Kiichi Fukuyama

Measurement of Udder Surface Temperature in Cows Using Infrared Thermometer

A total of 28 cows in various stages of lactation were used in this study. Measurement of surface of the udder temperature was carried out using infrared thermometer (IRT), totalizing 400 measurements. Differences of temperature between animals infected and uninfected with mastitis, breeds, number of parturition and hind quarters of the udder were examined. Surface temperature of the left part of the udder was significantly higher than that of the right part of the udder in dairy cows. Udder temperature in Jersey cows was significantly higher than that of Holstein cows. The udder temperature at 9:00 was lower than the others. IRT equipment is easy to handle and quick to measure the body temperature of animals in the field. Future development of ICT system such as alerting the producer potential problem animals, by using automated IRT scanning mechanism, would be a helpful and effective method to improve livestock productivity.

Short-term grazing behavior of cattle under indoor housing for a new-bred tetraploid ruzigrass (Brachiaria ruziziensis German et Everard)

Objective The preference evaluation of cattle is an important factor for estimation and improvement of the grazing amounts of newly introduced or bred grasses or cultivars in barn. This study was performed to assess the grazing behavior (the amount of grazing and/or the grazing speed) of cattle as indirect method using newly bred Brachiaria ruziziensis tetraploid strain ‘OKI-1’(BR) hay as treatment group and Cloris gayana ‘Callide’ (CG) hay as control group. It also compared the feasibility of using behavioral differences between two groups as one criteria for evaluating preference by Japanese black cattle in barn. Methods Three experiments were carried out using 12 growing Japanese Black cattle including 6 males and 6 females. In each experiment, the four Japanese Black cattle (2 males and 2 females) were placed in separated stall and allowed to graze BR and CG in manger that was separated into two portions for about 30 min. The position and behavior of the cattle were recorded, and weighed the residual of each gay at 15 and 30 minutes after experiment start. Results The BR was superior to CG in chemical composition such as protein, fibers and non-fibrous carbohydrate. The cattle, over all, tended to prefer BR over CG in the first half 15 minutes in terms of the time spent and amount of grazing. Additionally, growing cattle exhibited neophilia for BR bred newly. Conclusion These findings indicated the current approach could be applied for one of criteria to evaluate the preference of hay by Japanese black cattle under indoor housing environment.

Effects of AI protocol and time interval from onset of estrus to AI on conception rate in Japanese Black cows

Two different artificial insemination (AI) protocols were investigated to determine the effect of the time interval from the onset of estrus (as detected by a pedometer) to the AI on the conception rate in Japanese Black cows. Seventy-three cows were divided into two groups that received AI either after the induction of synchronized ovulation (synchronized AI group; n = 26) or at the time of observed estrus (control AI group; n = 47). Each group was further divided into two subgroups, which were artificially inseminated either 0-12 h (early AI group; n = 21) or 12-24 h (late AI group; n = 52) after the onset of estrus. There was no significant difference in the conception rate between the synchronized AI and control AI groups. The AI protocol and the detection of estrus using a threshold of counted steps (as measured by a pedometer) in this study could be effective for planned reproduction management without the observation of standing estrus in Japanese Black cows.