The effect of chloride ammonium, vitamin E and Se supplementation throughout the dry period on the prevention of retained fetal membranes, reproductive performance and milk yield of dairy cows

We assessed the effect of an anionic salt and supplementary administration of vitamin E and Se throughout the dry period, on the risk of retained fetal membranes (RFM), milk yield and reproductive performance of dairy cows. Data were collected from 456 dairy cows in three commercial farms. Each animal entering the dry period was assigned to one of two groups (treated and control group). All animals were then fed the same ration, which included 80 IU/kg vitamin E acetate and 0.2 ppm Se, but animals of the treated group also received an additional blend containing ammonium chloride (60 g), vitamin E [1000 IU (dl-α-tocopheryl acetate)] and Se (0.05 ppm). Calving ease was evaluated and no manual removal of placenta was attempted. Cows that retained their fetal membranes for more than 12 h after calving were considered to suffer from RFM. All animals experienced a 50-day voluntary waiting period before the first artificial insemination (AI). Treatment resulted in a decrease in the estimated average risk of RFM (10.6% vs 17.8%). Stratifying on farm the Mantel–Haenszel Relative Risk (MH-RR) estimate of RFM in treated animals relative to controls was 1.68 (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.05 to 2.68) and the Mantel–Haenszel test P-value was 0.028. Among cows that had not required assistance during delivery the average risk of RFM was greater for those without treatment (risk estimate: 10/208 or 9.7%) as compared to those with treatment (risk estimate: 20/207 or 4.8%). The MH-RR estimate of RFM in treated vs. control animals was 2.95 the respective 95% CI: (0.96 to 4.17) and the MH test of association P-value was 0.058). Conversely, among cows that did require assistance during calving, the average risk of RFM estimates were 77.8% (14/18) and 91.3% (21/23) in treated and non-treated animals, respectively (MH-relative risk estimate of RFM = 1.21, 95%CI: 0.91 to 1.60). Using analysis of variance with farm as a random effect, treatment did not appear to have an effect on milk production of cows without RFM either at 30 or 60 days postpartum (P > 0.10). Time intervals (in days) between parturition and first oestrus expression (POI), parturition and first AI (PFAI) and parturition and conception (PCI) were recorded for each animal. For each time-to-event variable, survivor functions were estimated for treated and control groups using the Kaplan–Meier methodology and survival curves of treated and control groups were compared using the log-rank test, separately for the animals that did or did not experience RFM in each farm. There were significant differences in the time-to-event survival curves in only one of the three farms. Median time between parturition and first oestrus expression among animals without RFM was 67 days in treated animals and 75 in control animals, and the survival curves were statistically significantly different (P = 0.021). Similarly, in the same farm, among animals that did not experience RFM the median time between parturition and conception was 114 in treated animals and 145 in controls, and the survival curves were statistically significantly different (P = 0.002). In conclusion, daily administration of a blend containing ammonium chloride, vitamin E and Se throughout the dry period seems to be safe and resulted in a decrease of RFM occurrence, without any effect on milk yield.     

Parenteral selenium and vitamin E supplementation of weaned beef calves

BACKGROUND: The weaning process in beef calves elicits physiological stress responses that can negatively affect performance and health. Supplementation of vitamins and minerals, particularly selenium (Se) and vitamin E, might be warranted. HYPOTHESIS: That parenteral administration of Se or vitamin E would correct or prevent deficiencies of these nutrients in postweaned beef calves during a backgrounding period (42 days after weaning). ANIMALS: One hundred and forty-four weaned steers (200-250 kg) in 3 trials. METHODS: One trial was conducted with cattle on a dry lot fed a total mixed ration and 2 trials were conducted on cattle on pasture. Selenium was administered at 0.05 mg/kg BW (SC) and vitamin E was administered at 1500 IU on days 0 and 28 (SC). RESULTS: A treatment effect attributable to Se or vitamin E supplementation on average daily gain was not detected in any trials. Parenteral supplementation with Se on days 0 and 28 resulted in higher serum Se concentrations as compared with controls on day 42. Parenteral supplementation with Se on days 0 and 28 improved Se status from marginal to adequate in 1 trial. Parenteral supplementation with vitamin E did not improve serum vitamin E concentrations in any experiment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Supplementation with vitamin E or Se or a combination of both did not have a significant effect on calf performance during the 42-day backgrounding period.     

硒与维生素E互作对动物的影响

硒和维生素E是动物必需的营养成分,它们之间存在有协同关系,但是不可互相代替。两者的互作对动物生长性能、繁殖性能、胴体品质、免疫和应激等都有显著影响,具有极其重要的作用。     

Associations between use of electric cow-trainers and clinical diseases, reproductive performance and culling in Swedish dairy cattle

The aims of this follow-up study were: (a) to evaluate the role of ECT technology as a risk factor for several diseases; and (b) to determine if the effects of these diseases on cows' reproductive performance and as risk factors for culling are influenced by exposure to ECTs. Diseases considered were retained placenta, metritis, ketosis, cystic ovaries, silent heat, milk fever, clinical mastitis, and foot and leg problems. We used historical and contemporary controls (with control herds selected to match the experimental herds for size and location). Data consisted of 10264 Swedish Red and White (SRB) and 5461 Swedish Friesian (SLB) lactation records in 150 herds of which 33 used cow-trainers. Logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of parity and exposure to electric cow-trainers on the risks of diseases and the effects of diseases and exposure to electric cow-trainers on risk of culling. The least-squares procedure was used to estimate the effects of diseases on reproductive performance.

The dominant effects associated with use of electric cow-trainers were an increased risk for silent heat, clinical mastitis, ketosis and culling relative to cows in herds not using cow-trainers. Diseases had negative effects on reproductive performance and the effects were larger for cows in herds using cow-trainers. In herds using electric cow-trainers, the largest increase in the interval from first service to conception (58 days) was caused by the occurrences of silent heat, cystic ovaries and the combination of two or more diseases. Retained placenta, metritis, cystic ovaries, clinical mastitis and a combination of two or more diseases increased the risk of culling about two times relative to healthy primiparous cows with the increase being greater for cows in herds using cow-trainers. Silent heat did not increase risk of culling in control groups, but was the largest risk factor for culling in the exposed group. We concluded that exposure to electric cow-trainers increased the incidence risk of silent heat, clinical mastitis, and ketosis and changed silent heat from a neutral disease with respect to culling to a major risk factor. Finally, exposure to cow-trainers increased the general negative effect of diseases on the cows' reproductive performance and risk for culling.     

A comparison of the effects of parenteral and oral administration of supplementary vitamin E on plasma vitamin E concentrations in dairy cows at different stages of lactation

As a result of research conducted in the US, recommendations for dry cow vitamin E intakes have increased seven fold there, however there has been no change to recommendations in the UK. As part of a larger study comparing the impact of existing UK and new US recommended vitamin E intakes on the health and fertility of commercial dairy cows in the UK, a study was set up to investigate the effect of route of supplementation and stage of lactation, over a 21 day period, on the response to mega-supplementation of cattle receiving supposedly adequate vitamin E. The study assessed the response of dry, peak lactation and mid lactation cows to in-feed or parenteral vitamin E supplementation (7 animals per treatment/lactation stage group) by measuring plasma and milk vitamin E concentrations, blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and milk yields over a 21 day period. Plasma vitamin E concentrations were significantly influenced by a time, stage and treatment interaction (P = 0.046). Both dry and lactating animals had significantly higher plasma vitamin E concentrations at some time points in the parenteral supplemented cows compared to the in-feed supplementated animals (P ≤ 0.011 and P < 0.01, respectively). Milk vitamin E concentrations did not significantly differ between lactation stages but treatment had a significant effect on concentrations (P < 0.008) when lactation stage was removed from the model. There was no significant difference in milk yield between treatment groups. A significant relationship between plasma and milk vitamin E concentrations was only found in the parenterally supplemented cows (r = 0.435, P < 0.001). In cattle with intakes greater than the ARC recommendations, measurement of plasma vitamin E concentration may be of limited value in determining whether there has been a response to supplementation. The relationship between plasma and milk vitamin E concentrations is too poor for milk vitamin E concentrations to be used as a proxy for plasma vitamin E.     

Associations of sole ulcer at claw trimming with reproductive performance, udder health, milk yield, and culling in Swedish dairy cattle

The association between sole ulcer found at routine claw trimming 2–6 months after calving and reproductive, health and productive traits in the same lactation, was investigated in an observational study of 2368 dairy cows in 102 Swedish herds. The data were analysed by mixed multivariable linear-, logistic- and Poisson-regression modelling at the cow level, accounting for clustering within herd. Associations were found between sole ulcer and first-service conception risk in the first study year (OR 0.59), calving interval (2% longer), treatment for anoestrus (OR 1.61), and 305-day milk yield (479 kg ECM higher). No associations could be shown between sole ulcer and first-service conception risk in the second study year, the number of services per conception, clinical mastitis, high milk somatic-cell counts or culling.     

Effects of vitamin E and selenium supplementation on blood lipid peroxidation and cortisol concentration in dairy cows undergoing omentopexy

Twenty dairy cows with left abomasal displacement were used to investigate the effects of vitamin E and selenium treatment on thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and blood cortisol in dairy cows stressed by omentopexy. The cows were randomly divided into two groups. Ten hours before surgery 6 g of DL‐α‐tocopheryl acetate (6 mg/kg) and 67 mg of natrium selenite (0.1 mg/kg) in volume of 40 ml (Vitaselen^®) were administered subcutaneously to 10 cows; the control animals (n = 10) received an equivalent volume of injectable water (40 ml). The injection of vitamin E and selenium produced a rapid rise (p < .05) in blood α‐tocopherol and selenium concentrations. The serum vitamin E increased several times 10 hr after vitamin E and Se injection and raised continuously to the highest average concentration 21.6 mg/L at hr 24 after the surgery. The highest selenium concentration was seen 10 hr after selenium administration with holding the increased concentrations in comparison with initial ones during the whole study. Two‐way ANOVA did not show significant treatment effect on plasma concentrations TBARS in the study. The plasma concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances reached the maximum value of 0.18 μmol/L in the control group 5 hr after the surgery. Twenty‐four hours after the surgery, the TBARS values returned to the initial ones. Serum cortisol increased in both groups after surgery. The highest cortisol concentrations were reached at 1 hr after surgery in the experimental and control group (56.7 ± 28.8 and 65.3 ± 26.1 μg/L respectively). A return to the levels similar to the initial ones was recognized 24 hr after the surgery. The ANOVA revealed a significant effect of vitamin E and selenium injection on plasma cortisol (p < .05). In conclusion, we have demonstrated that abdominal surgery resulted in typical stress changes with no significant effects of a single vitamin E/Se injection on blood lipid peroxidation. In addition, a weaker cortisol response to the abdominal surgery was recognized in animals treated with vitamin E and selenium.     

Effects of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on selenium distribution and meat quality of pigs

Abstract

The study was conducted on 60 pigs kept in individual pens. The animals were allocated to four groups. The growing-finishing pigs from the control group were fed with basic feed containing 0.3 mg selenium (Se) derived from Na₂SeO₃ kg^?1 and 60 mg of dl-α-tocopheryl acetate kg^?1. The remaining three groups were differentiated by adding 0.2 mg kg^?1 Se-enriched yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and/or 60 mg vitamin E to feed (grower and finisher). Our results show that the addition of organic Se to inorganic Se commonly used in pig feed caused a significant increase in hepatic Se and muscle. This indicates the possibility of using these products as functional foods to improve Se status in humans residing within regions which are deficient in this trace element. We found no beneficial effect of supplementation with vitamin E and Se on the quality of the meat.     

日粮中添加硒和维生素E对奶牛产奶性能及牛乳和血浆中硒和维生素E含量的影响

选择32头泌乳中期、胎次一致、泌乳量相近的中国荷斯坦奶牛,随机分为4组,分别为对照组(饲喂基础日粮)、添加有机硒组、添加维生素E组和添加有机硒+维生素E组,试验期60 d。结果显示:(1)日粮中单独添加硒和维生素E及同时添加硒和维生素E对奶牛的产奶量、乳蛋白、乳脂、乳糖和总固形物含量均无显著影响(P0.05);(2)日粮中添加硒显著提高了牛乳和血浆中硒的含量(P0.001);(3)日粮中添加维生素E显著提高了牛乳和血浆中维生素E的含量(P0.001);(4)同时添加硒和维生素E对于牛乳和血浆中硒和维生素E含量未出现增效作用。因此,在奶牛日粮中添加硒和维生素E是生产富硒奶和高维生素E奶的一种有效方法。     

Status of selenium and vitamin E on Norwegian organic sheep and dairy cattle farms

Herbage selenium (Se) concentration is generally low in Norway. It is unknown whether feeding practices on Norwegian organic farms fulfil the dietary needs of Se and vitamin E for sheep and dairy cattle. Therefore we analysed Se in soil and herbage, and Se and vitamin E in animal blood in the indoor feeding season at 14 organic dairy and 14 organic sheep farms. The herbage Se concentration was low. Approximately 50 and 35% of all samples in the first and second cut, respectively, had Se concentrations below the detection limit of 0.01 mg/kg dry matter (DM). The median (10th, 90th percentile) Se concentrations were <0.01 (<0.01, 0.03) and 0.02 (<0.01, 0.06) mg/kg DM in the first and second cuts, respectively. Whole blood Se concentrations were 0.10 (0.04, 0.15) μg/g in dairy cattle and 0.14 (0.03, 0.26) μg/g in sheep. Vitamin E concentrations were 4.2 (2.7, 8.4) mg/l in dairy cattle and 1.3 (0.9, 2.4) mg/l in sheep. None of the soil or plant variables explained the variation in herbage Se concentration, although Se in soil and plant tended to be correlated. Herbage Se concentration was inadequate to meet the dietary Se requirements. Vitamin E requirement was only met in dairy herds. We recommend Se and vitamin E supplementation to ruminants on organic farms.     

The effect of dietary vitamin E level on selenium status in rats

The effect of varying levels of dietary vitamin E on selenium status was determined using 40 Wistar rats with similar initial body weight. The rats were equally divided into four groups and fed the following dietary treatments (mg vitamin E/kg DM): 18 (control; C‐diet), 0 (0E‐diet), 9 (0.5E‐diet) and 36 (2E‐diet) for either 4‐week (Phase 1) or 8‐week (Phase 2) period. At the end of experiment, animals were slaughtered to measure vitamin E and selenium levels in the brain, liver, spleen, kidney, muscles and blood tissues. Dietary vitamin E levels did not affect feed and water intake and body weight. But whole‐blood selenium concentration in rats fed 0E‐diet was higher than in rats fed 2E‐diet after 4 weeks. Selenium level in muscle, spleen and brain was also higher (p < 0.05) in rats fed the 0E‐diet than in rats fed C‐diet after 4 weeks of feeding. On the other hand, selenium level in the muscle was lower (p < 0.05) in rats fed 0.5E‐diet than in those fed 0E‐diet after 4 weeks of feeding, but not after 8 weeks of feeding. Increasing dietary vitamin E level directly influenced selenium content of the spleen and brain after 8 weeks of feeding 2E‐diet. Moreover, the twofold increase in vitamin E intake resulted in a tendency to reduce whole‐blood selenium level and total selenium in the liver and kidney after 4 and 8 weeks. The results showed that the increasing dietary vitamin E level resulted in a tendency to reduce Se contents in some vital organs of the body such as the liver and kidney, suggesting their close compensatory interrelationship. Therefore, dietary vitamin E level directly influenced selenium metabolism in the animal body.     

维生素A、E对獭兔繁殖性能的影响

将 2 8只繁殖獭兔随机均分 2组 ,基础日粮相同 ,但试验组在配种前 3天妊娠第 7天于日粮中添加VA8mg/kg、VE10 0mg/kg。结果与对照组相比 :试验组产活仔数提高了 2 0 2 3 %(P <0 0 5 ) ,育成率提高了 6 5 8%(P <0 0 5 ) ,增重速度提高 7 11%(P <0 0 5 )。     

Endotoxin challenge increases xanthine oxidase activity in cattle: effect of growth hormone and vitamin E treatment

In addition to its basic role in the metabolism of purine nucleotides, xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) is involved in the generation of oxygen-derived free radicals and production and metabolic fate of nitric oxide (NO). Growth hormone (GH) and Vitamin E (E) have been shown previously to modify immune response to infection. Our objective was to determine in heifers the effect of endotoxin challenge (LPS; 3.0 μg/kg BW, i.v. bolus, Escherichia coli 055:B5) on xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in plasma and liver and the modification of this response by daily treatment with recombinant GH (0.1 mg/kg BW, i.m., for 12 days) or GH+E (E: mixed tocopherol, 1000 IU/heifer, i.m., for 5 days). In experiment 1, 16 heifers (348.7±6.1 kg) were assigned to control (C, daily placebo injections), GH, or GH+E treatments and were challenged with two consecutive LPS injections (LPS1 and LPS2, 48 h apart). After LPS1, plasma XO activity increased 290% (P<0.001) at 3 h, reached peak (430%) at 24 h and returned to basal level by 48 h after LPS2. XO responses (area under the time×activity curve, AUC) were greater after LPS1 than LPS2 (P<0.001). Total plasma XO responses to LPS (AUC, LPS1+LPS2) were augmented 55% (P<0.05) over C with GH treatment but diminished to C responses in GH+E. There was a linear relationship (r²=0.605, P<0.001) between total response in plasma XO activity and plasma nitrate+nitrite concentration. In experiment 2, 24 heifers (346±6 kg) were assigned to C or GH treatments and liver biopsy samples were obtained at 0, 3, 6, and 24 h after a single LPS challenge. Hepatic XO activities increased 63.3% (P<0.05) 6 h after single LPS challenge and remained elevated at 24 h (100.1%, P<0.01) but were not affected by GH treatment. Results indicate that LPS-induced increases in plasma XO activity could be amplified by previous GH treatment but attenuated by E administration. The data also suggest that E may be effective in controlling some mediators of immune response associated with increased production of NO via the effect on XO activity and its production of superoxide anion as well as uric acid.     

Blood and milk status of vitamin E,vitamin A,and selenium in nursing Awassi ewes injected with vitamin E and selenium

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of vitamin E and selenium (Se) injections on concentrations of vitamin E, vitamin A, and Se in blood and milk to predict when injections may improve ewes’ performance. Awassi ewes received 0 (control, 13 ewes) or 15 plus 0.05?mg/kg BW of vitamin E and Se (injected, 15 ewes) at 1 and 4 weeks postpartum. Blood and milk samples were collected weekly for 6 weeks. Injections increased vitamin E, decreased Se, and had no effects on vitamin A levels in blood. Blood vitamin E was correlated positively with vitamin A. Injections increased vitamin E, but had no effects on vitamin A or Se levels in milk. Milk vitamin A was positively correlated with vitamin E and Se levels in the control group. Milk vitamins E and A were positively correlated with their corresponding levels in blood. Milk somatic cell count was negatively correlated with blood vitamin A levels.     

Effect of vitamin E and selenium supplementation on some immune parameters following vaccination against brucellosis in cattle

Twenty-four 7-mo-old beef heifers (Charolais Simmental cross), weighing 213 kg, were used to determine the effect of vitamin E (VitE) and(or) selenium (Se) supplementation on the humoral response to a standard dose of Brucella abortus strain 19 vaccine and on the levels of naturally occurring immunoglobulins (Ig) to several antigens. The treatments were as follows: Group 1, no supplement; Group 2, supplementation with 6 g of elemental Se; Group 3, supplementation with 1,400 IU/d of VitE; and Group 4, Se and VitE supplements combined. There were no significant differences in anti-B. abortus IgG1, IgG2, or IgM antibody levels due to Se, VitE or Se/VitE treatments; the concentrations of IgA antibody were too low to be measured with the ELISA test used. Statistical analysis revealed that the levels of total and IgM natural antibody to Salmonella typhimurium were higher in Group 3. Perhaps VitE supplementation given in conjunction with B. abortus vaccine enhanced the production of antibody to S. typhimurium in several animals whose humoral system had been activated by previous exposure to this organism.     

Protecting effect of vitamin E supplementation on submaximal exercise-induced oxidative stress in sedentary dogs as assessed by erythrocyte membrane fluidity and paraoxonase-1 activity

The aim of this placebo-controlled study was to investigate the effects of oral vitamin E supplementation for 10 weeks on exercise-induced oxidative damage in untrained dogs. Eight dogs were randomly assigned to a supplementation (n = 4) or control (n = 4) group and underwent two isolated submaximal exercise sessions, 10 weeks apart. Blood was collected during each session to measure erythrocyte membrane fluidity (EMF), paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin E concentrations. These biomarkers were measured in venous blood samples collected before (t₀), just after (t, EMF only) and 1 d (t + 1 d) and 7 d (t + 7 d) after the dogs ran on a treadmill.Prior to vitamin E supplementation, exercise induced a significant decrease in PON1 activity, EMF, vitamin E concentration and a significant increase in MDA concentration at t + 1 d. After a 10 week vitamin E supplementation period, these exercise-induced changes in PON1 activity, EMF and MDA concentration were still significant in the control group, but not in the supplemented group. These results suggested that vitamin E supplementation had a protective effect on submaximal exercise-induced oxidative damage in sedentary dogs.     

Effect of dietary supplementation with flaxseed oil or vitamin E on sheep experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica

The effects of two diets supplemented with flaxseed oil (FO) or vitamin E (VE) were studied in sheep infected with Fasciola hepatica. The control group (CO), not supplemented, had higher weight gain and faecal egg count (P < 0.05) at the end of the study. At necropsy, the number (71.2 ± 26.5) and size of flukes were lower in the FO group (P < 0.01), probably due to the higher levels of white blood cells and lymphocytes (P < 0.01). This group also had higher red blood cell and haematocrit values (P < 0.01). The CO group had more severe hypoproteinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia, due to having the highest fluke burden (123.0 ± 35.2), and also the highest IgG1 titre (P < 0.01). The diet did not affect production or gene expression levels of IFN-γ and IL-4. On the other hand, the supplementation with VE led to a reduction in adult fluke burden (97.7 ± 39.9) and lower lipid oxidation in the liver (P < 0.001).