Effects of a combination of plant bioactive lipid compounds and biotin compared with monensin on body condition, energy metabolism and milk performance in transition dairy cows

<div><p>The aim of this study was to test whether a combination of plant bioactive lipid compounds (also termed ‘essential oils’) and biotin (PBLC+B) could decrease the mobilization of body reserves and ketosis incidence in postpartum dairy cows. We compared non-supplemented control (CON) cows with cows receiving monensin (MON) as a controlled-release capsule at d -21, and with cows receiving PBLC+B from day (d) -21 before calving until calving (Phase 1) and further until d 37 after calving (Phase 2), followed by PBLC+B discontinuation from d 38 to d 58 (Phase 3). The PBLC+B cows had higher body weight and higher back fat thickness than CON cows and lesser body weight change than MON and CON cows in Phase 3. Body condition score was not different among groups. Milk protein concentration tended to be higher on the first herd test day in PBLC+B vs. CON cows. Milk fat concentration tended to be highest in PBLC+B cows throughout Phases 2 and 3, with significantly higher values in PBLC+B vs. MON cows on the second herd test day. Yields of energy-corrected milk were higher in PBLC+B vs. CON and MON cows in Phase 2 and higher in PBLC+B and MON cows vs. CON cows in Phase 3. The incidence of subclinical ketosis was 83%, 61% and 50% in CON, PBLC+B and MON cows, respectively, with lower mean β-hydroxybutyrate values in MON than in PBLC+B cows in Phase 1 prepartum. The serum triglyceride concentration was higher in PBLC+B vs. CON cows on d 37. No differences were observed in serum glucose, urea, non-esterified fatty acids, cholesterol and bilirubin concentrations. Aspartate transaminase and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase but not glutamate dehydrogenase activities tended to be highest in MON and lowest in PBLC+B in Phase 2. We conclude that PBLC+B prevent body weight loss after parturition and are associated with similar ketosis incidence and partly higher yields of energy-corrected milk compared to MON supplementation of dairy cows.</p></div

Serum activities of enzymes in cows receiving plant bioactive lipid compounds and biotin (PBLC+B; n = 18) from d -21 to 37 relative to parturition, cows receiving a monensin bolus (MON; n = 18) at d -21 or cows receiving no such supplements (CON; n = 17).

<p>Serum activities of enzymes in cows receiving plant bioactive lipid compounds and biotin (PBLC+B; n = 18) from d -21 to 37 relative to parturition, cows receiving a monensin bolus (MON; n = 18) at d -21 or cows receiving no such supplements (CON; n = 17).</p

Milk robot visits, milk yield and milk composition of cows receiving plant bioactive lipid compounds and biotin (PBLC+B; n = 18) from d -21 to d 37 relative to parturition, cows receiving a monensin bolus (MON; n = 18) at d -21 or cows receiving no such supplements (CON; n = 17).

<p>Milk robot visits, milk yield and milk composition of cows receiving plant bioactive lipid compounds and biotin (PBLC+B; n = 18) from d -21 to d 37 relative to parturition, cows receiving a monensin bolus (MON; n = 18) at d -21 or cows receiving no such supplements (CON; n = 17).</p

Milk performance on herd test days of cows receiving plant bioactive lipid compounds and biotin (PBLC+B) from d -21 to 37 relative to parturition, cows receiving a monensin bolus (MON) at d -21 or cows receiving no such supplements (CON).

<p>Milk performance on herd test days of cows receiving plant bioactive lipid compounds and biotin (PBLC+B) from d -21 to 37 relative to parturition, cows receiving a monensin bolus (MON) at d -21 or cows receiving no such supplements (CON).</p

Descriptive statistics of the average number of animals on the participating farms per age group.

Descriptive statistics of the average number of animals on the participating farms per age group.</p

Treatment frequencies of the different age groups per animal and year on nine dairy farms.

Box, the range between the 1st (Q1) and 3rd (Q3) quartile; horizontal line, median; dashed line, mean; circles, outlying points (5th, 95th percentiles, respectively).</p

Using different RumiWatch noseband sensor and accelerometer (RumiWatch, ITIN+HOCH GmbH, Fütterungstechnik, Liestal, Switzerland) variable combinations as predictors of a cow being lame (numerical rating system according to Flower and Weary[38], NRS ≥ 2.5) in multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics analysis on different cutoff-values with corresponding sensitivity and specificity.

<p>Using different RumiWatch noseband sensor and accelerometer (RumiWatch, ITIN+HOCH GmbH, Fütterungstechnik, Liestal, Switzerland) variable combinations as predictors of a cow being lame (numerical rating system according to Flower and Weary[<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0155796#pone.0155796.ref038" target="_blank">38</a>], NRS ≥ 2.5) in multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics analysis on different cutoff-values with corresponding sensitivity and specificity.</p

Results of univariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics analysis of a cow being lame (numerical rating system according to Flower and Weary [38], NRS ≥ 2.5) using different RumiWatch noseband sensor and accelerometer (RumiWatch, ITIN+HOCH GmbH, Fütterungstechnik, Liestal, Switzerland) variables as predictors on the cutoff value with highest sensitivity + specificity.

<p>Results of univariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics analysis of a cow being lame (numerical rating system according to Flower and Weary [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0155796#pone.0155796.ref038" target="_blank">38</a>], NRS ≥ 2.5) using different RumiWatch noseband sensor and accelerometer (RumiWatch, ITIN+HOCH GmbH, Fütterungstechnik, Liestal, Switzerland) variables as predictors on the cutoff value with highest sensitivity + specificity.</p

Descriptive statistics of the treatment frequencies per year of the different age groups for different indications.

Descriptive statistics of the treatment frequencies per year of the different age groups for different indications.</p

Variables of RumiWatch noseband sensors and 3D-accelerometers (RumiWatch, ITIN+HOCH GmbH, Fütterungstechnik, Liestal, Switzerland).

<p>Variables of RumiWatch noseband sensors and 3D-accelerometers (RumiWatch, ITIN+HOCH GmbH, Fütterungstechnik, Liestal, Switzerland).</p