Effect of pasture allowance and supplementation with maize silage and concentrates differing in crude protein concentration on milk production and nitrogen excretion by dairy cows

Sixty cows (40 multiparous and 20 primiparous) averaging 140 days in milk (DIM) were assigned to five treatments to evaluate the effect of pasture allowance and supplements of a) maize silage b) high crude protein concentrate and, c) low crude protein concentrate on milk production and nitrogen (N) excretion. Two of the treatments (HG and LG) were offered herbage only (allowances of 20 and 15 kg dry matter (DM) per cow/day, respectively) while the remaining three treatments were offered a herbage allowance of 15 kg DM per cow/day plus 4 kg DM per cow/day of maize silage (M), a high CP concentrate (CP concentration of 194 g/kg DM) (HC), or citrus pulp (CP concentration of 69 g/kg DM) (LC). Total DM intake (DMI) was similar for HG, M, HC, and LC but was lower for LG (15.2 kg DM per cow/day) than HC (17.4 kg DM per cow/day). The reduction in pasture DMI per kg of supplement DM ingested was 0.44, 0.45, and 0.54 kg for cows offered maize silage, high CP concentrate, and low CP concentrate, respectively. Milk yield was greater for the supplemented treatments (23.7–24.7 kg/day) than for LG (20.7 kg/day) but not for HG (23.2 kg/day). Milk fat concentration was greater for HC (35.3 g/kg) than for HG, M, and LC but not greater than LG, while milk protein concentration was greater for HG (34.8 g/kg) than for LG and HC but not greater than M and LC. The greatest levels of N and PDIN intake were recorded for HG (662 and 2502 g/day) and HC (654 and 2506 g/day) which were greater than LC but not greater than LG and M. Treatment HC recorded the highest PDIE intake (1743 g/day) which was greater than LG, M and LC but not greater than HG. Output of N in milk was greater on HC (134 g/day) than on LG but was not greater than on HG, M, and LC. Faecal N excretion was greater on HG (171 g/day) than on all other treatments while estimated urinary N excretion was greater on HG and HC than LC (320 g/day). Treatment LC had a higher proportion of N output in milk (0.23) than treatment LG but not higher than HG, M and HC treatments. Urinary N expressed as a proportion of total N excretion was lower for HG (0.68) than all other treatments. The results of this study show that there is a large response in milk production to supplementing cows on a restricted grass allowance and that cows offered low CP supplements had similar levels of production to those offered high CP supplements. Nitrogen utilisation was improved by offering supplements of lower CP content.     

Effects of urinary excretion of nitrogen, potassium and sodium on urine volume in dairy cows

Data of 50 balance measurements were collected from dry and lactating Holstein cows to clarify the effects of urinary excretion of nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and sodium (Na) on urine volume in cows. In dry cows, orchardgrass silage, timothy hay, alfalfa silage and corn silage were offered to meet the TDN requirement. Orchardgrass silage or alfalfa silage diets were offered in switch back trials in lactating cows. There were no relationships between urinary excretion and plasma concentrations of K or Na in cows, but urinary N excretion increased with the increase of plasma urea nitrogen. There was positive correlation between urinary excretion and urinary content of Na, but urinary K contents increased rapidly by 1.3% with the increasing urinary K excretion and thereafter remained almost constant. The increasing urinary K and N excretion enhanced urine volume in cows, but urine production in cows was accurately estimated from the regression equation of urine K excretion on urine volume. Urine volume was not affected by urinary Na excretion. These results suggest that the increase of urine volume in cows affected by the increasing urinary excretion of K and N may be due to the maintenance of urine or plasma osmolality.     

Identification of lactic acid bacteria in the feces of dairy cows fed whole crop maize silage to assess the survival of silage bacteria in the gut

In order to assess the survival of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in whole crop maize silage in the gut of dairy cows, one representative silage sample and three different feces samples were collected from dairy cows on three dairy farms in Hua Bei, China and three dairy farms in Kyushu, Japan. The composition of the bacterial community was examined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Lactobacillus acetotolerans was detected in all bunker‐made maize silage samples, regardless of the dairy farm or sampling region from which they were sourced. A total of eight LAB species were detected in the maize silage samples, of which three (L. acetotolerans, L. pontis and L. casei) appeared to survive digestion. The populations of L. acetotolerans in silage and feces were 10^6–7 and 10^3–4 copies/g, respectively, indicating that, even for the LAB species showing potential survival in the gut, competition in this niche may be harsh and the population may substantially decrease during the digestion process. It may be difficult for silage LAB to survive in the gut of silage‐fed dairy cows, because marked decrease in population can take place during the digestion process, even for surviving species.     

金黄色葡萄球菌诱导型乳腺炎对中国荷斯坦奶牛乳中脂肪酸组成的影响

本文旨在研究金黄色葡萄球菌诱导型乳腺炎对中国荷斯坦奶牛乳中脂肪酸组成及其绝对含量的影响。根据奶牛乳房结构,试验组利用通乳针将金黄色葡萄球菌细菌悬液经乳头管注射入奶牛乳房内,建立诱导型金黄色葡萄球菌型乳腺炎模型,对照组灌注磷酸盐缓冲液,采用气相色谱法测定乳中的脂肪酸绝对含量。结果表明:乳中共检出34种脂肪酸,金黄色葡萄球菌诱导对感染乳区脂肪酸合成产生直接影响。按不饱和度和碳链长度划分的6大类脂肪酸中,试验组在感染后11 h与感染前24 h相比,短链脂肪酸、中链脂肪酸和饱和脂肪酸的绝对含量均显著降低(P0.05);对照组有相同变化趋势,但除短链脂肪酸外均未达到显著水平(P0.05)。感染后23 h试验组6大类脂肪酸的绝对含量均低于对照组。结果提示:金黄色葡萄球菌诱导型乳腺炎影响了奶牛脂肪酸的合成过程,降低了脂肪酸各组分的绝对含量。     

乳牛口服大量β-胡萝卜素对维生素D3及钙磷代谢的影响

６头健康成年荷斯坦乳牛被随机均分为２组。试验组牛第１周每头口服β－胡萝卜素２３．０ｇ,以后每周每头口服１１．５ｇ,对照组不做任何处理。试验期共８周。结果表明,试验组乳牛血清钙及无机磷水平呈下降趋势;血清维生素Ｄ３活性代谢产物２５－ＯＨ－Ｄ３和１,２５－（ＯＨ）２－Ｄ３均呈现明显下降;至第５周末,血液β－胡萝卜素水平最高,２５－ＯＨ－Ｄ３水平下降非常明显。据此认为,乳牛对β－胡萝卜素的吸收存在一阈值,大剂量的β－胡萝卜素进入机体,可能直接干扰维生素Ｄ３的羟化,使其活性代谢产物呈下降趋势,但由于吸收阈值的存在,其对维生素Ｄ３和骨骼钙磷代谢的干扰作用可得到一定程度的减缓。     

1株奶牛源约翰逊不动杆菌的分离鉴定

旨在了解从奶牛垫料中分离得到1株革兰阴性菌的病原特征,本研究通过形态学观察、生化试验、染色镜检、16S rDNA同源性分析等方法对分离菌进行鉴定,并采用药敏试验测定药物敏感性,小鼠攻毒试验确定分离菌株毒力情况.结果 表明,分离菌为革兰阴性菌;扩增的16S rDNA序列长度为1283 bp,与约翰逊不动杆菌的核苷酸相似性...     

玉米处理方法对泌乳牛产乳性能和养分消化的影响

试验采用4×4拉丁方设计,研究玉米处理方法对荷斯坦中期泌乳牛产乳性能和养分消化的影响。四种处理组分别为对照组、25%煮玉米组、50%煮玉米组和50%泡玉米组。日粮中玉米全部粉碎,平均粒度为1.4mm。玉米处理比例为处理玉米占日粮总玉米的百分比。结果表明,玉米处理方法不影响乳成分含量。25%煮玉米趋于提高原乳及FCM(标准乳)产量(P>0.05)。50%煮玉米提高原乳产量4.4%(P>0.05)和FCM产量6.8%(P<0.05)。50%泡玉米可提高原乳和FCM产量9.3%～9.4%(P<0.01)。玉米处理方法不影响DM、OM、能量、CP和淀粉全消化道表观消化率,以及粪便含水率。25%煮玉米分别降低NDF和ADF消化率18.0%和9.6%(P<0.05),50%煮玉米分别降低NDF和ADF消化率18.4%和20.7%(P<0.05)。50%泡玉米降低NDF和ADF消化率为16.4%(P<0.05)和8.6%(P>0.05)。玉米处理方法不影响午饲前血液中葡萄糖和尿素氮含量。     

荷斯坦奶牛牛嘴宽度影响因素分析及遗传参数估计

【目的】探究中国荷斯坦奶牛牛嘴宽度的群体规律,并估计其遗传参数。【方法】2021年7月至2021年8月分别在2个规模化奶牛场测定了628头泌乳期荷斯坦奶牛的牛嘴宽度及臀高、体高、体斜长和胸围等体尺性状,同时利用体斜长和胸围估计试验牛体重。利用SPSS 26.0软件分析了牧场、月龄和泌乳阶段等因素对牛嘴宽度的影响,以及牛嘴宽度与各体尺性状之间的相关关系;基于DMU软件采用单性状动物模型估计了牛嘴宽度的方差组分及遗传力。【结果】荷斯坦奶牛牛嘴宽度的群体平均值为17.28 cm,变异系数为5%,变异相对较小;牧场和月龄对牛嘴宽度均有极显著影响(P<0.01),泌乳阶段对牛嘴宽度有显著影响(P<0.05),牛嘴宽度随母牛月龄的增加呈逐渐增加的趋势,泌乳初期牛嘴宽度显著小于其他泌乳阶段(P<0.05);牛嘴宽度与各体尺性状之间存在极显著正相关(P<0.01);荷斯坦奶牛牛嘴宽度的遗传力估计值为0.28,为中高遗传力性状。【结论】牧场和月龄对奶牛牛嘴宽度影响极显著,泌乳阶段对奶牛牛嘴宽度影响显著,牛嘴宽度与臀高呈较弱相关。荷斯坦奶牛牛嘴宽度是一个具有中高遗传力的体尺性状。     

牛妊娠相关糖蛋白6快速检测试纸条的制备及应用

奶牛妊娠的早期诊断至关重要,妊娠相关糖蛋白6(PAG6)是母体胎盘组织分泌至外周循环中的特异蛋白质,因此,本研究致力于制备牛妊娠相关糖蛋白6快速检测试纸条。制备牛妊娠相关糖蛋白6多克隆抗体,将其稀释后加样至NC膜上,通过固定和封闭制备出一种可检测boPAG6的快速检测试纸条,在试纸条上加入待检血清进行孵育后洗涤,再加入二抗孵育后洗涤,最后加入显色液显色后进行快速检测。标准化快速检测试纸条是将抗体用PBS稀释成10μg/mL点样至NC膜上,在37℃温箱中固定抗体30 min,经5%的脱脂奶粉封闭后制成。待检血清滴加至试纸条后,在37℃温箱中孵育1 h后,进行洗涤和二抗孵育,最后在DAB显色试剂盒作用下显色3 min即可判定。临床检测的初步应用表明,在未孕与怀孕奶牛的混合血清中仍然可以判定是否怀孕,快速检测试纸条特异性强;血清在稀释3200倍的最低检测限时,快速检测试纸条的敏感性良好;而且该结果与ELISA的符合率在80%之上。试验重复性良好,并能在4℃和-20℃条件下保存2周。建立了一种奶牛早期妊娠诊断的快速检测试纸条并应用于初步的妊娠诊断。     

Somatic cell and innate immune responses in mammary glands of lactating cows to intramammary infusion of Bifidobacterium breve at pre-drying off period

Intramammary infusion of Bifidobacterium breve (B. breve)-induced somatic cell (SC) counts, chemiluminescent response (CL), lactoferrin (LF) concentrations and mastitis-causing pathogens from quarters with subclinical mastitis were measured to evaluate innate immune response of mammary glands in dairy cows at 3 to 4 weeks before drying off. SC counts in 7 quarters of 7 control cows and 5 quarters of 6 cows with mastitis increased markedly on day 1 and SC values in control cows were significantly (P<0.05) increased and returned to pre-infusion levels on day 5 after B. breve-infusion. CL values in both groups increased markedly on day 1 and then decreased after B. breve-infusion; however, CL values in cows with mastitis did not return to normal levels on day 5 and at postpartum. The CL values were highly correlated with their SC counts in milk from both groups. LF concentrations increased toward day 3 after B. breve-infusion and were higher in cows with mastitis. B. breve-infusion eliminated 16.6% (1/6) of pathogens from 6 quarters with chronic subclinical mastitis. B. breve-induced SC responses in quarters from 3 cows with mastitis showed characteristic patterns of recovery, persistent and new infections. B. breve-induced SC counts in quarters from the cows in the pre-drying off were lower (25.7–70.6%) than those of the cows in mid-lactation. The intrinsic innate immune response in cows on pre-drying off may be decreased and appears to be insufficient to eliminate pathogens from mammary gland in the pre-drying off.