Combined biotin, folic acid, and vitamin B12 supplementation given during the transition period to dairy cows: Part I. Effects on lactation performance, energy and protein metabolism, and hormones

Supplementation with Combined Additive Improved the Production of Dairy Cows and Their Offspring with Maintenance of Antioxidative Stability

Oxidative stress damage in periparturient cows decreases both production and their health; supplementation with complex additives during the periparturient period has been used as an important strategy to enhance the antioxidant status and production of dairy cows. The periparturient cows not only risk a negative energy balance due to reduced dry matter intake but also represent a sensitive period for oxidative stress. Therefore, we have developed an immunomodulatory and nutritional regulation combined additive (INC) that hopefully can improve the immune status and production of cows during the periparturient period and their offspring health and growth by improving their antioxidant stress status. The INC comprised a diverse array of additives, including water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, Selenomethionine, and active dry Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Forty-five multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to three treatments: CON (no INC supplementation, n = 15), INC30 (30 g/d INC supplementation, n = 15), and INC60 (60 g/d INC supplementation, n = 15) based on last lactation milk yield, body condition score, and parity. Newborn calves were administered 4 L of maternal colostrum originating from the corresponding treatment and categorized based on the treatment received by their respective dams. The INC not only served to maintain the antioxidative stress system of dairy cows during the periparturient period but also showed a tendency to improve the immune response (lower tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6) during the perinatal period. A linear decrease in concentrations of alkaline phosphatase postpartum and β-hydroxybutyrate was observed with INC supplementation. Milk fat yield, milk protein yield, and energy-corrected milk yield were also increased linearly with increasing additive supplementation. Calves in the INC30 group exhibited greater wither height and chest girth but no significant effect on average daily gain or body weight. The diarrhea frequency was linearly decreased with the incremental level of INC. Results indicate that supplementation with INC in peripartum dairy cows could be a major strategy to improve immune response, decrease inflammation, maintain antioxidant stress status in transition dairy cows, and have merit in their calves. In conclusion, this study underlines the benefits of INC supplementation during the transition period, as it improved anti-inflammatory capacity, could positively impact antioxidative stress capacity, and eventually enhanced the production performance of dairy cows and the health and growth of calves.

Effects of biotin and coated cobalamin on lactation performance, nutrient digestion and rumen fermentation in Holstein dairy cows

Biotin (BI) and cobalamin (CA) are essential for rumen propionate production and hepatic gluconeogenesis. The study evaluated the influence of BI or/and coated CA (CCA) on milk performance and nutrient digestion in cows. Sixty Holstein dairy cows were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement and randomised block design to four groups. The factors were BI at 0 or 20 mg/day and CCA at 0 or 9 mg CA/day. Dry matter intake increased with BI addition but was unchanged with CCA supply. Addition of BI or CCA increased fat-corrected milk, milk fat and milk protein yields and feed efficiency. Moreover, lactose yield was increased by CCA addition. Dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and acid detergent fibre total-tract digestibility increased for BI or CCA supply. When CCA was supplemented, positive response of neutral detergent fibre digestibility to BI addition was enhanced. Supplementing BI did not affect pH, propionate content and acetate to propionate ratio, but increased total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and acetate contents. Supplementing CCA decreased pH and acetate to propionate ratio, but increased total VFA, acetate and propionate contents. Rumen protease and carboxymethyl-cellulase activities and fungi, bacteria and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens numbers increased for BI or CCA supply. In addition, protozoa increased for BI addition, and protease activity and Prevotella ruminicola increased for CCA supply. When CCA was supplemented, positive responses of R. albus and Ruminobacter amylophilus numbers to BI addition were enhanced. Blood glucose concentration was unchanged with BI supply, but increased for CCA supply. Blood nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate contents reduced with BI or CCA supply. Supplementation with BI or CCA increased blood BI or CA content. The results showed that supplementing BI or/and CCA improved lactation performance and nutrient digestion, and CCA supply did not enhance the lactation performance response to BI supply.

Review: State of the knowledge on the importance of folates and cobalamin for dairy cow metabolism

Synthesis of B vitamins by the rumen microbiota is usually sufficient to avoid the appearance of clinical deficiency symptoms in dairy cows under normal feeding conditions. Nevertheless, it is now generally accepted that vitamin deficiency is much more than the appearance of major functional and morphological symptoms. Subclinical deficiency, which is present as soon as the supply is lower than the need, causes cellular metabolic changes leading to a loss of metabolic efficiency. Folates and cobalamin, two B vitamins, share close metabolic relationships. Folates act as co-substrates in one-carbon metabolism, providing one-carbon unit for DNA synthesis and de novo synthesis of methyl groups for the methylation cycle. Cobalamin acts as a coenzyme for reactions in the metabolism of amino acids, odd-numbered chain fatty acids including propionate and de novo synthesis of methyl groups. Both vitamins are involved in reactions to support lipid and protein metabolism, nucleotide synthesis, methylation reactions and possibly, maintenance of redox status. Over the last decades, several studies have reported the beneficial effects of folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements on lactation performance of dairy cows. These observations indicate that, even when cows are fed diets adequately balanced for energy and major nutrients, B-vitamin subclinical deficiency could be present. This condition reduces casein synthesis in the mammary gland and milk and milk component yields. Folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements, especially when given together, may alter energy partitioning in dairy cows during early and mid-lactation as indicated by increased milk, energy-corrected milk, or milk component yields without affecting DM intake and BW or even with reductions in BW or body condition loss. Folate and cobalamin subclinical deficiency interferes with efficiency of gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation and possibly alters responses to oxidative conditions. The present review aims to describe the metabolic pathways affected by folate and cobalamin supply and the consequences of a suboptimal supply on metabolic efficiency. The state of knowledge on the estimation of folate and cobalamin supply is also briefly mentioned.

Longitudinal Data to Assess Relationships among Plasma Folate, Vitamin B12, Non-esterified Fatty Acid, and β-Hydroxybutyrate Concentrations of Holstein Cows during the Transition Period

It is well established that the plasma metabolite profile changes during metabolic dysfunction, such as elevated non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) release when body reserve mobilization is excessive in early lactation cows. Relationships between changes in plasma concentrations of metabolites caused by a metabolic impairment and the status of vitamins, such as folates and vitamin B12, have barely been studied in cattle. This study was undertaken to assess relationships between peripartum plasma concentrations of folates, vitamin B12, NEFA, and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Longitudinal data of 48 multiparous Holstein cows from 5 studies were taken from days -14 to 21 relative to calving. Blood samples were taken weekly before calving and either twice or thrice per week postpartum, and plasma was analyzed for folate, vitamin B12, NEFA, and BHB concentrations. Postpartum plasma NEFA and BHB concentrations were negatively related to plasma folate concentration at days -14 and -7 relative to parturition, whereas the opposite relationship was noted for the plasma vitamin B12:folate ratio. The plasma folate and NEFA areas under the curve from the whole studied period were negatively associated, and the opposite was observed with the association between the plasma vitamin B12:folate ratio and NEFA as well as the BHB areas under the curve. The results suggest that there is an increased use of folate for metabolic functions during elevated concentrations of plasma NEFA and BHB. Future research should focus on finding an optimal plasma vitamin B12:folate ratio to favor cow health during the challenging period of parturition.

Integrative network analysis revealed the molecular function of folic acid on immunological enhancement in a sheep model

We previously observed the beneficial role of folic acid supplemented from maternal or offspring diet on lamb growth performance and immunity. Twenty-four Hu lambs from four groups (mother received folic acid or not, offspring received folic acid or not) were used in the current study, which was conducted consecutively to elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms of folic acid in lambs by analyzing blood metabolome, liver transcriptome, and muscle transcriptome. Serum metabolomics analysis showed that L-homocitrulline, hyodeoxycholic acid, 9-Hpode, palmitaldehyde, N-oleoyl glycine, hexadecanedioic acid, xylose, 1,7-dimethylxanthine, nicotinamide, acetyl-N-formyl-5-methoxykynurenamine, N6-succinyl adenosine, 11-cis-retinol, 18-hydroxycorticosterone, and 2-acetylfuran were down-regulated and methylisobutyrate was up-regulated by the feeding of folic acid from maternal and/or offspring diets. Meanwhile, folic acid increased the abundances of S100A12 and IRF6 but decreased TMEM25 in the liver. In the muscle, RBBP9, CALCR, PPP1R3D, UCP3, FBXL4, CMBL, and MTFR2 were up-regulated, CYP26B1 and MYH9 were down-regulated by the feeding of folic acid. The pathways of bile secretion, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid metabolism, and herpes simplex virus 1 infection were changed by folic acid in blood, liver, or muscle. Further integrated analysis revealed potential interactions among the liver, blood, and muscle, and the circulating metabolites, hub gene, and pathways, which might be the predominant acting targets of folic acid in animals. These findings provide fundamental information on the beneficial function of folic acid no matter from maternal or offspring, in regulating animal lipid metabolism and immune enhancement, providing a theoretical basis for the use of folic acid from the view of animal health care.

Combined biotin, folic acid, and vitamin B12 supplementation given during the transition period to dairy cows: Part II. Effects on energy balance and fatty acid composition of colostrum and milk

Biotin (B₈), folate (B₉), and vitamin B₁₂ (B₁₂) are involved in several metabolic reactions related to energy metabolism. We hypothesized that a low supply of one of these vitamins during the transition period would impair metabolic status. This study was undertaken to assess the interaction between B₈ supplement and a supplementation of B₉ and B₁₂ regarding body weight (BW) change, dry matter intake, energy balance, and fatty acid (FA) compositions of colostrum and milk fat from d -21 to 21 relative to calving. Thirty-two multiparous Holstein cows housed in tie stalls were randomly assigned, according to their previous 305-d milk yield, to 8 incomplete blocks in 4 treatments: (1) a 2-mL weekly i.m. injection of saline (0.9% NaCl; B₈-/B₉B₁₂-); (2) 20 mg/d of dietary B₈ (unprotected from ruminal degradation) and 2-mL weekly i.m. injection of 0.9% NaCl (B₈+/B₉B₁₂-); (3) 2.6 g/d of dietary B₉ (unprotected) and 2-mL weekly i.m. injection of 10 mg of B₁₂ (B₈-/B₉B₁₂+); (4) 20 mg/d of dietary B₈, 2.6 g/d of dietary B₉, and 2-mL weekly i.m. injection of 10 mg of B₁₂ (B₈+/B₉B₁₂+) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Colostrum was sampled at first milking. and milk samples were collected weekly on 2 consecutive milkings and analyzed for FA composition. Body condition score and BW were recorded every week throughout the trial. Within the first 21 d of lactation, B₈-/B₉B₁₂+ cows had an increased milk yield by 13.5% [45.5 (standard error, SE: 1.8) kg/d] compared with B₈-/B₉B₁₂- cows [40.1 (SE: 1.9)], whereas B₈ supplement had no effect. Even though body condition score was not affected by treatment, B₈-/B₉B₁₂+ cows had greater BW loss by 24 kg, suggesting higher mobilization of body reserves. Accordingly, milk de novo FA decreased and preformed FA concentration increased in B₈-/B₉B₁₂+ cows compared with B₈-/B₉B₁₂- cows. In addition, cows in the B₈+/B₉B₁₂- group had decreased milk de novo FA and increased preformed FA concentration compared with B₈-/B₉B₁₂- cows. Treatment had no effect on colostrum preformed FA concentration. Supplemental B₈ decreased concentrations of ruminal biohydrogenation intermediates and odd- and branched-chain FA in colostrum and milk fat. Moreover, postpartum dry matter intake for B₈+ cows tended to be lower by 1.6 kg/d. These results could indicate ruminal perturbation caused by the B₈ supplement, which was not protected from rumen degradation. Under the conditions of the current study, in contrast to B₈+/B₉B₁₂- cows, B₈-/B₉B₁₂+ cows produced more milk without increasing dry matter intake, although these cows had greater body fat mobilization in early lactation as suggested by the FA profile and BW loss.