预防奶牛酮病的饲养措施

文章概述了通过适宜的干乳期、提供营养平衡的日粮、控制饲喂含酮体高的饲料、改善粗饲料质量满足泌乳前期高产奶牛营养需要、在干乳期和泌乳前期饲料中使用预防酮病的添加剂等控制奶牛酮病的饲养措施。     

围产前期奶牛血清相关能量平衡指标和脂肪因子对酮病的预警作用及意义

为探究围产期奶牛产前14和7 d血清能量平衡指标以及脂肪因子对产后酮病的预警作用及意义。从奶牛产前21 d至产后21 d,每隔7 d跟踪采集60头围产期奶牛尾静脉血,最终筛选出健康奶牛21头,酮病奶牛17头,检测奶牛各时间点血清BHBA、NEFA、Glu、TG、INS、 ADP、LEP、抵抗素、IL-6和TNF-α含量,利用二元Logistic回归模型筛选预警酮病的指标,再采用ROC曲线确定各风险评估指标的诊断效果及最佳分界值。结果表明:奶牛产前14 d时,血清BHBA和NEFA可作为酮病的预警指标;BHBA的最佳分界值为0.42 mmol/L,对应的敏感度为58.8%,特异度为81.0%;NEFA的最佳分界值为0.47 mmol/L,对应的敏感度为58.8%,特异度为90.5%;产前7 d时,血清BHBA和NEFA可作为酮病的预警指标,BHBA的最佳分界值为0.34 mmol/L,对应的敏感度为76.5%,特异度为66.7%;NEFA的最佳分界值为0.32 mmol/L,对应的敏感度为94.1%,特异度为47.6%。本研究发现产前14和7 d血清ADP、LEP、抵抗素、IL-6和TNF-α均不适合为产后酮病的预警指标。然而,随预产期临近,该5种脂肪因子Logistic曲线的显著性逐渐向具有统计学意义接近,存在作为酮病预警指标的潜力。     

乳牛产后血浆瘦素动态与亚临床酮病的相关分析

对某奶牛场16头乳牛产前10d至产后56d血样的瘦素、酮体、葡萄糖、脂肪水平及其动态特征和相关性进行了检测。结果表明，血浆瘦素、血酮、血脂含量在不同乳牛和不同时间点之间均有显著差异。酮体在产后14～49d出现高峰，瘦素和血脂从产后第0d到产后第56d内逐渐升高。瘦素水平与血脂水平呈极显著正相关，血酮与血糖呈极显著负相关。亚临床酮病组乳牛的瘦素和血脂水平分别极显著或显著低于血酮正常组，其瘦素、血酮和血糖在试验期内的波动频率明显减少，跨度变长，瘦素在试验期内仅出现一个两端接近0、波峰不超过1．5ng／mL的波。证实，产后乳牛瘦素、血酮、血糖含量的低频率波动变化和产后8周内血浆瘦素跨时持久的单峰动态变化与乳牛亚临床酮病的发生有关。     

酮病对泌乳早期乳牛体内代谢和内分泌的影响

随机选取某奶牛场10头患临床酮病乳牛和10头同期健康对照组乳牛，检测了2组乳牛血液10项指标，阐明了酮病对泌乳早期乳牛体内代谢和内分泌的影响。结果显示，酮病乳牛血糖浓度极显著降低（P〈O．01），血浆NEFA和BHBA的浓度明显增高（P〈O．01）；酮病乳牛血浆Ins、LP、NPY、E2的浓度和Ins／Gn比值均明显降低（P〈O．05），而血浆Gn浓度未明显升高，P4未明显降低（P〉0．05）。表明，酮病乳牛体内某些激素协调作用紊乱会妨碍酮病乳牛能量负平衡的缓解，并将对产后生殖机能产生不良影响。     

T lymphocyte responses during early enteric Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection in cattle

Johne's disease (JD) is a costly intestinal disease of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map), which is transmitted to perinatal calves by the fecal-oral route. Disease control efforts focus on identification and culling of infected cattle from herds; therefore failure to identify animals early is a major obstacle to reducing transmission. Development of host immunity during early JD remain incompletely characterized so detecting subclinical JD using immunologic techniques is a substantial challenge in the field. Development of a test with high sensitivity and specificity is a major research goal with significant implications for the cattle industry. The objectives of this study were to compare early Map-specific T lymphocyte responses in naive, experimentally Map infected and Map vaccinated calves using a subcutaneous matrigel biopolymer-based assay. We examined the phenotype of recruited lymphocytes and local interferon gamma (IFNγ) production within subcutaneously placed matrigel containing Map antigen 30 days after experimentally induced intestinal Map infection or Map vaccination. We show that IFNγ-secreting CD4+ T cells are recruited to matrigel sites in vaccinated but not infected or naïve calves. γδ T cells recruited to matrigel sites of Map-infected calves were mostly WC1-, while γδ T cells recruited to matrigel sites of Map-vaccinated calves were predominantly WC1+. IFNγ at matrigel sites was a discriminating factor between infected calves, naïve calves and vaccinated calves. These data contribute to our understanding of early anti-Map immunity, and may be useful for detecting early intestinal Map infections in calves or for enhancing our ability to discriminate between Map-infected and Map-vaccinated calves.     

An epidemiological and genetic study on registered diseases in Finnish Ayrshire cattle. III. Metabolic diseases

The epidemiology of clinical ketosis, hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia was examined. In addition, the genetic variability of ketosis and parturient paresis was investigated. The data set consisted of the lactation records of 70,775 Finnish Ayrshire dairy cows. Each cow was under observation for 2 days before and for 305 days after calving. Lactation incidence rates (%) were: ketosis 6.0, parturient paresis 3.8, non-parturient paresis 0.6, hypomagnesaemic tetany, outdoor 0.6, and indoor 0.2. These diseases formed 22 % of all first treatments by veterinarians during farm visits. 92 % of the cases of ketosis occurred with 8 weeks of parturition, with the highest occurrence 3–5 weeks after calving. Four % of cases of parturient paresis occurred before, and 45 % within 24 h after calving. When cases were categorized by month of calving the risk of ketosis was higher during indoor feeding (October-April) than during outdoor feeding (May-September). The risk of parturient paresis did not significantly vary with month of calving. The occurrence of ketosis increased with parity up to the 4th and decreased thereafter. The occurrence of parturient paresis increased with parity. Both the increase in herd milk yield and the increase in individual milk yields were positively associated with the occurrence of ketosis and parturient paresis. The cows with a history of the reproductive tract infection had a higher risk of contracting ketosis. Heritability estimates for ketosis in various parity groups were from 1.6 % to 4.1 % on the binomial scale (corresponding to 7.3 %–14.4 % on the normal scale), and for parturient paresis from 3.5 to 10.5% (corresponding from 18.3 % to 27.4 %). The genetic correlation between ketosis and parturient paresis, and these and current milk production for all material were insignificant.     

Immune function in dairy cows related to energy balance and metabolic status in early lactation

Two feeding experiments were carried out in 2 successive years with 28 cows of the Norwegian Red Cattle (NRF) in each experiment. The cows were randomly distributed into 4 groups and subjected to different feeding regimens from 1 month prior to calving until 12 weeks after calving. The experimental design was factorial (2 x 2) with respect to protein content of the concentrate (17.5% digestible crude protein (DCP) v.s. 12.5% DCP) and concentrate allowances (standard v.s. substandard allowances after calving). Silage was offered ad libitum. Samples for estimation of serum immunoglobulin-G, white blood cells and lymphocyte responses to the mitogens phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen were collected 4 weeks prior to expected calving, and 2, 4 and 8 weeks after calving. The levels of milk immunoglobulin-G were estimated at calving and 2, 4 and 8 weeks after calving. A significant positive relationship was found between the estimated energy balance and the lymphocyte response to mitogens. Little evidence was found for the existence of a significant relationship between the immunologic parameters and plasma indicators of metabolic status. The lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin and levels of serum immunoglobulin-G increased, while levels of milk immunoglobulin-G decreased during the period from calving to 8 weeks after calving. Increased milk somatic cell counts were associated with a significant decrease in the lymphocyte responses to mitogens.     

Prevalence of pathogens causing subclinical mastitis in 15 dairy herds in the Republic of Ireland

: Milk samples from 285 cows in 15 dairy herds were collected for bacteriological analysis. Cows were selected on the basis of a somatic cell count (SCC) exceeding 200,000 cells per ml at the three most recent milk recordings prior to sampling. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus uberis were the predominant isolates accounting for 21% (n = 61) and 19% (n = 53) of isolates, respectively. Streptococcus uberis was more frequently isolated from split-calving herds than from spring-calving herds and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.005). Herds with suboptimal housing had a significantly greater prevalence of S. uberis than did herds where housing was adequate (P < 0.005). The isolation rates for S. aureus was significantly greater in herds where parlour hygiene was suboptimal (P < 0.05).     

The Role of Exogenous Insulin in the Complex of Hepatic Lipidosis and Ketosis Associated with Insulin Resistance Phenomenon in Postpartum Dairy Cattle

As a result of a marked decline in dry matter intake (DMI) prior to parturition and a slow rate of increase in DMI relative to milk production after parturition, dairy cattle experience a negative energy balance. Changes in nutritional and metabolic status during the periparturient period predispose dairy cattle to develop hepatic lipidosis and ketosis. The metabolic profile during early lactation includes low concentrations of serum insulin, plasma glucose, and liver glycogen and high concentrations of serum glucagon, adrenaline, growth hormone, plasma β-hydroxybutyrate and non-esterified fatty acids, and liver triglyceride. Moreover, during late gestation and early lactation, flow of nutrients to fetus and mammary tissues are accorded a high degree of metabolic priority. This priority coincides with lowered responsiveness and sensitivity of extrahepatic tissues to insulin, which presumably plays a key role in development of hepatic lipidosis and ketosis. Hepatic lipidosis and ketosis compromise production, immune function, and fertility. Cows with hepatic lipidosis and ketosis have low tissue responsiveness to insulin owing to ketoacidosis. Insulin has numerous roles in metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. Insulin is an anabolic hormone and acts to preserve nutrients as well as being a potent feed intake regulator. In addition to the major replacement therapy to alleviate severity of negative energy balance, administration of insulin with concomitant delivery of dextrose increases efficiency of treatment for hepatic lipidosis and ketosis. However, data on use of insulin to prevent these lipid-related metabolic disorders are limited and it should be investigated.     

Mass spectral analysis of urine proteomic profiles of dairy cows suffering from clinical ketosis

Background: Ketosis is an important metabolic disorder in dairy cows during the transition period. The urine proteomics of ketosis has not been investigated using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS).

Objective: The aim is to determine differences between urine proteomic profiles of healthy cows and those with clinical ketosis, and facilitate studies of the underlying physiological and biochemical mechanisms that lead to liver pathology in ketosis.

Animals and methods: We analyzed the urine samples of 20 cows with clinical ketosis (group 1) and 20 control cows (group 2) using SELDI-TOF-MS.

Results: Thirty-nine peptide peaks differed between both groups. Polypeptides corresponding to 26 of these differential peptide peaks were identified using the SWISS-PROT protein database. We found that the peaks of 11 distinct polypeptides from the urine samples of the ketosis group were significantly reduced, compared with those of the control group as based on the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Among these were VGF (non-acronymic) protein, amyloid precursor protein, serum amyloid A (SAA), fibrinogen, C1INH, apolipoprotein C-III, cystatin C, transthyretin, hepcidin, human neutrophil peptides, and osteopontin.

Conclusion: These proteins may represent novel biomarkers of the metabolic changes that occur in dairy cows with ketosis. Our results will help to better understand the physiological changes and pathogenesis observed in cows with ketosis.

Clinical importance: The SELDI-TOF-MS can be used to understand the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of ketosis and identify biomarkers of the disease.