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Rissanen P, Halmemies-Beauchet-Filleau A, Niku M, Soveri T, Vanhatalo A, Kokkonen T. Effects of prepartum concentrate feeding on reticular pH, plasma energy metabolites, acute phase proteins, and milk performance in grass silage-fed dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:2832-2849. [PMID: 37949403 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
We investigated how concentrate feeding during the last 21 d of pregnancy affects reticular pH, inflammatory response, dry matter (DM) intake, and production performance of dairy cows. We hypothesized that adding concentrates to dairy cows' diet before calving reduces the decrease in reticular pH postpartum and thus alleviates inflammatory response. We also hypothesized that prepartum concentrate feeding increases DM intake postpartum and consequently improves milk performance. Two feeding experiments were conducted using a randomized complete block design. In each experiment, 16 multiparous Finnish Ayrshire cows were paired based on parity, expected calving date, body weight, and milk yield of the previous lactation. Within the pairs, cows were randomly allocated on one of the 2 dietary treatments 21 d before expected calving. In experiment 1 (Exp1), diets were ad libitum feeding of grass silage as a sole feed or supplemented with increasing amounts of concentrate offered separately (increased to 4 kg/d by d -7). In experiment 2 (Exp2), diets were ad libitum feeding of a total mixed ration containing either grass silage, barley straw, and rapeseed meal (64%, 28%, and 8% on DM basis, respectively) or grass silage, barley straw, and cereal-based concentrate mixture (49%, 29%, and 30% on DM basis, respectively). Following calving, all the cows were fed similarly and observed until d 56 postpartum. Feed intake and milk yield were recorded daily, and reticular pH was monitored continuously by reticular pH bolus. Blood samples were collected at the beginning of the experiments, 7 d before the expected calving date, 1 d (in Exp1) or 5 d (in Exp2), 10 d, and 21 d postpartum. In Exp1, concentrate feeding increased metabolizable energy intake and tended to increase DM and crude protein intake prepartum. Moreover, prepartum concentrate feeding increased the concentrations of plasma β-hydroxybutyrate and insulin, but differences in nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, or acute phase proteins were not observed. After calving, prepartum diet did not affect DM or nutrient intake, plasma energy metabolites, or milk production in Exp1. Although prepartum concentrate feeding increased reticular pH on the first day of lactation, it elevated plasma concentrations of serum amyloid-A and haptoglobin postpartum in the grass silage-based diet. In Exp2, adding concentrates to the diet based on a mixture of grass silage and straw did not affect prepartum DM intake or plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, or insulin. Adding concentrates to prepartum diet increased plasma concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate before calving as in Exp1. After calving, prepartum concentrate feeding increased DM and nutrient intake during the second week of lactation in Exp2, but no effects were observed thereafter. In contrast to our hypothesis, prepartum concentrate feeding decreased reticular pH after calving in Exp2, but no differences in inflammatory markers were observed. Based on this study, close-up concentrate feeding in diets based on grass silage with or without straw does not alleviate the decrease in reticular pH or mitigate inflammatory response postpartum.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Rissanen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - M Niku
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - T Soveri
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - A Vanhatalo
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - T Kokkonen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
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Addition of clinoptilolite in the diet reduces uterine PMN leukocytes and open days in multiparous lactating dairy cows managed in a mountain tropical pasture-based system. Trop Anim Health Prod 2022; 54:281. [PMID: 36074277 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-022-03308-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the effect of adding clinoptilolite in the diet on uterine health and reproductive performance in multiparous lactating dairy cows managed in a tropical pasture-based system above 2500 m of altitude. Seventy-seven multiparous Holstein crossbred cows from two farms were allocated randomly into two groups: clinoptilolite supplemented cows (CLG, n = 42) and non-supplemented cows as control (CG, n = 35). Cows from CLG were supplemented with clinoptilolite from 30 days (50 g/cow/day) before to 60 days after calving (200 g/cow/day). In CLG cows, percentages of uterine PMN leukocytes (P < 0.0001) and proportion of subclinical endometritis (P = 0.0187) were lower than in CG. The interval calving to first corpus luteum was shorter (P = 0.0759) in CLG than CG, and calving to first service interval was similar between treatments. Cows from CLG became pregnant 35 days earlier than CG cows (P = 0.0224). On farm A, calving to conception interval was 18.1 days longer in CLG than in CG (P = 0.3750); in farm B, this interval was 86.2 days shorter in CLG than in CG (P = 0.0002). In conclusion, daily addition of clinoptilolite in the diet decreased the percentage of uterine PMN leukocytes, the proportion of cows with subclinical endometritis, and shortened the calving-conception interval in multiparous lactating dairy cows.
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Neville EW, Fahey AG, Meade KG, Mulligan FJ. Effects of calcareous marine algae on milk production, feed intake, energy balance, mineral status, and inflammatory markers in transition dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:6616-6627. [PMID: 35840410 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to compare the effects of calcareous marine algae (CMA; Acid Buf, Celtic Sea Minerals) with a limestone-based control on feed intake, milk production, energy balance, serum mineral metabolites, and inflammatory markers in transition dairy cows. Twenty-two multiparous and 10 primiparous cows were assigned to 2 treatments from 25 d before expected parturition until 42 d postpartum. Cows were assigned to treatment according to a randomized complete block design based on parity, pre-experimental body condition score, previous 305-d milk yield, and either fat + protein yield (for multiparous cows) or predicted transmitting ability for milk yield and fat + protein yield (for primiparous cows). Cows were fed a negative dietary cation-anion difference [-50 mEq/kg] total mixed ration (TMR) based on corn silage, grass silage, and straw during the prepartum period and a 50:50 forage:concentrate TMR based on grass silage, corn silage, and concentrate during the postpartum period. The 2 dietary treatments consisted of a control (CON), which contained limestone as the primary calcium source, and CMA, in which limestone was replaced by CMA at 0.42% and 0.47% of dry matter for the pre- and postpartum periods, respectively. The dietary treatments were fed as 2 different concentrate pellets added to the TMR. Cows fed the CMA diet had higher dry matter intake in both the prepartum (+1.08 kg) and postpartum (+0.94 kg) periods compared with cows fed the CON diet. Fat yield (+0.11 kg), fat concentration (+0.43%), and 4% fat-corrected milk (+1.56 kg) were higher in cows fed CMA than in cows fed CON. The concentration of plasma serum amyloid A was reduced and that of serum P was increased on the CMA treatment compared with the CON treatment. These findings demonstrate the benefits of supplementing CMA to dairy cows during the transition period compared with a CON treatment containing limestone as the primary Ca source.
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Affiliation(s)
- E W Neville
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland D04 W6F6; Celtic Sea Minerals, Currabinny, Carrigaline, Co. Cork, Ireland P43 NN62
| | - A G Fahey
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland D04 R7R0.
| | - K G Meade
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland D04 R7R0
| | - F J Mulligan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland D04 W6F6
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Johnston D, Theodoridou K, Stewart S, Ferris C. The effect of post-harvest treatment of field beans on dairy cow performance and nutrient utilisation. Livest Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Cheng Z, Wylie A, Ferris C, Ingvartsen KL, Wathes DC. Effect of diet and nonesterified fatty acid levels on global transcriptomic profiles in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells in early lactation dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:10059-10075. [PMID: 34147225 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-20136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
After calving, lipid mobilization caused by increased nutrient demands for lactation leads to elevated circulating concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA). Excessive NEFA levels have previously been identified as a major risk factor for postpartum immunosuppression. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in global transcriptomic gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in dairy cows offered different early lactation diets (high concentrate, n = 7; medium, n = 8; or low, n = 9) and with differing circulating levels of NEFA. Cows were classified as having NEFA concentrations of either <500 µM (low, n = 6), 500 to 750 µM (medium, n = 8) or >750 µM (high, n = 10) at 14 d in milk. Plasma urea concentrations were greater for cows on the high concentrate diet but β-hydroxybutyrate and glucose concentrations did not differ significantly between either dietary treatments or NEFA groups. Cows with high NEFA weighed more at drying off and suffered greater body condition score loss after calving. The PBMC were isolated at 14 d in milk, and RNA was extracted for RNA sequencing. Differential gene expression was analyzed with DESeq2 with q-value for false discovery rate control followed by Gene Ontology Enrichment. Although there were no differentially expressed genes associated with lactation diet, 304 differentially expressed genes were identified between cows with high and low circulating NEFA, with 118 upregulated and 186 downregulated. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis demonstrated that biological adhesion and immune system process were foremost among various PBMC functions which were altered relating to body defenses and immunity. High NEFA concentrations were associated with inhibited cellular adhesion function by downregulating 20 out of 26 genes (by up to 17-fold) related to this process. Medium NEFA concentrations altered a similar set of functions as high NEFA, but with smaller enrichment scores. Localization and immune system process were most significant, with biological adhesion ranking only eleventh. Our results demonstrated that increased circulating NEFA concentrations, but not diet, were associated with immune system processes in PBMC in early lactation cows. Leukocyte cell-to-cell adhesion was inhibited when the NEFA concentration exceeded 750 µM, which would reduce the efficiency of diapedesis and so contribute to decreased body defense mechanisms and predispose animals to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Cheng
- Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, United Kingdom.
| | - A Wylie
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Newforge Lane, Upper Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5PX, United Kingdom
| | - C Ferris
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Newforge Lane, Upper Malone Road, Belfast BT9 5PX, United Kingdom
| | - K L Ingvartsen
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark
| | - D C Wathes
- Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, United Kingdom
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Esposito G, Raffrenato E, Lukamba SD, Adnane M, Irons PC, Cormican P, Tasara T, Chapwanya A. Characterization of metabolic and inflammatory profiles of transition dairy cows fed an energy-restricted diet. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:skz391. [PMID: 31917830 PMCID: PMC6984754 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Periparturient diseases of dairy cows are caused by disproportionate energy metabolism, mineral imbalance, and perturbed immune function. The aim of the present study was to characterize metabolism, innate immune endometrial gene expression, and uterine microbial populations of transition animals receiving normal or restricted energy diets. Pregnant multiparous Holstein cows (n = 14) were randomly assigned to one of the two dietary treatments from 20 d prepartum until 35 d postpartum (DPP). One group was fed a diet providing 100% energy requirements (NE), whereas the other received an energy-restricted diet providing 80% energy requirements (RE). Feed intake, milk yield, body weight, body condition score, temperature, respiratory, and pulse rate were recorded. After calving, blood was collected weekly to analyze nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and total cholesterol (TC). Endometrial cytobrushes were collected for gene expression analysis of inflammatory markers, microbial populations determination, and cytological evaluation. The restricted energy diet did not alter feed intake or milk yield but changed energy balance and metabolites levels (P < 0.05). In fact, RE animals had high NEFA and BHB levels, and low TC concentrations (P < 0.05). Moreover, RE animals had upregulated gene expression of serum amyloid A3 (SAA3) at 35 DPP (P < 0.05) and CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) at 14 DPP (P < 0.01). Interleukin (IL) 1 and IL8 genes were downregulated 14 DPP but upregulated 35 DPP in RE animals, whereas IL6 and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) genes were upregulated at 14 DPP (P ≤ 0.05). The most abundant phyla in RE animals (n = 3) were Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria, whereas Proteobacteria was the least abundant at both 14 and 35 DPP. In conclusion, it can be speculated that energy balance is one of the main drivers for uterine inflammation by affecting metabolism, immune function, and uterine microbiota. However, these findings should be validated in a larger sample size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Esposito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Emiliano Raffrenato
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Somwe D Lukamba
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Mounir Adnane
- Institute of Veterinary Sciences, Ibn-Khaldoun University, Tiaret, Algeria
| | - Pete C Irons
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- School of Veterinary and Life Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
| | - Paul Cormican
- Department of Animal and Grassland Research, Animal Bioscience Research Centre, Teagasc, Ireland
| | - Taurai Tasara
- Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Aspinas Chapwanya
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
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Johnston DJ, Theodoridou K, Gordon AW, Yan T, McRoberts WC, Ferris CP. Field bean inclusion in the diet of early-lactation dairy cows: Effects on performance and nutrient utilization. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:10887-10902. [PMID: 31548054 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-16513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The European livestock sector has a significant deficit of high-quality protein feed ingredients. Consequently there is interest in using locally grown protein grain crops to partially or completely replace imported protein feeds in dairy cow rations. Field bean (FB; Vicia faba) has been identified as a locally grown crop with significant potential. The current study was designed to examine the effects of FB on cow performance and nutrient utilization in the diet of early-lactation dairy cows, including high levels of FB (up to 8.4 kg/cow per day). The experiment used 72 dairy cows in a 3-treatment continuous design (from calving until wk 20 of lactation). All cows were given ad libitum access to a mixed ration comprising grass silage and concentrates [45:55 on a dry matter (DM) basis]. Concentrates offered contained either 0, 349, or 698 g of FB/kg of concentrate (treatments FB0, FB-Low, and FB-High, respectively), with FB completely replacing soybean meal, rapeseed meal, maize gluten, and wheat in the concentrate for the FB-High treatment. Following completion of the 20-wk experiment, ration digestibility, nutrient utilization, and methane (CH4) production were measured using 4 cows from each treatment. Neither silage DM intake, total DM intake, nor milk yield were affected by treatment. Cows on FB0 had a higher milk fat content than those on FB-High, and cows on FB0 and FB-Low had higher milk protein contents than did those on FB-High. Field bean inclusion increased the degree of saturation of milk fat produced. Milk fat yield, milk protein yield, and milk fat plus protein yield were higher with FB0 than with either FB-Low or FB-High. Treatment had no effect on the digestibility of DM, organic matter, nitrogen (N), gross energy, or neutral detergent fiber, whereas digestibility of acid detergent fiber was higher with FB0 than with FB-High. Neither the efficiency of gross energy or N utilization, nor any of the CH4 production parameters examined, were affected by treatment. Similarly, none of the fertility or health parameters examined were affected by treatment. The reduction in milk fat observed may have been due to the higher starch content of the FB-High diet, and the reduction in milk protein may have been due to a deficit of methionine in the diet. It is likely that these issues could be overcome by changes in ration formulation, thus allowing FB to be included at the higher range without loss in performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Johnston
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough, Co. Down, BT26 6DR, United Kingdom; Queens University Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT7 1NN, United Kingdom.
| | - K Theodoridou
- Queens University Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - A W Gordon
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT9 5PX, United Kingdom
| | - T Yan
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough, Co. Down, BT26 6DR, United Kingdom
| | - W C McRoberts
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT9 5PX, United Kingdom
| | - C P Ferris
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough, Co. Down, BT26 6DR, United Kingdom
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Immunological effects of altering the concentrate inclusion level in a grass silage-based diet for early lactation Holstein Friesian cows. Animal 2019; 13:799-809. [DOI: 10.1017/s1751731118001891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Dale A, Purcell P, Wylie A, Gordon A, Ferris C. Effects of dry period length and concentrate protein content in late lactation on body condition score change and subsequent lactation performance of thin high genetic merit dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:1795-1811. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-11887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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