Urea concentration in bulk milk as an indicator of the protein supply at the herd level

Levels of urea in bulk milk from 80 herds were analysed twice monthly during 1 year to study herd variations and effect of season (Experiment 1). The overall (mean ± s) was 4.7 ± 1.3 mmol/1 ranging from 1.4 to 10.0 mmol/1. Generally, the urea levels were high in summer and early autumn and during this period there were 3 peaks, the first one at the beginning of June, the second one in the middle of July and the third one at the end of September. The peaks reflected feed changes and use of fertilizers commonly practized in the area.In another study samples of bulk milk were obtained from 49 herds using single forage diets with fresh grass silage and standardized concentrate mixtures (Experiment 2). In these herds all feed components given on the day of urea sampling were weighed as accurately as possible and a sample of the silage was taken for chemical analyses and determination of in vitro digestibility. Mean level of crude protein (CP) in silage dry matter was 15.6 ± 2.2 % and average dietary digestible crude protein (DCP) per feed unit (FU) was 146 ± 16 g. In all herds the protein levels in the total daily ration were equal to or above recommended standards. Urea concentration in bulk milk was significantly affected by the GP content in silage, level of dietary DGP and amount of DCP/FU. In energy deficient herds relatively high urea values were obtained without any great surplus of protein. Yield did not significantly affect the urea concentration in bulk milk.     

肉牛饲养专家系统的设计

本文对肉牛饲养专家系统进行了构想,确定了系统目标,建立了肉牛专家系统的框架结构,确定和建立了相关的知识库。在此基础上,完成了肉牛饲养专家系统的设计。     

饲喂高亚油酸玉米对奶牛瘤胃发酵、产乳量和乳成分的影响

选用6头经产荷斯坦种乳牛分为对照和HLAC两组,以二乘反转法,研究了高亚油酸玉来(HLAC)对奶牛瘤胃发酵、产乳量和乳成分的影响。HLAC组用HLAC部分替换了对照组饲料中的普通玉米,两组日粮组成和营养成分基本相同。结果表明,HLAC的替换对瘤胃液氨氮浓度、挥发性脂肪酸浓度及其组成无显著影响(P>0.1),但纤毛虫总数显著增加(P>0.05)。两组牛干物采食量和乳量无显著差异,但HLAC组乳脂率有下降趋势(P>0.1)、乳脂肪中C18:2比例小幅提高、C18:1比例显著提高(P<0.05)、乳蛋白质率及其产量小幅增加、乳糖率和无脂固形物率及其产量显著提高(P<0.05)。以上结果显示:奶牛饲料中HLAC的使用可改善乳成分,并对瘤胃发酵产生一定影响。     

奶牛重要营养素--水

本文主要介绍了水在奶牛营养中的重要作用、奶牛饮水量的计算以及影响奶牛饮水量的因素。     

不同泌乳量奶牛行为学差异及其与泌乳性能的相关性

本试验旨在研究不同泌乳量奶牛的行为学差异,并分析奶牛行为学与泌乳性能的相关性。选择24头泌乳中期[(114.6±7.5)d]中国荷斯坦奶牛,平均体重为(670±24)kg,胎次为(2.6±0.4)胎,分为高产组[泌乳量(31.90±1.76)kg/d]和低产组[泌乳量(19.30±1.76)kg/d],每组12头。通过24 h视频监控系统、精准饲喂系统及计步器等,观察和统计奶牛48 h内采食(采食量、采食时间、采食次数、反刍时间、反刍次数)、饮水(饮水时间、饮水次数)、运动(躺卧时间、躺卧次数、站立/游走时间、游走步数)等参数,研究奶牛行为学与泌乳量的相关性。结果表明:1)低产组奶牛的乳蛋白率极显著高于高产组奶牛(P<0.01),低产组奶牛的乳脂产量、乳蛋白产量和乳糖率显著或极显著低于高产组奶牛(P<0.01)。2)高产组奶牛的干物质采食量、饮水时间和饮水次数显著或极显著高于低产组奶牛(P<0.05或P<0.01),高产组奶牛的游走步数极显著低于低产组奶牛(P<0.01)。3)总泌乳量与干物质采食量(r=0.829,P<0.01)、饮水时间(r=0.473,P<0.05)、饮水次数(r=0.429,P<0.05)呈正相关,而与游走步数(r=-0.574,P<0.01)呈负相关。综上所述,奶牛行为学与泌乳量之间存在相关性,这些行为的差异,可为寻找通过改变行为学提高奶牛产奶性能的方法提供理论依据。     

山茱萸果核对奶山羊泌乳性能、乳脂肪酸组成及乳腺脂质代谢相关基因表达的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮中添加山茱萸果核对奶山羊泌乳性能、乳脂肪酸组成及乳腺脂质代谢相关基因表达的影响。选取2胎次、泌乳天数[(20±7) d]相近、体重相近的奶山羊50只,随机分为2组,分别饲喂基础饲粮(对照组)和基础饲粮+1%山茱萸果核(试验组),每组5个重复,每个重复5只羊。预试期10 d,正试期45 d。试验过程中记录奶山羊产奶量,试验结束时颈静脉采血进行血清生化指标分析,采集奶样测定乳成分,同时采集奶样和乳腺组织样品,利用气相色谱法和实时荧光定量PCR分别测定乳中脂肪酸组成及乳腺组织中脂质代谢相关基因的表达量。结果表明:1)与对照组相比,试验组奶山羊血清中谷草转氨酶(AST)活性与总蛋白(TP)和白蛋白(ALB)含量显著或极显著升高(P<0.05或P<0.01),其余血清生化指标均无显著变化(P>0.05)。2)试验组奶山羊产奶量显著高于对照组(P<0.05);与对照组相比,试验组乳脂率和乳总固形物含量极显著降低(P<0.01),而乳蛋白率和乳糖率无显著变化(P>0.05)。3)试验组奶山羊乳中短中链脂肪酸中C4∶0、C6∶0、C8∶0、C10∶0,饱和脂肪酸中C14∶0、C16∶0、C20∶0以及多不饱和脂肪酸中C18∶3n6的含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05),而单不饱和脂肪酸中C15∶1的含量则显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。4)与对照组相比,饲粮添加山茱萸果核显著上调了乳腺组织中乙酰辅酶A羧化酶(ACC)和甘油三酯水解酶(ATGL)的相对表达量(P<0.05),显著下调了硬脂酰辅酶A去饱和酶1(SCD1)的相对表达量(P<0.05),对脂肪酸合酶(FASN)、超长链脂肪酸延伸酶6(ELOVL6)、二脂酰甘油酰基转移酶2(DGAT2)和固醇调节元件结合蛋白1(SREBP1)的相对表达量没有显著影响(P>0.05)。由此得出,饲粮中添加山茱萸果核可提高奶山羊的产奶量,对乳脂率有显著的抑制作用;山茱萸果核可通过促进乳中短中链脂肪酸的合成,调控乳腺中ACC、SCD1和ATG L基因的表达,改善奶山羊乳品质。     

过瘤胃葡萄糖对围产期奶牛空肠微生物群落和黏膜代谢及免疫相关基因表达的影响

本试验旨在探究过瘤胃葡萄糖对围产期奶牛空肠微生物群落和黏膜代谢及免疫相关基因表达的影响。选择10头围产期荷斯坦奶牛[4~5岁、体重(515±42)kg]随机分为2组,每组5头。对照组和过瘤胃葡萄糖组奶牛饲喂相同的基础饲粮,同时对照组每头每日给予90 g过瘤胃脂肪,过瘤胃葡萄糖组每头每日给予200 g过瘤胃葡萄糖。预试期14 d(产前第21天到产前第8天),正试期21d(产前第7天到产后第14天)。正式期结束后,将所有奶牛(10头)屠宰并取空肠食糜样品,测定其中挥发性脂肪酸的含量和微生物群落;同时取空肠黏膜样品,进行代谢及免疫相关基因表达分析。结果显示:与对照组相比,添加过瘤胃葡萄糖有降低空肠食糜中总挥发性脂肪酸含量的趋势(P=0.094)。与对照组相比,添加过瘤胃葡萄糖有上调空肠黏膜中葡萄糖转运蛋白4(GLUT4)表达量的趋势(P=0.063),有下调Toll样受体4(TLR4)(P=0.063)、白细胞介素-17A(IL 17A)(P=0.063)和白细胞介素-26(IL 26)(P=0.063)表达量的趋势,同时显著性地上调了丙酮酸羧化酶(PC)(P=0.016)、闭合蛋白(occludin)(P=0.016)和胰岛素生长因子结合蛋白5(IGFBP5)(P=0.032)的表达量,显著性地下调了白细胞介素-22(IL 22)(P=0.016)、基质金属蛋白酶1(MMP1)(P=0.016)和基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP9)(P=0.032)的表达量。此外,与对照组相比,添加过瘤胃葡萄糖显著性地增加了空肠食糜中梭菌属ⅪⅤ子集的数量(P=0.036)。由此可见,围产期奶牛饲粮中添加过瘤胃葡萄糖可以改善葡萄糖在机体的代谢以及提高免疫力,同时促进免疫相关有益菌梭菌属ⅪⅤ子集的定植,从而缓解围产期能量负平衡导致的不良影响。     

Hair cortisol concentration in pre‐ and postpartum dairy cows,and its association with body condition,hock health,and reproductive status

The objective of this study was to investigate the profiles of hair cortisol concentrations as an index of chronic stress in dairy cows in association with their health, nutrition, and reproductive parameters. For 25 Holstein dairy cows, hair was collected from the tail switch ?19.2 ± 11.4, 44.8 ± 11.9, 103.0 ± 9.9, and 168.0 ± 9.7 days postpartum (L0, L1, L2, and L3, respectively). Body condition scores were negatively correlated with hair cortisol concentrations (r = ?0.255), and hock health scores were positively correlated with hair cortisol concentrations (r = 0.236, p < 0.05). Hair cortisol concentrations during the postpartum period showed different patterns according to the time of first artificial insemination (AI) and fertility. Cows that were submitted to first AI by 86 days postpartum showed a peak hair cortisol concentration at L1, whereas cows with delayed first AI had a peak at L2. The hair cortisol concentrations of subfertile (≥168 days) cows were significantly higher at L1 and L2 compared with L0, whereas hair cortisol concentrations of fertile cows (<168 days) were not different among the sampling times. These results indicate that cows with health problems appear to experience greater chronic stress, which may impair their reproductive function.     

Sleep and lying behavior of milking Holstein cows at commercial tie‐stall dairy farms

The aim of this study was to clarify cow's sleep behavior on farm and to examine the influence of some environment and management factors on cow's sleep. Total 85 behavior data (summer 41, autumn 44) were corrected from 12 commercial tie‐stall dairy farm in northern Tohoku area. Daily duration, bout frequency, and averaged bout duration of sleep and lying were measured. Even though there was no significant difference in any lying measurements, daily duration, bout frequency, and averaged bout duration of sleep was significantly different among farms (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05, respectively). However, we could not find that any managements influence on sleep. There was significant seasonal difference in daily sleep duration (p < 0.01) and sleep bout frequency (p < 0.05). On the other hand, daily lying duration and averaged lying bout duration were significantly different between seasons (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Primiparous cows slept longer and more frequent than multiparous (both p < 0.001). Milk solid‐non‐fat content was positively correlated with daily sleep duration (p < 0.05) and bout frequency (p < 0.01). These results might imply the productive importance of sleep related with anabolic hormones release.     

整合素αvβ3在人工受精奶牛受孕前后表达规律研究

本试验通过对10头荷斯坦奶牛在受孕前后的整合素αvβ3表达变化规律与奶牛早期妊娠关系的研究,筛选早期妊娠检测标志性因子,从而提高奶牛的繁殖效率。试验表明,选取的10头荷斯坦奶牛中有7头受孕3头未受孕,检测发现,10、13、16、19d,αv基因和β3基因转录及整合素αvβ3表达水平在受孕奶牛血液中的表达量均高于未孕奶牛,特别是输精后第16d受孕奶牛的表达量显著高于未孕奶牛。因此,αvβ3检测可将早孕检测的时间窗口提前到人工输精后第16d。