Impact of acute heat stress on hematological and biochemical profiles in Brown Swiss cows

Extensive research has been conducted globally on the impact of heat stress (HS) on animal health and milk production in dairy cows. In this article, we examine the possible reasons for the decrease in milk production in Brown Swiss (BS) cows during the autumn season, known as the autumn low milk yield syndrome (ALMYS). This condition has been extensively studied in high-yielding Holstein Friesian (HF) cattle and has also been observed in BS cows with a daily milk yield of around 30kg. Our hypothesis is that the drop in milk yield and the increased prevalence of mastitis in autumn, as found in our recent studies, may be a long-term consequence of summer HS. We re-evaluate our previous findings in light of the possible manifestation of an HS-related form of ALMYS in BS cows. As milk yield, mastitis spread, and reproductive function of cows are interrelated and have seasonal dependence, we examine the consistency of our hypothesis with existing data. The significant drop in milk yield in BS cows in autumn (by 2.0-3.2kg), as well as the threshold of milk yield decrease (temperature-humidity index of 70.7), may point in favour of the manifestation of ALMYS in BS cows, similar to HF cows. Only the percentage effect of seasonal factor (59.4%; p < 0.05) on milk yield of BS cows was significant. HS-related ALMYS provides a robust conceptual framework for diverse sets of productive and animal health data in BS cows, similar to observations in high-yielding HF cattle. However, the limitations associated with the lack of additional data (e.g. immunological indicators) suggest the need for further research to confirm ALMYS in BS breed.

Heat stress (HS) is a critical environmental factor that disrupts the hormonal balance of animals by activating and subsequently suppressing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This process alters cortisol secretion, a key stress hormone involved in maintaining homeostasis, regulating metabolism, and facilitating adaptation to adverse conditions. This study investigates the impact of HS on the hormonal responses of Holstein and Brown Swiss dairy cows, with a specific focus on cortisol as a principal biomarker of stress adaptation. The research was conducted under conditions of acute and chronic HS of moderate intensity. Cows were divided into control (CON) and experimental (HYP) groups. Serum cortisol levels were assessed while accounting for the temperature-humidity index (THI), lactation number, days in milk, and energy-corrected milk yield. Cortisol concentrations were measured in blood serum with using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method (ECLIA). The findings revealed that cows in the experimental groups experienced significantly higher daily temperatures and THI compared to the control groups. Holstein cows were subjected to chronic HS for 45 days, with a mean THI of 77.5, while Brown Swiss cows experienced acute HS for 5 days, with a mean THI of 77.6. Serum cortisol levels were significantly lower in the experimental groups: 27.25 ± 2.92 nmol/L versus 39.45 ± 3.26 nmol/L (a 30% decrease) in Holstein cows and 11.6 ± 0.54 nmol/L versus 24.5 ± 8.85 nmol/L (a 52% decrease) in Brown Swiss cows (p &lt; 0.05), indicating a suppressive effect of HS on the HPA axis. These results highlight the importance of breed-specific differences in stress responses and underscore the role of cortisol as a key indicator of adaptive mechanisms. The observed reduction in cortisol concentrations suggests potential effects of HS on metabolic stability and resilience to environmental stressors.

Dairy cows are highly susceptible to heat stress, raising concerns about animal welfare, production efficiency, and economic losses. Previous studies suggest that Holstein and Brown Swiss breeds exhibit different levels of thermal tolerance, but their short-term adaptive responses require further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate breed-specific physiological and productive responses to a 4-day natural heat wave in 40 lactating cows (20 Holstein, 20 Brown Swiss) from the same commercial dairy farm, homogeneous for days in milk, body condition score, parity, and energy-corrected milk yield. Before the heat wave, cows experienced at least 48 h in thermoneutral conditions. Physiological parameters were recorded three times daily (4:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM). Blood samples were collected before the heat wave (D1, 4:00 AM, thermoneutral conditions) and at the warmest moment of the fourth day (D4, 3:00 PM, heat stress conditions). The heat wave negatively impacted physiological parameters in both breeds. Rectal temperature increased daily from 4:00 AM to 3:00 PM (p < 0.01), with Holstein cows showing consistently higher values than Brown Swiss (p < 0.01). Respiration rate reached its lowest point at 4:00 AM each day (p < 0.01) but remained elevated at 8:00 PM, despite decreasing THI, indicating accumulated heat load. While both breeds followed a similar trend, Holsteins exhibited a greater capacity for overnight recovery compared to Brown Swiss. Regarding productivity, Brown Swiss cows maintained stable milk yield (MY) from D1 to D4, whereas Holsteins showed a progressive MY decline throughout the heat wave (p < 0.01). Most blood parameters showed no significant breed differences (p > 0.05), but heat shock protein 70, a key regulator of thermal adaptation, exhibited an increasing trend in both breeds (p < 0.01), appearing earlier than other physiological indicators of heat stress. This study, conducted under identical conditions, highlights distinct breed-specific responses to short-term heat stress. The findings suggest that Brown Swiss cows may be more resilient to heat stress in terms of productivity, while Holsteins show better nighttime recovery. Further research should explore additional physiological and molecular markers to better characterize breed differences and improve heat stress mitigation strategies in dairy farming.

The article presents the productive and reproductive qualities analysis that characterize the adaptive ability to the conditions of a large industrial complex for the milk production and intensive technology of Holstein and Brown Swiss cows’ usage. To achieve this aim was made an analysis of the productive qualities’ implementation of Holstein and Brown Swiss cows on industrial complexes of milk production. Using the balanced group method, two groups of cows were formed in each by following structure: first-calf heifers – 44%, cows of the second and third lactations – 28% each. The first group was formed from Holstein cows (I, n = 125), and the second group was formed Brown Swiss cows (II, n = 125). It was found that under the industrial milk production, the cows’ lactation period in both Holstein and Brown Swiss breeds is elongated – by 1.23 and 1.16 times higher than normal, respectively. While lactation in Brown Swiss cows averages 355.1 days, it is still 5.29% shorter than in Holstein cattle (P &lt; 0.001), in which it is approximately 373.9 days. It was proved that Holstein cows during their lactation period produced averaged 8839.1 kg of 4% milk, which was inferior to the physical mass by 3.69%. An average of 10 344.5 kg of 4% milk was obtained from Brown Swiss cows for complete lactation, which is 0.4% higher than the physical mass. Namely, if in the Holstein cows the total weight of 4% milk was less than the physical mass, then in Brown Swiss cows, on the contrary, it was higher. At the same time, the level of dairy productivity of Brown Swiss cattle is higher than that of Holstein cows by 14.55% (P &lt; 0.001). It was revealed that the milk quality indicators depending on the animals’ breed. The mass fraction of fat in milk of Holstein cows was on average 3.80%, and in Brown Swiss – on average 4.0 3%, which is 0.23% more in absolute terms (P &lt; 0.001). Animals of two breeds differ significantly in terms of protein content. In Holstein, the mass fraction of protein in milk averaged by 3.25%, while in Brown Swiss this indicator was higher in absolute terms by 0.48% (P &lt; 0.001) and averaged by 3.75%. It is proved, that animals of two breeds had satisfactory reproductive function indicators. In cows of Brown Swiss breed the insemination index averaged by 3.54 units. In Holstein cows, this indicator was at the level of 5.9 units, which is higher than in Brown Swiss by 40.0% (P &lt; 0.001). In Brown Swiss cows, calving-to-conception interval was 140.7 days. At the same time, this indicator in Holstein cows averaged by 202.9 days, which exceeded the Brown Swiss value by 30.66%(P &lt; 0.001). It was found that in the Brown Swiss cows, the infertility period, although long, did not exceed an average of 98.7 days, whereas in Holstein it was at the level of 131.9 days, which is 25.17% more (P &lt; 0.001). In Brown Swiss cattle, 0.35 of calves was not received per animal, and in Holstein cows, this indicator was 23.91% higher (P &lt; 0.001) and averaged by 0.46 calves. It was determined, that the adaptation index for Holstein cows was at the level of 2.55 units. At the same time, in Brown Swiss cows this indicator was higher by 29.2% and averaged by 3.60 units. Thus, in animals of two breeds, there was only a slight imbalance between their body and the environment of exploitation.

BackgroundCrossbreeding beef bulls with dairy cows can improve the economic value and fitness of calves not entering dairy production owing to increased meat yield and heterosis. However, outcrossing might reduce the dosage of alleles that confer local adaptation or result in a higher risk of dystocia due to increased calf size. Given the clear phenotypic differences between beef breeds, the varying phylogenetic distances between beef and dairy breeds, and the genomic variations within breeds, the attainable economic and fitness gains of calves will strongly depend on the selection of sires for crossing. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess genome complementarity between Angus (AAN), Limousin (LIM), or Simmental (SIM) beef bulls and Brown Swiss (BSW) dairy cows by quantifying genomic inbreeding reduction in F1 crosses and identifying genes potentially under BSW-specific selection that might be affected by outcrossing.ResultsLow-pass sequencing data from 181 cows, 34 bulls, and 301 of their F1 progeny, and body weight and carcass composition measurements of 248 F1s were obtained. The high genomic inbreeding levels detected in the BSW cows were substantially reduced in the crossbreds, with only minor differences between the sire breeds. In the BSW cows, 585 candidate genes under selection were identified, overrepresenting genes associated with milk, meat and carcass, and production traits. Only a few genes were strongly differentiated at nonsynonymous variants between the BSW and beef breeds, including four tightly clustered genes (FAM184B, NCAPG, DCAF16, and LCORL) nearly fixed for alternate alleles in the BSW cows but mostly heterozygous or homozygous for the reference alleles in the AAN and LIM bulls. The alternate allele dosage at these genes significantly correlated with reduced carcass weight and protein mass in F1s.ConclusionSome of the few genes that were highly divergent between the BSW and beef breeds at nonsynonymous variants were likely under strong selection for reduced carcass weight in the BSW breed, potentially due to trade-offs between beef and dairy productions. As alleles with opposing effects still segregate in beef cattle, marker-assisted selection of mating pairs may be used to modulate the desired phenotypes and simultaneously decrease genomic inbreeding.

Studying Resistance of Some Dairy Cattle Breeds to Heat Stress in Relation to Milk Yield

Impact of maternal heat stress at insemination on the subsequent reproductive performance of Holstein, Brown Swiss, and their crosses

Brown Swiss (BS) cows have greater urea concentrations in milk and blood compared with Holstein (HO) cows. We tested the hypothesis that BS and HO cows differ in kidney function and nitrogen excretion. Blood, saliva, urine, and feces were sampled in 31 multiparous BS and 46 HO cows kept under identical feeding and management conditions. Samples were collected at different lactational stages after the monthly DHIA control test-day. To test the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urea excretion, concentrations of creatinine and urea were measured in serum, urine, and saliva. As an additional marker to estimate GFR, we determined symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in serum. Feces were analyzed for dry matter content and nitrogen concentration. Data on milk urea and protein concentrations, and daily milk yield were obtained from the monthly DHIA test-day records. The effects of breed, time, and parity number on blood, saliva, urine, feces, and milk parameters were evaluated with the GLM procedure with breed, time, and parity number as fixed effects. Differences between BS and HO were assessed by the Tukey-corrected t-test at P < 0.05. Concentrations of urea, creatinine, and SDMA in serum, were greater in BS than in HO cows (P < 0.01): 5.46 ± 0.19 vs 4.72 ± 0.13 mmol/L (urea), 105.96 ± 2.23 vs 93.07 ± 1.50 mmol/l (creatinine), and 16.78 ± 0.69 vs 13.39 ± 0.44 µg/dL (SDMA). We observed a greater urea concentration in BS cows (25.8 ± 0.7 vs 21.8 ± 0.7 mg/dL) and protein content in milk (3.70 ± 0.08 vs 3.45 ± 0.07%) than in HO cows (P < 0.01). Urea and creatinine concentrations in urine and saliva did not differ among breeds. No differences between BS and HO were observed for milk yield, fecal DM, and fecal nitrogen content. Dry matter intake and body weight were similar in BS and HO cows (P > 0.05). Despite greater urea, creatinine, and SDMA concentrations in blood as well as a higher milk urea content in BS compared with HO, respective concentrations in urine did not differ between breeds. In conclusion, our results demonstrate a lower renal GFR in BS compared with HO cows, thereby contributing to the greater plasma urea concentration in BS cows. However, estimation of nitrogen excretion via milk, urine, and feces does not entirely reflect nitrogen turnover within the animal.

This study investigated the effects of the addition of Lactobacillus reuteri E81 (LRE) into rations of chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) fed under heat stress (HS) conditions on fattening performance and meat quality. This study included 256 chukar partridges aged 1 day. The study comprised an adaptation period of 7 days and a fattening period of 35 days and included 8 different groups with 32 animals in each group. Each group was further divided into four subgroups with eight animals in each subgroup. At the end of the study, the best results in terms of fattening performance in the non-HS groups were obtained in the LRE 600 ppm group and in the HS groups, SLRE 200 ppm had the best effect on average live weight and average live weight increase, whereas SLRE 400 ppm had the best effect on FCR (p<0.05). The analysis of the samples collected from chukar partridges on day 21 showed that, there was no effect on the colour parameters and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level in the LRE in the HS and non- HS groups, whereas the meat pH level decreased in the SLRE 400 ppm group (p<0.05). The analysis of the samples collected on day 42 showed that there was no effect on colour parameters in the HS and non-HS groups. TBARS level decreased at the dose of LRE 200 ppm in the non-HS group, and the meat pH level decreased in both HS and non-HS groups (p<0.05).

This study was aimed at determining the adaptation levels of pregnant Brown Swiss and Simmental cows, imported from Austria to a dairy cattle enterprise in Manisa, according to their first year performances. Reproduction and milk yield performances of Brown Swiss and Simmental cows was focused in this paper. Insemination, pregnancy and birth parameters for Brown Swiss and Simmental cows were found to be similar. The first insemination interval and gestation length of Simmental cows were shorter than Brown Swiss cows. For Brown Swiss and Simmental cows, real milk yield was 9205.61 L and 8351.05 L; milk yield for 305-days was 8115.71 L and 7693.44 L; the lactation period was 356.0 days and 337.7 days respectively. The differences between breeds according to real and 305-days milk yield were statistically significant. The cows that calved in November and December reached a higher milk yield performance. The effect of calving month on cows’ persistence in first lactation was significant, but the effect of breeds was not significant. Considering that the mean milk yields of Brown Swiss and Simmental cows in first lactation were over eight thousand liters, it can be said that the cows imported from Austria genetically have dairy potential and they can show this dairy potential from the first yield-year onwards.

BackgroundAcute heat stress could induce high mortality and cause huge economic losses in the poultry industry. Although many studies have revealed heat stress-induced injuries of multiple tissues, the main target tissue and molecular mechanism of death under acute heat stress was largely unknown. This study systematically compared the transcriptome data of five main visceral tissues in chickens to reveal the response of multiple tissues to acute heat stress and determine the main target tissue of acute heat stress, further revealing the injuries of main target tissue and their potential mechanism by combing pathological section and qRT-PCR technologies.ResultsThe transcriptome data of five visceral tissues revealed that acute heat stress broadly caused inflammatory response and damaged tissues metabolic homeostasis. Among the five tested visceral tissues, the number of differentially expressed genes in the lung was the highest, and their fold changes were the greatest, indicating that the lung was the main target tissue of acute heat stress. The results of pathological section revealed severe inflammation, emphysema and pulmonary hemorrhage in the lung under acute heat stress. Our study found that some pro-inflammatory genes, including CNTFR, FURIN, CCR6, LIFR and IL20RA, were significantly up-regulated both in the heat-stress and heat-death groups, and their fold changes in the heat-death group were significantly greater than that in the heat-stress group. We also found an anti-inflammatory gene, AvBD9, exhibiting an extremely high expression in the heat-stress group but a low expression in the heat-death group.ConclusionsOur study found that acute heat stress caused multiple tissue injuries broadly and the lung was the main target tissue of acute heat stress in chicken. Acute heat stress caused a severe inflammatory response, emphysema, and pulmonary haemorrhage, The severe inflammatory response in the heat-death group was related to the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory genes and down-regulation of anti-inflammatory genes.

The study included 37 cows, 20 of which were of the Holstein-Friesian and 17 of which were of the Brown Swiss breed at the Agricultural Institute&amp;#039;s farm in Stara Zagora. The cows from both breeds were kept together under similar rearing and feeding conditions. A free-range production system with individual boxes for rest was applied. The cows were divided into three technological groups depending on their physiological condition, respectively: dry period, first lactation period (up to the 120th day of lactation) and second lactation period. Feeding was based on a complete ration including maize silage, alfalfa haylage, concentrated feed, and vitamin mineral premix. The concentrated feed during lactation was in accordance with the group&amp;#039;s mean milk yield. The cows&amp;#039; body condition score (BCS) was measured monthly per a 5-grade evaluation system with accuracy of up to 0.5 points. The body condition score of the cows at calving was measured 7 to 10 days before calving. The BCS at calving had a significant influence on the 305-day lactation milk yield, test-day milk yield and peak lactation production. The cows that reached a BCS of 3.5 &amp;amp;ndash; 4 points at calving had sufficient body reserves for the lactation&amp;#039;s beginning, which allowed them to reach higher milk yield during the peak of lactation, and higher yield for 305 days compared to cows with grades of 3 or lower at calving. The Holstein-Friesian cows had better mobilisation potential than Brown Swiss cows. At BCS of 2 to 2.5 points at calving, Holstein-Friesian cows reached a milk yield that was only 876 kg less than those of cows with high BCS (3.5 &amp;amp;ndash; 4 points), whereas in Brown Swiss cows the difference was 1,400 kg. The cows of the Brown Swiss breed had preserved to a greater extent the defence reaction to reduce milk production when body reserves were diminished. Key Words: Body condition score evaluation, 305-day lactation, peak lactation, test-day milk yield, Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss cattle &amp;amp;nbsp; ÖZET SİYAH ALACA VE ESMER IRK İNEKLERDE BUZAĞILAMA ÖNCESİ VÜCUT KONDİSYON SKORUNUN 305 GÜN VE TEST-GÜNÜ SÜT VERİMİ ÜZERİNE ETKİLERİ Araştırma, Stara Zagora Ziraat Enstitüsü Çiftliğindeki 20 baş Siyah Alaca ve 17 baş Esmer olmak üzere toplam 37 baş inek ile yürütülmüştür. Her iki ırktan inekler benzer yetiştirme ve besleme koşullarında bakılmışlardır. İneklere serbest gezinmeli sistemde dinlenme için bireysel bokslar sağlanmıştır. İnekler fizyolojik durumlarına göre üç gruba ayrılmışlardır: a) Kuru dönem, b) I. laktasyon periodu (laktasyonun 120. gününe kadar) ve c) II. laktasyon periyodu. Mısır silajı, kuru yonca, konsantre yem ve vitamin - mineral premiksi içeren rasyona dayalı bir besleme programı uygulanmıştır. Laktasyon süresince verilen konsantre yem, grubun ortalama süt verimine göre düzenlenmiştir. İneklerin vücut kondisyon skoru (VKS), 5 dereceli değerlendirme sistemi ile 0,5 puanlık kesinlik ile aylık olarak ölçülmüştür. Buzağılama öncesi VKS, buzağılamadan 7-10 gün önce ölçülmüştür. Buzağılama öncesi VKS&amp;#039;nun 305-gün laktasyon süt verimi, test günü süt verimi ve pik süt verimi üzerine etkisi önemli bulunmuştur. Buzağılama öncesi VKS 3,5-4 puan olan ineklerin laktasyon başlangıcında yeterli vücut rezervlerine sahip oldukları ve böylece VKS 3 ve daha az olan ineklerle karşılaştırıldığında laktasyon pikinde daha yüksek süt verimine ulaştıkları ve daha yüksek 305-gün laktasyon süt verimine sahip oldukları sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Siyah Alaca ineklerin Esmer ineklerle karşılaştırıldığında daha iyi mobilizasyon potansiyeline sahip oldukları gözlenmiştir. Siyah Alaca ırkında buzağılama öncesi VKS 2-2,5 olan inekler, 3,5-4 VKS olanlara kıyasla sadece 876 kg daha az süt verimine sahip iken, Esmer ineklerde aradaki fark 1400 kg olarak belirlenmiştir. Vücut rezervleri azaldığında Esmer ırk inekler süt verimini azaltma savunma reaksiyonunu daha fazla ortaya koymuşlardır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Vücut kondisyon skoru değerlendirmesi, 305 gün laktasyon, laktasyon piki, test-günü, süt verimi, Siyah Alaca, Esmer

Heat stress (HS) is one of the pivotal causes of economic losses in dairy industries and affects welfare and performance, but its effect on milk microbiota remains elusive. It is also unclear if and how different breeds may cope with HS in sustaining productive performance. The objectives of this study were to compare a) the performance of 2 dairy breeds, namely Holstein and Brown Swiss, subjected to HS and b) the different effects of HS on the milk microbiota of the 2 breeds in thermal comfort conditions and HS. The study was carried out on 36 dairy cows, 18 per breed. The HS was induced by switching off the cooling system during a natural heat wave for 4 d. Besides the Temperature Humidity Index (THI), the animal stress was confirmed by measuring respiratory frequency and rectal temperature twice daily at 4 a.m. and 3 p.m. The HS differently impacted the 2 breeds. Rectal temperatures were higher in Holstein cows, while no changes in rectal temperature were found in Brown Swiss. Milk yield recording and sampling were performed during the morning milking of d 1 (at 4.00 a.m.) and afternoon milking of d 4 (at 5.00 p.m.). Productive parameters were also different: milk yield, fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, protein and casein content, and renneting parameters were decreased in Holstein but remained unaffected in Brown Swiss. The HS also modified the milk microbiota of the 2 breeds differently. During HS, the Brown Swiss milk microbiota was richer (α diversity) than the Holstein one. Comparing the time points before and during HS within breeds showed that Brown Swiss milk microbiota was less affected by HS than Holstein's. Under the same thermal comfort condition, milk microbiota did not discriminate between Brown Swiss and Holstein. Consistently with α and β diversity, the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at the genus level that changed their abundance during HS was higher in Holstein (74 OTUs) than in Brown Swiss (only 20 OTUs). The most significant changes in abundance affected Acinetobacter, Chryseobacterium, Cutibacterium, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Prevotella-9, Serratia, and Streptococcus. In conclusion, the present report confirms and extends previous studies by demonstrating that Brown Swiss cows regulate their body temperature better than the Holstein breed. The relative thermal tolerance to HS compared with Holstein is also confirmed by changes in milk uncultured microbiota, which were more evident in Holstein than in Brown Swiss.

Effects of acute and chronic heat stress on feed sorting behaviour of lactating dairy cows

Simple SummarySummer heat stress (HS) seriously affects the reproductive and lactation performance of sows and the long-term development of their offspring. Mannose oligosaccharide (MOS) is widely used as an ingredient in animal feed as it can limit the colonization of enteric pathogens. However, most animal experiments that use MOS to alleviate the effects of HS are often performed with broilers. The effect of MOS in sows affected by HS is unclear. Based on our results, dietary supplementation with MOS tended to alleviate HS in sows compared with the control. However, no significant interactive effects were found.The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with mannose oligosaccharide (MOS) on the condition of the body and the reproductive and lactation performances of sows. Eighty pregnant sows were randomly assigned to four groups with a 2 × 2 factorial design: with or without MOS (1 g/kg) and with or without heat stress (HS) challenge. The temperature in the HS groups (HS and HM group) was controlled at 31.56 ± 1.22 °C, while the temperature in the active cooling (AC) groups (AC and AM group) was controlled at 23.49 ± 0.72 °C. The weight loss of sows in the AC group was significantly lower than that of sows in the HS group (p < 0.01). The weight and backfat thickness loss of sows supplemented with MOS displayed a downward trend. The average birth weight of the litter significantly increased in the HM group (basic diet + MOS) compared with the HS group (p < 0.05). The milk protein of sows significantly decreased under the HS condition at 2 and 12 h after delivery (p < 0.05). However, the milk immunoglobin G (IgG) of sows in the HS group increased significantly compared with that of sows in the HM group (p < 0.05) at 12 and 24 h after delivery. The levels of serum urea nitrogen (UREA) and glucose (GLU) decreased significantly under the HS condition (p < 0.05), while the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) increased significantly under the HS condition (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with MOS also significantly reduced TNF-α under the AC conditions (p < 0.05). In conclusion, HS significantly affected the body condition, lactation performances and their offspring of sows. However, dietary supplementation with 1 g/kg MOS did not result in statistically significant changes.