Biochemical changes in heat exposed buffalo heifers supplemented with yeast

Serum electrolytes, minerals, blood biochemical and plasma enzymes were studied in heat exposed buffalo heifers supplemented with yeast powder in feed to alleviate the adverse effects of heat stress. Eighteen healthy Murrah buffalo heifers (270-280) kg were divided into three groups. Animals of group I were kept in shed and served as control, while group II and group III were exposed in a psychrometric chamber at 40°C for 4?hrs daily for 16?days continuously. The animals in group III were also supplemented with yeast powder at 10?g per animal per day. The serum sodium, potassium and chloride levels decreased significantly (P?相似文献   

Concentrations of isoflavones and their metabolites in the blood of pregnant and non-pregnant heifers fed soy bean

The present study compared the changes in isoflavones (daidzein and genistein) and their metabolite (equol and para-ethyl-phenol) concentrations in the blood plasma of cyclic and pregnant heifers after feeding with soy bean. Twelve healthy heifers were divided into three groups: cyclic heifers (days 8-12 of the estrous cycle; control group; n=4), an early pregnancy group (2 months pregnant; n=4) and a late pregnancy group (8 months pregnant; n=4). All heifers were fed a single dose of 2.5 kg of soy bean and then blood samples were taken from the jugular vein for 8 h at predetermined intervals. The concentrations of soy bean-derived isoflavones and their active metabolites were measured in the blood plasma on an HPLC system. In the blood plasma of the early- and late-pregnant heifers, we found lower concentrations and time-dependent decreases in daidzein and genistein in comparison to cyclic heifers (P<0.05). Moreover, we noticed significant increases of equol and para-ethyl-phenol in the blood plasma of the early-pregnant heifers (P<0.05). In contrast, in the blood plasma of the late-pregnant heifers, we did not find an increase in the isoflavone metabolite concentrations compared with the early-pregnant heifers (P>0.05). In conclusion, physiological status (cyclicity or pregnancy) of the females influenced the concentrations of isoflavone metabolites in the blood plasma of the heifers. The stage of pregnancy affects isoflavone absorption, biotransformation and metabolism differently and results in higher concentrations of active metabolites of isoflavones during early pregnancy in comparison to their lower concentrations during late pregnancy. Therefore, we surmise that cows are more sensitive to active isoflavone metabolite actions during early pregnancy than cyclic heifers and heifers in late pregnancy.     

两种有机锌源对新生犊牛生长性能及锌代谢的影响

【目的】 探究饲粮中添加两种不同有机锌源对新生犊牛生长性能及锌代谢的影响。【方法】 试验随机选取30头新生荷斯坦母犊牛（体重39.4 kg±0.8 kg）,随机分为3组,每组10头牛,对照组只饲喂牛乳,不添加有机锌;蛋白锌组和蛋氨酸锌组每头牛分别添加522.82 mg/d的蛋白锌和467.88 mg/d的蛋氨酸锌（均相当于80 mg Zn/d）。试验期14 d。在犊牛1日龄及14日龄晨饲前,测量每头犊牛体重,计算平均日增重。每天记录牛乳采食量,用于计算平均日采食量和料重比。每天晨饲前,由专人对犊牛粪便进行评分,计算犊牛腹泻率。在14日龄晨饲前,采集犊牛血清样品,用于测定血清中的钙、磷、锌、铜和铁浓度、碱性磷酸酶和超氧化物歧化酶活性、金属硫蛋白、丙二醛浓度以及总抗氧化能力。【结果】 与对照组相比,添加蛋氨酸锌显著提高了犊牛平均日增重（P<0.05）,添加蛋白锌和蛋氨酸锌均降低犊牛腹泻率并提高血清锌浓度（P<0.05）,且蛋氨酸锌组犊牛的血清锌浓度显著高于蛋白锌组（P<0.05）。添加蛋氨酸锌显著降低犊牛血清铜浓度（P<0.05）,而蛋白锌组犊牛的血清铜浓度与对照组之间无显著差异（P>0.05）。添加有机锌源显著增加了犊牛血清中金属硫蛋白的浓度（P<0.05）,但仅蛋氨酸锌提高了犊牛血清碱性磷酸酶活性（P<0.05）;蛋氨酸锌能够显著提高犊牛血清中超氧化物歧化酶活性及总抗氧化能力（P<0.05）,但是蛋白锌对其无显著影响（P>0.05）;蛋白锌和蛋氨酸锌均可显著降低血清丙二醛浓度（P<0.05）。【结论】 饲粮中添加蛋氨酸锌能够提高犊牛的生长性能,降低腹泻率,改善机体锌代谢水平,且其效果优于蛋白锌,因此建议在犊牛饲粮中以蛋氨酸锌形式添加80 mg Zn/d。     

Ovarian inhibition of peripheral plasma concentration of follicle stimulating hormone in prepuberal Holstein heifers

The objective of this study was to determine effects of age and castration on follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion in prepuberal heifers. In experiment 1, twelve heifers were bilaterally ovariectomized at 3, 6, or 9 months of age (n = 4/group). Blood was collected at 10 min intervals for 8 hr at 1 week before ovariectomy and 1 and 4 weeks after ovariectomy. Frequency, amplitude and duration of FSH pulses were calculated. Mean plasma concentration of FSH (ng/ml), and frequency (pulses/8 hr), amplitude (ng/ml), and duration (min/pulse) of FSH pulses were not altered by age. Mean concentration of FSH increased (P less than .01) from 1 week before to 1 week and 4 weeks after ovariectomy, respectively, in all age groups. Pulse frequency increased (P less than .05) from 1 week before ovariectomy to 4 weeks after ovariectomy in 3 month old heifers, from 1 week before to 4 weeks after ovariectomy in 6 month old heifers, and from 1 week before to 1 week and 4 weeks after ovariectomy in 9 month old heifers. In experiment 2, twelve heifers were bilaterally ovariectomized at 3, 6 or 9 weeks of age (n = 4/group). Sample collection and measurement of mean concentration of FSH were the same as in experiment 1. Mean concentration of FSH increased (P less than .01) from 1 week before to 1 and 4 weeks after ovariectomy in heifers ovariectomized at 6 and 9 weeks of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The live attenuated bovine viral diarrhea virus components of a multi-valent vaccine confer protection against fetal infection

Fetal infection with bovine virus diarrhea virus (BVDV) causes severe economic loss and virus spread in cattle. This study investigated the ability of modified live BVDV I and II components of a commercially available modified live virus (MLV) vaccine (Breed-Back FP 10, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.) to prevent fetal infection and abortion, and therefore the birth of persistently infected animals. Heifers immunized with vaccine 4-8 weeks before insemination showed no adverse effects. All vaccinated animals had seroconverted to BVDV 4 weeks after immunization. Pregnant heifers were divided into two vaccination and two control groups and challenged with type I or II BVDV on days 60-90 of gestation. Seroconversion, clinical signs, immunosuppression, viremia, mortality, abortion rate, and fetal infection were studied. Post-challenge, 6/11 (type I challenged) and 8/11 (type II challenged) vaccinated heifers were free from clinical signs of BVD. Post-challenge clinical signs noted in the vaccinated groups were mild to moderate, while all unvaccinated controls had clinical signs ranging from moderate to severe. Viremia was not detected post-challenge in any of the vaccinated heifers. However, 100% of the controls were BVDV viremic on at least 1 day post-challenge. One of 22 vaccinated heifers had transient leukopenia, whereas 2/8 and 6/7 unvaccinated heifers in control groups I and II, respectively, had transient leukopenia. Type II BVDV infection led to abortion or death in 86% of unvaccinated heifers. The corresponding vaccinated group showed no deaths or abortions. All control group fetuses were infected with BVDV. The test vaccine gave 91% (type I BVDV challenged) and 100% (type II BVDV challenged) protection from fetal infection. This vaccine is safe and effective against fetal infection, abortion (type II BVDV) and the birth of persistently infected animals.     

Effect of caudal epidural xylazine on intraoperative distress and post-operative pain in Holstein heifers

Objective To compare the effects of caudal epidural xylazine versus saline on tolerance of paravertebral nerve block and flank surgery and on post‐operative pain in heifers used for a veterinary student training laboratory. Study design Randomized controlled prospective study. Animals Fourteen one‐year‐old, nongravid, healthy Holstein heifers, weighing 360 ± 5 kg. Methods Xylazine (0.05 mg kg^?1) or 0.9% saline (5 mL) was injected using a caudal epidural technique to seven heifers undergoing a flank surgery. Nerve block of the right paravertebral fossa was performed using equal parts of lidocaine 2% and bupivacaine 0.5%. Heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, rumination frequency, and appetite were recorded before and at 4, 8, and 24 hours after surgery. Scores were recorded for: tolerance of local anesthesia injections (pre‐operatively), sedation, ataxia and distress (intraoperatively, every 30 minutes), and pain (4, 8, and 24 hours post‐operatively). Results The animals reaction to local anesthetic injection was judged to be less in the xylazine group by both an experienced observer (p < 0.001) and student surgeons (p < 0.01). The xylazine group required less local anesthetic (82.9 ± 13.8 mL) versus the saline group (108.4 ± 19.6 mL, p = 0.035). Intraoperatively, xylazine heifers were more sedated at all times (p‐values from <0.001 to 0.017), were more ataxic for the first 1.5 hours (p‐values from <0.001 to 0.026), and lower in distress at all times (p‐values from <0.001 to 0.007). No difference in post‐operative pain or physiologic variables was found, except immediately post‐operatively, rectal temperature was higher in the xylazine group (39.5 ± 0.3 °C) than in the saline group (38.6 ± 0.2 °C, p < 0.001). Conclusion and clinical relevance Compared with epidural saline, caudal epidural xylazine reduced distress of anesthetic injection and surgical manipulation in heifers and an improvement in animal well‐being was apparent. This effect may have been as a result of sedation. Pre‐operative epidural xylazine did not appear to improve post‐surgical analgesia in our study.     

The influence of supplements of selenite, selenate and selenium yeast on the selenium status of dairy heifers.

The aim of the study was to define possible differences between selenite, selenate and selenium yeast on various aspects of selenium status in growing cattle. Twenty-four Swedish Red and White dairy heifers were fed no supplementary selenium for 6 months. The basic diet contained 0.026 mg selenium/kg feed dry matter (DM). After the depletion period the animals were divided into 4 groups; group I-III received 2 mg additional selenium daily as sodium selenite, sodium selenate, and a selenium yeast product, respectively. Group IV, the control group, received no additional selenium. The total dietary selenium content for groups I-III during the supplementation period was 0.25 mg/kg DM. After the depletion period the mean concentration of selenium in blood (640 nmol/l) and plasma (299 nmol/l) and the activity of GSH-Px in erythrocytes (610 mukat/l) were marginal, but after 3 months of supplementation they were adequate in all 3 groups. The concentration of selenium in blood and plasma was significantly higher in group III than in groups I and II, but there was no significant difference between groups I and II. The activity of GSH-Px in erythrocytes did not differ between any of the supplemented groups. The animals in the control group had significantly lower concentrations of selenium in blood and plasma and lower activities of GSH-Px in erythrocytes than those in the supplemented groups. The activity of GSH-Px in platelets was also increased by the increased selenium intake. There was no difference in the concentration of triiodothyronine (T3) between any of the groups, but the concentration of thyroxine (T4) was significantly higher in the unsupplemented control group.     

Effect of xylazine in heifers under thermoneutral or heat stress conditions

A study was performed to assess the effect of xylazine HCl (0.1 mg/kg of body weight, IV) in heifers maintained at thermoneutrality (18 C, 42% humidity) or under heat stress (33 C, 63% humidity) conditions. Xylazine caused 50 and 70% decreases in serum insulin concentrations in the thermoneutral and heat-stressed heifers, respectively. Xylazine-induced hypoinsulinemia was associated with hyperglycemia. In the thermoneutral group, serum glucose concentrations increased from a basal concentration of 75 mg/dl to 150 mg/dl after 15 minutes. In the heat stress group, the serum glucose concentration increased from 65 mg/dl to 105 mg/dl. Hyperglycemia peaked at 2 hours and remained high for 6 hours after xylazine administration. Heat-stressed heifers took a longer time (107 minutes) to stand than did heifers under thermoneutral conditions (41 minutes). The time to regain sensation to pain was significantly prolonged in heat-stressed heifers. Xylazine had no effect on body temperature and respiration rate in heifers under the thermoneutral condition, whereas it markedly induced hyperthermia and suppressed respiration rate in the heat-stressed heifers. Furthermore, the pulse rate was slightly decreased in thermoneutral heifers and was markedly decreased in the heat-stressed heifers.     

Levels of thyroxine, beta carotene and vitamin A during successful and unsuccessful insemination of heifers

We studied the concentrations of thyroxine (T4), beta-carotene and vitamin A (vit. A) on the day (zero-th day) of the first successful and unsuccessful insemination of 63 heifers that were administered feed rations balanced according to the Czechoslovak standard CSN 46,7070, housed all the year round, inseminated at uniform time (8:00-9:00 a. m.) and with blood samplings at uniform time (10:00-12:00 a. m.). In the repeat-breeder heifers during the first insemination the above parameters were determined in the same conditions on the day of their second, or third successful and also unsuccessful insemination; the changes relevant to the first insemination were evaluated. In relation to the day of the first successful insemination, we recorded a significant increase in T4 concentration (P less than 0.001; P less than 0.001) on the day of the second, or third successful inseminations. During the second insemination we recorded significantly lower T4 concentrations in the cows which had failed to be inseminated in comparison with successfully inseminated cows; these concentrations did not differ significantly from T4 concentrations in the heifers that failed to become pregnant in the first insemination. Parallelly with the rise in T4 concentration, beta-carotene concentrations also increased during the second and third inseminations (P greater than 0.05). No difference was recorded in beta-carotene concentrations after the first and second unsuccessful inseminations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of stocking rate, grazing system, and fenbendazole treatment on subclinical parasitism in dairy heifers

Average daily weight and fecal parasitic egg count were compared among sixty 7- to 15-month-old Holstein heifers randomly assigned to 8 groups. The following variables were examined: grazing system (continuous vs rotational), stocking rate (3.5 vs 5 heifers/ha), and treatment [control vs dosing with a 10% suspension of fenbendazole (5 mg/kg of body weight) given orally 21 and 49 days after heifers were placed on pasture]. Two heifers from each group were euthanatized 4 weeks after the completion of the 148-day trial to determine the number of parasitic larvae and adults in the abomasum and intestine. Heifers treated with fenbendazole had significantly (P less than 0.001) fewer fecal ova and fewer inhibited abomasal larvae (P less than 0.05) than did controls. Mean total weight gain and mean daily rate of gain of fenbendazole-dosed heifers were significantly (P less than 0.01) increased by 17.3 kg or 0.12 kg/day, respectively, compared with those of nontreated heifers. Seemingly, stocking rate and grazing systems had no marked effect on subclinical parasitism in heifers.     

An outbreak of toe ulcers,sole ulcers and white line disease in a group of dairy heifers immediately after calving

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: An outbreak of severe lameness was reported on a 780-cow spring-calving dairy herd in the Manawatu region within 1–3 weeks of calving, which affected over 90% of a group of 150 dairy heifers. Approximately 3 weeks before the planned start of calving heifers had been fed maize and grass silage on a concrete feed pad for 3–4 h per day, and mixed with a group of adult cows.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: During treatment for lameness, the feet of 28 lame heifers were closely examined. Seventy lesions were recorded in the claws of these heifers. The predominant lesion was severe solar and white line haemorrhage, with much of the haemorrhage focussed at the site at which sole ulcers are normally seen. White line disease was seen in nine claws and sole ulcers in four. Additionally, a lesion which is not commonly recorded in New Zealand, a toe abscess arising from separation of the white line from the sole in the abaxial region of tip of the toe was recorded in 11 claws. The clinical impression was that the soles of the affected heifers were very thin. This was supported by examination of the feet of eight heifers using ultrasonography that indicated heifers with hoof horn haemorrhages had very thin soles (estimated mean 4.1 mm) and that these soles were thinner than those in non-lame heifers without haemorrhages.

DIAGNOSIS: The pattern of disease seen in these heifers closely matched that seen in an outbreak of lameness in heifers in Florida, which was linked to thin soles resulting from excess hoof horn wear. The clinical signs and findings of the examination using ultrasonography strongly implicated thin soles as the underlying cause of lameness on this farm. An on-farm investigation revealed a combination of heifer behaviour and prolonged exposure to wet concrete on the feed pad were the primary causes of excess wear that resulted in thin soles.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This was an unusual outbreak of lameness in a group of newly calved heifers. The problem highlights the value of good management during the transition of heifers at pasture to the lactating herd standing on concrete for long periods, in the control of lameness.     

Holstein Friesians,Dutch Friesians and Dutch Red and Whites on two complete diets with a different amount of roughage: Performance in first lactation

Groups of 20 Holstein Friesian (HF), 23 Dutch Red and White (DRW) and 20 Dutch Friesian (DF) heifers were fed a complete diet with only roughage (a mixture of grass and corn-silage) or the same mixture of roughage with 50% concentrates on a dry matter basis, from 2 months before the first calving until 10 months after calving.No significant breed-feed composition interactions were found for any of the characteristics.The HF, DRW and DF heifers differed significantly in feed intake and milk production. They consumed 4725, 4432 and 4476 kVEM, respectively, and produced 5331, 4562 and 4660 kg milk, respectively, with 3.96, 4.20 and 4.22% of fat, respectively, and 3.25, 3.49 and 3.40% of protein, respectively.The concentrates and roughage groups differed significantly in feed intake, milk production, average body weight and gain. The respective mean values for the concentrates and the roughage groups were: 5160 and 3928 kVEM, 5534 and 4168 kg milk, 4.00 and 4.26% fat, 3.52 and 3.24% protein, 542 and 506 kg body weight and 97 and 38 kg gain, respectively.HF heifers used 51% of their energy intake for milk production (milk energy), DF heifers 49% and DRW heifers 48%. Both feed composition groups used 49% of their energy intake for milk production, but the roughage group used 8% more of the energy intake for maintenance than the concentrates group, as a result of lower energy intake.     

A study on ghrelin and LH secretion after short fasting and on ghrelin levels at perioestrual period in dairy cattle

In two experiments, we studied (a) the changes of LH secretion in heifers under different feeding schedules and (b) total ghrelin concentration at oestrus in cows and heifers. In experiment one, synchronized heifers were allocated in three groups (R, regularly fed controls; F, fasted; and F‐F fasted‐fed). One day after the completion of the oestrous induction protocol, group F and F‐F animals stayed without feed for 24 hr; thereafter, feed was provided to R and F‐F cattle; 2 hr later, GnRH was administered to all animals. Blood samples were collected for ghrelin, progesterone, LH and cortisol concentrations. Fasting caused increased ghrelin concentrations in groups F and F‐F, while in response to GnRH, LH surge was significantly attenuated in groups F and F‐F compared to R. In experiment 2, lactating cows and heifers were used. On day 9 of a synchronized cycle, PGF2α was administered, and blood samples were collected twice daily until the third day after oestrus and analysed for progesterone, estradiol, ghrelin, glucose and BHBA concentrations. No difference was recorded between groups in steroids and BHBA concentrations. In comparison to mid‐luteal values, ghrelin concentrations significantly increased at perioestrual period in cows, but not in heifers. This study provides evidence that starving‐induced elevated ghrelin concentrations can have suppressing effect on LH secretion, even after ghrelin's restoration to basal values and that during oestrus, ghrelin secretion is differently regulated in cows and heifers, likely being independent from oestradiol concentrations. Further research is required to identify the determining factors that drive the different regulation of ghrelin secretion in cows and heifers.     

Bacteriological survey of mammary secretions from prepartum heifers in a dairy herd with a high prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus infection

This study was performed to examine the bacteriological findings in 58 mammary secretions from 15 heifers at 4-5 weeks before parturition, and to evaluate whether a high prevalence of S. aureus infection in lactating cows affects the occurrence of S. aureus infection in prepartum heifers in the dairy herd. A total of 86.7%(13/15) of the heifers and 60.3%(35/58) of quarter milk samples from the heifers were bacteriologically positive. No S. aureus isolate was detected in mammary secretions from the heifers. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) species were predominantly detected in 54.3%(19/35) and Streptococci other than Streptococcus agalactiae were isolated from 22.9%(8/35) of the quarters. A high S. aureus prevalence in the herd may not necessarily be a decisive factor for S. aureus infection in heifers.     

Performance, behavior, and welfare of Friesian heifers housed in pens with two, four, and eight individuals per concentrate feeding place

The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of increasing the number of heifers per concentrate feeding place on performance, behavior, welfare indicators, and ruminal fermentation of feedlot heifers. Seventy-two Friesian heifers were used in a factorial arrangement, with 3 treatments and 3 blocks of similar BW. Treatments consisted of 2 (T2), 4 (T4), or 8 (T8) heifers per each place in the concentrate feeder (8 heifers/pen). Concentrate and straw were fed at 0830 h in individual feeders that allowed ad libitum consumption. During 6 periods of 28 d each, DMI and ADG were measured, and blood and rumen samples were taken. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and behavior were measured at periods 1, 3, and 6. Final BW, ADG, and G:F were not affected by treatments. Variability in final BW among heifers sharing the same pen tended to increase (P = 0.06) and concentrate intake decreased linearly as competition increased. The proportion of abscessed livers responded quadratically, being 8, 4, and 20% for T2, T4, and T8, respectively. Concentrate eating time decreased (P = 0.001) and eating rate increased (P = 0.05) linearly, whereas the variability between pen mates in concentrate eating time was greatest in T4 and T8. Increasing competition resulted in a quadratic response (P = 0.02) in daily lying time (greatest in T2), whereas standing time increased linearly (P = 0.02). The number of displacements among pen mates from the concentrate feeders, as well as the total sum of displacements, increased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing competition. The pen average of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites was not affected by treatments (P >/= 0.16) but the pen's maximum concentration responded quadratically (P < 0.001), being greatest in T8, with dominant heifers being the most affected. Serum haptoglobin concentration increased linearly (P = 0.05) with competition, particularly within the most subordinate heifers. Increased competition reduced (P < 0.05) ruminal pH only in periods 1 and 2 and increased ruminal lactate (P = 0.02). Increasing competition at the concentrate feeders increased the variability in final BW but performance was not affected. Detrimental effects on animal welfare might be deduced from the altered feeding behavior, reduced resting time, and increased aggression. Ruminal lactate and blood haptoglobin indicate that the risk of rumen acidosis might increase with competition, whereas liver abscesses increased at 8 heifers per feeder.     

Preliminary investigation of some physiological responses of Bos indicus heifers to surgical spaying

Objective To determine the value of peripheral blood concentrations of cortisol, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and haptoglobin as indicators of welfare in Brahman heifers spayed by either the Willis dropped ovary technique (WDOT) or the flank laparotomy method. Design A total of 24, 2‐year‐old Brahman heifers were allocated to: crush (head‐bail) restraint alone (Control, n = 5); crush restraint and ear‐punch (Ear‐punch, n = 5); crush restraint, WDOT spay and ear‐punch (WDOT, n = 9); or crush restraint, elecrtoimmobilisation, flank spay and ear‐punch (Flank; n = 5). Cattle were blood sampled frequently to 8 h, and then daily to day 4 and were monitored to 42 days post‐procedure. Peripheral blood concentrations of bound and unbound cortisol, CPK, AST, NEFAs and haptoglobin were determined. Results Concentrations of plasma bound cortisol peaked in the spayed heifers 3–4 h post‐procedure; values in the Flank (1603 nmol/L) and WDOT (1290 nmol/L) groups were similar and significantly greater (P < 0.05) than in the Controls (519 nmol/L). Flank heifers had elevated plasma haptoglobin levels to day 4 postprocedure. Liveweights were significantly lower in the spayed compared with the Control heifers at 21 and 42 days post‐procedure, with liveweight gains also significantly reduced at day 21. Conclusions Bound cortisol responses in spayed heifers were elevated to 6 h post‐procedure and similar in WDOT‐ and flank‐spayed animals, indicating comparable levels of pain and stress. An inflammatory response, indicated by haptoglobin concentrations, was sustained for longer in Flank than in WDOT spayed heifers, suggesting longer‐lasting adverse effects on welfare from flank spaying than WDOT spaying.     

日粮不同NDF/NFC水平对周岁后荷斯坦奶牛生产性能、营养物质消化率、瘤胃发酵特征和甲烷排放的影响

本试验研究了日粮中不同中性洗涤纤维/非纤维性碳水化合物（NDF/NFC）水平对周岁后荷斯坦奶牛生产性能、营养物质消化率、瘤胃发酵特征及甲烷产量的影响，并在此基础上建立了甲烷排放预测模型，旨在获得我国生产模型下的甲烷排放规律和甲烷转化因子，为提高奶牛能量利用效率、建立国家或区域性温室气体排放清单和探索减排策略提供科学依据和支撑。将45头体况良好，平均为15月龄的荷斯坦后备奶牛随机分为3组，每组15头牛：低日粮NDF/NFC组（NDF/NFC=0.60）、中日粮NDF/NFC组（NDF/NFC=0.75）和高日粮NDF/NFC组（NDF/NFC=0.90），试验期为70 d，包括14 d的预饲期和56 d的正试期。结果表明：1）提高日粮NDF/NFC水平显著降低了奶牛的干物质采食量、有机物采食量、平均日增重、干物质和粗蛋白的表观消化率（P<0.05）；2）提高日粮NDF/NFC水平显著增加了瘤胃内总挥发性脂肪酸产量、乙酸的相对含量和乙酸/丙酸比例（P<0.05），显著降低了丙酸的相对含量（P<0.05）；3）随着日粮NDF/NFC水平的提高，瘤胃甲烷和甲烷能产量、甲烷/代谢体重、甲烷/干物质采食量、甲烷/有机物采食量、甲烷/中性洗涤纤维采食量显著提高（P<0.05）。甲烷转化因子也随着日粮NDF/NFC水平的增加而显著提高（P<0.05）；4）基于体重、采食量、营养物质含量和NDF/NFC分别建立了甲烷预测模型，其中基于干物质采食量和中性洗涤纤维采食量建立的预测模型的决定系数最高（R²=0.77）。因此，提高日粮中NDF/NFC水平可显著降低周岁后荷斯坦奶牛的生产性能、营养物质消化率和瘤胃内丙酸的相对含量，可显著提高瘤胃甲烷产量和甲烷转化因子。     

The effect of extreme temperatures on hematologic and biochemical indicators in heifers

The study was aimed at finding the effect of low and high temperatures on some biochemical parameters in heifers. Thirty half-sister heifers were used as the experimental material. The animals were divided into two groups. The experimental group including 16 heifers was kept loose on deep litter in an open barn with no thermal insulation. The control heifers (n = 14) were kept in a thermally insulated house. Blood was collected at extreme temperatures: above 30 degrees C and below -5 degrees C. An insignificant decrease of haemoglobin and haematocrit was recorded in the blood collected at low and high temperatures from the heifers kept in the open barn; a reduction of cholesterolaemia and total lipaemia was recorded at high temperatures. High and low temperatures significantly increased the concentration of free amino acids; the differences between the experimental and control group being from 36 to 76 mumol per litre. The content of 3.5-cyclic adenosine monophosphate was increased insignificantly at extreme temperatures. Hyperglycaemia was recorded in the heifers at high temperatures and at the beginning of the winter season. At low temperatures the concentration of thyroxine was found to be increased in the blood of the experimental animals: 120 nmol per litre and 161 nmol per litre vs. 95 nmol and 116 nmol in the control group.     

Stress and pain response after oligofructose induced-lameness in dairy heifers

Lameness is one of the most painful conditions that affects dairy cattle. This study was conducted to evaluate clinical signs and plasma concentration of several pain and stress biomarkers after oligofructose-induced lameness in dairy heifers. Lameness was induced using an oligofructose overload model in 12 non-pregnant heifers. Clinical parameters and blood samples were obtained at 48 and 24 h and at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after induction of lameness. Clinical parameters included heart rate, respiratory rate, ruminal frequency and lameness score. Plasma biomarkers included cortisol, haptoglobin, norepinephrine, beta-endorphin and substance P. Differences were observed in all parameters between control and treated heifers. The plasma concentration of biomarkers increased significantly in treated animals starting 6 h after induction of lameness, reaching maximum levels at 24 h for cortisol, 48 h for haptoglobin, 6 h for norepinephrine, 12 h for substance P and at 24 h for beta-endorphin. Overall, our results confirm that lameness associated pain induced using the oligofructose model induced changes in clinical parameters and plasma biomarkers of pain and stress in dairy heifers.