The effect of life history events on carcass merit and price of cull dairy cows

Cull dairy cows contribute almost 10% of national beef production in the United States. However, different factors throughout the life of dairy cows affect their weight and overall body condition as well as carcass traits, and consequently affect their market price. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (1) to assess relationships between price ratio and carcass merit of cull dairy cows sold through several sites of an auction market and (2) to investigate the effect of animal life history events and live weight on sale barn price (BP) and price ratio (as a measure of relative price), as an indicator of carcass merit. Data from 4 dairy operations included 3,602 cull dairy cow records during the period of 2015 to 2019. Life history events data were collected from each dairy operation through Dairy Comp software; live weight and price were obtained periodically from the auction market, and the carcass data were provided by a local packing plant. Cow price in dollars per unit of live weight ($/cwt) and price ratio were the 2 outcome variables used in the analyses. Price ratio was created aiming to remove seasonality effects from BP (BP divided by the national average price for its respective month and year of sale). The association between price ratio and carcass merit traits was investigated using canonical correlation analysis, and the effect of life history events on both BP and price ratio was inferred using a multiple linear regression technique. More than 70% of the cows were culled in the first 3 lactations, with an average live weight of 701.5 kg, carcass weight of 325 kg, and dressing percentage of 46.3%. On average, cull cows were sold at $57.0/cwt during the period considered. The canonical correlation between price ratio and carcass merit traits was 0.76, indicating that price ratio reflected carcass merit of cull cows. Later lactations led to lower BP compared with cows culled during the first 2 lactations. Injury, and leg and feet problems negatively affected BP. Productive variables demonstrated that the greater milk production might lead to lower cow prices. A large variation between farms was also noted. In conclusion, price ratio was a good indicator of carcass merit of cull cows, and life history events significantly affected sale BP and carcass merit of cull cows sold through auction markets.     

Effect of feed restriction on dairy cow milk production: a review

In the dairy cow, negative energy balance affects milk yield and composition as well as animal health. Studying the effects of negative energy balance on dairy cow milk production is thus essential. Feed restriction (FR) experiments attempting to reproduce negative energy balance by reducing the quantity or quality of the diet were conducted in order to better describe the animal physiology changes. The study of FR is also of interest since with climate change issues, cows may be increasingly faced with periods of drought leading to a shortage of forages. The aim of this article is to review the effects of FR during lactation in dairy cows to obtain a better understanding of metabolism changes and how it affects mammary gland activity and milk production and composition. A total of 41 papers studying FR in lactating cows were used to investigate physiological changes induced by these protocols. FR protocols affect the entire animal metabolism as indicated by changes in blood metabolites such as a decrease in glucose concentration and an increase in non-esterified fatty acid or β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations; hormonal regulations such as a decrease in insulin and insulin-like growth factor I or an increase in growth hormone concentrations. These variations indicated a mobilization of body reserve in most studies. FR also affects mammary gland activity through changes in gene expression and could affect mammary cell turnover through cell apoptosis, cell proliferation, and exfoliation of mammary epithelial cells into milk. Because of modifications of the mammary gland and general metabolism, FR decreases milk production and can affect milk composition with decreased lactose and protein concentrations and increased fat concentration. These effects, however, can vary widely depending on the type of restriction, its duration and intensity, or the stage of lactation in which it takes place. Finally, to avoid yield loss and metabolic disorders, it is important to identify reliable biomarkers to monitor energy balance.     

Comparative pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis by nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling of cefquinome in nonpregnant,pregnant, and lactating goats after intravenous and intramuscular administration

Cefquinome is a fourth‐generation cephalosporin that is used empirically in goats. Different physiologic factors like pregnancy or lactation could determine the pharmacokinetic behavior of drugs in the organism. The objectives of this study are to (a) compare the pharmacokinetics of cefquinome after intravenous and intramuscular administration in adult nonpregnant (n = 6), pregnant (n = 6), and lactating goats (n = 6), at a dose of 2 mg/kg, with rich sampling by nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling, (b) conduct a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis to evaluate the efficacy of the recommended posology in goats with different physiological states, and (c) determine the optimal posology that achieve a PTA value ≥ 90%, taking into account a T > MIC ≥ 60% of a MIC value ≤ 0.25 µg/ml, in the different subpopulations of goats for both routes. Gestation significantly increased Ka and V1, while reduced F0, Cl, and Q. On the other hand, lactation significantly increased V1 and reduced Tk0. Cefquinome concentrations achieved in placental cotyledon, amniotic fluid, and fetal serum indicate a minimal penetration across the placental barrier. Moreover, milk penetration of cefquinome was minimal. The total body clearance of cefquinome for goats was 0.29 L kg^?1 hr^?1, that is apparently higher than the reported for cows (0.13 L kg^?1 hr^?1) and pigs (0.16 L kg^?1 hr^?1). So, the optimal dose regimen for cefquinome after intravenous and intramuscular administration required higher dose and frequency of administration compared with recommendations for cows or pigs. Therefore, 2 mg kg^?1 8 hr^?1 and 5 mg kg^?1 12 hr^?1 could be used for IV and IM routes, respectively, for the treatment of respiratory infections caused by P. multocida and M. haemolytica, but only 5 mg kg^?1 12 hr^?1 by both routes should be recommended for Escherichia coli infections.     

Swine viscera preservation in hypersaturated salt solution after alcohol fixation as a preparation method for educational purposes

The use of live animals for educational purposes is an old practice that is still employed in teaching and research institutions. However, there are several objections to this practice, whether for ethical or humanitarian reasons. Surgical techniques teaching using anatomical pieces and/or preserved cadavers promotes greater learning efficiency, provides exercise repetition and increases the confidence and satisfaction of the students when compared to the use of live animals. The current work aimed to analyse the feasibility of using fresh swine urinary bladder and small intestines (jejunum), obtained from slaughterhouses, fixed in 99.8% ethyl alcohol (EA) and preserved in sodium chloride hypersaturated solution (SCHS) at 30%, for 7, 14 and 21 days, as an alternative method for surgical skills training (SST). Swine viscera, fixed in EA and preserved in SCHS, presented a realistic appearance, absence of odour and maintained the viable morphological characteristics during the performance of the operative techniques. Preservation solutions had low cost, were easy to acquire and did not offers risks to human health. Therefore, urinary bladders and small intestines fixed in 99.8% EA for 30 days and maintained in 30% SCHS at different periods were demonstrated as a good viable option as a preservation method for surgical skills training.     

番鸭产蛋各期肝脂肪酸组成及AMPK信号通路基因表达研究

旨在探究产蛋各期番鸭肝腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶（AMPK）信号通路基因表达和肝脂肪酸组成,为番鸭肝脂质代谢应答产蛋提供机理研究。本研究选取开产前22周龄、产蛋初期30周龄、产蛋中期40周龄和产蛋末期60周龄母番鸭各15羽,全自动生化仪测定血脂水平,苏木精-伊红（HE）染色和油红O染色观察肝组织学结构,实时荧光定量PCR （qRT-PCR）检测肝AMPK通路基因表达,气相色谱-质谱联用法（GC-MS）检测产蛋各期肝脂肪酸组成。结果表明,总胆固醇（TC）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、甘油三酯（TG）和极低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（VLDL-C）水平在40周龄显著高于22、30和60周龄（P<0.05）;高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）水平在30和40周龄显著低于22和60周龄（P<0.05）。肝HE和油红O染色切片显示,肝在22周龄呈实质状,至产蛋40和60周龄,肝脂滴沉积明显（P<0.05）。AMPKα1在22、30、40和60周龄呈本底低水平表达,并显著低于产蛋各期肉碱脂酰转移酶1（CPT1）和脂肪酸合成酶（FAS）的表达量（P<0.05）,FAS在22、40和60周龄均呈高水平表达（P<0.05）;羟甲基戊二酰辅酶A还原酶（HMGR）、肝细胞核因子4α（HNF4α）、乙酰辅酶A羧化酶1（ACC1）和固醇调控元件结合蛋白-1（SREBP1c）在40周龄表达量显著高于22和30周龄（P<0.05）。肝中饱和脂肪酸（SFA）、单不饱和脂肪酸（MUFA）和多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）主要由C16∶0、C18∶0、C18∶1和C20∶2 n-6构成,分别占总脂肪酸含量的32%、16%、30%和9%。C14∶0和C16∶0含量在40周龄显著高于22周龄（P<0.05）;C24∶0、C20∶2 n-6和PUFA含量在60周龄显著高于22和40周龄（P<0.05）。综上,番鸭产蛋期肝通过上调FAS等脂质合成基因表达,合成大量长链脂肪酸,沉积于肝,并增加血脂水平。     

Adjusted method of penis fixation during boar semi-automatic semen collection aiming to reduce bacterial contamination

Semen collection has an essential role in the initial bacterial load in boar ejaculates and extended semen. The study aimed to explore the efficacy of an adjusted penis fixation in a semi-automatic collection system on reducing bacterial contamination of ejaculates in two-boar studs with different scenarios. Historically, stud A had low levels of bacterial load in raw semen, while stud B had a high level of contamination. A total of 56 mature boars had their semen collected using two methods of penis fixation: (a) Traditional: The penis was fixed directly with the artificial cervix and transferred to the adjustable clamp; (b) Adjusted: The fixation was performed with one gloved-hand, and after exteriorization, the penis was gripped using the artificial cervix with the other gloved-hand and transferred to the adjustable clamp. The bacterial load (p = .0045) and the occurrence of ejaculates >231 CFU/ml (p = .0101) were reduced in the Adjusted compared to the Traditional method. Bacterial load was reduced when using the Adjusted method in stud B (p = .0011), which showed a greater occurrence of critical factors for bacterial contamination (p ≤ .0034). The Adjusted method reduced the occurrence of ejaculates >231 CFU/ml when the preputial ostium was dirty (p = .016) and the duration of semen collection was >7 min (p = .022) compared to the Traditional method. In conclusion, the Adjusted penis fixation was efficient in reducing bacterial load of ejaculates, mainly in boar stud B, which had high contamination challenges.     

Use of dimethylformamide to cryopreserve alpaca semen previously incubated with collagenase

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of collagenase and two final dimethylformamide (DMF) concentrations (4% and 7%) on alpaca frozen-thawed sperm quality. A total of 25 ejaculates from 5 alpaca were obtained using electroejaculation. Each individual ejaculate was evaluated and then diluted 4:1 in a solution of 1 mg/ml collagenase in HEPES-TALP medium and incubated for 4 min at 37°C. Subsequently, samples were diluted in TRIS-fructose-citric acid-egg yolk and cooled to 5°C. Then, each sample was divided in two aliquots and DMF at final concentration of 4% or 7% was added, equilibrated for 1 hr at 5°C and frozen over liquid nitrogen vapours. A Kruskal–Wallis test was used to evaluate the sperm morphometry, and Completely Random Block designs were used to analyse sperm motility, viability, membrane function and acrosome status. After collagenase incubation, none of the samples showed thread formation, and sperm parameters were preserved. Non-progressive motile sperm were higher (p < .05) in equilibrated samples (4% DMF: 31.8 ± 8.3% and 7% DMF: 36.3 ± 11.8%) compared to raw (10.1 ± 4.3%) and frozen-thawed semen (4% DMF: 9.7 ± 1.8% and 7% DMF: 7.5 ± 3.2%). Sperm membrane function, membrane integrity and intact acrosomes were higher (p < .05) in raw semen (40.1 ± 12.2%, 94.6 ± 3.2% and 91.3 ± 8.1%) compared to frozen-thawed samples (4% DMF: 19.8 ± 4.7%, 53.2 ± 2.7%, 65.7 ± 8.7% and 7% DMF: 20.4 ± 4.5%, 54.1 ± 1.4%, 64.6 ± 9.1%). Length of the sperm head was lower in frozen-thawed samples, being statistically different with 4% DMF compared to pre-freezing samples. The ratio between acrosome and head areas was greater (p < .05) in frozen-thawed samples. Incubation of raw alpaca semen with collagenase decreased the thread formation without affecting sperm quality. Frozen of collagenase treated alpaca semen with 4% or 7% DMF did not preserve the sperm parameters in thawed samples.     

感染16型蓝舌病病毒后绵羊部分细胞因子消长特点研究

本试验旨在探明绵羊感染16型蓝舌病病毒（Bluetongue virus type 16,BTV16）后细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4和IL-10的消长特点。用实时荧光定量PCR检测方法对感染BTV16后3只绵羊上述4种因子mRNA进行检测,同时设立阴性对照绵羊,并以0 d mRNA为基准,计算mRNA的相对表达量,同时检测病毒抗体效价、测量绵羊体温。结果显示,接种BTV16的3只绵羊均不同程度产生抗体和体温症状,4种细胞因子的mRNA在接种病毒2~4 d内均出现显著上升,其中IFN-γ峰值在2.58~27.84倍之间,IL-2峰值在5.24~17.19倍之间,IL-4峰值在2.16~3.43倍之间,IL-10峰值在15.78~48.77倍之间,个体上升幅度存在显著差异,4种细胞因子均在高水平持续6 d左右后逐渐下降。对照绵羊上述参数在正常范围内波动。本研究阐明了接种BTV16后绵羊细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4、IL-10在转录水平上的消长特点,为进一步深入开展BTV感染特征、宿主机体免疫机制研究提供参考。     

伪狂犬病病毒在NF-κB家族p65基因敲除细胞系的复制规律研究

试验旨在研究伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)在NF-κB家族p65基因敲除细胞系中的复制规律。利用慢病毒介导的CRISPR/Cas9基因定点修饰技术构建猪肺泡巨噬细胞(3D4/21)p65基因稳定敲除细胞系。通过构建p65-sgRNA重组质粒,转染至HEK293T/17细胞,收取慢病毒,感染3D4/21细胞后利用嘌呤霉素筛选获得多克隆细胞系,T7核酸酶检测敲除效率,再通过有限稀释法获得3D4/21-p65^-/-的稳定细胞系。CCK-8试剂盒检测3D4/21细胞中敲除p65基因后对细胞增殖的影响;流式细胞术检测PRV-GFP感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后病毒增殖的差异;实时定量PCR检测PRV感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后PRV gB、TK基因mRNA表达水平及PRV感染细胞诱导的IL-1β和IL-6基因mRNA水平表达的变化;Western blotting检测PRV-QXX感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后PRV gB、gE蛋白的表达;滴度测定检测PRV-QXX感染3D4/21及3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞后子代病毒滴度。结果表明,sgRNA2和sgRNA3的基因编辑效率较高,对其进行克隆化培养进而获得敲除p65基因的稳定表达细胞系;CCK-8试剂盒检测细胞活力表明,p65基因敲除对细胞活力无影响;流式细胞仪检测表明,同一时间点PRV-GFP在3D4/21-p65^-/-中的增殖显著高于对照细胞;实时荧光定量PCR表明在3D4/21细胞中敲除p65基因促进了PRV gB、TK基因的mRNA表达水平,而抑制了IL-1β、IL-6基因的mRNA表达;Western blotting结果表明,在3D4/21细胞中敲除p65基因促进了PRV gB、gE蛋白的表达;滴度测定结果表明,同一时间点PRV-QXX在3D4/21-p65^-/-细胞中子代病毒的复制显著高于对照细胞。以上结果均表明,p65基因敲除可促进PRV在3D4/21细胞中复制。