Effect of lactation stage, season and parity on milk cortisol concentration in Holstein cows

This experiment was designed (1) to study the effects of lactation stage, season, and parity on milk cortisol concentrations in Holstein cows, and (2) to elucidate the relationships between milk yield, quality, and milk cortisol concentration. Subjects of this study were 24 dairy cows kept in a free stall barn. Milk samples were taken on test day in May, August, November, and February. Data of milk yield, quality, and cortisol concentration were collected. Random effects of animals and fixed effects of lactation stage, test day, and parity on milk yield, quality, and cortisol concentration were analyzed using mixed models. We estimated the best linear unbiased prediction of each trait (BLUP) which was an animal-specific value. Correlation among milk yield, quality, and cortisol concentration was calculated using raw data and BLUP. The effect of the lactation stage on milk cortisol concentration was significant: the value observed in early lactation was higher than in other stages. However, the correlation between milk yield and cortisol concentration was low. The beginning of lactation might be a strong stressor for every cow. Calculated with raw data, milk cortisol concentration had respectively significant negative correlation with milk protein contents and solid not-fat contents. Calculated with BLUP, milk cortisol concentration showed a significant and negative correlation with milk protein contents. The lactation stage and milk protein contents should be considered for measurement of milk cortisol concentrations.     

Concentration of plasma cholesterol in beef cows and calves, milk production and calf gain.

Milk yield of 59 beef cows that calved in late September through November was measured monthly in early and late lactation and biweekly during midlactation. Milk yield was estimated by milking with a machine after over-night separation of cows from calves. Concentration of plasma cholesterol of cows and calves was measured when calves averaged 44, 93, 136, and 178 d of age (SD = 17 d). Cholesterol of calves also was measured 2 wk after weaning, when they averaged 220 +/- 2.3 d of age. Cholesterol of calves was highest at second and third samplings and dropped after weaning. The estimated intake of milkfat by calves, and to a lesser extent their intake of milk, was related positively to their plasma cholesterol as they approached weaning age. The relationship was not strong enough, however, for differences among calves in concentration of plasma cholesterol to identify accurately differences in milk yield of their dams. Within breed group, age of cow, and stage of lactation, the regression coefficients of milk yield on plasma cholesterol of cows were close to zero. The concentrations of plasma cholesterol in both cows and calves were highly repeatable, with the exception of samples that were collected when calves averaged 44 d of age. Although plasma cholesterol of calves was related positively to milk yield and milkfat yield in late lactation, the former trait was not an accurate indicator of the two latter traits.     

Adjustment of test-day milk,fat and protein yield for age,season and stage of lactation

The object of this study was to develop a method for the adjustment of test-day milk, fat and protein yield for age at calving, stage of lactation, and month of calving. Test-day records of 14 275 purebred Dutch Friesians were analysed by generalized least squares, (GLS). Functions of days in lactation and age in months were fitted to the age differences for different stages in lactation. A close fit to the GLS means was obtained for both milk fat and protein yield. From these functions, adjustment factors (CF_ageI) were computed depending on the cow's age in months and number of days in lactation. A multiplicative adjustment for age and stage of lactation by CF_ageI was compared with an adjustment using factors derived from the constant estimates (CF_ageII). Comparison was on the F-variable and constant estimates for age after adjustment. When CF_ageI was used instead of CF_ageII, lower F-values were obtained and the constants showed a more regular pattern. Additive adjustment factors for month of calving were derived from the GLS constant estimates. After correction, month of calving was only significant for protein yield. The adjustment of test-day yields for age at calving and stage of lactation was improved by using mathematical functions.     

Culling of dairy cows. Part III. Effects of diseases, pregnancy status and milk yield on culling in Finnish Ayrshire cows

The effects of 15 diseases, pregnancy status and milk yield on culling were studied in 39 727 Finnish Ayrshire cows that calved in 1993 and were followed until culling or next calving. Survival analysis, using the Cox proportional hazards model, was performed with diseases, pregnancy status and milk yield as time-dependent covariates. Effects of parity, calving season and herd were also accounted for.

Pregnancy status was the single most influential factor affecting culling decisions, followed by milk yield. Several diseases also had a significant effect on culling, the most influential ones being mastitis, lameness, teat injuries, and milk fever. The effects of all of these factors varied according to the stage of lactation.

Milk yield had a significant effect on culling decisions, depending on the stage of lactation. At the beginning of lactation, milk production did not have any effect on culling decisions, but later on, the highest producers were at the lowest risk of being culled and the lowest producers had the highest risk. Adjusting for milk yield modified the effects of parity, most diseases and also pregnancy status on culling. Effects of parity increased after including milk yield in the model, indicating that milk yield and parity are interrelated in their effects on culling. The effects of pregnancy status also increased towards the end of lactation when milk yield was accounted for in the model. The effects of mastitis, teat injuries and lameness decreased after adjusting for milk production. These diseases lower milk yield and thus, part of their effect on culling was mediated through milk production. The effects of anestrus and ovarian cysts were mainly modified by pregnancy status, but not by milk yield. The effects of milk fever on culling increased at the beginning of lactation after including milk yield in the model. This suggests that even though cows with milk fever tend to be higher producers, it is the disease as such that triggers the culling decision early in the lactation. The changes in the effects of other diseases after adjusting for milk yield varied, depending on the disease and the stage of lactation.     

西农萨能奶山羊泌乳期产奶量、乳成分及血液生理生化指标变化规律研究

旨在探索西农萨能奶山羊泌乳期生产性能、乳成分、血液生理生化指标和营养物质摄入量等变化规律及其相互关系.本研究选取15只体重、胎次、产奶量、分娩日期相近,体况健康的西农萨能奶山羊.单圈饲喂54周,试验期内准确测定个体生产性能、乳成分、血液生理生化指标和营养物质摄入量等,建立各项指标随泌乳期变化规律模型及泌乳期内指标间的相...     

The behavior of lactogenic and steroid hormones in the blood of Awassi ewes in Syria during lactation

The concentrations of lactogenic hormones (prolactin--PRL, growth hormone--GH, insulin-like growth factor I--IGF-I) and steroid hormones (progesterone--PG, estradiol--E2) were determined by RIA in the blood plasma of 8 lactating ewes (3 with twins) and compared with that of 3 non-lactating cycling ewes of the same age. All animals live in a flock of 30 Awassi sheep under identical conditions in Syria. The lactation period (192 +/- 25 days) is divided to a suckling period (until day 63) and a hand milking period (2 fold daily) with different levels of milk production (near 2 litres/day in the former, decreasing from 0.8 to 0.1 litre/day in the latter). During the suckling period the concentrations of steroid hormones in the blood plasma are lower, these of lactogenic hormones are higher of lactating than of non-lactating ewes. During the milking period only the concentrations of E2, PRL and IGF-I in the blood plasma of lactating animals are lower than in non-lactating ewes. But, during this time more and more seasonal influences (increasing day length and temperature) overwhelm the influence of lactation on the hormone secretion. Suckling of twins is accompanied with higher levels of E2, PRL and IGF-I in the blood plasma of their mothers than suckling of single lambs. During the lactation period a strong correlation exists between milk yield and the level of GH (r = 0.85) and IGF-I (r = 0.71), a smaller correlations to the level of E2 (r = 0.49) in the blood plasma of the lactating ewes. During the suckling period the milk yield is influenced positively by PRL (r = 0.77) and GH (r = 0.68), but negatively by PG (r = -0.76). During the milking period the milk yield is determined extensively by the level of IGF-I (r = 0.89) in the blood plasma. The concentrations of the analyzed hormones in the blood plasma correlate always positively together.     

Physiological basis of high milk production in cattle]

Milk yield is determined by number, size, synthetic and secretory capacity of mammary alveolar cells and low amounts of residual milk after milking. Initial milk yield and persistency of lactation are important. Important factors to achieve high milk yield are: optimal mammary development and preparation to lactation; maintenance and possibly increase in number and of synthetic capacity of alveolar cells during established lactation; sufficient availability of substrates for milk synthesis through high feed intake, readiness to mobilize body reserves (especially depot fat) and increased mammary blood flow; optimal milk let-down; regular and possibly more than twice milking/day. Favorable for a high milk yield are high circulating concentrations of somatotropin, possibly associated with increased production and levels of the insulin-like growth factor I, in the presence of low concentrations of and reduced sensitivity or responsiveness of target organs to insulin, reduced circulating levels of thyroid hormones and possibly enhanced conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine in the mammary gland. Enhanced sensitivity of depot fat to lipolytic hormones is favorable for high milk production.     

不同品种泌乳母马不同泌乳月产奶量及乳成分的比较

[目的]研究伊犁马和哈萨克马泌乳母马在不同泌乳月产奶量及乳成分的差异,为开发利用伊犁马和哈萨克马乳用特性提供参考。[方法]随机选择年龄和胎次相近、产驹时间接近、健康的伊犁母马和哈萨克母马各12匹,在日粮营养水平和饲养管理水平相同的条件下,记录2个品种母马在泌乳30、60、90 d的产奶量;采集乳样,测定2个品种母马不同泌乳时间的乳中体细胞数、乳脂率、乳蛋白率、乳糖率和总固形物含量。[结果]泌乳30 d时,哈萨克马的产奶量高于伊犁马（P>0.05）,乳脂率极显著（P<0.01）高于伊犁马,乳中体细胞数显著（P<0.05）高于伊犁马,其他乳成分指标高于伊犁马（P>0.05）。泌乳60 d时,伊犁马的产奶量和乳糖率极显著（P<0.01）高于哈萨克马,乳脂率和乳蛋白率高于哈萨克马（P>0.05）,乳中体细胞数和总固形物含量低于哈萨克马（P>0.05）。泌乳90 d时,伊犁马的产奶量显著（P<0.05）高于哈萨克马,乳糖率、总固形物含量极显著（P<0.01）高于哈萨克马,乳脂率和乳体细胞数极显著（P<0.01）低于哈萨克马,乳蛋白率高于哈萨克马（P>0.05）。[结论]泌乳初期（30 d）,哈萨克马的产奶量和乳营养成分含量高于伊犁马;泌乳中期（60、90 d）,伊犁马的泌乳性能整体优于哈萨克马。在观察期内,哈萨克马的乳体细胞数大于伊犁马。     

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.     

繁奶康对奶牛泌乳早期泌乳性能及血液指标的影响

选择20头荷斯坦高产牛,采用配对分组设计分为对照组和试验组,每组各10头。对照组使用原日粮,试验组产前21d每天在日粮中添加繁奶康125g,于分娩当天添加量增至300g直到试验结束,以探讨日粮添加繁奶康对奶牛泌乳早期产奶性能(产奶量及乳品质)的影响。结果表明,补充繁奶康,产奶量、乳脂校正乳产量试验组明显高于对照组(P0.05);奶牛采食量、乳脂率、乳蛋白率、乳糖率及乳干物质含量两组间差异不显著(P0.05)。血液指标谷草转氨酶、谷丙转氨酶活性两组间无显著差异(P0.05),高产奶牛补充繁奶康对泌乳早期产奶性能有较好的改善作用。     

Locomotion Score and Its Impacts on Production Performance and Blood Routine Indexes in Chinese Holstein

To investigate the influencing factors of locomotion score (LS) and its impacts on production performance and blood routine index in Holstein,body condition score (BCS),LS and DHI (dairy herd improvement) of 1 486 lactating cows from two dairy farms,and the blood routine indexes of 101 lactating cows from one farm in Beijing were measured.The fixed model was used to analyze the impacts of herd,parity and lactation stage on LS,and the impacts of LS and BCS on daily milk yield,somatic cell score,milk composition and blood routine indexes in dairy cows.The results showed that both parity and lactation stage had significant impacts on LS.The LS increased with the increase of parit,the LS increased by 0.71 from first lactation to fifth and above lactation.The LS of cow in lactation stage Ⅲ(100-199 d) and Ⅵ (after 350 d) were significantly higher than cow in stage Ⅱ (45-99 d)(P<0.05),and both were higher than 2.The LS had no significant impacts on daily milk yield,milk composition and somatic cell score (P>0.05).However,the milk yield of the cow with LS≥4 was the lowest,and a decrease of 2.29 kg was found compared with the cow with LS=1.Among the various blood routine indexes,LS had significant impacts on red blood cell count,hemoglobin content,mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and lymphocyte count (P<0.05),and had no significant impacts on white blood cell count (P>0.05).With the increase of LS,the red blood cell count,hemoglobin content,mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and lymphocyte count of cows decreased with different extents.There were some problems on the body immunity and hematopoiesis of cows with poor LS.In dairy farm,regular evaluation of LS could be used to find the management problems of feet and legs,which had a great significance to reduce the loss of production performance and early culling caused by hoof disease.     

中国荷斯坦牛步态评分及其对生产性能和血常规指标的影响

为探究荷斯坦牛步态评分（locomotion score,LS）影响因素及其对生产性能和血常规指标的影响,本研究收集测定了北京地区2个规模化牧场1 486头泌乳牛的体况评分（body condition score,BCS）、LS和DHI（dairy herd improvement）数据,并测定了101头泌乳牛的血常规指标。采用固定模型分析了牧场、胎次和泌乳阶段对LS的影响,以及LS和BCS等因素对日产奶量、体细胞评分、乳成分和血常规指标的影响。结果表明,试验牛的胎次和泌乳阶段均对LS有极显著影响,LS随胎次的升高而增加,从1胎至5胎及以上,LS升高了0.71分;泌乳阶段Ⅲ（100~199 d）、Ⅵ（350 d以后）的LS均显著高于阶段Ⅱ（45~99 d）（P<0.05）,且均高于2分。LS对日产奶量、乳成分和体细胞评分均无显著影响（P>0.05）,但LS≥4分的奶牛日产奶量最低,较LS=1分的奶牛日产奶量降低了2.29 kg。各项血常规指标中,LS对奶牛红细胞数、血红蛋白含量、红细胞平均血红蛋白浓度、淋巴细胞数均有显著影响（P<0.05）,而对白细胞数无显著影响（P>0.05）。随LS升高,奶牛红细胞数、淋巴细胞数、血红蛋白含量和红细胞平均血红蛋白浓度均表现出不同程度的降低。LS较差的奶牛,其机体的免疫力和造血功能会受到不同程度的影响。在规模化牧场中,定期评估牛群的LS能及时发现牛群肢蹄管理的问题,对减少因肢蹄问题引起的生产性能损失和过早淘汰等具有重要意义。     

Milk losses associated with somatic cell counts per breed, parity and stage of lactation in Canadian dairy cattle

The reduction in milk production caused by subclinical mastitis in dairy cattle was assessed through the regression of test day milk yield on log-transformed somatic cell counts (LnSCC). Data was obtained from Valacta, Quebec, and a total of 312,756 test day records from Ayrshire cows and 1,869,785 test day records from Holstein cows were included in the analyses. A segmented regression was fitted to estimate the cutoff point in the LnSCC scale where milk yield starts to be affected by mastitis. The statistical model used to explain daily milk yield included the effects of herd–year-season of test (random), days in milk, age at calving and LnSCC, and analyses were performed by breed, parity and stage of lactation. The cutoff point where milk yield starts to be affected by changes in LnSCC was estimated from data to be around 2 (approximately 7400 cells/mL) for Canadian Ayrshires and Holsteins. Milk losses per unit increase in LnSCC varied from 0.55 to 0.84 kg/day in first lactation Ayrshires, from 0.33 to 0.55 kg/day in first lactation Holsteins, from 0.74 to 2.45 kg/day in adult Ayrshires and from 0.77 to 1.78 kg/day in adult Holsteins. Daily milk losses caused by changes in LnSCC were dependent on breed, parity and stage of lactation, and these factors should be considered when estimating losses associated with subclinical mastitis.     

Some serum parameters of first lactation cows in relation to their supply of macro and trace elements as well as of vitamins

At the Institute of Animal Nutrition of the Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL) in Braunschweig a feeding trial with 30 first lactating cows (German Holstein) was realised in 2004 for a complete lactation. All animals received a diet based on maize- and grass-silage ad libitum at the rate of 60:40 (DM-base) and concentrate depending on their milk yield.The animals were fed with energy and protein as recommended (GfE 2001) and were kept in loose housing. After calving they were split randomly into two feeding groups with 15 animals each. Group 1 was fed a concentrate according to the recommendations of the GfE (2001), whereas group 2 was offered the same concentrate with roughly the double amount of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, beta-carotene and vitamins A and E. To study the influence of the different concentrates on the serum concentrations of minerals and vitamins, blood, feed and milk samples were regularly taken and analysed in the course of lactation. Significantly higher blood concentrations were detected for phosphorus, zinc and vitamin E in group 2, but therefore a direct influence of the feeding on the blood concentrations was detected only for zinc and vitamin E. Over the whole lactation the average milk yield of group 1 was 2.6 kg/day higher and the average milk fat content was reduced about 0.6 percent points compared to group 2.     

影响西农萨能奶山羊产奶性状的非遗传因素分析

本试验旨在探究母羊出生年度、季节、胎次、泌乳阶段4个固定效应对西农萨能奶山羊产奶性状的影响。以西北农林科技大学萨能羊原种场2006-2018年的645只泌乳母羊为研究对象,每月采集乳样1次,采样日早、晚各采集1次,将两次乳样等比例混合后,采用乳成分分析仪测定乳脂率、乳蛋白率、乳糖率、总脂固形物、非脂固形物、密度、冰点和酸度共8个指标,结合羊场产奶量记录,采用固定效应模型,通过SAS 9.4软件进行表型的描述性统计分析,再采用GLM模型进行固定效应对产奶性状的影响分析。结果表明,西农萨能奶山羊平均300 d产奶量为507.67 kg,乳脂率为3.58%,乳蛋白率为3.20%,乳糖率为4.19%;总固形物含量为12.21%,非脂固形物含量为8.46%;出生年度、胎次对产奶量影响极显著（P<0.01）,出生季节对产奶量影响不显著（P>0.05）;泌乳阶段、出生年度对乳脂率等8个乳成分性状均有极显著影响（P<0.01）,胎次对除乳蛋白率和总固形物的其他6个乳成分指标均存在极显著影响（P<0.01）。综合以上试验结果,胎次及泌乳阶段是影响西农萨能奶山羊产奶性状的两种主要非遗传因素,第3、4胎母羊产奶性能最佳,泌乳早期的乳品质更优,揭示了对种群进行良种选育工作和羊饲养管理的重要性,也为后期进行奶山羊经济性状遗传评估和群体遗传改良提供理论基础。     

Factors affecting the transfer of immunoglobulin G1 into the milk of Holstein cows

Immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 concentrations in milk from Holstein cows was measured to determine if transfer and concentration was influenced by production factors (lactation number, stage of lactation, daily milk production), milk composition (milk fat, protein, lactose, and total solids content) or by serum IgG1 concentration. Two hundred and ninety-nine Chinese Holstein cows were randomly selected from four herds containing a total of more than 1600 lactating animals. The concentration of IgG1 in the milk and serum was determined by ELISA.Milk IgG1 concentrations varied between 0.030 and 0.614 mg/mL and significantly correlated with lactation number, stage of lactation, daily milk production and somatic cell count. The IgG1 mass was found to highly correlate with lactation number, stage of lactation, daily milk production and milk protein content. Lactation number had the highest positive direct relationship with IgG1 concentration.     

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.     

复合酵母培养物对奶牛产奶性能、氮排放及血液生化指标的影响

为研究饲料中添加复合酵母培养物对奶牛产奶性能、氮排放及血液生化指标的影响,选取年龄、体重、产奶量及泌乳期相近(135±15) d的荷斯坦奶牛24头,随机分为4组,每个处理6个重复,对照组和3个试验组的复合酵母培养物添加量分别为精料浓度的0,0.8%,1.0%,1.2%,随精料饲喂,测定产奶量、乳成分、氮排放及血液生化指标,结果表明,1)试验2组日均产奶量显著高于对照组(P<0.05),各试验组分别比对照组提高8.48%,10.05%,8.97%。2)复合酵母培养物能显著提高乳脂和乳蛋白率(P<0.05),显著降低牛奶体细胞数(P<0.05),以试验2组最低。3)在氮排放量上,试验2组显著低于对照组(P<0.05),各试验组比对照组分别降低8.47%,12.01%,9.36%。4)在血液生化指标方面,复合酵母培养物能提高血清中总蛋白、球蛋白、血糖、胰岛素水平(P<0.05),降低尿素氮水平(P<0.05)。由此可见,本试验条件下,综合考虑产奶量、乳成分、氮排放及血液生化指标,复合酵母培养物的最佳添加量为精料浓度的1.0%。     

初配月龄对澳系荷斯坦牛头胎泌乳性能的影响

本试验采用海丰奶牛场有限公司2 480头澳系荷斯坦牛初配月龄及其第一胎泌乳性能数据,分析不同初配月龄对第一胎泌乳天数、全泌乳期实际产奶量、305天校正奶量、305天脂肪产量和305天蛋白产量的影响。结果表明,22月龄初配奶牛305天校正奶量最高(8 934±1 667kg),其次为14月龄,24月龄305天校正奶量最低。14月龄初配奶牛全泌乳期产奶量最高(9 369±1 375kg),并且14~16、19~22月龄初配奶牛全泌乳期产奶量显著高于其他月龄奶牛(P<0.05)。22月龄初配奶牛305天脂肪产量和蛋白产量均达到最高。综上,该场澳系进口荷斯坦牛初配月龄为14月龄时最佳。     

荷斯坦泌乳牛4种炎性细胞因子随胎次变化规律的研究

本试验选择北京地区5个牛场不同胎次(1胎、3胎、5胎及以上)、无临床疾病记录的150头荷斯坦泌乳牛,于2017年7月至8月测定促炎细胞因子肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)和抑炎细胞因子白细胞介素-10(IL-10)、转化生长因子-β(TGF-β)4种血液炎性细胞因子浓度,利用SAS 9.4软件GLM过程分析血液炎性细胞因子浓度随胎次变化的规律,所用固定模型考虑了牛场、胎次、泌乳阶段等因素影响,同时进行各细胞因子间Pearson相关性分析;利用GLM过程分析炎性细胞因子对产奶性能的影响,产奶性能指标包括日产奶量、校正日产奶量、乳蛋白率、乳脂率、乳糖率,所用固定模型考虑了牛场、胎次、泌乳阶段、炎性细胞因子水平等因素的影响。结果显示:荷斯坦牛血液IL-6和TGF-β浓度随胎次升高显著降低;整体来说,IL-6和TGF-β显著正相关,IL-10和TGF-β显著负相关;5胎及以上胎次奶牛各细胞因子间相关关系均不显著;5胎及以上胎次奶牛日产奶量、校正日产奶量和乳糖率显著降低;高TNF-α组的奶牛日产奶量显著低于低TNF-α组,高IL-10组奶牛乳脂率和校正日产奶量显著高于低IL-10组。综上,高胎次奶牛生产性能的降低可能与炎性细胞因子的变化有关。