Metabolic profile of dairy calves supplemented with flax oil

Flax meal has been commercially used in the livestock industry as an alternative feeding ingredient; however, the oil extruded during milling has limited research in livestock feeding. Our objective was to investigate the effects of supplementing flax oil or soy oil in calves on metabolic profile. Thirty-six Holstein heifer calves in individual hutches were used in a 12-wk randomized complete block design study. Treatments were: 1) control (CON) with no oil, 2) 80 g/d of flax oil (FLAX), and 3) and 80 g/d of soy oil (SOY). Pre-weaning oils were fed with the milk and post-weaning they were top-dressed on starter pellets. Calves were fed 2.83 L of pasteurized milk 2 × /d during wk 1 to 5 and 1 × /d during wk 6. All calves were weaned at d 42. Pellets and water were fed ad libitum. Once weekly at 3 to 4 h post-feeding blood was collected from the jugular vein for metabolite analyses. Results were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 with repeated measures. Significant differences were declared at P \u3c 0.05. Dry matter intakes (1792, 1487 and 1650 g/d; SEM = 79.5 for CON, FLAX, and SOY, respectively) were greater (P \u3c 0.01) in CON than FLAX with SOY similar to both. There was a treatment × wk interaction (P \u3c 0.01) with calves on FLAX eating less in the last 2 weeks of the study. Beta hydroxyl butyrate (BHB; 69.2, 69.5, and 67.4 mg/dL; SEM = 9.14) and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN; 11.4, 10.5, and 10.7 mg/dL; SEM 0.36) were not different among treatments. Cholesterol (36.9, 52.3, and 56.0 mg/dL; SEM = 2.29) was greater (P \u3c 0.01) in the oil treatments compared with CON. Triglycerides (26.3, 27.0, and 32.1 mg/dL; SEM = 1.25) were greater (P \u3c 0.01) in SOY. A tendency (P = 0.05) was observed for glucose (106.9, 105.6, and 99.9 mg/dL; SEM = 2.15) to be less in SOY. Supplementing flax oil and soy oil maintained BHB and PUN concentrations, increased cholesterol concentrations, but caused different responses compared with CON for Triglycerides and Glucose. This study demonstrates that the supplementation of plant-based oils to young calves affects their metabolic profile when compared with a diet with no oil supplementation

Evaluation of solubles syrup from microbially-enhanced soy protein production as a supplement for growing dairy heifers.

The objective of this research was to conduct a preliminary study to determine whether solubles syrup from microbially enhanced soy protein production is viable as a supplement for growing dairy heifers. A 6-wk study with a randomized complete block design was conducted using 14 Holstein and 4 Brown Swiss heifers [310 ± 16.4 d of age; BW = 337.6 ± 33 kg]. Treatments were (1) a control TMR (CON) and (2) a TMR with 6.5% microbially enhanced soy protein solubles syrup (DM basis) in partial replacement of soybean meal and corn (SYP). Both diets contained similar inclusion rates of corn silage, grass hay, and mineral mix and were balanced to be comparable in CP and energy. Heifers were fed for ad libitum intakes using a Calan gate feeding system. Frame sizes, BW, and BCS were measured every 2 wk of the feeding period, and coccygeal blood samples and rumen fluid, sampled via esophageal tube, were collected every 2 wk at 4 h after feeding. Fecal grab samples were collected in wk 6. Dry matter intake, BW, and ADG were similar between treatments. Frame measurements and BCS were similar. Rumen fermentation profiles were similar; however, ammonia-nitrogen was greater for CON. Plasma urea nitrogen concentration was greater for CON; all other blood metabolites were similar. The SYP treatment had greater NDF, DM, and OM total-tract digestibility, and there was a tendency for increased CP and ADF digestibility. Results indicate that there is potential for solubles syrup from microbially enhanced soy protein production as a protein replacement in growing heifer diets

Growth performance and health of dairy calves supplemented with flax and soy oil.

Our objective was to investigate supplementing flax and soy oil in milk and then on starter pellets on growth performance and health of dairy calves. Thirty-six female Holstein calves in individual hutches were used in a 12-wk randomized complete block design study. Treatments were (1) control (CON) with no oil, (2) 80 g/d of flax oil (FLAX), and (3) and 80 g/d of soy oil (SOY). Pre-weaning oils were fed with the milk and post-weaning were top-dressed on starter pellets. Calves were fed 2.83 L of pasteurized milk 2×/d during wk 1 to 5 and 1 × /d during wk 6. Pellets and water were fed ad libitum. Fecal scores (0 = firm, 3 = watery) and respiratory scores (healthy ≤3, sick ≥5) calculated from the sum of scores for rectal temperature, cough, ocular, and nasal discharge were recorded daily. Body weight (BW) and frame growth were measured weekly at 3 h post-morning feeding. Results were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 with repeated measures. Significant differences were declared at P \u3c 0.05. Dry matter intake (1792, 1487 and 1650 g/d; SEM = 79.5 for CON, FLAX, and SOY, respectively) was greater (P \u3c 0.01) in CON than FLAX with SOY similar to both. There was a treatment × wk interaction (P \u3c 0.01) with calves on FLAX eating less in the last 2 weeks of the study. Calf BW (69.8, 67.2, and 68.0 kg; SEM = 2.39) and gain: feed (0.58, 0.58, and 0.54 kg/kg; SEM = 0.03) were similar (P = 0.38) but had treatment × wk interactions (P \u3c 0.05). The ADG (0.78, 0.71 and 0.76 kg/d; SEM = 0.05), body condition score (2.43, 2.47, 2.41; SEM = 0.027), withers height (82.1, 82.2, and 83.0 cm; SEM = 0.68) and other frame measures were similar (P \u3e 0.05) among treatments. Fecal score (0.57, 0.64, and 0.70; SEM = 0.070) was similar overall but had an interaction of treatment × week (P \u3c 0.01) with SOY having greater fecal scores during weaning and the last 2 wk. Body temperature and respiratory score were similar (P \u3e 0.05). Supplementing flax and soy oil maintained growth performance compared with CON in the pre-weaning period when fed with milk, but decreased intake and BW during the last 2 weeks of the post-weaning period when fed with starter pellets

Teil 4 : Wasser sparen im Ackerbau

Wasser ist ein begrenzender Produktionsfaktor für den Ackerbau im Süden der Metropolregion Hamburg. Im Hinblick auf den Klimawandel und eine begrenzte Wasserverfügbarkeit muss das vorhandene Wasser effizienter genutzt werden. In KLIMZUG-NORD wurden hierzu im Rahmen von Feldversuchen verschiedene Anpassungsmaßnahmen erprobt

Flax oil supplementation affects systemic blood biomarkers and polymorphonuclear leukocytes mRNA expression in neonatal dairy calves.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids have been observed to reduce inflammatory response. The adaptation of neonatal calves to an extrauterine environment is commonly associated with inflammatory-like conditions. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the effects of supplementing flax oil on immune function reflected in the profiles of systemic blood biomarkers and mRNA in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). Thirty-six Holstein dairy calves housed in individual hutches were used in a randomized complete block design from birth until 12 wk of age. A subset of 16 calves (n = 8/trt) was used for immune function analysis. Treatments were control (CON) with no supplement or 80 g/d of flax oil (FLAX) with the milk. Calves were fed 2.8 L/d of pasteurized milk 2 × /d during wk 1 to 5. Starter pellets and water were fed ad libitum. Blood samples were taken at 1, 7, and 14 d of age for biomarker profiling of metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation as well as PMNL isolation. RNA was extracted from isolated PMNL, and concentration and viability were assessed through flow cytometry (Attune NxT; Invitrogen). Target genes evaluated in PMNL function involved inflammation, cellular receptors, and oxidative stress. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. There was a significant (P = 0.04) diet by time (D × T) interaction in the mRNA expression of SELL (L-Selectin), a cell surface receptor, where an upregulation (P = 0.03) of SELL in FLAX calves at 7 d of age was observed. A trend (P = 0.14) for a D × T effect was observed in IL1B (interleukin 1β), an inflammatory cytokine, which resulted in a trend (P = 0.06) for lower expression of IL1B in FLAX calves at 7 d of age. The overall MPO (myeloperoxidase) mRNA expression tended (P = 0.07) to be upregulated in FLAX calves, which is commonly associated with PMNL activity. Results suggest that early life supplementation of flax oil to neonatal calves may benefit their transition into an extrauterine environment not only by mediating the inflammatory response, but enhancing the PMNL ability to detect potential infection sites through cell receptors such L-selectin