Records representing data from 1,500 barren Holstein cows over an 8-yr period from a large commercial dairy farm in northern Mexico were analyzed to determine the effects of lactation number and season and year of initiation of lactation on milk production of cows induced hormonally into lactation and treated with recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) throughout lactation. Peak and 305-d milk yields were also assessed as predictors of total milk yield in cows induced into lactation. A significant quadratic relationship was found between 305-d milk yield and number of lactation [7,607±145 and 9,548±181 kg for first- and ≥6-lactation cows, respectively; mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM)] with the highest production occurring in the fifth lactation. Total milk yields of cows with ≤2 lactations were approximately 4,500 kg less than milk yields of adult cows (the overall average ± standard milk yield was 13,544±5,491 kg per lactation and the average lactation length was 454±154 d). Moreover, 305-d milk production was depressed in cows induced into lactation in spring (8,804±153 kg; mean ± SEM) and summer (8,724±163 kg) than in fall (9,079±151 kg) and winter (9,085±143 kg). Partial regression coefficients for 305-d milk yield and peak milk yield indicated an increment of 157 kg of milk per lactation per 1-kg increase in peak milk yield (r(2)=0.69). Neither peak milk yield (r(2)=0.18) nor 305-d milk yield (r(2)=0.29) was accurate for predicting total milk yield per lactation. Year, parity, and season effects had significant influence on milk yield of cows induced into lactation and treated with rbST throughout lactation, and peak milk yield can assist in the prediction of 305-d milk yield but not total milk yield. This study also showed that hormonal induction of lactation in barren high-yielding cows is a reliable, practical, and affordable technique in countries where rbST treatment and prolonged steroid administration of dairy cows are legally permitted.

The use of yeasts for the production of proteases has increased in demand in recent years. Y. lipolytica has been reported as a strain with high yields of protease production. This work aimed to evaluate the impact of pH and temperature on the production of proteases using Y. lipolytica in solid-state fermentation (SSF). Soybean, canola meal, cottonseed meal, and sesame meal wastes were used as nutrient sources at seven pH levels (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) and five temperatures (25, 30, 35, 40, 45 °C). The waste source and optimal conditions for maximum enzyme production (EP) were obtained by Box–Benhken design. The results revealed that at pH of 7, temperature of 30 °C, and for 48 h cultivation period, canola meal showed the best EP with 188.75 U/L, followed by soybean with 117.07 U/L, cottonseed meal with 66.71 U/L, and sesame with the lowest production, reaching 88.5 U/L up to 35 °C. The temperature factor exhibited the greatest effect on protease production. The biotechnological and economic potential of canola meal in the production of enzymes is highlighted.