Differences in Blood and Milk Fatty Acid Profile of Primiparous and Multiparous Mediterranean Buffaloes Cows During Transition Period and Early Lactation

The objective of this study was to determine the differences in blood and fatty acid (FA) profile between primiparous and multiparous Mediterranean buffaloes cows from 28 days of expected calving date until 56 days in milk. Nine multiparous (MUL) and 7 primiparous (PRI) cows were used in the present study, animals grazed in Brachiaria decumbens and supplemented with 2.0 kg of concentrate/day. Blood and milk samples were collected once a week and data were submitted to repeated measures analysis using PROC MIXED of SAS. Multiparous cows presented higher concentrations of glucose and non-esterified FA during pre- and post-partum period, higher cholesterol during post-partum when compared to PRI. Milk yield and fat content were higher for MUL (6.44 kg/d and 7.89%) when compared to PRI (5.66 kg/d and 6.75%). Palmitic and palmitoleic FA were lower and C18:0, C18:1 trans-11 and C18:1 cis-9 FAwere higher in MUL cows. Multiparous buffalo cows demonstrated higher milk yield and fat content than PRI, and milk FA profile of MUL had higher amounts of C18:0 FA. Multiparous buffalos presented higher non-esterified fatty acid, which altered milk fat content, and higher milk yield than primiparous cows. Furthermore, multiparous cows presented a higher content of FA from incomplete biohydrogenation process

Complex B Vitamin Improves Performance of Mediterranean Buffalo Calves in Artificial Suckling from Birth to Weaning

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ponderal development, blood parameters and hematological from buffalo calves in artificial suckling supplemented with vitamin-mineral additive from birth to weaning. 18 buffalo calves were used and divided into two random groups: 1) control group; 2) group supplemented with vitamin B complex (Metacell ®). To evaluation of the ponderal development, the calves were weighed weekly and measured the thoracic perimeter, height and body length. Blood samples were collected weekly throughout the experimental period by jugular vein puncture. The group of calves supplemented with additives showed the greatest ponderal development in relation to the control group. Similarly the group of calves supplemented with additive has higher concentration of total cholesterol, urea and total protein. However there was no additive effect on the levels of glucose, albumin and beta-hydroxybutyrate. The values of leukocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes increased with the oral use of the additive in relation to the control group. This study supports the definition of reference values for the evaluation of buffalo calves during suckling period. The additive use to buffalo calves improves ponderal performance without significantly alter the metabolic profile

Lactating dairy cows fed an exogenous amylolytic enzyme

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar os efeitos de doses dietéticas crescentes de um produto comercial com atividade amilolítica (AmaizeTM, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY, EUA) na ingestão e digestibilidade aparente total de nutrientes, índice de seleção, fermentação ruminal, produção e composição do leite, perfil metabólico, balanço de energia e nitrogênio em vacas no terço médio de lactação. Foram utilizadas vinte e quatro vacas multíparas da raça Holandesa (162,29 ± 107,96 dias em lactação e 31,60 ± 6,51 kg/d de produção de leite, no início do experimento), sendo que 8 delas possuíam cânulas ruminais, distribuídas em seis quadrados Latinos 4 × 4 contemporâneos e balanceados de acordo com a produção de leite, dias em lactação e o peso corporal dos animais. Os períodos experimentais tiveram duração de 14 dias de adaptação aos tratamentos e 7 dias de amostragem. Os tratamentos foram: dieta basal sem adição de enzima amilolítica ou controle (CON), e dieta basal com adição de 150, 300 ou 450 FAU/kg de MS da dieta (A150, A300 ou A450, respectivamente). Uma FAU (unidade de amilase fúngica) é a quantidade de enzima capaz de dextrinizar amido solúvel na taxa de 1 g/h a 30°C e pH de 4,8. A ingestão média esperada do produto comercial pelos animais foi de 7,37; 14,45; e 21,97 g/d nos tratamentos A150, A300 e A450, respectivamente. Os tratamentos não influenciaram a ingestão de MS e de nutrientes, como também o índice de seleção. Os tratamentos não influenciaram a digestibilidade do amido; porém, a inclusão de enzimas amilolíticas aumentou linearmente a digestibilidade de proteína bruta e tendeu a aumentar linearmente a digestibilidade da MS. Os tratamentos com atividade amilolítica não afetaram o pH e a concentração de amônia no fluído ruminal. A adição de enzimas amilolíticas aumentou linearmente a produção de iso-valerato no rúmen. Além disso, os tratamentos não influenciaram a produção e composição do leite, assim como a eficiência alimentar (kg leite / ingestão de MS) dos animais. A enzima amilolítica aumentou linearmente o peso corporal. Apesar de não alterar a composição do leite, a suplementação com enzima amilolítica diminuiu linearmente a excreção de nitrogênio no leite. As doses crescentes de enzima amilolítica tenderam a diminuir linearmente a eficiência de síntese de proteína microbiana. Não foram observadas diferenças nas concentrações séricas de glicose, ureia, e enzimas que indicam lesões hepáticas. A suplementação com doses crescentes enzima amilolítica não afetou a eficiência alimentar, produção de propionato e de proteína microbiana no rúmen, e perfil metabólico de vacas em lactação. No entanto, os tratamentos aumentaram linearmente a digestibilidade de proteína bruta e o peso corporal das vacasThe objective of the current study was to determine the effects of increasing dietary doses of a commercial product with amylolytic activity (AmaizeTM, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY, USA) on nutrient intake and total apparent digestibility, sorting index, ruminal fermentation, milk yield and composition, serum metabolic profile, energy and nitrogen utilization of midlactating dairy cows. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows (162.29 ± 107.96 days in milk and 31.60 ± 6.51 kg/d milk yield, before starting the experiment), in which 8 were ruminally cannulated, were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin experiment design. The squares were contemporaneous and balanced for milk production, days in milk and live weight of cows. The experimental periods consisted of 14 days to treatments adaptation and 7 days for sampling. Treatments were composed of: basal diet with no enzyme or control (CON), and basal diet with addition of 150, 300 or 450 FAU/kg diet DM (A150, A300 or A450, respectively). One FAU (fungal amylase unit) is able to dextrinize soluble starch at rate of 1g/h on 30°C and pH 4.8. The expected average intake of the commercial product for treatments A150, A300 and A450 were 7.37, 14.45 and 21.97 g/d, respectively. Treatments did not influence the DM and nutrient intake, as well as the sorting index. Treatments did not alter starch digestibility; however, they linearly increased the crude protein digestibility and tended to linearly increase the DM digestibility. Treatments with amylolytic activity did not affect the pH and ammonia concentrations of ruminal fluid. The addition of amylolytic enzyme linearly increased the iso-valerate production in the rumen. In addition, treatments did not influence the milk yield and composition, as well as the milk production efficiency (kg of milk / DM intake) of animals. Treatments linearly increased the live weight and maintenance energy utilization of cows. Despite the enzyme supplementation did not alter the milk composition, it linearly decreased the milk nitrogen excretion. Treatments tended to linearly decreased the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis. No differences were observed on serum metabolic profile of animals, including concentrations of glucose, urea and enzymes which indicate hepatic damage. The supplementation with increasing doses of amylolytic enzymes did not affect the milk production efficiency, ruminal propionate production and microbial protein synthesis, and serum metabolic profile of mid-lactating dairy cows. However, treatments linearly increased the crude protein digestibility and live weight of cow

Feeding strategies to improve health and sustainability of dairy cattle

Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Animal Sciences and IndustryBarry J. BradfordDairy farming is a multi-billion industry that produces high-quality sources of protein, vitamins, and minerals in the form of dairy products to an ever-growing world population. The dairy industry, however, has been challenged to produce more milk using feeds that are not desirable for other livestock (i.e. swine and poultry) or human nutrition. High milk producing cows have greater risk of developing metabolic/infectious diseases and reproductive problems, often associated with immune system dysfunction. Feeding strategies during the transition period primarily targeting the modulation of the immune system have shown positive effects on controlling inflammation, measures of cellular immune response, and overall performance of cows. An immunomodulatory feed additive was fed to cows during the dry period and early lactation to evaluate immune cell responses and overall performance. Immune cells were collected from peripheral blood and uterus of cows. The feed additive modulated uterine immune cell response after parturition, where this effect was dependent on parity and day of lactation. Milk responses to this feed additive were influenced by environmental temperature and humidity that cows experienced during 2 wk before and 2 wk after parturition. The administration of sodium salicylate via drinking water during the first week after parturition altered the abundance of inflammatory mediators in subcutaneous adipose tissue of cows. Changes included an increase in abundance of complement system proteins and interleukin-10 signaling, and evidence for greater monocyte infiltration. The metabolic effects of sodium salicylate observed in earlier studies might be associated with changes promoted in adipose tissue. Finally, two experiments were carried out to demonstrate that conventional diets for lactating cows are relatively efficient at converting human-edible foods in milk, returning greater amounts of digestible essential amino acids than the human-edible feeds provided to cows. Findings such as these can provide the dairy industry more tools for improving herd health and promoting sustainability of the dairy industry as a whole

Effects of polymer coated slow-release urea on ruminal fermentation and nutrient total tract digestion of beef steers

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of polymer coated slow-release urea (SRU) in high-forage diets of beef steers on nutrient intake and digestibility, ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, and energy balance. Eight 24-mo-old rumen-fistulated castrated Nellore steers (average body weight = 418.0±40.0 kg) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Animals were randomly distributed to receive one of the following diets: no urea inclusion; 1.0% inclusion of feed grade urea in the diet (dry matter [DM] basis); 1.0% inclusion of slow-release urea 1 in the diet (DM basis); and 1.0% inclusion of slow-release urea 2 in the diet (DM basis). Slow-release urea 2 had a similar composition to that of slow-release urea 1 and differed in that it contained 2.95% sulfur. A high-forage diet was provided (75% of total DM) and corn silage was used as the forage source. Diets with urea had increased crude protein (CP) intake, and CP and total digestible nutrients total tract digestion. Urea sources increased ruminal concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and acetate, and decreased butyrate concentrations. The polymer coated urea did not alter ruminal fermentation when compared with feed grade urea. Diets did not affect the energy balance of steers. Feed grade urea presented greater microbial protein synthesis than polymer coated slow-release urea. The partial replacement of soybean meal by 1% slow-release urea in a diet with 75% forage does not improve ruminal fermentation and microbial protein synthesis, and shows similar results as feeding feed grade urea to beef steers

Effects of polymer-coated slow-release urea on performance, ruminal fermentation, and blood metabolites in dairy cows

ABSTRACTThe objective of this experiment was to quantify the effects of feeding polymer-coated slow-release urea on nutrient intake and total tract digestion, milk yield and composition, nutrient balances, ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, and blood parameters in dairy cows. Sixteen Holstein cows (580±20 kg of live weight (mean ± standard deviation); 90 to 180 days in milk (DIM); and 28 kg/d of average milk yield) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design. The animals were assigned to each square according to milk yield and DIM. The animals were randomly allocated to receive one of the following experimental diets: 1) control (without urea addition); urea (addition of 1% on the diet DM basis); polymer-coated slow release urea 1 (addition of 1% on the diet DM basis); and polymer-coated slow release urea 2 (addition of 1% on the diet DM basis). All diets contained corn silage as forage source and a 50:50 forage:concentrate ratio. Milk and protein yield, production of volatile fatty acids, and propionate decreased when cows were fed diets containing urea. Addition of urea decreased nitrogen efficiency and nitrogen excreted in the feces. However, the diets did not change the cows' microbial protein synthesis, ruminal pH, or ammonia concentration. The inclusion of urea in cow diets decreases milk and protein yield due to lower production of volatile fatty acids. No advantages are observed with supplementation of polymer-coated slow-release urea when compared with feed-grade urea