Effects of ecotrofin™ on milk yield,milk quality and serum biochemistry in lactating goats

A nutritional supplement (Ecotrofin™, by Vetoquinol Italia S.r.l) recommended in ruminants feeding to strengthen the physiological condition and improve digestive performance was tested in 20 pluriparae grazing goats divided in two groups (control and treated) to assess its possible effects on milk yield and quality and to assess eventual adverse effects. Animals from both groups also received 400 g/day of corn meal, and the treated group was supplemented with 20 g/head/day of the nutritional supplement. At the doses suggested by the manufacturer, despite a transient increase after 30 days of supplementation, Ecotrofin™ did not show significant effects on milk yield and, although some changes were found in the fatty acids profile, no significant improvement of MUFA and PUFA, as well as of omega-6:omega-3 ratio and CLA content were seen. Therefore, in our experimental conditions the supplementation of diet with Ecotrofin™ did not appear useful to improve goat's performance. A significant effect on kidney health markers (27 vs. 22.5 for urea and 0.83 vs. 0.76 for creatinine, p < 0.05) suggested a beneficial effect on renal function but, since levels fell in the normal ranges in both groups, such hypothesis would need further studies to be addressed.     

Detection of antibiotic residues and association of cefquinome residues with the occurrence of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria in waste milk samples from dairy farms in England and Wales in 2011

Waste milk samples from 103 farms in England and Wales were examined for the presence of β-lactam antibiotics and ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Approximately 10 months after the initial sampling, further waste milk, environmental and faecal samples from farms shown to be positive for CTX-M Escherichia coli were investigated further. Isolates with an ESBL phenotype were tested by PCR for the presence of bla_CTX-M, bla_OXA, bla_SHV and bla_TEM genes. Isolates positive for bla_CTX-M were sequenced to determine CTX-M type. Representative isolates were further examined by PFGE, plasmid replicon typing and serotyping. Of particular interest, 21.4% of waste milk samples contained residues of the cephalosporin cefquinome, which was significantly associated with CTX-M bacteria. Such bacteria occurred in 5.8% of the waste milk samples (including 3.9% CTX-M E. coli). CTX-M types identified were 1, 14, 14b and 15, but none of the E. coli were serotype O25, the serotype of the human pandemic strain.     

Hypomagnesaemia in ewes treated with “Agrimin” bullets

Extract

In New Zealand hypomagnesaemia in sheep is often associated with a staggers syndrome. The condition appears to be complicated and treatment with various forms of magnesium is generally unsatisfactory.     

Growth performance in heavy lambs experimentally treated with 17 ?-estradiol

European and Italian legislation have banned use of growth promoters in livestock since 1988, but epidemiological data show that anabolic drugs are still being used illegally. Recent surveys carried out on the cattle farms in Northern Italy have confirmed the presence of growth-promoting hormones. Authors report data on growth performances in 80 Valle del Belice?×?Comisana weaned lambs experimentally treated with 17 beta-estradiol with 0.5?ml solution of oil Depot Estradiol ? (containing 5?mg of 17β-estradiol valerate) by intramuscular injection into the thigh. The experiment was founded by the National Ministry of Health, to validate histological test for surveillance and control of growth-promoting hormones in sheep. This study confirmed the strong correlation between clinical and anatomopathological features and growth performances of treated animals. Otherwise, no significant differences were found on in vivo performance of the lambs. Estradiol treatment showed heavier shoulders and necks on treated lambs, while the loins were significantly lighter. Moreover, lamb-estradiol-treated groups showed lower separable and inseparable fat percentage than lamb-control groups.     

Monitoring milk for chloramphenicol residues by an immunoassay (Quik‐card®)

Summary

An easy to perform immunoassay method (Quik‐card®) for monitoring milk on the presence of chloramphenicol residues exceeding 5 to 10 ppb is described, as well as an extraction and preconcentration method utilising a Sep‐pak® silica cartridge, which enables the detection of CAP residues in milk in concentrations exceeding 1 ppb by HPLC and 0.1 ppb by the immunoassay.     

Clinico-pathological findings in natural cases of “mascadera” in goats

“Mascadera” is a chronic emaciating neuropathy affecting goats; it produces significant economic losses in many regions and its cause is unknown. Here, the histological lesions found in 15 animals naturally affected by the disease are described. Complete necropsy was performed and tissue samples were collected for histopathological study. Severe atrophy of the masseter and buccinator muscles and tongue was observed, as well as vacuolar degeneration of neurons in the nuclei of the trigeminal, facial, and glossopharyngeal nerves. No relevant lesions were observed in other tissues. These findings and the clinical signs are consistent with those observed by other authors in animals spontaneously and experimentally intoxicated with Prosopis juliflora. The disease may be due to consumption of a similar species present in our country that is still unknown. Further research on the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease is needed to establish appropriate prevention guidelines.

     

Studies on ‘zinc deficiency syndrome’ in Black Bengal goats (Capra hircus) fed with fodder (Andropogon gayanus) grown on soil treated with an excess of calcium and phosphorus fertilizer

Overliming and excessive application of superphosphate caused a zinc deficiency in the soil and so reduced the uptake of zinc by fodder plants. Bucks reared on such fodder had significantly (p<0.01) less zinc in their hair compared with controls and suffered from conditioned zinc deficiency syndrome with a significant (p<0.01) loss of body weight, stunted growth, alopecia, lethargy, abnormal (kyphotic) gait, anorexia, digestive and respiratory problems. Oral supplementation with zinc sulphate very rapidly improved these conditions to near normality. Histological examination of samples of skin and testis from the zinc-deficient bucks revealed formation of excessive keratin, retention of nuclei in the stratum corneum and reduction in the width of the stratum granulosum in the skin, while samples of testis indicated degenerative changes, including atrophy of the seminiferous tubules, hyperplasia of the germinal epithelium and thickening of the walls of blood ve ssels.     

The effect of estrus synchronization treatment on somatic cell count of transitional-anestrus local-Damascus cross breed goats’ milk

An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of estrus synchronization protocols and steroid hormones concentrations on somatic cell count (SCC) of transitional-anestrus local-Damascus cross goats’ milk. Fifty-six goats (2–4-year old) were randomly assigned to three groups: fluorogestone acetate (FGA, n = 19), FGA-Prostaglandin (FGA-PGF, n = 19) and control (n = 18) groups. Intravaginal sponge containing 40 mg FGA was inserted for 13 days and an injection of 600 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) was administered for goats of FGA and FGA-PGF groups at the time of sponge removal (day 0). In addition, goats of FGA-PGF group were injected with 10 mg dinoprost tromethamine () on day 0. Five fertile local-Damascus cross bucks were turned-in with all goats on day 0. Blood and milk samples were collected from all goats on days -13 (beginning of experiment), -6, 0, 1, 2, 7, 13 and 20 (end of the experiment). Four-year old and second-parity goats had significantly higher (p < 0.05) SCC of both udder halves than 2- and 3-year old and first-parity goats, respectively. There was a significant effect (p < 0.05) for treatment and number of kids born in the last kidding season on SCC of both udder halves. Neither estradiol nor progesterone concentrations were correlated with SCC in goats in this experiment. The SCC of both udder halves and left udder halves in goats of the control and FGA groups, respectively, increased significantly (p < 0.05) after sponge removal and buck introduction when compared with day 0, with no differences in the FGA-PGF group. This increase in SCC of the control and FGA groups coincided with peak estrus behavior. However, SCC was far below the upper limit of the current standard for normal milk. In conclusion, induction of estrus with progestagen based programs and buck introduction may cause temporary significant increase in SCC. However, the SCC values during this period of temporary increase were still in the range of acceptable values for normal milk. With the current standards for SCC of 1,000,000/ml as legal limit for abnormal milk control programs in goats, estrus synchronization programs and the estrus status should not be considered when bulk-tank milk SCC is being investigated.     

Is a Delayed Treatment with GnRH,hCG or Progesterone Beneficial for Reducing Embryonic Mortality in Buffaloes?

The aims of this study were to verify the efficacy of delayed hormonal treatments performed on day 25 post‐insemination on pregnancy rate at 45 and 70 days in buffalo. The trial was performed on 385 buffaloes synchronized by the Ovsynch/TAI protocol and submitted to artificial insemination (AI). Twenty‐five days after AI, pregnant animals were assigned to four treatments: (1) GnRH agonist (n = 52), 12 μg of buserelin acetate; (2) hCG (n = 51), 1500 IU of human chorionic gonadotrophin; (3) Progesterone (n = 47), 341 mg of P4 intramuscular (im) every 4 days for three times; (4) Control (n = 54), treatment with physiological saline (0.9% NaCl). Milk samples were collected on days 10, 20 and 25 after AI in all buffaloes to determine progesterone concentration in whey by radioimmunoassay method. Statistical analysis was performed by anova . Pregnancy rate on day 25 after AI was 52.9%, but declined to 41.8% by day 45, indicating an embryonic mortality (EM) of 21%. If only control group is considered, the incidence of EM was 38.9%. Pregnant buffaloes had higher (p < 0.01) progesterone concentrations on day 20 and 25 after AI than both non‐pregnant buffaloes and buffaloes that showed EM. The treatments on day 25 increased (p < 0.01) pregnancy rate, although in buffaloes with a low whey progesterone concentration on day 20 and 25 after AI (n = 22); all treatments were ineffective to reduce EM.     

Tactical treatment with copper oxide wire particles and symptomatic levamisole treatment using the FAMACHA(©) system in indigenous goats in South Africa

Haemonchosis is considered to be the most economically important gastrointestinal disease of small ruminants in the tropics and subtropics. However, chemical anthelmintics, which were the mainstay of control, have been compromised by a high prevalence of resistance worldwide. Copper oxide wire particles (COWP) have been shown to have anthelmintic effects, but few studies have examined their use under field conditions. The use of COWP was therefore evaluated as a tactical anthelmintic treatment in indigenous goats raised under communal farming conditions in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. At the beginning of the summer rainfall season (October 2007), the faecal egg counts of 172 female goats belonging to 15 farmers were determined and this sampling continued every four weeks until the second week of January 2008. The goats within each of the 15 herds were ranked according to their faecal egg counts for this week. The goats were sequentially paired off within each ranking starting with those goats with the highest counts. One goat from each pair was randomly allocated to a treated or control group. Two weeks later, a 4 g COWP bolus was randomly administered to each goat in the treated group. Faecal egg counts were carried out on the goats two weeks following treatment, and the sampling of the goats then proceeded every four weeks until October 2008. Except for the six-week period prior to the administration of the COWP, the goats were examined according to the FAMACHA^© system and symptomatically treated with 12 mg/kg levamisole when anaemic. The percentage reduction in faecal egg count due to the COWP treatment was 89.0%. Mean pre- and post-treatment faecal egg counts for the COWP-treated group (n = 73) were 2347 eggs per gram of faeces (epg) and 264 epg, respectively. The corresponding values for the untreated controls (n = 66) were 2652 epg and 2709 epg. The prevalence of Haemonchus spp. larvae in pre- and post-treatment faecal cultures was 72% and 46%, respectively. Symptomatic anthelmintic treatments in combination with mid-summer tactical treatments with COWP appear to be useful strategies for the control of Haemonchus contortus in indigenous goats in this farming system and this approach could have application in other similar agro-ecological zones.     

Estrus induction in anestrous mixed-breed goats using the “female-to-female effect”

A trial was conducted during the anestrous period in female goats to determine: (a) whether estrus can be induced in anestrous goats by administration of equine chorionic gonadotropic hormone (eCG) and PGF_2α under pen conditions and (b) whether these sexually active female goats can elicit sexual arousal in sexually inactive bucks. One hundred and fifteen pluriparous, nonlactating mixed-breed female goats were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: (1) administration of a single dose of 240 IU of eCG, 50 μg PGF_2α i.m., and 25 mg progesterone (P₄) (eCG; n?=?30); (2) administration of P₄ and exposure to female goats treated with eCG–PGF_2α (P₄; n?=?39); (3) administration of 0.5 ml saline and P₄ (Sal; n?=?23); and (4) P₄ plus exposure to female goats treated with saline (Con; n?=?23). After hormone administration, all goats were put together with adult sexually inactive bucks for 15 days. The percentage of goats in estrus during these 15 days was similar in eCG-treated animals and untreated animals exposed to the eCG animals (97 and 95 %). Pregnancy rate was also similar (63 vs. 64 %) between these two groups. eCG-treated goats exhibited estrus earlier (P?<?0.05) than the treated goats in contact with the eCG goats. Furthermore, eCG-treated goats had larger litters (1.9?±?0.2 vs. 1.6?±?0.1, P?<?0.05) than the untreated goats in contact with the eCG goats. These results show that fertile estrus can be induced in anestrous female goats by exposing them to female goats induced to estrus with eCG. This female–female interaction triggers the stimulation cycle leading to the sexual arousal of bucks.     

Prevalence of contagious mastitis pathogens in bulk tank milk in Québec

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of mycoplasma, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus agalactiae in bulk tank milk (BTM) in Québec dairy herds. BTM was sampled 3 times a month in 117 randomly selected dairy herds. Samples were submitted for S. aureus, S. agalactiae, and mycoplasma and for direct mycoplasma detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mycoplasma spp. was identified at least once in 3 herds (2.6%) by primary culture and/or PCR and in 4 herds (3.4%) by enrichment culture and/or PCR. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated at least once in 99 (84.6%) and 112 (95.7%) herds in primary culture and after enrichment, respectively. Streptococcus agalactiae was isolated at least once in 9 (7.7%) and 10 (8.6%) herds in primary culture and after enrichment, respectively. Herd prevalence of mycoplasma was similar to that previously reported in Canada. Staphylococcus aureus is still by far the most important contagious mastitis pathogen.     

Voluntary intake and milk production in F1 Holstein × zebu cows in confinement

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutrient intake and milk production in Holstein × zebu (F1) cows in feedlot. Eighteen F1 cows were used, divided into three treatments; six were Holstein × Gir (HGI), six were Holstein × Guzerat (HGU), and another six were Holstein × Nelore (HNE), which had recently calved, distributed into simple, random samples, under the same feeding conditions of corn silage and concentrate with 20% crude protein. The three-marker method was used (LIPE, titanium dioxide, and iADF) to estimate the individual intake and digestibility of the nutrients for the cows in group. The mathematical model used to establish the lactation curves was: Y = at(b)e(-ct) by Wood (Nature 216:164-165, 1967). The statistical analyses for the nutrient intake and digestibility, as well as parameters of metabolic efficiency, were performed using multiple linear regression (α = 5%). No effect (P > 0.05) of genetic group was observed for any of the variables studied. The intake and digestibility of the nutrients and the microbial nitrogen presented quadratic curves as a function of the lactation period (P < 0.05). The HGU cows exhibited an accumulated milk production of 4,946.81 kg at 305 days, whereas the HGI cows produced 4,821.78 kg. The HNE cows displayed inferior performance, with a production of 3,674.98 kg. It was concluded that, in confinement, F1 cows from different genetic groups do not exhibit different intake, digestibility, or metabolic efficiency. The HGU and HGI cows have greater cumulative production at 305 days.     

Protein heterogeneity of bovine β-casein in Danish dairy breeds and association of rare β-casein F with milk coagulation properties

A proteomic approach was applied to characterize genetic variation and relative protein content of β-casein (β-CN) in milk from two minor native dairy breeds in Denmark; Red Danish 1970 and Jutland cows in comparison to the major dairy breeds; Danish Holstein and Danish Jersey. Genetic β-CN variants were related to the relative concentration of β-CN. Furthermore, a very high frequency of variant F in the native breeds was found. This was remarkable as this variant is only found in a very low frequency in the major Danish breeds. Novel associations were found between β-CN variant F and milk coagulation properties in the native breeds, which is an important finding for understanding the genetic background for non- and poor coagulating milk and potential exploitation of β-CN variants in selective breeding programs. Furthermore, in Red Danish 1970 a very high prevalence of non-coagulating milk was found (18%).     

（ACP5） in the Ovine Uterus： I. Regulation by Pregnancy and Progesterone

Uteroferrin, also known as type 5 tartrate resistant acid phosphatase （ ACP5 ） or TRAP, is an iron-containing glycoprotein secreted by uterine gland epithelium （GE） in response to progesterone and transported across the placental areoalae into the fetal circulation and aUantoic fluid to deliver iron and to stimulate hematopoeisis in pigs. This study deter- mined if ACP5 was expressed in the ovine uterus in response to pregnancy, progesterone, interferon tau, placental lactogen, and placental growth hormone. ACP5 protein was present in uterine GE of cyclic and early pregnant ewes,particularly between days 18 and 120 of pregnancy. ACP5 mRNA was expressed in uterine GE of cyclic and pregnant ewes in the same temporal and cell-specific manner. ACP5 was present in secretions from uterine glands, i. e. , uterine milk,and allantoic fluid from days 40 to 80 of pregnancy, and in uterine flushings from cyclic and early pregnant ewes. Progesterone induced expression of ACP5 mR- NA and intrauterine infusion of recombinant ovine interferon tau further stimulated ACP5 expression in uterine GE of ewes,but intrauterine injections of ovine placental lactogen and ovine growth hormone had no effect on ACP5 expression in uterine GE. These re- sults indicate that ACP5 is：1 ） expressed only in GE in response to progesterone ;2） secreted into the uterine lumen and transported into the conceptus via placental areolae during pregnancy;and 3） present in secretions from uterine GE and in allantoic fluid. The roles of ACP5 in the ovine uterus may include transport of iron across the placenta and stimulation of hematopoiesis.