Breeding Production Recording Health And The Evaluation Of Farm Animals

"This publication focuses on the various aspects of domestic animal recording, aimed at improving the management of herds and increasing their productivity. New strategies for recording are illustrated and the most updated technologies are presented, on the basis of national experiences where such technologies are already adopted. Although cattle is the prominent species, two parts are dedicated to small ruminants recording and to buffalo recording. Future challenges and opportunities for further development of ICAR and the definition of the future scenarios in the animal recording sector are also described. A special section is dedicated to 'Improving the health traits by recording and evaluation', where the past and future of animal recording and the use of animal recording data for genetic evaluation and breeding are defined. Another section deals with the 'ICAR Reference Laboratory Network', where the reference systems, the principles and the practices for calibration system for routine milk testing are presented. The publication ends with the national statistics on the 'Yearly enquiry on the situation of milk recording in member countries' for the years 2003 and 2004. A total of 45 pages describes the methodologies used at national level for milk recording, the national data for milk production, the costs of recording and the productivity and numbers of recorded cattle at national level (divided by species and by herdbook)."

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The past decade has revealed unfavourable trends in e.g. fertility, udder health and locomotion in some major dairy cattle breeds due to a large increase in production and insufficient consideration of functional traits in the breeding goals. Such unfavourable trends in some functional traits increase costs. Additionally, the enlargement of herds leads to less available labour time per individual cow. This asks for cows that are easy to handle. At the same time, society is demanding a higher welfare standard of animals. These contradicting developments have increased the desire for so called more robust animals. Robustness can be defined as 'the ability to maintain homeostasis in commonly accepted and sustainable herds of the near future'; or 'the ability of the cow to function well in the environment she lives in as well as in a wide range of climates and production systems'. This book contains a series of articles (26) dealing with the concept of robustness, including aspects like evolution, genetics, environment, animal health and welfare, and integrity. Besides the major functional traits also the links to energy balance, hot climatic conditions, and the attitude and input of stakeholders towards robustness as part of the breeding program are discussed. This book is the first attempt to summarise the available knowledge concerning this topic in cattle, making this book unique. The contributions are from authors of 16 countries from all over the world. However, the focus is presently on farm animal level, while in future robustness of the whole production system may also require additional attention.

"This publication contains the proceedings of the 34th Biennial Session of the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) and the Interbull Meeting held in Sousse, Tunisia from 28th May to 3rd June 2004.The book is divided in five sessions, containing in total 50 technical papers and reports. One key session debates the traceability and all subjects involved in animal health recording. This publication also presents, for the first time, the statistics of the ""Yearly inquiry on the situation of milk recording in ICAR member countries. Results for the years 2001 and 2002"" are up-dated to April 2004. About 35 pages are devoted to national milk productions, their recording costs, position of milk recording and the results of milk recording divided by breeds and are presented in easy to read tables. The main topics covered in this book are: - the latest genetic improvement techniques for the global dairy industry; - the potential to create an international beef evaluation system; - presentation of advancing new technical standards for identification, performance testing, as well as a discussion of global priorities for livestock management; - new tools to improve the fertility of dairy cows. New technologies have always been important in ICAR forums for members to understand and discuss. In this conference electronic identification and measurement, DNA recording, and internet services were debated, with an exchange of experiences by the delegates. Finally, new strategies for potential new services for the ICAR member organisations were discussed. One such proposal was for an international benchmarking service for measuring and comparing the activities of ICAR organizations."

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THE ONLY SINGLE-SOURCE GUIDE TO THE LATEST SCIENCE, NUTRITION, AND APPLICATIONS OF ALL THE NON-BOVINE MILKS CONSUMED AROUND THE WORLD Featuring contributions by an international team of dairy and nutrition experts, this second edition of the popular Handbook of Milk of Non-Bovine Mammals provides comprehensive coverage of milk and dairy products derived from all non-bovine dairy species. Milks derived from domesticated dairy species other than the cow are an essential dietary component for many countries around the world. Especially in developing and under-developed countries, milks from secondary dairy species are essential sources of nutrition for the humanity. Due to the unavailability of cow milk and the low consumption of meat, the milks of non-bovine species such as goat, buffalo, sheep, horse, camel, Zebu, Yak, mare and reindeer are critical daily food sources of protein, phosphate and calcium. Furthermore, because of hypoallergenic properties of certain species milk including goats, mare and camel are increasingly recommended as substitutes in diets for those who suffer from cow milk allergies. This book: Discusses key aspects of non-bovine milk production, including raw milk production in various regions worldwide Describes the compositional, nutritional, therapeutic, physio-chemical, and microbiological characteristics of all non-bovine milks Addresses processing technologies as well as various approaches to the distribution and consumption of manufactured milk products Expounds characteristics of non-bovine species milks relative to those of human milk, including nutritional, allergenic, immunological, health and cultural factors. Features six new chapters, including one focusing on the use of non-bovine species milk components in the manufacture of infant formula products Thoroughly updated and revised to reflect the many advances that have occurred in the dairy industry since the publication of the acclaimed first edition, Handbook of Milk of Non-Bovine Mammals, 2nd Edition is an essential reference for dairy scientists, nutritionists, food chemists, animal scientists, allergy specialists, health professionals, and allied professionals.