Length of lags in responses of milk yield and somatic cell score on test day to heat stress in Holsteins

We used daily records from provincial Japanese weather stations and monthly test‐day records of milk production to investigate the length of the lags in the responses of cows’ milk yield and somatic cell score (SCS) to heat stress (HS). We also investigated the HS thresholds in milk yield and SCS. Data were a total of 17,245,709 test‐day records for milk and SCS in Holstein cows that had calved for the first time between 2000 and 2015, along with weather records from 60 weather stations. Temperature–humidity index (THI) values were estimated by using average daily temperature and average daily relative humidity. Adjusted THI values were calculated by using temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. The model contained herd, calving year, month of test day, age group, days in milk, and THI as a fixed effect. THIs for each day from 14 days before the test day until the test day were used to represent the HS effects. The HS occurring 3 days, and between 8 and 10 days, before the test day had the greatest effect on the milk yield and SCS, respectively. The threshold THI values for the HS effect were about 60–65 for both traits.     

Effects of heat stress on production,somatic cell score and conception rate in Holsteins

We examined the effects of heat stress (HS) on production traits, somatic cell score (SCS) and conception rate at first insemination (CR) in Holsteins in Japan. We used a total of 228 242 records of milk, fat and protein yields, and SCS for the first three lactations, as well as of CR in heifers and in first‐ and second‐lactation cows that had calved for the first time between 2000 and 2012. Records from 47 prefectural weather stations throughout Japan were used to calculate the temperature–humidity index (THI); areas were categorized into three regional groups: no HS (THI < 72), mild HS (72 ≤ THI < 79), and moderate HS (THI ≥ 79). Trait records from the three HS‐region groups were treated as three different traits and trivariate animal models were used. The genetic correlations between milk yields from different HS groups were very high (0.91 to 0.99). Summer calving caused the greatest increase in SCS, and in the first and second lactations this increase became greater as THI increased. In cows, CR was affected by the interaction between HS group and insemination month: with summer and early autumn insemination, there was a reduction in CR, and it was much larger in the mild‐ and moderate‐HS groups than in the no‐HS group.     

金属硫蛋白对热应激奶牛血淋巴细胞凋亡基因和HSP70基因表达的影响

为探讨金属硫蛋白(MT)对热应激奶牛血淋巴细胞凋亡基因和HSP70基因表达的影响及其机理,选取25头中国荷斯坦奶牛经产泌乳母牛,随机均分为A、B、C、D、E 5组,分别按每头0(对照),16.0,24.0,32.0和40.0 mg颈静脉注射Zn-MT,于试验第1(注射Zn-MT之前),7和14天逐头采取血样,测定不同剂量的外源性MT对热应激奶牛血淋巴细胞HSP70、Bcl-2、Bax和p53基因表达水平的影响。结果表明,补给外源性MT后,4个试验组奶牛的产奶性能都有不同程度提高,其中B组奶牛的产奶量比A、C、D和E组分别高出20.94%(P＜0.05),15.83%(P＞0.05),10.94%(P＞0.05)和8.85%(P＞0.05);各试验组HSP70基因的表达水平都有所上升,其中D组比对照组高出130.00%,达到显著(P＜0.05)水平;各试验组Bcl-2基因的表达水平均高于对照组,其中C组达到显著(P＜0.05)水平;B、D组Bax基因的表达水平和C、E组p53基因的表达水平较对照组分别降低了22.00%,13.00%和22.00%,34.00%,但均未达到显著(P＞0.05)水平。说明外源性MT能改善热应激奶牛的产奶性能并有效调控奶牛血淋巴细胞HSP70、Bcl-2、Bax和p53基因的表达水平,且表现出较为明显的剂量效应。     

胎次和热应激程度对广州地区奶牛产奶量和乳成分的影响

为了探究不同胎次和热应激程度对奶牛产奶量、乳脂率、乳蛋白率、脂蛋比、体细胞数和高峰奶量的影响,收集了广州某奶牛场360头荷斯坦泌乳母牛近5年的奶牛生产性能测定体系(DHI)数据,用R (Version 3. 3. 2)和SPSS 20. 0软件分析了不同胎次和热应激程度对产奶量及乳成分的影响。结果:相比于其他胎次的奶牛,头胎母牛产奶量、高峰奶量较低(P<0. 05);头胎牛的脂蛋比显著高于其他胎次牛(P<0. 05),其余各胎次间差异不显著(P>0. 05);随着胎次的增加,牛奶中体细胞数存在明显的上升趋势(P<0. 05)。中度热应激下的产奶量、高峰奶量显著低于轻度热应激(P<0. 05);中度热应激下产犊的奶牛体细胞数会稍稍偏高,但与无热应激和轻度热应激下产犊的奶牛相比差异不显著(P>0. 05);乳脂率、乳蛋白率各组差异不显著(P>0. 05)。     

Extent and economic effect of heat loads on dairy cattle production in Australia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the extent of heat load problems, caused by the combination of excessive temperature and humidity, in Holstein-Friesian cows in Australia. Also, to outline how milk production losses and consequent costs from this can be estimated and minimised. PROCEDURES: Long-term meteorological data for Australia were analysed to determine the distribution of hot conditions over space and time. Fifteen dairy production regions were identified for higher-resolution data analysis. Both the raw meteorological data and their integration into a temperature-humidity thermal index were compiled onto a computer program. This mapping software displays the distribution of climatic patterns, both Australia-wide and within the selected dairying regions. Graphical displays of the variation in historical records for 200 locations in the 15 dairying regions are also available. As a separate study, production data from research stations, on-farm trials and milk factory records were statistically analysed and correlated with the climatic indices, to estimate production losses due to hot conditions. RESULTS: Both milk yields and milk constituents declined with increases in the temperature-humidity index. The onset and rate of this decline are dependent on a number of factors, including location, level of production, adaptation, and management regime. These results have been integrated into a farm-level economic analysis for managers of dairy properties. CONCLUSION: By considering the historical patterns of hot conditions over time and space, along with expected production losses, managers of dairy farms can now conduct an economic evaluation of investment strategies to alleviate heat loads. These strategies include the provision of sprinklers, shade structures, or combinations of these.     

The effect of beta and kappa casein genes on milk yield and milk composition in different percentages of Holstein in crossbred dairy cattle

The objective of this study was to compare the genotype, and composite genotype frequency, and the association between beta and kappa casein genes and milk yield (MY), percentage of fat (%Fat), protein (%Prot), and solids non‐fat (%SNF) between two groups of crossbred Holstein: G1 ≤ 87.5% Holstein = 89 cows and G2 > 87.5% Holstein = 142 cows. Five genotypes of beta casein gene were observed. A1A2 and A1B were the most and rarest frequency, respectively, in both groups. Five genotypes of kappa casein gene were found. The highest and the lowest frequency were AA, and BB and BE, respectively, in both groups. Composite genotype A1A2AA was the most frequent in both groups. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) between two genes was detected. Significant differences of frequencies between both groups of both genes were not found. The association of the genes and the traits was different between G1 and G2. Negative effects on the traits were found in both groups. In addition, the stronger effect of the beta casein gene was observed in most of the traits. The conclusions were that different %Holstein caused different significant effects of these genes. A study of the association of these genes within each percentage of Holstein is strongly recommended.     

Estimation of additive, maternal and non-additive genetic effects of preweaning growth traits in a multibreed beef cattle project

Data from purebred and crossbred calves, consisting of Afrikaner (AF), Charolais (CH), Simmental (ST) and Hereford and Aberdeen Angus combined (HA), were analyzed to estimate breed additive effects, breed maternal effects, average individual heterosis and average maternal heterosis. The traits studied were birthweight (BW), weaning weight (WW) and preweaning average daily gain (ADG) (kg). A multiple regression procedure was used for the estimation of these genetic effects and for predictions for breed crosses that were not included in the data set. Crosses containing higher proportions of CH or ST were heavier at birth and weaning than the other crosses and purebreds. The direct effects of BW were negative and significant (P < 0.05), except that of the CH, which was the highest. The regression coefficients were ?24.87, ?18.16, ?22.80 and ?27.02 for AF, CH, ST and HA, respectively. The maternal effects were not significant. Both average individual and average maternal heterosis regression coefficients were also not significant for BW. Regression coefficients of both direct and maternal effects for WW were not significant and were characterized by large standard errors. Average individual heterosis and average maternal heterosis regression coefficients were, however, significant (P < 0.01) and the values were 5.34 and 2.19, respectively. A similar pattern was observed for ADG, except for the regression coefficients of the maternal effects, which were significant, with larger estimates for AF and ST reflecting their superior mothering ability. The values were 0.01, 0.13, 0.13, 0.03; ?0.82, ?0.85, ?0.85, ?0.81; 0.03 and 0.01 for direct effects and maternal effects of AF, CH, ST and HA; and average individual heterosis and average maternal heterosis, respectively. Means and standard errors of purebreds and their F₁ crosses not included in the dataset were predicted.     

S441分子标记对奶牛抗热应激水平的影响

为了进一步验证S441分子标记对奶牛抗热应激的影响,挑选有、无S441标记的中国荷斯坦奶牛各9头分别作为试验A组和试验B组,对2组奶牛在不同热应激状态下的生理生化指标变化进行了测定和分析。结果表明：（1）在生理指标测定中,产奶量随热应激增强而降低,直肠温度随热应激增强而升高,白细胞总数（WBC）、淋巴细胞数（LYM）和单核细胞数（MXD）随热应激增强而下降,但A组变化辐度较B组低,并在一定的热应激期间达到显著性差异（P〈0.05）。（2）在生化指标测定中,随着热应激的增强,2组奶牛的Se、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）、三碘甲腺原氨酸（T3）、四碘甲腺原氨酸（T4）和皮质醇（Cort）的总体均值呈逐渐下降趋势,促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）的总体均值呈逐渐升高趋势,但试验A组奶牛较试验B组变化幅度低;其中Se和GSH-Px总体均值在严重热应激期间达到显著性差异（P〈0.05）;试验A、B组奶牛的红细胞钾含量均不随热应激条件的变化,且试验A组的含量极显著低于试验B组。S441分子标记与抗热应激能力相关的各项生理生化指标均具有较强的相关性,可以作为一种奶牛抗热应激分子标记应用于品种选育和生产中。     

包膜甜菜碱与有机铬复合物对夏季奶牛产奶性能和血液生化指标的影响

旨在研究包膜甜菜碱和有机铬复合物对夏季奶牛产奶性能和血液生化指标的影响。选择年龄、胎次、泌乳时间和产奶量相近100头泌乳牛,随机分为对照组和试验组,每组50头,对照组饲喂原奶牛场配方日粮,试验组在每天早晨TMR日粮中添加50 g/d包膜甜菜碱和有机铬复合物。结果:与对照组相比,试验组奶牛采食量显著提高(P<0.05),牛奶中体细胞含量显著降低(P<0.05);奶牛乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)含量显著提高(P<0.05);磷酸肌酸激酶(CPK)含量显著降低(P<0.01),谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量有上升趋势,丙二醛(MDA)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)含量有下降趋势,但差异均不显著。试验表明包膜甜菜碱和有机铬具有提高热应激期奶牛采食量、促进代谢和蛋白质合成、缓解奶牛热应激的作用。     

热应激对山羊生理生化指标的影响

３只健康山羊置于人工热激环境中（环境温度３７．５～３８．５℃）,１小时后回到自然环境（２４．５～２６．５℃）。试验前及试验开始后第１５、６０、１８０分钟,分别测定心率、呼吸频率、体温、红细胞数（ＲＢＣ）、白细胞数（ＷＢＣ）、血糖、血清谷草转氨酶（ＧＯＴ）、谷丙转氨酶（ＧＰＴ）、肌酸激酶（ＣＫ）、总蛋白（ＴＰ）、清蛋白（Ａｌｂ）、尿素氮（ＢＵＮ）含量。结果表明,热应激时,山羊的心率、呼吸频率、血糖含量均有一定程度的上升;ＣＫ在热应激中有明显的上升;ＷＢＣ略有下降;ＲＢＣ和血清中ＧＯＴ、ＧＰＴ、ＴＰ、ＢＵＮ含量变化不显著。     

Estimation of ancestral inbreeding effects on stillbirth,calving ease and birthweight in German Holstein dairy cattle

In this study, the effect of different measurements of ancestral inbreeding on birthweight, calving ease and stillbirth were analysed. Three models were used to estimate the effect of ancestral inbreeding, and the estimated regression coefficient of phenotypic data on different measurements of ancestral inbreeding was used to quantify the effect of ancestral inbreeding. The first model included only one measurement of inbreeding, whereas the second model included the classical inbreeding coefficients and one alternative inbreeding coefficient. The third model included the classical inbreeding coefficients, the interaction between classical inbreeding and ancestral inbreeding, and the classical inbreeding coefficients of the dam. Phenotypic data for this study were collected from February 1998 to December 2008 on three large commercial milk farms. During this time, 36 477 calving events were recorded. All calves were weighed after birth, and 8.08% of the calves died within 48 h after calving. Calving ease was recorded on a scale between 1 and 4 (1 = easy birth, 4 = surgery), and 69.95, 20.91, 8.92 and 0.21% of the calvings were scored with 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The average inbreeding coefficient of inbred animals was 0.03, and average ancestral inbreeding coefficients were 0.08 and 0.01, depending on how ancestral inbreeding was calculated. Approximately 26% of classically non‐inbred animals showed ancestral inbreeding. Correlations between different inbreeding coefficients ranged between 0.46 and 0.99. No significant effect of ancestral inbreeding was found for calving ease, because the number of animals with reasonable high level of ancestral inbreeding was too low. Significant effects of ancestral inbreeding were estimated for birthweight and stillbirth. Unfavourable effects of ancestral inbreeding were observed for birthweight. However, favourable purging effects were estimated for stillbirth, indicating that purging could be partly beneficial for genetic improvement of stillbirth.     

Estimation of genetic parameters and season effects for semen traits in three pig breeds of South China

The economic profitability of a boar station largely depends on semen quantity and quality traits. However, genetic analysis of semen traits has not yet been done in the boar population in China. In this study, we aimed to estimate genetic parameters for semen traits and the influence of seasons on these traits by using data of Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire boars in South China. The following four semen traits were analysed: semen volume (ml; VOL), sperm concentration (10⁶/ml; DEN), sperm motility (MOT) and percentage of abnormal sperm (ABN). Genetic parameters and season effects were estimated simultaneously for each breed by using a multiple‐trait (4 × 4) repeatability animal model. The four traits had a moderate heritability with average estimates of 0.23, 0.28, 0.26 and 0.17 across the three breeds, respectively. The estimates of genetic correlations among four traits differed in the three breeds. In particular, in Yorkshire, the four traits were nearly genetically independent. The season of collecting semen had a significant impact on these four semen traits except ABN in Duroc (Bonferroni adjusted p < 0.05/6). The moderate heritabilities indicate the possibility of effective selection of boars for semen traits. Different genetic correlations for the three breeds suggest that the selection strategy for the four traits should be investigated separately for each breed. Some necessary actions should be taken to reduce the influence of seasons on semen traits.     

Genetic parameters for total lactation yields of milk,fat, protein,and somatic cell score in New Zealand dairy goats

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for lactation yields of milk (MY), fat (FY), protein (PY), and somatic cell score (SCS) of New Zealand dairy goats. The analysis used 64,604 lactation records from 23,583 does, kidding between 2004 and 2017, distributed in 21 flocks and representing 915 bucks. Estimates of genetic and residual (co) variances, heritabilities, and repeatabilities were obtained using a multiple‐trait repeatability animal model. The model included the fixed effects of contemporary group (does kidding in the same flock and year), age of the doe (in years), and as covariates, kidding day, proportion of Alpine, Nubian, Toggenburg, and “unknown” breeds (Saanen was used as the base breed), and heterosis. Random effects included additive animal genetic and doe permanent environmental effects. Estimates of heritabilities were 0.25 for MY, 0.24 for FY, 0.24 for PY, and 0.21 for SCS. The phenotypic correlations between MY, FY, and PY ranged from 0.90 to 0.96, and the genetic correlations ranged from 0.81 to 0.93. These results indicate lactation yield traits exhibit useful heritable variation and that multiple trait selection for these traits could improve milk revenue produced from successive generations of New Zealand dairy goats.     

Proteomic analysis to unravel the effect of heat stress on gene expression and milk synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells

Heat stress can play a negative effect on milk yield and composition of dairy cattle, leading to immeasurable economic loss. The basic components of the mammary gland are the alveoli; these alveolar mammary epithelial cells reflect the milk producing ability of dairy cows. In this study, we exposed bovine mammary epithelial cells to heat stress and compared them to a control group using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation combined with liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Compared with a control group, 104 differentially elevated proteins (>1.3‐fold) and 167 decreased proteins (<0.77‐fold) were identified in the heat treatment group. Gene Ontology analysis identified a majority of the differentially expressed proteins are associated in cell‐substrate junction assembly, catabolic processes and metabolic processes. Some of these significantly regulated proteins were related to the synthesis and secretion of milk, such as milk protein and fat. This finding was further supported by the results obtained from the reduced β‐casein expression through the system of plasminogen activator – plasminogen – plasmin and decreased fatty acid synthase could partly explain why milk fat synthesis ability of dairy cows decreased under heat stress. Our results highlight the effects of heat stress on synthesis of milk protein and fat, thus providing additional clues for further studies of heat stress on dairy milk production.     

Estimation of genetic parameters for milk and fertility traits within and between low,medium and high dairy production systems in Kenya to account for genotype-by-environment interaction

Dairy records from the Dairy Recording Service of Kenya were classified into low, medium and high production systems based on mean 305-day milk yield using the K-means clustering method. Milk and fertility records were then analysed to develop genetic evaluation systems accounting for genotype-by-environment interaction between the production systems. Data comprised 26,638 lactation yield, 3,505 fat yield, 9,235 age at first calving and 17,870 calving interval records from 12,631 cows which were descendants of 2,554 sires and 8,433 dams. An animal model was used to estimate variance components, genetic correlations and breeding values for the production systems. Variance components increased with production means, apart from genetic group variances, which decreased from the low to the high production system. Moderate heritabilities were estimated for milk traits (0.21–0.27) and fat traits (0.11–0.38). Low heritabilities were estimated for lactation length (0.04–0.10) and calving interval (0.03–0.06). Moderate heritabilities (0.25–0.26) were estimated for age at first calving, except under the high production system (0.05). Within production systems, lactation milk yield, 305-day milk yield and lactation length had high positive genetic correlations (0.52–0.96), while lactation milk yield and lactation length with age at first calving had negative genetic correlations. Milk yield and calving interval were positively correlated except under the low production system. The genetic correlations for lactation milk yield and 305-day milk yield between low and medium (0.48 ± 0.20 and 0.46 ± 0.21) and low and high production systems’ (0.74 ± 0.15 and 0.62 ± 0.17) were significantly lower than one. Milk yield in the low production system is, therefore, a genetically different trait. The low genetic correlations between the three production systems for most milk production and fertility traits suggested that sires should be selected based on progeny performance in the targeted production system.     

高温胁迫下水肥耦合对高羊茅生态性状的影响

采用盆栽方式,在控水、控肥条件下,设计了低、中、高3个水分水平和3个养分水平,研究了在高温(38/30 ℃,昼/夜)胁迫条件下,不同水肥耦合方式对高羊茅品种凌志Festuca arundinecea cv. Barlexas生态性状的影响。结果表明：水分和养分及其耦合效应对高羊茅草坪草的生态性状有显著的影响,水肥耦合的施肥灌溉方式明显好于单纯的水分灌溉;最佳的水肥耦合方式是中水中肥（f2w2）,能最大限度地改善高羊茅草坪草的生态性状,延长高羊茅草坪草在高温胁迫下的绿期,而水分不足或淹灌以及养分不足或过多都不利于高羊茅的生长;在高温胁迫下,水分比肥料对高羊茅的作用更大。     

Bayesian estimates of genetic parameters for metritis, retained placenta, milk fever, and clinical mastitis in Holstein dairy cows via Gibbs sampling

The objective of this study was to estimate heritability and genetic correlations between the liabilities of clinical mastitis (CM), milk fever (MF), metritis (MET), and retained placenta (RP) within the first three lactations of Holstein dairy cows. The records of 57,301 dairy cows from 20 large dairy herds in Iran between January 2005 and June 2009 were analysed with univariate and bivariate threshold animal models, using Gibbs sampling methodology. The final model included the fixed class effects of herd-year, season of calving, parity of dam, the linear covariate effect of age at calving, and the random direct genetic effect of animal. Posterior means of heritability for liabilities in first, second, and third lactations were 0.06, 0.08, and 0.09, respectively, for CM; 0.10, 0.12, and 0.11, respectively, for MF; 0.09, 0.07, and 0.10, respectively, for MET, and 0.07, 0.08, and 0.08, respectively, for RP. Posterior means of genetic correlations between disease liabilities were low or moderate (from −0.01 to 0.26). The results of this study indicated the importance of health traits for considering in the selection index of Iranian Holstein dairy cows.     

Effect of resveratrol on growth performance,rectal temperature and serum parameters of yellow‐feather broilers under heat stress

This study investigated the effect of dietary resveratrol supplementation on growth performance, rectal temperature, and serum parameters of yellow‐feather broilers under heat stress. A total of 480 yellow‐feather broilers (28‐day‐old) were randomly allotted to five groups with six replicates. A thermoneutral group (TN) (24 ± 2°C) received a basal diet and another four heat‐stressed groups (37 ± 2°C for 8 hr/day and 24 ± 2°C for the remaining time) were fed the basal diet or basal diet with 200, 350, and 500 mg/kg resveratrol for 14 consecutive days. The results revealed that resveratrol supplementation improved average daily gain (p = 0.001), and decreased (p < 0.05) rectal temperature from d 3 when compared with heat‐stressed group without resveratrol. In addition, supplementation with resveratrol at 350 or 500 mg/kg lowered (p < 0.05) the contents of corticosterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, malonaldehyde, and activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, increased (p < 0.05) the levels of triiodothyronine, the ratio of triiodothyronine to thyroxine, total protein, glutathione, and activities of alkaline phosphatase, total superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, though with few fluctuation. In conclusion, supplementation with resveratrol can improve the growth performance by positively regulating serum metabolic parameters and alleviating tissue oxidant damage of broilers under heat stress.