Opsonic activity in mammary secretion and serum of gilts during the lactation period.

Opsonic activity was studied in mammary secretion and serum during lactation in four healthy gilts. The opsonic activity was determined as peak chemiluminescence and time to peak chemiluminescence in a luminol enhanced chemiluminescence assay. The peak chemiluminescence was significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in mammary secretion around parturition than later in lactation. No changes in the opsonic activity were seen in serum during lactation. Overall, the peak chemiluminescence and time to peak chemiluminescence were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) and shorter (p less than 0.05) respectively, in serum than in mammary secretion. The present study indicates that the opsonic activity is highest in mammary secretion around parturition but decreases later in lactation, and that this change is confined to the mammary gland.     

藏香猪母猪泌乳期日粮不同精粗比对仔猪增重及血清生化指标的影响

试验旨在研究泌乳期藏香猪母猪日粮精粗配比对仔猪增重和免疫力的影响。选择年龄、胎次和体况相近的泌乳期藏香猪母猪30头,随机分为3组,每组10头;3组母猪日粮的能量和蛋白水平相同,而粗饲料添加量分别为5%、10%和15%,试验期28 d。测定仔猪的日增重、成活率、母猪的耗料量以及血清中的IgM、IgG、CHOL、IgA的含量。结果表明:泌乳期藏香猪母猪日粮中添加5%、10%和15%的燕麦青干草,对仔猪日增重无显著影响(P>0.05);5%组和10%组仔猪成活率无明显差异,但分别比15%组高12.72%和12.57%;母猪耗料量随日粮中粗饲料添加量的提高而增加;日粮中添加10%燕麦青干草组的仔猪28日龄血清免疫球蛋白IgM和IgA显著高于其它两组(P<0.05);IgG和CHOL各组之间差异不显著(P>0.05)。结果显示,藏香猪母猪泌乳期日粮中添加10%的燕麦青干草较为适宜。     

Biochemical markers of bone turnover in the dairy cow during lactation and the dry period

We measured a bone-formation marker recognizing osteocalcin, and a bone-resorption marker recognizing C-telopeptide (CT(x)) fragments of collagen type I, in a longitudinal study. The levels of these markers in the plasma of dairy cows (n=11) were recorded over a 12 month postpartum period, including a full lactation and a dry period. The plasma concentration of CT(x) was highest in the first week after parturition. It then declined slowly over the next 33 weeks and remained low until the next parturition. Osteocalcin concentration was lowest around parturition, reached a plateau during mid-lactation, then fell again towards term. There were large variations in bone metabolism during a lactation, that were not directly related to milk production. These results may be used to facilitate appropriate adjustments to calcium and phosphorous concentrations in the diet, reflecting the specific needs of each stage of the reproductive cycle.     

Mink dam weight changes during the lactation period I. Genetic and Environmental Effects

Records from 570 scanblack mink dams with 786 lactations in the period 1989–94 were used to estimate genetic parameters for body weight and weight changes during the lactation period from parturition to 6 weeks post‐partum. Direct additive effects and effects of permanent environment were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) in univariate and bivariate models.

During the first 6 weeks of lactation, the dam lost around 15% (169 g) of the body weight at parturition, the main part, 10% (112 g), during the last 2 weeks. Older dams lost more weight than yearling dams, especially during the late part of the lactation period. Dams fed ad libitum had a higher body weight during the last part of the lactation period. The litter size, the sex of the kits and the litter weight influenced weight loss of the dam, especially in the late part of the lactation period.

The heritability of the direct additive effect was intermediate to high for body weight (h² _a ～ 0.39–0.58), but lower for weight changes (h² _a ～ 0.15–0.38). The permanent environmental effect was important for the total body weight (c² ～ 0.23–0.30) and less important for weight changes (c² ～ 0.13), but still significant. The repeatability for weight changes between parities was intermediate to high (r ～ 0.19–0.52).     

Intermittent suckling during an extended lactation period: effects on piglet behavior

The objectives of the current study were to determine how intermittent suckling (IS) affects nursing behavior, litter activity, and general behavioral patterns during lactation, and whether IS during an extended lactation period results in behavioral patterns associated with piglet distress. Intermittent suckling was applied either with 6-h separation intervals (IS6) or with 12-h separation intervals (IS12) and was compared with the conventional treatment (CT). In the CT (n = 17 litters), sows were continuously present until weaning (d 21, d 0 = farrowing). In both IS6 and IS12, sows were separated from their litter for 12 h/d, beginning at d 14 and lasting until weaning (d 43 +/- 1 d). In IS6, litters (n = 14) and sows were separated from 0800 to 1400 and from 2000 to 0200; in IS12 litters (n = 14) and sows were separated between 0800 and 2000. In IS litters, the activity pattern over the 24-h cycle was markedly changed by IS; litter activity was lower (P < 0.001) during sow absence and greater (P < 0.001) during sow presence compared with the unweaned CT litters. Moreover, both total nursing frequency (P < 0.001) and the percentage (P < 0.002) of successful nursings were reduced by IS. Although total nursing frequency was greater in IS6 compared with IS12 (on d 21 and 28), no differences in the frequency of successful nursings existed between IS6 and IS12 from d 14 onward. Eating behavior was increased shortly after the onset of IS (d 17) in both IS6 (P = 0.059) and IS12 (P < 0.001) compared with the unweaned CT litters. The IS12 litters showed more eating behavior compared with IS6 and their exploratory behavior increased in time (P < 0.001), whereas IS6 showed more nursing behavior. Aggressive or manipulative behavior of both IS treatments was similar compared with the unweaned CT, and remained relatively unaltered with time in IS12 and IS6. Weaning in the CT resulted in more manipulative (P < 0.001) and aggressive (P = 0.004) behavior compared with pre-weaning values. Intermittent suckling may contribute to adaptation to the postweaning state by stimulating eating behavior, without causing obvious behavioral distress.     

Trematode infections in pregnant ewes can predispose to mastitis during the subsequent lactation period

Objective was to investigate if trematode infections predispose ewes to mastitis and/or metritis. We used 80 trematode-infected ewes: primigravidae in group P-A and multigravidae in M-A remained untreated, primigravidae in P-B and multigravidae in M-B were drenched with netobimin and multigravidae in M-C were given rafoxanide. We collected faecal samples for parasitological examination, blood samples for β-hydroxybutyrate concentration measurement and uterine content, teat duct material and milk samples for bacteriological examination. We found significant differences in blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations between M-A, M-B and M-C during pregnancy (P ? 0.002). We did not observe significant differences between groups regarding development of metritis (P > 0.83). We found that for M-A, M-B and M-C ewes, respectively, median time to first case of mastitis was 5.75, 21 and 6.75 days after lambing (P = 0.003) and incidence risk of mastitis was 0.308, 0.069 and 0.222 (P = 0.047). We postulate that trematode infections predispose ewes to mastitis; perhaps, increased β-hydroxybutyrate blood concentrations adversely affect mammary cellular defences. This is the first report associating parasitic infections with mastitis in sheep.     

Vitamin E concentration in the blood serum of sows during pregnancy and lactation]

The dynamics of vitamin E in the blood serum of sows of the Slovak Large White breed was studied from the 10th day of gravidity to the 20th day of lactation. A slight variation was observed in the average values of serum vitamin E from the 10th to the 50th day of gravidity (from 0.134 to 0.122 and 0.129 mg per 100 ml). A rise to the absolutely highest average values of serum concentration of vitamin E, 0.166 mg per 100 ml, was ascertained in the period from the 70th to the 90th day of gravidity. In the subsequent period, i.e. 110th day of gravidity, the value dropped to 0.120 mg per 100 ml, and on the 5th day of lactation the absolutely lowest value (0.095 mg per 100 ml) for the whole study was obtained. On the 20th day of lactation the serum concentration of vitamin E increased on an average to 0.103 mg per 100 ml. These data indicate the critical periods in the levels of vitamin E; these are from the 90th to the 100th day of gravidity and the first days of lactation when the concentration of vitamin E markedly decreases. If vitamin E is not supplemented to the sows during gravidity in sufficient amounts, preclinical and clinical vitamin E deficiency can be expected to occur.     

The prophylactic effect of a teat sealer on bovine mastitis during the dry period and the following lactation

AIM: To determine the prophylactic efficacy of a teat sealer, administered at drying off, in reducing new intramammary infections in the dry period and the following lactation. METHODS: A total of 528 cows with late lactation somatic cell counts <2 00,000 cells/ml was identified in three commercial herds. Of these, bacteriological examination showed 482 cows were uninfected in all four quarters and 46 were infected in only one quarter. At drying off, uninfected quarters were randomly allocated to the following treatments: no infusion (negative controls), infusion with a bismuth subnitrate based teat sealer, infusion with teat sealer + antibiotic, or infusion with a cephalonium-based dry cow antibiotic (positive control). New infections were identified during the dry period by periodic udder palpations and at calving by bacteriological culture. RESULTS: All three infused treatments reduced the incidence of new intramammary infections due to Streptococcus uberis, both during the dry period and at calving, by about 90% (p <0.01). The majority of the infections were due to Streptococcus uberis. For all treatments, a 50% lower incidence of clinical mastitis over the first 5 months of the ensuing lactation was reported by farmers. X-ray imaging of 19 teats showed that the teat sealer material was retained, at least in part, in the lower teat sinus over about 100 days of the dry period. CONCLUSIONS: Closure of the teat canal from day one of the dry period as achieved by the teat sealer was as effective in reducing new dry period infections as the infusion of a long-acting dry cow antibiotic formulation. The lower incidence of new infections in the ensuing lactation among the infused quarters implies that fewer subclinical infections persisted from the dry period. Use of teat sealers at drying off appears to offer the same prophylactic efficacy as the dry cow antibiotic approach.     

Expression of fibroblast growth factor 21 in the liver of dairy cows in the transition period and during lactation

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been identified as a novel hormonal factor involved in the regulation of metabolic adaptations during energy deprivation. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of the FGF21 gene in the liver of dairy cows during the transition from pregnancy to lactation. Therefore, the relative mRNA abundance of FGF21 in liver biopsy samples of 20 dairy cows in late pregnancy (3 weeks pre‐partum) and early lactation (1, 5, 14 weeks post‐partum) was determined. It was observed that hepatic mRNA abundance of FGF21 at 1 week post‐partum was dramatically increased (110‐fold) compared to 3 weeks pre‐partum (p < 0.001). With progress of lactation, mRNA concentration of FGF21 was declining; nevertheless, mRNA abundance at 5 and 14 weeks post‐partum remained 25‐ and 10‐fold increased compared to 3 weeks pre‐partum (p < 0.001). Using a gene array technique, it was found that many genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis were up‐regulated during early lactation compared to late pregnancy. Moreover, there were positive linear correlations between hepatic mRNA concentration of FGF21 and mRNA concentrations of genes involved in ketogenesis as well as carnitine synthesis and carnitine uptake at various time‐points during lactation, indicating that FGF21 could play a role in ketogenesis and carnitine metabolism in the liver of dairy cows (p < 0.05). In overall, the present study shows that expression of the FGF21 gene is strongly up‐regulated during the transition period. It is assumed that the up‐regulation of FGF21 might play an important role in the adaptation of liver metabolism during early lactation in dairy cows such as in other species.     

发酵玉米秸秆对泌乳期奶牛生产性能及经济效益的影响

为了研究发酵玉米秸秆对泌乳期奶牛生产性能的影响,试验选择30头胎次、产奶量相近的健康泌乳期荷斯坦奶牛,随机分为3组,各组精饲料相同,对照组粗饲料为羊草和未处理秸秆,试验1组为低量菌发酵秸秆,试验2组为高量菌发酵秸秆。结果表明：整个试验期（60 d）内,与对照组相比,试验1,2组奶牛干物质采食量及产奶量均显著提高（P〈0.05）,经济效益也显著提高（P〈0.05）,试验1组经济收入净增127.09元,试验2组净增124.05元。     

Diarrhoea during lactation lostridia

1引言 梭状芽孢杆菌属包括许多种类的大的杆状孢子厌氧菌,这些菌能产生许多具有很强致病性的病菌毒素.因此梭状芽孢杆菌疫苗常含有灭活的毒素,以抵抗毒素的作用.所幸的是,许多这类毒素都是高分子量的蛋白质,因此具有很好的免疫原性,能诱导高水平的抗体.     

Role of nutraceuticals during the transition period of dairy cows: a review

The transition period of dairy cattle is characterized by a number of metabolic, endocrine, physiologic, and immune adaptations, including the occurrence of negative energy balance, hypocalcemia, liver dysfunction, overt systemic inflammatory response, and oxidative stress status. The degree and length of time during which these systems remain out of balance could render cows more susceptible to disease, poor reproductive outcomes, and less efficient for milk production and quality. Studies on both monogastrics and ruminants have reported the health benefits of nutraceuticals(e.g. probiotics, prebiotics, dietary lipids, functional peptides, phytoextracts) beyond nutritional value, interacting at different levels of the animal's physiology. From a physiological standpoint, it seems unrealistic to disregard any systemic inflammatory processes. However, an alternate approach is to modulate the inflammatory process per se and to resolve the systemic response as quickly as possible.To this aim, a growing body of literature underscores the efficacy of nutraceuticals(active compounds) during the critical phase of the transition period. Supplementation of essential fatty acids throughout a 2-month period(i.e. a month before and a month after calving) successfully attenuates the inflammatory status with a quicker resolution of phenomenon. In this context, the inflammatory and immune response scenario has been recognized to be targeted by the beneficial effect of methyl donors, such as methionine and choline, directly and indirectly modulating such response with the increase of antioxidants GSH and taurine. Indirectly by the establishment of a healthy gastrointestinal tract, yeast and yeast-based products showed to modulate the immune response, mitigating negative effects associated with parturition stress and consequent disorders.The use of phytoproducts has garnered high interest because of their wide range of actions on multiple tissue targets encompassing a series of antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, immune-stimulating, rumen fermentation, and microbial modulation effects. In this review, we provide perspectives on investigations of regulating the immune responses and metabolism using several nutraceuticals in the periparturient cow.     

哺乳期仔猪梭状芽杆菌性腹泻

1引言梭状芽孢杆菌属包括许多种类的大的杆状孢子厌氧菌,这些菌能产生许多具有很强致病性的病菌毒素。因此梭状芽孢杆菌疫苗常含有灭活的毒素,以抵抗毒素的作用。所幸的是,许多这类毒素都是高分子量的蛋白质,因此     

酵母培养物对泌乳期荷斯坦奶牛生产性能及乳品质的影响

为了研究酵母培养物对泌乳期荷斯坦奶牛生产性能及乳品质的影响,探讨酵母培养物在改良饲料风味、提高奶产量与乳品质方面的应用效果.本试验选取20头体况接近的奶牛配对分成两组,对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组用1.38%酵母培养物替代等量精料,预试期9 d,正试期30 d,测定试验组与对照组的采食量、产奶量及乳品质变化情况.结果表明:奶牛日粮中添加酵母培养物30 d后采食量、乳脂率、乳蛋白率、乳糖率、非脂固形物和乳密度分别提高了2.90%、0.61%、0.66%、1.25%、0.80%和2.69%(P>0.05),标准乳产量显著提高了3.70%(P<0.05).奶牛日粮中添加酵母培养物对促进奶牛采食及泌乳效果明显,能一定程度提高泌乳奶牛的生产效益.     

Treatment of mastitis during lactation

Treatment of mastitis should be based on bacteriological diagnosis and take national and international guidelines on prudent use of antimicrobials into account. In acute mastitis, where bacteriological diagnosis is not available, treatment should be initiated based on herd data and personal experience. Rapid bacteriological diagnosis would facilitate the proper selection of the antimicrobial. Treating subclinical mastitis with antimicrobials during lactation is seldom economical, because of high treatment costs and generally poor efficacy. All mastitis treatment should be evidence-based, i.e., the efficacy of each product and treatment length should be demonstrated by scientific studies. Use of on-farm written protocols for mastitis treatment promotes a judicious use of antimicrobials and reduces the use of antimicrobials.     

Plasma vitamin C concentration is not related to the incidence of ketosis in dairy cows during the early lactation period

Many animals including cattle can synthesize vitamin C from glucose. The objective of this study was to investigate plasma vitamin C concentration in ketotic cows during the early lactation period because glucose supply for vitamin C synthesis might be limited in these cows. We measured plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentration in 118 cows within 2 months after parturition. Subclinical/clinical ketosis was quantitatively determined using a plasma BHBA threshold of 1,200 microM. Plasma glucose concentration was lower in the ketotic cows than in the control cows but plasma vitamin C concentration did not differ between the control and the ketotic cows. Then we measured plasma vitamin C, BHBA and glucose levels in 7 cows during the periparturient period. Plasma BHBA increased and plasma glucose decreased after parturition but plasma vitamin C did not change. These results indicate that plasma vitamin C is not related to the incidence of ketosis in the early lactation period. We suggest that ketotic cows have the ability to produce vitamin C to meet its requirement in the early lactation period although glucose supply is not sufficient for milk production. Vitamin C synthesis is possibly given a high metabolic-priority for glucose in lactating cows.     

绒山羊泌乳期诱导发情效果及相关生殖激素变化

旨在研究燕山绒山羊母羊泌乳期诱导发情的效果及对相关生殖激素变化的影响。选择经产、体质量约为45 kg的泌乳期母羊45只,随机分为A、B和C组,分别于产后25,35,45 d采用孕酮阴道硅胶栓(CIDR)+促卵泡素(FSH)的方法诱导发情,统计96 h内发情率,在埋栓的0,4,9,13 d及试验羊发情时采血检测FSH、促黄体素(LH)、催乳素(PRL)、雌激素(E_2)和孕酮(P_4)浓度。结果显示,A、B和C组的发情率分别为60%,53.33%和80%,发情多集中在24～72 h;埋栓前,即试验0 d时A、B和C组FSH、LH、PRL、E_2和P_4无差异。FSH和LH在撤栓时达到最低,撤栓后升高;14～15 d,所有发情羊FSH和LH均高于未发情羊,但只有A、B组FSH差异显著(P0.05)。14～15 d,PRL浓度最低(P0.05);试验期间,除9 d外,C组发情羊PRL显著低于未发情羊(P0.05),其余各组内发情羊与未发情羊PRL无差异。14～15 d,3组发情羊血清中E_2迅速升高而P_4降低,E_2浓度高于埋栓期(P0.05),试验期间,各组内发情羊与未发情羊E_2和P_4无差异;0～15 d,各组发情羊之间及未发情羊之间PRL、P_4无差异,各组发情羊间FSH及未发情羊间E_2均无差异;4 d,A组未发情羊FSH低于B组(P0.05),LH高于C组(P0.05);13 d,B组发情羊LH低于C组(P0.05),14～15 d,E_2高于C组(P0.05)。结果表明,母羊产后45 d诱导发情效果较好;外源P_4可大幅度降低PRL,发情时FSH、LH和E_2的分泌同步上升。     

The effect of the lactation period on the cell content of sheep milk]

Milk samples of 201 ewes were examined in 6 week intervals during a complete lactation period. Those samples were analyzed for the presence of pathogenic bacteria and the somatic cell count was determined. Besides, the California Mastitis Test (CMT) was performed and the udder was clinically examined. The cell counts were found to depend on the lactation period. During 6 weeks following parturition the cell count was 63,000 cells/ml. This number decreased towards the 24th week of lactation to 32,000 cells/ml. At the end of lactation this value increased again to 425,000 cells/ml. The median value of ewes with normal udder health was 56,000 cells/ml milk. For samples from which pathogenic bacteria were isolated this value was 159,000 cells/ml. The most frequent pathogens isolated from the milk samples were coagulase-negative cocci (59.6% of bacteriologically positive samples), the median number being 88,000 somatic cells/ml in these sheep. Coagulase-positive cocci were isolated in 25.3% of the samples, the median value of the cell count was 295,000 cells/ml. In 12.1% of the samples streptococci were found. The median value was 167,000 cells/ml. From the remaining 3.0% of bacteriologically positive samples Pasteurellae, E. coli and Actinomycetae were isolated. The median value of the somatic cell count was 184,000 cells/ml. We consider coagulase-positive cocci therefore as the most pathogenic bacteria for the ovine udder.     

Composition of sow milk during lactation

The composition of sow colostrum and milk was quantitated in 25 sows at 14 time points throughout lactation. All animals belonged to the same experimental herd of German Landrace, farrowed within 4 d, and were of various lactation numbers and various litter sizes. In the first 6 h of lactation colostrum total solids (TS) and protein contents were higher, while fat and lactose contents were lower than in mature milk. Decreased total protein and whey protein contents and concomitantly increased fat and lactose content, with nearly unchanged TS levels, indicate transition from colostrum to mature milk. The high protein content of colostrum was largely due to immunoglobulin (Ig). During the first 6 h, IgG accounts for nearly all the protein in colostrum but plays a decreasing role in sow milk as lactation proceeds. After 2 wk, IgA levels begin to increase and at the end of lactation, IgA constitutes 40% of the total whey protein. No influences of lactation number and litter size on milk composition could be ascertained in this study.     

黑龙江某牛场奶牛泌乳期和干奶期主要代谢状况的调查分析

调查黑龙江省某集约化牛场奶牛不同生理阶段血液生化指标的变化及其潜在的代谢紊乱,为牛场泌乳奶牛代谢保健方案提供科学依据。随机选取4个时期(泌乳前期、泌乳中期、泌乳后期、干奶期)奶牛(n=80),检测血清中谷丙转氨酶(GGT,U/L,IFCC法)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸转移酶(AST)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP);总蛋白(TP)、白蛋白(ALB、能量代谢指标:葡萄糖(GLU)、甘油三酯(TG)、胆固醇(TC)、矿物质代谢指标:血钙(Ca)、血磷(P)、血镁(Mg)、其他指标:肌酐(Cr)、尿素氮(BUN)的水平。结果提示泌乳中期试验奶牛血清GGT、ALT、AST、Ca、Mg以及TC、GLU的水平均显著高于其他时期(P0.05),且整体水平是从泌乳前期到泌乳中期开始上升达到峰值后,然后下降。泌乳中期奶牛多项肝功酶指标高于正常水平,TP水平均低于正常范围。干奶期奶牛ALB水平低于正常范围。试验奶牛4个时期均发生了低血糖症、低血钙症和低血镁症。其中低血糖症在各个时期发病率均较高,低血钙和低血镁的发病率随泌乳时间增加整体呈上升趋势。泌乳前期、中期及后期出现肝功异常且泌乳中期异常比例较其他时期高。结果表明该牛场奶牛在4个时期均出现代谢紊乱的情况且较为普遍,这可能与奶牛泌乳时期对营养物质需要量增加有关,更与日粮搭配以及饲养管理不当有关。