1. Ensiling, in vitro rumen digestion and soaking in slurry altered the germination capacity of Rumex obtusifolius seedsAnastazija Gselman, Maksimiljan Brus, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: This study investigated whether the process of ensiling and in vitro digestion in rumen juice, as well as the response to soaking in pig or cattle slurry, affects the germination rate and germination energy of Rumex obtusifolius (broad-leaved dock) seeds. Seeds were subjected to different treatments (200 seeds each) in three experiments: (I) seed ensiling (8 weeks) followed by in vitro rumen digestion (24, 36 and 48 h); (II) the soaking of non-ensiled and ensiled seeds in cattle or pig slurry (2, 4 and 24 weeks); and (III) the in vitro rumen digestion (24, 36 and 48 h) of non-ensiled and ensiled seeds followed by soaking in cattle or pig slurry (24 weeks). The control treatment included untreated seed (0—non-ensiled seed; 0—no in vitro rumen digestion; and 0—no soaking in slurry). Germination tests (germination rate and germination energy) were then conducted in four replicates in the germination chamber under alternating day (20–35 °C for 14 h under light) and night conditions (17–20 °C for 10 h without light) at 75% relative humidity. Experiment I showed that ensiling significantly (p ≤ 0.001) reduced both the germination rate and germination energy of R. obtusifolius seeds. In addition, the length of in vitro digestion duration that the non-ensiled seeds were subjected to significantly (p ≤ 0.001) reduced their germination energy but not the total germination rate. However, the seeds that were subjected to the process of ensiling and in vitro digestion in the rumen lost their germination completely. The Experiment II investigated the effects of soaking non-ensiled seeds in slurry and showed that germination rates were comparable in pig and cattle slurry. Longer soaking times significantly reduced the germination rate, with no germination observed after 24 weeks. The Experiment III considered the combined effects of in vitro digestion and slurry soaking and showed that rumen digestion reduced the proportion of germinable seeds. Germination was inhibited in pig slurry, while in cattle slurry, a decreasing germination rate was observed with increasing digestion time.
Keywords: broad-leaved dock, in vitro rumen digestion, ensiling, pig and cattle slurry, seed germination
Published in DKUM: 05.04.2024; Views: 292; Downloads: 7
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2. Exposure to Cattle Slurry of Different Concentrations Influence Germination and Initial Growth of Selected Grass and Legume SpeciesAnastazija Gselman, Vilma Sem, Silva Grobelnik Mlakar, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: In addition to improving soil quality, the fertilisation of grassland with cattle slurry is often associated with seed dispersal. Most studies focus on the effects of cattle slurry on the germination and early development of weed species, but less is known about how slurry affects the germination process of grasses and forage legumes. The aim of Experiment I of our study was therefore to investigate the influence of soaking time in cattle slurry of different concentrations on Lolium multiflorum, Dactylis glomerata, Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens. Seeds were soaked in undiluted (100%) and diluted cattle slurries (50% and 25%) for 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days. Experiment II was conducted to study the initial growth of studied plants from seeds soaked in cattle slurry of different concentrations for 14 days. After the germination test, which was carried out under controlled conditions, the germination index (GI) was calculated. The results (Experiment I) show that a short soaking in cattle slurry (14 days) has no negative effect on the germination process for all species. However, a longer soaking resulted in significantly reduced and delayed germination, especially in undiluted slurry for grasses and diluted slurries for clovers. The slurry concentration (Experiment II) only influenced the root growth of L. multiflorum. Seedlings grown from seeds soaked in undiluted slurry had a 17% higher relative root length than the control and developed significantly longer root systems than the other two slurry concentrations.
Keywords: cattle slurry, soaking time, seed germination, initial plant growth, Lollium multiflorum, Dactylis glomerata, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens
Published in DKUM: 08.12.2023; Views: 462; Downloads: 21
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3. Techniques of measuring heart rate in cattleMarjan Janžekovič, Bogomir Muršec, Ignac Janžekovič, 2006, original scientific article Abstract: The intensive animal breeding systems can cause severe environment degradation. However, the highly productive animals are extremely sensitive to the environmental changes. The animal welfare can be in direct contradiction with the need for highly intensive and economically successful milk production. The research is aimed at complementing the method of establishing the stress in calves, race heifers, fattened cattle and milk-cows with different body masses. Measuring of heart rate is one of painless measurements of physiological parameters of stress and, from the point of view of animals it has many advantages over the measurements including taking of blood samples. For measuring the heart rate of different categories of cattle without interference into their body we have tested the usefulness of special apparatuses used worldwide by top sportsmen during training for following up, measuring and monitoring the heart rate. These are Polar monitors of the heart rate, made by Finnish company Polar Electro Oy and working wirelessly with ECG precision. The receiver counts the heart rate on the basis of pulse-to-pulse time average algorithms in 5, 15 or 60-second intervals. The computer interface ensures magnetic transfer of measured and saved data on animals into a PC where the analysis of each collected data file follows. The used type of transmitter "Polar sport tester profi" having two electrodes in an air-tight sealed frame has enabled us to obtain a good signal on calves of up to 180 kg body mass. Periodic response in case of young cattle of up to 280 kg body mass has been registered only if electrolyte was added between the animal skin and the feeler. By further modifications and tests of the mentioned apparatuses the expected response has been reached also on adult animals. We found that use of these apparatuses on animals did not have any influence on special animal acting behaviour. The production of milk and meat in herds did not change during the test.
Keywords: Polar monitors, modified apparatus, heart rate, cattle, measuring
Published in DKUM: 12.07.2017; Views: 1465; Downloads: 102
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4. The Influence of various origins of first calving Simmental and Black-White cows on production and content of milkMarjan Janžekovič, Dejan Škorjanc, Jože Smolinger, 2004, original scientific article Abstract: A total of 1 070 Simmental and Black-White first calving cows and the same number of mother cows were investigated. The first calving cows originally arrived from Slovenia, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. No statistically significant differences were established in the milk production and quality of milk between the first calving cows from abroad compared to the first calving Slovenian cows. Statistically significant higher milk production (8 004 ± 981 kg; P ≤0.001) had mother cows of the imported Black-White compared to the Slovene (6 514 ± 1 142 kg) ones. There were no statistically significant differences, in the milk production and quality of milk, between the imported mothers of first calving cows of Simmental breed comparing with Slovenian mothers of first calving cows of the same breed. The milk production between the mothers and their Simmental daughters had a statistically significant correlation (rp = 0.125; P ≤ 0.01). The higher correlation coefficient for this characteristic was established between the Black-White mothers and their daughters (rp = 0.302; P ≤ 0.001). Among the milk production of first calving cows and protein content in milk a statistically negative significant correlation (rp = -0.198; P ≤ 0.001) was established. This result confirmed that the purchase of more expensive animals with better genetic potential is economically unjustified for the breeder who does not reach intensive technology of basic quality voluminous fodder.
Keywords: cattle, Simmental, Black-White, milk production, protein, fat
Published in DKUM: 10.07.2017; Views: 1456; Downloads: 102
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5. Quality and delivery of milk in SloveniaMarjan Janžekovič, Maksimiljan Brus, Lidija Mužerlin, 2007, original scientific article Abstract: Milk production represents the possibility of earning monthly income and assures social security to many farms in Slovenia. In Slovenia the European rules and regulations on the quality of the delivered milk have been introduced, relating to the hygienic quality of milk and the count of somatic cells. The purchase price of the milk depends also on the protein and fat content. The aim of the research was to establish, whether the quality of the delivered milk complies with the prescriptions regulated by the Slovene legislation. The quality of the delivered milk in the area of the Šentjur agricultural cooperative (ACŠ) and in the entire area of Slovenia (SLO) has been studied. The bacteriological data in the individual quality classes, the data on the total count of somatic cels and the data on the fat and protein contents have been analyzed. 36 monthly accounts have been included in statistical processing. It has been established that the delivered milk of the areas in question does not differ in the relevant quality values.
Keywords: cattle, milk quality, fats, proteins, micro-organisms, somatic cells
Published in DKUM: 10.07.2017; Views: 1387; Downloads: 132
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