The objective was to study the effect of dry period length in dairy cows on immunoglobulin content and natural antibodies (NAb) titers in colostrum, growth, and plasma natural and specific antibody titers in plasma of calves. Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n=167) were randomly assigned to 3 dry period lengths (0, 30, or 60 d). Colostrum production, concentration of colostrum IgG and IgM, and titers of NAb (isotypes IgG and IgM) binding keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and human serum albumin (HuSA) in colostrum were measured. Female calves were immunized with both KLH and HuSA at wk 6 and 10 of life. Titers of NAb and specific antibody (SpAb) for isotypes IgG, IgM, and total immunoglobulin (IgT) binding KLH or HuSA were determined in plasma of female calves. Primary and secondary antibody responses to KLH or HuSA from wk 6 and 10 were expressed as the increase in antibody titers to wk 10 and 11 of life after primary and secondary challenges, respectively. Pregnancy length for cows with a 0-d dry period was 3d shorter compared with cows with a 30- or 60-d dry period. Birth weight of calves from cows with a 0-d dry period was lower compared with calves from cows with a 30-d dry period. Growth of calves until 12wk of life was not affected by dry period length. Colostrum production and IgG and IgM concentration in colostrum were lower for cows with a 0-d dry period than a 60-d dry period. Natural IgG and IgM titers binding KLH or HuSA were lower in colostrum from cows with a 0-d dry period compared with cows with a 60-d dry period. Natural antibody titers (IgG, IgM, and IgT) binding KLH or HuSA in plasma were lower during the first 2wk of life for calves from cows with a 0-d dry period compared with calves from cows with a 30- or 60-d dry period. After primary and secondary immunization of calves with KLH and HuSA, SpAb titers of calves were not affected by dry period length. After secondary immunization, the response of IgG and IgT binding KLH was higher in plasma of calves from cows with a 0-d dry period. The results of this study demonstrate that, although omission of the dry period of dairy cows leads to lower plasma NAb titers in calves during the first 2wk of life, SpAb titers in calves were not affected and even the secondary antibody responses were enhanced compared with calves from cows with a 30- or 60-d dry period.

There is a lack of awareness and understanding of how to manage waste effectively in Indonesia, especially in coastal rural areas. This paper discusses the important issues in waste management and proposes effective waste management practices in Indonesia. This paper also provides a case study involving the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the waste bank project in Pangandaran, Indonesia, and its impact on the community, reflected by the perceptions of its operators and customers, which was achieved through several questionnaires. The results showed that waste banks are a viable option to manage waste in Pangandaran. This is based on the finding that waste banks have created employment opportunities and raised awareness among the community about how to manage waste effectively. The waste bank also enables its members to earn income from recycling, which provides benefits to the community and encourages further participation in the waste bank program. The most important finding is that community-based projects can provide engagement-generating value to communities and can be sustainably run by the community independently and in the long term. Nevertheless, the success and operational sustainability of waste banks are affected by many factors, hence endorsement from municipal authorities, non-profit entities, corporations, and additional interested parties is needed.

Negative energy balance in dairy cows in early lactation has been associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress in these cows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dry period (DP) length and dietary energy source on inflammatory biomarkers and oxidative stress in dairy cows. Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (60 primiparous and 107 multiparous) were assigned randomly to a 3 × 2 factorial design with 3 DP length (0, 30, or 60 d) and 2 early lactation rations (glucogenic or lipogenic). Cows were fed a glucogenic or lipogenic ration from 10 d before the expected calving date. Blood was collected in wk -3, -2, -1, 1, 2, and 4 relative to calving. Dry period length affected inflammatory biomarkers and oxidative stress, especially in wk 1 and 2 after calving. Cows with a 0-d DP had higher levels of ceruloplasmin, cholesterol, and reactive oxygen metabolites, and they tended to have higher haptoglobin levels compared with cows with a 30- or 60-d DP. Cows with a 0-d DP had a lower plasma paraoxonase and bilirubin in the first 2 wk after calving and a lower liver functionality index compared with cows with a 60-d DP. Cows of parity >3 fed a glucogenic ration had higher cholesterol levels compared with cows of parity >3 fed a lipogenic ration. No interaction between DP length and ration was present for inflammatory biomarkers or oxidative stress variables. Plasma bilirubin levels for cows with a 0-d DP were negatively related to energy balance and metabolic status in these cows. Moreover, occurrence of clinical health problems (fever, mastitis, metritis, and retained placenta) was 41, 27, and 30% for cows with 0-, 30-, and 60-d DP, respectively. High levels of ceruloplasmin, cholesterol, and reactive oxygen metabolites in cows with 0-d DP were related to the occurrence of health problems in these cows. In conclusion, omitting the DP increased levels of ceruloplasmin, cholesterol, and reactive oxygen metabolites, and decreased levels of bilirubin and paraoxonase in plasma, independent of ration, compared with cows with a 60-d DP. These contrasting effects of DP length on inflammatory status could be explained in part by the improved energy balance and occurrence of health problems in these cows, but was not related to increased somatic cell count in cows with a 0-d DP. Cows with a 0-d DP had better energy balance, but also had higher levels of oxidative stress compared with cows with a 60-d DP. Moreover, occurrence of health problems did not differ between cows with different DP lengths.

Natural autoantibodies (NAAb) have a role in maintaining physiological homeostasis and prevention of infections, and have been found in mammalian species tested so far. Albeit NAAb levels rise with age, little is known about the origin, function, regulation and initiation of NAAb in young animals. The present study addressed the presence of IgM and IgG NAAb binding glutamate dehydrogenase (GD), carbonic anhydrase (CA), myosin (MYO) and transferrin (TRANS) from before drinking colostrum until the first 12 weeks of life in plasma of female calves. In addition, NAAb to these four self-antigens were also measured in colostrum and in plasma of their mothers during three weeks before calving. Titers of NAAb binding GD, CA, MYO and TRANS were detected in plasma of cows before calving, in colostrum, and in plasma of calves before and after drinking of colostrum. Levels of NAAb in colostrum were positively related with levels of NAAb in plasma of cows. Before colostrum intake, levels of NAAb in plasma of calves were not related with levels of NAAb in plasma of their mother but were influenced by parity of their mother. After colostrum intake, levels of NAAb in plasma of calves in the first week of life were positively related with levels of NAAb in colostrum. Low NAAb levels in colostrum were related with low NAAb in plasma of calves in the first week of life, but after two weeks of life the relation between colostrum and plasma of calves was absent. In conclusion, NAAb are already present in the unborn calf, and levels of neonatal NAAb during the early weeks of life are affected by levels of maternal NAAb obtained via colostrum.

Wawasan peternak terhadap kebutuhan nutrien merupakan hal yang penting dalam peningkatan produktivitas ternak. Salah satui penyebab utama rendahnya ketersediaan nutrisi di dalam pakan dalam usaha pembibitan sapi potong di Indonesia adalah wawasan peternak akan manajemen pakan. Hal ini dapat berdampak pada terganggunya sistem pertahanan tubuh dan menurunnya tingkat produktivitas ternak. Pakan merupakan salah satu komponen penunjang utama dalam produksi peternakan dikarenakan 60-70% biaya produksi berasal dari pakan. Salah satu usaha untuk meningkatkan kandungan nutrisi dalam pakan lengkap untuk sapi perah adalah dengan mencari bahan pakan alternatif. Indigofera zollingeriana berpotensi untuk menjadi bahan pakan alternatif karena selain kandungan proteinnya yang tinggi (27,9%) juga dilengkapi oleh kandungan mineral kalsium (0,22%) dan fosfor (0,18%). Informasi ini dirasa perlu untuk dibagikan kepada masyarakat. Desa Kondangdjaja, Kecamatan Cijulang, Kabupaten Pangandaran adalah wilayah yang memiliki populasi sapi potong yang cukup signifikan di Kabupaten Pangandaran, Jawa Barat. Sebagai bentuk pembagian informasi, maka dilakukanlah kegiatan penyuluhan introduksi terhadap potensi manfaat Indigofera zollingeriana sebagai hijauan sumber protein pengganti sebagian konsentrat sapi potong di daerah tersebut. Tujuan dari kegiatan penyuluhan ini adalah meningkatkan pengetahuan peternak mengenai potensi manfaat Indigofera zollingeriana sebagai bahan pakan alternatif hijauan pengganti sebagian konsentrat. Kegiatan penyuluhan berhasil dilaksanakan dengan mencapai target luaran yaitu peternak dapat menjelaskan potensi manfaat dan metode pengembang biakan Indigofera zollingeriana sebagai salah satu hijauan sumber protein alternatif pengganti sebagian konsentrat.