Factors affecting the success of resynchronization protocols with or without progesterone supplementation in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to investigate factors that influence the success of resynchronization protocols for bovines with and without progesterone supplementation. Cow synchronized and not found pregnant were randomly assigned to two resynchronization protocols: ovsynch without progesterone (P4) supplementation (n = 66) or with exogenous P4 administered from Days 0 to 7 (n = 67). Progesterone levels were measured on Days 0 and 7 of these protocols as well as 4 and 5 days post-insemination. Progesterone supplementation raised the P4 levels on Day 7 (p < 0.05), but had no overall effect on resynchronization rates (RRs) or pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI). However, cows with Body Condition Score (BCS) > 3.5 had increased P/AI values while cows with BCS < 2.75 had decreased P/AI rates after P4 supplementation. Primiparous cows had higher P4 values on Day 7 than pluriparous animals (p = 0.04) and tended to have higher RRs (p = 0.06). Results of this study indicate that progesterone supplementation in resynchronization protocols has minimal effects on outcomes. Parity had an effect on the levels of circulating progesterone at initiation of the protocol, which in turn influenced the RR.     

奶牛亚临床低血钙症的蛋白质组学分析

根据奶牛血浆钙浓度将奶牛分为试验组和对照组,并设置2个平行试验组。应用iTRAQ/LC-MS/MS技术对2组奶牛样品进行差异表达蛋白的筛选和鉴定,并结合生物信息学软件对试验结果进行分析。试验共得到398个差异表达蛋白,其中2个平行试验组重叠的蛋白为265个,经过筛选共得到14种具有统计学差异的表达蛋白。结合生物信息学分析中的基因功能分析,结果得到74个注释结果,细胞组成、分子功能和生物过程分别为6,12,55个。根据结果分析可知,奶牛亚临床低血钙症生理和病理现象能够从3个方面解释其生理和病理现象,分别是血钙调节、免疫与炎症反应和血液凝固与补体途径。本试验首次应用iTRAQ结合LC-MS/MS技术对亚临床低血钙症奶牛进行蛋白质组学分析,填补该技术对亚临床低血钙症的空白,并提供科学依据。     

Protein expression in dairy cows with and without subclinical hypocalcaemia

AIM: To determine differences in plasma proteomic profiles between healthy cows and those with subclinical hypocalcaemia within 12 hours after calving, and thereby explore the underlying biological mechanism of subclinical hypocalcaemia in dairy cows.

METHODS: Plasma samples were collected within 6 hours of calving from Holstein cows on a farm in Heilongjiang, China; 32 with subclinical hypocalcaemia (plasma calcium concentration 1.38–2.00?mmol/L and no clinical signs) and 59 control cows (plasma calcium concentration 2.10–2.8?mmol/L). Plasma samples were applied to weak cationic exchange protein chips for protein profiling by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS), and the data were analysed using the PBS-IIC system. The amplitude of peaks for the two groups were compared using the Wilcoxon sum-rank test, and the mass-to-charge ratio of the peaks that differed was used to identify peptide fragments using the Swiss-Prot protein database.

RESULTS: Seven peaks were identified in the subclinical hypocalcaemia group that differed from those of the control group (p<0.001), that represented six unique proteins. Expression of serum albumin, fibrinogen alpha chain, amyloid beta A4 proteins and neurosecretory protein VGF were increased, and expression of apolipoprotein A-II and serum amyloid A proteins were decreased in the subclinical hypocalcaemic cows compared with control cows.

CONCLUSION: Use of SELDI-TOF-MS technology can effectively identify differences in plasma protein expression patterns in cows with subclinical hypocalcaemia. Neurosecretory protein VGF and amyloid beta A4 protein might represent useful biomarkers for diagnosis of subclinical hypocalcaemia.     

Factors affecting plasma prolactin concentrations throughout gestation in high producing dairy cows

The aim of the present study was to investigate possible relationships between plasma concentrations of prolactin and the following factors throughout gestation in lactating dairy cows: photoperiod, season, milk production, Neospora caninum-seropositivity, twin pregnancy, and plasma concentrations of pregnancy associated glycoproteins-1 (PAG-1), progesterone and cortisol. Pregnancy was diagnosed by trans-rectal ultrasonography on Day 40 post-insemination and by palpation per rectum on Days 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210 or until abortion in aborting cows. Blood samples were collected from each animal immediately before each pregnancy diagnosis. The study population was comprised of 73 non-aborting (54 Neospora-seropositive cows) and 20 aborting cows (all Neospora-seropositive) cows. In non-aborting cows, GLM repeated measures of analysis of variance revealed that lactation number and days in milk had no effect on plasma prolactin concentrations throughout gestation, whereas high plasma prolactin concentrations were significantly associated with high plasma levels of cortisol and PAG-1, with Neospora-seropositivity, positive photoperiod (increasing day length), twin pregnancy, and with low plasma progesterone concentrations. An interaction among plasma prolactin, plasma cortisol and milk production was observed in that plasma prolactin concentrations differed significantly throughout gestation and were highest in high-producing cows with high cortisol levels. In Neospora-seropositive non-aborting versus aborting cows, mean prolactin concentrations failed to differ on Days 40, 90, 120, 150 and 180 of pregnancy, whereas prolactin values were significantly lower (P = 0.03) in aborting animals on Day 210 of pregnancy. Our results indicate that a positive photoperiod and Neospora-infection lead to increased plasma prolactin concentrations throughout gestation. Reduced prolactin concentrations detected in Neospora-seropositive aborting cows compared to non-aborting animals suggests a protective effect of prolactin in N. caninum infection.     

Factors affecting milk urea nitrogen and protein concentrations in Quebec dairy cows

Milk urea nitrogen (MUN), together with percentage milk protein (PROT), are increasingly used as indicators of the protein-energy balance and for monitoring nutrition and diagnosing feeding disorders. The goal of this study was to analyze the effects of parity, milk yield, days in lactation, somatic-cell count, and herd and feeding factors on MUN and PROT. In 10 dairy herds, one milk sample was taken from each of 418 cows, within +/- 2 days of the routine milk-test visit. We used a four-step multiple linear-regression model with backward elimination, including interactions between herd and the different factors. For both dependent variables, there were significant interactions with herd. Herd-specific models were markedly different; however, the daily amount of protein concentrates fed remained (and had a positive coefficient) in seven of 10 herd models for MUN. This factor is easy to record under field conditions and has to be considered in the evaluation of the ration by means of MUN and PROT. Overfeeding of rumen soluble protein can be easily diagnosed and corrected using MUN analyses. The relationships between MUN and PROT in respect of the factors parity, daily milk yield, and days postpartum also vary considerably among herds.     

The use biochemical and hepatic parameters to predict treatment outcome of dairy cows suffering from displacement of the abomasum

In this prospective study the impact of fatty liver and an impaired liver function on the treatment outcome of displacement of the abomasum (DA) was investigated. In a yearlong period, all cows suffering from DA submitted to the clinic were included in this study. All cows were clinically examined before surgery and a serum sample was taken to measure the following parameters: ASAT, bilirubin, urea. Liver biopsy was performed in all cows. Liver fat content was measured gravimetrically and concentrations of triglycerides were measured using a commercial test kit. Reposition of DA was done using the method by Dirksen. A total of 365 cows with DA entered the study, 326 (89.3%) suffered from LDA and 39 (10.7%) from RDA. RDA-cows had significantly (p = 0.002) more days in milk than LDA-cows. RDA-cows had significantly (p < 0.001) higher urea concentrations than LDA-cows. Bilirubin concentrations (p = 0.008) and liver fat content, triglyceride concentrations and the ratio of triglycerides to fat (TRI/FAT) (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in LDA-cows. The majority of LDA-cows showed at least a mild fatty liver. Comparing the cows with successful and failed treatment showed that ASAT-activity (p = 0.021), bilirubin concentration (p = 0.001), triglyceride concentration in liver and TRI/FAT (all p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the unsuccessfully treated cows. In RDA cows, significant differences between successfully and unsuccessfully treated cows were only seen in urea concentration (p = 0.004). ROC-analysis was performed to determine whether any parameter is suitable for a prediction of treatment outcome. In RDA-cows no threshold value was traceable for urea concentration. In LDA cows, TRI/FAT showed the best curve progression. The threshold value of 53.5 % had a sensitivity of 0.720 and a specificity of 0.700. LDA-cows exceeding this threshold had a 2.4 higher risk of an unsuccessful treatment. Due to the good overall treatment success (92.3 %) the positive predictive value for an unsuccessful or ineffective treatment was 0.368 only. The results of our study clearly show that impaired liver function plays an important role in the outcome of treatment of LDA but not RDA. In spite of this no laboratory parameter provides sufficient power to make a predictive statement of treatment outcome.     

Factors affecting acetone concentration in blood of dairy cows at the first stage of lactation

The aim of this paper was to determine effects of selected genetic and environmental factors on the concentration of acetone in blood of cows in the first trimester of lactation. The study included 124 Polish Holstein-Friesian primiparous cows born, reared and managed on the same farm. The samples of blood were collected on day 2, 5, 30, 60 and 90 after calving. The highest serum acetone concentration in the animals examined was observed on day 5 after calving. The level of this compound was inversely related to the contribution of the original Holstein-Friesian breed in gene pool. Significantly higher serum acetone level was observed in cows calved in January-March period when compared to other months of the year. Besides, the level of acetone determined on day 5 after calving was associated positively with body weight determined at the same day and negatively with body weight changes between days 5 and 60 after calving.     

Mass spectral analysis of urine proteomic profiles of dairy cows suffering from clinical ketosis

Background: Ketosis is an important metabolic disorder in dairy cows during the transition period. The urine proteomics of ketosis has not been investigated using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS).

Objective: The aim is to determine differences between urine proteomic profiles of healthy cows and those with clinical ketosis, and facilitate studies of the underlying physiological and biochemical mechanisms that lead to liver pathology in ketosis.

Animals and methods: We analyzed the urine samples of 20 cows with clinical ketosis (group 1) and 20 control cows (group 2) using SELDI-TOF-MS.

Results: Thirty-nine peptide peaks differed between both groups. Polypeptides corresponding to 26 of these differential peptide peaks were identified using the SWISS-PROT protein database. We found that the peaks of 11 distinct polypeptides from the urine samples of the ketosis group were significantly reduced, compared with those of the control group as based on the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Among these were VGF (non-acronymic) protein, amyloid precursor protein, serum amyloid A (SAA), fibrinogen, C1INH, apolipoprotein C-III, cystatin C, transthyretin, hepcidin, human neutrophil peptides, and osteopontin.

Conclusion: These proteins may represent novel biomarkers of the metabolic changes that occur in dairy cows with ketosis. Our results will help to better understand the physiological changes and pathogenesis observed in cows with ketosis.

Clinical importance: The SELDI-TOF-MS can be used to understand the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of ketosis and identify biomarkers of the disease.     

影响奶牛乳房炎抗性性状的贵传因素

乳房炎是造成世界各国奶牛业中损失最多的一种疾病.当前严重依赖于抗生素治疗和疫苗预防来减少乳房炎的发生,这种方法并不十分奏效,而抗乳房炎育种则是一种很重要的替代方法.作者将从动物机体、细胞/激素和分子水平对影响奶牛乳房炎抗性性状的遗传因素进行论述,只有在遗传和免疫水平上具有优良特点的性状才能在获得乳房炎抗性的遗传改良中发挥作用.     

Effect of oral administration of colostrum on inflammation in the udders of dairy cows suffering from mastitis

The present study was undertaken to examine whether oral administration of colostrum to mastitic cows reduced inflammation in the udder. Fifty milliliters of a colostrum whey product was administered orally daily for 3 days to cows suffering from mastitis. Milk was collected on day 0 and 7 of colostrum administration. For Experiment 1, milk from 11 udder quarters with high somatic cell counts (SCC) in four cows was used. SCC in milk decreased significantly after colostrum administration, whereas colostrum administration increased sodium and IgA concentrations significantly compared with those before administration. In Experiment 2, cows with clinical mastitis were divided into two groups, with and without colostrum administration, whereas all cows with subclinical mastitis were administered colostrum. Antibiotics were infused into the mammary gland from the first day of colostrum administration for 2–4 days. There was no significant decrease in SCC after colostrum administration in any group. However, udder firmness in both clinical mastitis groups was reduced after administration regardless of colostrum administration. IgA concentration in both clinical mastitis groups was significantly increased after colostrum administration compared to that before administration, although there was no significant difference between them. These results suggest the possibility that oral administration of colostrum attenuates inflammation of the mammary gland. Further studies are required to examine the effect of colostrum more precisely using cows with subclinical and chronic mastitis and longer duration of colostrum administration.     

SARA状态下瘤胃产生的LPS对奶牛乳腺组织细胞凋亡的影响

本试验采用12头泌乳中期的荷斯坦奶牛,随机分为两组,每组6只。其中一组饲喂低精料日粮,即日粮中含有40%的精料和60%的粗料,精粗比为4∶6,作为对照(LC)组;另外一组饲喂高精料日粮,精粗比为6∶4,作为试验(HC)组。试验周期为18周,试验开始前为所有奶牛安装瘤胃瘘管,试验后期采集瘤胃液,乳动脉、静脉血和乳腺组织样品,测定瘤胃液p H值和LPS含量、血浆中LPS含量、乳腺组织细胞中凋亡相关基因如caspase-3、caspase-8、caspase-9、bax和bcl-2等的表达、凋亡相关蛋白酶的活性和NF-κB通路中的蛋白表达。结果显示:长期高精料饲喂使奶牛瘤胃p H值均值降低,一天中p H值低于5.6的时间超过3 h;高精料组血浆和瘤胃液中LPS含量均极显著高于低精料组(P0.01);高精料组caspase-3的基因表达显著高于低精料组(P0.05),而bcl-2的基因表达显著低于低精料组(P0.05);高精料组caspase-3和caspase-8的酶活性相比于低精料组都显著升高(P0.01);高精料组NF-κB p65和磷酸化的NF-κB p65的蛋白表达量均显著高于低精料组(P0.05)。     

Factors affecting the monetary return from programmes for synchronising oestrus in dairy cows with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and prostaglandin F2alpha

Synchronisation, using a combination of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and prostaglandin F2alpha injections, is commonly used to control the reproductive cycle of dairy cows. A simple model that could predict the monetary return from synchronisation would be a valuable tool in determining whether it would be worthwhile. This study used data from three controlled clinical trials to investigate the effects of six factors (interval between calving and synchronisation, 21-day submission rate, number of cows synchronised, average age, pregnancy rate of non-synchronised cows and season) on the return from synchronisation. The results suggests that the herd's submission and pregnancy rates, the time between calving and synchronisation, and the number of cows synchronised can all significantly affect the return from synchronisation, but only time since calving significantly affected the return in all three trials. They also suggest that there is no simple linear relationship between these factors and the return from synchronisation.     

影响荷斯坦牛妊娠期长短的因素分析

妊娠期长短是影响奶牛繁殖性能以及牧场经济效益的重要性状之一。为探索影响荷斯坦奶牛妊娠期长短的因素,本文收集了江苏省某奶牛场2016年1月至2017年4月正常健康产犊的荷斯坦牛产犊记录共7 164条。用一般线性模型对犊牛性别、胎次、产犊季节、是否产双犊、犊牛初生重、产犊时母牛体况评分和是否使用性控精液对妊娠期长短的影响进行分析。结果表明:胎次、犊牛性别、产犊季节、产犊时母牛体况评分、犊牛初生重以及是否使用性控精液极显著影响妊娠期长短(P0.01),2胎母牛的妊娠天数显著高于1胎和3胎;产公犊牛母牛的妊娠期显著高于产母犊的奶牛;春季产犊的奶牛妊娠期最长,冬季则最短;产犊时母牛体况评分越高,其妊娠期越短;犊牛初生重越大,则母牛的妊娠期越长;采用性控精液的奶牛妊娠期显著短于非性控精液配种的奶牛;是否产双犊对妊娠期长短无显著性影响(P0.05)。该结果为控制荷斯坦奶牛妊娠期长短,提高其繁殖性能和经济效益等方面提供了科学依据。     

Genetic factors affecting susceptibility of dairy cows to udder pathogens

Bovine mastitis remains the most costly disease in dairy cattle. Breeding for resistance to udder pathogens has been proposed as a complementary tool to therapeutic and prophylactic measures not totally effective against the disease. This paper reviews factors affecting cows' susceptibility to pathogens at the animal, cellular/hormonal and DNA levels. Such factors will be useful in achieving genetic improvement for resistance only if they have desirable properties at the genetic and immunological levels. Because such properties are not always of significant magnitude, further research is necessary to identify characteristics of resistance in cows, considering the constant and complex interactions that occur between hosts and pathogens.     

Parturient hypocalcaemia in dairy cows: effects of dietary acidity on plasma minerals and calciotrophic hormones

Mature Friesian cows were given silage plus either an alkaline or an acidic concentrate mix during the last 28 days of pregnancy in two experiments. There were no significant differences in plasma calcium, phosphorus or magnesium concentrations before parturition but the blood ionised calcium and plasma chloride concentrations were significantly increased, together with a lower blood pH and acid-base excess in the cows on the acid diet. The mean 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations tended to increase before parturition in the cows on the acid diet compared with the alkali diet in experiment 1 and were significantly higher in experiment 2. At parturition, the acid-fed cows had higher mean plasma calcium concentrations and significantly more of them had values >2·0 mmol litre⁻¹ than the alkali-fed groups, and the plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone concentrations were related to these different plasma calcium concentrations. The acidic diets therefore appeared to prevent the onset of hypocalcaemia at parturition by increasing the plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentration before parturition.     

Preanalytical factors affecting blood inorganic phosphate concentration in dairy cows

BACKGROUND: Hypophosphatemia is a condition that affects feed intake and milk production in dairy cows, and, to assess it, a precise biological parameter is needed. Plasma inorganic phosphate (Pi) can be used as a potential indicator of bioavailability of feed phosphorus in dairy cows. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of sample type (serum vs. plasma), blood sampling site (jugular vs. coccygeal), and morning feeding on blood Pi concentration in dairy cows. METHODS: Blood samples from 28 clinically healthy multiparous Holstein cows were analyzed for Pi concentration. The animals were sampled twice by coccygeal vessel into Vacutainer tubes both with and without sodium heparin, 3 hours after the morning feeding. In 4 additional cows, the concentration of Pi was measured in blood samples obtained simultaneously by jugular and coccygeal venipuncture into heparinized tubes before the morning feeding and 2, 4, and 6 hours after the feeding. The results were analyzed using parametric statistical tests. RESULTS: Serum and plasma concentrations of Pi were correlated (r(2) = 0.999, P < .0001), but serum Pi concentration was higher than plasma Pi (P < .02). Plasma Pi concentration 2 hours after feeding tended to be higher than that before feeding in jugular samples, but the difference was not significant. There was no significant variation in plasma Pi during the morning postfeeding times, although jugular concentrations were 19% lower than coccygeal (P = .04). CONCLUSION: To increase the precision of plasma Pi measurements as an indicator of bioavailability of feed phosphorus, sample type, sampling time, and site must be taken into account, to correctly interpret plasma Pi concentrations.     

Analyses of factors affecting dry matter intake of lactating dairy cows

An experiment was conducted to analyze feed, climate and animal factors affecting dry matter intake (DMI) in lactating dairy cows. Sixteen lactating Holstein cows, with parity from 1 to 6, were assigned to a feeding trial for 2 years, comprising 31 lactations. The animals were fed Italian ryegrass silage, oat hay, alfalfa hay, beet pulp and three types of concentrate. The data, pooled and classified by stage of lactation, season of lactation and parity were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression to determine the nature and extent of factors affecting DMI. A total of 45 prediction equations for DMI were derived. Energy‐corrected milk yield or milk yield was selected as the primary factor of DMI in all the equations in which the ratio of contribution (R²) varied from 0.26 to 0.67. The dietary concentration of organic cell wall, crude fiber, crude protein, organic b fraction, forage to concentrate ratio, average ambient temperature and temperature–humidity index were selected as the secondary factors affecting DMI for pooled data, late lactation (251–350 days of lactation), summer (June–August), spring (March–May), ≥4th lactation, autumn (September–November) and 3rd lactation, respectively, and improved R² up to 0.77. Except for an impact of bodyweight in several equations, feed and climatic factors significantly improved prediction equations effectively for data classified in different ways. To estimate DMI accurately in lactating dairy cows, feed and climatic factors should be considered for specific conditions.     

母牛人工授精受胎率影响因素分析

母牛人工授精受胎率影响因素很多,主要取决于:精液的品质、母牛的体况与繁殖机能、输入的精子数、输精的时间和次数、输精人员的技术和输精方法、牛体和输精器械的卫生和消毒以及精液解冻的方法等因素。分析各项因素,有助于把握好每一环节的工作,提高受胎率,减少人力、财力等浪费,取得事半功倍的效果。     

Factors predisposing dairy and beef cows to grass tetany

In a study of dairy and beef herds on 120 farms in south-western Victoria, losses attributed to grass tetany were shown to have been an important cause of economic loss during the cooler months of 1980. Thin dairy cows had a higher incidence of suspected grass tetany than dairy cows in moderate body condition, and both thin and fat beef cows had a higher incidence than beef cows in moderate body condition. A lower incidence was found among dairy cows when the available pasture or hay contained a high percentage of clover, when cows in moderate body condition had been grazed on pastures topdressed with low rates of potassium fertilisers, and when cows had been rotated onto fresh pasture at least daily rather than at 2 or 3 day intervals. The incidence among dairy cows was also associated with the length of available pasture, the correlation being positive for cows of moderate body condition, but negative for thin cows. Possible reasons for the associations are discussed. Only a small proportion of farmers adopted measures to prevent grass tetany, and those who did often applied them inefficiently. Practicable control measures are suggested on the basis of the survey results.