Fenbendazole-related drug residues in milk from treated dairy cows

Oral administration of [¹⁴C] fenbendazole (FBZ) at a dose of 5.Omg/kg leads to the presence of radiolabel in the milk of lactating dairy cows. However, the maximum mean concentration of total FBZ equivalents quantitated to one-third of the recommended safe concentration in milk (1.67 μg/mL). The label is equally distributed to the fat and aqueous portions of the milk. The maximum level, in general, is attained approximately 24-36 h after drug administration, with the highest levels ranging from 24 to 48 h after administration. The residues rapidly deplete, attaining levels of 10-20ng/mL by day 5, and are essentially undetectable by radiolabel monitoring by day 6. Extraction of the milk by matrix solid phase dispersion indicated that the label was distributed between traces of the parent drug, FBZ, and predominantly, the FBZ sulphoxide (SO) and sulphone (SO₂) metabolites. No other radiolabelled peaks were observed. Based on these data the metabolites of FBZ, FBZ-sulphone and FBZ-sulphoxide, could be used as marker residues for monitoring the administration of FBZ to lactating dairy cows.     

Zinc concentrations in skimmed milk and whole milk samples from healthy and mastitic cows

Zinc concentrations were determined in skimmed milk and whole milk samples from healthy and mastitic cows. During spontaneous and induced mastitis, a marked decrease of Zn concentration in skimmed milk from the mastitic quarters was observed. Seemingly, there are 2 mechanisms involved in the lowering of Zn concentration in skimmed milk from mastitic quarters: a decline in Zn probably as a consequence of decreases in plasma Zn concentrations and an abrupt redistribution of Zn in the inflamed quarters.     

Skim milk progesterone in pregnant cows from insemination throughout lactation

The skim milk progesterone profile was assessed by radioimmunoassay, without extraction, from the day of insemination (day 0) until the cows were dried off on day 225 of gestation. A total of 418 samples were collected from 154 pregnant Holstein cows. The daily variation in skim milk progesterone was recorded from day 1 until day 45 of pregnancy to detect the commencement of progesterone secretion from the corpus luteum after insemination. Subsequent determinations were made every 2 weeks from day 46 until lactation ceased. On the day of artificial insemination and for the first 2 days after insemination, all the cows had a basal progesterone concentration <0.1 ng/ml. A rise in progesterone (0.2±0.1 ng/ml) was first detected on the third day after insemination. The progesterone values then increased significantly (p<0.001) until day 15.The values then remained nearly constant (2.5–3.5 ng/ml) until day 106 of pregnancy, when they began to decline. Between days 120 and 180 of gestation, progesterone was significantly decreased (2.2–2.9 ng/ml) before it rose again to the previous plateau (3.5–3.9 ng/ml) around day 180. The progesterone concentration then remained at the higher level until the animals were dried off.Abbreviations AI artificial insemination - RIA radioimmunoassay     

Lactoferrin concentrations in milk from normal and subclinical mastitic cows

The concentrations of lactoferrin (Lf) in quarter milk from normal lactating cows and subclinical mastitic cows were measured to determine whether the Lf concentration in milk is influenced by the age of the cow, the stage of lactation, number of milk somatic cells and the presence of pathogens. Lf concentrations in 111 quarter milk samples from 28 normal lactating cows and 270 quarter milk samples from 198 subclinical mastitic cows were measured by means of a single radial immunodiffusion test. Lf concentrations (means +/- standard deviations; logarithmic form) in normal cows and subclinical mastitic cows were 2.23 +/- 0.39 and 2.70 +/- 0.39, respectively. The mean milk Lf concentration (log) in subclinical mastitic cows was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that in normal cows. The mean milk Lf concentration (log) in normal lactating cows aged 5 years was lower than those in normal lactating cows aged 2 years (p<0.01) and 3 years (p<0.05). The results showed that the milk Lf concentration (log) is associated with age of the dairy cow (one-way analysis of variance test, p<0.01). The mean milk Lf concentration (log) in the latter lactational period tended to be higher than those in the peak and middle periods. Milk Lf concentrations (log) tended to be proportional to the level of the somatic cell count (SCC) score. Mean milk Lf concentrations (log) in subclinical mastitic cows infected with Staphylococcus aureus and with other streptococci species were significantly (p<0.01) higher than those in cows infected with coagulase-negative staphylococci and with Corynebacterium bovis.     

荷斯坦奶牛体型线性性状与产奶量的相关性分析

对新疆荷斯坦奶牛的产奶量与体型线性性状进行了相关。通径分析。结果表明，荷斯坦奶牛的乳房纵沟深，后乳房宽，后乳房高与产奶量呈中等正相关，体高，体长，尻宽，尻长与产奶量呈弱相关；后乳房宽，乳房纵沟深是直接影响产奶量的重要性状，且是正身作用；后乳房高对产奶量起负面影响。其间接作用大。     

Variation in somatic cell counts of milk samples from individual cows

Somatic cell counts of 2570 milk samples from 765 cows collected bimonthly from November 1975 to May 1976 were transformed to logarithmic values and analysed statistically. Components of variance were estimated as follows: Herds 0.033 (13 %), age groups 0.021 (8%), cows (within herds and age groups) 0.080 (31%), months 0.014 (6%), residual 0.107 (42%). Correction of actual cell counts for the influence of milk yield on the day of sampling led to only small changes in the magnitude of the various components. The coefficient of correlation between samples from the same cow was computed as 0.60 when the samples were from the same lactation, and 0.37 for samples from consecutive lactations.The proportionately small variation among herds as compared to the variation among cows of the same herd throws doubt on the efficiency of cell counting in samples of herd milk as a way of identifying cows with high cell counts.     

Proteomic analysis of plasma from cows affected with milk fever using two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

Milk fever is an important metabolic disorder of dairy cows after calving, and is characterized by hypocalcemia, tetany, lateral recumbency, and eventual coma. To date, there have been many reports about the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of milk fever, but the plasma protein profile in milk fever has not been reported. The aim of our study was to investigate novel pathophysiological changes in the plasma proteome of cows affected with milk fever. Plasma samples were collected from eight Holstein cows with milk fever (T), and eight control Holstein cows without milk fever (C), at an intensive Holstein dairy farm in Heilongjiang province, China. Samples were analyzed by fluorescence two-dimensional (2D) differential in-gel electrophoresis (DIGE), followed by in-gel digestion, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) for peptide mass fingerprinting of selected protein spots. Eight of the 23 differential protein spots in the plasma of T and C cows were isolated and identified by 2D-DIGE and MALDI-TOF-MS. The protein spots represented five unique proteins, and had significant alterations in spot volume as determined by DeCyder differential in-gel analysis (DIA) software. The upregulated proteins were identified as serpin peptidase inhibitor (angiotensin), which regulates blood pressure and maintains fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, and endopin 2B which is involved in neural regulation. The downregulated proteins were serum albumin, which acts as a transport protein, fibrinogen beta chain which is involved in blood coagulation, and IgG heavy-chain C-region (IgG-C(H)) which participates in the immune response. In conclusion, we were able to use proteomic technologies to identify several novel plasma proteins in cows affected with milk fever. These findings may reveal new pathophysiological changes that occur in cows with milk fever.     

Relation between milk urea content and nitrogen excretion from lactating cows

Abstract

Thirty-two Chinese Holstein lactating cows were used to investigate the relationship of milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and nitrogen excretion loading to the environment. Cows were fed a similar amount of forage, and concentrates according to milk production. Total collection of urine and faeces were conducted continuously for three days. The milk urea nitrogen was significantly correlated to total nitrogen excretion (R ²=0.70), urinary nitrogen excretion (R ²=0.85), and nitrogen excretion from faeces (R ²=0.22). The following equation was proposed to predict total nitrogen excretion (TNE) (g/d) based on milk urea nitrogen (MUN) (mg/dl): TNE?=?15.46(±1.83)×MUN?+?193.40(±28.79). The results obtained in this study suggested that MUN might be used to predict TNE from lactating cows.     

Four milk cows dead by electrocution

Two dairy cows were found dead in their cubicles and a third was found lying dazed in a stall but the animal stood up 5 minutes later. Two days later; two other cows were found dead in the same row of cubicles. Death was due to electrocution caused by an electric wire in a steel pipe connected to front of the cubicles. Post-mortem findings supported this diagnosis.     

不同胎次和产奶量的奶牛鲜奶脂肪酸含量比较

用气相色谱测定了不同胎次及不同产奶量奶牛鲜奶的脂肪酸含量。一胎４２个、二胎４８个、三胎２０个鲜奶样品。２０００～３０００千克１５个、３００１～４０００千克４１个、４００１～５０００千克３５个、５００１～６０００千克７个鲜奶样品。结果发现，１８：１脂肪酸含量为３３．４８％～３４．８６％；１８：２为８．５１％～１０．０８％；１４：０为７．９４％～１０．１４％；１６：０为２４．０４％～２６．２４％；１８