A preliminary study on the effect of probiotics in fermented palm kernel meal (FPKM) and total mixed ration (TMR) to improve milk production in dairy cattle was carried out. TMR feeding enhances feed intake, improves the ecology of the rumen leading to stimulated microbial activity to digest more feed, and then finally increases productivity of the cows. Probiotics ofBacillus spp. was given through concentrate after a fermentation process for three days. The trial was carried out at the Dairy Unit, Veterinary Institute, Kluang, Johore. Twenty Mafriwal cows with low milk production were selected and divided into twoequivalent groups. Each group consisted of 10 cows. Group A were fed with TMR. Group B received TMR and 100 grams perhead/day FPKM (FPKM, probiotics Bacillus spp. and mollases). The cows were given TMR daily which consisted of 20 kg per headof fresh Napier grass, 5 kg per head palm kernel meal, 1 kg per head soya bean meal, 1 kg per head corn, 0.5 kg per head molassesand 0.5 kg per head of enalac. Feeding trial period was carried out for four weeks. Feed was given twice a day, morning and lateafternoon, meanwhile water was given adlibitum. Animals were given the same diet for seven days for an adaptation period.Milk was sampled twice a day for four weeks and were recorded accordingly. The average of daily and weekly milk productionwere calculated. The animals from Group B showed an improvement of milk production before trial to the fourth week from 5.2litres/head/day to 6.99 litres/head/day i.e. 14.80% to 34.44% as compared to Group A.

This study was conductedon raw cow’s milk collected in seven statesof Malaysia to investigate the compositionof minerals and trace elements in the milk.Raw cow’s milk samples were collectedfrom Kedah, Perak, Johor, Melaka,Pahang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilanfrom January to November 2015. ICPMStechnique combined with microwavedigestion were applied to determine theconcentration of five major minerals (Na,Mg, K, Ca and P) and eleven trace elements(Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, Mo,Baand Pb) in the milk samples. The resultof analysis showed relatively constantcomposition of minerals and trace elementsin the samples but some variations wereobserved in certain states. Application ofprincipal component analysis (PCA) in thecomposition data showed different clusterexists between the states of Selangor andNegeri Sembilan as well as Kedah andNegeri Sembilan. There is no significantdifference observed in the compositionsof minerals and trace elements betweenother states. The compositions of mineralsand trace elements in raw cow’s milk inMalaysia are comparable with reports fromother research. Further studies can be doneto investigate the source of nutrient, foodor environmental condition that producedthe amounts of minerals and trace elementsin the milk.

Objectives: The rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus in dairy milk products is a global concern, compromising treatment efficacy and highlighting the need for innovative solutions. Therefore, a study was conducted to isolate S. aureus strains (N = 21) from raw milk samples of cows infected with subclinical bovine mastitis. Additionally, the resistance of these strains against 12 different antibiotics was examined. Materials and Methods: Sixty raw cow milk samples, 20 from each of three separate dairy farms in Lahore city, were collected and screened for the presence of S. aureus. It was discovered that 70% of these milk samples were contaminated with this bacterium, indicating a widespread presence across the farms. Different isolation tests were employed in this study, including gram staining, capsule staining, catalase, mannitol salt fermentation, DNase, coagulase, and oxidase. Results: The obtained results revealed that the isolated strains of S. aureus showed % of their resistance against different antibiotics in the order of amoxicillin (85%), penicillin (71%), gentamicin (CN) (42%), carbenicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (33%), streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, and oxytetracycline (28%), cefotaxime (10%), and chloramphenicol (4%) in decreasing order, respectively. However, these strains showed no resistance against Bacitracin and Ampicillin. Conclusion: The existence of resistant strains of S. aureus has been attributed to various factors, such as poor milk hygiene, delayed milk transportation, subclinical bovine mastitis among dairy cows, and antibiotic-resistant genes. Thus, our present study will provide useful information about the resistant strains of S. aureus, which may transfer through cows into milk and then produce serious food-borne diseases in human beings. This study will be helpful to improve and control the quality of dairy products in Pakistan. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2025; 12(1.000): 252-259]

Objective: This study was conducted to assess hygienic cow milk handling practices of milk producers, traders (informal collectors, transporters and vendors) and consumers across the milk supply chain in the Eastern Ethiopia. Materials and methods: A total of 160 milk producers in Babile district were selected using multistage stratified sampling technique. Moreover, a total of 54 milk collectors and transporters (5, 40, 9 from Jigjiga, Harar and Dire Dawa town, respectively), 152 vendors (40 from Bable, Harar and Dire Dawa town and 32 from Jigjiga town) and 160 consumers (40 from each town) were selected using snowball sampling technique. Data from the selected actors were collected using focus group discussion, questionnaire survey and observations. Results: The study revealed that the majority of milk handling operations in the study area is carried out by females. The majority of respondent milk producers (87.5-92.5%), collectors and transporters (88.9-100%), vendors (77.5-90.7%) and some consumers (37.5-47.5%) performing milk handling operations were illiterate. Most of the observed actors in the study area perform malpractices (such as failure to stop milk handling while showing disease symptoms, improper hand washing and handling of risk factors) while working with milk. Majority of respondent milk producers (87.5-97.5%), all traders and some consumers (12.5-32.5%) use plastic containers for milk handling. Milk handling equipments were commonly washed using warm water, detergent and sand; however, in most case they were not properly protected from risk factors after washing. Majority of respondent milk producers (55-65%), collectors and transporters (60-66.7%), and some vendors (0-50%) and consumers (0-55%) use water from non-tap sources for hygienic practices. Conclusion: In general; the findings indicated that milk handling practices performed across the supply chain in the study area were unhygienic and therefore suggested the need for improving hygienic practices. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2016; 3(2.000): 112-126]

Investigation of peculiar features of productive and reproductive qualities (milk producing ability; reproductive qualities; live weight at different ages) of milking cows of white-and-black breed was realized in the conditions of CJSC Lipovtsy of Vitebsk region of the Republic of Belarus. On the basis of obtained results there was calculated the selective differential of milk yield and butter-fat yielding capacity which were increased by means of maternal and father's cattle; genetic progress through selection in reliance on generation and target standard for the analyzed herd, as well as the minimal requirements to first-calf heifer productivity.Research results showed that average milk yield in the analyzed herd was 5204 kg with average butterfat percentage 3,59%; for first-calf heifers – 4838 kg with butter-fat yield of 3,47%. Productivity of first-calf heifers and cows was higher than the standard valuation requirements to milk yield on 1350-1588 kg

Factors which increased milk productivity (age and continuance of service period) were studied in the conditions of an educational establishment of the Republic of Belarus by an example of cows of black-and-white breed. Dynamics of growth of milk productivity in course of 8 research years was presented. Analysis of interrelation between cow productivity and cow age was given. Mathematical calculation of relations between cow productivity indexes (milk yield, fat content, butter fat) and service period duration was given. Research results showed that increasing of an average term of economic use of cows and decreasing of duration of service period up to 90 days made it possible to increase dairy effiiemcy and herd reproduction, as well as obtain higher economic efficiency