Detection of Methane Eructation Peaks in Dairy Cows at a Robotic Milking Station Using Signal Processing

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The objective of this study was to investigate the use of signal processing to detect eructation peaks in methane (CH(4)) released by dairy cows during robotic milking using three gas analysers. This study showed that signal processing can be used to detect CH(4) eructations and extract spot measurements from individual cows whilst being milked. There was a reasonable correlation between the gas analysers studied. Measurement of eructations using a signal processing approach can provide a repeatable and accurate measurement of enteric CH(4) emissions from cows with different gas analysers. ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the use of signal processing to detect eructation peaks in CH(4) released by cows during robotic milking, and to compare recordings from three gas analysers (Guardian SP and NG, and IRMAX) differing in volume of air sampled and response time. To allow comparison of gas analysers using the signal processing approach, CH(4) in air (parts per million) was measured by each analyser at the same time and continuously every second from the feed bin of a robotic milking station. Peak analysis software was used to extract maximum CH(4) amplitude (ppm) from the concentration signal during each milking. A total of 5512 CH(4) spot measurements were recorded from 65 cows during three consecutive sampling periods. Data were analysed with a linear mixed model including analyser × period, parity, and days in milk as fixed effects, and cow ID as a random effect. In period one, air sampling volume and recorded CH(4) concentration were the same for all analysers. In periods two and three, air sampling volume was increased for IRMAX, resulting in higher CH(4) concentrations recorded by IRMAX and lower concentrations recorded by Guardian SP (p < 0.001), particularly in period three, but no change in average concentrations measured by Guardian NG across periods. Measurements by Guardian SP and IRMAX had the highest correlation; Guardian SP and NG produced similar repeatability and detected more variation among cows compared with IRMAX. The findings show that signal processing can provide a reliable and accurate means to detect CH(4) eructations from animals when using different gas analysers

Effect of different exogenous fatty acids on the cytosolic triacylglycerol content in bovine mammary cells

The objective of this study was to determine how cytosolic triacylglycerols (TAG) are stored in mammary cells and whether this depends on the individual chemical configuration of fatty acids (FA). This objective was accomplished by addition of different FA to a FA-free medium used to culture mammary alveolar cells-large T antigen cells (MAC-T). Treatments consisted of adding FA (palmitate, stearate, oleate, linoleate, rumenic acid [CLA], elaidate and vaccinate) solutions to the medium at 100, 200, 300 and 400 mmol/L concentrations for a 24-h incubation period. At the end of each incubation period, cytosolic TAG, DNA and protein contents were measured. Palmitate, vaccenate, linoleate and CLA increased (P < 0.05) cytosolic TAG (μg/mg protein). Palmitate and CLA increased (P < 0.05) cytosolic TAG adjusted for DNA content. Overall, effects on cytosolic TAG accumulation depended on individual FA structure (chain length, degree of saturation, and number and orientation of FA double bonds). In addition, the long-chain FA used in this study did not have a detrimental effect on MAC-T cells as indicated by cytosolic protein and DNA contents reflecting their biological role in lipid accumulation

Short-term variations of c18:1 trans fatty acids in plasma lipoproteins and ruminal fermentation parameters of non-lactating cows subjected to ruminal pulses of oils

© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. The objective of this study was to evaluate short-term variations of trans fatty acids (TFA) in plasma lipoproteins and ruminal fermentation parameters of non-lactating cows subjected to ruminal pulses of vegetable oils. Three non-lactating, non-pregnant Holstein cows, each with a ruminal cannula, were arranged in a 3 × 3 Latin square design with three-day pulsing periods and four-day washout intervals between treatments. Cows were treated with single ruminal pulses of: (1) control (skimmed milk (SM); 500 mL); (2) soybean oil (SO; 250 g/d in 500 mL of SM) and (3) partially-hydrogenated vegetable oil (PHVO; 250 g/d in 500 mL of SM). Time changes after infusion in TFA contents were only observed for plasma C18:1 trans-4, trans-5 and trans-12, and high-density lipoprotein fraction C18:1 trans-9. After ruminal pulses, concentration of acetate decreased linearly; molar concentrations of propionate and valerate increased linearly; molar concentrations of butyrate and isovalerate changed quadratically and were greater at 1 h than at other times. There was an accumulation of several C18:1 TFA in plasma and lipoproteins, especially on the third day of pulsing. Overall, naturally occurring C18:1 TFA isomers (produced during ruminal biohydrogenation of SO) and preformed TFA (supplied by PHVO) elicited differential TFA partitioning and transport in plasma and lipoproteins

Evaluation of rumen protected rapeseed expeller (NovaPro) as an alternative to soya bean meal in dairy cow diets

There are environmental, social and economic pressures to reduce the use of soya bean meal in ruminant diets by using alternative protein sources, such as those derived from rapeseed. A new protected form of rapeseed (NovaPro) has been developed to provide similar quantities of digestible undegradable protein (DUP) compared to soya bean meal. NovaPro is hot pressed expelled rapeseed (no hexane solvent used), treated with a specific wood derived xylose-rich lignosulphonate in the presence of elevated moisture and heat to increase DUP. The objective of this study was to evaluate NovaPro as a protein supplement for high yielding dairy cows. Four diets were formulated to supply similar quantities of metabolisable energy and protein but containing different dominant protein sources. The main protein sources were: Control – soya bean and rapeseed meals; NP1 – NovaPro and wheat distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS); PR – protected solvent-extracted rapeseed meal and wheat-DDGS; NP2 - NovaPro and SoyPass. Diets were fed to 44 cows using a Latin square design with four feeding periods of 28 days each.Milk yield was significantly higher when cows were fed on rapeseed treatment diets (mean 42.7 kg/d) than when fed on the control diet (mean 41.1 kg/d), as was energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield (mean 43.2 versus 41.7kg/d). Dry matter intake was higher when cows were fed on NP1 and NP2 (mean 25.0 kg/d) than when they were fed on the control diet (mean 23.9 kg/d); dry matter intake for PR was intermediate (mean 24.4 kg/d). Concentrations of milk fat and protein reflected differences in milk yield, and there was no difference between treatments in fat or protein yield, although fat plus protein yield was higher when cows were fed on rapeseed treatment diets (mean 2.84 kg/d) than when fed on the control diet (mean 2.72 kg/d). Differences in rumen fluid and blood composition were commensurate with differences in diet composition, nutrient intake and milk yield. Retrospective calculation of metabolisable energy and protein supplies showed that these were within 3% of requirements for observed responses. Calculation of amino acid profiles suggested that profiles, particularly methionine, were better for the rapeseed treatment diets. Results of this study support the hypothesis that cows fed on NovaPro and other rumen protected rapeseed proteins will have similar or improved milk production compared to a control (soya-based) diet. Improved milk yield was accompanied by increased dry matter intake, but it is likely that intake was driven by milk yield rather than vice versa. The most likely explanation for improved milk yield when cows were fed on the rapeseed treatment diets is that amino acid balance was improved compared to control

Inclusion of Wheat Dried Distillers’ Grains with Solubles from Bioethanol Plants in Diets for Dairy Cows

Dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) from bioethanol production can replace soya in diets for dairy cows, but optimum inclusion level of European wheat-DDGS (wDDGS) is unknown. Two batches of wDDGS from different UK bioethanol plants were fed to 44 (Experiment 1) and 40 (Experiment 2) cows in a Latin square design. Each wDDGS replaced soya and rapeseed at four inclusion levels (g/kg of diet dry matter (DM): 0, 80, 160 and 240 – Experiment 1; 0, 75, 150 and 225 – Experiment 2). Diets were balanced for metabolisable energy (ME) and protein (MP), and for minimum starch and saturated fat in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, DM intake (29 kg/d) and milk yield (42.3 kg/d) were unaffected by wDDGS inclusion up to 160 g/kg but were lower than control with 240 g/kg inclusion, which was attributed to low proportion of solubles in this wDDGS batch. In Experiment 2, DM intake (22.4 kg/d) and milk yield (32.1 kg/d) were unaffected by wDDGS inclusion up to 225 g/kg. ME content of wDDGS, determined in vivo, (MJ/kg DM) was 12.1 (Experiment 1) and 13.4 (Experiment 2). It is concluded that optimum inclusion level of wDDGS is at least 225 g/kg DM in diets balanced for minimum starch and saturated fat as well as ME and MP supplies

Effects of dietary vegetable oils on mammary lipid-related genes in holstein dairy cows

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Effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid sources on expression of lipid-related genes in bovine milk somatic cells

© 2020, The Author(s). The objective of this study was to compare the effect of contrasting sources of dietary n-6 and n-3 PUFA on expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in dairy cows. During 63days, fifteen lactating cows were assigned to a control or basal diet containing no added lipid (n = 5 cows); and treatment diets supplemented with SO (n = 5 cows; unrefined soybean oil; 2.9% of DM) or FO (n = 5 cows; fish oil manufactured from salmon oil; 2.9% of DM). Plasma for fatty acid (FA) analysis and milk somatic cells (MSC) were obtained from all cows at the beginning of the study (day 0) and on days 21, 42 and 63. Plasma was used to determine FA transport dynamics. Compared with control and FO, plasma from SO had increased contents of C18:1 cis-9, C18:1 trans-11, C18:2 cis-9, trans-11 and total monounsaturated FA. On the other hand, compared with control and SO, FO increased plasma contents of C20:3 n-3, C20:3 n-6, C20:4 n-6, C20:5 n-3, C22:6 n-3 and total polyunsaturated FA. Moreover, plasma C18:3 n-3 and C20:5 n-3 increased over time for all diets. Compared with control, SO downregulated ACACA, INSIG1, and DGAT1, whereas FO downregulated ACACA, PPARGC1, LPIN1 and FABP3 on day 63, in MSC. At different time-points, SO and FO downregulated genes related to synthesis and intracellular transport of FA, synthesis of triglycerides, and transcription factors

Effect of feeding cows with unsaturated fatty acid sources on milk production, milk composition, milk fatty acid profile, and physicochemical and sensory characteristics of ice cream

Simple Summary: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation of dairy cows' diets with different fatty acid (FA) sources on milk production, milk composition, milk fatty acid profile, and physicochemical and sensory characteristics of ice cream. Supplementation (3% dry matter (DM)) of diets with soybean oil (SO) and fish oil (FO) did not have detrimental effects on milk production, milk composition, or ice cream physicochemical and sensory characteristics. From a human standpoint, SO and FO improved the FA profile of milk. Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation of dairy cows with different fatty acid sources (soybean oil (SO) and fish oil (FO)) on milk production, milk composition, milk fatty acid profile, and physicochemical and sensory characteristics of ice cream. During 63 days, fifteen Holstein cows averaging 198 ± 35 days in milk were assigned to three groups: control diet with no added lipid (n = 5 cows); and supplemented diets with SO (n = 5 cows; unrefined SO; 30 g/kg DM) or FO (n = 5 cows; FO from unrefined salmon oil; 30 g/kg DM). Milk production, milk fat, and milk protein were not affected by treatments. Saturated fatty acids in milk fat were decreased with SO and FO compared with control. C18:2 cis-9, cis-12 was increased with SO whereas C18:2 cis-9, trans-11, C20:3n-3, C20:3n-6, C20:5n-3, and C22:6n-3 were the highest with FO. Draw temperature and firmness were higher in SO compared to control and FO ice creams. Melting resistance was higher in FO compared with control and SO ice creams. Supplementation of cow diets with SO and FO did not have detrimental effects on milk production, or ice cream physicochemical and sensory characteristics

Effect of soybean oil and fish oil on lipid-related transcripts in subcutaneous adipose tissue of dairy cows

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Effect of dietary vegetable oils on the fatty acid profile of plasma lipoproteins in dairy cows

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of dietary supplementation of soybean oil (SO) and hydrogenated palm oil (HPO) on the transport of fatty acids (FA) within plasma lipoproteins in lactating and non-lactating cows. Three lactating and three non-lactating Holstein cows were used in two different 3 × 3 Latin square experiments that included three periods of 21 d. Dietary treatments for lactating cows consisted of a basal diet (control; no fat supplement) and fat-supplemented diets containing SO (500 g/d per cow) or HPO (500 g/d per cow). For non-lactating cows, dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (control; no fat supplement) and fat-supplemented diets containing SO (170 g/d per cow) or HPO (170 g/d per cow). Compared with the control and SO diet, HPO addition increased (p < 0.05) the concentration of C16:0, C18:0, C18:2cis-9,12, C18:3cis-9,12,15 and total saturated and polyunsaturated FA in the plasma of lactating cows. In non-lactating cows, the SO addition increased the plasma concentration of C18:1trans-11. In lactating cows, concentrations of C16:0, C18:0 and total saturated FA were increased (p < 0.05) by HPO addition in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Total saturated FA were increased (p < 0.05) by HPO in very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). In non-lactating cows, the concentration of C18:0 was increased (p < 0.05) by HPO in HDL, whereas C18:1trans-11 was increased (p < 0.05) by SO in the low-density lipoprotein. Overall, it was found that distribution and transport of FA within the bovine plasma lipoproteins may be influenced by chain length and degree of unsaturation of dietary lipids. Also, the distribution of individual FA isomers such as C18:1trans-11 and C18:2cis-9,trans-11 may vary depending on the physiological state of the cow (lactating or non-lactating), and are increased in plasma (lactating cows) and the HDL (non-lactating cows) when cows are fed SO