Milk urea concentration (MUC) is considered to be a good indicator of urinary nitrogen excretion in lactating dairy cows. Over the period of seven years (2005-2012) the proportion of samples with the MUC bellow the recommended value (15 mg/100 ml) varied between 20 and 30% with no trend of decrease or increase. A drop of about 8% (from 15% to 7%) in number of samples with MUC above the recommended value (30 mg/100 ml) was recognized in the last seven years. According to the results of 735,632 records obtained between the years 2009 and 2012 the highest MUC can be found during the summer months (from June to August; averages from 20.4 to 20.7 mg/100 ml) and the lowest during the winter months (from November to February; averages from 17.7 to 18.0 mg/100 ml). The highest average MUC (31 mg/100 ml) was observed in summer samples from cows that were grazed or given diets containing fresh grass. In milk samples from cows fed with basal diets of hay (exclusively) higher MUC were observed (22.2 mg/100 ml) than from cows feeding a combination of hay and grass silage (19.2 mg/100 ml), a combination of maize and grass silage (19.4 mg/100 ml) or a combination of maize silage, grass silage and hay (17.4 mg/100 ml). The lowest MUC was observed in basal diets comprised of maize silage and hay (13.9 mg/100 ml). Introduction of routine MUC determinations resulted in a decline of milk samples percentage above the upper recommended limit. It indicates that MUC determinations can reduce the nitrogen footprint from milk production.
F.30 Professional assessment of the situation
COBISS.SI-ID: 4171368Sodium monensin is an ionophore antibiotic, used in many countries as feed additive in cattle breeding, however not in EU countries. The ionophore monensin affects bacterial energy metabolism and subsequently changes ruminal fermentation which results in increased feed efficiency [1]. In EU the use of monensin as feed additive in cattle breeding and many other antibiotics used as feed additives was banned in 2006 [2] due to the concerns related to spreading of antibiotic resistances and possible transfer of these from animals to humans. Since the exact mechanism of bacterial resistance to monensin is not understood and the ideas about the lateral transfer of the monensin resistance among gut bacteria lack evidence, we started to investigate possible resistance mechanism in bacteria from the genus Prevotella, which represent important bacterial population inhabiting the rumen as well as other gastrointestinal niches of animals and man and are capable of adaptation to monensin present in high concentrations [3]. Our aim was to compare phenotypic, metabolic and genetic traits of wild type strains of Prevotella bryantii and Prevotella ruminicola, and their monensin adapted descendants. Since the monensin affects bacterial membranes and fermentation, gas chromatography was used to investigate membrane long-chain fatty acid profiles and volatile fatty acids, the main fermentation products. To explore the possible genetic basis of the acquired monensin resistance genomic sequencing of the wild types and adapted strains was performed and sequences compared. Potential of the emerging cross resistances to other antibiotics was examined too, screening more than 20 different antibiotics.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 3240840Members of project group are responsible for the official methodology, under which Slovenia reports on greenhouse gas emissions and certain other pollutants into the air and waters. During the project period we participated in the preparation of National Inventory Report to United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the preparation of report to the UNECE Convention on Longe-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. With the aim of keeping national inventory and projections, a new methodology for the assessment of emissions of methane and nitrous oxide was developed in 2014.
F.30 Professional assessment of the situation
COBISS.SI-ID: 3908006With the conference Prospects and opportunities of milk production and processing in Slovenia, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment opened up a wide debate on the challenges and solutions for the dairy sector after the abolition of milk quotas. All actors who participate to dairy chain and a representative of the EU were invited to the conference. The basic development issues of the milk production technology were presented in invited lecture. The following challenges were identified: spatial distribution of milk production, improving the efficiency of milk production, introduction of modern methods (technologies) of milk production, milk safety, retaining and building of the reputation of Slovenian milk and risk management. The importance of carbon footprint reduction for maintaining of the reputation of Slovenian milk was also exposed in lecture.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 4423528For the Agri-environment climate change measure (AECC) in the frame of Rural development programme 2014-2020 a proposal for forage quality monitoring and diet formulations on farms with the aim of more efficient grassland utilization, reduction of emissions of greenhouse gasses and improving animal welfare was prepared. MAFF included the above mentioned measure in proposal of AECC, however, it was finally not confirmed by the European commission. MAFF will try to introduce the measure within the next year.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 4593512