Deoxynivalenol in chicken feed alters the vaccinal immune response and clinical biochemical serum parameters but not the intestinal and carcass characteristics

This study was conducted to investigate the impacts of deoxynivalenol (DON) feeding either alone or in combination with a microbial feed additive (MFA) on the immune response to a viral vaccine and serum clinical chemical parameters. Forty 1‐day‐old boiler chicks were weighed and randomly divided into four groups, 10 birds in each group: (i) control group fed with basal diet; (ii) DON group fed with basal diet artificially contaminated with 10 mg DON/kg feed; (iii) DON + MFA group fed with basal diet contaminated with 10 mg DON/kg feed and supplemented with 2.5 kg of MFA/ton feed; and (iv) MFA group fed with basal diet supplemented with 2.5 kg of MFA/ton feed. At 35 days of age, birds were slaughtered and blood was collected for investigating the antibody titre against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and clinical chemical parameters. The results showed that DON reduced (p = 0.032) the titre against IBV, decreased (p = 0.005) the level of alanine transaminase (ALT) (4.2 ± 0.5 U/l) compared with control birds (6.4 ± 0.5 U/l), increased (p = 0.002) the serum cholesterol concentration (144 ± 6 mg/dl) compared with their control counterparts (123 ± 5 mg/dl) and increased (p = 0.074) the amount of circulating triglycerides (62.25 ± 7.50 mg/dl) compared with controls (39.55 ± 4.74). These results indicate that dietary DON altered the humoral immune response to viral vaccine and affected the serum clinical biochemistry. However, DON in combination with MFA did not affect serum IBV titre. Taken together, DON in the feed of broilers produced an impairment of the success of IBV vaccine and affected the health of birds.     

Maize silage particle length modulates feeding patterns and milk composition in loose-housed lactating Holstein cows

This study analysed feeding patterns and feed selective consumption by loose-housed lactating dairy cows fed diets based on maize silage (MS) with different particle length (PL) to establish its effects on overall dry matter intake (DMI) and productive performance. Twelve multiparous Holstein cows were offered a total mixed ration (TMR) with three different PL of MS at harvesting (i.e., long, medium, and short). Results demonstrated greater numbers of day-time meals (i.e., 07:30–19:00 h) when PL was decreased from long to medium (P < 0.05). Night-time (i.e., 19:00–06:30 h) changes in the feeding pattern included an increased amount of feed per meal (P < 0.05) and a tendency to increase eating time per meal (P < 0.10) in cows fed the short-PL diet. Lowering the PL of MS also lowered the selective consumption against physically effective fibre larger than 1.18 mm (peNDF_> 1.18; P < 0.05) and in favour of fine particles (i.e., particles passing through 1.18 mm screen; P < 0.01). Decreasing PL of MS from long to medium and short increased daily DMI as well as the intake of energy and other nutrients contained in the diet including the amount of peNDF_> 1.18 (P < 0.01). The decrease in the PL of the diet also was associated with increased milk protein and lactose yield and milk urea nitrogen (P < 0.05). The actual milk yield and fat-corrected milk were not affected by the diet (P > 0.10). Although lowering of the PL tended to increase daily milk energy output (P < 0.10), the ratio between energy milk output and the energy intake was linearly decreased (P < 0.01), indicating a lower milk efficiency for the lower-PL diets. In conclusion, particle length of MS in a TMR has the potential to modulate circadian feeding patterns, selective consumption of the feed, daily DMI, and milk composition in high-producing dairy cows.     

Supplementation of diets for lactating sows with zinc amino acid complex and gastric nutriment‐intubation of suckling pigs with zinc methionine on mineral status,intestinal morphology and bacterial translocation in lipopolysaccharide‐challenged weaned pigs

Sixty‐four pigs from 16 sows were used to evaluate addition of zinc amino acid complex (ZnAA) to lactating sows and gastric nutriment‐intubation of zinc methionine (ZnMet) to suckling pigs on mineral status, intestinal morphology and bacterial translocation after weaning. Sows were fed a barley‐based diet supplying 120 ppm zinc (Zn; control) or the control diet supplemented with 240 ppm Zn from ZnAA. At birth, day‐10 and day‐21 (weaning) of age, pigs from each litter were nutriment‐intubated with 5 ml of an electrolyte solution without or with 40 mg Zn from ZnMet. At weaning, 24 h prior to the collection of small and large intestinal lymph nodes and sections of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, the pigs received an intramuscular injection of saline without or with 150 μg/kg body weight of Escherichia coli O26:B6 lipopolysaccharide (LPS). With the exception of a tendency (p = 0.09) for lower serum concentration of copper in pigs at weaning from ZnAA‐supplemented sows, there were no differences (p > 0.1) than for pigs from control‐fed sows for mineral status or intestinal morphology. Nutriment‐intubation of ZnMet increased serum (p = 0.001) and liver (p = 0.003) Zn concentrations, number of goblet cells per 250 μm length of jejunal villous epithelium (p = 0.001) and tended (p = 0.06) to enhance jejunum mucosa thickness. Interactive effects (p < 0.05) for higher jejunal villi height and villi:crypt ratio and increased ileal goblet cell counts were apparent for pigs from ZnAA‐supplemented sows that also received nutriment‐intubation of ZnMet. Challenge with LPS increased (p = 0.05) ileal villous width. Nutriment‐intubation of ZnMet decreased (p = 0.05) anaerobic bacteria colony forming unit counts in the large intestinal mesenteric lymph nodes. In conclusion, nutriment‐intubation of ZnMet increased serum and liver tissue concentrations of Zn and resulted in limited improvement to intestinal morphology of weaned pigs.     

Signals for identifying cows at risk of subacute ruminal acidosis in dairy veterinary practice

Controlling rumen disorders is critical to ensure successful dairy herd health management. Lactation diets of dairy cows are commonly rich in concentrates and low in physically effective fibre. Feeding of these diets increases the risk of rumen disorders with far‐reaching consequences for cattle health, welfare and sustainability of dairy production. The term subacute ruminal acidosis or SARA is often used as a synonym for poor rumen health. Being subclinical, SARA lacks of clear symptoms and is therefore difficult to diagnose and to control in the practice. This review article summarises common and identifies new direct and indirect cow signals related to SARA. We have performed a scientific evaluation and interpretation of each of these cow signals by highlighting their advantages and disadvantages from the practitioner's point of view. The gold standard of SARA cow signals still remains direct measurement of ruminal pH. However, continuous pH monitoring is cost‐intensive and often biased by sensor drift. Single‐point ruminal pH measurements by oral stomach tubing or rumenocentesis have strong limitations. Therefore, there is a need for reliable and robust markers of SARA that are easily accessible and inexpensive. Such indirect parameters are the observation of chewing and feeding activities, as well as the monitoring of milk, faecal, urine and blood variables. Also, novel technologies that allow rapid and non‐invasive measurement of the rumen mucosa thickness and ruminal motility patterns might provide advantages in SARA diagnosis. Due to several constraints of these indirect diagnostic tools, such as limited specificity and sensitivity, we strongly recommend using a combination of the signals to reliably identify cows at risk of SARA in a dairy herd.     

Interplay between rumen digestive disorders and diet-induced inflammation in dairy cattle

In this review, an overview is provided on the current achievements regarding the interplay between rumen digestive disorders and diet-induced inflammation in dairy cattle. It starts with a review of factors favoring the disturbances in the rumen metabolism, which culminate with development of sub-acute rumen acidosis (SARA). The latter digestive disorder is often linked to greater metabolic stress of gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota and lowered fiber digestion, as well as with disruption of the barrier functions of the GI epithelia, which open the route of deleterious molecules to translocate from the GI lumen into the portal system. A model is suggested to illustrate the mechanisms of the involvement of digestive disorders in the disruption of the host's inner homeostasis leading to activation of acute phase response (APR). The latter is part of multifaceted innate immune and metabolic responses of the host. According to this model, endotoxin, its toxicity, and other metabolic compounds of microbial origin are regarded as important immunogenic components of GI tract, which when favored by disruption of host barriers triggers a systemic APR. Although the activation of an APR is viewed as a protective reaction aiming to reestablish the disturbed homeostasis, the presence of inflammatory state over long periods might be associated with negative consequences for the host. The review concludes that prolonged systemic inflammation can: (1) cause significant changes in the energy and lipid metabolism in different body tissues, (2) lead to the development of refractory states associated with immune suppression and increased susceptibility to various diseases, and (3) artificially increase host's requirements in energy and nutrients, lowering the efficiency of energy and feed use by the animal. The paper emphasizes the critical role that formulation of healthy diets plays for curbing down inflammation and enhancing metabolic health of dairy cows.     

Differences between pH of indwelling sensors and the pH of fluid and solid phase in the rumen of dairy cows fed varying concentrate levels

Feeding of high‐concentrate diets to cattle increases the risk of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). Indwelling wireless pH sensors have become popular as an early diagnostic tool for SARA recently. However, the recommended pH thresholds of SARA derive from measurements taken from free‐rumen liquid (FRL) in the ventral rumen, and not from the reticulum, where the mentioned sensors are located. The aim of this study was to evaluate commercially available indwelling pH boli for the accuracy and precision in predicting ruminal pH of FRL and the particle‐associated rumen liquid (PARL) under varying dietary concentrate levels. An additional aim was to define SARA pH thresholds of indwelled pH boli, which can be used for SARA diagnostics. The experiment was conducted with eight nonlactating rumen cannulated Holstein cows fed 0% or 65% concentrate. Data showed that the mean pH of indwelled boli was consistently higher than in FRL and PARL (pH 6.62 ± 0.02, 6.43 ± 0.02 and 6.18 ±0.02, respectively) across feeding regimens. Interestingly, the diurnal differences in pH among indwelled boli, FRL and PARL became greater during concentrate feeding, especially at 8 h after the morning feeding, suggesting that with high‐concentrate diets a particular adjustment of reticular sensor pH vs. ruminal pH in FRL and PARL is needed. The concordance correlation coefficient analysis, representing the reproducibility of the bolus measurements, was high for bolus‐FRL (0.733) and moderate for bolus‐PARL (0.510) associations. Furthermore, the quantitative relationship of the pH in FRL and PARL to the pH of the boli was described by linear regression analysis. The study determined that the common SARA threshold of pH 5.8 in FRL corresponds to a bolus pH of 6.0.     

Intravaginal administration of lactic acid bacteria modulated the incidence of purulent vaginal discharges,plasma haptoglobin concentrations,and milk production in dairy cows

This investigation studied the effects of intravaginal administration of a mixture of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the incidence of purulent vaginal discharges (PVD), plasma haptoglobin concentrations, and milk production in dairy cows. A total of 82 pregnant primiparous and multiparous Holstein dairy cows were used in this study. Half of the cows received intravaginally 1 mL of LAB at 10¹⁰–10¹² cfu/mL and the other half 1 mL of reconstituted skim milk (i.e., carrier) (controls). Administration of LAB was conducted once per wk during 2 and 1 wk before the expected day of calving and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 wk postpartum. Data demonstrated that intravaginal administration of LAB decreased the occurrence of PVD at 3 wk postpartum (P < 0.05). Concentrations of plasma haptoglobin, an acute phase protein often associated with uterine infections, was lower in cows treated with the LAB mixture at 2 wk (P < 0.001) and 3 wk (P < 0.05) postpartum. Treatment with LAB did not improve overall pregnancy rate, but the treated multiparous cows produced more milk than their control counterparts (P < 0.05), whereas no difference was observed in primiparous cows regarding milk yield (P > 0.05). Overall, this is the first study demonstrating that intravaginal LAB administration lowers the incidence of PVD and enhances milk production in dairy cows. Further research is warranted to evaluate the effects of LAB on reproductive performance in a larger cohort of cows.     

Relationship between thiamine concentration and fermentation patterns in the rumen fluid of dairy cows fed with graded concentrate levels

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the thiamine concentration and the fermentation patterns [pH, concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)] in the free liquid (FRL) and particle-associated liquid (PARL) of the rumen in dairy cows fed with graded concentrate levels in the diet. Four ruminally cannulated Holstein cows in mid lactation were fed [semi-ad libitum, 18 kg dry matter (DM)/day] diets consisting of hay (H) and slowly degradable concentrate (C), offered in five different H:C ratios (% DM basis) in the following sequence: period 1, 30:70; period 2, 40:60; period 3, 50:50; period 4, 60:40 and period 5, 75:25. A negative quadratic relationship was observed between thiamine concentration in FRL and intake of dietary thiamine (R(2) = 0.36), of concentrate (R(2) = 0.38) and of digestible non-fibre carbohydrates (R(2) = 0.37). The thiamine concentration in PARL was higher (p < or = 0.05) compared to FRL. The ruminal thiamine concentration correlated negatively to pH and positively to concentrations of SCFA and propionate in the rumen. R(2) of these relationships varied markedly (0.002 and 0.77), depending on time after feeding and fluid digesta compartment. The higher R(2) were observed at 8 and 11 h after the morning feeding for FRL (R(2) 0.46-0.71) and PARL (R(2) 0.41-0.77), respectively.     

Balancing diets for physically effective fibre and ruminally degradable starch: A key to lower the risk of sub-acute rumen acidosis and improve productivity of dairy cattle

Finding an optimal balance between the amount of physically effective fibre and rumen fermentable carbohydrates in the diets of high-producing dairy cows is difficult, but critical to prevent sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA), optimize digestion, nutrient utilization, and improve productivity. The main aim of the present review was to provide a summary of recent achievements regarding the role that interactions between dietary factors such as grain fermentability and physically effective neutral detergent fibre (peNDF) have on rumen fermentation and SARA as well as on production performance in high-producing dairy cows. The review first considers factors related to grain fermentability and finds that the latter variable depends mainly on the source of starch as well as in processing and conservation method; however, dairy cow's response to grain fermentability should be considered in relation with the total amount of starch and/or concentration of peNDF in the diet. Forages and current methods used in the evaluation of their physical characteristics were also reviewed suggesting the use of Penn State Particle Separator as an adequate approach to determine the distribution of particle fractions as well as the content of peNDF in both forages and total mixed rations. Furthermore, results reviewed in this study suggest that a content of peNDF_> 1.18 (expressed inclusive of particles-dry matter > 1.18 mm) in the diet of about 30–32% is sufficient in maintaining a daily mean of ruminal pH of 6.2, lowering the risk of SARA, and preventing milk fat depression without exerting any negative effects on daily feed intake and milk production. The review concludes with a practical recommendation in terms of balancing diets with peNDF_> 1.18 and ruminally degradable starch, suggesting that a ratio between the two variables lower than 1.45 should be avoided when formulating diets for lactating dairy cows.