Effect of Two Different Levels of Fiber on Feed Intake, Average Daily Gain, Feed Efficiency and Ruminal Metabolites of Holstein Calves

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feeding alfalfa hay and starter fiber level on feed intake and performance of Holstein dairy calves, using thirty two male calves in a completely randomized design assigned to four diets in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. The experimental treatments were as follow: T1: starter with low fiber and without alfalfa hay, T2: starter with low fiber along with alfalfa hay, T3: starter with high fiber and without alfalfa hay and T4: starter with high fiber along with alfalfa hay. Results showed feed intake was not significantly different in pre-weaning and throughout the study but after weaning there was significant difference among treatments. Average daily gain of calves was not significantly different during pre-weaning period but during post-weaning and throughout the study there was significant difference among treatments for this trait. Feed efficiency was not significantly different among treatments in pre-weaning and post-weaning periods but it was significantly different during throughout the study. The results of this experiment showed adding fiber to dairy calves ration through both starter concentrate and alfalfa hay may reduce their performance

Estimation of Genetic Parameters and Trend for Somatic Cell Score Trait in Iranian Holsteins Using a Random Regression Test Day Model

In this study, a total of 101,147 monthly test day records of somatic cell count collected from 13,977 first lactation Holstein cows (in 183 herds) calved between 2002 and 2006 were used. For the genetic analysis, a random regression test day model was utilized. Somatic cell score (SCS) was calculated based on natural logarithm of somatic cell count. In the model, fixed effect of contemporary group of province-herd-year-production season, as well as age at recording (as linear and quadratic covariables), Holstein gene percentage (as linear and quadratic covariables) were fitted. Orthogonal Legendre polynomial function with third order was applied to take into account of the stage of the lactation and genetic and permanent environmental variations of SCS. Genetic and environmental (co)variance components were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood method. In general, heritability of somatic cell score was found to be lower than 10% over the course of the lactation period. The lowest and highest heritability estimates were found for the second (0.03) and tenth (0.068) months of the lactation. Genetic and permanent correlations among the months of lactation decreased as the interval between them increased. Genetic trend was estimated based on linear regression of average breeding value on calving year. No statistical significant genetic trend was found for somatic cell score

Serum concentration of asprosin in new-onset type 2 diabetes

Background: Asprosin, a newly identified adipokine, is pathologically increased in individuals with insulin resistance. However, the available evidence on the association of asprosin and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) status is still scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between serum concentrations of asprosin and T2DM status. Methods: This observational study was performed based on 194 adults (97 newly diagnosed T2DM and 97 healthy individuals). Anthropometric and biochemical variables were determined in all participants. Serum concentrations of asprosin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: In patients with T2DM, the serum concentrations of asprosin were significantly higher than the healthy controls (4.18 IQR: 4.4 vs. 3.5 IQR: 1.85, P < 0.001). The concentrations of asprosin were significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in healthy subjects and with BMI, FBG, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and quantitative insulin check index (QUICKI), triacylglycerol (TAG) and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) ratio in the T2DM group. In fully adjusted model, the odds ratio (OR) of T2DM with serum concentrations of asprosin was approximately 1.547 (95% CI 1.293-1.850, P < 0.001) compared to the control group. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that FBG and HOMA-IR were independently associated with asprosin in T2DM. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that serum concentrations of asprosin are increased in patients with T2DM. Also, asprosin is correlated with insulin resistance and TC/HDL-C ratio (atherosclerotic risk factor of cardiovascular diseases) in patients with T2DM. © 2020 The Author(s)