Chromium (Cr) has been reported to modulate blood biochemistry in dairy cows. However, there is a discrepancy in the literature regarding the effects of dietary Cr supplementation on various blood ...parameters. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of Cr supplementation in dairy cows on blood glucose, insulin, glucagon, nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), cortisol, and serum total protein (STP) concentrations. Following relevant literature data extraction, a 3-level meta-analytical random effect model was fitted to the data expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) of outcome measures of control versus Cr-supplemented cows (i.e., difference in mean between control and treatment group or pooled standard deviation). The SMD can be categorized as having a small effect (0.20), a moderate effect (0.50), and a large effect (0.80). The meta-regression identified the potential sources of heterogeneity, including the body weight of cows, experimental duration/duration of Cr supplementation, blood sampling time (3 wk before parturition until 4 wk after parturition categorized as the transition period, else as the nontransition period), and form of Cr complexes. Blood glucose did not differ significantly between control and Cr-supplemented cows with an estimated SMD of μ = 0.0071 (95% confidence interval CI: −0.212 to 0.226). The effect of Cr supplementation on blood insulin was also nonsignificant with an SMD of μ = 0.0007 (95% CI: −0.191 to 0.193). Cows receiving Cr supplements had significantly higher levels of glucagon than controls (95% CI: 0.116 to 0.489), with an estimated SMD = 0.303. Combined transition and nontransition data suggest Cr supplementation did not affect the concentration of NEFA. However, in transition cows, Cr supplementation significantly decreased blood NEFA levels as compared with controls (95% CI: −0.522 to −0.0039), with estimated SMD = −0.263. The estimated SMD was μ = −0.1983 (95% CI: −0.734 to 0.337) for cortisol and −0.0923 (95% CI: −0.316 to 0.131) for total protein. In summary, Cr supplementation in the transition cows decreased NEFA concentration. Blood glucose, insulin, cortisol, and STP concentrations were unaffected. However, Cr supplementation increased glucagon concentration.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Enteric methane (CH4) emissions of 3 genetic groups (GG) of dairy cows were recorded across the grazing season (early March to late October). The 3 GG were (1) high economic breeding index (EBI) ...Holstein-Friesian (HF) representative of the top 1% of dairy cows in Ireland at the time of the study (elite), (2) national average (NA) EBI, which were representative of the average HF dairy cow in Ireland, and (3) purebred Jersey (JE) cows. Enteric CH4 was recorded using GreenFeed technology. Seasonal variation in CH4 was observed, with the lowest daily CH4 emissions and CH4 expressed per unit of dry matter intake occurring in spring (253 g/d and 15.56 g/kg, respectively), intermediate in summer (303 g/d and 18.26 g/kg, respectively), and greatest in autumn (324 g/d and 19.80 g/kg, respectively). Seasonal variation was also observed in the proportion of gross energy intake converted to CH4 (Ym); in the spring the Ym was lowest at 0.046, increasing to 0.053 and 0.058 in the summer and autumn, respectively. There was no difference in daily CH4 between the elite and NA, whereas JE had lower CH4 emissions compared with the elite. When expressed per unit of milk solids (fat + protein yield; MS), the elite and JE produced 6.8% and 9.7% less CH4 per kilogram of MS, respectively, compared with NA. There was no difference between the GG for CH4 per unit of DMI or the Ym. This research emphasizes the variation in CH4 emissions across the grazing season and among cows of differing genetic merit for CH4 emission intensities but not for CH4 per unit of DMI or the Ym.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Tannins have been extensively studied to decrease nitrogen excretion, however, the effects of tannins on animal production were inconsistent. The objective was to evaluate the effects of a mixture of ...quebracho-chestnut tannin extract (QCTE) supplementation on the production performance, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation patterns, and N partitioning in dairy cows. Sixty multiparous Holstein cows (mean ± standard deviation; average 717 ± 51 kg of body weight, 2.5 ± 0.2 of parity, 47 ± 1.9 kg/d of milk production, 78 ± 3.2 d of days in milk were randomly divided into four groups. Cows in different groups were provided QCTE at doses of 0, 10, 20, and 30 g/d per cow for 56 d. Although QCTE supplementation did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) and total-tract apparent digestibility of nutrients, milk yield and milk protein yield increased linearly (P = 0.01), and a trend for a linear (P = 0.07) increase in milk/DMI were observed with increasing QCTE supplementation. Increasing QCTE supplementation decreased the milk urea-N concentration and somatic cell count linearly (P < 0.05), tended to linearly (P < 0.1) decrease the concentration of blood urea-N and ruminal ammonia nitrogen, linearly (P < 0.05) increased levels of total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase, and the molar proportions of ruminal propionate. Additionally, total N excretion was not affected by QCTE treatments, but QCTE supplementation linearly (P = 0.04) increased N utilization efficiency and tended to linearly (P = 0.1) decrease urea-N excretion in the urine. In conclusion, feeding QCTE at a dose of 30 g/d per head to cows in early lactation could increase antioxidant enzyme activities, improve production performance, and decrease environmentally labile urinary N excretion under the conditions of the study.
•Quebracho–chestnut tannin extract (QCTE) increased milk yield and milk protein yield.•QCTE did not affect nutrient digestibility but tended to decrease the urinary N excretion.•QCTE alleviated the oxidative stress of early-lactating cows.•The optimal dose of QCTE at 30 g/d per cow is recommended.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
An analyze of the teats of cows from four farms with milking parlor was carried out to see the environment impact on mastitis The major causes of the mastitis were the low preoccupation for the ...maintenance of the normal function of the milking machine, the lack to keep the waiting time in a standing position, after the milking, the lack of instruction of the milking personnel.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Our research sets out to quantify the way in which the nutritional value of the food ratios influences the milk production in Fleckvieh cows which were imported in Agriland ranch in the summer of ...2008, from Germany. The different types of fodder existent at the ranch and their supply in the animals’ ratios according to the season has been taking into consideration when calculating the nutritional value which has been afterwards compared with the expected values. The main objective was estimating the potential production and then comparing it with the real one obtained in the ranch, under the specific conditions of shelter and feeding. The health of the animals has also been observed. The evolution of the real graphic of lactation is very different from the potential one, in the sense that in the first two or three months of lactation the production decreases, and its peak is somewhere between the fourth month and the fifth month. This proves a feeding which is not proper, because it is not differentiated by production. The ratios should be made proper and this is done relatively easy by including phosphates into the ratio. The energy level can be corrected by individually administering the concentrated fodder which has to be correlated with the milk production.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim of the work was to obtain data and formulate knowledge about the behavioural manifestations of dairy cows in relation to the management system of feeding regime on the farm, where Holstein ...cows are bred. The observations took place on the 13 and 14 August, 2014, when the cows were observed for 24 hours continuously. The ethogram records were recorded after 1 minute and physical activity of cows, periods of rest, ruminating, eating, drinking, defecation, urination and comfort and social behaviour. Cows are herded for milking 3 times a day. It was found that within 24 hours dairy cows spend on average 10 hours by lying, 8 hours by ruminating, 20 minutes by drinking, 6 hours by eating, they defecate 14 times, urinate 6 times and walk about 430 meters. They are also scratching, licking each other and tail swiping (comfort behaviour) within 24 hours. The observations of the responses to serving food indicate that cows actively react to the passage of the food vehicle, not the passage of a piling-up tractor.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The purpose of this research was to establish the manner in which the flooring type may influence the welfare levels in dairy cows by assessment of laminitis incidence and animals’ behaviour. 42 ...dairy cows were grouped based on the shelter floor surface: concrete with straw bedding, asphalted concrete with straw bedding and concrete plus shavings. The behaviour was assessed through direct observation and laminitis incidence was established by numerical assessment of locomotion prior or following milking. The results have indicated an increase of laminitis incidence by 15-25 % in B and C lot and was absent in A lot. The large number of diseases was recorded on concrete floors with shavings bedding (53%). The behavioural displays of the cows suffering from laminitis were different from the healthy ones, as their resting behaviour outside the stalls was more prevalent (17.6% compared to 8.8%) while the feeding behaviour was less present (10.1% compared to 14.7%). Likewise, the socializing behaviour was more active in these animals, compared to the healthy cows.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes.
The intestinal microbiota plays a pivotal role in ...digestive processes and maintains gut health and intestinal homeostasis. These functions may be compromised by increased environmental heat, which in turn reduces feed intake and gut integrity and activates the intestinal immune system. It remains unknown whether high ambient temperatures, which cause heat stress (HS) in dairy cows, disturb the eubiosis of the microbial community, and if so, to which extent the reduction in feed intake and the impairment of circulating and intestinal metabolites account for the alterations of the jejunal microbiota. To address these questions, jejunal digesta, mucosa, and plasma samples were collected from cows exposed to heat stress (HS; 28°C, temperature-humidity index THI = 76, n = 10), control conditions (CON; 16°C, THI = 60, n = 10), or pair-fed (PF; 16°C, THI = 60, n = 10) for 7 d. Digesta fluids were examined for pH, acetate, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose, and lactate, and plasma samples were analyzed for glucose, lactate, BHB, triglycerides, NEFA, creatinine, and urea. The microbiota of the digesta and mucosa samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The α-diversity was higher in mucosa than digesta but was not affected by high ambient temperatures. However, the mucosa-associated microbiota appeared more responsive to ambient heat than the digesta microbiome. The adaptive responses under HS conditions comprised an increased mucosal abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae, Succinivibrionaceae UCG-001, Clostridia and Lactobacillus. In the digesta, HS has exerted effects on microbial abundance of Colidextribacter, and Lachnospiraceae UCG-008. Several correlations between plasma or intestinal metabolites and microbiota were elucidated, including Methanobacteriaceae correlating positively with plasma BHB and digesta glucose concentrations. Moreover, the reduction in feed intake during HS had non-negligible effects on microbial diversity and the abundance of certain taxa, underpinning the importance of nutrient supply on maintaining intestinal homeostasis.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes.
The objectives of this retrospective observational ...study were to investigate the association between BCS at 21 d before calving with prepartum and postpartum DMI, energy balance (EB), and milk yield. Data from 427 multigravid cows from 11 different experiments conducted at the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) were used. Cows were classified according to their BCS at 21 d before calving as fat (BCS ≥ 4.00; n = 83), moderate (BCS = 3.25–3.75; n = 287), and thin (BCS ≤ 3.00; n = 57). Daily DMI from −21 to −1 and from +1 to +28 DIM was individually recorded. Energy balance was calculated as the difference between net energy for lactation consumed and required. Dry matter intake in fat cows was lower than that in moderate and thin cows both prepartum (fat = 9.97 ± 0.21, moderate = 11.15 ± 0.14, and thin = 11.92 ± 0.22 kg/d) and postpartum (fat = 14.35 ± 0.49, moderate = 15.47 ± 0.38, and thin = 16.09 ± 0.47 kg/d). Dry matter intake was also lower for moderate cows compared with thin cows prepartum, but not postpartum. Energy balance in fat cows was lower than in moderate and thin cows both prepartum (fat = −4.16 ± 0.61, moderate = −1.20 ± 0.56, and thin = 0.88 ± 0.62 Mcal/d) and postpartum (fat = −12.77 ± 0.50, moderate = −10.13 ± 0.29, and thin = −6.14 ± 0.51 Mcal/d). Energy balance was also lower for moderate cows compared with thin cows both prepartum and postpartum. There was a quadratic association between BCS at 21 d before calving and milk yield. Increasing BCS from 2.5 to 3.5 was associated with an increase in daily milk yield of 6.0 kg and 28 d cumulative milk of 147 kg. Increasing BCS from 3.5 to 4.5 was associated with a decrease in daily milk yield of 4.4 kg and 28 d cumulative milk of 116 kg. In summary, a moderate BCS at 21 d before calving was associated with intermediate DMI and EB pre- and postpartum but greater milk yield compared with thinner and fatter cows. Our findings indicate that a moderate BCS is ideal for ensuring a successful lactation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes.
Lysine is one of the limiting AA in the diets of dairy ...cows and is typically fed as rumen-protected Lys (RPL). We hypothesized that supplementation of RPL during the postpartum period would improve the productive performance in dairy cows. Objectives were to use meta-analytic methods to explore the effects of feeding RPL on performance and blood AA profile in lactating dairy cows. An additional objective was to identify an optimal concentration (%) of Lys in MP (LYSMP) and determine if responses to LYSMP were associated with the concentration (%) of Met in MP (METMP). The literature was systematically reviewed, and 13 experiments, comprising 40 treatment means and 594 lactating cows, were included in the meta-analysis. All experiments had a nonsupplemental control (CON; n = 17 treatment means), or a group supplemented with RPL (n = 23 treatment means). Cows supplemented with RPL were supplied additionally with a mean (±standard deviation) 19.3 ± 10.3 g/d metabolizable Lys (5.1–40.6 g/d). Meta-analytical statistics were used to estimate the weighted mean difference in STATA. Mixed models were fitted to the data to investigate the linear and quadratic effects of LYSMP, METMP, and interactions between LYSMP and METMP. All models included the random effect of experiment and weighting by the inverse of the SE of the means squared. Cows that began receiving RPL in early lactation (≤90 DIM) or for an extended duration (≥70 DIM) produced 1.51 kg/d more milk compared with CON cows. Increasing digestible LYSMP from 6.5% to 8.5% linearly increased yields of milk, FCM, ECM, and milk fat by 1.8, 2.5, 2.4, and 0.10 kg/d, respectively, and tended to increase milk protein yield and body weight gain by 0.07 and 0.09 kg/d, respectively, without a concurrent increase in DMI. Interactions between the linear effects of LYSMP and METMP were observed for FCM/DMI or ECM/DMI. In a diet with low METMP (e.g., 1.82% of MP), a digestible supply of 7.40% LYSMP would result in 1.46 and 1.47 kg/kg FCM/DMI or ECM/DMI, respectively; however, with high digestible METMP (e.g., 2.91% of MP), supplying 7.40% of digestible LYSMP would result in 1.68 and 1.62 kg/kg FCM/DMI or ECM/DMI, respectively. Increasing digestible LYSMP from 6.5% to 8.5% linearly increased blood concentrations of Lys by 16.6 µM, whereas blood concentrations of Met and Ala decreased by 4.6 and 6.0 µM, respectively. Nevertheless, an interaction was also observed between LYSMP and METMP for blood concentrations of total EAA because as METMP increased, the positive response to LYSMP on total EAA was also increased, suggesting a competitive mobilization of AA and their utilization in various body tissues. Only 4 out of the 13 experiments in this meta-analysis involved primiparous cows; thus, insufficient data were available to understand the role of supplemental RPL in primiparous cows. Collectively, feeding RPL improved productive performance, and the increments were maximized up to 9.25% of LYSMP in multiparous dairy cows.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
