Friesian Cows Research Articles

Effect of Age at First Calving on the Reproduction Parameters, Metabolic Profile, and Fatty Acid Composition of Polish Holstein Friesian (PHF) and Crossbreds PHF × Swedish Red (SRB) Cattle

Background: The high dairy production of Polish Holstein Friesian (PHF) cows determines high energy requirements in the early stages of lactation. Unfortunately, it is very often difficult to meet this demand through feedstuffs; therefore, homeostasis may be disturbed and metabolic diseases may occur, causing a majority of cows’ health problems. Breeders are, therefore, looking for alternatives to the PHF breed using crossbreeding. Methods: This experiment involved 30 PHF cows and 30 PHF × Swedish Red (SRB) crossbred hybrid cows, divided into two age groups, <2 years and >2 years, at first calving. Milk and blood samples were collected at 35 ± 5 days postpartum for analysis. Data on reproductive performance were also analyzed. Results: This study revealed lower milk production for the crossbreds hybrid (27.44 kg compared to 32.08 kg), with a higher basic composition content than PHF cows (fat: 3.97% compared to 3.83%, protein: 3.53% compared to 3.27%). The heifers of the crossbreds hybrid reached sexual maturity earlier but did not affect the lower age at first calving. Dividing the cows into age categories provided a more detailed perspective of the impact of genotypic differences on reproductive and metabolic profiles in PHF and PHF × SRB cattle. The findings highlight the importance of considering age-specific effects when assessing the performance and health of dairy cattle with diverse genotypes. Conclusions: The choice between PHF and PHF × SRB should depend on the specific goals and priorities of the cattle farming operation. Factors such as overall milk yield requirements, market demands, reproductive management strategies, and health considerations should be carefully evaluated to determine the most suitable breed for a given farming context.

The Influence of Crossbreeding on the Composition of Protein and Fat Fractions in Milk: A Comparison Between Purebred Polish Holstein Friesian and Polish Holstein Friesian × Swedish Red Cows

Background/Objectives: In this study, the differences in protein and fat bioactive components between the milk from purebred Polish Holstein Friesian (PHF) cows and PHF cows crossbred with Swedish Red (SRB) were investigated. The objective was to assess the impact of genetic variation on the nutritional quality of their milk. Methods: This study was conducted at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences’ (WULS) experimental dairy farm in Warsaw, Poland, and involved 60 primiparous cows divided into two groups: 30 PHF×SRB crossbred cows and 30 purebred PHF cows. All cows were housed in a free-stall system with an average lactation yield exceeding 10,000 kg/lactation. The milk composition analyses included total protein, casein, whey protein, fatty acid profiles, and vitamin content. Results: Milk from the PHF×SRB hybrids showed a significantly greater total protein content (3.53%) compared to that from the purebred PHF cows (3.28%). The casein content was higher in the hybrids’ milk (2.90%) than the purebreds’ milk (2.78%), while the whey protein levels were lower in the purebred milk (0.50%) than in the hybrid milk (0.63%). The hybrids exhibited higher concentrations of certain saturated fatty acids in their milk, while the purebreds’ milk contained greater amounts of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins—E, D, and K. Conclusions: These results indicate that genetic selection through crossbreeding can enhance the nutritional quality of milk. The differences observed in protein, fatty-acid, and vitamin content underscore the role of the genotype in milk composition, suggesting that breeding strategies can optimize dairy products’ health benefits.

Cooling Effectiveness of the Sustainable Cooling Solution for Cattle: Case Study in Poland

Recently, the dairy sector has been ever more affected by global warming. This study aimed to test a novel conductive cooling system for cattle that was successfully implemented and evaluated under summer thermally challenging weather conditions in Poland. The system consists mainly of the chiller, tank, and chilled water-driven mattress, designed to prioritize animal well-being. The experimental evaluation was carried out on three Friesian dry cows, housed on different types of bedding—commercial water mattress, straw, and cooling water mattress—and supplied with water at 10 °C (day) and 16 °C (night). The cooling water mattress’ surface temperature was twice as low as that of the commercial water mattress. The animal’s thermal comfort was assessed with physiological and behavioral reactions. The cooling effect on animals’ bodies was demonstrated with a lower reticulorumen temperature of the cooled cow (p < 0.05) than the reference ones. The local effect of cooling was proved with an 8 °C-lower skin temperature after the cow’s resting period. The presented study opens a new research direction toward dairy cattle’s welfare, sustainability, and the food–energy–water nexus, based on potential energy and water savings.

Genetic assessment of productive and reproductive traits in Friesian, native, and crossbred cattle in Egypt

This study utilized a dataset comprising 3023 lactation records for Friesian cows, 596 records for Native cows (Baladi), and 1189 records for Crossbred cows spanning from 1994 to 2015. The objective was to estimate and assess genetic and phenotypic parameters and breeding values for 305-day milk yield (305-DMY), lactation period (LP), calving interval (CI), and days open (DO) within the Egyptian dairy context. The motivation for this research stemmed from the need to understand the genetic potential of different cattle genotypes in Egypt and identify opportunities for enhancing dairy production. Data were analyzed using the linear mixed model least squares and maximum likelihood (LSMLMW) and multiple-trait derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood (MTDFREML) programs. The analytical model included fixed effects such as season and year of calving, parity, and genotype groups, while random effects included animal and error. Unadjusted means for 305-DMY, LP, CI, and DO were calculated for each genotype group. Genotype groups significantly impacted all studied traits. Heritability estimates varied across genotype groups, with higher estimates observed in Crossbred (0.32, 0.26, 0.25, 0.23) and Native cows (0.26, 0.28, 0.28) compared to Friesian cows (0.24, 0.22, 0.16, 0.17) for productive and reproductive traits, respectively. Genetic correlations among traits ranged from 0.10 to 0.86 for the three genotype groups, while corresponding phenotypic correlations were generally small to moderate and positive. Regarding breeding values, the accuracy estimates suggested that both sires and cows could contribute to genetic improvement. This indicates the potential for enhancing dairy production through selective breeding strategies.

Fertility outcomes in cows with subclinical endometritis after clinical cure of clinical endometritis

Clinical endometritis (CE) is common in post-partum dairy cows and is associated with impaired reproductive performance. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of subclinical endometritis (SE) in cows clinically cured of CE on their fertility. The study was performed on 215 Holstein Friesian cows with CE diagnosed by vaginoscopy and ultrasound between 21 and 28 days after parturition. All cows were clinically examined three times at an interval of 2 weeks. Cows without signs of CE were considered cured, and endometrial samples from the uteri were collected by cytobrush to diagnose SE using cytological evaluation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) percentage. The threshold for SE was set at ≥ 5% PMNs. Intervals calving to oestrus and calving to conception, first AI pregnancy rate, pregnancy rate 200 days after artificial insemination (AI), the number of AI per pregnancy (AI/P), pregnancy loss, and culling rate were calculated. SE was diagnosed in 40.9% of cows clinically cured of CE. There were significant differences in the AI/P (3.2 vs. 2.6; p < 0.027) and the pregnancy loss (18.2% vs. 4.7%; p < 0.002) between cows with SE and without SE. Cows with SE showed a tendency towards longer interval calving to conception, lower pregnancy rate 200 days after AI, and higher culling rate. In conclusion, SE after a clinical cure of CE may reduce fertility in dairy cows.

A comprehensive analysis of the effects of DGAT1 K232A polymorphism on milk production and fertility traits in Holstein Friesian and Jersey cows reared in Türkiye

Abstract. Research on the diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) K232A marker in cattle shows inconsistent results across regions, largely due to small sample sizes, limited genetic variation, and data restricted to few lactations, which complicates establishing a reliable genotype–phenotype correlation. This research aimed to determine the effect of the K232A polymorphism of the bovine DGAT1 gene on milk production and quality traits in dairy cattle. We used 1104 cattle, including 828 Holstein Friesian and 276 Jersey cows. The analysis utilized extensive data from six lactations of cows raised on four commercial dairy farms. We genotyped the population using the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique and Sanger sequencing for verification. We then evaluated the 305 d and test-day milk yields as well as fat and protein yields and percentages. The number of inseminations per conception and calving ease were also assessed as reproduction indices. Genotype–phenotype associations were quantified using linear mixed models. The AA genotype was absent in Jersey cows, and the heterozygous genotype was predominant in both breeds. The K232A marker was significantly associated with test-day milk yield, fat, and protein content in Jersey cows. Further, it substantially affected the fat percentage of milk in Holstein Friesian cows (p&lt;0.001). We found that the KK genotype is highly desirable for milk quality and especially fat content. This comprehensive assessment demonstrated that the KK genotype of the DGAT1 K232A polymorphism significantly influenced fat and protein contents in dairy cattle.

Exonic mutations of POU class 1 homeobox 1 are associated with milk pH in high-producing Holstein Friesian cows

Background and Aim: Milk physicochemical properties play essential role in the milk processing industry, which are moderately to highly affected by genetic factors. This study aimed to evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in POU class 1 homeobox 1 (POU1F1) and the physicochemical properties of milk in high-producing Holstein Friesian (HF) cows. Materials and Methods: A total of 149 high-producing dairy cows from PT Ultra Peternakan Bandung Selatan was included in this study. The physicochemical properties of milk, including density, freezing point, pH, lactose, solid non-fat, protein, and ash content, were determined. Moreover, three polymorphisms within the exon regions of POU1F1 (c.195G&gt;A, c.300G&gt;T, and c.828G&gt;A) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The association between these polymorphisms and the physicochemical properties of milk was determined using a mixed-effects model analysis, in which the lactation period was used as a covariate. Results: This study found that two polymorphisms, c.195G&gt;A and c.828G&gt;A, significantly affected the pH of fresh milk. Cows with both the GG genotypes c.195G&gt;A and c.828G&gt;A had lower milk pH values than those with the other genotypes. In addition, a non-significant effect of POU1F1 was observed on the other physicochemical properties of milk. Conclusion: Two POU1F1 polymorphisms determined the pH of fresh milk in the Indonesian HF population. These are potential marker candidates for milk pH that directly affect the development of dairy products in the milk processing industry. Keywords: exonic mutation, Holstein Friesian, milk pH, physicochemical properties, POU1F1.

Lactation stage-specific variations in health and lipid-associated milk fat globule membrane proteins in Holstein Friesian cow and Murrah buffalo

Bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) proteins are crucial to calf health and human nutrition, but a knowledge gap exists for its lactation stage-specific variations in cows and buffaloes. This study employed mass spectrometry to identify the inter- and intra-lactation stage-specific MFGM proteins in Murrah buffalo (Mu) and Holstein Friesian cow (HF). Mu exhibited higher proteins (n=264) than HF (n=250); utilizing multivariate analysis, differentially abundant proteins (n=78 in HF, n=31 in Mu) were identified specific to lactation stages. The MFGM proteins were categorized into health-associated (47.1%), lipid-associated proteins (44.1%), and shared proteins (8.8%). HF milk contained all health-associated proteins detected in Mu, besides possessing unique proteins (e.g., BTN1A1, SAA3, and ENPP3), including lipid-associated proteins that contributed to improved calf immunity. These results suggest HF milk is more suitable for calf health and dairy product development, including expanding our understanding of lactation stage-specific MFGM proteins and highlighting their potential health benefits.

Effects of season on metabolic profile of Holstein Friesian cows in postpartum period

The aim of the present study was to determine the metabolic profile of Holstein-Friesian cows in the postpartum period, as well as the effect of season on metabolic profile. The postpartum period is essential in the reproductive life of high yielding dairy cows because of its impact on future gravidity. This study included 60 cows up to 15 days after parturition, aged 2-8 years (the largest number of cows was between 3 and 5 years old) with no apparent clinical problems. Cows were sampled in summer season (n=30) and winter season (n=30). Parameters of metabolic profile were determined as follows: glucose, albumin, total protein, cholesterol, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Statistical differences were considered significant at the p&lt;0.05. Present research showed that all investigated parameters were within a reference range for cattle. Impact of season sampling was determined for glucose, albumin, total protein, cholesterol and phosphorus, while bilirubin, calcium, magnesium, urea as well as activities of ALT, AST and LDH were unaffected by the season of sampling. In conclusion, metabolic status is affected by the season and examination during the postpartum period can provide valuable information of cows' health status, in order to diagnose and moreover prevent postpartum diseases.

Association of Production and Selected Dimensional Conformation Traits in Holstein Friesian Cows.

The objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of dairy production traits and that for dimensional traits and to calculate the correlation between the two heritability values in a Holstein Friesian cow herd bred in Hungary. Data of 15,032 Holstein Friesian cows born in the period 2008-2018 from 666 sires were collected for the study in 6 large dairy herds. Among the conformation traits, stature (ST), chest width (CW), body depth (BD), and rump width (RW), and for production traits, in the first lactation of cows, the 305-day milk yield (MY), milk butterfat yield (FY), and milk protein yield (MY) were evaluated. Heritability estimates of ST, CW, BD, and RW were 0.49, 0.25, 0.31, and 0.30, and those of MY, FY, and PY were 0.40, 0.35, and 0.30, respectively. BD and RW had no phenotypic (b = -0.01) or genetic (b = 0.00-0.01) change. The production traits (MY, FY, PY) increased to a greater extent (b = 2.2-43.3) than the examined conformation traits over time. Consequently, it is indicated that the selection for dairy production did not result in an increase in the studied dimensional traits.

Genome-Wide Association Study for Milk Somatic Cell Score in Holstein Friesian Cows in Slovenia.

Mastitis is a serious challenge for the dairy industry, leading to economic losses and affecting milk quality. The aim of this study is to identify genetic factors associated with mastitis resistance by conducting a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for the somatic cell score (SCS). Phenotypic records of 350 Holstein Friesian cows were obtained from the Slovenian Cattle Recording Scheme Database and consisted of around 1500 lactation data from 2012 to 2023 collected on a single farm in Slovenia. Corresponding genotypic data were also retrieved from the same database and genotyped using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip (Illumina, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). For the association study, three SCS parameters were considered, including lactation mean somatic cell score (LM_SCS), maximum SCS value (SCSMAX), and top three mean value of SCS (TOP3). After performing a GWAS using FarmCPU and BLINK models, five significant SNPs associated with the TOP3 trait were found on BTA 14, 15, 22, and 29. The identified SNP markers were closely linked to six known candidate genes (DNASE1L3, SLC36A4, ARMC1, PDE7A, MMP13, CD44). These results indicate potential genetic markers associated with SCS in the Slovenian Holstein Friesian population.

Analysis of Inflammatory and Regulatory Cytokines in the Milk of Dairy Cows with Mastitis: A Comparative Study with Healthy Animals

ABSTRACT Bovine mastitis remains a major problem in the global dairy cattle industry. The acute invasion of udder by pathogens induces innate immune response as the first defence mechanism in subclinical and clinical mastitis. The aim of the study was to determine inflammatory and regulatory cytokines IL-2, IL-4, TGF-β1, IL-17A, beta-defensin 3 and IL-10 and their potential changes in milk of dairy cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis, and to compare the findings with healthy animals. Milk samples from 15 holstein Friesian breed cows were used in the study. Cows were divided into three groups based on their health status (5 healthy, 5 subclinical and 5 clinical animals). All samples were tested using immunohistochemistry to evaluate IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL17A, TGF-β1 and β-Def 3 proteins. Expression of all proteins was detected in all milk samples. High expression of IL-2, IL-4, IL17A, TGF-β1 was detected in healthy cows’ milk and in milk of cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis. However, expression of IL-10 and β-Def 3 in milk samples of healthy cows was significantly higher compared to the milk of cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis (p < .001). IL-10 and β-Def 3 can be considered as informative biomarkers in diagnosis of subclinical and clinical mastitis.

PSV-2 Rumen fluid metabolomics of dairy cows fed combinations of essential oil blend, onion peel extract and prebiotics using the RUSITEC system

Abstract Dairy products have a crucial role in the diets of over 6 billion people worldwide, providing essential nutrients such as energy, high-quality protein, and micronutrients. With dairy cows accounting for nearly 81% of global milk production, strategies to increase milk production sustainably are vital, especially with the U.S. being the second-largest producer. Essential oil blends (EOB), onion peel extract (OPE), and prebiotics such as mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) offer promising avenues to enhance bovine milk production. These additives have the potential to modify rumen ecology and fermentation activity, while also mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in dairy cows. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of combining EOB, OPE, GOS, and/or MOS on specific rumen metabolites and metabolic pathways using the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) system. Rumen-cannulated non-lactating Holstein Friesian cows (n = 3) were used as rumen fluid donors. Total mixed ration (TMR) consisted of corn silage (60%), alfalfa hay (20%), and concentrate (20%). Using a completely randomized design, 16 fermentation vessels were divided into 4 groups with 4 replicates each over a 9-d period. The treatments included a control group (CON; TMR only), GEO (TMR+GOS+EOB+OPE), MEO (TMR+MOS+EOB+OPE), and OLEO (TMR+OLG+EOB+OPE). The EOB comprised of garlic, lemongrass, cumin, lavender, and nutmeg (4:2:2:1:1), while OLG contained GOS and MOS in equal proportions. EOB was added at 10 µL/g, and OPE, GOS, MOS, and OLG were included at 30 mg/g TMR. Rumen effluents were collected over 5 d for quantitative untargeted metabolome analysis. Analysis of rumen effluents using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and MetaboAnalyst 5.0 revealed 495 detected and identified metabolites. Volcano plot analysis showed no significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) in metabolite abundance between the CON and MEO, GEO, or OLEO treatments. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) also indicated no clear separation between the CON and treatment groups, suggesting no significant alteration in the metabolome. Compared with CON, the relative concentrations of dopamine 4-O-glucuronide, proline, and histamine were less while pyrocatechol was greater in MEO group. Isomer 1 of 2-hydroxyhepta-2,4-dienedioic acid, histamine, and dopamine 4-O-glucuronide were less while 2-aminomuconic acid and isomer 1 of hulupinic acid were greater in the GEO group. Histamine was less and hydroxypyridine was greater in the OLEO group. Phosphonate and phosphinate metabolism tended to be upregulated in OLEO. Meanwhile, metabolic pathways related to amino acids, vitamins, nitrogen metabolism, and primary bile acid biosynthesis remained unaltered by MEO, GEO and OLEO treatments. In summary, the study demonstrated that the inclusion of MEO, GEO, and OLEO had no adverse effects on rumen metabolites. Future research should focus on combinations of nutraceuticals that could positively impact nutrient metabolism and production performance of dairy cows.

Milk yield prediction in Friesian cows using linear and flexible discriminant analysis under assumptions violations

BackgroundThe application of novel technologies is now widely used to assist in making optimal decisions. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and flexible discriminant analysis (FDA) in classifying and predicting Friesian cattle’s milk production into low (\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\:<$$\\end{document}4500 kg), medium (4500–7500 kg), and high (\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\:>$$\\end{document}7500 kg) categories. A total of 3793 lactation records from cows calved between 2009 and 2020 were collected to examine some predictors such as age at first calving (AFC), lactation order (LO), days open (DO), days in milk (DIM), dry period (DP), calving season (CFS), 305-day milk yield (305-MY), calving interval (CI), and total breeding per conception (TBRD).ResultsThe comparison between LDA and FDA models was based on the significance of coefficients, total accuracy, sensitivity, precision, and F1-score. The LDA results revealed that DIM and 305-MY were the significant (P < 0.001) contributors for data classification, while the FDA was a lactation order. Classification accuracy results showed that the FDA model performed better than the LDA model in expressing accuracies of correctly classified cases as well as overall classification accuracy of milk yield. The FDA model outperformed LDA in both accuracy and F1-score. It achieved an accuracy of 82% compared to LDA’s 71%. Similarly, the F1-score improved from a range of 0.667 to 0.79 for LDA to a higher range of 0.81 to 0.83 for FDA.ConclusionThe findings of this study demonstrated that FDA was more resistant than LDA in case of assumption violations. Furthermore, the current study showed the feasibility and efficacy of LDA and FDA in interpreting and predicting livestock datasets.

Effects of Summer Cooling Strategies on Post-Summer Cow Welfare: Evaluating Lameness and Behavior

The study aimed to compare the effect of different summer cooling strategies on post-summer lameness prevalence and behavior in Holstein Friesian cows. Twenty-one milking cows were randomly subjected to three different cooling strategies including: 1) a traditional approach (TRD), where cows were continuously cooled using a sprinkler during the daytime; 2) a reduced cooling strategy (2CS), which involved two cooling sessions of one hour each; and 3) increased cooling sessions strategy (4CS), with four cooling sessions daily. Each cooling session lasted for 1 h with a 12 min cycle (3 min water on and 9 min off) with a sprinkler flow rate of 1.25 L/min. The cows' lameness scores, lying behavior, standing behavior, and step counts were assessed during the post-summer period. The results revealed that the 4CS group had lower lameness prevalence compared to the TRD and 2CS groups (p = 0.015). Furthermore, the TRD and 2CS groups exhibited higher lying times and lower standing times during post-summer (p &lt; 0.05), potentially indicating lameness pain and discomfort. Additionally, the step counts were lowest in the TRD group, fol-lowed by the 2CS and 4CS groups (p &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, the continuous sprinkling (TRD) as a cooling strategy during summer showed potential negative consequences on post-summer cow welfare. The study highlights the significant influence of cooling strategies on post-summer cow welfare, emphasizing the need for considering long-term effects beyond the summer season.

A New Approach to Recording Rumination Behavior in Dairy Cows.

Rumination behavior in cattle can provide valuable information for monitoring health status and animal welfare, but continuous monitoring is essential to detect changes in rumination behavior. In a previous study validating the use of a respiration rate sensor equipped with a triaxial accelerometer, the regurgitation process was also clearly visible in the pressure and accelerometer data. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to measure the individual lengths of rumination cycles and to validate whether the sensor data showed the same number of regurgitations as those counted visually (video or direct observation). For this purpose, 19 Holstein Friesian cows equipped with a respiration rate sensor were observed for two years, with a focus on rumination behavior. The results showed a mean duration of 59.27 ± 9.01 s (mean ± SD) per rumination cycle and good agreement (sensitivity: 99.1-100%, specificity: 87.8-95%) between the two methods (sensor and visual observations). However, the frequency of data streaming (continuously or every 30 s) from the sensor to the data storage system strongly influenced the classification performance. In the future, an algorithm and a data cache will be integrated into the sensor to provide rumination time as an additional output.

Connections between Endometrial Health Status, Fatty Liver and Expression of Endocannabinoid System Genes in Endometrium of Postpartum Dairy Cows.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a crucial role in reproductive health, but its function in postpartum dairy cows remains poorly understood. This study investigated the expression patterns of ECS-related genes in the endometrium of postpartum dairy cows and their associations with endometrial health and the presence of fatty liver. Endometrial biopsies were collected from 22 Holstein Friesian cows at 4 and 7 weeks postpartum. Gene expression was analyzed using RT-qPCR, focusing on key ECS components including CNR2, MGLL, FAAH1, NAAA, NAPEPLD, PADI4 and PTGDS. The results reveal dynamic changes in ECS gene expression associated with endometritis and fatty liver. MGLL expression was significantly upregulated in cows with endometritis at 7 weeks postpartum, while NAAA expression was consistently downregulated in cows with fatty liver. CNR2 showed a time-dependent pattern in endometritis, and PTGDS expression was elevated in clinical endometritis at 4 weeks postpartum. The presence of fatty liver was associated with altered expression patterns of several ECS genes, suggesting a link between metabolic stress and endometrial ECS function. These findings indicate a potential role for the ECS in postpartum uterine health and recovery, offering new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive disorders in dairy cows and paving the way for novel therapeutic approaches.

Response of bovine endometrium to interferon tau in the presence of lipopolysaccharide

We recently demonstrated that conceptus-derived interferon tau (IFNT), responsible for maternal recognition in cattle, acts on the uterus in a dose- and time-dependent manner by upregulating key interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) in the endometrium. In high producing dairy cows, postpartum uterine infection is a major factor influencing fertility and pregnancy outcome. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin of Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, generates an altered uterine environment by inducing excessive inflammation at the maternal-conceptus interface. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether the endometrial response to IFNT is altered in the presence of LPS. Endometrial explants were isolated from uteri collected at a local abattoir from Holstein Friesian cows (n = 8) during the mid-luteal stage of the estrous cycle, and cultured in RPMI medium for 24 h in 5 % CO2 in humidified air without (control), or with IFNT (100 ng/mL), a single Day 15 conceptus, LPS (1 μg/mL), both IFNT and LPS, or both a Day 15 conceptus and LPS. Incubation with IFNT and a Day 15 conceptus up-regulated (P < 0.05) well-known classical ISGs (ISG15, OAS1, MX1 and MX2) as well as other candidate ISGs (CMPK2, IFI35, TRIM38 and TNFSF10) and down-regulated expression of IL1B in endometrial explants. Incubation with LPS increased (P < 0.05) abundance of NFKB1 (a key transcription factor involved in inflammatory and immune response), TNFA, IL1B and IL6 (pro-inflammatory cytokines), IL10 (anti-inflammatory cytokine), IL8, CXCL1, CXCL3 and CCL2 (chemokines), and, to a lesser extent, classical ISGs in endometrial explants. However, LPS did not alter endometrial response to IFNT, irrespective of IFNT concentration (1, 10 or 100 ng/mL). Results suggest that the expression of ISGs, up-regulated by conceptus-derived IFNT, is not altered in the endometrium in the presence of LPS; however, the increased expression of inflammation-related genes induced by LPS indicate an altered endometrial immune response that may be associated with compromised pregnancy establishment or pregnancy failure.

Effect of Postbiotic Supplementation on Nutrient Digestibility and Milk Yield during the Transition Period in Dairy Cows.

The metabolites secreted by probiotics or released after their lysis are called postbiotics. They provide physiological benefits to the host, preventing the colonisation of pathogens by improving the intestinal environment for beneficial commensal bacteria, which reduces the incidence of digestive disorders and improves the immune system. The aim of this work was to evaluate the addition of postbiotics to dairy cow rations during the transition period on nutrient digestibility, composition, and milk yield. The effects of two postbiotics were evaluated in twelve Friesian cows from 30 days before calving to two months of lactation. The animals were randomly allocated to two treatment groups: control (CT) and supplemented with postbiotics (PC and PR). Feeding was ad libitum with 60/40 of forage/concentrate ratio on dry matter basis. Daily feed intake and milk production were recorded individually throughout the study. Two digestibility balances were performed, one before parturition and one after parturition. Colostrum was sampled at first milking and milk was sampled weekly. Data were analysed using a mixed mode in R software 4.4.1. The results suggest that postbiotic supplementation in late gestation and early lactation increase the voluntary intake of dry matter, especially in the PR treatment, with higher apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fibre. Both treatments including postbiotics induced an increase in colostral immunoglobulin concentration. Milk production of cows receiving the PC treatment was the highest, with high fat and protein yields and a higher persistence of the production curve throughout the lactation.

Structural Characterization and Abundance of Sialylated Milk Oligosaccharides in Holstein Cows during Early Lactation.

Among other bioactive molecules, milk contains high amounts of sialylated milk oligosaccharides (MOs) that influence numerous processes in the offspring. For instance, sialylated MOs inhibit the invasion of pathogens and positively influence the gut microbiome to support the optimal development of the offspring. For these reasons, sialylated MOs are also used in infant formula as well as food supplements and are potential therapeutic substances for humans and animals. Because of the high interest in sialylated bovine MOs (bMOs), we used several analytical approaches, such as gas and liquid chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry, to investigate in detail the profile of sialylated bMOs in the milk of Holstein Friesian cows during early lactation. Most of the 40 MOs identified in this study were sialylated, and a rapid decrease in all detected sialylated bMOs took place during the first day of lactation. Remarkably, we observed a high variance within the sialylation level during the first two days after calving. Therefore, our results suggest that the content of sialylated MOs might be an additional quality marker for the bioactivity of colostrum and transitional milk to ensure its optimized application for the production of milk replacer and food supplements.