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This experiment aimed to make a comparison between the effect of a mix of two energy preparations (a glucogenic preparation (G) and a free fatty acid preparation (F)), administered in the diet during the transition period over different periods of time (5 or 8 weeks), on the animal condition, feed intake, yield and composition of milk, and blood and urine parameters. The experimental additive was a mixture (1 : 1) of two energy preparations, namely, a loose mixture of propylene glycol and sodium propionate and a free fatty acid preparation in the form of rumen-undegradable pellets. The study included 50 Polish Black-and-White Holstein–Friesian dairy cows, allocated into five treatment groups, including one control (C) and four experimental ones (G1F1, G2F2, G2F1 and G1F2). The preparations were mixed at a 1 : 1 weight ratio (500 g per head, comprising 250G and 250F) and they were administered to all experimental groups of cows daily as a component of the experimental concentrate for 5 weeks (from the 2nd week before the expected calving and until the 3rd week of lactation). From the 4th until the 6th week of lactation, the supplementation in the experimental groups changed and animals received either no additive (G1F1), or were continuously supplemented with the G–F mix (G2F2), or received only G (G2F1) or only F (G1F2). The preparations used in the study had a long-term influence on the increase in the milk yield of cows, on the improvement of their health condition, and on the reduction of weight loss. The study results confirmed that prolongation of the supplementation until the 6th week of lactation may cause favourable changes in animal performance and milk quality. Due to different modes of action, the simultaneous supplementation of G and F reduced the negative energy balance in the cow and improved milk production and composition. The best results were obtained after administration of the mixture (1 : 1) of the G and F at the dose of 500 g/cow.day over the 8-week periparturient period. Energy supplements used in feed rations for cows can affect the yield, composition and quality of milk. To improve the energy balance in the periparturient period and the composition of milk fat in the subsequent weeks of lactation, it can be profitable to supplement the feed with a mixture of a glucogenic preparation and free fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving livestock production through nutrition and breeding can increase efficiency and has the potential to mitigate methane (CH 4) emissions. Additionally, supplementing beef cattle in the rainy season balances the dietary protein:energy (P:E) ratio, which can increase animal performance and reduce energy losses from CH 4 production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation strategy (SS) and genetic group (GG) on the intake, digestibility, performance, and enteric CH 4 emissions of growing beef bulls grazing tropical grass during the rainy season. One hundred sixty-two growing beef bulls averaging (mean ± SD) 10 ± 2 months old and 262 ± 31 kg of initial body weight (BW) were distributed, according to their BW, in a randomized complete block design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Factors included (1) two SSs (mineral supplementation at 0.3 g/kg of BW per day and a corn-based supplementation at 3 g/kg of BW per day) and (2) three GGs (Nellore [NN], ½Senepol½Nellore [SN], and ½Angus½Nellore [AN]). Animals were allocated in 12 paddocks composed of Urochloa brizantha (A. Rich.) Stapf. cv. Xaraés for 99 days during the rainy season. Regardless of the GG, the intakes of total DM, supplement DM, OM, CP, aNDFom, EE, and NFC were increased in animals supplemented with a corn-based supplement. The SN bulls had a greater digestibility of DM, OM, and CP, and animals supplemented with a corn-based supplement had greater CP and EE digestibility. There was an interaction between GG and SS for NFC digestibility, which was decreased in AN animals fed a corn-based supplement. However, the corn-based supplementation improved the animal's performance and carcass characteristics as demonstrated by the increase of final BW (kg), ADG (kg), REA (cm2), and FT (mm). Moreover, NN animals fed a corn-based supplement showed an increase in ADG (kg). An interaction between SS and GG was observed for GPH (kg/ha) and CaG (kg), with the greatest values observed in NN and SN animals supplemented with a corn-based supplement. Enteric CH 4 emissions (g/d, g/kg of DMI, and g/kg of dOM) were lower in animals fed a corn-based supplement. A decrease in CH 4 emissions (g/d) was observed in SN compared to NN animals. In addition, there was an interaction between SS and GG for CH 4 emissions (g/kg of CaG), with the lowest values for NN and SN animals supplemented with a corn-based supplement. Taken together, our results demonstrate that corn-based supplementation is an effective nutritional strategy for use in the rainy season, especially for NN and SN genetic groups, to improve animal's performance and carcass characteristics and to decrease enteric CH 4 emissions, per unit of product, of growing beef bulls grazing tropical grass. • Corn-based supplementation in the rainy season improved animal performance and carcass characteristics of grazing cattle. • Corn-based supplementation in the rainy season decreased CH 4 emissions, per unit of product, of grazing cattle. • Crossbreeding can be used for reducing CH 4 emissions (g/d) of grazing cattle. • Body weight and carcass weight were greater in Nellore and ½Senepol½Nellore animals supplement with corn-based. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recently, slow release tablets have been developed to prolong energy release throughout the day. The efficacy of the delivery of slow-release caffeine alone is fairly well documented; however, an assessment of safety and tolerability of prolonged use of slow-release energy supplements is lacking. Therefore the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of daily ingestion of a slow-release energy supplement for 28 days on blood chemistry and resting cardiovascular measures in healthy men and women. Methods Forty healthy individuals (20 males, 20 females; age: 22.73 ± 3.06 years; height: 171.68 ± 10.45 cm; mass: 74.49 ± 15.51 kg; BMI: 25.08 ± 3.66 (kg • m2) -1) participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. Following a 12-hour fast, participants reported for pre-testing. Testing consisted of resting heart rate (RHR) and blood pressure (BP) measures, followed by assessment of metabolic blood chemistry, blood lipids and complete cell counts. Participants then supplemented with either Energize™ (SUPP) or placebo (PL) for 28 days. Post-testing occurred 24-hours after ingestion of the final dose and consisted of the same protocol at the same time of day as pre-testing. Results No significant changes in outcome measures were observed. A significant difference between groups was observed for plasma glucose concentrations; however, follow-up testing revealed that pre- to post-supplementation changes were not significant for either SUPP or PL. All variables remained within normal adult reference ranges. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions These findings indicate that 28 consecutive days ingestion of a slow release energy supplement containing caffeine in caffeine users is both safe and tolerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of propylene glycol on metabolic variables of hepatic function, body condition score, milk fat-protein concentration and reproductive performance of dairy cows after ending administration. Postparturient dairy cows (n = 200) of Holstein Friesian breed were divided into two groups of 100 individuals. The experimental group received during days 0-7 post partum an oral daily dose of 600 ml of propylene glycol; the control group was without any supplement. The hepatic enzymes, glucose, cholesterol and serum albumin were measured on days 10-15, 45-50 and 70 post partum. Reproduction indicators of dairy cows were calculated from the farm recording data and the milk data record from a regular dairy control (days 10, 20, 30, and 50 post partum). Animals that received propylene glycol in the first 7 days post partum had reduced activities of aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transferase, elevated cholesterol concentration (P < 0.05) and low milk fat percentage (P < 0.05) compared to control animals. Direct influence of propylene glycol drenching on the calving to first oestrus interval was observed, the smallest values being detected for the cows in the experimental group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that some blood indicators of hepatic function, milk fat concentration and calving to first oestrus interval can be improved for 70 days post partum by the use of propylene glycol drenching in the first 7 days post partum. The beneficial effect of this treatment could be evaluated by easily available data, which can be used by practitioners in the field to analyze fertility problems in dairy herds and more exactly to examine whether metabolic stress, among other factors, is involved in the fertility problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-yr study was conducted using a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effects of feeding dried distillers grains throughout a beef production system on performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid profile of beef. Factors were wheat pasture supplement [no supplement (CON), dry-rolled corn (DRC), and dried distillers grains (DDG)] fed at 0.5% BW daily and finishing diet [steam-flaked corn based diet containing 0 (SFC) or 35% (35DDG) DDG]. Each year, 60 preconditioned Hereford steers (initial BW = 198 kg ± 3) grazed winter wheat pasture with or without supplement. Body weight gain was 8% greater for steers consuming DDG supplement compared with CON and DRC steers (P < 0.01). After the grazing period, pastures within supplement treatment were randomly assigned to SFC or 35DDG. There was no supplement by finishing diet interaction for any performance or carcass variable of interest (P ≥ 0.41). Previous supplementation on winter wheat affected BW at feedlot entry and adjusted G:F (P ≤ 0.05) but had no effect on finishing ADG or carcass traits (P ≥ 0.12). On a carcass-adjusted basis, steers consuming 35DDG had reduced final BW, ADG, G:F, and total BW gain throughout the system (P ≤ 0.04) compared with SFC. Additionally, steers consuming 35DDG had reduced HCW, dressing percent, and fat thickness (P ≤ 0.03) compared with SFC. There was a supplement by finishing diet interaction (P = 0.02) for 18:0, in which cattle supplemented with DRC and fed the SFC finishing diet had the lowest concentration of 18:0 but DRC supplemented steers fed the 35DDG diet had the greatest concentration. The interaction was not significant (P ≥ 0.18) for other fatty acids. Main effects of supplement and finishing diet affected (P ≤ 0.05) several other fatty acids of interest, particularly 18:2, which is associated with reduced flavor-stability of beef. The use of DDG as a supplement to wheat pasture resulted in greater ADG during wheat grazing and heavier BW at feedlot entry, but final BW was not different from CON or DRC groups. Feeding DDG at 35% DM in steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets reduced ADG, G:F, and HCW, and affected the fatty acid composition of beef. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-five crossbred Angus heifers (body weight = 359.5 >± 7.1 kg) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design to evaluate the effects of vitamin and mineral supplementation [VMSUP; supplemented (VTM) vs. unsupplemented (NoVTM)] and rate of gain [GAIN; low gain (LG), 0.28 kg/d vs. moderate gain (MG), 0.79 kg/d] during the first 83 d of gestation on trace mineral concentrations in fetal liver, muscle, and allantoic (ALF) and amniotic (AMF) fluids. The VTM treatment (113 g supplement•heifer-1•d-1) was initiated a minimum 71 d before breeding. At breeding, heifers were either maintained on the basal diet (LG) or received the MG diet by adding a protein/energy supplement to the basal diet. On d 83 of gestation, samples of fetal liver, muscle, ALF, and AMF were collected and analyzed for trace mineral concentrations. In fetal liver, Se, Cu, Mn, and Co concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.04) for VTM than NoVTM, while Mo and Co greater (P ≤ 0.04) for LG than MG. In fetal muscle, VTM increased (P ≤ 0.02) concentrations of Se and Zn, whereas LG increased (P < 0.01) Zn. In ALF, Mo concentrations were affected (P = 0.03) by a VMSUP × GAIN interaction, with VTM-MG greater than NoVTM-MG; while VTM increased (P < 0.01) concentrations of Se and Co. Trace mineral concentrations were not affected (P ≥ 0.13) in AMF. In conclusion, VTM increased fetal liver Se, Cu, Mn, and Co concentrations; fetal muscle Se and Zn; and ALF Se and Co; while LG increased fetal liver Mo and Co concentrations and fetal muscle Zn. Our results confirm that managerial decisions associated with vitamin and mineral supplementation and rate of gain can alter fetal reserves of trace elements during early pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]