Mammary histology and alveolar cell differentiation during late gestation and early lactation in mammary tissue of beef and dairy heifers

Quantitative histology of mammary parenchymal tissue from 16 Hereford and 16 Holstein heifers was determined for tissue obtained on day 150, 180, and 280 of gestation and on day 49 of lactation. Percent area occupied by stromal tissue was progressively decreased on each consecutive sample day during gestation in Herefords and was lower in both breeds during lactation. Overall, area occupied by stromal tissue elements was also greater in Herefords. Percent lumenal space and number of cells per alveolar cross section was consistently greater for Holsteins and increased across sample periods in both breeds. During lactation more than 40% of the alveolar cells in Herefords were characterized as poorly differentiated, but in Holstein heifers nearly all of the cells were classified as either intermediate or fully differentiated. These data provide additional evidence to support the idea that much of the difference in milk production between beef and dairy animals depends on increased mammary function. Whether differences in milk production within dairy breeds are also explained by altered cellular differentiation remains to be determined.     

Mammary development in prepubertal gilts fed restrictively or ad libitum in two sub-periods between weaning and puberty

Two experiments were conducted to assess whether feeding level in the period from weaning to puberty can affect the amount of mammary tissue at puberty. Four female pigs from eight (exp. 1) to ten (exp. 2) litters were allocated to four treatment groups within litter. From day 28 to 90 of age (period 1) and from day 90 to slaughter, at approximately 5 1/2 months of age (period 2), the gilts were given either ad libitum or restrictive access to feed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Neither the amount of dissected mammary tissue nor the amounts of DNA or RNA were affected by feeding regime in period 1. However, ad libitum feeding in period 2 gave rise to more dissected mammary tissue (52%, P < 0.0001), RNA (37%, P = 0.006) and DNA (28%, P = 0.005) compared to restricted feeding. Cyclicity gave rise to increases in mammary DNA (P = 0.05) and RNA (P = 0.02). There were no clear correlations between mammary measures and plasma IGF-I or IGF-binding proteins. It is concluded that a high feeding level from three months of age to puberty has a stimulatory effect on mammary development in prepubertal gilts.     

不同饲养模式对哺乳犊牛体尺指标和瘤胃发育的影响

为研究优质牧草对犊牛体尺指标和瘤胃发育的影响,选取20头体重、日龄相近的健康荷斯坦奶犊牛,采用完全随机设计的方法,分为试验组和对照组,每组10头,其中公、母各半。对照组饲喂颗粒精料+鲜牛奶,试验组饲喂颗粒精料+优质苜蓿干草+鲜牛奶,于3月龄断奶时进行体尺指标和瘤胃发育指标的测量。结果表明:试验组和对照组各项体尺指标差异不显著(P>0.05);试验组显著提高了犊牛3月龄的瘤胃平均重量、瓣胃平均容积、瓣胃平均重量、皱胃平均容积(P<0.05),且瘤胃乳头绒毛长,颜色深,以瘤胃底部发育最好且分布较多乳头,顶部分布较少且稀疏,还可有效地防止了瘤胃内毛球的形成,明显降低犊牛异食癖和瘤胃臌气的发生,而对照组瘤胃乳头发育较差,颜色较浅,瘤胃壁薄,但瘤胃乳头分布均匀。     

Effect of restricted suckling on milk yield,milk composition and udder health in cows and behaviour and weight gain in calves,in dual-purpose cattle in the tropics

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of restricted suckling (RS) in dual-purpose cows and calves compared to artificial rearing (AR). Twelve Holstein-Zebu cows with calves were assigned to each treatment. Cows were milked once daily in the morning with calves present to stimulate milk let-down. RS calves suckled 30 min after milking and 30 min in the afternoon, whereas AR calves were milk-fed from nipple bottles. The daily saleable milk yield was higher in RS than in AR cows (p < 0.01; 7.44 vs 6.50 kg/day), whereas RS cows had lower milk-fat content (p < 0.001). AR cows had higher California Mastitis Test scores (p < 0.001) and lower lactose content (p < 0.001) compared to RS cows, which indicates an improved udder health in RS cows. AR calves displayed more ‘cross-suck’ during suckling/milk feeding (p < 0.001) and during observations of general behaviour (p < 0.05), and more ‘lick and sniff interior’ during milking (p < 0.05) and suckling/milk feeding (p < 0.01), compared to RS calves. During observations of general behaviour the RS calves were more often observed to ‘walk’ (p < 0.01) and ‘lick self’ (p < 0.05) and less frequently to ‘eat concentrate’ (p < 0.05) than AR calves. Results support the hypothesis that RS increases milk yield, influences milk composition and improves udder health in cows, and decreases abnormal sucking in calves.     

Influence of dietary fat source on sow and litter performance,colostrum and milk fatty acid profile in late gestation and lactation

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with various fat sources (3.8–3.9% of diet) during late pregnancy and lactation on the reproductive performance, fatty acids profile in colostrum, milk and serum of sow progeny. A total of 80 multiparous sows were randomly fed a control (adding no oil), palm oil (PO), fish oil (FO) or soybean oil (SO) supplemented diet from 90 days of pregnancy to weaning. Supplementation of FO increased litter size of weak piglets, compared with the control‐fed sows (P < 0.05). Dietary FO and SO supplementation, enhanced the weaning survival rate, litter weaning weight, litter weight gain and fat content in milk (P < 0.05). The highest immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM levels in colostrum and milk were observed in the FO group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the highest concentration of C22:5 (n‐3) and C22:6 (n‐3) in colostrum, milk and piglet serum was observed in the FO group (P < 0.05). Taken together, dietary inclusion of FO or SO improved growth performance of nursing piglets by increasing milk fat output, and FO consumption by sows might benefit the piglets via increasing n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid availability and immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) secretion.     

Effects of weaning age and milk feeding frequency on dairy calf growth, health and rumen parameters

Various methods can be used to feed dairy calves that may influence calf performance and these include changing frequency of feeding or age at weaning. Two trials were conducted to determine effects of feeding frequency and weaning age on calf growth, health and rumen development, where 124 Holstein heifer and bull calves were weaned at 3, 4, 5 or 6 weeks of age. During Trial 1, milk replacer (12.5% DM; 22% CP, 15.6% fat) was fed at 10% BW twice per day until 1 week prior to weaning when intake was reduced to 5% BW. During Trial 2 calves were fed at 10% BW in two feedings until 14 days, then at 10% BW once daily until 1 week prior to weaning when milk replacer was reduced to 5% BW. Blood glucose and urea nitrogen, BW 4 h post-feeding, heart girth, hip height, and withers height 4 h post-feeding were obtained weekly. Growth and structural measurements were similar for all treatments up to 8 weeks of age in both trials. Blood constituents and health observations were not different between trials. Similar growth and performance between treatments in both trials through 8 weeks of age indicate that calf performance is not affected by weaning early and feeding once daily.     

Effect of milk feed source,frequency of feeding and age at turnout on calf performance,live-weight at mating and 1st lactation milk production

Female calves (n = 108) were assigned to 6 cold milk feeding treatments in two experiments for a 70-day period. Live-weight (LW) was measured weekly, with an additional LW taken at day 410 and post-calving for animals in experiment 1. In Experiment 1, the effect of feeding frequency and age of turnout to pasture on calf performance and 1^st lactation milk yields were evaluated. The whole milk (WM) feeding treatments applied were (i) once daily feeding (OD), (ii) twice daily feeding (TD), (iii) OD feeding, outdoors at 38 days (ODO). In Experiment 2, the effects of feeding milk replacer (MR) as opposed to WM and age of turnout to pasture on calf performance were evaluated. The treatments applied were (i) OD feeding with WM (OD), (ii) OD feeding with milk replacer (MR) (ODMR), (iii) OD feeding with MR, outdoors at 38 days (ODMRO). Experiment 1: There were no differences (P > 0.05) in LW or average daily gain between TD and OD calves at day 80 or 410. ODO calves had lower LW at day 80 as compared to OD or TD (P < 0.001). Calf LW at day 80 was 86, 89 and 85 kg and at day 410 was 304, 309 and 316 kg for OD, TD and ODO, respectively. Milk feeding frequency or time of calf turnout had no effect on LW post calving, milk composition or 1st lactation milk yields. Experiment 2: Total LW at day 80 was higher (P < 0.05) for ODMR compared to OD or ODMRO calves. Calf LW was 87, 95, and 88 kg for OD, ODMR and ODMRO, respectively. However, LW at day 410 did not differ between treatments.This study showed that while some differences were observed in calf LW at day 80, these differences had no effect on LW at day 410 or 1^st lactation milk yield. It can be concluded that calves can be successfully reared when fed OD with WM or MR, indoors and when turned out to pasture at 38 days of age.     

Dietary yeast culture supplementation of mares during late gestation and early lactation: Effects on milk production, milk composition, weight gain and linear growth of nursing foals

This study examined the effects of dietary supplementation of pregnant and lactating mares with concentrated dried live yeast culture on the nutrient content and rate of production of milk during early lactation and on the growth of their nursing foals. Pregnant mares were fed the same diets, with or without 20 g/day of yeast culture, from 4 weeks before foaling through the eighth week of lactation. Milk production at the onset of lactation, as measured by the weigh-suckle-weigh technique, was significantly stimulated by yeast culture supplementation, although the effect was only temporary. However, the nutrient composition of mares milk was altered by continued yeast culture supplementation through at least the eighth week of lactation. Gross energy (kcal/100 g milk), sugar, fat, protein and total amino acid contents (g/100 g milk) were significantly increased. The concentrations of a number of individual amino acids tended to be greater in the milk of supplemented mares, but most of these individual differences were not statistically significant. The intakes of energy (Mcal/day), sugars, fat, protein, total amino acids, leucine, lysine, serine and valine (g/day) were significantly greater by the foals nursing supplemented mares through 8 weeks. The foals nursing supplemented mares exhibited significantly greater rates of gain by the fourth week of life, and faster growth at the withers after 6 weeks. The efficiency of converting mare feed to neonatal body mass was 24% greater in the foals of supplemented mares, These data indicate that supplementing mares with dietary yeast culture during early lactation resulted in more efficient and rapid growth of their nurslings.     

光照周期和饲喂水平对蛋鸡生殖器官发育的影响

本试验旨在研究限饲和光照周期对蛋鸡卵巢和输卵管发育及形态学的影响。试验采用3×2双因子设计,即3个光照周期（8L：16D、12L：12D和16L：8D）和2个饲喂水平（自由采食和限饲鸡自由采食量的80%）。选用体质健康的10周龄海兰灰蛋鸡240只,分成6组,每组4个重复,每个重复10只鸡。结果表明,光照周期显著影响20 w输卵管重（P〈0.05）,长光照周期（16L：8D）组和中长光照周期（12L：12D）组的20 w输卵管重显著高于短光照周期（8L：16D）组,对卵巢卵泡直径及单位面积内卵巢卵泡个数影响不显著（P〉0.05）;饲喂水平对20 w体重、卵巢重、输卵管重及卵巢卵泡直径和单位面积内卵巢卵泡个数影响均不显著（P〉0.05）;光照周期和饲喂水平互作对20 w卵巢卵泡直径影响显著（P〉0.05）,其中,β和VI组卵巢卵泡直径显著高于V组（P〈0.05）,其他各组间差异不显著（P〉0.05）。饲喂水平、光照周期影响输卵管发育,Ⅱ、Ⅳ、VI自由采食组发育程度优于Ⅰ、Ⅲ、V限饲组,并且16L：8D光照组输卵管的发育状况最好。     

Effects of maternal nutrition on udder development during late pregnancy and on colostrum production in Scottish Blackface ewes with twin lambs

Effects on udder development and colostrum production of changing the level of ewe nutrition were investigated. Udder weights at term were derived from their linear dimensions and yields of colostrum were obtained by hand milking on three occasions between one and 18 hours after birth. The linear dimensions of the udder increased progressively in all animals between 100 days of gestation and term (about 145 days), but udder development was retarded significantly within three days of the onset of underfeeding at 105 days of gestation. Underfeeding reduced the total yield of colostrum during the first 18 hours after birth by decreasing the prenatal accumulation of colostrum and its subsequent rates of secretion. Improving the ewe's nutrition from one hour after birth tended to increase the secretion rates of colostrum between 10 and 18 hours. Refeeding previously underfed ewes to high levels from about five days before birth had no effect on udder growth but did increase the prenatal accumulation of colostrum and its subsequent rates of secretion to levels which, when corrected for differences in udder weight, were similar to those of ewes which were fed well throughout. Calculations revealed that by ignoring udder growth the Agricultural Research Council recommendations for the energy requirements of pregnant ewes underestimate the cost of tissue synthesis during the last four weeks of pregnancy by about 100 per cent.     

加温饲养和定时饲喂对断奶仔猪肠黏膜形态和肠道发育的影响

试验旨在探索对仔猪床进行加温处理以及采用定时饲喂的方式的对早期断奶仔猪不同肠段黏膜形态和肠道发育的影响,从而为确定断奶仔猪适宜的饲养温度和科学的饲喂方式提供理论依据。试验采用2×2因子设计。选用21日龄杜长大断奶仔猪240头,随机分到4个处理组:1):28~30℃的仔猪床加温处理组;2)23~25℃的低温对照组(炉火暖气管道舍内加热);加温处理组和低温对照组中又根据不同的饲喂模式分为每天6次定时饲喂组和自由采食组。每个处理6个重复,每个重复10头猪。经过14 d的试验之后,在每圈仔猪中随机抽取1头,屠宰后取样检测小肠黏膜的绒毛高度、隐窝深度和肠壁厚度。结果表明:加温饲养组(28~30℃)的仔猪空肠中段的绒毛高度显著高于低温对照组(23~25℃)(P<0.05)。加温饲养组十二指肠的隐窝深度和空肠中段的肠壁厚度显著低于低温对照组(P<0.05)。定时饲喂饲养的仔猪空肠后段的绒毛高度显著高于自由采食饲养的仔猪(P<0.05)。定时饲喂组仔猪空肠中段的肠壁厚度和十二指肠隐窝深度显著低于自由采食组(P<0.05)。2因子的互作效应表明:加温定时饲喂组饲养的仔猪空肠后段的绒毛高度显著高于其他处理组。低温自由采食组饲养的仔猪空肠后段的绒毛高度极显著低于其他处理组(P<0.01)。加温定时饲喂组的仔猪空肠中段的肠壁厚度极显著低于其他处理组(P<0.01)。由结果可知,28~30℃的加温饲养组以及定时饲喂的饲喂模式有利于仔猪的肠道黏膜形态的改善,有益于肠道的发育和健康。     

添加混合油料籽实对奶牛生产性能及CLA的影响

选取年龄、体重、胎次、泌乳期及泌乳量基本一致的荷斯坦奶牛8头,随机分为2组,每组4头牛,进行为期45d的饲养试验。本试验预试期为15d,正试期为30d。试验组为添加整粒胡麻籽与整粒棉籽的混合物,胡麻的添加量为972g/(d·头),棉籽的添加量为2169g/(d·头);对照组不添加任何油料籽实。胡麻与棉籽的添加用以研究添加油料籽实对奶牛生产性能及乳脂脂肪酸组成的影响。研究结果表明:本试验条件下,加入胡麻籽与棉籽的混合物能提高奶牛产奶量,其中非校正产奶量比对照组提高4.7%,4?M产奶量比对照组提高7.3%,但与对照组差异均不显著(P>0.05);乳脂率提高了3.5%,乳脂产量提高了7.4%,与对照组之间差异也不显著(P>0.05);对于乳蛋白率,试验组比对照组提高了2.7%,乳蛋白产量提高了9.0%,但差异不显著(P>0.05);对于乳糖率,试验组比对照组下降了3.7%,乳糖产量比对照组提高了3.6%,差异不显著(P>0.05);乳中总干物质率比对照组提高了0.17%,无脂干物质率比对照组降低了0.96%,但与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05);试验组总的短链脂肪酸比对照组减少了16.8%,总的中链脂肪酸比对照组减少了11.6%,而长链脂肪酸比对照组增加了17.5%。其中试验组短链脂肪酸中的C14比对照组降低了21.5%,与对照组差异显著(P<0.05),其它短链及中链脂肪酸均与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05),长链脂肪酸中的CLA含量比对照!组提高了14.3%,但差异也不显著(P>0.05)。     

Effects of low and high levels of maternal nutrition consumed for the entirety of gestation on the development of muscle,adipose tissue,bone, and the organs of Wagyu cattle fetuses

This study aimed to investigate the effects of high and low levels of energy intake during the entire gestation period on the skeletal muscle development, organ development, and adipose tissue accumulation in fetuses of Wagyu (Japanese Black) cows, a breed with highly marbled beef. Cows were allocated to a high-nutrition (n = 6) group (fed 120% of the nutritional requirement) or low-nutrition (n = 6) group (fed 60% of the nutritional requirement). The cows were artificially inseminated with semen from the same sire, and the fetuses were removed by cesarean section at 260 ± 8.3 days of fetal age and slaughtered. The whole-body, total muscle, adipose, and bone masses of the fetal half-carcasses were significantly higher in the high-nutrition group than the low-nutrition group (p = 0.0018, 0.009, 0.0004, and 0.0362, respectively). Fifteen of 20 individual muscles, five of six fat depots, nine of 17 organs, and seven of 12 bones that were investigated had significantly higher masses in the high-nutrition group than the low-nutrition group. The crude components and amino acid composition of the longissimus muscle significantly differed between the low- and high-nutrition groups. These data indicate that maternal nutrition during gestation has a marked effect on the muscle, bone, and adipose tissue development of Wagyu cattle fetuses.     

Suspensory apparatus of the bovine udder in the Estonian black and white Holstein breed: increased milk production (udder mass) induced changes in the pelvic structure

Bovine udders, together with the attached section of the ventral abdominal wall, as well as the bony pelvic floor were studied. The parts of the suspensory apparatus and attachment to the body were investigated. The location of the medial and lateral laminae served as the basis for classifying them into abdominal and pelvic parts. The udder base is attached to the ventral abdominal wall by means of the dorsal connective tissue plate. The abdominal part of the medial lamina and the pelvic part of the lateral lamina are the functionally more important bands. Sixty per cent of the udder base is attached to the ventral abdominal wall and 40% to the pelvic floor by the symphysial tendon. The symphysial tendon is attached to the ventral pubic tubercle and the symphysial eminence as well as to the symphysial crest, which develops by the fourth year. In order to study the osseous changes, bovine pelvises from the Middle Ages, the beginning of the 20th century, and the present time were compared. Increased udder mass has brought about changes in the structures of the suspensory apparatus of the udder and in the structure of the pelvis.     

饲喂复合益生菌对泌乳中期奶牛产奶量及乳成分的影响

本文旨在研究不同剂量的复合益生菌制剂对泌乳中期奶牛产奶量及乳成分的影响。试验选用18头体重、胎次、产奶量均相近的中国荷斯坦奶牛,采用完全随机设计,分为3个处理组,即(对照组)、0.6×1011 cfu/d(试验1组)与1.2×1011 cfu/d(试验2组),试验期70 d(预试期10 d,正试期60 d)。结果表明:试验1组、2组与对照组相比产奶量分别提高3.11%、4.80%,4%乳脂校正乳提高5.14%、8.07%,能量校正乳提高4.74%、8.76%,差异均显著(P<0.05);试验2组较对照组乳脂率和乳蛋白率分别提高5.56%、5.86%,并显著提高乳脂、乳蛋白、非脂乳固体物的产量(P<0.05)。两试验组牛奶中的乳糖率及乳糖产量与对照组无显著差异(P>0.05)。这表明,日粮中饲喂复合益生菌可以显著提高奶牛生产性能,从而提高饲料利用效率。     

Fetuses of lean and obese swine in late gestation: body composition, plasma hormones and muscle development

The development of obesity in porcine fetuses was investigated using a lean and obese strain of pigs at 80, 90, 100 and 110 d of gestation. In absolute terms, fetuses of obese gilts (FO) generally had lower carcass weight and contained less total protein, dry matter and ash than fetuses of lean gilts (FL). In relative terms (percentage of wet carcass weight) FO, compared with FL, generally had decreased percentages of water and increased percentages of protein and lipid. Comparisons based on absolute terms revealed body composition of the strains to be different at 90 d, indicating that factors responsible for obese-type growth were active before that time. Both body composition and hormone concentration differences were most pronounced at later gestation ages. Depressed growth hormone, elevated cortisol, and a tendency toward elevated insulin concentrations in fetal plasma were apparent in late gestation for FO compared with FL. These hormonal patterns are consistent with onset of obesity in FO in late gestation. Greater weights of semitendinosus and longissimus muscles were observed in FL vs FO at 90, 100 and 110 d of gestation (P less than .05). These greater muscle weights were generally accompanied by greater contents of RNA, DNA and protein in FL muscles at these same ages. However, at 80 d, FL had greater absolute DNA content in semitendinosus muscle whereas muscle weight was similar between the strains. This suggests that greater muscle weights for FL than FO were caused by more nuclei in muscle of FL. In general, indices of hypertrophy (protein/DNA) and protein synthetic capacity (RNA/DNA) of muscle were usually similar for both strains at all gestation ages. It is concluded that decreased muscle growth in late gestation of FO compared with FL is more related to fewer total nuclei and perhaps fewer myofibers than to an impaired cellular capacity for protein synthesis.     

Effects of stocking rate and crude protein intake during gestation on ground cover,soil-nitrate concentration,and sow and litter performance in an outdoor swine production system

Pregnant gilts (n = 126) were assigned randomly to 12 0.4-ha old world-spar bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) pastures in an outdoor swine (Sus scrofa) production system to examine effects of stocking rates (17.5 or 35 gilts/ha; 7 or 14 gilts per pasture) and dietary N on percentage of ground cover, soil nitrate (NO3-) concentration, and reproductive performance. Treatments were arranged factorially with two stocking rates and two diets equivalent in dietary lysine but different in CP (control = 14.7% CP vs experimental = 12.6% CP) with three pastures per treatment. The experiment was repeated during a second parity with the same animals on the same treatments. Each triangular gestation pasture was subdivided into three regions: 1) near the point or radial center; 2) the middle region that contained a hut and a wallow area; and 3) the outer section where gilts were fed each day. Soil samples (15 cm deep) were taken at the beginning and end of the 306-d study, and soil nitrate-N concentrations were determined. Percentage of ground cover was visually estimated initially and every 30 d thereafter through d 306. Before farrowing, gilts were moved to identical pastures for farrowing and were fed a common 16% CP sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)-based lactation diet beginning at the time of movement to the farrowing pasture. Pregnant gilts were weighed at the time of assignment to treatments in the gestation pastures, when they were moved to farrowing pastures, and at weaning. Production data included total number of pigs born per sow, number of pigs born alive or dead, average birth weight, number of pigs weaned, average weaning weight, and mortality. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed between treatments in soil NO3- concentrations. Percentage of ground cover was decreased (P < 0.01) by the higher stocking rate when grazing was initiated in March/April but recovered rapidly after removal of pigs. More (P < 0.01) pigs were weaned per sow (8.4 vs 7.1+/-0.34) from higher gestation-stocking rate groups. Pig mortality in farrowing was greater (P < 0.05) for lower gestation-stocking rates (25.7% vs. 18.1+/-1.9%). A stocking rate of 35 sows/ha might have increased production potential but was associated with a rapid loss of ground cover during spring.     

Effects of three short-term pasture allocation methods on milk production,methane emission and grazing behaviour by dairy cows

Two short-term grazing experiments were conducted with Norwegian Red cows. In Exp 1, 24 cows were randomly assigned to one of the following three pasture allocation methods (PAM): weekly pasture allowance (7RG), grazing 1/7 of 7RG each day (1SG), or grazing as 1SG but had access to grazed part of the paddock within one week (1FG). In Exp 2, 7RG was shortened to 5 days (5RG). We hypothesized that PAM will affect sward quality, quantity, intake and production differently. Pasture chemical composition changed with advancing grazing days but were not different between treatments. Pasture intake, milk yield, and methane emission were not affected by PAM. In Exp 1, 7RG cows spent less time on grazing, whereas in Exp 2, 1FG cows spent longer on grazing than others. Patterns observed in sward quality, and behavioural and physiological adaptations of cows to short-term changes in nutrient supply may explain the observed effects.