Triennial Lactation Symposium: Opportunities for improving milk production efficiency in dairy cattle

Increasing feed costs and the desire to improve environmental stewardship have stimulated renewed interest in improving feed efficiency of livestock, including that of US dairy herds. For instance, USDA cost projections for corn and soybean meal suggest a 20% increase over 2010 pricing for a 16% protein mixed dairy cow ration in 2011, which may lead to a reduction in cow numbers to maintain profitability of dairy production. Furthermore, an October 2010 study by The Innovation Center for US Dairy to assess the carbon footprint of fluid milk found that the efficiency of feed conversion is the single greatest factor contributing to variation in the carbon footprint because of its effects on methane release during enteric fermentation and from manure. Thus, we are conducting research in contemporary US Holsteins to identify cows most efficient at converting feed to milk in temperate climates using residual feed intake (RFI), a measure used successfully to identify the beef cattle most efficient at converting feed to gain. Residual feed intake is calculated as the difference between predicted and actual feed intake to support maintenance and production (e.g., growth in beef cattle, or milk in dairy cattle). Heritability estimates for RFI in dairy cattle reported in the literature range from 0.01 to 0.38. Selection for a decreased RFI phenotype can reduce feed intake, methane production, nutrient losses in manure, and visceral organ weights substantially in beef cattle. We have estimated RFI during early lactation (i.e., to 90 d in milk) in the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Holstein herd and observed a mean difference of 3.7 kg/d (P < 0.0001) in actual DMI between the efficient and inefficient groups (±0.5 SD from the mean RFI of 0), with no evidence of differences (P > 0.20) in mean BW, ADG, or energy-corrected milk exhibited between the 2 groups. These results indicate promise for using RFI in dairy cattle to improve feed conversion to milk. Previous and current research on the use of RFI in lactating dairy cattle are discussed, as well as opportunities to improve production efficiency of dairy cattle using RFI for milk production.     

国外肉牛饲料添加剂的研究进展

为全面了解肉牛饲料添加剂的最新研究进展,作者总结了近期国外肉牛养殖中饲料添加剂使用的文献报道,主要对甘油、抗生素、矿物质、维生素、微生物及脂类6类饲料添加剂在肉牛养殖中的应用进行了综述,集中在不同饲料添加剂对肉牛瘤胃发酵、生产性能、消化性能和肉品质的影响。饲料添加剂对于肉牛生产十分重要,其使用方法、使用效果的发挥都很关键。日粮类型和精粗比会影响甘油的使用效果;抗生素混合使用效果优于单独使用;不同形态和不同添加量的微量元素和维生素对肉牛生长发育及机体免疫力具有促进和提高的作用。因此,在实际生产中,应综合考虑各种影响因素,根据肉牛的营养需要选择合适的饲料添加剂种类及适宜的比例,合理应用,最大程度地发挥其应用效果,进而获得更高的经济效益。作者总结和分析了肉牛饲料添加剂的国外研究成果,以期为中国肉牛产业的发展提供理论依据。     

Comparative aspects of plant tannins on digestive physiology,nutrition and microbial community changes in sheep and goats: A review

Comparative aspects of plant tannins on digestive physiology, nutrition and microbial community in sheep and goats are discussed in the context of differences due to feed intake, digestibility, utilization of nutrients and microbial community. The purpose of this review was to present an overview of the potential benefits of tannin‐containing diets for sheep and goats and specie differences in their response to tannins. It is well established that moderate level of tannins in the diet (3%–4% tannins DM) can precipitate with soluble proteins and increase protein supply to the sheep, but comparative aspects of tannin‐containing diets in sheep and goats on animal performance, digestive physiology, rumen microbial changes and potential benefits to sustainable animal production by those compounds have received little attention. In addition, developing plant‐based tannin‐containing diets for control of rumen microbiota and rumen fermentation (e.g., methane gas) would be expected to have a greater impact on the ruminant health, productivity and emission of greenhouse gasses. The positive impacts of the plant tannin compounds mainly depend on their influence on the gut microbiome diversity and ability to generate fermentation end products (short‐chain fatty acids) that have diverse biological roles. Diets which contain optimal levels of tannins have potential benefits for sustainability of small ruminant production systems. However, there is a need for an improved understanding of the utilization of tannin‐containing forages to improve their management. This implies investigations of animal responses to tannin‐containing forages or browse species and, in particular, a better understanding of the interactions that can arise between sheep and goats on digestion, DMD, rumen fermentation and microbial community changes. This knowledge could help to improve current feeding systems in terms of efficiency of feed use and environmental impacts (reduce methane gas production) and thus contribute to the development of a sustainable sheep and goat production.     

不同栽培时期收割的玉米青贮料对肉牛生长性能、养分消化及甲烷排放的影响

本研究旨在用不同栽培时期收割的玉米青贮后作为原料饲喂肉牛，评估其对肉牛生长性能、养分消化及甲烷排放的影响。试验将（528.98±0.21）kg的75头荷斯坦肉牛随机分为5组，每组3个重复，每个重复5头。T1～T4组饲喂不同栽培时期收割的玉米青贮料，同时每天每头补充2.5?kg浓缩料，T5组自由采食浓缩料，同时每天每头补充1.9?kg青贮牧草，饲喂期为15周。结果：T2组干物质和青贮料的摄入量均显著高于其他组（P＜0.05），而T2和T5组代谢能摄入量显著高于其他组（P＜0.05），T5组蛋白质摄入量最高（P＜0.05）。T2组肉牛的日增重显著高于T1、T3和T4组（P＜0.05），T5组肉牛的末重、胴体重和饲料效率显著高于T1、T3和T4组（P＜0.05）。T5组干物质、粗蛋白质和中性洗涤纤维体外消化效率最高（P＜0.05），同时T5组淀粉体外消化效率显著高于T2、T3和T4组（P＜0.05）。此外，T5组甲烷排放重量、甲烷产量/采食量及甲烷产量/胴体增重最低（P＜0.05），该组甲烷产量/总能摄入量也显著低于T1、T2和T3组（P＜0.05）。结论：用早栽培收割的玉米青贮后饲喂肉牛可以显著改善饲料效率，且早栽培收割的玉米青贮后饲喂肉牛可以降低甲烷排放量。 [关键词]栽培时间；青贮玉米；肉牛；生长性能；养分消化；甲烷排放     

2019年肉牛饲料与营养评价的国外研究进展

文章旨在了解饲料与营养对肉牛生产性能、消化性能、瘤胃发酵以及甲烷(CH₄)排放的影响。文章综述了2019年国外的相关文献报道,主要从精饲料、粗饲料及饲养营养综合评价3个方面进行综述。精饲料集中于各种蛋白质饲料和能量饲料的研究。粗饲料研究侧重于粗饲料品种和加工方式对不同生理阶段肉牛生产性能、消化性能和CH₄产生的影响。饲料营养综合评价主要侧重于犊牛期研究,并对育肥期和放牧期肉牛的饲料营养进行评价,以根据肉牛的生理阶段特点,选择适宜的饲料原料,并合理搭配和调制日粮以改善瘤胃菌群结构,充分提高养分利用率。     

Breeding objectives for the Boran breed in Kenya: Model development and application to pasture-based production systems

Bio‐economic profit models were developed and applied to evaluate biological and economic variables that characterize production systems utilizing the Boran breed. Production systems were described according to their sale age (24 months short‐fed or 36 months long‐fed), levels of input (low, medium or high) and final goal (beef or dual purpose) representing practical circumstances that exist in the various beef cattle farms in Kenya. The input variables were classified into production and economic variables. The outputs from the profit models included revenue, costs and feed intake of cows, heifers and steers in the different production systems. These models can be used to simulate changes in production and marketing circumstances. The biological relationships and assumptions in the model are general and flexible and can therefore be applied to a wide range of beef cattle production circumstances by changing the input variables. In addition, by modifying the herd dynamics and management variables this model may be applied in Kenya or other countries to production systems that utilize indigenous cattle genetic resources or their crosses with Bos taurus breeds.     

Y are you not pregnant: identification of Y chromosome segments in female cattle with decreased reproductive efficiency

Reproductive efficiency is of economic importance in commercial beef cattle production, since failure to achieve pregnancy reduces the number of calves marketed. Identification of genetic markers with predictive merit for reproductive success would facilitate early selection of females and avoid inefficiencies associated with sub-fertile cows. To identify regions of the genome harboring variation affecting reproductive success, we applied a genome-wide association approach based on the >700,000 SNP marker assay. To include the largest number of individuals possible under the available budget, cows from several populations were assigned to extremes for reproductive efficiency, and DNA was pooled within population and phenotype before genotyping. Surprisingly, pools prepared from DNA of low reproductive cattle returned fluorescence intensity data intermediate between fertile females and males for SNP mapped to the Y chromosome (i.e., male sex chromosome). The presence of Y-associated material in low reproductive heifers or cows was confirmed by Y-directed PCR, which revealed that 21 to 29% of females in the low reproductive category were positive by a Y chromosome PCR test normally used to sex embryos. The presence of the Y chromosome anomaly was further confirmed with application of additional Y-specific PCR amplicons, indicating the likelihood of the presence of some portion of male sex chromosome in female cattle in various beef cattle herds across the U.S. Discovery of this Y anomaly in low reproductive females may make an important contribution to management of reproductive failures in beef cattle operations.     

基于VB.NET和SQL Server肉牛场信息管理系统的研发

为了克服肉牛品种选育和饲养管理中存在操作不规范、数据记录不全、数据保存不完整等问题,提高肉牛养殖场信息化管理水平,提高企业的经济效益.本文根据肉牛饲养和牛场管理的需要,以Visual Studi0 2008为系统开发平台,利用VB.NET面向对象编程语言和SQL Server 2005大型关系数据库及Crystal Reports（水晶报表）技术进行系统开发.构建了基于VB.NET和SQL Server的肉牛场信息管理系统,系统包括文件、牛群管理、生产管理、育种管理、库存管理、人事管理、统计分析、系统维护和帮助九个主要功能模块.该系统实现了肉牛生产的系统化和牛场管理的信息化,促进肉牛品种选育的进程,降低企业的管理成本,有效地提高了肉牛养殖的效率.     

Antimicrobial usage and resistance in beef production

Antimicrobials are critical to contemporary high-intensity beef production. Many different antimicrobials are approved for beef cattle, and are used judiciously for animal welfare, and controversially, to promote growth and feed efficiency. Antimicrobial administration provides a powerful selective pressure that acts on the microbial community, selecting for resistance gene determinants and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria resident in the bovine flora. The bovine microbiota includes many harmless bacteria, but also opportunistic pathogens that may acquire and propagate resistance genes within the microbial community via horizontal gene transfer. Antimicrobial-resistant bovine pathogens can also complicate the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in beef feedlots,threatening the efficiency of the beef production system. Likewise, the transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes to bovine-associated human pathogens is a potential public health concern. This review outlines current antimicrobial use practices pertaining to beef production, and explores the frequency of antimicrobial resistance in major bovine pathogens. The effect of antimicrobials on the composition of the bovine microbiota is examined, as are the effects on the beef production resistome. Antimicrobial resistance is further explored within the context of the wider beef production continuum, with emphasis on antimicrobial resistance genes in the food chain, and risk to the human population.     

Beef production in the E.E.C. and the co-ordination of research by the Commission of the European Communities

Beef production comprises about 40% of the budget for the 3-year common programme of research in the European Economic Community, granted in 1975 for funding by the Commission. In addition, a full co-ordination programme of seven seminars was held in 1975/1976 on aspects of beef research closely connected with the common programme. The results of about 200 papers and discussion sessions provide a summary of the genetic, nutritional and management aspects of beef production in the Community and some of the research in progress. Many avenues for increased production or improved efficiency of conversion of feed to beef were examined. A survey of breeds and feeds was made; cross-breeding was studied and research on nutrition was reviewed. Methods of increasing the number of calves for beef production were discussed, viz. by egg transfer, by reducing perinatal ill-health, and by the early calving of heifers. An approach to improved efficiency of use of animal and land resources for milk and beef production emerged in terms of the more effective utilisation of the 80 million cattle of the Community and of its crops and by-products. The needs for future research and the common programme of research are briefly described.     

2011年国外肉牛营养与饲料研究进展

本文总结了国外2011年关于肉牛营养领域的研究成果,主要从肉牛蛋白和能量需要量、饲料资源开发、粗饲料营养、精饲料营养和肉牛甲烷排放调控研究五个方面论述了肉牛营养与饲料的研究进展。     

Addition of ginkgo fruit to cattle feces and slurry suppresses methane production by altering the microbial community structure

The effect of ginkgo fruit addition on methane production potential of cattle feces and slurry was assessed in relation to other fermentation products and the microbial community. Holstein cattle fresh feces and slurry were left at 30°C for 0, 30, 60, 90, and 180 days with/without ginkgo fruit to monitor the effect on fermentation potential. With the addition of ginkgo fruit, methane production potential of feces was reduced on Day 30 and thereafter, and that of slurry was consistently reduced over the experimental period. As a general trend, ginkgo fruit addition resulted in decreased acetate and increased propionate in feces and acetate accumulation in slurry. With ginkgo fruit addition, MiSeq analyses indicated decreases in methanogen (in particular Methanocorpusculum), Ruminococcaceae, and Clostridiaceae populations and increases in Bacteroidaceae and Porphyromonadaceae populations, which essentially agreed with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay results. These data indicate that direct addition of ginkgo fruit to cattle excreta is useful for reducing methane emissions by altering the microbial community structure. The application of ginkgo fruit to lower methane emissions from cattle excreta is, therefore, useful in cases in which the excreta is left without special management for a long period of time.     

异地育肥肉牛的饲养管理技术

肉牛“异地育肥”已成为我国肉牛生产的一种主要模式。购入架子牛后,首先应注意减少运输应激的影响,做好过渡期的饲养管理,按体重大小、体质强弱、采食饲料快慢进行分群合栏。对于体重小于200kg的小架子牛来讲,饲养的重点是促进骨骼、内脏、肌肉的生长,使其消化器官得到锻炼,要求日粮提供优质蛋白质饲料,并供给适量的钙、磷、矿物质、维生素;体重为200~250kg的牛源,要求日粮的蛋白质含量高,可以提供充裕的粗饲料以促进其瘤胃发育;250~300kg体重阶段的架子牛,日粮以粗料为主,以精料为辅;体重达350kg的大架子牛其日粮的营养需要是前期蛋白质含量应高一些、后期能量水平要高些。牛的出栏体重越大,饲料利用率就越低,因此应根据肉牛育肥目的,适当育肥,适时出栏。     

Application of DNA markers for discrimination between Japanese and Australian Wagyu beef

The objective of this study was to discriminate between original Japanese and Australian Wagyu beef, which is sold in the Singapore markets, using six previously developed DNA markers. To effectively evaluate the six markers for breed identification, the probability of identification as Australian Wagyu beef was calculated based on the estimated allele frequencies using 130 Australian Wagyu individuals. The combined use of six markers would allow the discrimination of Australian Wagyu beef with an estimated probability of 0.776. The probability to discriminate Australian Wagyu from Japanese Wagyu beef was sufficiently high. In addition, Australian Wagyu has maternal mitochondrial DNA of Bos indicus cattle with moderate high frequency of 0.377. The DNA marker system could also be used as a deterrent force against false sales, and contribute to the reduction and prevention of incorrect or falsified labeling of beef.     

非常规饲料原料饲喂肉牛育肥的试验研究

[目的]本研究旨在分析全混合日粮中添加苹果渣、玉米纤维及玉米酒精糟三种非常规饲料原料对育肥肉牛采食量、增重效果、产肉性能及经济效益的影响。[方法]选用体重（455±10）kg、健康年龄相近的西门塔尔杂交品种育肥牛14头,随机分为2组,每组7头,设对照组和试验组。分别饲喂未添加非常规饲料原料和添加非常规饲料原料的饲料。[结果]显示：试验组较对照组日增重、屠宰率、净肉率、胴体产肉率、眼肌面肌分别提高了1.1%、2.1%、2.1%、3.3 cm2。出售活牛试验组头均盈利比对照组多出205.2元、牛副产品头均盈利值多出586.8元。[结论]表明在肉牛育肥中,应用推广苹果渣、玉米酒精糟及玉米纤维等非常规饲料原料,具有扩大饲料来源、降低饲养成本等优点,能进一步提高肉牛的增重速度与产肉性能,增加养殖的经济效益。     

Alterations in the physiology of growth of cattle with growth-enhancing compounds.

Commonly used growth promotants such as steroidal implants and beta-adrenergic agonists have recently been implicated in the reduction of marbling scores in beef cattle. These compounds are effective at improving lean tissue deposition in cattle, thus significantly improving feed efficiency. This article discusses skeletal muscle growth and development in cattle, the process of transdifferentiation between two cell types, and how growth promotants may push a nondifferentiated cell to become a certain lineage of cells. Increased understanding of how these agents affect cellular aspects of growth and development of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue will allow cattle feeders, consultants, and researchers to instigate intervention strategies to ameliorate the reduced marbling scores. Successful strategies would allow maximal lean tissue growth and result in carcasses with optimal quality.     

品种、年龄及活重对牛产肉性能的影响

为了确定在优质牛肉生产中所需解决的宰前关键问题,本文在相同饲养条件下品种、年龄及体重等因素对牛产肉性能的影响做了研究。结果表明,品种对牛肉的品质和产量都有显著或较显著的影响,其中晋南牛牛肉品质最佳;活重对牛肉产量有较大影响;年龄主要对肉质影响显著,其中年龄在2-2.5岁间的牛肉嫩度最好,因此,要提高牛肉的生产水平应以产肉性能优良的品种作牛源,同时选择年龄小、体重大的个体。     

不同肉牛育肥的牛肉产品生产对饲料粮消耗比较分析

在对繁殖母牛、哺乳犊牛和架子牛进行饲养试验及调查的基础上,结合所进行的架子牛育肥试验和犊牛直线育肥试验,参考肉牛饲养标准和已发表的肉牛育肥试验数据,并根据目前我国牛肉产品提供状况和肉用牛育肥的饲料资源情况,分别比较不同肉牛育肥牛肉产品生产所需要的粮食。结果表明,为获得等同重量的肉牛产品,直线育肥技术比后期集中育肥要消耗较少的粮食,而高档牛肉生产（高端肉产品生产）需要消耗更多的饲料粮。     

肉牛添加剂的研究与应用

用本课题组研制的肉牛添加剂育肥体重230kg、330kg、400kg和530kg的肉牛，可使日增重分别提高25．5％、7．3％、25．4％和16.7％，效果显著（P＜0．05），可使饲料报酬最多提高25．8％（P＜0.05）；投入产出比最大为1：8，用该添加剂育肥高档肉牛时屠宰率可达57.2％，眼肌面积43cm2、皮下脂肪覆盖面积为优级，大理石状评分为优级。     

Evaluation of association between polymorphism within the thyroglobulin gene and milk production traits in dairy cattle

In dairy cattle, many studies have reported quantitative trait loci (QTL) on the centromeric end of chromosome 14 that affect milk production traits. One of the candidate genes in this QTL region – thyroglobulin (TG) – was previously found to be significantly associated with marbling in beef cattle. Thus, based on QTL studies in dairy cattle and because of possible effects of this gene on fat metabolism, we investigated the association of TG with milk yield and composition in Holstein dairy cattle. A total of 1279 bulls from the Cooperative Dairy DNA Repository Holstein population were genotyped for a single nucleotide polymorphism in TG used previously in beef cattle studies. Analysis of 29 sire families showed no significant association between TG variants and milk production traits. Within‐sire family analysis suggests that TG is neither the responsible gene nor a genetic marker in association with milk production traits.