Serkan Ozkaya

Accuracy of body measurements using digital image analysis in female Holstein calves

The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of body measurements (BM) in Holstein female calves using digital image analysis. BM including body length, wither height, chest depth, hip height, and hip width of calves were recorded by stick and tape measurements at birth, weaning and 24 weeks of age. Then photos of calves were taken while calves were standing in a squeeze chute by a digital camera and were analysed by image analysis software to obtain BM of each calf from the image in centimetres. After comparing the actual and predicted BM, the accuracy was determined as 71, 97 and 99% for body length, 69, 87 and 99% for wither height, 43, 98 and 99% for chest depth, 74, 99 and 99% for hip height and 53, 99 and 98% for hip width at birth, weaning and 24 weeks of age, respectively. The difference between actual and predicted BM was significant at birth (P 0.01). According to these results, the BM estimation of Holstein female calves using digital image analysis produced high prediction accuracy at weaning and 24 weeks of age, but not at birth. The data presented in this study indicate that the digital image analysis provides very close agreement and reality for prediction of BM of Holstein female calves.

Body Weight Prediction Using Digital Image Analysis for Slaughtered Beef Cattle

Abstract Bozkurt, Y., Aktan, S. and Ozkaya, S. 2007. Body weight prediction using digital image analysis for slaughtered beef cattle. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 32: 195–198. To predict body weight of beef cattle using traditional methods and digital image analysis system, 140 animals were used and prediction models were developed. The R2 values of prediction equations were 52.1, 63.6, 53.2, 47.1, 43.1 and 49.8% for body area, body length, wither height, hip height, hip width and chest depth, respectively. The regression equations which included only body area, body length or wither height showed that the prediction ability of digital image analysis system was better than the equations including other body traits. The results showed that the prediction ability of digital image analysis system was very promising to predict body weight.

Effect of dietary formic acid on the in vitro ruminal fermentation parameters of barley-based concentrated mix feed of beef cattle

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the effect of 0 (FA0) and 1, 2, 4 or 8 mL/kg (FA1, FA2, FA4 and FA8) formic acid addition to barley-based concentrated mix feed on in vitro gas kinetics [gas production from quickly soluble fraction (agas), gas production constant rate (cgas), gas production of insoluble fraction (bgas), potential gas production (a + b)gas], methane production, organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolic energy (ME), net energy lactation (NEL), pH, ammonia-N, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), total bacteria count and number of ciliate protozoa. The in vitro cumulative gas production, cgas, bgas, (a + b)gas, ME, NEL and OMD values and ammonia-N concentration were decreased by formic acid (P < .05). Formic acid supplementation increased in vitro methane production up to about 12% (P < .05). Total bacteria count and number of protozoa and molar concentrations of total VFAs, acetic, propionic and butyric acids decreased with formic acid supplementation (P < .001). The numbers of Isotricha spp. and Dasytricha spp. increased with high formic acid (P < .001). The numbers of Diplodiniinae and Entodiniinae decreased in FA4 and FA8 groups (P < .05). The results indicated that formic acid addition to feed decreased ruminal microbiota count, digestibility, proteolysis and molar VFA values also increased ruminal methane emission. Besides, formic acid supplementation could increase energy loss during ruminal fermentation of feed.

Ruminal digestibility, microbial count, volatile fatty acids and gas kinetics of alternative forage sources for arid and semi-arid areas as in vitro

Abstract Atriplex (Atriplex patula) and plantago (Plantago lanceolata) species are commonly found in grasslands which have arid and semi-arid climatic conditions. The aim of the study was to make comparison of atriplex, plantago and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) herbages in terms of nutrient matter content, gas kinetics, methane production, estimated digestion parameters, ammonia-N, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), total bacteria count and numbers of protozoa. In vitro gas production was carried out for up to 96 h by using the in vitro digestion technique. The molar total VFAs, metabolic energy (ME), net energy lactation (NEL), and organic matter digestibility (OMD) levels, count of total bacteria, number of total ciliate and number of Dasytricha sp., Diplodiniinae and Entodiniinae did not show significant differences between alfalfa and the alternative forages (p >.05). In vitro methane production of atriplex herbage was higher than that of plantago herbage (p <.01). The ruminal ammonia-N concentration of plantago herbage was lower than those of atriplex and alfalfa herbages (p <.001). The individual molar proportions of propionic acid of alfalfa herbage were higher than those of the other forages (p <.001). The results of the present experiment confirmed that A. patula and P. lanceolata, which are appropriate for the flora of the Mediterranean region, can be used as alternative good quality forage plants to alfalfa hay for grazing animals.

Estimation of bodyweight from body measurements and determination of body measurements on Limousin cattle using digital image analysis

The objective of this study was to predict bodyweight and estimate body measurements of Limousin cattle using digital image analysis (DIA). Body measurements including body length, wither height, chest depth, and hip height of cattle were determined both manually (by measurements stick) and by using DIA. Body area was determined by using DIA. The images of Limousin cattle were taken while cattle were standing in a squeeze chute by a digital camera and analysed by image analysis software to obtain body measurements of each animal. While comparing the actual and predicted body measurements, the accuracy was determined as 98% for wither height, 97% for hip height, 94% for chest depth and 90.6% for body length. Regression analysis between body area and bodyweight yielded an equation with R2 of 61.5%. The regression equation, which included all body traits, resulted in an R2 value of 88.7%. The results indicated that DIA can be used for accurate prediction of body measurements and bodyweight of Limousin cattle.

Prediction possibility of milk yield from udder measurements using digital image analysis on holstein cows

A photographic survey of 43 multiparous lactating cows was carried out by recording the images between morning and evening milking time (around noon time) using digital camera from posterior angle. Images were then processed using Image Tools V.3.00 software to determine Udder measurements (UMs) of cows from the images in centimetres. The linear parameters recorded were rear udder depth (UD), rear udder width (UW) and rear udder area (UA). Regression analysis of milk yield on each of the independent variables was performed. Regression coefficients, for all UMs, taken together were 65.5%. The single regression coefficients were 23.0, 0.2 and 61.0for UD, UW and UA, respectively. The correlation coefficients between milk yield and UD, UW and UA were 0.48 (P >0.05), 0.04 (P >0.05) and 0.78 (P <0.05), respectively. The results showed that, the milk yieldof cows could be predicted using digital image, using udder area as a parameter. However, the prediction possibility was higher when all UMs were used.

The use of data mining techniques for analysing factors affecting cow reactivity during milking

Motor activity of 158 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows was evaluated 5 times (before and during milking in a DeLaval 2*10 milking parlour) for both the morning and evening milking, on a 5-point scale, according to the method of Budzynska et al. (2007). The statistical analysis used multiple logistic regression and classification trees (Enterprise Miner 7.1 software which comes in with SAS package). In the evaluation of motor activity, cows that were among the first ten to enter the milking parlour were more often given a score of 3 points before (11.5%) and during milking (23.5%) compared to the other cows. Cows’ activity tended to decrease (both before and during milking) with advancing lactation. The cows’ reduced activity was accompanied by shorter teat cup attachment times and lower milk yields. The criteria calculated for the quality of models based on classification tree technique as well as logistic regression showed that similar variables were responsible for the reactivity of cows before milking (teat cup attachment time, day of lactation, number of lactation, side of the milking parlour) and during milking (day of lactation, side of the milking parlour, morning or evening milking, milk yield, number of lactation). At the same time, the applied methods showed that the determinants of the cow reactivity trait are highly complex. This complexity may be well explained using the classification tree technique.

Effect of supplementing milk replacer with aromatic oregano (Oreganum onites L.) water on performance, immunity and general health profiles of Holstein calves

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of supplementing milk replacer (MR) with aromatic oregano (Origanum onite L.) water on weaning age, performance during the pre- and post-weaning periods, immune systems, blood parameters and general health of 40 Holstein Friesian calves. The calves fed with oregano water (OW)-supplemented MR were weaned earlier than those in the Control group. There were no statistical differences in the liveweight and body measurements among the groups at the weaning age and post-weaning period. The feed intake of the calves fed with OW was higher than that of calves in the Control group in the pre-weaning period. The OW supplementation significantly increased the faecal firmness of calves (P < 0.05). It also decreased the number of E. coli, Coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae pathogens, but only the amount of Enterobacteriaceae was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Non-pathogens, such as Lactic acid bacteria, were not affected by OW supplementation. The OW supplementation had no significant effect on hematologic and biochemical blood values. There was significant interaction between age and groups in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (P < 0.05). The immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM) values of calves were steadily higher than those of the calves in the Control group. The general health profiles of the calves improved. It can be concluded that MR containing 1–2% OW fed to calves in the early weaning period is a promising treatment to improve their wellbeing and shorten the weaning period.

Comparison of two different milk feeding schedules on growth performance of holstein calves during the pre-weaning period

The objective of this study was to investigate the comparison of two different milk feeding schedules on growth performance of Holstein calves. Fourteen Holstein calves were housed in individual boxes. Calves were divided into 2 groups (n= 7); first group was fed with whole milk with the amount of 10% of their body weight (Conventional Milk Feeding Program= CFP), while second group was fed with whole milk adjusted weekly according to their body weight (Adjusted Weekly Feeding Program= AFP), started from 7%. The experiment was applied on 4-days-old calves after colostrum feeding and weaned while calves were 56 days old. Final BW was found very close in each group (59.13± 1.15vs 57.38± 1.05 kg, respectively in CFP and AFP). Starter DMI was numerically greater in CFP compared to AFP during the pre-weaning period (0.860 ± 0.16 vs 0.754 ± 0.16 kg/d, respectively). Body measurements (BMs) were similar during the pre-weaning period in each group excluding Chest Girth (CG). Although the numerical differences were found among groups BW, BMs, Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and Fecal score, these differences were not significant. The calves’ performance and health were not affected by the level of milk feeding during the pre-weaning period.