Lipogenic and lipolytic activities in isolated adipocytes from cattle with fat necrosis

Histopathological changes in the pancreas of cattle with abdominal fat necrosis

The association between pancreatic disorder and abdominal fat necrosis in cattle remains unclear. The pancreases of 29 slaughtered cattle with or without fat necrosis were collected to investigate pathological changes. Japanese Black (JB) cattle were classified into the FN group (with abdominal fat necrosis; n=9) and N group (without fat necrosis; n=5). The pancreases were also collected from 15 Holstein Friesian (HF) cows. All JB cattle showed high body condition scores. Regarding the pathological findings, fatty pancreas which involves adipocyte infiltration into the pancreas and fat necrosis (saponification) were observed in 25 and 27 cases, respectively. Immunohistochemical staining with anti-Iba-1 antibody showed large numbers of macrophages surrounding the saponified fat in the pancreas. CD3-positive T cells were significantly more common in the pancreas of both the FN and N groups compared with the HF group (P<0.05). Furthermore, fibrosis in the pancreas exhibited a correlative tendency with the formation of necrotic fat mass in the peritoneal cavity (P<0.1). These results indicate that obesity leads to increased severity of pancreatic disorder, including fatty pancreas and pancreatitis. The pathological lesions in the pancreas may play a key role in abdominal fat necrosis through the inflammatory process.

Metabolic Disorders in the Transition Period Indicate that the Dairy Cows' Ability to Adapt is Overstressed

Simple Summary

Metabolic disorders are a key problem in the transition period of dairy cows and often appear before the onset of further health problems. Problems derive from difficulties animals have to adapt to large variations and disturbances occurring both outside and inside the organism. A lack of success in solving these issues may be due to predominant approaches in farm management and agricultural science, dealing with such disorders as merely negative side effects. Instead, a successful adaptation of animals to their living conditions should be seen as an important end in itself. Both farm management and agricultural sciences should support animals in their ability to cope with nutritional and metabolic challenges by employing a functional and result-driven approach.

Abstract

Metabolic disorders are a key problem in the transition period of dairy cows and often appear before the onset of further health problems. They mainly derive from difficulties the animals have in adapting to changes and disturbances occurring both outside and inside the organisms and due to varying gaps between nutrient supply and demand. Adaptation is a functional and target-oriented process involving the whole organism and thus cannot be narrowed down to single factors. Most problems which challenge the organisms can be solved in a number of different ways. To understand the mechanisms of adaptation, the interconnectedness of variables and the nutrient flow within a metabolic network need to be considered. Metabolic disorders indicate an overstressed ability to balance input, partitioning and output variables. Dairy cows will more easily succeed in adapting and in avoiding dysfunctional processes in the transition period when the gap between nutrient and energy demands and their supply is restricted. Dairy farms vary widely in relation to the living conditions of the animals. The complexity of nutritional and metabolic processes and their large variations on various scales contradict any attempts to predict the outcome of animals’ adaptation in a farm specific situation. Any attempts to reduce the prevalence of metabolic disorders and associated production diseases should rely on continuous and comprehensive monitoring with appropriate indicators on the farm level. Furthermore, low levels of disorders and diseases should be seen as a further significant goal which carries weight in addition to productivity goals. In the long run, low disease levels can only be expected when farmers realize that they can gain a competitive advantage over competitors with higher levels of disease.

Economic losses related to internal diseases in Japanese black cattle

The objective of this study was to estimate the direct economic losses due to the condemnation of the liver and large intestine because of internal diseases (multifocal necrosis in the liver (MNL) and inflammation of the large intestine (ILI)), and the indirect losses because of reductions in carcass performance from MNL, bovine abdominal fat necrosis (BFN) and ILI using data from 5383 Japanese Black cattle. Direct losses were estimated by multiplying the price of the condemned part by the frequency of its occurrence owing to the disease. Similarly, indirect losses were estimated as the product of unit carcass price and reduction in carcass weight (CW) due to the disease. The direct impact on the beef cattle industry from MNL and ILI was estimated at around $1.29 million (US$1 = ¥120) per year. A least-squares analysis showed that MNL had no influence on any carcass trait, whereas BFN and ILI significantly reduced CW, rib eye area and darkened the beef. ILI also reduced rib thickness. The indirect losses from BFN and ILI were estimated as a maximum of $131.7 and $256.4 per animal and around $6.26 million and $4.03 million for the industry, respectively, mostly because of the reduction in CW.

Effects of clay on fat necrosis and carcass characteristics in Japanese Black steers

Twenty 10-month-old Japanese Black steers were used to evaluate the effects of clay on fat necrosis and carcass characteristics. Ten steers (Clay group) were fed the clay (50 g/day) during 10-30 months of age. The other 10 steers (Control group) were not fed it. There was no significant difference in body weight or average daily gain between the two groups (P > 0.05). The occurrence of fat necrotic mass in the Clay group (30%) was lower (P < 0.05) than that in the Control group (90%) at slaughter. The size of necrotic masses in the Clay group was smaller (P < 0.05) than that in the Control group. There was no significant difference in the marbling score, beef color, Longissimus muscle area or subcutaneous fat thickness between the two groups. These results suggest that the clay prevented the occurrence of fat necrosis and did not affect the carcass characteristics in Japanese Black steers.

Efeito da condição corporal ao parto sobre a produção e composição do leite, a curva de lactação e a mobilização de reservas corporais em vacas da raça Holandesa

Avaliaram-se os efeitos do escore da condição corporal ao parto sobre a produção e composição do leite, a curva de lactação e o padrão de mobilização de reservas corporais em vacas da raça Holandesa. Foram utilizadas 51 vacas, sendo 13 primíparas e 38 multíparas, distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, segundo a ordem de partos - primíparas e multíparas - e a classe de escore da condição corporal ao parto (ECCP) - classe 1 ECCP igual ou superior a 3,25, e classe 2 ECCP igual ou inferior a 3,0. Para avaliar o padrão de mobilização de reservas corporais, foram formados grupos de vacas em função do ECCP e do nível de produção de leite. Nas primíparas, não foram observados efeitos da ECCP sobre a produção e a composição do leite e sobre a curva da lactação, exceto para porcentagem de gordura. Nas multíparas, as vacas da classe 1 produziram mais leite e mais componentes do leite, e a curva da lactação mostrou pico de produção mais alto. As vacas de maior ECCP e maior produção de leite apresentaram padrão de mobilização de reservas corporais mais acentuado no início da lactação e maior peso corporal no pré-parto e ao parto. O peso corporal e a mudança de peso corporal ao parto e no início da lactação não foram influenciados pelo escore de condição corporal ao parto e pela produção de leite.

Ruminant adaptation to negative energy balance. Influences on the etiology of ketosis and fatty liver

Ketosis and fatty liver occur when physiologic mechanisms for the adaptation to negative energy balance fail. Failure of hepatic gluconeogenesis to supply adequate glucose for lactation and body needs may be one cause of ketosis; however, poor feedback control of nonesterified fatty acid release from adipose tissue is another likely cause of ketosis and fatty liver. The types of ketosis resulting from these two metabolic lesions may require different therapeutic and prophylactic approaches.