of milking days (MD) and CI than LB breed cows in all five analysed lactations. The NSPC in the first lactation increased the calving age at the fifth lactation – cows with NSPC in the first lactation is greater than 4, fifth time calved 170.7 days in LB breed group and 190.8 days in HBW breed group later than cows with one NSPC in the first lactation.

The purpose of research was to analyze dairy cows (Bos taurus) milk productivity according to the calving body condition score (BCS) and to predict the nitrogen output with urine according to BCS and live weight. The research was carried out at the Research and Study farm ‘Vecauce’ of Latvia University of Agriculture. Data were collected from 55 dairy cows during October 2013 to October 2014. Dairy cows were from different breeds (Holstein Black and White, red breed cows with Holstein blood more than 40% and crossbreeds) and different lactations. Cows were grouped in two groups for the estimation of BCS effect on the analyzed traits: BCS is less than or equal to 2.5 and BCS is greater than or equal to 2.6. BCS was estimated at calving and in monthly recording control days. Nadir value of BCS is greater than or equal to 2.6 group was 2.64 ± 0.06 points on the third control day, but 2.46 ± 0.08 points of BCS is less than or equal to 2.5 on the second control day. Calving live weight of BCS is less than or equal to 2.5 and BCS is greater than or equal to 2.6 groups were 613.8 ± 13.3 kg and 651.1 ± 11.4 kg. The highest milk yield was observed in BCS is greater than or equal to 2.6 group until the third control day, the highest fat content was observed in this group, but the highest protein content was in BCS is less than or equal to 2.5 group. Milk urea content was not significantly affected by calving BCS, but milk urea content of BCS is greater than or equal to 2.5 group ranged from 23.2 ± 1.86 to 30.9 ± 1.98 mg dLE-1, and from 20.6 ± 1.53 to 30.2 ± 2.27 mg dLE-1 in BCS is greater than or equal to 2.6 group. A significantly higher urinary nitrogen output was observed from BCS is greater than or equal to 2.6 group on the second control day – 237.8 ± 8.1 g dayE-1 (p is less than 0.05).