A commonly used rumen-protected conjugated linoleic acid supplement marginally affects fatty acid distribution of body tissues and gene expression of mammary gland in heifers during early lactation

Background: Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) in general, and in particular the trans-10, cis-12 (t10, c12-CLA) isomer are potent modulators of milk fat synthesis in dairy cows. Studies in rodents, such as mice, have revealed that t10, c12-CLA is responsible for hepatic lipodystrophy and decreased adipose tissue with subsequent changes in the fatty acid distribution. The present study aimed to investigate the fatty acid distribution of lipids in several body tissues compared to their distribution in milk fat in early lactating cows in response to CLA treatment. Effects in mammary gland are further analyzed at gene expression level. Methods: Twenty-five Holstein heifers were fed a diet supplemented with (CLA groups) or without (CON groups) a rumen-protected CLA supplement that provided 6 g/d of c9, t11-and t10, c12-CLA. Five groups of randomly assigned cows were analyzed according to experimental design based on feeding and time of slaughter. Cows in the first group received no CLA supplement and were slaughtered one day postpartum (CON0). Milk samples were taken from the remaining cows in CON and CLA groups until slaughter at 42 (period 1) and 105 (period 2) days in milk (DIM). Immediately after slaughter, tissue samples from liver, retroperitoneal fat, mammary gland and M. longissimus (13th rib) were obtained and analyzed for fatty acid distribution. Relevant genes involved in lipid metabolism of the mammary gland were analyzed using a custom-made microarray platform. Results: Both supplemented CLA isomers increased significantly in milk fat. Furthermore, preformed fatty acids increased at the expense of de novo-synthesized fatty acids. Total and single trans-octadecenoic acids (e. g., t10-18:1 and t11-18:1) also significantly increased. Fatty acid distribution of the mammary gland showed similar changes to those in milk fat, due mainly to residual milk but without affecting gene expression. Liver fatty acids were not altered except for trans-octadecenoic acids, which were increased. Adipose tissue and M. longissimus were only marginally affected by CLA supplementation. Conclusions: Daily supplementation with CLA led to typical alterations usually observed in milk fat depression (reduction of de novo-synthesized fatty acids) but only marginally affected tissue lipids. Gene expression of the mammary gland was not influenced by CLA supplementation

Utilization Rate of Outsourcing in Selected Municipalities

Cílem bakalářské práce je míra využití outsourcingu v obcích Olomouckého kraje. Zvolený problém jsem vyřešila pomocí metodiky dotazníkového šetření a analýzy získaných dat. Podařilo se získat dostatečné množství vzorků a tím potvrdit, že obce outsourcing využívají. Hlavním přínosem této práce je zjištění, že obce outsourcing využívají ve velké míře. Většina obcí, které odpověděly na dotazník, své činnosti zajišťují externím dodavatelem. Z práce je taky zřejmé, že nejčastější outsourcované činnosti jsou informačních technologie, komunální odpad a právní služby. Obce k zavedení outsourcingu vedou různé důvody, nejčastějším důvodem je přístup k technologiím a lidským zdrojům externím dodavatele. U každého smluvního vztahu mohou vzniknout rizika. Dalším zjištěním je, že nejčastějším rizikem je kvalita poskytované služby a kvalifikace pracovníků dodavatelské firmy.The aim of this thesis is ulitization rate of outsourcing in the selected municipalities of the Olomouc region. The chosen problem I solved using the methodology of the questionnaire survey and the analysis of the obtained data. It was managed to get a sufficient number of samples and thus to confirm that the municipalities use outsourcing. The main contribution of this thesis is findig out that the level of outsourcing use in selected municipalities is very often. The major part of municipalities, which took part in questionnaire survey, make use of external suppliers for their activities. According to questionnaire survey results the most common outsourced activities are information technology, municipal waste and legal services. The municipalities use outsourcing because of a variety of reasons, the most common reason is access to the technology and human resources of external contractor. For each contractual relationship risks can arise. Another finding is that the most common risk is the quality of the provided services and the qualifications of the contractor's staff.153 - Katedra veřejné ekonomikyvýborn

Dairy Cow Health and Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity

The purpose of this review is to identify the main influencing factors related to dairy cow health as it impacts the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions considering known data presented in the literature. For this study, we define the emission intensity as CO2 equivalents per kilogram of milk. In dairy cows, a high dry matter (DM) intake (25 kg/d) leads to an higher absolute methane emission compared to a lower DM intake (10 kg/d). However, the emission intensity is decreased at a high performance level. The emissions caused by DM intake to cover the energy requirement for maintenance are distributed over a higher milk yield. Therefore, the emission intensity per kilogram of product is decreased for high-yielding animals with a high DM intake. Apart from that, animal diseases as well as poor environmental or nutritional conditions are responsible for a decreased DM intake and a compromised performance. As a result, animal diseases not only mean reduced productivity, but also increased emission intensity. The productive life-span of a dairy cow is closely related to animal health, and the impact on emission intensity is enormous. A model calculation shows that cows with five to eight lactations could have a reduced emission intensity of up to 40% compared to animals that have left the herd after their first lactation. This supports the general efforts to increase longevity of dairy cows by an improved health management including all measures to prevent diseases

Effect of phytase supplementation on rumen fermentation characteristics and phosphorus balance in lactating dairy cows

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exogenous phytase on rumen fermentation characteristics, the phosphorus (P)-flow at the duodenum and the P-balance in lactating dairy cows. For this purpose ruminal and duodenally fistulated cows were assigned to one of three dietary treatments: high P (HP) diet (n=7) provided a total of 45 g/d of P, archived by a supplementation of dicalcium phosphate to the diet; low P (LP) diet (n=5) provided 34 g/d of P without supplementation; LP+phytase (LP+PHY) diet (n=5) provided 34 g/d of P supplemented with an exogenous phytase. Dry matter intake and milk yield were recorded daily. In the first week of a sampling period Pbalance was determined. Samples of ruminal fluid were taken and duodenal chyme was collected in the second sampling week. Ruminal pH and the concentration of volatile fatty acids were not different between the treatments. The HP-group shows a higher P-flow at the duodenum than other groups. No differences in apparent total tract P-digestibility were found between the treatments. The P-balance in the HP-group (2.6 g/d) was higher compared to the LP (-3.2 g/d) and LP+PHY (-3.0 g/d) group. Overall, phytase supplementation had no effect on P-digestibility in lactating dairy cows

Assessment of Metabolic Adaptations in Periparturient Dairy Cows Provided 3-Nitrooxypropanol and Varying Concentrate Proportions by Using the GreenFeed System for Indirect Calorimetry, Biochemical Blood Parameters and Ultrasonography of Adipose Tissues

Methanogenesis in ruminants contributes to both greenhouse gas emissions and feed energy losses whereby the latter becomes specifically important in energy-deficient periparturient cows. It was hypothesized that increased concentrate feed proportions (CFP) and feeding with the methane inhibitor 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP), as well as their potential synergism, improve the energy status of peripartal cows. Periparturient dairy cows were fed low or high dietary CFP either tested without or combined with 3-NOP. The GreenFeed system was used to calculate the metabolic respiration quotient (RQmetabolic) and tissue energy retention (ERtissue) by methods of indirect calorimetry. The calorimetrically estimated ERtissue coincided with a conventionally calculated energy balance except for the antepartal period. Neither CFP nor 3-NOP affected the ultrasonographically assessed lipomobilization in adipose depots. In the group fed 3-NOP and a high concentrate feed proportion, the RQmetabolic significantly rose over the course of the experiment and the ERtissue was also increased. Serum non-esterified fatty acid concentrations were lower in the 3-NOP groups albeit ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) remained unaffected. Higher CFP reduced BHB and increased blood glucose levels. In conclusion, 3-NOP and high CFP improved the energy budget of the cows in an interactive manner, which was, however, not apparent in all of the examined parameters. The application of the GreenFeed system for indirect calorimetry is a promising approach, which needs further validation in the future

Effects of Body Condition and Concentrate Proportion of the Ration on Mobilization of Fat Depots and Energetic Condition in Dairy Cows during Early Lactation Based on Ultrasonic Measurements

The aim of this study was to evaluate energy metabolism and lipid mobilization via ultrasonic measurements (USM), considering inner fat depots, in lactating dairy cows differing in body condition score (BCS) and fed rations with low (35% at dry matter basis; C35) or high (60% at dry matter basis; C60) concentrate feed proportions postpartum. Sixty pluriparous German Holstein cows were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design from d 42 antepartum (relative to calculated calving) until d 120 postpartum. Animals were divided into a group with a lower (initial BCS = 3.1 ± 0.38 SD; BCSL) and a group with a higher (initial BCS = 3.83 ± 0.41 SD; BCSH) BCS. Due to higher dry matter intake C60 groups reached the positive energy balance earlier, whereas C35 groups had a more pronounced negative energy balance. Although this would suggest a more pronounced mobilization of C35 groups the USM revealed no differences between feeding groups. Differences in BCS between both BCS groups remained almost the same over the trial. This was not reflected in ultrasonic data, as lipid mobilization was higher in higher conditioned cows. These findings demonstrate the extended possibilities of USM to depict metabolic processes

Comparison between a Calving Predictive System and a Routine Prepartal Examination in German Holstein Heifers and Cows

The objective was to validate the efficacy of Moocall® comparing it to a routine clinical examination. Altogether 38 Holstein cows were enrolled in this study (Moocall® group: 16 heifers and 8 cows; control group: 9 heifers and 5 cows). Clinical examinations were performed every 6 h over the 7 days period before the predicted calving date. The examined traits were changes in pelvic ligament relaxation, edema of the vulva, teat filling, vaginal secretion, tail tip flexibility, tail raising and behavior. There were no significant differences in Moocall® alerts between heifers and cows. The time lag between the first warning of Moocall® and the onset of labor was 21.2 ± 20.2 h (max: 95.4 h; min: 0.1 h; p = 0.87) for heifers and 29.6 ± 29.6 h (max: 177.8 h; min: 0 h; p = 0.97) for cows. Linear models including Moocall® alerts showed a significantly better fit to the time until calving than models without Moocall® information (without variable selection: p = 0.030, with variable selection: p p ® alerts alone. In the best fitting model, class 2 alerts (enhanced tail activity during 2 h) contributed with a higher significance (p p = 0.01), tail tip flexibility (p = 0.01) or behavior (p = 0.01)

The effect of N-arachidonoylethanolamide administration on energy and fat metabolism of early lactating dairy cows

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of N-arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA), an endocannabinoid with orexigenic characteristics, on plasma endocannabinoid concentrations, feed intake, energy balance, lipomobilisation, and hepatic lipid metabolism of early-lactating dairy cows. The experiment involved 10 pairs of Holstein half-sibling cows (end of 2nd–3rd pregnancy). Half-sibs of each pair were randomly assigned to either AEA (n = 10) or control (CON) group (n = 10). From day 1 to 30 postpartum, the AEA group received 5 intraperitoneal injections per week of 3 µg/kg body weight AEA and the CON group 0.9% NaCl. In week 1–3 postpartum, AEA administration had no effect on dry matter intake, body weight, or lipomobilisation, but increased plasma triglyceride concentration on d 21 p.p. and mRNA abundances of genes related to hepatic triglyceride synthesis. In week 4 postpartum, the AEA group showed reduced feed intake and whole-body carbohydrate oxidation, but increased whole-body fat oxidation and hepatic lipid accumulation, likely as a result of a counter-regulatory leptin increase. In conclusion, the present study shows a tissue-specific AEA insensitivity and may point to a leptin-controlled regulation of the ECS in early-lactation

Comparison between a Calving Predictive System and a Routine Prepartal Examination in German Holstein Heifers and Cows

The objective was to validate the efficacy of Moocall® comparing it to a routine clinical examination. Altogether 38 Holstein cows were enrolled in this study (Moocall® group: 16 heifers and 8 cows; control group: 9 heifers and 5 cows). Clinical examinations were performed every 6 h over the 7 days period before the predicted calving date. The examined traits were changes in pelvic ligament relaxation, edema of the vulva, teat filling, vaginal secretion, tail tip flexibility, tail raising and behavior. There were no significant differences in Moocall® alerts between heifers and cows. The time lag between the first warning of Moocall® and the onset of labor was 21.2 ± 20.2 h (max: 95.4 h; min: 0.1 h; p = 0.87) for heifers and 29.6 ± 29.6 h (max: 177.8 h; min: 0 h; p = 0.97) for cows. Linear models including Moocall® alerts showed a significantly better fit to the time until calving than models without Moocall® information (without variable selection: p = 0.030, with variable selection: p < 0.01). In the best-fitting model, class 2 alerts (enhanced tail activity over 2 h) contributed with a higher significance (p < 0.01). Vice versa, models including additional traits were outperformed the use of Moocall® alerts alone. In the best fitting model, class 2 alerts (enhanced tail activity during 2 h) contributed with a higher significance (p < 0.01) than any of the best clinical predictive parameters, such as pelvic ligament relaxation (p = 0.01), tail tip flexibility (p = 0.01) or behavior (p = 0.01)