Expression of PC, PCK1, PCK2, LDHB, FBP1 and G6PC genes in the liver of cows in the transition from pregnancy to lactation*

The effect of the transition of dairy cows from pregnancy to lactation on the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in hepatic glucose metabolism was studied. Six Holstein-Friesian heifers were used for this study. Liver samples were collected by biopsy on day 7 before expected parturition (-7) and days 3 and 21 after parturition (+3 and +21, respectively). The mRNA levels of pyruvate carboxylase (PC), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2), lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The expression of PC and PCK2 mRNA on day 3 of lactation was significantly higher than that on day 7 before parturition (P<0.05) and slightly higher than on day 21 postpartum. The LDHB gene showed the highest expression level on day 3 of lactation, as compared with day 7 prepartum (P<0.001) and day 21 postpartum (P<0.001). No differences were shown in PCK1, FBP1 and G6PC expression levels between pregnancy and early lactation

Effect of Addition of a Mixture of Ethyl Esters of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid of Linseed Oil to Liquid Feed on Performance and Health of Dairy Calves

This study aimed to determine the effect of supplementing liquid feeds with a mixture of ethyl esters of polyunsaturated fatty acid of linseed oil (EEPUFA; α-linolenic acid—64.5%, linoleic acid—16.1%, and oleic acid—19.4%) on feed intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency, and health of dairy calves. Thirty-six healthy female Holstein–Friesian calves (7 d of age, 41.2 ± 4.0 kg) were assigned to one of two treatment groups (18 calves per group), i.e., control or EEPUFA, and fed liquid feed (whole milk (WM) or milk replacer (MR)) either without or with 10 mL/d of EEPUFA supplementation, respectively, for 56 days (till 63 d of age). Average daily intake of WM and MR was similar between treatments (p = 0.94). Average daily total DM intake and average daily starter feed DM intake were higher for the EEPUFA group (p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively). The average daily body weight gain was also higher for the EEPUFA group (55 g/d; p = 0.03), although final body weight turned out not to be significantly different between groups (75.6 kg vs. 79.0 kg, control vs. EEPUFA, respectively; p = 0.20). Supplementation of liquid feeds with EEPUFA did not affect feed efficiency (p = 0.37) and most of investigated health parameters. However, the percentage of days with diarrhea relative to the number of days receiving treatment was higher in the control group than the EEPUFA group (76 vs. 42, respectively; p = 0.04). Although the results of this preliminary study are promising, further research is needed to establish the dose effect of EEPUFA on the performance and health of calves

The effect of fructose supplementation on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and digesta retention time in Reeves’s muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi)

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of fructose supplementation in the diet on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and digesta retention time in Reeves's muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), a browsing cervid. In Experiment 1, six adult males of Reeves's muntjac were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design and fed a diet consisting of dehydrated chopped lucerne (ad libitum), high‐fibre pellet (120 g/day) and wheat bran (30 g/day) without (F0) or with addition of 12 and 24 g fructose/day (F12 and F24, respectively). In Experiment 2, the same six adult muntjacs were used in crossover design and fed F0 or F12. Doses of supplemental fructose were set to increase intake of water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC; ≈40 g/day; ≈8% of WSC in consumed dry matter [DM]) by 25 and 50% relative to F0. Feed intake was controlled daily (Experiment 1 and 2) and total tract digestibility and digesta retention time were determined (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, DM intake of chopped dehydrated lucerne decreased with fructose supplementation (F0 vs. F12 and F24; p = .01) but was not different between F12 and F24 (p = .76). Total DM intake was also not different between treatments (p ≥ .13). In Experiment 2, DM intake of lucerne, total DM intake and nutrient digestibility was not affected by fructose supplementation (p ≥ .17), but mean retention time of long particles in the whole GIT tended to be longer for F12 compared to F0 (p = .09). Under conditions of the current study, additional fructose intake (resulting in a range of WSC content in consumed DM from 8.6% to 13%) had only minor impact on feed intake and investigated functions of the gastrointestinal tract of Reeves's muntjac

Increased intake of mono- and disaccharides by Reeves's muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi). Effect on gastrointestinal tract structure and function and blood parameters

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an increased mono- and disaccharide (MD) intake on selected functions and structure of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and selected blood parameters in Reeves’s muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), a small browsing ruminant. Eighteen male muntjacs were fed diets consisting of lucerne (ad libitum), a high fiber pellet (100 g/day) and wheat bran (30 g/day) without (MD0) or with addition of 10 or 20 g of glucose, fructose and sucrose mixture/day (MD10 and MD20, respectively) for 14 days. MD dosages were set to increase intake of these saccharides by 25 and 50% relative to MD0, which resulted in a range of water soluble carbohydrates content in consumed dry matter from 7 to 12%. Compared to MD0 animals, MD20 animals had a lower dry matter intake, a higher MD concentrations in the reticulorumen (RR), abomasal and small intestinal digesta, higher ruminal butyrate concentration, higher SGLT1 expression in the proximal jejunum, higher plasma glucose, lower RR tissue weight but greater caecal tissue weight (P ≤ 0.05), and had or tended to have shorter papillae and lower mucosa surface area in the Atrium ruminis (by 44%; P= 0.02 and P = 0.10, respectively); MD10 animals tended to have higher MD concentrations in abomasal and small intestinal digesta (P ≤ 0.10), and a higher amylolytic activity (P = 0.02) as well as a tendency to lower xylanolytic activity in RR digesta (P = 0.06). MD supplementation did not affect ruminal pH. In conclusion, low to moderate increase of MD intake increased MD concentrations in the RR, abomasal and intestinal digesta, and SGLT1 expression in intestinal epithelium, suggesting incomplete fermentation of those saccharides in the RR. MD supplementation dose-dependently affects structure of GIT in Reeves’s muntjac