In resource-constrained settings, pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls (PBW/G) are particularly vulnerable to undernutrition. Micronutrient-fortified balanced energy protein (BEP) supplementation may be provided to boost maternal nutritional status and improve birth and infant outcomes. We conducted a scoping review of the published literature to determine the impact of BEP and other related nutrition interventions that provided fortified food or cash along with a minimum of 3 micronutrients on maternal, birth, and infant/child outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. We conducted a PubMed search using pre-defined keywords and controlled vocabulary search terms. All titles and abstracts were reviewed for eligibility by two independent reviewers, and data were extracted according to outcome type. We identified 149 eligible research articles that reported on a total of 21 trials and/or programme evaluations which assessed the health impact of one or more products (fortified lipid-based nutrient supplement [LNS, n = 12], fortified blended flours [n = 5], milk-based beverages [n = 2], and local food/snacks [n = 3]) that provided 118-750 kcal/day and varying levels of protein and micronutrients. Only one of these programme evaluations assessed the impact of the provision of cash and fortified food. Effects on maternal outcomes such as gestational weight gain and duration of gestation were promising but inconsistent. Birth outcomes were reported in 15 studies, and the effects on birthweight and birth length were generally positive. Seven studies demonstrated sustained benefits on infant and child growth out of the 15 studies that reported at least one of these outcomes, although data were sparse. Additional research is needed to investigate issues of dose, cost-effectiveness, and incorporation into multi-component interventions.

The study aimed to assess performance traits in Hardhenu cattle by analysing data from 445 animals born to 59 sires and 227 dams. The investigation focused on estimating (co)variance components and genetic parameters for reproduction and production traits in dairy cattle. Results from least-squares analysis indicated a significant effect (p < .01) of the period of calving (POC) on key production traits, including first lactation milk yield (FLMY), 300-day milk yield (FLMY300), first peak yield (FPY) and total lactation milk yield (TLMY) in studied population. The least squares means for these traits were reported as follows: FLMY (2665.68 ± 45.66 kg), FLMY300 (2425.52 ± 34.41 kg), FLL (312.95 ± 3.83 days), FPY (11.52 ± 0.15 kg) and TLMY (9282.44 ± 167.03 kg) in Hardhenu cattle. In the studied population, only additive genetic variability was found to be present and there was absence of any significant maternal effect with respect to targeted traits in the resource population. Direct heritability estimates (h2) for FLMY, FLMY300, FLL, FPY, TLMY and other traits ranged from 0.03 to 0.41 in Hardhenu cattle. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic factors influencing performance traits, contributing to the enhancement of breeding and management practices in Hardhenu cattle.

The objective was to evaluate the effects of separate offering of feed ingredients (SF) and frequency of concentrate feeding versus offering a TMR, on lactational performance, ruminal fermentation, enteric CH4 emissions, nutrient digestibility, N use efficiency, milk fatty acid profile, and blood variables in mid-lactation dairy cows. Twenty-four Holstein cows (12 primi- and 12 multiparous) averaging (±SD) 141 ± 35 DIM and 43 ± 6 kg/d of milk yield (MY) at the beginning of the study were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design experiment with 3 periods of 28 d each, composed of 7 d for adaptation to the diets, 11 d for estimation of net energy and metabolizable protein requirements, and 10 d for data and samples collection. Cows were grouped based on parity, DIM, and MY into 4 Latin squares. Treatment allocation was balanced for carryover effects, and cows within square were assigned to (1) basal diet fed ad libitum as TMR; (2) basal diet fed as SF with forages fed ad libitum and concentrates fed 3×/d (SF×3); or (3) basal diet fed as SF with forages fed ad libitum and concentrates fed 6×/d (SF×6). Compared with TMR, SF decreased total DMI by 1.2 kg/d. Treatments did not affect MY, milk components, or ECM yield, except for a decrease in milk fat concentration and an increase in milk urea N by SF×3, compared with TMR. Feed efficiency (kg of MY/kg of DMI) was increased by 7% in SF, compared with TMR. Ruminal molar proportion of acetate and acetate-to-propionate ratio were decreased, whereas molar proportion of propionate was increased by SF×3, compared with TMR and SF×6. There was a 9% decrease in daily CH4 production by SF, compared with TMR. Enteric CH4 yield (per kg of DMI) was not affected by treatments in the current study. Methane intensity per kilogram of MY tended to be decreased by 10% in SF, compared with TMR. The sums of odd- and branched-chain, odd-chain, and anteiso milk fatty acids tended to be or were increased by SF, compared with TMR. Intake of nutrients tended to be or were decreased by SF, compared with TMR. The digestibility of amylase-treated NDF tended to be decreased and ADF digestibility was decreased by 3% in SF, compared with TMR. Urinary and fecal N excretions were not affected by treatments. As a percentage of total N intake, separate offering of feed ingredients increased milk N secretion, indicating an increased N use efficiency by SF, compared with TMR. Blood total fatty acid concentration was decreased by SF relative to TMR. Compared with both TMR and SF×6, SF×3 increased blood urea N concentration. Overall, feed and N use efficiencies were increased by separate offering of feed ingredients, and increasing the frequency of concentrate feeding promoted ruminal fermentation effects similar to those obtained by feeding a TMR.

This study investigated the effects of feeding an amylase-enabled corn silage (ACS) on the performance and enteric gas emissions in lactating dairy cows. Following a 2-wk covariate period, 48 mid-lactation Holstein cows were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments in a 10-wk randomized complete block design experiment. Treatments were diets containing the same proportion of corn silage (40% of dietary DM) as follows: (1) a conventional hybrid corn silage control (CON), (2) ACS replacing the control silage (ADR), and (3) the ADR diet replacing soybean hulls with ground corn grain to achieve the same dietary starch concentration as CON (ASR). Control corn silage and ACS were harvested on the same day and contained 40.3% and 37.1% DM and (% of DM): 37.2% and 41.0% NDF and 37.1% and 30.0% starch, respectively. Enteric gas emissions were measured using the GreenFeed system. Two cows were culled due to health-related issues during the covariate period. Ruminal fluid was collected from 24 cows (8 per treatment) using the orogastric ruminal sampling technique. When compared with CON, cows fed ADR had increased DMI during experimental wk 3, 4, and 9, but treatment did not affect milk or ECM milk yields (39.0 kg/d on average; SEM = 0.89). Compared with CON, feed efficiency (per unit of milk, but not ECM) tended to be lower for ADR, whereas milk true protein concentration (a tendency) and yield were lower for ASR. Milk urea N was decreased by both ADR and ASR diets relative to CON. Compared with CON, daily CH4 emission and emission intensity were increased by ADR but not ASR. Total protozoal count tended to be increased by both diets formulated with ACS when compared with control corn silage. Total-tract digestibility of dietary NDF was greater for ASR, and that of ADF was greater for both ADR and ASR versus CON. The molar proportion of acetate (a tendency) and acetate-to-propionate ratio were increased by ADR, but not ASR, when compared with CON. Replacement of CON with ACS (having lower starch concentration) in the diet of dairy cows increased DMI during the initial weeks of the experiment, maintained ECM, tended to decrease feed efficiency, and increased enteric CH4 emissions, likely due to increased intake of digestible fiber, compared with CON.

OBJECTIVE: Correlations between the number of milk somatic cells (SCC), the number of microorganisms, and the content of basic components of milk were studied on five farms (F1-F5) with cows of the same breed, but with different milking systems.
METHODS: From each farm, 50 Holstein Friesien milk samples were collected once a month (250 samples/month; n=3,000) during March 2022 - February 2023. Samples from farms F1 and F5 were tested for fat, protein, lactose, no fat dry matter content (FTIR spectroscopy), for the SCC (Fossomatic 7), and for the differential cells (Vetscan DC-Q).
RESULTS: The highest fat content was confirmed on farm F5 (3.85 ± 1.70%) and F4 (3.82 ± 0.21%) with automatic milking system (AMS). However, from the point of view of protein content, these farms showed slightly lower values (<0.05). F1 did not meet the minimum required amount for fat content (2.84 ± 0.81%) set by the legislation of the Slovakia. The comparison shows that there is not much difference in cell size between healthy cells and mastitis cells. The average size of healthy cells was approximately 8.77 ± 0.49 μm. In the monitored period, the average values determined were at the level of 292,000/mL (5.46 ± 0.72 log10 SCC) in cow milk samples, while for the rest of the year, the values remained at 256,000/mL (5.40 ± 0.80 log10 SCC). F1 was categorized as a positive farm with a high TLC (total milk leucocyte count) concentration (5.58 log10 cells/mL, 406.65 ± 53.80 × 103 cells/mL) and a predominant NEU fraction (61%). Farms F2, F4, and F5 were classified as negative farms (TLC was 4.70 ± 0.26 log10 cells/ml).
CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, the size of SCCs in healthy milk does not differ from SCCs found in mastitis milk. From the results, it can be concluded that the transition to the latest generation of robotic milking method can positively affect milk production and its quality.

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Globally one-third of global population are victims of anemia, significantly impacting maternal and infant health and linked to poor cognition, productivity, and mortality risks. We used randomly selected 4040 lactating mothers\' record from nationally representative survey. Descriptive statistics were weighted, and the standard hemoglobin cutoff point (below 12 g/dl) was used. Bivariable and multivariable multilevel binary logistic regression model considering the individual and community-level factors associated with anemia was employed. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were reported. In Ethiopia, 32.3% (95% CI 30.9-33.7%) of lactating women were anemic, with 23.4% having mild, 7.3% moderate, and 1.2% severe anemia. Pastoral regions (Afar, Somalia, and Oromia region) had higher burden of anemia than the others. The advanced age of the mother above 45 years (AOR = 1.43 (1.11-1.82), unemployment (AOR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.08-1.32), household wealth index (AOR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.50-0.63), extended family size (AOR = 1.20; 95% CI 1.04-1.46), and not using family planning (AOR = 1.70; 95% CI 1.49-1.93) were significant factors associated with anemia. Anemia is a moderate public health problem and associated with location and other factors to be addressed via effective interventions.

Gut microbiomes of mammals carry a complex symbiotic assemblage of microorganisms. Feeding newborn infants milk from the mammary gland allows vertical transmission of the parental milk microbiome to the offspring\'s gut microbiome. This has benefits, but also has hazards for the host population. Using mathematical models, we demonstrate that biparental vertical transmission enables deleterious microbial elements to invade host populations. In contrast, uniparental vertical transmission acts as a sieve, preventing these invasions. Moreover, we show that deleterious symbionts generate selection on host modifier genes that keep uniparental transmission in place. Since microbial transmission occurs during birth in placental mammals, subsequent transmission of the milk microbiome needs to be maternal to avoid the spread of deleterious elements. This paper therefore argues that viviparity and the hazards from biparental transmission of the milk microbiome, together generate selection against male lactation in placental mammals.

Dairy production in the UK has undergone substantial restructuring over the last few decades. Farming intensification has led to a reduction in the total numbers of farms and animals, while the average herd size per holding has increased. These ever-changing circumstances have important implications for the health and welfare of dairy cows, as well as the overall business performance of farms. For decision-making in dairy farming, it is essential to understand the underlying causes of the inefficiencies and their relative impact. The investigation of yield gaps regarding dairy cattle has been focused on specific causes. However, in addition to the risk of overestimating the impact of a specific ailment, this approach does not allow understanding of the relative contribution to the total, nor does it allow understanding of how well-described that gap is in terms of underlying causes. Using the English and Welsh dairy sectors as an example, this work estimates the Loss Gap-composed of yield losses and health expenditure - using a benchmarking approach and scenario analysis. The Loss Gap was estimated by comparing the current performance of dairy herds as a baseline with that of scenarios where assumptions were made about the milk production of cows, production costs, market prices, mortality, and expenditure related to health events. A deterministic model was developed, consisting of an enterprise budget, in which the cow was the unit, with milking herd and young stock treated separately. When constraining milk production, the model estimated an annual Loss Gap of £148 to £227 million for the whole sector. The reduction in costs of veterinary services and medicines, alongside herd replacement costs, were important contributors to the estimate with some variation between the scenarios. Milk price had a substantial impact in the estimate, with revenue from milk yield representing more than 30% of the Loss Gap, when milk price was benchmarked against that of the top performing farms. This framework provides the boundaries for understanding the relative burden from specific causes in English and Welsh dairy cattle, ensuring that the sum of the estimated losses due to particular problem does not exceed the losses from all-causes, health or non-health related.

BACKGROUND: Effective breastfeeding is crucial for maternal and child health, particularly in low-resource settings like Ethiopia. It encompasses a range of skills and strategies, including proper latch, positioning, and frequency of feeding. These techniques not only ensure sufficient milk transfer but also foster bonding between mother and child, enhancing the breastfeeding experience. To effectively prioritize maternal and child health, it is crucial to comprehensively understand the prevalence and factors influencing effective breastfeeding nationwide. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a pooled prevalence of effective breastfeeding techniques and associated factors among lactating mothers in Ethiopia.
METHODS: The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist, focusing on studies conducted in Ethiopia. We identified eight relevant studies through Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Analysis was conducted using STATA version 11, and systematic data extraction employed a checklist to extract relevant data. I2 tests and the Cochrane Q test statistic were used to evaluate heterogeneity. To explore potential publication bias, Egger\'s weighted regression, Begg\'s test, and a funnel plot were utilized.
RESULTS: We identified a total of 955 research articles. Eight studies meeting the eligibility criteria were incorporated into this meta-analysis and systematic review. The pooled prevalence of effective breastfeeding techniques was 41.99% [95% CI 32.16-51.81]. According to the results of the current meta-analysis, effective breastfeeding techniques were significantly associated with antenatal care follow-up [OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.10-2.78], maternal educational status [OR = 2.70, 95% CI 1.55-4.71], breastfeeding technique counseling [OR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.41-2.90], the absence of breast problems [OR = 2.26, 95% CI 1.49-3.43], breastfeeding experience [OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.14-3.46], and immediate skin-to-skin contact [OR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.56-3.44].
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the vital role of various factors in shaping effective breastfeeding.
CONCLUSIONS: To improve practices and health outcomes, we recommend targeted interventions, such as strengthening antenatal care, implementing maternal education, and providing comprehensive breastfeeding counseling. Proactively addressing breast problems and prioritizing immediate skin-to-skin contact is crucial for successful breastfeeding.