Differences between primiparous and multiparous dairy cows in the inter-relationships between metabolic traits, milk yield and body condition score in the periparturient period

During the early postpartum period dairy cows mobilize fat and muscle to support lactation. This is associated with alterations in blood metabolite and hormone profiles which in turn influence milk yield and fertility. This study developed models to determine how metabolic traits, milk yield and body condition score were inter-related at different times in the periparturient period and to compare these relationships in primiparous (PP, n=188) and multiparous (MP, n=312) cows. Data from four previous studies which included information on blood metabolic parameters, parity, milk yield, body condition score and diet were collated into a single dataset. Coefficients of polynomial equations were calculated for each trait between -1 week pre-calving and week +7 postpartum using residual maximum likelihood modelling. The completed dataset was used in a multiple correlation model to determine how the best fit curves were related to each other over time. PP cows had higher concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and lower beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations throughout, higher leptin concentrations pre-partum and both the peak in non-esterified fatty acids and the nadir in urea concentration occurred earlier after calving. These differences were associated with significantly lower milk production. Leptin concentrations fell at calving and were related to body condition score. Insulin was negatively correlated with yield in MP cows only. In MP cows the relationship between insulin-like growth factor-I and yield switched from negative to positive between weeks +4 and +7. Both beta-hydroxybutyrate and urea were positively related to yield in PP cows. In contrast, in MP cows beta-hydroxybutyrate was negatively correlated with yield and urea was strongly related to body condition score but not yield. These results suggest that there are differences in the control of tissue mobilization between PP and MP cows which may promote nutrient partitioning into growth as well as milk during the first lactation.     

The association of hoof lesions at claw trimming with test-day milk yield in Danish Holsteins

In a cross-sectional study, performed between October 2002 and April 2003 on 55 Danish dairy herds with 6161 predominantly Holstein Friesian cows the prevalence of 9 hoof lesions was determined.

All test-day yields (TDY) of kg energy corrected milk (ECM) in the lactation of diagnosis were recorded. For the purpose of including hoof lesions in a decision support model an attempt was made to aggregate the lesions into digital dermatitis (DD), other interdigital diseases (OID, infectious diseases other than DD) and hoof horn diseases (HHD, related to metabolic disorders and trauma). A division was made based on the stage of lactation in which the lesions were diagnosed; during the first 100 days in milk, between days 101 and 200 and between days 201 and 305. Associations between the presence of hoof lesions at trimming and milk production were analyzed by linear mixed modeling at the cow level, clustered within herd. The data of primiparous cows was analyzed separately from the multiparous cows.

Based on the associations between TDY and the individual lesions aggregated into HHD, this aggregation as initially planned could not be justified and was therefore not maintained. For OID the value of early diagnosis was apparent; an early diagnosis and early treatment (<101 DIM) was associated with either a positive value or a value less negative compared to a diagnosis and treatment in late lactation (201–305 DIM). This pattern was not as clearly present for the other lesions.     

Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella on midwest and northeast USA dairy farms

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella isolated from dairy herds in New York, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin, USA. Serogroup and antimicrobial susceptibility characteristics were determined for Salmonella from cattle and environmental samples collected during August 2000–October 2001 as part of a longitudinal study where 129 herds were visited at 2-month intervals. Salmonella isolates were tested (using a broth microdilution method) for susceptibility to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, ceftiofur, ceftriaxone, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Of the 1506 isolates tested for minimum inhibitory concentrations to these 14 antimicrobial agents, 81.2% were pan-susceptible and for most herds (81.6%) the predominant antimicrobial resistance pattern was pan-susceptible. At least 1 Salmonella isolate resistant to 5 or more antimicrobial agents was found on 23.6% of herds. This resistance phenotype was most common among serogroups B and E1 and among samples from calves and farmer-designated sick cows. Resistant samples most frequently exhibited resistance to tetracycline, streptomycin, and/or ampicillin. No samples were resistant to ceftriaxone (though 13 were in the intermediate range), and very few samples were resistant to ciprofloxacin (n = 1), nalidixic acid (n = 5), or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (n = 7).     

Benign mixed Müllerian (duct) vaginal tumor in a 12-y-old goat

In human and veterinary medicine, mixed Müllerian tumors (MMTs) are rarely diagnosed neoplasms of the tubular female genital tract. Although there are case reports of malignant MMTs in various species, benign MMTs have only been described once in a macaque. Here we present a case of benign MMT in a 12-y-old goat, and review the literature on uterine, cervical, and vaginal neoplasia in goats. The doe was presented with vaginal discharge and was euthanized because of the high suspicion of intraabdominal neoplasia. On gross examination, an ulcerated vaginal mass was identified. Histologically, 2 distinct cell populations were present: smooth muscle cells that were well differentiated and positive for alpha–smooth muscle actin, and ciliated columnar epithelial cells that lined ductal structures and had no signs of malignancy. These findings led to the diagnosis of neoplasia of Müllerian origin. Benign MMT should be considered as a differential diagnosis for uterine and vaginal neoplasms in goats.     

Effects of heat stress on the endometrial epidermal growth factor profile and fertility in dairy cows

The endometrial epidermal growth factor (EGF) profile is an indicator of uterine function and fertility in cattle. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of heat stress on the endometrial EGF profile and fertility in lactating Holstein cows. The endometrial EGF profiles of 365 cows in the Hokkaido and Kyushu regions were examined between June and September (heat stress period, n = 211) and between October and January (control period, n = 154). EGF profiles were investigated using uterine endometrial tissues obtained by biopsy 3 days after estrus (Day 3). The proportion of cows with an altered EGF profile was higher between June and September than between October and January (41.2 vs. 16.2%, P < 0.05). The effects of rectal temperature on Days 0 and 3 on the endometrial EGF profile were also assessed in cows (n = 79) between June and September in the Kyushu region. A single embryo was transferred to cow on Day 7 to evaluate fertility (n = 67). Regardless of the rectal temperature on Day 3, the proportion of cows with an altered EGF profile was higher (64.1 vs. 30.0%, P < 0.05) and the pregnancy rate after embryo transfer (ET) was lower (26.7 vs. 51.4%, P < 0.05) in cows with a rectal temperature ≥ 39.5°C on Day 0 than in cows with a rectal temperature < 39.5°C on Day 0. The present results indicate that alterations in the endometrial EGF profile induced by an elevated body temperature on Day 0 contributed to reductions in fertility in lactating dairy cows during the heat stress period.     

不同蛋白质水平精料对广丰山羊生长性能、屠宰性能和血清生化指标的影响

本试验旨在研究不同蛋白质水平精料对广丰山羊生长性能、屠宰性能和血清生化指标的影响.选择健康且体重相近的3月龄左右广丰山羊30只,随机分为3组,每组10只(公母各占1/2).3组山羊分别饲喂高(22.87％,H组)、中(19.07％,M组)和低(15.23％,L组)蛋白质水平的精料,粗料均为野生芒草鲜草,精粗比50:50...     

MC1R c.676A>G与山羊皮肤色素沉积的关系及其对黑色素合成的影响

为探讨山羊MC1R基因c.676A>G突变与山羊皮肤色素沉积的关系,及其对黑色素合成和cAMP信号通路下游色素相关基因表达的影响：一方面采用直接测序法检测酉州乌羊及其杂交后代群体(120个个体)MC1R基因c.676A>G的突变情况,用色差仪测量不同基因型个体的腹部皮肤色度值,分析c.676A>G突变与皮肤色素沉积的关系;另一方面,构建野生型(MC1R c.676A)和突变型(MC1R c.676G)真核表达载体,采用脂质体介导法转染到小鼠皮肤黑色素瘤细胞(B16-F10)中进行过表达,利用酶标仪检测各组细胞黑色素含量的差异,并通过实时荧光定量PCR方法检测各组细胞中cAMP信号通路下游色素相关基因(MITF、TYR、TYRP1、DCT)的表达差异性。结果显示：酉州乌羊及其杂交后代群体中,c.676A>G位点均以GG基因型占优势,不同基因型群体的皮肤色度值差异不显著(P>0.05)。MC1R突变组(MC1R c.676G)细胞中的黑色素含量极显著(P<0.05)高于MC1R野生组(MC1R c.676A)。MITF、TYRP1和DCT基因在MC1R突...     

奶牛体型评定三维图像同步采集系统

设计奶牛体型评定三维图像同步采集系统,采用集散控制结构协调奶牛定位设备、图像采集装置按预定时序工作,应用3个CCD彩色摄像机与具有多通道、多独立图像芯片的DHQP300型图像采集卡,实现了奶牛三维图像同步采集;采用LabVIEW软件作为采集主程序,通过调用动态链接库控制通用图像采集卡,选用场方式采集模式提高图像质量.试验证明,每头奶牛的图像采集与线性评定时间在3min左右,小于5min(标准).图像噪声较少,边缘信息清晰,完全满足后续特征提取算法对图像质量的要求.     

日粮阴阳离子差对泌乳前期热应激奶牛血液酸碱平衡和生产性能的影响

研究日粮阴阳离子差对泌乳前期热应激奶牛血液酸碱平衡和生产性能的影响,选用36头热应激条件下泌乳前期荷斯坦奶牛,采用完全随机试验设计(n=12),以不同日粮阴阳离子差[DCAD;(Na K )-(Cl- S2-)mEq/kgDM]为试验处理,即对照组(DCAD为 130.49 mEq/kg DM),试验Ⅰ组(DCAD为 251.54 mEq/kg DM)和试验Ⅱ组(DCAD为 383.87 mEq/kg DM),试验期42 d。结果表明:(1)提高日粮DCAD可明显增强奶牛血液的缓冲能力和运氧能力。血液pH和碱超值随着日粮DCAD的升高而上升(P<0.05),DCAD对其他血气指标的影响不明显,其中二氧化碳总量、二氧化碳分压、实际碳酸氢盐、氧饱和度均逐渐增加(P>0.05),而氧分压则呈峰形变化(P>0.05);(2)DCAD对奶牛血清尿素氮、总蛋白、白蛋白的影响均达到了极显著水平(P<0.01),肌酸磷酸激酶变化明显(P<0.05),血糖含量直线上升(P>0.05);(3)适当提高日粮DCAD可显著提高奶牛的生产性能。试验Ⅰ组和试验Ⅱ组的4%标准乳较对照组分别提高了11.0%和5.1%(P<0.05),而乳脂率明显降低(P<0.05),乳蛋白率(P<0.05)和乳糖含量(P>0.05)随日粮DCAD的升高而增加。综合以上各项指标考虑,建议以试验Ⅰ组(DCAD为 251.54 mEq/kg DM)作为泌乳早期奶牛的DCAD日粮。     

奶水牛驯养报告

本文对引进的30头摩本杂交水牛进行了跟踪检测,对其在近3年多来的生长性能、泌乳性能、适应性、抗病性等的资料统计分析,结果表明:在示范牧场驯化饲养的杂交水牛的成功率100%,其体形外貌、生产性能、体尺体重等方面均比本地水牛有明显的改善,具有很好的开发前景.