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Vahedi SM, Ardestani SS, Banabazi MH, Fraser Clark K. Aleutian disease: Risk factors and ImmunAD strategy for genetic improvement of tolerance in American mink (Neogale vison). PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306135. [PMID: 39024380 PMCID: PMC11257266 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Aleutian disease (AD) is a devastating infectious disease in American mink (Neogale vison) industry caused by Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV). Two crucial steps toward controlling infectious diseases in farm animals are: (i) assessment of the infection risk factors to minimize the likelihood of infection and (ii) selection of animals with superior immune responses against pathogens to build tolerant farms. This study aimed to investigate AD risk factors and evaluate a novel "ImmunAD" approach for genetic improvement of AD tolerance. Phenotypic records and pedigree information of 1,366 and 24,633 animals were included in this study. The risk of animal's age, sex, color type, and year of sampling on AMDV infection was assessed using a logistic regression model and counter immune-electrophoresis (CIEP) test results. ImmunAD phenotype was calculated based on AMDVG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and CIEP test results, and breeding values for ImmunAD were estimated using an animal model. Animals were classified into high-coordinated (HCIR), average-coordinated (ACIR), and low-coordinated immune responders (LCIR) using ImmunAD's breeding values, and the impact of selection of HCIR on live grade of pelt quality (PQ), harvest weight (HW), and harvest length (HL) breeding values were evaluated. Age of > 1 year, male sex, and year of sampling were identified as significant risk factors of AD (p < 0.05). A moderate-to-high heritability (0.55±0.07) was estimated for ImmunAD, while a higher heritability was observed among the CIEP-positive animals (0.76±0.06). Significantly higher breeding values were observed for PQ and HL among HCIR than those for LCIR and ACIR (p < 0.05). Our findings indicate the critical role of male breeders in AD distribution within mink farms. Regular screening of AD in male breeders before pairing them with females during breeding seasons can help disease control. ImmunAD strategy can be applied to genetic improvement of AD tolerance, with favorable impacts on some growth and production traits. Higher genetic gains can be achieved in populations with higher AD seroprevalences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Milad Vahedi
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS, Canada
| | | | - Mohammad Hossein Banabazi
- Centre for Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (VHC), Department of Animal Biosciences (HBIO), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Biotechnology, Animal Science Research Institute of IRAN (ASRI), Agricultural Research, Education & Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - K. Fraser Clark
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS, Canada
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Cartwright SL, Schmied J, Karrow N, Mallard BA. Impact of heat stress on dairy cattle and selection strategies for thermotolerance: a review. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1198697. [PMID: 37408833 PMCID: PMC10319441 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1198697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change is a problem that causes many environmental issues that impact the productivity of livestock species. One of the major issues associated with climate change is an increase of the frequency of hot days and heat waves, which increases the risk of heat stress for livestock species. Dairy cattle have been identified as being susceptible to heat stress due to their high metabolic heat load. Studies have shown heat stress impacts several biological processes that can result in large economic consequences. When heat stress occurs, dairy cattle employ several physiological and cellular mechanisms in order to dissipate heat and protect cells from damage. These mechanisms require an increase and diversion in energy toward protection and away from other biological processes. Therefore, in turn heat stress in dairy cattle can lead numerous issues including reductions in milk production and reproduction as well as increased risk for disease and mortality. This indicates a need to select dairy cattle that would be thermotolerant. Various selection strategies to confer thermotolerance have been discussed in the literature, including selecting for reduced milk production, crossbreeding with thermotolerant breeds, selecting based on physiological traits and most recently selecting for enhanced immune response. This review discusses the various issues associated with heat stress in dairy cattle and the pros and cons to the various selection strategies that have been proposed to select for thermotolerance in dairy cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L. Cartwright
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Julie Schmied
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Niel Karrow
- Centre of Genetics of Improvement of Livestock, Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Bonnie A. Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Centre of Genetics of Improvement of Livestock, Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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Meese S, Ulbrich SE, Bollwein H, Bruckmaier R, Wellnitz O, Kreuzer M, Röntgen M, Gimsa U, Schwarm A. Methane emission, metabolism, and performance of Holstein dairy cows with low, medium, and high lymphocyte proliferation during transition. J Dairy Sci 2020; 103:4367-4377. [PMID: 32147260 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-17584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify interactions between state of lactation (dry or early lactating) and immune responder group (low, medium, or high) for energy metabolism traits as well as metabolic and immunological traits in dairy cows. In early lactation, when the energy priority of cows shifts toward the mammary gland, the energy available to be partitioned toward the immune system may differ among individuals. The equilibrium between energy supply from feed, digestion, and body reserve mobilization and energy expenditure with milk, immune system, methane, and heat production is delicate in this stage. Seventeen Holstein cows entering their second to fifth lactation were kept under comparable feeding, housing, and management conditions and were studied from 14 ± 6 d before calving to 11 ± 3 d after calving. Feed intake, milk yield, body condition, blood metabolites, and cortisol as well as gaseous exchange in respiration chambers were measured. The latter was used to quantify methane emission and to calculate resting metabolic rate and heat production. Subsets of blood leukocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were monitored. Activation and proliferation of the PBMC in response to the mitogen phytohemagglutinin ante- and postpartum were assessed using the oxygen consumption rate (24-h cell culture assay) and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay (72-h cell culture assay). Cows were classified based on the in vitro proliferative response of the PBMC measured postpartum in low (n = 6), medium (n = 5), and high (n = 6) responders. We found no interaction of state of lactation with responder group for feed intake, milk yield, efficiency, metabolic traits, and immune cell activation ante- and postpartum. However, after calving, low-responder cows produced less methane per unit of body weight and per unit of energy-corrected milk compared with the other cows. This might be indicative of a low rumen fermentation intensity. Low responders might therefore suffer from a lower availability of digestible energy in early lactation and not be able to sustain the shift from immune cell activation to proliferation. If so, the selection of environmentally friendly low-methane emitters could promote phenotypes with a compromised immune response in the critical early lactation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Meese
- ETH Zurich, Animal Nutrition, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; AgroVet-Strickhof, 8315 Lindau, Switzerland
| | - S E Ulbrich
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - H Bollwein
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - R Bruckmaier
- Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, 3001 Berne, Switzerland
| | - O Wellnitz
- Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, 3001 Berne, Switzerland
| | - M Kreuzer
- ETH Zurich, Animal Nutrition, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Röntgen
- Institute of Muscle Biology and Growth, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - U Gimsa
- Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - A Schwarm
- ETH Zurich, Animal Nutrition, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432 Ås, Norway.
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Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of Immune Response and Resistance to Infectious Diseases in Domestic Ruminants. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2019; 35:405-429. [PMID: 31590895 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases are the outcome of complex interactions between the host, pathogen, and environment. After exposure to a pathogen, the host immune system uses various mechanisms to remove the pathogen. However, environmental factors and characteristics of pathogens can compromise the host immune responses and subsequently alter the outcome of infection. In this article, genetic and epigenetic factors that shape the individual variation in mounting protective responses are reviewed. Different approaches that have been used by researchers to investigate the genetic regulation of immunity in ruminants and various sources of genetic information are discussed.
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Herd RM, Velazco JI, Smith H, Arthur PF, Hine B, Oddy H, Dobos RC, Hegarty RS. Genetic variation in residual feed intake is associated with body composition, behavior, rumen, heat production, hematology, and immune competence traits in Angus cattle1. J Anim Sci 2019; 97:2202-2219. [PMID: 30789654 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This experiment was to evaluate a suite of biological traits likely to be associated with genetic variation in residual feed intake (RFI) in Angus cattle. Twenty nine steers and 30 heifers bred to be divergent in postweaning RFI (RFIp) and that differed in midparent RFIp-EBV (RFIp-EBVmp) by more than 2 kg DMI/d were used in this study. A 1-unit (1 kg DM/d) decrease in RFIp-EBVmp was accompanied by a 0.08 kg (SE = 0.03; P < 0.05) increase in ADG, a 0.58 kg/d (0.17; P < 0.01) decrease in DMI, a 0.89 kg/kg (0.22; P < 0.001) decrease in FCR, and a 0.62 kg/d (0.12; P < 0.001) decrease in feedlot RFI (RFIf). Ultrasonically scanned depths of subcutaneous fat at the rib and rump sites, measured at the start and end of the RFI test, all had strong positive correlations with RFIp-EBVmp, DMI, and RFIf (all r values ≥0.5 and P < 0.001). Variation in RFIp-EBVmp was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with flight speed (r = -0.32), number of visits to feed bins (r = 0.45), and visits to exhaled-emission monitors (r = -0.27), as well as the concentrations of propionate (r = -0.32) and valerate (r = -0.31) in rumen fluid, white blood cell (r = -0.51), lymphocyte (r = -0.43), and neutrophil (r = -0.31) counts in blood. RFIp-EBVmp was also correlated with the cellular immune response to vaccination (r = 0.25; P < 0.1) and heat production in fasted cattle (r = -0.46; P < 0.001). Traits that explained significant variation (P < 0.05) in DMI over the RFI test were midtest metabolic-BW (44.7%), rib fat depth at the end of test (an additional 18%), number of feeder visits (additional 5.7%), apparent digestibility of the ration by animals (additional 2.4%) and white blood-cell count (2.1%), and the cellular immune response to vaccine injection (additional 1.1%; P < 0.1), leaving ~23% of the variation in DMI unexplained. The same traits (BW excluded) explained 33%, 12%, 3.6%, 3.7%, and 3.1%, and together explained 57% of the variation in RFIf. This experiment showed that genetic variation in RFI was accompanied by variation in estimated body composition, behavior, rumen, fasted heat production, hematology, and immune competence traits, and that variation in feedlot DMI and RFIf was due to differences in BW, scanned fatness, and many other factors in these cattle fed ad libitum and able to display any innate differences in appetite, temperament, feeding behavior, and activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Herd
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industries Centre, Armidale, NSW, Australia.,Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Jose I Velazco
- Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.,National Institute of Agricultural Research, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay
| | - Helen Smith
- Local Land Services Agency, Braidwood, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul F Arthur
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW, Australia
| | - Brad Hine
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, F.D McMaster Laboratory, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Hutton Oddy
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industries Centre, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Robin C Dobos
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industries Centre, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Roger S Hegarty
- Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
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Hilke J, Strobel H, Woelke S, Stoeter M, Voigt K, Grimm L, Meilwes J, Punsmann T, Blaha I, Salditt A, Rohn K, Bastian M, Ganter M. A comparison of different vaccination schemes used in sheep combining inactivated bluetongue vaccines against serotypes 4 and 8. Vaccine 2019; 37:5844-5853. [PMID: 31431410 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Eight different vaccination schemes using four commercially available inactivated Bluetongue vaccines against serotypes 4 and 8 in three different combinations (setting 1-3) were tested under field conditions for their ability to generate a measurable immune response in sheep. Animals of setting 1 (groups A-D) were simultaneously vaccinated using either individual injections at different locations (groups A & D) or double injection by a twin-syringe (groups B & C). For both application methods, a one-shot vaccination (groups C & D) was compared to a boosted vaccination (groups A & B). Sheep of setting 2 (groups E-G) were vaccinated in an alternating, boosted pattern at fortnightly intervals starting with serotype 4 (groups E & F) or vice versa (group G). Group H of setting 3 was vaccinated simultaneously and vaccines were injected individually as a one-shot application. Each group consisted of 30 sheep. The immunogenic response was tested in all sheep (n = 240) by ELISA (IDScreen®Bluetongue Competition), while serum neutralisation tests were performed in five to six sheep from each group (n = 45). All vaccine combinations were well tolerated by all sheep. Of all vaccines and schemes described, the simultaneous double injected boosted vaccination of setting 1 (group B) yielded the highest median serotype-specific titres 26 weeks after the first vaccination (afv) and 100% seropositive animals (ELISA) one year afv. In setting 1, there were no relevant significant differences in the immunogenic response between simultaneously applied vaccines at different sites or at the same injection site. Importantly, a one-shot vaccination induced comparable immunogenicity to a boosted injection half a year afv. Low serotype-specific neutralising antibody levels were detected in settings 2 and 3 and are attributed to diverse factors which may have influenced the measured immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Hilke
- Sheep Veterinary Practice Strobel, Am Hopfenberg 8, 89352 Stoffenried, Germany; Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Heinz Strobel
- Sheep Veterinary Practice Strobel, Am Hopfenberg 8, 89352 Stoffenried, Germany
| | - Soeren Woelke
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Riems, Germany
| | - Melanie Stoeter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Katja Voigt
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Sonnenstr. 16, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Lucie Grimm
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Johanna Meilwes
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Teresa Punsmann
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Irena Blaha
- State Veterinary Investigation Centre Aulendorf, Loewenbreitestr. 20, 88326 Aulendorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Salditt
- State Veterinary Investigation Centre Aulendorf, Loewenbreitestr. 20, 88326 Aulendorf, Germany
| | - Karl Rohn
- Institute for Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 2, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Max Bastian
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Suedufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Ganter
- Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, Forensic Medicine and Ambulatory Service, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
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Aleri JW, Hine BC, Pyman MF, Mansell PD, Wales WJ, Mallard B, Stevenson MA, Fisher AD. Associations between immune competence, stress responsiveness, and production in Holstein-Friesian and Holstein-Friesian × Jersey heifers reared in a pasture-based production system in Australia. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:3282-3294. [PMID: 30738667 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-14578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to assess antibody and cellular immune responses in first-lactation dairy heifers reared under a pasture-based production system and to investigate associations between immune competence and stress responsiveness, health, and productivity. A commercial vaccine was used to induce antibody and cellular immune responses and, based on measured responses, animals were classified as above average, average, and below average for each trait independently and in combination (overall immune competence). Overall immune competence phenotypic rankings were generated by combining standardized residual values for antibody and cellular responses measured in individual heifers. Cortisol responses to handling and yarding were used to assess stress responsiveness, worm egg counts were used to assess internal parasite burden, somatic cell counts to assess udder health and estimates of total daily milk volume, and milk fat and milk protein contents to assess productivity. A total of 393 Holstein-Friesian and Holstein-Friesian × Jersey crossbred heifers from 2 herds practicing seasonal calving in a pasture-fed production system were enrolled in the study. The immune competence phenotypes of individual heifers were assessed before their first mating and their subsequent performance during their first lactation was monitored. Animals with below-average antibody and cellular immune competence had higher serum cortisol concentrations compared with their counterparts following handling, suggesting they had a reduced ability to cope with management-induced stress. Furthermore, a significant negative (favorable) correlation was observed between antibody responses and stress responsiveness. Similarly, correlations between antibody responses and internal parasite burden were significant and negative (favorable). No correlations were observed between overall immune competence and milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein content.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Aleri
- College of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia; Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia; Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - B C Hine
- CSIRO Agriculture, Armidale, New South Wales 2350, Australia
| | - M F Pyman
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
| | - P D Mansell
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
| | - W J Wales
- Agriculture Research and Development Division, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Ellinbank, Victoria 3821, Australia
| | - B Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario NIG2W1, Canada
| | - M A Stevenson
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
| | - A D Fisher
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia; Animal Welfare Science Centre, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Denholm SJ, McNeilly TN, Banos G, Coffey MP, Russell GC, Bagnall A, Mitchell MC, Wall E. Estimating genetic and phenotypic parameters of cellular immune-associated traits in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:2850-2862. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-11679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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