The research was carried out on cows fed with a conventional or green fodder diet in order to determine the physicochemical characteristics and mineral content in milk. The data show similar results except for the fat content, which is higher in milk coming from cows fed with hydroponic barley. Minerals were in the range reported elsewhere. The hydroponic fodder system seems to be an ideal solution in places where it is not possible to grow fresh fodder or where pasture grazing is nonexistent.

Sheep milk production and ingredients are influenced by genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we implemented selection signature analysis to identify candidate genes related to ovine milk traits. The results revealed six selection signature regions showing signs of being selected (P < 0.001) located in chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 6, 13 and 18. In addition, 38 QTLs related to sheep milk performance were identified in selection signature regions, which contain 334 candidate genes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of body weight on the efficiency of dairy cows. Data were derived from 161 commercial Austrian dairy farms. An optimum body weight range for efficiency does exist as the relationship of milk yield and body weight is nonlinear. Specialized dairy breeds seem to respond more intensively to body weight range than dual-purpose breeds. Cows with medium weights are the most efficient. A further increase in dairy cows’ body weights should be avoided.

Resequencing of diversity hidden in the innate-immunity genes of the TLR series in Czech Simmental, its conserved subpopulation, and the ancestral Czech Red cattle showed sufficient potential for infection resistance breeding regardless of the prevailing breeding for production traits on the one hand and a limited potential of diversity preserved in the historical populations on the other. The importance of the characterization of genetic resources to counteract changing infections is implied.