Morphometric Measurements and Muscle Atrophy Scoring as a Tool to Predict Body Weight and Condition of Horses

Accurate estimation of body weight (BW) and condition (BCS) is important in the equine practice. The main goal of this research was to develop models for the prediction of BW and BCS of horses in the practice using both common morphometric measurements and measurements of Cresty Neck Score (CNS) and Muscle Atrophy Scoring System (MASS) as a measure of muscularity. Our model showed that the BW of horses could be predicted with high reproducibility (concordance correlation coefficient = 0.97), accuracy (0.99), and precision (0.97) using the morphometric measurements of the height at withers, circumference of the chest, cane circumference, body length, and body circumference as well as the BCS, CNS, and muscle atrophy score of the hindlimbs. The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the BCS of horses can be predicted with the data of parameters such as age, body length and an index consisting of measurements of the body circumference to height of withers, and the atrophy of the neck. Future research should use larger cohorts of animals to validate the findings of this study

Buffering Capacity of Various Commercial and Homemade Foods in the Context of Gastric Canine Digestion

The buffering capacity (BC) of food may act as a key regulatory parameter of canine gastric digestion by influencing the activity of gastric enzymes, the solubility of dietary ingredients, the gastric breakdown of food nutrients, and, subsequently, the absorption of nutrients. To analyse a possible effect of food on gastric pH, the BC of wet, dry, and homemade dog food was quantified via an acid titration method until a pH under 2 was achieved. Wet food had the highest BC; between dry and homemade food, there was no significant difference. Using multiple regression analyses, we were able to establish associations between the nutrient composition and the BC of the dog food. Crude protein content was the most important factor that influenced the BC and HCl use per gram of dry matter (DM) (p< 0.001), whereas the initial pH only tended to have an influence. The ash content also tended to affect the used HCl per gram of DM, and the DM content had a significant (p< 0.05) influence on the BC per gram of DM. The excessively high ash content found in wet food could be a risk factor for gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome because it could lead to an insufficient pH drop in the stomach. Our data indicate large differences in the BC of typical dog food; so, estimating the BC using the equations developed herein could help to design individualized dog diets, in particular for dogs with health problems such as gastric hypoacidity, gastric reflux, or gastritis. However, more research about the influence of dog-food BC on gastric pH in vivo is needed

Effect of inclusion of bakery by-products in the dairy cow\u27s diet on milk fatty acid composition

Bakery by-products (BP), rich in fats and sugars, are unconventional feed sources for cows whose effects on milk fat composition have not yet been evaluated. This research paper aimed to assess the effects of dietary BP inclusion rate and feeding period on the milk fatty acid composition. Twenty-four Simmental cows were fed a diet without BP (CON) for 1 week. Then they either continued with the CON diet or switched to one of the BP diets (with 15% or 30% BP in diet dry matter) for 3 weeks. Milk samples were taken before diet change and three times during BP feeding and analysed for fatty acid composition. Data showed that increasing BP content in the diet increased total fatty acid intake, especially of 18 : 1 n9. In the milk fat, the percentages of total monounsaturated fatty acids especially of the 18 : 1 origin linearly increased with increasing dietary BP level. The percentage of fatty acids de novo synthesized in the mammary gland (the sum of 4 : 0–14 : 0) remained similar among diets (32-34% of total fatty acids). The 16 : 0 percentage dropped from 32.5 to 29.6% and from 33.6 to 28.3% for 15% and 30% BP, respectively. Only 30% BP elevated the percentage of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA: by 59%) compared with CON throughout the 3 weeks. Proportions of 18 : 2 n6 and 18 : 3 n3 and the n6:n3 ratio were unaffected by BP and feeding time. BP feeding improved all those estimated health indices of the milk fat that are suggested to be related to coronary health. In summary, the inclusion of BP in dairy rations beneficially shifted the milk fatty acid profile to more 18 : 1 fatty acids at the expense of 16 : 0. At a 30% inclusion rate, BP feeding showed an additional benefit of increased CLA content in milk fat

Changes in eating time, chewing activity and dust concentration in horses fed either alfalfa cubes or long-stem hay

Chewing is an essential physiological process in horses; yet, the physical form of feeds may affect their chewing and feeding behaviour with consequences for equine digestion and health.The present study evaluated the potential of a commercial forage cubes made from alfalfa and mixed meadow grasses to maintain chewing activity when compared with a traditional long and fibre-rich hay. An additional aim was to measure the dust formation during feeding. The experiment was a crossover design with six horses (11 ± 4 years old, mean ± SD), fed with 5 kg (as-fed basis) of their feed (long hay or alfalfa cubes) overnight. Eating and chewing activity was measured using the EquiWatch system with a sensor-based halter.Data showed that by feeding the same amount of feed overnight, cube feeding led to 24% shorter eating time (on average 67 min less) and 26% fewer total chews compared to the long hay. On an hourly basis, horses also spent more time eating and chewing the long hay compared to the cubes. The cube feeding led to a higher dust concentration of the inhalable fraction (<100 μm), but not of the thoracic (<10 μm) fraction. Nevertheless, average dust concentrations were generally low for both cubes and hay, whereby both were of sound hygienic status.Our data suggest that feeding alfalfa-based cubes overnight generated shorter eating time and less chews than the long hay without major differences in the thoracic dust. Therefore, because of the decreased eating time and chews, alfalfa-based cubes should not be fed a sole forage source, especially when it is to be fed without restriction

Changes in fermentation profile of the reticulorumen and hindgut, and nutrient digestion in dry cows fed concentrate-rich diets supplemented with a phytogenic feed additive

This study evaluated the effects of duration of high-concentrate feeding on ruminal and fecal fermentation profile, as well as selected systemic health biomarkers in nonlactating cows supplemented with or without a phytogenic feed additive (PHY). In addition, ruminal degradation kinetics and total-tract nutrient digestibility were evaluated when feeding either only forage or a high-concentrate diet. Nine nonlactating, cannulated Holstein cows were used in a crossover design. Each period included 1 wk of forage feeding (wk 0), diet transition, and 4 wk on the high-concentrate diet (1, 2, 3 and wk 4; 65% dry matter basis). Cows received PHY or not (control). Compared with wk 0, from wk 1 onward, cows on high concentrate showed greater reticular, ruminal, and fecal total volatile fatty acids (VFA), with a greater level of VFA in the rumen than in the hindgut. However, ruminal fermentation was modulated differently by PHY, which showed increased total VFA in wk 1 and increased butyrate in wk 2 in the particle-associated fluid of rumen. In the hindgut, PHY increased propionate in wk 3. Cows fed a high-concentrate diet from wk 1 and onward also showed greater ruminal lactate, as well as lower ruminal and fecal pH, independent of PHY. In addition, compared with cows in wk 1 on a high-concentrate diet, cows in wk 4 had a greater total VFA in free fluid of the rumen and lower fecal pH. Compared with cows at wk 0, cows at wk 1 on high concentrate onward showed greater serum amyloid A and greater activity of glutamate dehydrogenase. In contrast, the high-concentrate diet decreased in situ ruminal degradability of grass silage but increased degradability of corn grain as well as total-tract nutrient digestibility, with total-tract neutral detergent fiber digestibility being greater for cows on the PHY treatment. Overall, from the start of high-concentrate feeding, gut fermentation increased, but differently according to location or PHY, with a stronger build-up of VFA in the rumen compared with the hindgut. In addition, a longer duration on high concentrate exacerbated gut acidification. The enhancing effects of PHY on total VFA and butyrate in particle-associated fluid of the rumen suggest beneficial effects of PHY on particle-associated bacteria, likely contributing to the increased neutral detergent fiber digestibility. The greater production of ruminal butyrate with PHY may be beneficial for the host, given the health benefits of this acid, but more research is needed to elucidate the effects on gut microbiota and the effects of increased butyrate in nonlactating dairy cows

Supplementing a Phytogenic Feed Additive Modulates the Risk of Subacute Rumen Acidosis, Rumen Fermentation and Systemic Inflammation in Cattle Fed Acidogenic Diets

Feeding with high-concentrate diets increases the risk of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). This experiment was conducted to evaluate whether supplementing a phytogenic feed additive based on L-menthol, thymol, eugenol, mint oil (Mentha arvensis) and cloves powder (Syzygium aromaticum) (PHY) can amend the ruminal fermentation profile, modulate the risk of SARA and reduce inflammation in cattle. The experiment was designed as a crossover design with nine non-lactating Holstein cows, and was conducted in two experimental runs. In each run, cows were fed a 100% forage diet one week (wk 0), and were then transitioned stepwise over one week (0 to 65% concentrate, wk adapt.) to a high concentrate diet that was fed for 4 weeks. Animals were fed diets either with PHY or without (CON). The PHY group had an increased ruminal pH compared to CON, reduced time to pH &lt; 5.8 in wk 3, which tended to decrease further in wk 4, reduced the ruminal concentration of D-lactate, and tended to decrease total lactate (wk 3). In wk 2, PHY increased acetate, butyrate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, and the acetate to propionate ratio compared to CON. Phytogenic supplementation reduced inflammation compared to CON in wk 3. Overall, PHY had beneficial effects on ruminal fermentation, reduced inflammation, and modulated the risk of SARA starting from wk 3 of supplementation

Changes in nutritional and hygienic quality due to storage of common native and processed grain cereals intended for horse feeding

Horses are sensitive to feed hygiene change. Commercial products are expected to be clean and safe but substandard storage conditions could compromise the nutritional and hygienic quality. We assessed changes in the nutritional and hygienic properties of common cereals (oat, maize and barley) in native (whole) and processed (flaked) forms in response to storage conditions. Commercially bagged cereals for horses were subjected to 3 storage conditions: freshly opened (control), open-bag storage and sealed-bag storage for 42 d kept in a feed storage room of a privately owned horse farm. The temperature and relative humidity of the storage room ranged from 17 to 21(degrees)C and 58-74%, respectively. Two samples were taken from the top and bottom positions of each bag (total n = 36) for analyses. Microscopic evaluations showed that oat samples contained 3-5 times higher numbers of impurities than maize and barley. Maize samples were highest in the number of flawed grains, while barley showed the greatest number of pest components. High counts of impurities, flawed grains and pest components were already found in the control samples, and the storage conditions did not promote more damage and contaminants or alter the chemical composition of samples. Sensory evaluation did not detect differences among samples. Processing enlarged the particle size of all grain sorts and promoted physical damage to maize in particular. Five samples analyzed for mycotoxins and other contaminants revealed the prevalence of secondary metabolites of Fusarium and Alternaria spp. (each group showing 80% frequency and >500 mu g/kg). Ergot alkaloids were absent. Fumonisin B-1 and B-2 were exclusively detected in maize samples (max concentration = 267 and 36 mu g/kg, respectively) and pesticide residues in barley samples. Our data indicate specific impurities, damages and contaminants associated with certain grain sort and processing with little impact of the test storage conditions

Effects of High Concentrate-Induced Subacute Ruminal Acidosis Severity on Claw Health in First-Lactation Holstein Cows

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diet-induced subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) severity during transition and the early lactation period on claw health in 24 first-lactation Holstein heifers. All heifers were fed a 30% concentrate (in dry matter) close-up ration three weeks before calving, then switched to a high-concentrate ration (60% dry matter), which was fed until the 70th day in milk (DIM) to induce SARA. Thereafter, all cows were fed the same post-SARA ration with around 36% concentrate in dry matter. Hoof trimming was performed before calving (visit 1), at 70 (visit 2) and at 160 DIM (visit 3). All claw lesions were recorded, and a Cow Claw Score (CCS) was calculated for each cow. Locomotion scores (LCS 1-5) were assessed at two-week intervals. Intraruminal sensors for continuous pH measurements were used to determine SARA (pH below 5.8 for more than 330 min in 24 h). The cluster analysis grouped the cows retrospectively into light (≤11%; n = 9), moderate (>11-30%; n = 8) SARA groups, based on the percentage of days individual cows experienced SARA. Statistically significant differences were found between SARA groups light and severe in terms of lameness incidence (p = 0.023), but not for LCS and claw lesion prevalence. Further, the analysis of maximum likelihood estimates revealed that for each day experiencing SARA, the likelihood of becoming lame increased by 2.52% (p = 0.0257). A significant increase in white line lesion prevalence was observed between visits 2 and 3 in the severe SARA group. The mean CCS in severe SARA group cows were higher at each visit compared to cows in the other two groups, but without statistical significance. Overall, this is the first study indicating that first-lactation cows fed a similar high-concentrate diet but with a higher severity of SARA tended to have poorer claw health, albeit with only partial statistical evidence

Duration of Zearalenone Exposure Has Implications on Health Parameters of Lactating Cows

There is a limited research focus on evaluating the detrimental effects of prolonged zearalenone (ZEN) intake on dairy cows\u27 health under controlled conditions. This experiment was conducted to evaluate whether the length of exposure to a ZEN-contaminated total mixed ration (TMR) at a level of 9.45 mg per day can negatively influence animal health parameters, such as milk composition, rumen and fecal fermentation, and the chewing activity of lactating dairy cows. For this experiment, we used 18 lactating Simmental cows that were fed a diet of 60% forage and 40% concentrate (on dry matter basis) for 26 consecutive days. The first 4 days were for adaptation prior to the first sampling day (day 0). The sampling events took place on day 0 (baseline) without ZEN, followed by day 1, day 7, day 14, and day 21 (with toxin). Dry matter intake (DMI) and ruminating chews per minute increased on the third week of ZEN inclusion; meanwhile, ruminating, eating, and drinking times were not affected. Most milk composition variables were also unaffected. Rumen fluid osmolality increased on day 21 and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) of ruminal fluid decreased on day 7. Fecal SCFA increased on day 21 and the acetate-to-propionate ratio increased from day 1 onwards, showing the influence of toxin intake. Animal health parameters, like heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature, were negatively influenced by ZEN intake, all increasing consistently on days 4 and 6, 9 and 12, and 16 and 18, respectively. The liver enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase decreased in response to ZEN intake on day 7. A total daily ZEN intake at the level of 9.45 mg did not show detrimental effects on DMI. Nevertheless, certain health parameters were negatively affected, including body temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate, starting from the 7th day of ZEN intake, with additional signs of possible loss of water balance on the last sampling day

Bovine rumen epithelial miRNA-mRNA dynamics reveals post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression upon transition to high-grain feeding and phytogenic supplementation

The rumen epithelium has a pivotal role in nutrient uptake and host health. This study aimed to explore the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the epithelial transcriptome during diet transition from forage to high-grain feeding and the modulation through supplementation with a phytogenic feed additive. Rumen biopsies were collected from 9 ruminally-cannulated non-lactating Holstein cows fed a baseline forage diet (FD) and then transitioned to high-grain feeding (HG; 65% concentrate on a dry matter basis). Cows were randomly allocated into a control group (CON, n = 5) and a group supplemented with a phytogenic feed additive (PHY, n = 4). MiRNA and mRNA sequencing was performed in parallel and transcripts were analyzed for differential expression, pathway enrichment analysis, and miRNA-mRNA interaction networks. We identified 527 miRNAs shared by all samples of the rumen epithelium, from which, bta-miR-21-5p, bta-miR-143 and bta-miR-24-3p were the most expressed. Six miRNAs were differentially expressed between CON and PHY and 8 miRNAs between FD and HG feeding, which were mainly associated with fat metabolism. Transcriptome analysis identified 9481 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between FD and HG, whereas PHY supplementation resulted in 5 DEGs. DEGs were mainly involved in epithelium development and morphogenesis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways associated with tricarboxylic acid and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolism were enriched in DEGs between diets. MiRNA target prediction and anti-correlation analysis was used to construct networks and identify DEGs targeted by DE miRNAs responsive to diet or PHY. This study allowed the identification of potential miRNA regulation mechanisms of gene expression during transition from FD to HG feeding and phytogenic supplementation, evidencing a direct role of miRNAs in host responses to nutrition