Ability of heifers to discriminate between familiar herdmates and members of an unfamiliar group: preference test and operant conditioning test

Using a preference test and operant conditioning in a Y-maze, this experiment examined the ability of heifers to discriminate between their own familiar herdmates and member(s) of an unfamiliar group. Sixteen Danish Friesian heifers, eight older animals (360.6 ± 24.2 days of age) and eight younger ones (190.1 ± 14.1 days of age) were used. Each age group was further divided into two experimental groups. Members of each of these groups were housed together in small pens before the experiments began. In experiment 1, each of the 16 animals was allowed to approach either a familiar or an unfamiliar individual in the Y-maze. The test was repeated 12 times, with a different unfamiliar subject for each test. In experiment 2, eight heifers were individually tested in a conditioning experiment to examine whether they could learn to discriminate between a group of their three herdmates and a group of three unfamiliar heifers. Test animals were rewarded when they chose their own group. In experiment 1, heifers did not show a preference between familiar and unfamiliar individuals. Interestingly the younger stimulus heifers but not the test animals showed an ability to discriminate between unfamiliar animals by vocalizing. In experiment 2, four of the eight test animals achieved the criterion for successful discrimination between the familiar and unfamiliar group ( P  < 0.003: binomial law). There was no age group difference in the ability to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar animals. In conclusion, heifers did not show a preference toward familiar or unfamiliar individuals; but after conditioning, some heifers could learn to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar groups.     

Effects of road transportation on metabolic and immunological responses in Holstein heifers

This study examined the effects of road transportation on metabolic and immunological responses in dairy heifers. Twenty Holstein heifers in early pregnancy were divided into non‐transported (NT; n = 7) and transported (T; n = 13) groups. Blood was collected before transportation (BT), immediately after transportation for 100 km (T1) and 200 km (T2), and 24 h after transportation (AT). The T heifers had higher (P < 0.05) blood cortisol and non‐esterified fatty acid concentrations after T1 and T2 than did NT heifers. By contrast, the T heifers had lower (P < 0.05) serum triglyceride concentrations after T1 and T2 than had the NT heifers. The serum cortisol and triglyceride concentrations returned (P > 0.05) to the BT concentrations at 24 h AT in the T heifers. The granulocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio and the percentage of monocytes were higher (P < 0.05) after T2 in the T heifers than in the NT heifers, suggesting that transportation stress increased the numbers of innate immune cells. T heifers had higher (P < 0.01) plasma haptoglobin concentrations than NT heifers 24 h AT. In conclusion, transportation increased cortisol secretion and was correlated with increased metabolic responses and up‐regulation of peripheral innate immune cells in dairy heifers.     

Genetic trends for fertility,udder health and protein yield in Swedish red cattle estimated with different models

The aim of this study was to estimate and compare genetic trends in Swedish Red cattle using a full multiple-trait (MT) model and trait-group-wise models for female fertility, udder health and protein yield. Field data for maiden heifers from 1989 and cows with a first and second lactation between 1990 and 2007 were included. (Co)variance components were estimated prior to prediction of breeding values. The estimated genetic trends were clearly favourable for protein yield and udder conformation, and in most cases neutral to favourable for clinical mastitis and calving to first insemination. In maiden heifers, the trends were neutral for number of inseminations per service period. Unfavourable genetic trends were estimated for number of inseminations in the first two lactations, but the trends seemed less unfavourable from evaluations within trait groups compared with when using the full MT model. Excluding maiden heifer data affected genetic trends less than using trait-group-wise analyses instead of a full MT model. Unfavourable genetic trends in functional traits may be missed unless the traits are evaluated in a MT model including traits under strong selection.     

Plasma luteinizing hormone response to increasing doses of synthetic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone in heifers

The dosenresponse relationship for a synthetic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was studied in normally cycling heifers using the area under the luteinizing hormone (LH) curve as a response parameter. Oestrus was synchronized by an injection of 0.5 mg cloprostenol before the experiment started and after the 3rd treatment with GnRH. Treatment with GnRH as assigned in a Latin square included 5 dose levels (0, 10, 50, 100, 250 μg) and 5 treatment days over a period of 22 days. GnRH was capable of inducing an increase of plasma LH within 30 min after injection. Plasma LH response increased with increasing doses of GnRH, the largest increase being observed when the dose was raised from 50 μg to 100 μg. One heifer did not respond to any of the doses applied. The existence of an individual treshold dose of GnRH is suggested.     

不同代谢蛋白质水平饲粮对8~10月龄后备奶牛生长发育、血液生化指标和体况评分的影响

本试验旨在研究不同代谢蛋白质(MP)水平饲粮对8~10月龄后备奶牛生长发育、血液生化指标以及体况评分的影响。选取健康的8月龄中国荷斯坦后备奶牛24头,随机分为4组,每组6头,饲喂MP水平分别为9.03%、9.55%、10.09%和10.57%的4种饲粮[对应的小肠可消化粗蛋白质(IDCP)水平分别为6.87%、8.13%、9.40%和10.65%]。预试期15 d,正试期60 d。结果表明:1)MP和IDCP满足线性回归方程MP=6.234+0.408×IDCP(R2=0.999,P0.01,n=4)。2)MP水平为9.03%、9.55%、10.09%和10.57%的4组平均日增重(ADG)分别为0.93、1.04、1.09和1.00 kg/d,10.09%组显著高于9.03%组(P0.05);9.55%组和10.09%组腹围显著或极显著高于9.03%组(P0.05或P0.01)。3)随着MP水平的提高,血清尿素氮(UN)含量逐渐提高,8和9周龄9.55%、10.09%和10.57%组极显著高于9.03%组(P0.01),至10周龄9.55%、10.09%组与9.03%组差异不显著(P0.05)。4)各组试验牛体况评分在3.57~3.90之间,各组之间差异不显著(P0.05),体况发育良好。综合生长发育、血液生化指标和体况评分等各方面的因素,在本试验条件下,饲粮MP水平为10.09%时,可满足8~10月龄中国荷斯坦后备奶牛ADG为1.09 kg/d的生长需要。     

Reduced Ovulatory and Oestrous Activity in Zebu Heifers Following Trypanosoma vivax Infection

This paper describes a study on the oestrous and ovarian activity and responses to prostaglandin F2 (PGF2) administration and artificial insemination in zebu heifers.Four cycling heifers were artificially infected with 5×106 Trypanosoma vivax organisms. Two heifers served as controls. Two injections of PGF2 were given 11 days apart, commencing at the peak of parasitaemia in the infected animals, followed by artificial insemination 72 and 96 h after the second administration of PGF2. Sera were analysed for progesterone by radioimmunoassay, while ovarian activity and oestrus were determined by rectal palpation and visual observation, respectively. All the infected heifers developed the clinical disease. All control and infected heifers had progesterone profiles consistent with luteolysis and the occurrence of oestrus following the second administration of PGF2. Progesterone levels did not return to normal luteal values in infected animals, however, whilst they did so in control animals. No control or infected heifers became pregnant.The findings suggest that PGF2 will induce a non- fertile oestrus in zebu heifers acutely infected with T. vivax. Re-ovulation is also inhibited within 22 days in a majority of infected animals.     

饲粮物理有效中性洗涤纤维水平对8～10月龄奶牛瘤胃发酵参数和纤维降解菌的影响

本文旨在研究不同物理有效中性洗涤纤维(peNDF)水平饲粮对8~10月龄奶牛采食量、瘤胃发酵参数和纤维降解菌的影响。选取24头月龄和体重相近的健康中国荷斯坦奶牛后备奶牛,随机分为4组,每组6个重复,每个重复1头。通过改变饲粮中粗料羊草的长度来改变peNDF水平。采用单因子试验设计,分别饲喂peNDF1.18实测水平为22.73%、23.92%、25.85%和28.39%的4种饲粮,预试期10d,正试期60d。结果显示:1)peNDF水平对各组干物质(DM)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)和酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)采食量均无显著影响(P0.05)。2)瘤胃液pH随着peNDF水平的增加而增加,22.73%组极显著低于其他3组(P0.01);peNDF水平对总挥发性脂肪酸浓度、乙酸和丁酸含量的影响不显著(P0.05);丙酸含量总体上随着peNDF水平的增加而降低,22.73%组极显著高于23.92%组(P0.01)、显著高于28.39%组(P0.05);23.92%组的乙酸/丙酸极显著高于22.73%组(P0.01)、显著高于25.85%组(P0.05);25.85%组氨态氮浓度显著或极显著高于其他3组(P0.05或P0.01)。3)以22.73%组为对照,其他3组产琥珀酸丝状杆菌的相对含量随peNDF水平的增加而增加,28.39%组最高,但仍极显著低于22.73%组(P0.01);随peNDF水平的增加,黄色瘤胃球菌、白色瘤胃球菌和溶纤维丁酸弧菌相对含量呈现先上升后下降的趋势,均为25.85%组最高,显著或极显著高于其他3组(P0.05或P0.01)。综上,适当提高饲粮peNDF水平,有利于提高8~10月龄奶牛瘤胃液pH,改善瘤胃发酵,增加瘤胃中纤维降解菌的含量;本试验条件下,peNDF1.18为25.85%是8~10月龄荷斯坦奶牛适宜的peNDF水平。     

CPM模型优化饲粮对7～15月龄后备荷斯坦母牛生长发育和血液生化指标影响

本文利用CPM模型优化规模化奶牛场7~15月龄后备母牛饲粮,研究优化后饲粮对后备母牛生长发育和血液生化指标的影响。选用相同月龄(7月龄),胎次、体高和体重相近的健康后备荷斯坦母牛40头,按照配对试验设计把试验奶牛随机分为2组,每组20头,对照组采用奶牛场现有的饲粮配方,试验组采用CPM模型优化后的饲粮配方。试验期为270 d。结果表明:饲喂CPM模型优化饲粮极显著提高了后备母牛8、10、11、13和15月龄的管围(P<0.01);试验组后备母牛血清中钙含量在8月龄时显著高于对照组(P<0.05);优化后7月龄、8~9月龄、10~12月龄、13~15月龄饲粮成本比调整前分别降低了1.02、0.78、0.62和0.52元/(头·d)。由此可见,饲喂CPM模型优化饲粮可提高后备母牛的管围,促进后备母牛的生长,促进血钙的吸收,降低饲养成本,CPM模型可用于评价和优化后备荷斯坦母牛的饲粮配方。     

西门塔尔杂交后备母牛日粮植物源磷进食量对表观可消化磷的影响

旨在采用消化试验研究后备母牛日粮植物源磷进食量与磷表观消化率的关系。试验选用体况良好、体重一致的西杂后备母牛[西门塔尔牛(♂)×中国黄牛(♀)]24头,随机分为6组,即试验1组、2组、3组、4组、5组和6组,每组4头,分别定量(3.50kg/d)饲喂6种不同磷水平的精料日粮,粗料(青贮)自由采食。使用麸皮调节日粮精料磷水平,各试验组精料磷水平分别为0.36%、0.40%、0.42%、0.46%、0.50%和0.54%;总试验期为30d,预饲期20d后进入正试期,试验最后7d全收集粪样和尿样。饲料样及粪样均测定其中磷和干物质含量,计算粪磷排泄量与日粮磷进食量的回归关系。结果表明,不同日粮处理间消化道磷的表观消化量和表观消化率有显著差异(P<0.05),并随进食磷量的增加而增加,但消化道表观消化的磷量与磷的进食不是直线关系,而是呈现抛物线关系,在日粮磷水平为0.42%时,消化量和消化率达最大,即分别为10.5g/d和40.8%。     

Futterqualität und Leistung von Napier-und Paragras (Pennisetum purpureum bzw. Brachiaria mutica) unter Schnittnutzung und Beweidung mit Sahiwal-und Kreuzungsrindern auf "upland" im District Dacca/Bangladesh

Forage quality and performance of Napier and Para grass ( Pennisetum purpureum and Brachiaria mutica , resp.) cut or grazed with Sahiwal and crossed cattle on upland in the Dacca district, Bangladesh
Napier and Para grass were compared with respect to important quality parameters for two years and in a rotational grazing experiment using 30 two-years-old heifers.
Napier grass had a higher in-vitro-digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM) than Para grass. 77% of IVDOM variance was explained by the lignin contents, 88 % by lignin and ash contents. Accordingly a high correlation existed between lignin contents and IVDOM (r =−0.86; p 0,001).
The estimation of starch units resulted in higher precision by including the lignin contents in the regression equations compared with crude fibre contents alone.
Crude protein, crude fibre and magnesium contents were similar, while Napier grass contained substantially more P, K and Ca, but far less Na.
In the grazing experiment on average of both years Napier grass produced 64 % of the plant yield of Para grass, but reached 80 % of the animal production. Of the forage offered by Napier grass and Para grass 85 and 67,5 %, respectively, was converted into animal production. Therefore the weight increase (kg/ha) produced by Napier grass amounted to 90 % of the groups grazing Para grass. Daily gain averaged over both grass species and experimental years reached 440 g/heifer in the Holstein-Friesian group, 410 g with Sahiwal and 370 g with Jersey cattle.