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Collaborative project: Evaluation of welfare in dairy cattle - indicators for metabolism and feeding - subproject 1 (Indikuh)
Project
Project code: 2817905715
Contract period: 01.08.2016
- 31.03.2020
Budget: 376,784 Euro
Purpose of research: Experimental development
Subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) and subclinical ketosis represent significant challenges in welfare of dairy cattle. The integration of such aspects into welfare assessment systems is desirable, but the requirements for the respective indicators are comprehensive (simple and quick in application, but at the same time highly valid and robust). In the project, existing indicators will be evaluated and new will be investigated/developed. On several farms and one research farm, existing (e.g. fat/protein coefficient milk) and innovative indicators (fatty acid composition milk; breath gases) will be validated with direct indicators for SARA (average ruminal 24 h pH via boli) and ketosis (ß-hydroxybutyrate), including quantification of potential influencing factors. A further approach is the improvement of predictive power by use of indicator indices (combination of several indicators, like fat/protein coefficient plus manure evaluation). Results for existing indicators have the potential to be included into welfare assessment systems in the short run, while innovative indicators can improve the evaluation of metabolic problems of dairy cows significantly on a medium time scale. The project will start with a literature evaluation for existing indicators. After the evaluation of the method for rumen pH-measurement on the research farm, data collections will be done on the farms and indirect indicators will be validated with direct indicators (ruminal pH and ß-hydroxybutyrate). It will be tried to increase predictive power via combinations of several indicators. The suitability of breath gases for prediction of metabolic problems will be investigated on the research farm.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
- Animal nutrition
