ABSTRACT: Nine lactating cows fed a total mixed ration (TMR) were assigned to three 3 × 3 Latin squares with 20-day periods to evaluate the effects of access time to fresh forage (FF) on behaviour and dry matter intake rate (DMIR). Forage (Lolium multiflorum) was cut daily and individually offered from 0800 h for 0 (T0), 4 (T4) or 8 (T8) hours of daily access, and a TMR was offered during the remaining time. Treatments had no effect on the average proportion of time spent eating or ruminating.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effects that parity may have on production, reproduction and the metabolic status of Holstein cows managed in a production system based on total mixed ration and pasture. Primiparous (n?=?22) and multiparous (n?=?24) cows from a dairy farm research station in Uruguay were used in a completely randomized design. Body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and backfat thickness (BFT) were recorded weekly from ?30 to 70 days postpartum. Milk production was measured daily, and milk composition was determined weekly.

Esta publicación es una actualización de la editada en 2015; reúne artículos realizados por técnicos del Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA) y el Instituto Plan Agropecuario (IPA) orientados a brindar información y alternativas tecnológicas para enfrentar situaciones de crisis forrajera.

Abstract. Aim:To analyze group A rotavirus (RVA) environmental contamination in waters used for calves? consumption and to assess viral viability in dairy farm water sources. Methods and Results:We analyzed 202 samples of water used for calves? consumption and RVA was detected by RT-qPCR in 35.1% (95%CI:28.9?42.0%). A marked pattern of seasonality was observed with higher frequency of detection in colder than warmer months (p=0.002). There was no association between viral load and season or between the number of milking cows in the herd and the detection of RVA in the farm.