Mortality, efficiency of food utilization and carcass value of growing pigs were investigated in relation to engineering and control of the house environment. Data originated from contract farms and were made available by the Belgian Farmers' Association. The following parameters were investigated by means of analysis of variance and covariance: food conversion ratio, mortality, emergency slaughter rate and carcass values. Data were classified according to characteristics of the heating, air inlet and air outlet systems of the pig houses.

Within the limitations of our project, the expected favourable effect of heating on mortality and efficiency of food utilization of growing pigs depended on the construction and the functioning of the air inlet and outlet systems. Pigs fattened in houses with mechanical ventilation had a higher proportion of carcasses in the higher carcass grades. Seasonal effects were observed with respect to mortality rate, emergency slaughter rate and efficiency of food utilization. Differences between food conversion ratio with respect to heating and no-heating were comparable with those between summer and winter conditions. Hence the seasonal influence was not completely buffered by the housing conditions.

The welfare of sows kept in two different group housing systems, namely voluntary cubicle pens housing small static groups and a split-yard housing system housing a large dynamic group, were examined. Each week, four newly weaned sows were introduced into either a voluntary cubicle pen or the split-yard system, with a total of eight groups of four sows introduced into each system. Behavioural and skin lesion data were recorded during the sows’ first 5 weeks in either system. Agonistic behaviours were performed more frequently during week 1 than in subsequent weeks in both housing systems (P < 0001). Sows in the voluntary cubicle pens spent more time standing inactive (P < 0001) and spent less time in exploratory (P < 005) and locomotory (P < 001) behaviours. However, sows in the split-yard system had higher skin lesion scores (P < 001) and engaged in more social (P < 005) and agonistic interactions (P < 005). These agonistic interactions included attacks (P < 005) and fleeing (P < 0001) throughout the 5-week observation period and fighting (P < 0001) during week 1 only. The split-yard system, therefore, appeared to offer sows a more stimulating social and physical environment than the voluntary cubicle pens, but also led to higher levels of aggression and skin damage. Both housing systems, therefore, appear to compromise sow welfare in different ways.

As a result of the increase in herd size and the intensification of production, the complexity of reproductive management has been growing in dairy herds. The aim of our study was to examine the associations of management practices and reproductive performance in Holstein cows on large commercial dairy farms. Management practices applied to cows were surveyed between 22 May and 6 November 2015 in 34 large Holstein-Friesian dairy herds in Hungary. Individual data of 23 784 cows that calved between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2014 in the surveyed herds were gathered. Associations between the management practices and the reproductive parameters were analyzed by mixed effects models. Regarding heat abatement we found that ventilation with sprinklers was associated with the shortest breeding interval (P<0.01), the shortest calving to conception interval (P<0.01), and the highest odds of being pregnant by 200 days in milk (P<0.01). Solely ventilation showed similar (P>0.05) results to lack of heat stress protection. It was also revealed, that lack of a well-established voluntary waiting period (VWP) or a VWP shorter than 50 days was associated with less days to first service (P<0.01), shorter breeding interval (P<0.01) and calving to conception interval (P<0.05), as well as higher odds of carrying a calf by 200 days in milk (P<0.01) compared with those using a VWP of at least 50 days. Those farms that applied transrectal ultrasonography were more likely to use ventilation with sprinklers (P<0.05), hormonal synchronization (P<0.01) and to perform early pregnancy diagnosis followed by pregnancy recheck (P<0.05). The application of transrectal ultrasonography with one of the aforementioned practices was associated with reduced days to first service (P<0.05), shorter breeding interval (P<0.05) and higher odds of pregnancy at 200 days in milk (P<0.05). Our study highlights the management practices most closely related to improved reproductive performance, which are, therefore, suggested to be applied on dairy farms, considering the local circumstances of the individual farms.

Current feed evaluation systems often assume that fermented starch (i.e. resistant starch (RS)) yields less energy than digested starch. However, growth rates of pigs fed low and high RS diets are often the same when feed is available ad libitum. This may be explained by its effect on digestive processes changing feeding behavior, and consequently energy utilization. This study aims to investigate the effect of RS on nutrient digestion and digesta passage rate in pigs, in combination with its effect on feeding behavior and growth performance under ad libitum conditions. In experiment 1, 20 male pigs (40 ± 2.82 kg) were fed diets containing either 50% waxy maize starch (low in RS (LRS)) or high-amylose maize starch (high in RS (HRS)), and soluble and insoluble indigestible markers. After 14 days of adaptation to the diets, pigs were fed hourly to reach steady state (6 h), dissected, and digesta were collected from eight segments. From the collected samples, nutrient digestion and passage rate of the solid and liquid digesta fraction were determined. In experiment 2, 288 pigs (80 ± 0.48 kg; sex ratio per pen 1 : 1; boar : gilt) were housed in groups of 6. Pigs were ad libitum-fed one of the experimental diets, and slaughtered at approximately 115 kg. Feed intake, growth and carcass parameters were measured. Ileal starch digestibility was greater for LRS-fed than for HRS-fed pigs (98.0% v. 74.0%; P < 0.001), where the additional undigested starch in HRS-fed pigs was fermented in the large intestine. No effects of RS on digesta passage rate of the solid or liquid digesta fraction and on feeding behavior were observed. Growth rate and feed intake did not differ between diets, whereas feed efficiency of HRS-fed pigs was 1%-unit higher than that of LRS-fed pigs (P = 0.041). The efficiency of feed used for carcass gain did not differ between diets indicating that the difference in feed efficiency was determined by the non-carcass fraction. Despite a 30% greater RS intake (of total starch) with HRS than with LRS, carcass gain and feed efficiency used for carcass gain were unaffected. RS did not affect digesta passage rate nor feeding behavior suggesting that the difference in energy intake between fermented and digested starch is compensated for post-absorptively. Our results indicate that the net energy value of fermented starch currently used in pig feed evaluation systems is underestimated and should be reconsidered.

Until recently, the main selection focus in UK dairy goats has been on milk yield. To develop a selection index suitably weighted for a variety of traits, it is important to understand the genetic relationships between production, health and fertility traits. This study focussed on three aspects of reproduction that are of interest to goat breeders. (1) Out of season (OOS) kidding ability: goats are highly seasonal breeders so achieving consistent, year-round dairy production presents a challenge. It may be possible to select for extended or shifted breeding cycles, however, there are no published studies on the genetic basis of seasonal kidding ability, and a genetic correlation with milk production in dairy goats; (2) age at first kidding (AFK): a reduced AFK offers the opportunity for more rapid genetic improvement, as well as reducing the amount of time and resources required to raise the animals to producing age; (3) pseudopregnancy (PPG): as it is difficult to diagnose pregnancy within 30 days of mating, high herd levels of PPG could add a significant delay in breeding replacement animals, or commencing a new lactation. Using records from 9546 goats, the objective of this study was to investigate the genetic relationships between the reproductive traits described above, and the production traits 520-day milk yield (MY520), lifetime milk yield (MYLife) and lifetime number of days in milk (DIMLife). The ‘out of season’ phenotype was defined as week of kidding relative to the 4 weeks of the year where the highest average number of births occur. Incidences of PPG that occurred during the first lactation were used as cases, while goats with none were assigned as controls. Relevant fixed and random effects were fitted in the models. In line with other reproduction traits, heritability estimates were low ranging from 0.08 to 0.11. A negative genetic correlation was found between AFK and MY520 (−0.22±0.10), whereas a positive genetic correlation was found between PPG and DIMLife (0.58±0.11). Pseudopregnancy and OOS were positively genetically correlated (0.36±0.15). All other genetic correlations were very low. The results of this study indicate that selection for the reproductive traits analysed is feasible, without adversely affecting MYLife.

Two alternative ways of estimating cumulative selection differentials are compared. An alternative method is developed that includes the advantages of both methods. This alternative method is shown to give rise to less biased estimates of realized heritability

The aim of this study was to determine whether the decrease in plasma growth hormone (GH) levels during a lamb's first autumn is a function of photoperiodic or developmental changes. Wether lambs (no. = 30) from Coopworth sheep selected for low (lean) or high (fat) backfat plus a randomly selected line (control) were subjected to long (16 h light: 8 h dark) or short (8 h light: 16 h dark) photoperiod over a 5-month period after the summer solstice. The animals were regularly blood sampled to determine plasma hormone concentrations. Daily food intake and weekly live weights were measured and the animals were slaughtered at the end of the trial to determine body composition.

Food intake and growth rate were greater for sheep on long than on short photoperiod but photoperiod had no major effect on carcass composition. Mean and basal plasma GH, as well as the number and amplitude of pulses, were not affected by photoperiod, however GH secretion decreased from January to May. Plasma levels ofprolactin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), insulin and glucose were greater in animals under long than short photoperiod, while non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were unaffected by photoperiod.

Lean animals had greater mean and basal plasma GH and increased number and amplitude of pulses compared with fat animals. Prolactin concentrations were also greater in the lean than in the fat sheep, while there were no differences in insulin, glucose and NEFA levels. IGF-1 levels were higher in lean than in fat sheep under long photoperiod but lower under short photoperiod.

These results suggest that the decline in plasma GH with increasing age is not affected by photoperiod. While long photoperiod stimulates plasma prolactin and IGF-1 levels as well as intake and growth, the relationship between these parameters is unknown. Hormonal differences between lean and fat genotype sheep are found within the GH axis and prolactin but not within the gonadotropin or insulin axes.

Two progeny tests for beef, one using 452 calves brought centrally to a test centre, the other using 768 calves commercially fattened on 81 farms, were compared to isolate environmental sources of variation. It was concluded that appreciable reduction of error variance ensued from the use of a growth curve, the maintenance of pen identity, and the removal of variation due to pens and months of birth. The fixed effects model underlying the experimental design on the centre yielded relatively robust estimates of variance components.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary protected fish oil (FO) on phenotypic variation in blood, milk leukocytes, and some productive and metabolic parameters in periparturient dairy goats. About 12 Alpine goats, selected from a larger group of second-parity animals, were fed from 15 days before kidding until the 15th day of lactation with the same basal diet that had been supplemented with either 47 g/head per day of FO or 47 g/head per day hydrogenated palm oil (PO). Dry matter intake, live body weight (LBW), body condition score (BCS), and productive performance were evaluated in 2 weeks after kidding. On days 15, 7, and 2 before kidding and days 2, 7, and 15 after kidding, plasma samples were collected for evaluation of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, non-esterified fatty acids, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, cholesterol, and urea levels. White blood cell and blood leukocyte subsets were counted in whole blood samples on the kidding day, as well as at 1, 4, and 15 days after kidding. In addition, milk somatic cell count, intramammary infection (IMI), and milk leukocyte subsets were evaluated on days 4 and 15 after kidding. No differences were observed in dry matter intake and BCS, while LBW was higher in FO-fed animals. Milk production and composition, plasma metabolites, and liver enzymes were similar in both experimental groups. Blood CD4 positive cells increased constantly (P = 0.05) in FO-fed group, while CD8 and CD14 cell counts significantly increased 4 days after kidding (P < 0.01). Milk leukocyte subsets showed a significant (P < 0.01) decrease in PO-fed group and a non-significant increase (P = 0.34) in FO-fed group, despite the presence of coagulase negative staphylococci IMI. The results of the productive performance evaluation agreed with those of many other studies, which did not find any significant differences between dairy goats fed diets enriched with FO or PO supplements. The administration of FO to dairy goats in transition appeared to affect the variation in blood leukocytes with a constant increase in CD4- and CD8-positive cells in comparison with a PO fat-supplemented diet.

Silage made from a whole crop of barley was offered to sheep without neutralization or after partial neutralization to pH 5·4 to 5·5 with sodium bicarbonate or ammonia. In a further treatment the un-neutralized silage was supplemented with blood meal administered each day as a drench. Total organic-matter intake and nitrogen retention were significantly higher for the sheep receiving the blood meal supplement than for any of the other treatments, which did not differ significantly one from another. It is suggested that the intake of the un-supplemented silage was limited by a low uptake of amino acids from the intestine.

This study aimed to assess whether inclusion of chicory or lupine (prebiotics) in the diet of pre-slaughter pigs for just 1 or 2 weeks could change the composition of their intestinal microbiota, stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria and help to lower the amount of thermoplilic Campylobacter spp. (mainly Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli), which are a major cause of food-borne infections in humans. A total of 48 pigs that had an initial live weight of 90 kg were fed with either a lupine (organic concentrate with 25% blue lupine seeds), chicory (organic concentrate with 10% dried chicory roots) or control (100% organic concentrate) diet for 1 week (24 pigs) or 2 weeks (24 pigs) before slaughter. The Campylobacter spp. level in rectal faecal samples after 0, 1 and 2 weeks of feeding and in the luminal content from ileum, caecum and colon at slaughter was determined by direct plating on modified charcoal-cefoperazone-deoxycholate agar plates. DNA extracted from the luminal content of distal ileum and caecum was used for terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of the composition of intestinal microbiota and for measuring the amount of bifidobacterial and total bacterial DNA by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Campylobacter spp. were excreted by all pigs and present in the luminal content from distal ileum to midway colon with particularly high numbers in the caecum, but the excretion was reduced by 10-fold in pigs fed lupines for 1 week as compared with control- and chicory-fed pigs (mean log10 2.9 v. 4.1 CFU/g; P < 0.05). The qPCR analysis showed that feeding with lupines resulted in higher levels of bifidobacteria in caecum as compared with the other diets (P < 0.05). T-RFLP analysis showed that four of the most abundant bacteria with terminal restriction fragment values >5% relative to the intensity of total abundance differed between the feed treatments (P < 0.05). Therefore, this study showed that even a short-term alternative feeding strategy with prebiotics in the diet of pre-slaughter pigs elicited changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota, where lupine increased the level of bifidobacteria in caecum and reduced the Campylobacter spp. excretion level after 1 week.

Intramuscular fat (IMF) has a large effect in the sensory properties of meat because it affects tenderness, juiciness and flavour. A divergent selection experiment for IMF in longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle was performed in rabbits. Since liver is the major site of lipogenesis in rabbits, the objective of this work is to study the liver metabolism in the lines of the divergent selection experiment. Intramuscular fat content, perirenal fat weight, liver weight, liver lipogenic activities and plasma metabolites related to liver metabolism were measured in the eighth generation of selection. Direct response on IMF was 0.34 g/100 g of LD, which represented 2.7 SD of the trait, and selection showed a positive correlated response in the perirenal fat weight. High-IMF line showed greater liver size and greater liver lipogenic activities of enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme. We did not find differences between lines for fatty acid synthase lipogenic activity. With regard to plasma metabolites, low-IMF line showed greater plasma concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol, bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase than high-IMF line, whereas high-IMF line showed greater albumin and alanine transaminase concentrations than low-IMF line. We did not observe differences between lines for glucose, total protein and plasma concentrations. Phenotypic correlations between fat (IMF and perirenal fat weight) and liver traits showed that liver lipogenesis affects fat deposition in both, muscle and carcass. However, the mechanisms whereby liver lipogenesis affected IMF content remain to be clarified.

To determine whether gases generated during the breakdown of accumulated manure in an environmentally regulated building affects the onset of puberty in gilts, 42 crossbred gilts, born from 1 o t 15 September 1985, were reared indoors from 10 to 30 weeks of age on concrete slats over a pit that was drained and refilled with clean water biweekly (clean group). Forty-two gilts were reared over a pit where manure was allowed to accumulate (control group). These two groups had similar feeding, water, floor space, lighting and room temperature. A third group of 42 crossbred gilts was reared from 10 to 30 weeks of age in an open-front building with a concrete apron (outdoor group). Concentration of aerial ammonia in the control environment was three- to five-fold higher than in either the clean or the outdoor environment (P < 0·001). Average daily gain and food conversion efficiency were similar for the two indoor treatment groups, but the outdoor group gained less weight than either indoor group (P < 0·05). At 26 weeks of age all gilts were exposed to mature boars daily for 2 weeks, then every 2nd day for an additional 2 weeks. A greater proportion of gilts in the clean environment attained puberty 7 days (P < 0·05) and 10 days (P < 0·07) after first exposure to boars. These data suggest that odorous gases, such as ammonia, in the air of environmentally regulated buildings may diminish the stimulatory influence of boars on the onset of puberty in gilts.

Eight ruminally-fistulated wethers were used to examine the temporal effects of afternoon (PM; 1600h) v. morning (AM; 0800 h) allocation of fresh spring herbage from a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-based pasture on fermentation and microbial community dynamics. Herbage chemical composition was minimally affected by time of allocation, but daily mean ammonia concentrations were greater for the PM group. The 24-h pattern of ruminal fermentation (i.e. time of sampling relative to time of allocation), however, varied considerably for all fermentation variables (P⩽0.001). Most notably amongst ruminal fermentation characteristics, ammonia concentrations showed a substantial temporal variation; concentrations of ammonia were 1.7-, 2.0- and 2.2-fold greater in rumens of PM wethers at 4, 6 and 8h after allocation, respectively, compared with AM wethers. The relative abundances of archaeal and ciliate protozoal taxa were similar across allocation groups. In contrast, the relative abundances of members of the rumen bacterial community, like Prevotella 1 (P=0.04), Bacteroidales RF16 group (P=0.005) and Fibrobacter spp. (P=0.008) were greater for the AM group, whereas the relative abundance of Kandleria spp. was greater (P=0.04) for the PM group. Of these taxa, only Prevotella 1 (P=0.04) and Kandleria (P<0.001) showed a significant interaction between time of allocation and time of sampling relative to feed allocation. Relative abundances of Prevotella 1 were greater at 2h (P=0.05), 4h (P=0.003) and 6h (P=0.01) after AM allocation of new herbage, whereas relative abundances of Kandleria were greater at 2h (P=0.003) and 4h (P<0.001) after PM allocation. The early post-allocation rise in ammonia concentrations in PM rumens occurred simultaneously with sharp increases in the relative abundance of Kandleria spp. and with a decline in the relative abundance of Prevotella. All measures of fermentation and most microbial community composition data showed highly dynamic changes in concentrations and genus abundances, respectively, with substantial temporal changes occurring within the first 8h of allocating a new strip of herbage. The dynamic changes in the relative abundances of certain bacterial groups, in synchrony with a substantial diurnal variation in ammonia concentrations, has potential effects on the efficiency by which N is utilised by the grazing ruminant.

In two experiments pigs were weaned at 2 days of age on to a liquid milk substitute, and from 7 days were either kept to 28 days in individual cages and given the liquid diet to a scale based on live weight, or kept in groups and allowed continuous access to the same diet in the form of pellets. The dry-matter intake from the pelleted diet was considerably less than that from the liquid diet, and the live weight of the pigs given the liquid diet was considerably greater at 28 days. The type of diet did not affect the feed: gain ratio. A liquid diet seems essential to realize the maximum growth potential of pigs weaned at 2 days of age. All pigs received a pelleted diet from 29 days and their overall performance from 2 to 56 days was similar regardless of initial treatment.

In a further experiment, the performance of pigs given the liquid diet was better when individually caged rather than when kept in groups.

This study was designed to investigate the size distribution of bovine steroidogenic luteal cells throughout pregnancy. Corpora lutea collected from three different stages of pregnancy were used. Luteal tissue was dissociated into single-cell suspension by enzyme treatments. Cells were stained for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) activity a marker for steroidogenic cells. The steroidogenic cells covered a wide spectrum of size ranging from 10 to 60 µm in diameter. There was a significant increase in mean cell diameter (P > 0·05) as pregnancy progressed. Mean diameter of 3β-HSD positive cells increased from 17·03 (s.e. 1·3) µm in the corpus luteum of early pregnancy to 33·38 (s.e. 2·4) µm in the corpus luteum of advanced pregnancy. The ratio of large (>22 µm in diameter) to small (10 to 22 µm in diameter) luteal cells was 0·32 : 1·0 in the early pregnancy, with the 10 to 22 µm cell size class predominant. However, the ratio of large to small luteal cells was increased to 6·49 : 1·0 µm as pregnancy advanced and 23 to 42 µm cell sizes become predominant. It is likely that small luteal cells develop into large cells as gestation progresses. Development of pregnancy is associated with an increase in size of steroidogenic luteal cells.

A study has been made of the relative accuracy of twelve linear body measurements of dairy cattle. The results of several repeatability trials are presented together with estimates of observer error derived from the routine measuring of identical twins. Various aspects of precision of measurement have been analysed. The accuracy found from any one trial can rarely be used as a reliable estimate of the accuracy of measuring in any subsequent experiment.

The importance of observer error in identical twin studies has been assessed. It was found that from 10% to 70% of the total variation within pairs of uniformly treated identical twins could be due to measuring error. It was therefore concluded that in such studies, where observer error is a fairly large part of the total variation, a single routine repetition of every measurement would be advisable in long term experiments and several in the case of short term experiments with a small number of animals.

Measurements have been ranked for relative accuracy and the ranking was found to be broadly similar on several different criteria: (a) relative to the variation within pairs of uniformly treated identical twins, (b) relative to the total variation in a population of unrelated animals and (c) relative to the mean size of the body part. The choice of measurements on the basis of relative accuracy is discussed.

Seventy-eight British Friesian type cows, mean calving date 13 January, were used in a 3 × 2 factorial design experiment to examine the direct and residual responses to replacing 0·8 kg/day of a concentrate containing 184 g/kg crude protein with an equal quantity of fish meal when using three levels of total supplement feeding (0·8, 4·0 and 7·2 kg/day). In addition, all animals had access ad libitum to a high-quality grass silage (in vivo digestible organic matter 750 g/kg dry matter) during the treatment period. Treatments were applied from day 8 post partum until 22 April, when all animals went to pasture, giving a mean treatment period of 91 days. At pasture the animals were rotationally grazed as three groups, based on the three levels of total supplement offered during the treatment period, at the same stocking rate. The effects of treatments in terms of direct effects during the treatment periods, residual effects at pasture and also total lactation were assessed. Also during the treatment period the effects on rumen volatile fatty acid contents and blood composition were monitored. In addition, total diet digestibility and food utilization studies were carried out on six animals per treatment.

Level of supplementation significantly influenced milk output during both the treatment and full lactation periods with the total lactation responses being 2·0 and 1·0 kg milk per kg additional supplement between the food levels of 0·8 to 4·0 and 4·0 to 7·2 kg/day respectively. Level of supplementation also significantly influenced milk fat concentration during the treatment, residual and full lactation periods and milk protein concentration during the treatment period only.

The replacement of 0·8 kg conventional concentrate by 0·8 kg fish meal significantly increased milk yield during the final 21 days on treatment (mean yield per day 20·6 and 21·9 (s.e. 0·44) kg for without and with fish meal treatments respectively) but there were no significant residual or total lactation effects. From the data it was calculated that at low levels of supplementation 0·8 kg fish meal could be used to replace 1·9 kg conventional concentrate but at more moderate levels of nutrition any substitution would be much lower and uneconomic.

Correlated responses in two lines of Hereford cattle selected for lean growth rate (LGR) from birth to 400 days of age and lean food conversion ratio (LFCR) from 200 to 400 days of age for a period of 8 years were evaluated. Correlated changes were estimated by two methods: deviation of selected lines from a control line and restricted maximum likelihood. Generally, estimates from the two methods were similar but tended to be more precise for the latter. Statistically significant correlated responses occurred in growth rate in the LGR line and in lean proportion and food conversion ratio in both selected lines. Selection for LGR was accompanied by increases in body weight at various ages in both male and female progeny. In the LFCR line there were little or no changes in body weight for male calves but some increases at certain ages for female progeny. There were no adverse correlated responses detected in reproductive traits such as calving difficulty and calving and pre-weaning mortality.

The objective of this field study with an automatic milking system was to evaluate the effects of omitting the dry period on health and productivity during the subsequent lactation in dairy cows. A total of 98 German Simmental cows of six Southern German farms were assigned randomly to two experimental groups: The first group was dried-off 56 days before calving (D for dried-off, n=49), and the second group was milked continuously during this period until calving (CM for continuous milking, n=49). From the latter a third group emerged, including cows that dried-off themselves spontaneously (DS for dried-off spontaneously, n=14). Blood serum values of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and IGF-1 showed most pronounced fluctuations in D cows. Over the entire study period, the concentrations of BHBA and NEFA were markedly lower in the CM and DS groups. Furthermore, IGF-1 concentration was lowest for D cows and also decrease in back fat thickness was more pronounced. Mean concentration of milk protein was markedly higher in CM and DS cows (3.70% and 3.71%) compared with D cows (3.38%). Owing to the lower 305-day milk yield (−15.6%) and the lower total milk yield (−3.1%), the total amount of produced protein in the subsequent lactation was 2.5% (6.8 kg) lower, although the additional protein amount in CM cows from week −8 to calving was 35.7 kg. The greatest benefit resulted from positive effects on fertility and the lower incidence of diseases: CM cows had their first oestrus 1 week earlier compared with D cows, they also conceived earlier and showed a significantly lower risk of developing hypocalcaemia, ketosis and puerperal disorders. The present study showed that the costs of medical treatment and milk losses were twice as high in D cows, compared with CM and DS cows, and thus the reduced costs because of the more stable health outweighed the financial losses of milk yield by +18.49 € per cow and lactation.