Industrial fruit by-products are now being utilized as animal feeds for several reasons. They may substitute the conventional cereal feeds, and also offer economic and environmental benefits. One of the most important industrial fruit by-products is apple pomace, which can be used as a source of energy in the ration of ruminant species, including dairy cattle. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of feeding dried apple pomace to dairy cattle on ruminal fermentation, fatty acid concentration, microbial populations, and methane production. The experiment lasted 64 days and was conducted with 4 cannulated commercial dairy cows. The control animals received a standard diet, while the experimental animals was fed a standard diet supplemented with 150 g/kg DM dried apple pomace. Ruminal fluid samples were collected at three different time intervals. The samples were obtained at 0-, 3-, and 6-h post-feeding. The ruminal fluid was used to assess the ammonia concentration, pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA), long-chain fatty acids (FA), microbial population. A number of ruminal fermentation variables changed as a result of the addition of dried apple pomace to the standard diet. Ruminal pH slightly increased (p < 0.01) while the ammonia concentration decreased (p < 0.01) by 46%. There was a significant decrease in total protozoa count (p < 0.01) and an increase (p < 0.01) in total volatile fatty acids. In addition, there was a decline in methane emission (p = 0.05) by 8% due to dried apple pomace feeding. To sum up, this study demonstrated a positive effect of 150 g/kg DM dietary dried apple pomace on ruminal metabolism including a decrease in ammonia concentration and methane emissions, alongside with an increase in total ruminal VFAs, higher nutrient digestibility, and milk production. Also, beneficial changes to the ruminal fatty acid profile resulting from reduced biohydrogenation were observed although a decreased content of the C18:2 cis 9 trans 11 isomer was also noticed. The dietary inclusion of DAP can serve as a valuable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly dietary component for dairy cows.

The aim of the research was to evaluate lactose content and rheological, physical, chemical, and organoleptic parameters during the storage of fermented beverages made from sheep’s milk. The research was carried out on natural, probiotic, and Greek-type yogurts, as well as kefir. The products were made using the thermostat method from the milk of 42 East Frisian sheep in the middle lactation period, in duplicate. Lactose contents, active and titratable acidity, color by the L*a*b*C*h* system, and rheological parameters (hardness, consistency, consistency, and viscosity) were tested, and organoleptic assessments were carried out on the first, seventh, fourteenth, and twenty-first days of storing the drinks at 4 °C. Of all drinks, the highest reduction in lactose after 21 days of storage was found to occur in kefir (52% reduction) and, among the yogurts, in the Greek yogurt (41% reduction). The product with the lowest lactose content, regardless of the storage period, was kefir. This indicates that kefir is more suitable than yogurt for people with partial lactose intolerance. Effects of both inoculation type and beverage storage time were shown to exist for all parameters. It was also found that kefirs suffered deterioration in most rheological parameters and, in general organoleptic evaluation in the final period of storage. Based on our analysis, the optimal storage time for natural yogurts and sheep’s milk kefirs at 4 °C was 21 and 14 days, respectively.

This study was carried out on 26 adult water (river) buffaloes (25 females and 1 male) imported in 2006 to an eco-tourism farm in the Wielkopolska province, Poland. During the growing season, animals were kept on a logged pasture covering an area of about 15 ha. The pasture was divided into three approximately equal parts, each with a different facility available for wallowing; i.e. pond, drainage ditch and stream. Behavioural observations were carried out three times in July and August 2007 in approximately 14-d intervals, each time during one day on a different part of the pasture, always between 06.00 and 16.00. The method of registration was instantaneous scan sampling, performed at approximately 60 min intervals. On the days of observations mean daily temperature varied from 20.2 to 20.8 °C. Grazing was the behaviour shown by the highest percentage of animals in the herd (58.6%), followed by rumination (28.2%), lying down (26.5%), wallowing (12.9%) and standing (1.4%). When they had access to a pond or ditch, the proportion of animals wallowing was twice as much compared to stream access (P<0.05). It was concluded that the welfare of the investigated buffaloes was not compromised during the high summer temperatures that can be encountered in Poland. Results also indicate that the highest level of welfare can be reached in this time of year when animals are provided with access to ample facility for wallowing. Under our climatic conditions facilities with still or slowly moving water appeared to be preferred by river buffaloes. However, this study has a limitation which is short period of observation, thus it is possible that a longer and more representative period of observations could change these conclusions.

The aim of this work was to determine the dependency between polymorphism in the PIT-1 and fertility rates, body weight of cows and calves, the course of parturition and viability of calves in Polish Black-and-White Holstein-Friesian cattle. The analysis included 1024 cows and 3663 calves of the Polish Black-and-White Holstein-Friesian breed (phf). The study included an analysis of one polymorphic place PIT-1 (c.1178G>A). The source data used to calculate the indicators of reproduction were collected from cows inseminated by semen of Black-and-White Holstein-Friesian bulls and giving birth to single calf. The following information was taken from each animal: age at first insemination, age at first calving, number of semen portions attributable to successful insemination, length of pregnancy and periods of: insemination service, postpartum resting period, interpregnancy period and intercalving period. The study also determined weight of the cow and weight of the calf at calving (including gender). Statistical calculations were performed using the statistical package SAS v.9.3. The following procedures were used: MEANS and GLM. In black and white Holstein-Fresian cattle there is genetic variety in analysed locus c.1178G>A gene PIT-1. Frequency of genotypes and alleles was respectively: AA=0.0469, AG=0.3154, GG=0.6377, A = 0.2046 and G = 0.7954. AA homozygotes had the highest age at first insemination and the lowest insemination index. Cows with this genotype after calving and calves (both gender) from AA homozygotes had the biggest weight after calving. In contrast GG homozygotes had the longest intercalving period. The results prove the existence of dependencies between genu PIT-1 gene polymorphism in locus c.1178G>A, reproductive potential and body weight of cows and calves. More favorable results were observed in AA homozygotes. It is possible to use these dependencies in genetic selection of farm animals. In order to confirm the obtained results it would be advisable to conduct studies in a larger population of cows with consideration of other breeds.

Factors Associated with Hygienic Quality of Bulk Tank Milk Produced in Central PolandThe aim of this study was a complex analysis of organizational and technological factors affecting somatic cell count (SCC) and total microorganism count (SPC) in bulk tank milk produced in the area of Łódź Voivodeship. The study was conducted on the basis of a questionnaire completed directly in 205 family farms, maintaining Polish Black-and-White Holstein-Friesian cows. The data were analysed statistically using multifactor analysis of variance. The following factors decreased SCC in milk: application of mechanical ventilation in the cowshed; disinfection of stalls for cows; frequent inspection of milking equipment efficiency by a specialized service (twice vs. once a year); application of manual pre-milking udder massage; dry period of a standard length of 6-8 weeks (vs. 2-5 weeks); application of concentrates in amounts of at least 3 kg/day/cow; application of meadow hay and straw or hay only among roughages in cow feeding (vs. straw only); addition of vitamin E and Cu to feeding ration for cows and individual housing of replacement heifers between 1-3 months of age (vs. group system). In turn, the following factors decreased SPC: participation of milkers in specialist trainings; cleaning of teats before milking using wet towel or washing with water containing a disinfectant; "dry" storage of milking equipment between milkings; culling of cows due to mastitis; application of vitamin A and Zn; no use of milk from mastitic cows in calf feeding; and individual housing of replacement heifers during the first month of life.

The aim of this work was to determine the dependency between polymorphism in the PRL locus g.8398G > A and fertility rates, bodyweight of cows and calves, the course of parturition and viability of calves in Polish Black-and-White Holstein-Friesian cattle. Three genotypes (AA, AG, and GG) were identified with a frequency of 0.0293, 0.3672 and 0.6035. The frequency of the G and A alleles was respectively, 0.7871 and 0.2129. There was a significant dependency between the genetic variant in locus g.8398G > A of the PRL gene and age at first insemination, age at first calving, insemination index, length of pregnancy, length of the dry period and weight of male calves after parturition. The AA homozygotes were characterized by more favorable values of selected reproduction indices; the cows of that genotype and male calves coming from these animals were characterized by the lowest weight after parturition.