Starch levels on performance,milk composition and energy balance of lactating dairy cows

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of starch levels in diets with the replacement of citrus pulp for corn on milk yield, milk composition, and energy balance of lactating dairy cows. Twenty-eight multiparous Holstein cows were used in seven 4?×?4 Latin squares conducted concurrently, and each experimental period consisted of 20 days (16 days for adaptation and 4 days for sampling). The experimental treatments comprised four starch levels: 15, 20, 25, and 30 % in the diet. The dry matter intake increased linearly with increasing starch levels. The milk yield and 3.5 % fat-corrected milk yield showed quadratic response to increasing starch levels. The milk protein content and milk total solids content responded linearly to increasing starch levels. The feed efficiency, milk lactose content, milk urea nitrogen, plasma urea nitrogen, and plasma glucose concentration were not affected by starch levels. The estimated net energy for lactation (NE_L) intake increased linearly as the starch level was raised. Although the milk NE_L output per kilogram of milk was not affected by starch, the milk NE_L output daily responded quadratically to starch levels. In addition, the NE_L in body weight gain also responded quadratically to increasing starch levels. The efficiency of energy use for milk yield and the NE_L efficiency for production also responded quadratically to increasing starch levels. Diets for mid-lactating dairy cows producing around 30 kg/day of milk should be formulated to provide around 25 % starch to optimize performance.

     

A comparison of plasma glucose and oxidative status in lactating dairy cows in summer and autumn

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the hot summer season on plasma glucose and oxidative stress markers. For two 14‐day experimental periods, namely periods 1 (July‐August) and 2 (October‐November), 12 and 14 lactating dairy cows, respectively, that were milked using an automatic milking system, were fed diets containing similar ingredients, and their milk production, plasma metabolites and oxidative status markers were investigated. Dry matter intake and milk yield were not affected by the experimental period. Rectal temperature at 18.00 hours and milk protein concentration in period 1 were higher and lower, respectively, than in period 2 (P < 0.05), suggesting that the hot summer season had an effect on the experimental dairy cows. Plasma glucose and the ascorbic acid + dehydroascorbic acid (AA) concentrations in period 1 were lower than in period 2 (P < 0.01). The plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration did not differ between the experimental periods. The increase in the cellular AA uptake in peripheral tissues in period 1 might be a possible compensatory mechanism to balance the occurrence of reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant capacity in the cells, resulting in the absence of an effect of the hot summer season on plasma MDA concentration. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

Stability of plasma metabolites and hormones in lactating dairy cows

Plasma concentration stability of glucose, free fatty acids, ketone bodies, growth hormone, insulin were determined in lactating dairy cows. Concentrations of these metabolites and hormones were measured during a 36- to 48-hour period in 3 normal, mature dairy cows in the 2nd month of lactation. Samples were taken at 30-minute intervals; also, intensive sampling (every 10 minutes) was done at varying times in relation to feeding and milking. Of the 5 components measured, glucose concentration was the most stable, easiest to assay, and most reliable for use as a diagnostic aid in assessing metabolic carbohydrate disturbances in dairy cattle.     

Pharmacokinetics of phenylbutazone in plasma and milk of lactating dairy cows

Phenylbutazone was administered intravenously (i.v.) to a group of four lactating cows at a dosage of 6 mg/kg body weight. Whole plasma, protein-free plasma and milk were analysed for phenylbutazone residues. Pharmacokinetic parameters of total and free phenylbutazone in plasma were calculated using a non compartmental method. In regards to whole plasma data, the mean volume of distribution at steady state ( V _ss), was 147 mL/kg body weight, with a mean (± SEM) terminal elimination half-life ( t _1/2) of 40 ± 6 h. The mean clearance ( Cl ) was 3 mL/h/kg body weight. The V _ss as determined from the protein-free plasma fraction was 50 021 mL/kg body weight. This larger V _ss of free phenylbutazone compared to total plasma phenylbutazone was attributed to a high degree of plasma protein binding, as well as the greater penetration of free phenylbutazone into tissues. The mean t _1/2 of free phenylbutazone was 39 ± 5 h. This similarity to the t _1/2 estimated from total plasma phenylbutazone data is attributed to an equilibrium between free and plasma phenylbutazone during the terminal elimination phase. Mean t _1/2 as determined from milk, applying a urinary excretion rate model, was 47 ± 4 h. Milk clearance of phenylbutazone was 0.009 mL/h/kg body weight, or about 0.34% of total body clearance. Furthermore, evidence suggests that phenylbutazone either binds to milk proteins, or is actively transported into milk, as its concentration in milk was greater than that predicted due to a simple partitioning from plasma into milk.     

Effect of fasting on plasma metabolites and hormones in lactating dairy cows

Metabolic and pathophysiologic changes of secondary ketosis were studied. Plasma samples were obtained from a group of 8 mature, lactating dairy cows before, during, and after a 48-hour fast. These samples were analyzed for glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), lactic acid, ketone bodies, glucocorticoids, insulin, and growth hormone concentrations. In the prefasting period, metabolites and hormones remained constant. Lactic acid and glucocorticoids also remained stable during the entire experiment, except on the 1st day after termination of the fast, when glucocorticoids increased significantly (P less than 0.05). Glucose values decreased significantly (P less than 0.01) with the onset of fasting, began to rise halfway through the fast, and were elevated following termination of the fast. Plasma glucose concentration returned to normal by the end of the experiment. Plasma FFA concentrations increased during the early portions of the fast and decreased thereafter. Plasma ketone body concentration responded similarly, but the change occurred approximately 12 hours after the plasma FFA changes. A value determined as ketotic was reached during the fast (14.6 +/- 1.3 mg/dl). Insulin concentrations remained low during the fast and increased after fasting. Plasma growth hormone concentration increased to a new plateau in response to fasting and then decreased somewhate after fasting was ended.     

Fractional excretion of electrolytes in lactating dairy cows.

Samples of serum and urine were obtained simultaneously from 56 healthy lactating cows to determine ranges of fractional excretion (FE) of calcium (Ca), phosphate (PO4), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chloride (Cl). Samples were obtained at 3 stages of lactation: period 1 = 1 to 7 days, 2 = 83 to 112 days, and 3 = 175 to 197 days. The FE of electrolytes were significantly different among periods 1, 2, and 3 for Ca (P less than 0.001), PO4 (P less than 0.025) and Mg (P less than 0.025), but were not significantly different for Na, K, and Cl. Least squares mean FE of Ca was lowest in period 1 and not significantly different for periods 2 and 3, whereas mean FE values for PO4 and Mg were highest in period 2 and not significantly different for periods 1 and 3. The mean FE values of Na, K, and Cl did not change with stage of lactation. Age and category of milk production (high, medium, and low) did not influence the FE values of the electrolytes.     

Correlation between energy balance and fertility in Finnish dairy cows.

The effect of serum glucose, ASAT and urea on reproductive performance was studied in 45 Finnish dairy cows from 8 different herds. Blood samples were taken a month before calving as well as 2 weeks and 2 months after calving. Serum urea, ASAT and glucose were used as indicators of metabolic and energy balance. Glucose and ASAT concentrations were significantly correlated with fertility 2 weeks after calving, but not before calving or 2 months after calving. Antepartum, 60% of the cows had a low urea level; at 2 weeks and at 2 months postpartum 89% and 65%, respectively had low levels of urea. The cows were divided into groups as follows: low or high (greater than or equal to 2.9 mmol/l) glucose level and low or high (greater than or equal to 2.5 mmol/l) urea level. Low levels of glucose and/or urea in puerperium were associated with poor fertility. The intervals from calving to first insemination and conception were shorter in the group with high glucose and high urea than in the group with low values. The cows with the shortest intervals from calving to first insemination and conception showed adequate metabolic balance (high levels of urea and glucose). Clinical ketosis had an adverse affect on intervals from calving to first insemination and on conception. Intervals from calving to first insemination and to conception were significantly (p less than 0.01) longer in ketotic cows than in non-ketotic ones. Liver damage, reflected as elevated activity of ASAT, was associated with poor fertility. If shorter calving intervals are desired, adequate energy balance in puerperium is essential.     

The half-life of glutamate dehydrogenase in plasma of dry and lactating dairy cows

The clearance of glutamate dehydrogenase from plasma was measured weekly for three weeks in three dry and three lactating cows. The clearance was exponential with a mean clearance constant of 0.0488/j and means (+/- SE) half-life of 14.2 (+/- 0.77) h. There were variations among cows and among measurements in the same cow but there was no difference between the mean half-lives of GDH in lactating and dry cows. Because of the long half-life the small variations among individual cows are unlikely to affect the interpretation of increased plasma GDH activity.     

Negative energy balance increases periprandial ghrelin and growth hormone concentrations in lactating dairy cows

The reported effects of feeding on growth hormone (GH) secretion in ruminants have been inconsistent, and are likely influenced by energy status of animals. High-producing dairy cows in early lactation and late lactation were used to assess the effects of energy balance on temporal variation of plasma metabolites and hormones. Cows were fed a single diet once daily, and feed was withdrawn for 90 min prior to feeding. Beginning at the time of feed withdrawal, plasma samples were collected via jugular catheters hourly for 24h. Concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and GH were measured for all samples, while insulin, glucose, and acylated (active) ghrelin were quantified for four sample times around feeding. As expected, calculated energy balance was significantly lower in early lactation than late lactation cows (-43.5 MJ retained/day versus 7.2 MJ retained/day). Following the primary meal of the day, a GH surge was observed in early lactation but not in late lactation cows. This difference was not explained by temporal patterns in non-esterified fatty acid, insulin, or glucose concentrations. However, a preprandial ghrelin surge was observed in early lactation only, suggesting that ghrelin was responsible for the prandial GH surge in this group. Results of a stepwise regression statistical analysis showed that both preprandial ghrelin concentration and energy balance were significant predictors of prandial GH increase over baseline. Adaptations to negative energy balance in lactating dairy cattle likely include enhanced ghrelin secretion and greater GH response to ghrelin.     

Response of plasma cortisol and progesterone after ACTH challenge in ovariectomized lactating dairy cows

Shortened and weakened estrous expressions could be one of the causes of poor heat detection rate. Non-specific acute stresses are assumed to depress expression of estrus by an increase of plasma progesterone which may originate from the adrenal cortex. The objective of the present study was to examine whether the adrenal cortex can secrete significant amounts of progesterone in response to exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in lactating cows. Four cows had estrus synchronized and were ovariectomized in the luteal phase. The cows were given 25 IU ACTH through an indwelling catheter 5 h after catheterization. Blood samples were collected at an interval of 30 min. In 3 of the 4 cows, plasma progesterone concentrations increased significantly 0.5-1.5 h after the first ACTH challenge with a mean peak value of 4.2 +/- 0.4 (S.D.) ng/ml. A similar response was also observed after the second ACTH challenge. Peak plasma progesterone concentrations in the 3 cows after first ACTH challenge were comparable with the progesterone values in the luteal phase of each cow. The results suggest that lactating cows have the capability to secrete a significant amount of progesterone from the adrenal cortex.     

Utilization of glucose and long-chain fatty acids in lactating dairy cows fed a fat-enriched diet

The fate of carbon from long-chain fatty acids and glucose in dairy cows which were fed with protected fat was studied using stable isotope technique. The experiment was carried out on two groups of dairy cows (n=16 in each group) during the first 15 weeks of the lactation period. The cows were fed isoenergetic and isoproteinogenous diets based on corn silage. About 1.8 kg of tapioca starch in the diet of the starch group was substituted by about 0.7 kg of rumen protected fat (Ca salts of palm oil and soybean oil) in the diet of the fat group. The carbon atoms of dietary fat were naturally depleted in 13C as compared to carbon atoms of starch. Daily milk performance and lactose output were significantly (P < 0.05) higher among the cows fed with fat diet. In comparison to the starch group, the enrichment of milk fat with 13C was significantly lower, while that of breath CO2 was significantly higher in the fat group (P < 0.05). This means the fatty acids were incorporated into milk fat in preference to metabolic oxidation. Further studies showed that blood glucose is oxidized to a lower extent and is used for the synthesis of lactose to a higher proportion if the cows were fed with the fat diet. The glucose entry rate into the body glucose pool was not different between the diets. In conclusion, the dietary fatty acids perform a glucose sparing effect and improve the glucose supply for the mammary gland.     

Developmental changes in clearance of intravenous doses of glucose, acetate and β-hydroxybutyrate from plasma of calves

To characterize the effects of diet and age on the post-absorptive use of fermentation end-products, calves were subjected before and after weaning to plasma glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate and acetate clearance tests. Twenty-four one-week old male Holstein calves were assigned to one of four starter feeds, in a complete random design: (1) control; (2) 10% alfalfa; (3) 20% alfalfa; and (4) cracked corn. Starters were fed ad libitum. Starter intake, carcass-adjusted body weight gain and post-weaning rumen pH were higher in calves consuming alfalfa. Final bodyweights of calves fed alfalfa were 9.5 kg higher than calves given the other diets. With 20% alfalfa, papillae in the caudal ventral blind sac of the rumen were taller than with cracked corn and narrower than on the control. Rumen concentrations of volatile fatty acids were not affected by diet but the acetate:butyrate ratio and pH were higher on d 54 with 20% alfalfa compared to the control. Glucose clearance and flux rates increased significantly from d 11 to 39 but were unaffected to d 53. Increases in plasma β-hydroxybutyrate and acetate concentrations with age were accompanied by corresponding increases in BHB and acetate fluxes, respectively, but no change in the clearance rate constants. There was little effect of diet on clearance of the plasma metabolites. By 8 weeks of age, glucose was cleared from plasma at 2%/min, β-hydroxybutyrate at 16%/min, and acetate at 24%/min. Because of relatively low plasma concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate and acetate due to incomplete rumen development, glucose remained the predominant energy source for all calves at 8 weeks.     

Associations between teat injuries and fistula formation in lactating dairy cows treated with surgery

OBJECTIVE: To determine associations between rate of fistula formation and parity, lactation period, wound age, wound location, and shape of teat injuries in surgically treated teats in dairy cows. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: 106 lactating dairy cows with teat lacerations. PROCEDURES: Lacerations were classified via shape, location, and age. Associations between potential risk factors and fistula formation were analyzed. Seasonal distribution, type of injured teat, parity, and days in lactation were determined. RESULTS:Cows with teat injury in their first and second parity had 4.1 times the odds of fistula formation, compared with cows with parity >or= 3.Teats sutured within 48 to 72 hours of injury had 8.3 times the odds of fistula formation, compared with teats sutured within the first 24 hours. Cows in early lactation stage (first 60 days of lactation) were more susceptible to teat injuries. Occurrence of teat injury was greater at the third, fourth, and fifth parity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Season, parity, and lactation period were associated with prevalence of teat injury in lactating dairy cows in a range system. Neither the type of suture material used nor the suturing technique was associated with effects on healing of the operated full-thickness teat wounds. Factors such as parity and age of the wound can be associated with delay in the healing process, which may result in fistula formation.     

Relationship between plasma vitamin C and serum diagnostic biochemical markers in lactating cows

We investigated the relationship between plasma vitamin C concentration and serum levels of some diagnostic biochemical markers in 118 lactating Holstein cows. Blood sample was collected once from each cow and we measured the plasma vitamin C concentration and the serum levels of glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, free fatty acids, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, albumin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. The regression of plasma vitamin C with each serum diagnostic biochemical marker indicated that the vitamin C concentration significantly decreased as glucose, alkaline phosphatase or aspartate aminotransferase level increased and as total cholesterol or albumin concentration decreased. Furthermore, the plasma vitamin C concentration was significantly lower in the cows showing that each of these marker levels was out of its reference interval than in the cows showing that the marker level was within its reference interval. The significant correlations were observed among total cholesterol, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, to which the glucose concentration was not related. These results showed that the plasma vitamin C concentration was low in the cows that had concurrently low levels of total cholesterol and albumin, and high levels of alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase. Therefore, a hepatic malfunction possibly decreases plasma vitamin C concentration through suppressing vitamin C production. On the other hand, the high level of glucose possibly decreases plasma vitamin C concentration through suppressing vitamin C recycling.     

奶牛胎衣不下与血浆NO、GSH-PX和MDA变化的关系

对9例产后健康奶牛和9例产后胎衣不下奶牛产后0、4、8、12、16h血浆中一氧化氮(NO)含量、谷胱甘肽过氧化酶(GSH-Px)活性和丙二醛(MDA)的含量进行了测定。结果显示,试验组血浆中NO、MDA高于对照组,差异极显著(P<0.01),GSH-Px活性低于对照组,差异极显著(P<0.01),表明血浆中NO、GSH-Px、MDA的变化参与了产后胎衣不下的发生、发展。     

Pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur in plasma and uterine secretions and tissues after subcutaneous postpartum administration in lactating dairy cows

A study was conducted to measure concentrations of potentially active ceftiofur derivatives, in plasma, in uterine tissues (endometrium and caruncles) and in uterine secretions at different time points after a single subcutaneous administration of ceftiofur hydrochloride (Excenel RTU Sterile Suspension) at the dose of 1 mg/kg body weight in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. The animals (n=4) were injected within 24 h of calving, after expulsion of the foetal membranes. Plasma, lochial fluid, caruncles and endometrium were collected before ceftiofur hydrochloride administration and at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after treatment. For each cow the concentrations of ceftiofur in the biological matrices were quantified using an high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay. The limit of quantification of the method was 0.1 microg/mL for plasma and 0.1 microg/g for lochial fluid, caruncles and endometrium. The concentrations of potentially active ceftiofur derivatives detected in plasma reached a maximum of 2.85 +/- 1.11 microg/mL at 2 h and decreased to 0.64 +/- 0.14 microg/mL at 24 h after administration. In lochial fluid, these concentrations reached a maximum of 0.97 +/- 0.25 microg/g at 4 h and decreased to 0.22 +/- 0.21 microg/g at 24 h after administration. In endometrium, these concentrations reached a maximum of 2.23 +/- 0.82 microg/g at 4 h and decreased to 0.56 +/- 0.14 microg/g at 24 h following the injection, whereas these levels in caruncles were 0.96 +/- 0.45 and 0.60 +/- 0.39 microg/g obtained at 8 and 24 h, respectively. At the dose of 1 mg/kg body weight in healthy dairy cows, subcutaneous administration of ceftiofur (as ceftiofur hydrochloride) after parturition results in concentrations of ceftiofur derivatives in uterine tissues and in lochial fluid that exceed the reported minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the common pathogens (Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Bacteroides spp., and Arcanobacterium pyogenes) associated with acute puerperal metritis.