Effects of treating rice straw with urea or urea and calcium hydroxide upon intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and milk yield of dairy cows

Three, multiparous Holstein crossbred dairy cows with initial body weight of 385 ± 19 kg were randomly allocated to 3 treatments of rice straw (T1 = untreated rice straw; T2 = 5.5% urea-treated rice straw (5 g urea in 100 ml water to 100 g air-dry (91% DM) straw); T3 = 2.2% urea + 2.2% calcium hydroxide treated rice straw (2.0 g urea and 2.0 g Ca(OH)₂ in 100 ml to 100 g air-dry (91% DM) straw) according to a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Each period lasted for 21 days in which feed, feces and rumen fluid were collected during the last 7 days for chemical analyses. The findings revealed significant improvements in dry matter intake and digestibility by using 5.5% urea-treated rice straw and 2.2% urea + 2.2% calcium hydroxide treated rice straw. Ruminal pH and NH₃-N were found higher (P < 0.05) as compared with urea-treated rice straw fed group, while blood urea nitrogen and milk urea nitrogen were in normal ranges. Volatile fatty acid concentrations especially those of acetic acid were decreased (P < 0.05) and those of propionic acid were increased (P < 0.05), thus acetic acid:propionic acid was subsequently lowered (P < 0.05) in cows fed with 5.5% urea-treated rice straw and 2.2% urea + 2.2% calcium hydroxide treated rice straw, respectively. Moreover, ruminal viable and cellulolytic bacterial counts were enhanced by urea and calcium hydroxide treatments. Milk protein and fat concentrations were additionally increased by respective treatments while 3.5% fat-corrected milk was highest; ranking from 2.2% urea + 2.2% calcium hydroxide treated rice straw, 5.5% urea-treated rice straw and urea-treated rice straw fed groups. Based on this study, implications could be made that using 2.2% urea + 2.2% calcium hydroxide treated rice straw for straw treatment could be an alternative treatment to 5.5% urea treatment with regards to its effectiveness and treatment cost for lactating dairy cows.     

Effects of maturity stage and feeding strategy of whole crop barley silage on intake, digestibility and milk production in dairy cows

Five diets containing concentrate, grass silage and whole crop barley silage (WCBS) harvested at different maturity stages were fed to 15 multiparous dairy cows in an incomplete change-over design over three periods. Three diets contained 10.7 kg dry matter (DM) concentrate, 4 kg DM grass silage, and ad libitum access to WCBS harvested at either the heading stage (B1), the early milk stage (B2) or the early dough stage (B3) of maturity. The other two diets contained 10.7 kg DM concentrate, whereas grass silage and WCBS at heading were mixed at two different ratios with a DM content of WCBS of either 0.30 (M1) or 0.70 (M2), and the mixtures were fed ad libitum. Intakes of DM (kg day^− 1: B1 = 21.0, B2 = 20.6 and B3 = 20.0) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF; kg day^− 1: B1 = 7.0, B2 = 6.4 and B3 = 6.3) decreased, whereas starch intake increased (kg day^− 1: B1 = 3.1, B2 = 3.5 and B3 = 4.0) with increasing maturity at harvest. The apparent organic matter (OM) digestibility (g kg^− 1: B1 = 800, B2 = 774 and B3 = 729) decreased with increasing maturity stage, and consequently so did the digestible OM intake. Milk (kg day^− 1: B1 = 27.2, B2 = 26.1 and B3 = 25.9) and energy corrected milk (ECM; kg day^− 1: B1 = 31.0, B2 = 29.4 and B3 = 28.2) yields, and protein concentration (g kg^− 1: B1 = 37.1, B2 = 36.4 and B3 = 36.0) decreased with increasing maturity stage of the WCBS. When cows were fed diet B3 the milk fat concentration decreased (46.4 g kg^− 1) compared to diets B1 (49.3 g kg^− 1) and B2 (49.4 g kg^− 1). The difference in ECM yield between diets B1 and B3 was due to a combined effect of lower milk yield, and lower protein and fat concentrations. This was caused by the higher starch and lower NDF intakes with diet B3, which decreased the milk fat concentration. Moreover, a lower energy intake of diet B3 due to lower OM digestibility decreased milk protein concentration and milk yield. Mixing WCBS at the heading stage with grass silage (M2) decreased digestibility, compared to feeding the forages separately (B1). However, the differences were small and may be a result of soil contamination at harvest of some of the silages, which made the method with using incomplete faecal collection and internal marker acid insoluble ash less reliable. Including WCBS at the heading stage at 0.30 or 0.70 of forage DM did not affect DM intake or diet digestibility, probably because the grass silage in the study was very similar in energy content to the WCBS harvested at heading.     

Effects of selenium yeast on rumen fermentation, lactation performance and feed digestibilities in lactating dairy cows

The objective was to evaluate the effects of selenium-yeast (SY) supplementation on rumen fermentation, lactation performance and feed digestibilities in dairy cows. Twenty-eight multiparous (2.5 ± 0.3 parity) Holstein dairy cows, averaging 625 ± 18.2 kg of BW, 63 ± 3.0 days in milk and average daily milk production of 26.2 ± 0.5 kg/cow were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square experiment. Treatments were: control, LSY, MSY and HSY with 0, 150, 300 and 450 mg selenium yeast (Sel-Plex®, 1 g/kg selenium, produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060) per kg of diet dry matter (DM), respectively. Experimental periods were 45 days with 30 days of adaptation and 15 days of sampling. Ruminal pH was lower for MSY than for control and was linearly (P = 0.03) decreased, whereas total VFA concentration was linearly and quadratically (P ≤ 0.01) increased with increasing SY supplementation, with the least for control, followed by LSY and HSY, and the highest for MSY. Ratio of acetate to propionate was lower for LSY, MSY and HSY than for control, and was linearly and quadratically (P ≤ 0.01) decreased as SY supplementation increased due to an increase in molar proportion of propionate. Ruminal ammonia N content was lower (P ≤ 0.01) for MSY and HSY than for control and was linearly decreased (P ≤ 0.01) with increasing SY supplementation. Dry matter intake, proportions and yields of milk fat, protein and lactose were not affected (P > 0.05). Milk yields and 4% FCM were higher (P ≤ 0.05) for LSY and MSY than for HSY and control. Milk selenium content was linearly and quadratically (P ≤ 0.01) increased as increasing SY supplementation, with the least for control, followed by LSY and MSY, and the highest for HSY. Digestibilities of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), aNDF and ADF in the total tract were higher (P < 0.01) for LSY and MSY than for control and HSY. The results indicate that supplementation of diet with SY improved rumen fermentation, milk yields, milk selenium, and feed digestion. It was suggested that the SY stimulated the digestive microorganisms or enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. In the experimental conditions of this trial, the optimum selenium-yeast dose was about 300 mg per kg diet DM.     

不同因素对高产荷斯坦奶牛体内性控胚胎生产效率和质量的影响

[目的]试验旨在探讨不同种类的促卵泡素(FSH)超数排卵处理、不同精液类型人工输精处理以及不同季节等前处理方式对高产荷斯坦奶牛体内性控胚胎生产效率的影响,为高产胚胎牛后代的繁育做出贡献。[方法]试验选取208头优质供体牛使用加拿大(Folltropin-v)和比利时进口的促卵泡素(FSH)进行超排,性控冻精和性控鲜精进行人工输精,春(3—5月)、夏(6—8月)、秋(9—11月)、冬(12—2月)四季进行胚胎生产。[结果]结果表明,使用产地为加拿大(Folltropin-v)促卵泡素进行超数排卵头均可用胚胎数和I级胚胎数(包括桑葚胚I级、囊胚I级)均显著高于比利时(P<0.05);通过使用性控冻精和性控鲜精对供体牛进行人工输精头均可用胚胎数分别为和I级胚胎数差异均不显著(P>0.05);春、夏、秋、冬四季进行胚胎生产头均可用胚胎数和I级胚胎数夏季均显著低于其他三季(P<0.05)。[结论]因此,使用加拿大促卵泡素(Folltropin-v)超数排卵、性控冻精进行人工输精避免在夏季进行胚胎生产可获得质量较高的高产荷斯坦奶牛体内性控胚胎。     

热应激奶牛血清NO浓度和NOS活力的变化

为探索不同品种奶牛血清中一氧化氮合成酶（NOS）的活力以及一氧化氮（NO）浓度变化与热应激的关系。此实验在热应激期（THI 82.61±0.60）和非热应激期（THI 47.42±0.51）对荷斯坦牛（n=20）和娟-荷F1牛（n=20）血清NOS活力及NO浓度水平进行测定。结果表明：荷斯坦牛和娟-荷F1牛在热应激期血清NOS的活力均显著低于非热应激期（P〈0.01）;热应激期娟-荷F1牛血清NOS的活力显著低于荷斯坦牛（P〈0.01）,非热应激期二者差异不显著（P〉0.05）;热应激期荷斯坦牛血清NO浓度较非热应激期显著降低（P〈0.05）,娟-荷F1牛有降低趋势,但差异不显著（P〉0.05）;非热应激期荷斯坦牛血清中NO浓度显著高于娟-荷F1牛（P〈0.05）,热应激期二者差异不显著（P〉0.05）。     

复合生物预混剂对奶牛生产性能和乳品质的影响

为探讨相同日粮条件下添加复合生物预混剂对奶牛生产性能和乳品质的影响,选取 20 头年龄、胎次、泌乳日龄、妊娠期、产奶量、体重基本相似且身体健康的荷斯坦奶牛随机分为2组,每组10头。分别饲喂对照组（普通型预混剂）和试验组（项目组研制的5%的复合生物预混剂）日粮,两种日粮基础配方相同,含预混剂不同,经74 d试验期显示：整个试验期对照组与试验组每头日平均产奶量差异显著（P<0.05）;随着泌乳期的延长,试验组乳脂肪率增加125%,显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;两组乳蛋白率和乳中总固形物含量有增加趋势,差异不显著（P＞0.05）。表明奶牛日粮中添加复合生物预混剂可以显著提高奶牛产奶性能、改善乳品质。     

外源性金属硫蛋白对中国荷斯坦奶牛血淋巴细胞凋亡/坏死及线粒体膜电位的影响

选取20头处于热应激环境的泌乳奶牛,随机分成A、B、C和D组4组,分别按剂量0.0(对照),4.0,8.0和16.0 mg/头静脉注射金属硫蛋白(MT),以探讨外源性MT对奶牛淋巴细胞凋亡、坏死和线粒体膜电位(ΔΨm)的影响。结果表明,注射MT后,在51~60 d时,校正标准产奶量B、C和D组均显著性高于A组(P<0.05); 35 d时C组(8 mg/头)的血淋巴细胞凋亡率显著性低于B、D组(P<0.05),但与A组无显著性差异(P>0.05),D组(16 mg/头)35 d时凋亡率达到最大,随后(50~60 d)显著性下降(P<0.05);细胞的坏死率A组50 d时较1 d时显著下降(P<0.05),C组(8 mg/头)35,50 d时显著下降(P<0.05),但60 d时开始呈上升趋势(P>0.05),而D组(16 mg/头)坏死率呈现下降趋势,且在50,60 d时均显著低于注射MT之前的血淋巴细胞坏死率;35 d时,A组的线粒体膜电位值(ΔΨm)最高,但上升速度最快的是B组(4 mg/头),在35 d时显著高于20 d时的ΔΨm (P<0.05);50 d时A组和B组的ΔΨm不但不上升,反而下降,其中A组下降的速度更快,35~50 d C组(8 mg/头)保持基本恒定,60 d略有上升,D组(16 mg/头)1~35 d时逐步上升,50~60 d时保持恒定。在60 d时,ΔΨm与注射MT浓度呈正相关。说明外源性MT不仅能提高热应激状态动物的体质,还可让泌乳母牛从热应激状态平稳的过渡到热应激损伤修复状态,若注射8~16 mg/头,能抑制南方泌乳母牛夏季热应激引起的滞后效应。     

奶水牛乳中体细胞数与乳成分的相关分析

乳汁体细胞数(somatic cell count,SCC)是检查奶牛乳房炎和牛奶质量的指标,为了解南宁某规模化奶牛场奶水牛SCC情况及SCC与其他乳成分的关系,试验随机选取该场152份泌乳早期乳样,测定其SCC、乳汁比重、蛋白质、脂肪、总固形物、非脂固形物及乳糖的含量,并对其进行相关性分析。结果表明,SCC小于50万/mL的乳样占被检奶样总数的88.16%,大于100万/mL的占1.97%;乳汁比重、乳蛋白、乳糖和非脂固形物含量均随着SCC的升高而下降,而乳脂含量随着SCC的升高而呈上升趋势;SCC与乳糖及非脂固形物含量呈极显著负相关(P<0.01)。因此,奶水牛乳中SCC不仅与乳糖和非脂固形物含量密切相关,也提示其与奶水牛产后营养代谢状况有关。     

奶牛3型口蹄疫间相互影响及联合免疫程序

由于目前尚无可靠的A型-O型-AsiaⅠ型3联疫苗,所以3型口蹄疫的免疫则采用A型单苗和O型-Asia-Ⅰ型2联苗联合进行,但各疫苗的免疫时间及联合免疫程序均未进行过深入地研究,联合免疫效果有待实验的验证。通过对奶牛3型口蹄疫抗体水平的跟踪检测,最终结果表明:奶牛3型口蹄疫间相互影响不显著,在犊牛90日龄可以同时进行首免,但要左右两侧分2针注射;首免后28d以同样的方法进行2免;抗体持续4个月后进行3免;以后每隔4个月加强免疫1次,方法都与首免相同;或根据抗体监测水平及时进行补免,都会起到一个良好的保护作用。     

改变日粮蛋白质和赖氨酸含量对奶牛产奶性能和氮利用及代谢激素的影响

为观察不同日粮蛋白质(CP)和赖氨酸(Lys)含量对奶牛产奶性能、氮利用和血液代谢激素的影响,试验采用4×4拉丁方设计,选择4头经产中国荷斯坦奶牛,随机接受4种日粮处理:12.5%CP和0.44%Lys的Et粮1;12.6%CP和0.58%Lys的日粮2;14.1%cP和0.45%Lys的日粮3;14.1%CP和0.60%Lys的日粮4.试验分为4期,每期18 d.第1天至第14天为适应期,第15天至第18天为收集期.结果表明:日粮4和日粮2的产奶最显著高于日粮3和日粮1(P<0.05).乳蛋白率也略高于日粮3和日粮1(P>0.05);日粮4和日粮2的氮利用率和奶氮排出量明显高于日粮3和日粮1(P<0.05):日粮4和日粮2的尿素氮(SUN)浓度明显低于日粮3和日粮1(P<0.05);日粮4和日粮2的胰岛素和催乳素浓度明显高于日粮3和日粮1(P<0.05).赖氨酸含量相同时,日粮CP含量为14.1%或12.6%,奶牛产奶性能不受影响,乳氮产量增加,氮利用率提高;当奶牛日粮赖氨酸含量从0.60%降到0.45%,尽管蛋白质含量相同,但奶牛产奶量下降,乳蛋白略呈下降趋势,乳氮产量降低,氮利用率降低.