Relationship between parity and mineral status in dairy cows during the periparturient period

Data from 65 cows were collected to clarify the relationship between parity and mineral status in Holstein cows during the periparturient period. Milk fever occurred in a second‐ and a fourth‐lactation cow at parturition. Bodyweight of cows decreased immediately after parturition, and the decreased weights of cows from 1 to 6 days after parturition ranged from 11 to 27 kg. Milk yield of multiparous cows was higher than that of primiparous cows, but Ca and P concentrations in colostrum were not affected by the parity. Plasma glucose of primiparous cows was higher than that of multiparous cows, and plasma nonesterified fatty acids of fourth‐and‐more‐lactation cows at parturition was highest. Plasma Ca concentration of cows at parturition decreased with advancing parity, and plasma inorganic P concentration of third‐and‐more‐lactation cows was lowest at parturition. Plasma parathyroid hormone of fourth‐and‐more‐lactation cows at parturition was highest, but plasma hydroxyproline and alkaline phosphatase was lowest. These results suggest that the large transfer of Ca and P to colostrum is a factor in the development of milk fever in third‐and‐more‐lactation cows.     

植物甾醇对泌乳前期奶牛产奶量及乳成分的影响

根据年龄、胎次、泌乳时间和产奶量选择24头泌乳奶牛,随机分为对照组、试验Ⅰ组和试验Ⅱ组。对照组饲喂奶牛场配制的全混合饲料,试验Ⅰ和Ⅱ组每头奶牛日粮中分别添加40 g/d和80 g/d植物甾醇,研究植物甾醇对奶牛生产性能的影响。结果表明,与对照组相比,试验Ⅰ和Ⅱ组奶牛的产奶量分别提高了2.07 kg/d(5.64%,P0.05)和1.74 kg/d(4.75%,P0.05);试验Ⅰ和Ⅱ组奶牛乳脂率分别提高了8.22%(P0.01)和2.97%(P0.05);乳蛋白率分别提高了2.45%(P0.05)和1.05%(P0.05);非脂固形物分别提高了1.29%(P0.05)和0.23%(P0.05),体细胞数分别下降了37.31%和19.34%,但差异均不显著(P0.05);牛奶中乳尿素氮含量分别降低了5.29%(P0.05)和7.58%(P0.01)。结果表明泌乳前期奶牛补饲一定量的植物甾醇能够提高产奶量和改善乳成分。     

Effects of increasing days of exposure to prepartum transition diets on milk production and milk composition in dairy cows

Objective To evaluate the effects of length of exposure to prepartum transition diets on milk yield, fat and protein production. Design Prospective cohort study. The number of days that the cows were fed the prepartum transition diets was the exposure of interest. Procedures Holstein and Holstein x Jersey cows (n = 1008) were enrolled. Diets given in the far-off dry period (from end of lactation until approximately 3 weeks before expected parturition) consisted of ad libitum access to perennial ryegrass pastures. Prepartum transition diets included perennial ryegrass pasture, ryegrass silage, cereal hay, grain, grain by-product, protein meals, BioChlor(R), sodium monensin, virginiamycin or tylosin, MgSO(4), trace elements and vitamins. On a dry matter basis, these contained 16.0% crude protein, 4.2% rumen undegradable protein, and 9.9 mJ metabolisable energy/kg. Diets provided an estimated metabolisable protein balance of 286 g/day and dietary cation anion difference of -150 meq/kg dry matter. Statistical models controlled for effects of herd, calving day, breed, age and gestation period. Results Increasing length of exposure to the prepartum transition diets significantly increased the 4.0% fat- and 3.2% protein-corrected milk yield and milk-protein yield as a linear and quadratic effect. The optimal duration of exposure to the prepartum transition diets was 25 days for fat- and protein-corrected milk production and 22 days for milk protein production. Milk-fat percentage decreased significantly and linearly with increasing exposure to the prepartum transition diets; however, milk-fat yield or milk-protein percentage did not vary significantly with duration of exposure to the diets. Conclusions Increasing exposure to prepartum transition diets increased milk and milk-protein yields and decreased the milk fat-percentage, but not the milk-protein percentage or milk-fat yield. Aust Vet J 2008;86:341-351.     

复合益生菌制剂对奶牛泌乳性能及乳品质的影响

为研究复合益生菌制剂对奶牛泌乳性能及乳品质的影响,试验选取45头泌乳期相近的荷斯坦奶牛,随机分为3组,对照组、试验1组、试验2组,每组3个重复,每个重复5头。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验1、2组分别在基础日粮中添加1%、2%的复合益生菌制剂,试验期为60d。结果表明:试验2组在第10、30、60天奶牛产奶量较对照组分别提高2.28%、0.62%、9.08%(P<0.05),试验1组在第10、60天较对照组分别提高4.6%、8.9%(P<0.05);第30天时,试验1、2组乳中总固形物含量较对照组均显著性提高(P<0.05),乳糖率、乳蛋白率、乳脂率之间差异不显著(P>0.05);第60天时,与对照组相比,试验1、2组乳中乳糖率分别提高了4.41%、7.02%(P<0.05),乳蛋白率提高了4.16%、9.97%(P<0.05),总固形物含量提高了2.44%、3.02%(P<0.05),乳脂率含量之间差异不显著(P>0.05)。综上,日粮中添加复合益生菌制剂可有效提高奶牛产奶量及乳品质,且添加2%复方益生菌制剂效果更优。     

过瘤胃赖氨酸对奶牛产乳量及乳成分的影响

试验采用随机分组试验设计,选择健康的中国荷斯坦奶牛48头,按照胎次、产奶量、泌乳日期一致原则,均匀分成4组,试验各组基础日粮相同,就饲粮中添加过瘤胃赖氨酸(Lys)对乳牛产乳量及乳成分的影响进行研究。4个处理组分别为:对照组(0添加组)不添加过瘤胃赖氨酸(RPLys)和试验Ⅰ组添加10 g(/头.d)、试验Ⅱ组添加20 g(/头.d)和试验Ⅲ组添加30 g(/头.d)。试验结果显示:经过饲喂后,试验各组与对照组相比,产奶量显著提高;试验Ⅲ组和试验Ⅱ组都与对照组差异显著(P0.05),其中试验Ⅲ组与对照组差异极显著(P0.01);乳蛋白含量有所提高,其中试验Ⅲ组与对照组有显著差异(P0.05);其他乳成分指标略有提高,但差异不显著(P0.05)。     

Effect of linseed oil supplementation on performance and milk fatty acid composition in dairy cows

Thirty‐six Holstein‐Friesian crossbred lactating dairy cows were used to determine the effects of linseed oil supplementation on performance and milk fatty acid (FA) profile. Three treatments were as follows: basal diet (56:44 Roughage:concentrate [R:C] ratio, dry matter basis) supplemented with 500 g of palm oil as control (PO), 500 g mixture (1:1, w/w) of palm oil and linseed oil (POLSO) and 500 g of linseed oil (LSO). The LSO supplementation had no effects on total dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield and milk composition. Compared to control cows, cows supplemented with LSO increased milk concentrations of cis‐9,trans‐11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and n‐3 FA (P < 0.05), particularly C18:3n‐3, C20:5n‐3 and C22:6n‐3. Feeding LSO reduced concentrations of milk short‐ and medium‐chain saturated fatty acids (P < 0.05) while it increased concentration of milk unsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.05). Milk proportions of n‐3 FA increased, whereas n‐6/n‐3 ratio decreased in the LSO as compared with the control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementing dairy cows' diet based on corn silage with LSO at 500 g/day could improve the nutritional value of milk with potential health‐beneficial FA without detrimental effect on milk composition or cow's performance.     

Concentrations of buparvaquone in milk and tissue of dairy cows

AIM: To determine the concentration of the anti-theilerial drug buparvaquone in the milk and tissue of dairy cattle following treatment with two different formulations, and to assess the effect of clinical theileriosis on the concentration of buparvaquone in milk.

METHODS: Healthy lactating dairy cows (n=25) were injected once (Day 0) I/M with 2.5?mg/kg of one of two formulations of buparvaquone (Butalex; n=12 or Bupaject; n=13). Milk samples were collected from all cows daily until Day 35. Five cows were slaughtered on each of Days 56, 119, 147, 203 and 328, and samples of liver, muscle and injection site tissue collected. Milk samples were also collected from cows (n=14) clinically affected with theileriosis for up to 21 days after treatment with buparvaquone. Milk and tissue samples were analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; limits of detection (LOD) were 0.00018?mg/kg for muscle and 0.00023?mg/L for milk. Concentrations of buparvaquone in milk and tissues were log₁₀-transformed for analysis using multivariate models.

RESULTS: In healthy cows, concentrations of buparvaquone in milk declined with time post-treatment (p<0.001), but were above the LOD in 11 of 25 cows at Day 35. Concentration in milk was higher one day after treatment in cows treated with Butalex than in cows treated with Bupaject, but not different thereafter (p=0.007). Concentrations of buparvaquone in muscle were below the LOD for four of five animals at Day 119 and for all animals by Day 147, but were above the LOD at the injection site of one cow, and in the liver of three cows at Day 328. Tissue concentrations did not differ with formulation nor was there a formulation by time interaction (p>0.3).

Concentrations of buparvaquone in the milk of clinically affected animals were not different from those of healthy animals at 1 and 21 days post-treatment (p=0.72). Between 21 and 25 days post-treatment concentrations were below the LOD in 9/14 milk samples from clinically affected cows.

CONCLUSIONS: Detectable concentrations of buparvaquone were found in the milk of some cows for at least 35 days and in the liver and injection site of some cows until at least 328 days after injection. There were no biologically meaningful differences in milk or tissue concentrations between the formulations, or in the milk concentrations for cows that were clinically affected compared with those that were healthy at the time of treatment.     

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。     

瘤胃微生物在奶牛乳脂肪合成中的调节作用研究进展

乳脂肪不仅是牛乳的主要成分之一,同时乳脂肪含量也是评价牛乳质量的重要指标.乳脂肪的合成涉及到日粮营养物质通过奶牛机体转化为乳营养成分的复杂生物学过程,受日粮配方、遗传背景、生理状态、瘤胃微生物等多方面的影响.瘤胃微生物可以通过自身合成的酶类对日粮进行降解,进而对乳脂肪合成前体物质的生成和利用起到一定的调节作用,乳脂肪前...     

Pharmacokinetic assessment of the monepantel plus oxfendazole combined administration in dairy cows

Monepantel (MNP) is a novel anthelmintic compound launched into the veterinary pharmaceutical market. MNP is not licenced for use in dairy animals due to the prolonged elimination of its metabolite monepantel sulphone (MNPSO₂) into milk. The goal of this study was to evaluate the presence of potential in vivo drug‐drug interactions affecting the pattern of milk excretion after the coadministration of the anthelmintics MNP and oxfendazole (OFZ) to lactating dairy cows. The concentrations of both parent drugs and their metabolites were measured in plasma and milk samples by HPLC. MNPSO₂ was the main metabolite recovered from plasma and milk after oral administration of MNP. A high distribution of MNPSO₂ into milk was observed. The milk‐to‐plasma ratio (M/P ratio) for this metabolite was equal to 6.75. Conversely, the M/P ratio of OFZ was 1.26. Plasma concentration profiles of MNP and MNPSO₂ were not modified in the presence of OFZ. The pattern of MNPSO₂ excretion into milk was also unchanged in animals receiving MNP plus OFZ. The percentage of the total administered dose recovered from milk was 0.09 ± 0.04% (MNP) and 2.79 ± 1.54% (MNPSO₂) after the administration of MNP alone and 0.06 ± 0.04% (MNP) and 2.34 ± 1.38% (MNPSO₂) after the combined treatment. The presence of MNP did not alter the plasma and milk disposition kinetics of OFZ. The concentrations of the metabolite fenbendazole sulphone tended to be slightly higher in the coadministered group. Although from a pharmacodynamic point of view the coadministration of MNP and OFZ may be a useful tool, the presence of OFZ did not modify the in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviour of MNP and therefore did not result in reduced milk concentrations of MNPSO₂.     

Effect of dietary supplementation of rutin on lactation performance,ruminal fermentation and metabolism in dairy cows

The effect of long‐term dietary supplementation with rutin on the lactation performance, ruminal fermentation and metabolism of dairy cows were investigated in this study. Twenty multiparous Chinese Holstein cows were randomly divided into four groups, and each was offered a basal diet supplemented with 0, 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 mg rutin/kg of diet. The milk yield of the cows receiving 3.0 and 4.5 mg rutin/kg was higher than that of the control group, and the milk yield was increased by 10.06% and 3.37% (p < 0.05). On the basis of that finding, the cows supplemented with 0 or 3.0 mg rutin/kg of diet were used to investigate the effect of rutin supplementation on blood metabolites and hormone levels. Compared with the control group, the serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration of the 3.0 mg rutin/kg group is significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In another trial, four adult cows with permanent rumen fistula and duodenal cannulae were attributed in a self‐control design to investigate the peak occurrence of rutin and quercetin in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, ruminal fermentation and microbial population in dairy cows. The cows supplemented with 3.0 mg rutin/kg in the diet differed from the control period. Samples of rumen fluid, duodenal fluid and blood were collected at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 h after morning feeding. Compared to the control group, the pH, ammonia nitrogen concentration, number and protein content of rumen protozoa and blood urea nitrogen were lower, but the concentration of total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), microbial crude protein (MCP) and serum lysozyme content were higher for the cows fed the rutin diets. The addition of 3.0 mg rutin/kg to diets for a long term tended to increase the milk yield and improve the metabolism and digestibility of the dairy cows.     

Comparison between stearoyl‐CoA desaturase expression in milk somatic cells and in mammary tissue of lactating dairy cows

Stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD) is an important enzyme in the bovine mammary gland, where it inserts a cis‐double bond at the Δ9 position in a wide range of fatty acids. Investigating SCD expression in the bovine mammary gland generally requires invasive biopsy to obtain mammary tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of milk somatic cells as a non‐invasive alternative to biopsy for measuring mammary SCD expression in dairy cows. Both milk somatic cells and mammary tissue were collected from 14 Holstein‐Friesian cows and used for analysis of SCD expression by real‐time PCR. The SCD5 mRNA levels in mammary tissue compared with SCD1 were low, and for several milk somatic cell samples, SCD5 expression was even below the limit of detection. A significant relationship was found between SCD1 expression in milk somatic cells and in mammary tissue. In addition, SCD1 expression in milk somatic cells was significantly related to Δ9‐desaturase indices in milk, which are commonly used as an indicator of SCD1 activity within the mammary gland. Our study showed that milk somatic cells can be used as a source of mRNA to study SCD1 expression in dairy cows, offering a non‐invasive alternative to mammary tissue samples obtained by biopsy.     

Regression tree analysis of the relationship between the concentrations of antimicrobial components and the microbiota of normal milk from dairy cows

The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of antimicrobial components (immunoglobulin A (IgA), lactoferrin (LF), lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), and S100A7) in normal milk and their relation to host factors (Age, somatic cell count (SCC), days in milk, richness, and alpha diversity of the milk microbiota) in dairy cows using multivariate regression tree analyses, and to clarify how the milk microbiota is related to the obtained results. Thirty normal milk samples were collected from a commercial dairy farm in June 2020. The thresholds that predicted the concentration of each antimicrobial component in milk were obtained by regression tree analysis, and the beta-diversity of the milk microbiota composition between groups divided according to each threshold was compared by an analysis of similarities test. The IgA and LF concentrations were mainly predicted by the SCC (177,500 and 70,000 cells/ml, respectively), and the LAP and S100A7 concentrations were predicted by Age (29.667 and 40.3 months, respectively). No relationship was observed between the concentration of IgA, LAP, or S100A7 and the milk microbiota composition between the groups divided by the threshold for prediction, but the milk microbiota composition was significantly different between the groups divided by the threshold for predicting the LF concentration. Our results indicated that the LF concentration in normal milk may be associated with the milk microbiota composition.     

The impact of installation of automatic milking system on production and reproduction traits of dairy cows

The objective of the research was the evaluation of change in the traditional milking system using automatic milking system in the scope of the selected reproduction features of dairy cows of the Polish Holstein–Friesian breed. Animal material consisted of 2,818 cows used on nine farms equipped with the automatic milking system Astronaut A4 made by Lely. The cows were controlled in the scope of services per conception, service period, length of pregnancy, calving interval and calving to conception period, milk yield, protein and fat content obtained in lactations of 305 days. The selected traits were observed between 2005 and 2015. In this period, the milking system was changed from the conventional to automated one. The collected data material was statistically processed, using the multifactorial analysis of variance. The period between the first calving and the second effective insemination was reduced by 11.8 days, and the period between the second calving and the third effective insemination was shortened by 4 days after the installation of the automatic milking system. The increase in milk yield by 466 kg during 305‐day lactation was observed among primiparous cows. The percentage of protein and fat content in the researched groups decreased; moreover, the fall of intergroup variability was noticeable, which may be a sign of the levelling of the yield within the herd.     

Lactational traits of importance in dairy cows and applications for emerging biotechnologies

New molecular and quantitative genetic technologies are the latest in a long list of technologies that have been introduced to dairy industries over many decades to improve the performance of cows. The catalysts for future advances will be sequencing of the bovine genome and development of high-throughput technologies to identify and exploit relevant variation in DNA sequences. The new technologies will allow the selection of animals based on specific genotypes that suit specific applications such as once-daily (OAD) milking or extended lactation.

These technologies will also allow exploitation of between-cow variation in milk composition, which is currently hidden by bulking of milk on and between farms. Thus, there are opportunities to produce milk from herds of cows selected for specific milk composition that might be, for example, more suitable for cheese-making or have milkfat with specific properties to enhance human health. Identification of genes and gene polymorphisms associated with improved resistance to specific diseases in cows and other farm species also represents a real opportunity to improve animal health over the coming decade.

New levels of genetic regulation have been identified, e.g. microRNA and epigenetics, the impacts of which on the performance of cows and humans are only just beginning to be understood.

There is a potential role for veterinarians to provide or be the interface for provision of genetic advice to farmers in much the same way that nutritional advice is currently given.     

复合酶制剂对瘤胃发酵及泌乳早期奶牛生产性能的影响

本试验旨在研究添加不同水平复合酶制剂对瘤胃发酵及奶牛生产性能的影响。试验一以奶牛全混合日粮作为底物进行体外瘤胃发酵试验,分为4组,即对照组不添加酶制剂,试验1、2和3组的酶制剂添加量分别为日粮浓度的0.10%、0.15%和0.20%,每组设9个重复。每个重复准确称取0.500 g底物,在体外发酵产气自动记录装置上发酵48 h,测定其发酵参数和营养物质降解率。结果表明:复合酶制剂显著提高发酵液中总挥发性脂肪酸和乙酸浓度(P<0.05);试验组中粗蛋白(P<0.05)和中性洗涤纤维(P<0.01)降解率显著高于对照组。试验二选择体重、胎次、泌乳天数和产奶量相近的泌乳早期荷斯坦奶牛36头,采用随机区组设计分为4组,即对照组和试验1、2和3组,对照组不添加酶制剂,试验1、2和3组分别添加0.10%、0.15%和0.20%的酶制剂,每组9个重复,试验期8周,测定产奶量和乳成分含量,计算3.5%乳脂校正乳。结果表明:复合酶制剂显著提高3.5%乳脂校正乳产量(P<0.05),0.10%、0.15%和0.20%组比对照组分别提高3.88、4.27和2.26 kg·d^-1。0.15%组的乳脂率显著高于对照组(P<0.05),比对照组高12.7%。结论添加复合酶制剂有利于瘤胃发酵和提高生产性能,且添加量为0.15%时效果较好。     

Milk casein and fatty acid fractions in early lactation are affected by nutritional regulation of body condition score at the beginning of the transition period in primiparous and multiparous cows under grazing conditions

The objective was to evaluate the effect of body condition score (BCS) at 30 days before calving (−30 days) induced by a differential nutritional management, parity and week of lactation (WOL) on milk yield and composition, and milk casein and fatty acid composition. Primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows with high BCS (PH, n = 13; MH, n = 9) and low BCS (PL, n = 9; ML = 8) under grazing conditions were sampled at WOL 2 and 8 (before and after peak of lactation). Milk yield was greater in multiparous than in primiparous cows and tended to decrease from WOL 2 to 8 only in ML cows. Milk protein, fat and casein yields were greater in multiparous than in primiparous cows and decreased from WOL 2 to 8. Milk casein concentration in milk protein was greater in MH cows than in ML, PH and PL cows at WOL 2. Milk κ‐casein was greater, and β‐casein was less in multiparous than in primiparous cows. As lactation progressed, proportion of casein fractions were not altered. Only κ‐casein fraction was affected by BCS at −30 days as PL showed a higher concentration than PH. The de novo (4:0–15:1) and mixed‐origin fatty acids (16:0–16:1) in milk fat increased, whereas preformed fatty acids (≥17:0) decreased from WOL 2 to 8. Saturated (SAT) fatty acids tended to be greater and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were less in multiparous than in primiparous cows. High‐BCS cows had greater concentrations of polyunsaturated (PUFA), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as well as n‐6 and n‐3 fatty acids in milk fat than low‐BCS cows. The results indicate that casein and fatty acid fractions in milk were affected by parity and may be modified by a differential nutritional management during the pre‐calving period (BCS at −30 days) in cows under grazing conditions.