Welfare in goat kids during the peri-weaning period : endocrine/metabolic asset and functional development

Animal welfare occurs when all those factors that may reduce the ability of an animal to adapt to the environment are avoided. Those factors are named stressors and can be analyzed. Stress can affect the endocrine/metabolic asset, nutritional status, normal growth and development, productivity and even the environmental impact of farm animals. In the life of young ruminants, the most dramatic event is weaning, which often coincides with a period of growth stasis. Weaning is the process of switching young animals from milk to solid feed. This change needs adaptation in digestive activity and in rumen functions. In light of this, the aim of the present study was to evaluate welfare status of goat kids, during the peri-weaning period, with a view to obtaining information that may help to minimize the stress of this crucial period. For this purpose, 11 Saanen goat kids, at birth, were immediately separated from their mothers and divided into two groups: MILK and WMIX. All kids were fed colostrum for the first three days of life. MILK group received goat milk ad libitum for the rest of the study period, while WMIX group was progressively weaned. Weaning program ended on day 48 of age. During the experimental period, physiological parameters were analyzed. Animals\u2019 behaviour and haematic parameters of welfare were also studied. The adopted weaning process minimized the stress of the transition from milk to solid diet. During this transition, milk-borne insulin played a possible role in the development of pancreatic amylase synthesis and activity. Anyway, further studies are required to determine whether milk-borne insulin passes the gastro-intestinal mucosa of suckling kids and contributes to the functional development of the pancreas

The functional milk

Introduction - In addition to providing all the essential nutrients for the neonate, milk is also a vector of a wide range of immune effector molecules. It has been recently observed that milk IgA can be successfully used for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment against infections by Candida albicans and Helicobacter pylori, which represent serious risk for the health of the digestive system. IgA is the major immunoglobulin present in human milk, but it is 4-5 times less abundant in bovine milk. Since bovine milk is the most consumed milk worldwide, the detection of factors affecting the level of IgA in bovine milk offers great potential to add value to the dairy products. Aim - The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of day in milk and parity on IgA level in colostrum and milk of dairy cows. Materials and methods - Seven primiparous and 7 multiparous healthy Fresian cows were studied for 3 months after calving. All the cows were fed the same experimental diet, over the study period. On day 0, 1, 3, 7, 30, 60 and 90 of lactation, milk yield was recorded, colostrum and milk samples were taken. Colostrum and milk samples were obtained mixing morning and evening milkings and then tested for protein, fat, lactose, casein and urea content, somatic cell count and total bacterial count (TBC). Skimmed colostrum and milk were tested for IgA by ELISA. Data were evaluated by ANOVA. Results - Maximum milk production was observed on day 30 for multiparous cows (43.3 L/d) and on day 60 for the primiparous ones (40.5 L/d). In both groups, the highest levels of IgA were found at calving. The day after, colostrum IgA concentration dramatically decreased, remaining at low levels for the rest of the study period. On calving, IgA level was higher in the colostrum from multiparous than primiparous cows (782 vs. 640 \ub5g/ml; P<0.01). On day 0, 60 and 90, TBC was higher in milk from multiparous than primiparous cows (P=0.06). Between 7 and 90 days of lactation, TBC was negatively correlated whether with milk IgA levels (r = -0.506, P<0.01; r = -0.396, P<0.05 for multiparous and primiparous cows, respectively) and with milk IgA daily yield (r = -0.504, P<0.01; r = -0.501, P<0.01). Conclusions - This research gives a description of the pattern of IgA in colustrum and milk of dairy cows, during the first months of lactation, providing valuable information to maximize the positive effects of milk consumption on consumer health

Endocrine and metabolic traits in goat kids around weaning

Eleven Saanen kids, three days after birth, were divided into two groups: WEAN and MILK. All kids were fed goat milk until the 5th week of age, when the WEAN group began a weaning protocol. MILK group continued to receive goat milk for the entire experimental period, while WEAN group was weaned at 47 days of age. Starting from the 3rd week of age, body weight was recorded and blood samples were taken weekly, before the first meal of the day. Plasma was analysed for glucose, total protein, free aminoacid, insulin, leptin and ghrelin.Weaning did not affect plasma levels of total protein and leptin, but decreased plasma glucose and free aminoacid, and increased ghrelin concentration. Moreover, weaning decreased plasma insulin level more than three times. This result was probably the consequence of the lower concentration of plasma glucose of the WEAN group, but the effect could be enforced by the milk-borne insulin ingested by the MILK kids with the diet. Goat milk contains peptides that can pass across the intestinal epithelium and enter the systemic circulation, suggesting a possible role in accomplishing the immature ability of suckling animals to produce hormones and growth factors

Trend-analysis of plasma insulin level around parturition, in relation to parity in Saanen goats

The present study investigated the effect of parity on plasma insulin level around parturition in Saanen goats. On d -14, -7, 0, 3, 7, 10 and 14 from parturition, plasma glucose, NEFA, free AAs, cortisol and insulin concentrations were analyzed in 10 primiparous and 10 multiparous goats. At parturition, BW of primiparous goats was about 75% of that of multiparous ones (P < 0.001) and then their milk production was lower than that of multiparous ones (P < 0.001). At parturition, glucose increased (P < 0.01) in both primiparous and multiparous goats, and then decreased (P < 0.01) on d 3 of lactation, remaining higher (P < 0.01) in primiparous than multiparous goats until the end of the study period. In both groups, free AAs decreased (P < 0.01) at parturition, returning to pre-partum levels (P < 0.01) on d 3 of lactation without difference between groups. Only in multiparous goats, plasma NEFA increased at parturition (P < 0.01), returning to pre-partum levels on d 14 (P < 0.01). Changes in glucose and AAs could have been caused by cortisol, which increased (P < 0.01) at parturition in both primiparous and multiparous goats, returning to pre-partum levels (P < 0.01) on d 7 of lactation, without difference between the parity groups. In multiparous goats insulin decreased soon after parturition (P < 0.05), remaining at low levels until the end of the study period, whereas, in primiparous goats, insulin did not vary until d 14 of lactation, when it decreased (P < 0.05) also in this group. Therefore, between d 3 and 14 of lactation, insulin was higher in primiparous than multiparous goats (P < 0.05). Only in primiparous goats, at kidding, insulin was negatively correlated to body weight (P < 0.01), and after parturition it was negatively correlated with milk yield (P < 0.05) and plasma NEFA (P < 0.05). We hypothesize that higher insulin levels in primiparous Saanen goats, which are still immature at their first breeding season, acted to limit both the mobilization of bodily reserves and the capture of nutrients by the lactating mammary gland, thus providing nutrients for their own physical and physiological development

Plasma insulin and IGF-1 and hepatic activity in Saanen goat kids, around weaning

Weaning is a crucial event in the life of young ruminants. At weaning ruminal and digestive activity are still incomplete, so weaning may coincide with a period of growth stasis. Since insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) can play a fundamental role in post-natal development, the aim of the present study was to evaluate plasma variations of insulin and IGF-1 levels and their relationships with the hepatic activity, around weaning. For this purpose, eleven 3-days-old Saanen goat kids were randomly divided into MILK (6 animals) and WMIX (5 animals) groups. All kids were fed goat milk to age 29 days. After that, MILK kids continued to receive milk, while WMIX ones underwent weaning, based on the progressive replacement of milk with solid feed. WMIX kids were completely weaned on day 48. Blood samples were weekly analyzed for metabolic traits, insulin and IGF-1 levels, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities. On day 50, all animals were slaughtered, liver weight was recorded and liver samples were analyzed for DNA, RNA, phospholipids, glicogen and soluble protein content, ALT and AST activity. On day 50, plasma insulin and IGF-1 were lower in WMIX group, as possible consequence of the lower plasma glucose and amino acids levels. Liver weight was not different between groups, but liver weight expressed as percentage of body weight was lower in WMIX kids and highly correlated to plasma IGF-1. Liver glycogen was also lower in WMIX kids, as possible consequence of the lower plasma glucose. Hepatic ALT and AST activities were not different between groups and both were strongly correlated to plasma insulin. Moreover, insulin was positively correlated to the proteosynthetic capability per cell (RNA/DNA) of the liver. Our results indicate that the adopted livestock practice permitted the normal development of the animal used, avoiding growth stasis. Anyway, weaning altered plasma insulin and IGF-1, without affecting neither hepatic activity of aminotransferases, nor hepatic DNA and RNA content. Interestingly, plasma insulin was positively correlated to hepatic ALT and AST activity and proteosynthetic capability per cell, suggesting a role for insulin as indicator of hepatic aminotransferase and proteosynthetic activity

Influence of food intake timing on daily variations of leptin and other metabolic variables in NZW rabbits

The aim of this study was to investigate circadian rhythms of plasma leptin and other metabolic variables in rabbits, to assess the influence of the timing of food intake and to investigate the relationship between leptin and lipid metabolites. Conclusions: The data of this study show clearly that the time of administration of food is a potent synchronizer of the circadian patterns of leptin and the other parameters investigated. The diurnal variations in leptin therefore depend on the \u201cnutritional status\u201d of the animal, rather than light cues, as Schoeller et al. (1997) and Ahima et al. (1996) also inferred in humans and mice. Leptin correlations with the variables investigated indicate that in rabbits leptin is an index of the lipid metabolism

The influence of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on serum leptin concentration in lactating sows

CLA may be useful in sow nutrition to increase CLA content in colostrum and milk (Bee, 2000). However CLA fed animals displayed also significantly reduced body fat (Pariza et al., 2001) and this effect may be detrimental to reproductive efficiency in sows per se and for the effects on metabolic hormones as well. Moreover some CLA isomers has been reported to influence leptin gene expression (Houseknacht et al., 1998). The present study examined the effects of dietary supplement of CLA on serum leptin in lactating sows. Conclusions: These results indicate that dietary CLA does not influence feed intake and body condition in lactating sows. By these results it does not seem that circulating leptin in lactating sows may be related to body weight and body condition as established in humans and rodents. Further research could explain if the higher leptin level in CLA fed sows is due to changes in leptin gene expression or in leptin clearance as well

Cocoa husks in diets of Italian heavy pigs

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of cocoa husks feeding on liver composition of the Italian heavy pig. Cocoa husks are by-products derived from chocolate production and have a high content of proteins, lipids, and NDF. Cocoa husks are also rich in antioxidants, polyphenols in particular. Eight finishing pigs were divided into 2 groups: control group fed a traditional diet, based on cereals, and treatment group fed a diet obtained by substitution of 10% of the control diet with coarsely ground cocoa husks. The trial was conducted during the hot season and lasted 6 wk, at the end of which all the pigs were slaughtered. Cocoa husks diet reduced dry matter intake (P < 0.01) and energy intake (P < 0.01) but neither body weight nor backfat thickness was affected by cocoa husks diet. Treatment did not influence carcass weight and hot dressing percentage but reduced liver weight (P < 0.05), liver dry matter percentage (P < 0.01), DNA (P = 0.01), and glycogen content (P = 0.01). By contrast, cocoa husks increased liver ether extract (P = 0.05) without affecting cholesterol content. Liver weight loss, reduction of protein synthesis, and a shift toward glycogen use instead of fat oxidation are considered metabolic strategies to reduce heat production under hot conditions. It is possible, therefore, that cocoa husks feeding promoted the process of acclimation because pigs needed less feeding to reach similar body and carcass weight as control pigs

Feline Leishmania spp. Infection in a Non-Endemic Area of Northern Italy

Feline leishmaniosis (FeL) is an emerging vector-borne feline disease, with increasing numbers of cases reported and studies performed internationally. This study aimed to update the epidemiological status for FeL in stray cats in Milan, northern Italy; compare these results with previous studies in Northern Italy; and report clinicopathologic findings and coinfections in cats infected with Leishmania spp. A total of 117 cats were tested for L. infantum and retrovirus infection, hematological, and biochemical parameters. Demographic and clinical data were collected and FeL affected cats screened for selected coinfections. Overall, 10/117 (8.6%) cats tested positive for L. infantum: in five cats L. infantum DNA was found in popliteal lymph nodes and five were IFAT seropositive at titers from 1:80 to 1:160. Infected cats were concentrated in a specific area of Milan (p = 0.0154). No specific clinicopathologic abnormalities or retroviral infections were significantly linked to the infection, other than hypergammaglobulinemia (p = 0.0127). Seroreactivity to Anaplasmaphagocytophilum, Chlamydophilafelis, and Toxoplasma gondii was found in some infected cats. A high prevalence of FeL was found in a non-endemic area of northern Italy and future studies should continually monitor this data to understand whether these cases are imported or if Leishmania vectors are present in this area

Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 and carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: expression differences in tumour histotypes

The human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) is the major means by which gemcitabine enters human cells; recent evidence exists that hENT1 is expressed in carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater and that it should be considered as a molecular prognostic marker for patients with resected ampullary cancer. Aim of the present study is to evaluate the variations of hENT1 expression in ampullary carcinomas and to correlate such variations with histological subtypes and clinicopathological parameters. Forty-one ampullary carcinomas were histologically classified into intestinal, pancreaticobiliary and unusual types. hENT1 and Ki67 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and apoptotic cells were identified by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) method. hENT1 overexpression was detected in 63.4% ampullary carcinomas. A significant difference in terms of hENT1 and Ki67 expression was found between intestinal vs. pancreaticobiliary types (P=0.03 and P=0.009 respectively). Moreover, a significant statistical positive correlation was found between apoptotic and proliferative Index (P=0.036), while no significant correlation was found between hENT1 and apoptosis. Our results on hENT1 expression suggest that classification of ampullary carcinoma by morphological subtypes may represent an additional tool in prospective clinical trials aimed at examining treatment efficacy; in addition, data obtained from Ki67 and TUNEL suggest a key role of hENT1 in tumour growth of ampullary carcinoma