Early Lactation Period Research Articles

Auto-lysed yeast and yeast extract effects on dry matter intake, blood cells counts, IgG titer and gene expression of IL-2 in lactating dairy cows under heat stress

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of auto-lysed yeast and yeast extract on performance and immune responses of cows in hot climate in the early lactation period. Twenty five lactating dairy cows randomly assigned to 5 groups and 5 replicates. Cows received basal diet with or without auto-lysed yeast (20 or 40 g/d/head) or yeast extract (20 or 40 g/d/head) as on top-dressed. There were no differences for daily dry matter intake, milk production milk fat and the counts of red blood cells and white blood cells among treatments (p > 0.05). There were significant differences among treatments for immunoglobulin G (IgG) level, lymphocyte and neutrophil percentages. Yeast extract had no effect on IgG level, but auto-lysed yeast increased IgG level and neutrophil percentage and decreased lymphocyte percentage (p < 0.05). The highest relative interleukin-2 gene expression was for cows received auto-lysed yeast at the level of 40 g/d/head. Yeast extract had no significant effect on interleukin-2 gene expression as compared to the control group. It was concluded that auto-lysed yeast at the level of 40 g/d/head had no effect on performance, but it could positively influence on immune response of lactating dairy cows in hot climate during early period of lactation.

Effects of Chickpea in Substitution of Soybean Meal on Milk Production, Blood Profile and Reproductive Response of Primiparous Buffaloes in Early Lactation.

Simple SummaryCurrently, the protein needs of lactating buffaloes are mainly covered by soybean derivatives produced predominantly overseas. In order to promote the use of locally produced protein sources, in this study we tested the effects of total replacement of soybean meal by using chickpea meal, a protein-rich legume well adapted to and traditionally grown in the Mediterranean area. We evaluated the effects of these two alternative protein sources on blood profile, reproductive response and milk traits in primiparous buffaloes in early lactation. Based on our findings, chickpea meal does not impair the productive and reproductive performances of primiparous dairy buffaloes. In addition, chickpeas may represent a good alternative protein source for organic farms as it is not at risk of contamination by genetically modified cultivars.This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the use of chickpea meal in substitution of soybean meal on plasma metabolites, reproductive response, milk yield and composition and milk coagulation traits of primiparous buffaloes in early lactation. Eighteen primiparous buffaloes were blocked by age, body weight and days in milk and equally allotted to two experimental groups from 10 to 100 days of lactation. The experimental diets consisted of the same forage integrated with two different isonitrogenous and isoenergetic concentrates containing either 210 g/kg of soybean meal or 371 g/kg chickpea. The use of chickpea meal had no negative effects on dry matter intake (p = 0.69), body condition score (p = 0.33) and milk yield (p = 0.15). Neither milk composition nor blood metabolites were influenced by dietary treatments (p > 0.05), but an increment of urea concentrations in milk (p < 0.05) and blood plasma (p < 0.001) were observed in buffaloes fed chickpeas. Moreover, no effect (p > 0.05) of the dietary treatment was highlighted on milk coagulation traits as well as buffalo reproductive responses. We concluded that soybean meal can be replaced by chickpea meal in the diet for primiparous dairy buffaloes in the early lactation period without impairing their productive and reproductive performance.

Investigating the effect of apple pomac silage as fodder source on performance and residues of its toxins in milk and some rumen fermentation in Mahabadi lactation goats in early lactation period

The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of apple pomace silage as fodder source on performance and residues of its toxins in milk and some rumen fermentation in Mahabadi lactation goats in early lactation period. There was no significant difference within treatments apple pomace mixed silage had no effect on dairy goat’s average daily feed intake. There were no significant differences about pH changes between treatments. The protozoa population tended to decrease and ammonia nitrogen has increased significantly in different treatments (P≤0.05). According to the increase of volatile fatty acids production, the proportion of acetatenot differed even though that of Propionate and iso-butyrate increased but none significantly. The molar ratios of acetate and propionate and iso-butyratein the goats rumen containing apple pomace was differed in respect to the availability for fermentation by rumen microflora. In regard to this information, the inclusion of apple pomace silage in experimental goat’s diet was associated with a slight lower rumen pH, higher concentration of acetate and propionate and total volatile fatty acids in rumen. The potential value of byproducts in animal feeding and better dry matter and organic matter digestibilitydepends on their nutritive characteristics. But the livestock producers are responsible for ensuring that the animals and products that they market do not contain unacceptable chemical residues. Anyone intending to feed waste materials to ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep and goatsor to pigs must ensure that it is free of prohibited or restricted substances.

Oxidative Stress and Trace Elements Status in Different Reproductive Stages of Shami Goat Does Fed Salt-Tolerant Plants under Semi-Arid Conditions in Egypt

Objective of this study was to explore the impact of adding El-Mufeed liquid to salt tolerant plants in an attempt to reduce the oxidative stress of these plants by detecting changes in antioxidant indicators such as malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX (in Shami goats during pregnancy under South Sinai semi-arid conditions, Egypt. Two equal experimental groups (12 does each) were used. The first control group was fed wheat straw as the roughage portion of the diet, while the second group was fed salt tolerant plants mixed with El-Mufeed liquid. Blood samples were assembled from all experimental animals during dry, gestation and early lactation periods. Profile of MAD, TAC, CAT and trace elements (Cu, Se, Mn and Zn) were analyzed in plasma, while antioxidant SOD and GPX activities were measured in erythrocytes. Oxidative stress marker (MAD) was increased significantly with progress of gestation and lactation period and the vice versa was observed in TAC, CAT, SOD and GPX. It was observed that trace element and antioxidant enzymes had similar trend of changing with experimental period. Goats fed salt tolerant plants treated with El-Mufeed liquid did not differ greatly than control ones in their blood contents of antioxidant capacity (TAC) and antioxidant enzymes beside trace elements in spite of exposing to higher stress. Accordingly, it can be concluded that using El-Mufeed liquid to supply animals with trace minerals reduced oxidative effect of salt plants especially under stress of pregnancy.

Consumption and in vivo digestibility of feed supplemented by katuk (Sauropus androgynus) and gamal (Gliricidia sepium) leaves in friesian holstein cattle

The aim of this research is to understand the effects of katuk and gamal leaf supplementation on production and quality of milk at early lactation period. The research was conducted in dairy cattle husbandry, Enrekang, with completely randomized design consisting of 4 treatments and 4 repetitions, yielding totally 16 experimental units. The experimental diet was made of forage (60%), concentrate (25%), gamal leaf (15%), and katuk leaf (135 g, 155 gr, 175 g). The results showed that supplementation with katuk leaf significantly contributed to production of milk. The diet enriched with katuk leaf of 155 gr and gamal leaf of 15% (treatment P2) was evidenced to exert desirable effects on consumption and digestibility of the forage as source of fibers.

Variation in Milk Composition and Fatty Acid Profile during the Lactation of Araucana Creole Ewes in a Pasture-Based System.

Simple SummaryThe Araucana creole sheep is a local Chilean genetic resource and represents an important economic resource for the Mapuche ethnic group, who mainly use it for meat and wool production. In recent years, an interesting gourmet market has emerged for milk products derived from sheep’s milk. These products are highly valued because they come from sheep fed in systems based on pastures that are considered healthier than the diet of sheep fed indoors. Therefore, it is important to know the production and composition of Araucana creole ewe’s milk, which has not been studied. This information may provide an alternative for the diversification of sheep production by small farmers, contributing to the agricultural and cultural diversity of southern Chile.Araucana creole sheep are a local animal genetic resource adapted to environmental conditions in rural production systems in southern Chile. The aim of the present study was to analyze the milk yield and composition of Araucana creole ewe’s milk from ewes maintained in a traditional grazing system of natural pastures. Twenty healthy single-bearing Araucana creole ewes were selected immediately after lambing (body condition score (BCS) of 2.8 ± 0.2, ewe weight (EW) of 62 ± 3.5 kg, and age of 3.8 ± 0.7 years). BCS, EW, and lamb weights were determined. Milk samples were obtained using the oxytocin technique at 10 days postpartum and then twice a month during the lactation stage (90 days). Protein, fat, lactose, total solids (TS), solid non-fat (SNF), urea contents, and fatty acid (FA) composition were analyzed. The Araucana ewe’s milk yield was lower than that of other dairy sheep but was higher than that of meat breeds. The milk fat had a higher content of oleic acid in the early lactation period, which decreased slowly according to the progress of lactation. The increase in oleic acid improved the milk health indexes during this period and thus provided a healthier milk product for human consumption than later in lactation. During lactation, higher conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) levels were obtained only at day 60. Our research suggests that Araucana creole sheep can provide high-quality milk during early lactation, which is rich in oleic acid and represents an alternative for the production of dairy products, improving the profitability of the productive systems of small-holder farmers in Chile.

Palmitic acid-enriched fat supplementation alleviates negative production responses during early lactation of Holstein dairy cows

Effects of rumen-protected fat (RPF) on suppressing the negative performance responses in early lactation period of Holstein dairy cows were investigated. Three hundred multiparous Holstein cows (647 ± 16 kg bodyweight and 90 days in milk (DIM)) were randomly housed into three free-stall barns (100 cows per barn) and assigned to the treatments for 90 days, as follows: (1) control (CTL) diet without RPF; (2) calcium salt of palm fatty acids (CaFA) 30 g/kg DM, and (3) fractionated fatty acids of palm oil (FFA) 25 g/kg DM. Cows were fed total mixed ration containing 580 g of concentrate and 420 g of roughage per kilogram DM. Cows fed FFA exhibited a higher (P &amp;lt; 0.05) DM intake and body condition score than did those fed CaFA or CTL diets respectively. Moreover, cows fed the FFA diet showed decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) changes to bodyweight at 30 DIM and to body condition score at 60 DIM and increased digestibility of ether extract and neutral detergent fibre. Blood concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose were higher (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for cows fed FFA diet than for those fed the other diets, between 4 and 30 DIM, whereas concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyric acid and urine ketones were lower for cows fed RPF sources (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Relative to CTL diet, CaFA and FFA diets increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) milk yield and milk fat content at 4–30 DIM. Feeding FFA improved feed efficiency by 8.9% (P = 0.006), between 31 and 60 DIM, compared with CaFA. Inclusion of a palmitic acid-enriched fat supplement in Holstein cow diet increased milk yield and fat content and mitigated the deleterious effects of metabolic disorders during the early lactation period.

Сечовина та інші показники молока в ранній період лактації кіз в умовах господарства степової зони України

The relationships between the urea and other goat milk indicators levels at the beginning of lactation on intensive production and with a certain level of feeding were revealed. Due to the beneficial effects on human health, goat’s milk has found its niche in healthy foods’ assortment of developed countries. A sampling of milk has provided an opportunity to identify the characteristics of the goat milk’s physicochemical composition at the beginning of lactation (the first week, the first and second months after parturition). Evaluation of the goat milk quality has high economic importance, especially protein and fat content, on which the volume of produced cheese depends. The milk urea content was 20.93 ± 8.8 mg/dl, the fluctuations at the end of the first week were 10.57 ± 5.78 mg/dl, and the second month of lactation was 25.08 ± 3.17 mg/dl. A correlation was observed between this indicator and the content of fat (r = -0.62), protein (r = -0.76), dry matter (r = -0.72), milk solids-non-fat (r = -0.75) and the milk freezing point (r = -0.79). Thus, these results differ from the data of other researchers conducted with milk and obtained in other lactation periods, when these dependencies were already offset by the influence of other factors. The level of fat averaged 4.77 ± 1.43%, protein 3.61 ± 0.98%, fat / protein ratio was 1.34 ± 0.27. At the end of the first week, level of fat was 5.86 + 1.73%, protein 4.65 ± 0.91%, fat / protein ratio 1.26 ± 0.28, and in the second month of lactation 4.40 ± 1.10%, 3.07 ± 0.51% and 1.43 ± 0.24, respectively. This is probably connected with a gradual transition to the production of more diluted milk after an early lactation period. But the fat and protein ratio characterizes the gradual improvement in the milk technological properties. The lactose level averaged 4.26 ± 0.22%, it varied from 4.25 ± 0.19% at the end of the first week, to 4.39 ± 0.19% at the second-month lactation. In our work, we obtained fluctuations in the number of somatic cells 3312 ± 5579 thousand/ml with very significant fluctuations in individual animals in the absence of any pathological clinical signs. Significant differences with the data from other works are probably due to the early lactation period of our animals. The solids’ content in the milk averaged 13.73 ± 2.41%, milk solids-non-fat 8.94 ± 1.11%, the freezing point or mild depression was 0.563 ± 0.029 ° C. At the end of the first week, these indicators were 15,98 ± 2.44%, 10.11 ± 0.91% and -0.593 ± 0.020 °C, and in the second month of lactation 12.89 ± 1.74%, 8.47 ± 0.75% and -0.555 ± 0.025 °C, respectively.

The effect of propylene glycol delivery method on blood metabolites in dairy cows

Four dairy cows in a positive energy balance were used to study the effect of propylene glycol supplementation variants on blood indices. The treatments were: without glycol, glycol mixed with the total mixed ration (TMR), glycol delivered as top dressing (TD), and glycol administered as an oral drench (OD). Oral drenching had the positive effect of higher blood insulin concentration 1.5 and 2.5 h after supplementation compared to the TD method (P ≤ 0.05). Glycol supplemented as TD had the negative effect of higher concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) 3.5 h after supplementation (P ≤ 0.05) with a trend towards a higher mean concentration of this marker (P ≤ 0.1). A decreasing tendency was recorded for the NEFA concentration 1.5 h after glycol supplementation with TMR or OD (P ≤ 0.1). Glycol supplemented as OD had the positive effect of lowering the β-hydroxybutyric acid concentration 1.5 and 2.5 h after feeding (P ≤ 0.05). A downward trend in the mean β-hydroxybutyric acid level after glycol delivery as OD was also observed (P ≤ 0.1). Glycol supplemented as TD had the negative effect of decreasing dry matter intake of the diet (P ≤ 0.05). Glycol supplemented as OD had a more glucogenic effect than as part of the TMR. Due to reduction of dry matter intake and the lowest glucogenic effect, using glycol as TD is unjustified. The results confirm that the best method of propylene glycol administration is OD, which can be useful in the prevention of ketosis, however, it should be confirmed in a long-term experiment covering the transition and early lactation periods.

Modelling of heat stress in a robotic dairy farm. Part 2: Identifying the specific thresholds with production factors

Thresholds of heat stress are identified by determining the values of thermal comfort indices with significant change of animal responses. However, published thresholds may lead to inaccuracy when dealing with specific climate conditions, animal breeds and production factors. Thus, determining dynamic thresholds might provide better assessment of heat stress, with self-calibration capabilities. In this study, a large dataset of individual age, body mass (BM), days in milk (DIM), daily milk yield (DMY) and milk temperature (MT) of 126 lactating Holstein cows was collected from a robotic dairy farm over five years. The ambient temperature data was collected from a local weather station and processed as daily minimum and mean temperature (Tmin and Tmean). For the whole herd, a new series of heat stress thresholds with stages were defined as comfort stage, milk heat stress, effective heat stress and critical heat stress. The definition was based on the cow's responses in DMY and MT, which provides a potential approach to accurately alert for heat stress in robotic farming systems by using the existing data source. For the specific individuals, dynamic thresholds of heat stress were identified and categorised using the decision tree machine learning model. The categorisation achieved 79–94% overall accuracy, and demonstrated the importance of cooling cows during their early lactation period.

Effects of Feeding Protected Methionine And Lysine In Dairy Cattle On Rumen Microflora and Milk Yield And Composition

Bu çalışma ile süt sığırlarında amino asit (AA) dengesi, emilebilir AA kaynakları, esansiyel AA ihtiyacı, kaplanmış metiyonin (MET) ve lizin (LİZ) ile kaplama teknolojileri ve korunmuş MET (KMET) ve LİZ (KLİZ), rumen mikroflorası ve verim ilişkileri irdelenerek, KMET ve KLİZ beslemesinin rumen mikroflorası ile süt verim (SV) ve kompozisyonu üzerindeki etkilerinin belirlemesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda, mikrobiyal proteinlerin ideal AA dengesine sahip olmadıkları, mikrobiyal proteindeki AA kompozisyonunu yemle alınan rumende yıkıma dirençli protein (RYDP) ve rumende yıkılabilir protein (RYP)’nin belirlediği, maksimum performans ve verim için rasyonun RYDP, RYP ve AA bakımından dengelenmesi gerektiği, duodenal AA kompozisyonun mikrobiyal populasyon ve rasyon proteinindeki varyasyonlardan etkilendiği, buğdaygil ağırlıklı hazırlanmış rasyonlarda LİZ’in baklagil ve hayvansal ağırlıklı rasyonlarda ise MET’in sınırlayıcı AA’ler olacağı, KMET ve KLİZ kullanımının sentetiklere göre daha etkili olduğu, KMET’in süt yağı ve verimini artırdığı, erken laktasyon döneminde kaplanmış formda MET ve LİZ’in birlikte kullanıldığı araştırmalarda SV ile birlikte süt protein ve yağında artışlar bulunduğu saptanmıştır. Sonuç olarak, KMET ve KLİZ’in rumen mikroflorası üzerine herhangi bir olumsuz etkisi olmaksızın SV ile birlikte süt protein ve yağında artışlara neden olduğundan, özellikle erken laktasyon dönemindeki süt sığırlarında birlikte kullanılabileceği kanatine varılmıştır.

THE STUDY OF COWS’ METABOLIC STATUS WHEN APPLYING PREVENTION SPECIMENS

In the dry period, cows have fetoplacental insufficiency caused by endocrine metabolism disorder and antioxidant protection systems disturbance, which affects fetal development and leads to complications of labor and postnatal processes. Еру specimens based on humic substances and probiotics are widely used to correct the metabolic status of cows during the critical physiological periods. The research implies application of Cytogumat® to the experimental groups of animals when they were injected 30 - 40 days before calving during three weeks; Fometrin was applied during 3 days after birth. The animals in the control group received Gabivit-Se 2 times before calving with an intervals of 15 days, and Rebavagin specimen after calving 4 suppositories 3 times a day. The authors found that the cholesterol parameter increased by 27.1 and 16.9% in the 1st and 2nd experimental groups of cows by the 15th day after calving and exceeded that in the control group by 20% averagely, while the activity of aspartataminotransferase (ACT) was lower by 18.4 - 25.9%, and the coefficient of de Rytis was 1.5 times lower than in the control group. On the 40th day of the postnatal period, the authors observed higher concentrations of bilirubin in the experimental groups a decrease in level by 1.8 - 2.6 times, triglycerides - by 13.6 - 22.7%, while the cholesterol/triglyceride ratio was 1.6 - 2 times higher than in the control group. Lower concentrations of cholesterol and higher concentrations of ACT in blood serum of the control group cows are explained by the increased functional load on the liver in the early lactation period accompanied by the hormonal rearrangement and increase in milk productivity. The authors observed faster recovery and strengthening of metabolic processes in the experimental groups of animals.

Erken Laktasyon Döneminde Erzincan İlinde Yetiştirilen Brown Swiss Irkı İneklerden Elde Edilen Sütlerin İstatistiki Kalite Kontrolü

Çalışmada, Brown Swiss ırkı ineklerden elde edilen sütlerin mikrobiyolojik kalite standartları ile mikrobiyolojik parametreler (somatik hücre sayısı ve toplam bakteri sayısı) arasındaki farklar araştırılmıştır. Erzincan ilinde yetiştirilen 15 adet Brown Swiss ırkı inek, hayvan materyali olarak kullanılmıştır. Erken laktasyon döneminin ilk ayının ikinci haftasında günlük süt örnekleri ineklerden toplanmıştır. Çalışmada, Brown Swiss ineklerin sütlerindeki mikrobiyolojik parametreler ile Avrupa Birliği ve Türk kalite standartları arasındaki farklar belirlenmiştir. İneklerin sütlerinde somatik hücre sayısı (SHS) ve toplam bakteri (TB) seviyeleri, Avrupa Birliği için bildirilen kalite standartları (en fazla 400.000 hücre/mL SCC, en fazla 100.000 adet/mL TB) ve Türk Standartları (en fazla 500.000 hücre/mL SCC; en fazla 100.000 adet/mL TB) ile tek örnek t testi kullanılarak karşılaştırılmıştır. Erzincan İli'nde yetiştirilen Brown Swiss ırkı ineklerden elde edilen SHS (46.570 hücre/mL) ve TB seviyeleri (48.066 adet/mL) AB ve Türk kalite standartlarına göre arzu edilen düzeylerdir. SHS ve TB sayısı süt ürünlerinin üretimi için önemlidir. Çünkü belirtilen mikrobiyolojik parametreler süt kalitesini ve arzu edilen lezzeti değiştirebilir. Çalışma sonuçlarına göre, Erzincan İli'nde yetiştirilen Brown Swiss ırkı ineklerden toplanan sütteki SHS ve TB sayıları, Avrupa Birliği ve Türk kalite standartları için uygun bulunmuştur.

The relationships between somatic cell count, total bacterial count and intramammary infection in milk samples of Damascus goats during postpartum days

Abstract The aim of the present study was to examine the changes of somatic cell count (SCC), total bacterial count (TBC) and intramammary infection (IMI) from milk samples of Damascus goats in association with the early lactation period. A total of 291 milk samples from each of the udder halves (no milk could be obtained from 9 udder halves) belonging to 50 Damascus goats were collected on the 10th, 20th and 30th days postpartum (pp). Bacterial isolates were identified by using a VITEK 2 Compact automatized system and were confirmed with API strips. All collected samples were analysed for TBC by BactoScan FC and SCC by Fossomatic FC 5000. The most commonly isolated bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) species (S. chromogenes S. simulans, S. xylosus, S. equorum and S. warneri) with percents of 8.24%, 11.34% and 9.27% according to pp days (10th, 20th and 30th day). S. aureus was isolated at the percents of 2.06%, 4.12% and 2.06% on 10th, 20th and 30th days pp, respectively. The percent of SCC > 1 million/ml in milk samples of udder halves was 25.7% on the 10th day, the percent decreased to 13.4% on the 30th day of the puerperium (P 500.000 cfu/ml in milk samples of udder halves was 11.3% on the 10th day, the percent decreased to 1.03% on the 30th day of the puerperium (P 0.05). It is concluded that a significant decreases in both SCC and TBC in postpartum period may be an important parameter in terms of udder health.

MiR-21-3p Centric Regulatory Network in Dairy Cow Mammary Epithelial Cell Proliferation.

MicroRNA-mediated gene regulation is important for the development of the mammary gland and the lactating process. A previous study has shown that the expression of microRNA-21 (miR-21) is different in the dry and early lactation period of the dairy cow mammary gland, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the lactation cycle are not fully understood. Here, the function of miR-21-3p on bovine mammary gland epithelial cells (BMECs) was detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis, which showed that miR-21-3p significantly promoted the cell viability and proliferation. Then, the regulating mechanism of miR-21-3p on cell viability and proliferation was elucidated. Dual luciferase assay, RT-qPCR, and Western blot results revealed that IGFBP5 was a target gene of miR-21-3p. It was known that lncRNA could act as a competing endogenous RNA to sequester miRNAs and reduce the regulatory effect of miRNA-targeted genes. Based on our previous lncRNA-seq data and bioinformatics analysis, lncRNA NONBTAT017009.2 was potentially associated with miR-21-3p, and its expression was specifically inhibited with the transfection of miR-21-3p mimic into BMECs. Inversely, the overexpression of NONBTAT017009.2 significantly decreased the expression level of miR-21-3p in BMECs, while the expression of IGFBP5, the target gene of miR-21-3p, was significantly upregulated. In addition, the promoter region of miR-21 contained two STAT3 binding sites, and the dual luciferase reporter assays revealed that the overexpression of STAT3 significantly reduced the promoter activity of miR-21, implying that the transcription factor STAT3 may act as an upstream regulator affecting the regulation process of miR-21-3p. The overexpression of STAT3 significantly inhibited the expression of miR-21-3p, while the mRNA expression of IGFBP5 was significantly increased compared with the control group. Besides, there are no STAT3 binding sites in the promoter region of IGFBP5 as we predicted by gene-regulation and JASPAR software. Therefore, it could infer that STAT3 might regulate the expression of IGFBP5 by miR-21-3p. Taken together, these results established a regulatory network of miR-21-3p to illustrate the regulating mechanism on promoting cow mammary epithelial cell proliferation.

Beneficial effects of rumen-protected methionine on nitrogen-use efficiency, histological parameters, productivity and reproductive performance of ruminants

Providing essential amounts of balanced nutrients is one of the most vital aspects of livestock production. Among nutrients, protein has an essential role in many physiological functions of animals. Amino acids in needs for both high and medium yielding ruminant animals are not fully covered by microbial degraded feed sources in the rumen of animals, and they must be met by protecting the proteins from being broken down in the rumen; hence, the dietary supplementation of rumen-protected proteins (RPP), including mainly rumen-protected methionine (RPM), became imperative. Many researchers are interested in studying the role of (RPM) in ruminant animals concerning its effect on milk yield, growth performance, digestibility, dry matter intake and nitrogen utilization efficiency. Unfortunately, results obtained from several investigations regarding RPM indicated great fluctuation between its useful and useless effects in ruminant nutrition particularly during early and late lactation period; therefore, this review article may be helpful for ruminant farm owners when they decide to supplement RPM in animal’s diet. Conclusively, supplementation of RPM often has a balanced positive influence, without any reported negative impact on milk yield, growth performance and blood parameters especially in early lactating ruminant animals and when used with the low crude protein diet.

Effect of postpartum administration of ketoprofen on proinflammatory cytokine concentration and their correlation with lipogenesis and ketogenesis in Holstein dairy cows.

Early lactation period in dairy cows could be harmful to their health since it is challenging and demanding. Proinflammatory cytokine concentrations are increased in the early phase of the inflammatory response and during the early lactation period in cows. The aim of this study was to determine if ketoprofen treatment in the first days following parturition would decrease proinflammatory cytokine concentration and their correlation between lipid mobilization, ketogenesis and metabolic parameters in cows. The study was conducted on 30 cows divided into two groups of 15 cows each. The experimental group was treated with 3 mg × kg.bw.-1 ketoprofen for three consecutive days after parturition. The blood samples were collected on the first day of treatment and in the first and second week postpartum and they were analyzed for biochemical parameters such as non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), glucose, cholesterol and total bilirubine and inflammatory parameters such as tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). The results suggested that ketoprofen- treated cows had a significantly lower concentration of TNF-α, IL-1α, IFN-γ, NEFA and BHBA in the first and second postpartum week compared to the control group. Ketoprofen administration increased glucose levels (the first week, p⟨0.05), increased cholesterol levels (the second week, p⟨0.01) and decreased serum total bilirubin levels (second week, p⟨0.01) compared to the control group of cows. A positive correlation was found between TNF-α and NEFA and total bilirubin, significantly more expressed in the control than in experimental group of cows (p⟨0.01) and it was also found between IL-1α and NEFA (p⟨0.01). A negative correlation was found between TNF-α and glucose and cholesterol, significantly more expressed in the control than in experimental group of cows (p⟨0.01). A positive correlation was also found between IL-1α and glucose (p⟨0.01). Ketoprofen given parenterally to Holstein cows immediately after calving could reduce inflammation and decrease the relation between inflammatory response and lipogenesis and ketogenesis in postpartum cows.

Reproductive and developmental toxicity screening of polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate by oral gavage in rats

Polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-P) has effective antimicrobial activity against various microorganisms and has been widely used as a biocide in commercial products. However, its use as a humidifier disinfectant has provoked fatal idiopathic lung disease in South Korea, especially in pregnant or postpartum women and their young children. PHMG-P-related toxicological studies of reproduction and development in experimental animals have not been identified, and thus, we investigated the potential effects of early-stage oral exposure to PHMG-P by assessing its toxicological properties. PHMG-P was repeatedly administered by oral gavage at dose levels of 0, 13, 40 and 120 mg/kg to Sprague-Dawley rats during the pre-mating, mating, gestation and early lactation periods, and then general systemic and reproductive/developmental toxicities were investigated. At 120 mg/kg, PHMG-P-related toxicities including subdued behavior, thin appearance, decreased body weight, decreased food consumption and decreased F1 pup body weight were observed. Based on the results of this study, the no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAELs) of PHMG-P for both general systemic effects and development are considered to be 40 mg/kg/day.

Three Novel Players: PTK2B, SYK, and TNFRSF21 Were Identified to Be Involved in the Regulation of Bovine Mastitis Susceptibility via GWAS and Post-transcriptional Analysis.

Bovine mastitis is a common inflammatory disease caused by multiple factors in early lactation or dry period. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) can provide a convenient and effective strategy for understanding the biological basis of mastitis and better prevention. 2b-RADseq is a high-throughput sequencing technique that offers a powerful method for genome-wide genetic marker development and genotyping. In this study, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the immune-regulated gene correlative with mastitis were screened and identified by two stage association analysis via GWAS-2b-RADseq in Chinese Holstein cows. We have screened 10,058 high quality SNPs from 7,957,920 tags and calculated their allele frequencies. Twenty-seven significant SNPs were co-labeled in two GWAS analysis models [Bayesian (P < 0.001) and Logistic regression (P < 0.01)], and only three SNPs (rs75762330, C > T, PIC = 0.2999; rs88640083, A > G, PIC = 0.1676; rs20438858, G > A, PIC = 0.3366) were annotated to immune-regulated genes (PTK2B, SYK, and TNFRSF21). Identified three SNPs are located in non-coding regions with low or moderate genetic polymorphisms. However, independent sample population validation (Case-control study) data showed that three important SNPs (rs75762330, P < 0.025, OR > 1; rs88640083, P < 0.005, OR > 1; rs20438858, P < 0.001, OR < 1) were significantly associated with clinical mastitis trait. Importantly, PTK2B and SYK expression was down-regulated in both peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) of clinical mastitis cows and in vitro LPS (E. coli)–stimulated bovine mammary epithelial cells, while TNFRSF21 was up-regulated. Under the same conditions, expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), AKT1, and pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β and IL-8) were also up-regulated. Interestingly, network analysis indicated that PTK2B and SYK are co-expressed in innate immune signaling pathway of Chinese Holstein. Taken together, these results provided strong evidence for the study of SNPs in bovine mastitis, and revealed the role of SYK, PTK2B, and TNFRSF21 in bovine mastitis susceptibility/tolerance.

Gain and loss of subcutaneous and abdominal fat depot mass from late pregnancy to 100 days in milk in German Holsteins.

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that in times of negative energy balance around parturition in dairy cattle, lipids stored in adipocytes are mobilised in a more intensive manner out of the abdominal depots than out of the subcutaneous adipose tissues. Furthermore, the impact of niacin supplementation and energy density of the ration on adipose tissue mass gain and loss was assessed. Absolute masses of subcutaneous (SCAT), retroperitoneal (RPAT), omental (OMAT), mesenterial (MAT) and abdominal adipose tissue as a whole (AAT) were estimated by ultrasonography at -42, 3, 21 and 100 DIM. Absolute and relative daily gain during dry period (-42 to 3 DIM) and loss in fresh cow period (3 to 21 DIM) and early lactation period (22 to 100 DIM) were calculated. Feeding regime neither by niacin nor by energy density exerted any effect on adipose tissue masses. The AAT was always bigger than SCAT, but RPAT, OMAT and MAT did not differ amongst each other. All depot masses showed similar patterns with an increase during dry period and a decrease after calving. In fresh cow period AAT absolutely and relatively lost more mass than SCAT. This confirms that AAT is more intensively mobilised than SCAT during that time span. Further absolute daily gain during dry period was strongly negatively correlated with absolute daily loss during fresh cow period. This underlines the impact of individual body condition on adipose mobilisation in periparturient dairy cows. According to these results, it has to be taken into account that the largest amount of fat mobilised in the fresh cow period origins from AAT. This might impact the pattern of adipose derived metabolites and metabolic effectors interacting in physiological and deregulated adaptation to negative energy balance.