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This study evaluated the feasibility of using different coding systems for categorical variables when using continuous and categorical variables together for the modeling of the lactation milk yield of Awassi sheep. In the study, when all variables were included in the model, and Dummy Coding and Effect Coding methods were used for age, the effects of lactation duration, average daily milk yield, type of birth, and age 5 group were found to be statistically significant in addition to the constant term. When the Deviation Coding method was used for age, the effects of lactation duration and average daily milk yield were found to be statistically significant in addition to the constant term. On the other hand, when Forward and Backward Coding methods were used, the effect of the age 5 group was found to be statistically significant, along with the effects of lactation duration and average daily milk yield. The results of the study indicated that different results can be obtained depending on the various coding systems used. The results also indicated that the choice of coding system affected the interpretation of the obtained coefficients. Therefore, it can be stated that the aims of the researcher in the study should be defined clearly and the proper codding system should be selected according to the variables to be included in the model.

The performance of high-yielding sows is directly related to the productivity of pig farming. Fetal development mainly occurs during the last month of pregnancy, and the aggressive metabolic burden of sows during this stage eventually leads to systemic oxidative stress. When affected by oxidative stress, sows exhibit adverse symptoms such as reduced feed intake, hindered fetal development, and even abortion. In addition, milk synthesis during the lactation period causes a severe metabolic burden. The biological response to oxidative stress during this period is associated with a decrease in milk production, which further affects the growth of piglets. Understanding the nutritional strategies to alleviate oxidative stress in sows is crucial to maintain their reproduction and lactation performance. Recently, advances have been made in the field of nutrition to relieve oxidative stress in sows during late pregnancy and lactation. This review highlights the nutritional strategies to relieve oxidative stress in sows reported within the last 20 years.

Mammary gland and its secretion around parturition show different changes. The objective of the study conducted here was to examine the changes in the physical and chemical properties of the milk before, during, and after lambing. A total of 40 local Iraqi breed ewes, 2 to 4 years-old, confirmed pregnant by B-mode ultrasonography was used in this study. Milk was collected from each study ewe at 3 consecutive times, (i) on day 135 of pregnancy, (ii) at the time of lambing, and (iii) on day 5 postpartum. Milk examinations included colour, consistency, density, specific gravity, chloride contents, pH, light transmittance percentage, and light extinction coefficient. Results indicated changes of colour and consistency during different study periods. Milk density and specific gravity decreased as ewes approached lambing time and started lactation. Milk pH was low at the time of lambing. Mean of light transmittance percentage became zero at the time of lambing and later. The light extinction coefficient increased at the time of lambing and later. In conclusion, although signs of parturition could be simply observed, changes in milk properties can prompt owners to closely observe ewes whether they have already lambed or not.

Metabolic disorders in early lactation have negative effects on dairy cow health and farm profitability. One method for monitoring the metabolic status of cows is metabolic profiling, which uses associations between the concentrations of several metabolites in serum and the presence of metabolic disorders. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the use of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy of milk for predicting the concentrations of these metabolites in serum. Between July and October 2017, serum samples were taken from 773 early-lactation Holstein Friesian cows located on 4 farms in the Gippsland region of southeastern Victoria, Australia, on the same day as milk recording. The concentrations in sera of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), fatty acids, urea, Ca, Mg, albumin, and globulins were measured by a commercial diagnostic laboratory. Optimal concentration ranges for each of the 7 metabolites were obtained from the literature. Animals were classified as being either affected or unaffected with metabolic disturbances based on these ranges. Milk samples were analyzed by MIR spectroscopy. The relationships between serum metabolite concentrations and MIR spectra were investigated using partial least squares regression. Partial least squares discriminant analyses (PLS-DA) were used to classify animals as being affected or not affected with metabolic disorders. Calibration equations were constructed using data from a randomly selected subset of cows (n = 579). Data from the remaining cows (n = 194) were used for validation. The coefficient of determination (R2) of serum BHB, fatty acids, and urea predictions were 0.48, 0.61, and 0.90, respectively. Predictions of Ca, Mg, albumin, and globulin concentrations were poor (0.06 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.17). The PLS-DA models could predict elevated fatty acid and urea concentrations with an accuracy of approximately 77 and 94%, respectively. A second independent validation data set was assembled in March 2018, comprising blood and milk samples taken from 105 autumn-calving cows of various breeds. The accuracies of BHB and fatty acid predictions were similar to those obtained using the first validation data set. The PLS-DA results were difficult to interpret due to the low prevalence of metabolic disorders in the data set. Our results demonstrate that MIR spectroscopy of milk shows promise for predicting the concentration of BHB, fatty acids, and urea in serum; however, more data are needed to improve prediction accuracies.

Dietary protein allowances comprise the upper limits of the range of individual metabolic demands adjusted for digestibility and biological value. The maintenance demand includes well defined obligatory and less understood adaptive components. Demands for growth, pregnancy, and lactation are well understood, although factorial models of protein requirements assume low efficiency of dietary protein utilization and may overestimate dietary allowances for children, pregnant, and lactating women. The amino acid profile of the maintenance component is poorly defined but contains fewer indispensable amino acids than that for growth (the tissue protein pattern). Thus protein quality is less important for humans than growing animals.

We hypothesised that heifers and cows with positive genetic merit for fertility would have a follicular microenvironment that resulted in better quality oocytes. To test this, we compared cumulus cell-oocyte complexes (COC) and follicular fluid from preovulatory follicles of 36 Holstein-Friesian nulliparous heifers and 50 primiparous lactating cows with either positive (POS, +5%) or negative (NEG, −5%) fertility breeding values (FertBV). Established gene markers of oocyte quality were measured in individual cumulus cell masses and oocytes, and concentrations of amino acids, steroids, and metabolites were quantified in corresponding follicular fluid and plasma. The timing of visually detectable oestrus in NEG FertBV heifers was inconsistent with their stage of COC maturation. Retrospective analyses of oestrous activity data indicated that NEG FertBV heifers were sampled earlier. Their recovered COC were morphologically less mature and exhibited differential expression of genes that are associated with follicular maturation (lower levels of BMPR2) and protein processing (higher levels of HSP90B1). Despite consistent sampling times being achieved in the lactating cows, lower concentrations of serine, proline, methionine, isoleucine, and non-esterified fatty acids were present in follicular fluid from POS FertBV cows. This was associated with higher expression of gene biomarkers of good oocyte quality (VCAN, PDE8A) in COC recovered from POS FertBV cows. This study supports our hypothesis that the follicular microenvironment in lactating dairy cows with high genetic merit leads to COC with higher metabolic rates and oocytes of superior quality. Moreover, an additional stressor such as lactation is required for this difference to be pronounced.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of some environmental factors like calving year, season, buffalo cow age and village on some milk yield traits of Anatolian buffaloes, such as daily milk yield for lactation length (MYLL), total lactation milk yield (TLMY), lactation length (LL), and daily milk yield for calving interval (MYCI). 1838 milk yield records obtained from 851 Anatolian buffaloes reared under different environmental conditions from 2015 through 2019 within the scope of the Bartın Anatolian Buffalo Breeding Project were assessed. The least square means and standard errors for MYLL, TLMY, LL, and MYCI were 4.07  0.02 kg, 1078.6  7.54 kg, 263.83  1.16 days, and 2.75  0.03 kg, respectively. As a result of the study, the effects of village, calving year and age (P

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of pre-treating a barley-silage-based diet with an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme derived from Trichoderma reesei (FETR, a mixture of xylanase and cellulase) on lactation performance, omasal nutrient flow and digestibility, rumen fermentation characteristics, and rumen pH profile in Holstein dairy cows during early lactation. The dairy trial was conducted using nine Holstein dairy cows (averaging 46 ± 24 days in milk and 697 ± 69 kg body weight, six cows were fitted with a rumen cannula, and three were non-cannulated). Two groups of cows were randomly assigned to each of the dietary treatments in a crossover design: control (without FETR supplementation) and supplemented [with 0.75 mL of FETR·kg−1 dry matter (DM) of the diet based on our previous study]. The application of FETR tended to decrease the DM intake compared with control. There were no effects of FETR (P > 0. 10) on omasal nutrient flow and digestibility, rumen fermentation characteristics, and rumen pH profile. In conclusion, this study lacks evidence that the fibrolytic enzyme (at a level of 0.75 mL of FETR·kg−1 DM) can affect nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and the performance of early-lactation cows. Further study with larger animal trials are needed.

Objective: This study was conducted to estimate multi-trait genetic parameters for somatic cell score (SCS), milk yield and type traits in Nigerian Dwarf (ND) goats from the United States.Methods: Data from 1,041 ND goats in the United States with kiddings in 95 herds were used to estimate multi-trait genetic parameters for SCS, milk (MILK), fat (FAT), and protein (PROT) yields, and 14 type traits. An 18-trait mixed linear animal model for lactation mean SCS (Log2), MILK, FAT, PROT, and 14 type traits was applied. A factor analytic approach (FA1) in ASReml software was used to obtain convergence.Results: Averages for SCS were low (2.85±1.29 Log2), and were 314±110.6, 20.9±7.4, and 14±4.9 kg, respectively, for MILK, FAT, and PROT. Heritabilities for SCS, MILK, FAT, and PROT were 0.32, 0.16, 0.16, and 0.10, respectively. The highest heritabilities for type traits were for stature (0.72), teat diameter (0.49), and rump width (0.48), and the lowest estimates were for dairyness (0.003) and medial suspensory ligament (0.03). Genetic correlations of SCS with MILK, FAT, and PROT were positive but low (0.25, 0.18, and 0.23, respectively). Genetic and phenotypic correlations between MILK, FAT, and PROT were high and positive (≥0.66). Absolute values of genetic correlations involving SCS with type traits were generally low or no different from zero. Most of the phenotypic correlations involving SCS with type traits were low. No serious unfavorable genetic correlations between milk yield traits and SCS or between milk yield traits or SCS and type traits were found.Conclusion: Genetic variation exists in the ND breed for most studied traits. The development of selection programs based on these estimates may help accelerate favorable multitrait genetic changes in this breed.

The objective of this observational study was to evaluate the association of management-related factors in dry cows and colostrum quantity and quality in Holstein cows on a large commercial dairy farm. This study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2020 on a commercial dairy farm in Germany, milking approximately 2,500 Holstein cows. Dairy personnel recorded colostrum quantity (n = 7,567) and evaluated colostrum quality in a subsample of animals (n = 2,600) using a digital Brix refractometer. Generalized linear mixed models were constructed to evaluate the association of management-related factors and colostrum quantity and quality. Models were run separately for primiparous or multiparous cows. The outcome variable was either colostrum quantity (kg) or quality (% Brix). Average colostrum quantity was 4.0 �� 2.5 kg, 5.1 �� 3.4 kg, and 5.5 �� 3.5 kg for cows in lactation 1, 2, and ���3, respectively. In primiparous cows (n = 2,351), colostrum quantity was affected by month of calving (greatest in April = 4.1 kg, and lowest in November = 3.2 kg), sex of the calf (female singleton = 3.50 �� 0.26 kg; male singleton = 3.76 �� 0.27 kg; twins = 2.97 �� 0.66 kg), stillbirth (stillbirth = 3.14 �� 0.39 kg; no stillbirth = 3.68 �� 0.31 kg). In multiparous cows (n = 5,216), colostrum quantity was affected by month of calving (greatest in May = 5.5 kg, and lowest in October = 3.8 kg), calving ease (calving ease 0 = 4.23 �� 0.26 kg; score 1 = 4.77 �� 0.21 kg; score 2 = 4.98 �� 0.22 kg; score 3 = 5.30 �� 0.22 kg), sex of the calf (female singleton = 4.42 �� 0.21 kg; male singleton = 5.00 �� 0.21 kg; twins = 5.03 �� 0.30 kg), stillbirth (stillbirth = 4.24 �� 0.38 kg; no stillbirth = 5.39 �� 0.11 kg), milk yield in previous lactation (+0.1 kg increase for 1,000 kg more milk yield in previous lactation), days spent in the far-off group (0.05 �� 0.003 kg for every day), and days in the close-up pen (0.06 �� 0.010 kg for every day). Average colostrum quality was 25.1 �� 3.4% Brix, 24.7 �� 3.3% Brix, and 27.6 �� 4.4% Brix for cows in lactation 1, 2, and ���3, respectively. In primiparous cows (n = 817), colostrum quality was affected only by month of calving. Colostrum quality in primiparous cows was greatest in December (26.8% Brix) and lowest in August (23.9% Brix). In multiparous cows (n = 1,783), colostrum quality was affected by parity (lactation 2 = 25.2 �� 2.7% Brix; lactation 3+ = 27.9 �� 2.7% Brix), month of calving (greatest in February = 27.5% Brix, and lowest in August = 25.7% Brix), milk yield in previous lactation, and colostrum quantity. We observed a seasonal pattern for colostrum quantity and quality. Future intervention studies using multiple farms need to elucidate whether management of the photoperiod or length of exposure to close-up diets, or both, can help to optimize colostrum production.

Historically, female domestic goats carrying multiple kids are mostly unable to express sufficient nursing ability due to a limited number of functional teats. Therefore, the functional teat is an important component in prolific goat breeding, and plays a key role in the future health of their kids. With this motivation, we wanted to investigate the phenotypic features, litter size, histology of adult female mammary glands, and the gene expression profile of the fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) gene in goats. To illustrate this, the initial dataset of the current study consists of an electronic questionnaire that includes 697 individuals (548 does and 149 bucks) of five endemic and three exotic goats from 2015 to 2020 in different geographic areas of Iran, from 59 Markhoz (MARG), 50 Azari (AZAR), 73 Busheri (BUSH), 69 Sarbisheh (SARB), 165 Mahabadi (MOHA) indigenous goats and also exotic breeds, including 183 Saanen (SANN), 39 Alpine (ALPN), and 59 Boer (BORE) goats. The results of this study confirmed that MOHA goats (4.16%), BORE (4.43%) and SANN goat breeds (5.75%) have larger litter sizes. Interestingly, the evidence gathering when SNTs occurred showed that both the BUSH and BORE goat breeds had the highest frequency of SNTs. Moreover, under the same physiological and lactation conditions, there was no statistically significant difference in histological features between the three compared does class consist of the two teats, SNTs, and four functional teats. In addition, the results of the gene expression profile significantly highlight the FGF-2 gene pattern in two teat groups compared to other SNT groups (P 0.01). In summary, this scenario can be used to generate further research and facts on responsible candidate genes, the variations in teat numbers in goats, examining both the incidence of SNT and litter size.

This observational study aimed to determine the effect of genetic merit for fertility traits on estrous expression and estrous cycle duration in grazing dairy cows, as measured by an activity monitoring device. A secondary aim was to describe changes in expression of estrus that occur during successive estrous cycles postpartum. Neck-mounted, activity-monitoring devices (Heatime, SCR Engineers Ltd.) were fitted to nulliparous Holstein-Friesian heifers with positive (POS FertBV) or negative genetic merit for fertility traits (NEG FertBV) to capture activity data during their first and second lactations (POS FertBV: n = 242, n = 188; NEG FertBV: n = 159, n = 87 in lactation 1 and 2, respectively). An estrous event was identified when the activity change index exceeded 26 activity units (AU) for 4 h. A total of 1,254 and 892 estrous events were identified in lactation 1 and 2, respectively. Estrous duration was defined as the interval between when the threshold was first exceeded and when activity dropped below the threshold, with no new event starting within 24 h of the end of the previous event. This definition of estrus included cows in which activity crossed the threshold multiple times in a day and were classified as a single estrous event. A second measure, high activity duration, was defined as the total hours that activity exceeded the threshold. To characterize estrous activity, peak activity (above baseline) and total activity (area under the curve of activity above baseline) were measured. Compared with NEG FertBV cows, POS FertBV cows had more active, longer estrous events. In lactation 1, the POS FertBV group had a mean estrous duration and a high activity duration of 12.5 and 12.4 h compared with 11.4 and 11.3 h for the NEG FertBV group [standard error of the difference (SED) = 0.5 and 0.4 h, respectively]. This significant difference also occurred in lactation 2, with a mean estrous duration of 13.1 versus 11.8 h (SED = 0.5 h) and a high activity duration of 13.0 versus 11.8 h (SED = 0.4 h) in the POS and NEG FertBV groups, respectively. Total activity and peak activity were greater in the POS compared with the NEG FertBV group in lactation 1 (peak activity: 65.5 vs. 55.8 AU, SED = 2.4 AU; total activity: 588 vs. 494 AU, SED = 25 AU) and lactation 2 (peak activity: 72.5 vs. 61.2 AU, SED = 2.9 AU; total activity: 648 vs. 541 AU, SED = 30 AU). Estrous cycle duration did not differ between the POS and NEG FertBV groups (lactation 1: 20.4 vs. 20.6 d, SED = 0.25; lactation 2: 20.8 vs. 21.0 d, SED = 0.28). Less estrous activity of the cow was associated with the first postpartum estrus. In contrast, the number of previous estrous events did not consistently affect the duration of the subsequent estrous cycle. The outcomes of this study provide evidence that positive genetic merit for fertility traits is associated with more overt estrous expression. Selection for these traits may improve estrous expression and thus estrous detection in commercial herds.

The objectives of the present study were (1) to evaluate the effect of prepartum cholecalciferol treatment on serum Ca concentration during the first 10 d after calving and (2) to evaluate the effect of treatment on subsequent health and performance. Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 377) from one dairy farm were fed a negative dietary cation-anion difference diet (−31 mEq/kg of DM) for the last 21 d of gestation. On d 275, the animals were randomly assigned to a control or a treatment group. Cows in the control group were left untreated, and cows in the treatment group received an injection of 12 × 106 IU of cholecalciferol intramuscularly on the day of enrollment. If treated cows did not deliver the calf within 6 d, they were reinjected with 10 × 106 IU of cholecalciferol. Blood samples were drawn on 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days in milk (DIM) and analyzed for serum Ca, P, and Mg concentrations. In a subsample of cows (50 control cows, 35 cows treated once with cholecalciferol, and 15 cows treated twice) serum haptoglobin, nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations were analyzed on 1, 5, and 10 DIM. Binary data [retained placenta (RP), metritis] were analyzed using logistic regression models. Repeated measures ANOVA with first-order autoregressive covariance was performed to evaluate the treatment effect on milk yield over the first 10 test days after parturition, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, serum Ca, P, Mg, β-hydroxybutyrate, nonesterified fatty acids, and haptoglobin concentrations. Cox proportional hazards were used to model the time to event outcomes (time to pregnancy within 200 d, culling until 300 DIM). After enrollment of 31.4% of cows and a preliminary analysis, adverse reactions became apparent, and the study was stopped. Cows treated with cholecalciferol had a greater risk of incurring RP and metritis. The adjusted mean incidences were 2.0%, 7.7%, and 4.0% for RP, and 21.6%, 39.3%, and 33.3% for metritis for control cows, cows treated once, and cows treated twice with cholecalciferol, respectively. Compared with control cows, cows injected once with 12 × 106 IU of cholecalciferol produced less energy-corrected milk on the first (−3.76 kg) and second (−2.75 kg) test days, respectively. Cows injected twice with cholecalciferol (12 × 106 IU of cholecalciferol and 10 × 106 IU 1 wk later) had a reduced milk yield only at first test day (−3.80 kg). Treatment with cholecalciferol led to a significant increase in 25-hydroxycholecalciferol on d 1, 5, and 10 after calving. Serum Ca and P concentrations were significantly increased in cows treated with cholecalciferol, but serum Mg concentrations were significantly reduced. Haptoglobin concentrations were significantly increased on 5 DIM in cows injected once with 12 × 106 IU of cholecalciferol. Although we observed no effect of treatment on culling until 300 DIM, time to pregnancy was delayed by 34 d in cows injected once with 12 × 106 IU of cholecalciferol. In the present study, injection with 12 × 106 IU of cholecalciferol had detrimental effects on health and milk production despite the beneficial effects on Ca homeostasis.

Мета: оцінити ефективність різних способів профілактики залізодефіцитних станів у дітей грудного віку. Матеріали та методи. У межах 30-кластерного регіонального епідеміологічного дослідження поширеності йодо- та залізодефіцитних станів у дітей було проведено аналіз результатів скринінгу на анемію 948 дітей, анкетування матерів, визначення концентрації заліза в грудному молоці. Ефективність профілактичних заходів оцінювали за показниками забезпеченості організму залізом у 96 дітей залежно від способу проведеної феропрофілактики. Результати дослідження. Встановлено, що застосування матір’ю під час лактації залізовмісних вітамінно-мінеральних комплексів не впливало на вміст заліза в грудному молоці. Доведено, що найефективнішим способом профілактики залізодефіцитних станів у дітей, які перебувають на виключно грудному вигодовуванні, є призначення сполуки гідроксиду заліза (III) з полімальтозою 1 мг/кг/добу протягом 2 місяців.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of gene polymorphisms and nongenetic factors on the somatic cell score (SCS) in the milk of Holstein (n = 148) and Simmental (n = 73) cows and their crosses (n = 6).Methods: The SCS was calculated by the formula SCS = log2(SCC/100,000)+3, where SCC is the somatic cell count. Polymorphisms in the casein alpha S1 (CSN1S1), beta-casein (CSN2), kappa-casein (CSN3), beta-lactoglobulin (LGB), acyl-CoA diacylglycerol transferase 1 (DGAT1), leptin (LEP), fatty acid synthase (FASN), stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), and 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 6 (AGPAT6) genes were genotyped, and association analysis to the SCS in the cow’s milk was performed. Further, the impact of breed, farm, year, month of the year, lactation stage and parity on the SCS were analysed. Phenotype correlations among SCS and milk constituents were computed by Pearson correlation coefficients.Results: Only CSN2 genotypes A1/A2 were found to have significant association with the SCS (p

The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate whether the association of hyperketonemia (HYK) with reproductive performance differs based on milk production during the first week of lactation (wk 1). Data between calving and 150 d in milk (DIM) from 2,091 Holstein dairy cows from 5 commercial dairy herds in Minnesota were collected. The concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) was measured twice between 3 and 10 DIM in whole blood to diagnose HYK (defined as BHB ≥1.2 mmol/L). The average wk 1 milk yield was classified into 3 levels (low = lower 25th percentile; mid = 25th to 75th percentile; high = upper 75th percentile) according to parity and herd. Log-binomial regression, Cox-proportional hazard regression, and linear regression models were used to investigate the association of HYK with pregnancy to first insemination, pregnancy by 150 DIM, and calving-to-conception interval (CCI) between groups, respectively. To describe the differences in these estimates between each wk 1 milk yield level, an interaction term of HYK and stratified levels of wk 1 milk yield was added. The incidence of HYK between 3 to 10 DIM was 14.2% (4.6% in primiparous cows and 19.4% in multiparous cows). In the study population, the effect of HYK on reproduction was greater in cows with low milk yield. Among cows with low milk yield levels, HYK was associated with lower risk of pregnancy to first insemination [risk ratio = 0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39-0.98], lower risk of pregnancy up to 150 DIM (hazard ratio = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.51-0.96), and extended days of CCI (mean difference = 13.0; 95% CI: 5.1-20.9). In contrast, among cows with mid and high wk 1 milk yield levels, hyperketonemic (HYK+) cows had a similar reproductive performance to non-HYK (HYK-) cows. Our results suggest that early-lactation milk yield plays a role in the association of hyperketonemia with reproductive performance. These results merit further investigation to determine the role that early milk yield has in the association of hyperketonemia with health and productivity outcomes.

Time spent ruminating is affected by diet and affects the rumen environment. The objective of the current study was to conduct a meta-regression to characterize the variation in rumination time and its relationship with milk and milk fat yields and variables mechanistically associated with milk fat synthesis, including rumen pH and total-tract digestibility. The analysis included 130 journal articles published between 1986 and 2018 that reported 479 treatment means from lactating Holsteins cows during established lactation. Milk yield averaged 34.3 kg/d (range 14.2–52.1 kg/d), milk fat averaged 3.47% (range 2.20–4.60%), and rumen pH averaged 6.1 (range 5.3–7.0). Rumination observation systems were categorized into 6 groups, but there was little difference in average rumination time among systems. The total time spent ruminating averaged 444 min/d (range 151–638 d) and occurred in 13.8 bouts/d (range 7.8–17.4 bouts/d) that averaged 32.7 min (range 20.0–48.1 min). Bivariate regressions were modeled to include the random effect of study, and correlations were evaluated through the partial R2 that excluded variation accounted for by the random effect. Rumination time was quadratically increased with increasing milk fat yield (partial R2 = 0.27) and milk fat percent (partial R2 = 0.17). Rumination was also increased with increasing milk yield, dry matter intake, and rumen pH, and was quadratically related to dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and total-tract NDF digestibility (partial R2 = 0.10–0.27). Similar relationships were observed for rumination per unit of dry matter and NDF intake. The best-fit multivariate model predicting total rumination time included milk yield, milk fat yield, and concentration and accounted for 37% of the variation. Total-tract digestibility was available for 217 treatment means; when included in the model, the partial R2 increased to 0.41. Last, principal component analysis was conducted to explore the relationship among variables. The first 2 principal components in the broad analyses explained 36.7% of the 39 variables evaluated, which included rumination bouts and time spent ruminating. In conclusion, rumination time was related to milk fat across a large number of studies, although it explained only a limited amount of the variation in milk fat.

A study was conducted to investigate the inclusion effects of sugar beet pulp and rice straw mixture silage with inoculation (BRMS), in place of whole-plant corn silage (CS), on the dry matter intake, total-tract nutrient digestibility, plasma metabolites, rumen fermentation, and lactation performance in high-production dairy cows. Sixteen multiparous Holstein cows (body weight, 622 ± 35 kg; days in milk, 90 ± 11 d; mean ± standard deviation) were used in our experiments; the experiments were based on a repeated 4 × 4 Latin square design for 21 d, and each experimental period consisted of 14 d of adaptation, followed by 7 d of data collection. The 4 dietary treatments used were (dry matter basis): (1) 0% BRMS and 28.6% CS (0BRMS); (2) 4.3% BRMS and 24.3% CS (15BRMS); (3) 8.60% BRMS and 20.0% CS (30BRMS); and (4) 12.9% BRMS and 15.7% CS (45BRMS). The increasing inclusion of dietary BRMS was observed to linearly increase the total volatile fatty acids and the propionate concentration. The dry matter intake and digestibility values of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber increased linearly as the percentage of BRMS increased up to 45%. Milk yield linearly increased with the increase in the content of BRMS (39.0, 39.8, 40.9, and 40.3 kg/d for 0BRMS, 15BRMS, 30BRMS, and 45BRMS, respectively). The increasing inclusion of dietary BRMS induced a decrease in the ammonia nitrogen and milk urea nitrogen concentration, leading to a linear increase in milk protein production (1.15, 1.26, 1.35, and 1.27 kg/d for 0BRMS, 15BRMS, 30BRMS, and 45BRMS, respectively). In conclusion, the diets with the replacement of CS with BRMS up to 45% were beneficial to the production performance of high-production dairy cows, indicating that this method may be an appropriate use of sugar beet pulp and rice straw.

The transmission of certain bacteria from the mother's gut to the infant's gut via breast milk (BM) is critical for offspring's immune system development. Dysbiosis of the BM microbiota can be caused by a variety of reasons, which can be influenced by probiotics delivered via the enteromammary route. The goal of this study was to investigate the bacterium that can be transmitted from mother to infant's intestine during various lactation periods in 19 mother-child dyads. Bacterial transmission is most common during the colostrum phase when bacteria with certain amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) enter the newborn intestine and inhabit it permanently. We have established that anaerobic gut-associated bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium, Blautia and Lachnoclostridium, transfer from the mother to the infant's gut with lactation dependence using the idea of weighted transfer ratios. Streptococcus salivarius, Bifidobacterium longum, and Lactobacillus gasseri were transferred from the maternal gut to the BM, as well as from the BM to the newborn gut, dependent on different ASVs. These findings suggest that isolating key microorganisms from breast milk could be utilized to modify the microbiota of BM or newborns by giving the mother a probiotic or adding it to artificial milk to promote neonatal health.

This study was make in order to determine according to the order of lactation, the composition of milk, Murrah x Anatolian Water Buffaloes (M x A) crossbreds raised in Institute conditions. The animal material consisted of total of 47 heads M x A crossbreeds cows. The data of the study included between February 2016 - January 2018. Actual milk yield was used to determine average lactation length and lactation milk yield. Milk samples were taken to specify the milk components. The fat, nonfat dry matter, protein, and lactose contents of water buffalo milk samples were determined by using a Funke Gerber® milk analyzer. Lactation length and lactation milk yield were found to be 259 days and 1343.14 liters respectively. The least square means were found fat, nonfat dry matter, protein, and lactose, 7.20%, 10.66%, 4.00%, and 5.88% respectively. The milk yield in the first and second lactations of G2 (M x A) crossbreeds and Murah genotype were higher than others in the present study. A negative correlation between milk yield and milk fat is expected. Although not statistically significant, a negative correlation was determined as expected.

Background: Despite recommendations to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of an infant's life with subsequent introduction of complementary foods through the infant's first year, breastfeeding rates decrease significantly over the first 6 months of life. Access to skilled lactation care is one of the main barriers to breastfeeding. Research Aim: This study aims to review current research on access to skilled lactation care through telehealth and to assess whether the research indicates an impact of lactation telehealth on breastfeeding rates, duration, and early cessation. Methods: PubMed, Medline, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Library were searched for peer-reviewed articles published 2015-2020. A systematic review of literature identified 10 research articles that study the impact of lactation telehealth using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA). Results: Studies included analyzed associations between lactation telehealth and breastfeeding outcomes as well as lactation telehealth feasibility and satisfaction. All studies examined lactation telehealth and most interventions were multidirectional synchronous communication. Increases in any breastfeeding rate and exclusive breastfeeding rate, and a decrease in early breastfeeding cessation occurred following lactation telehealth. Lactation telehealth was also found to be feasible and produced high satisfaction rates among users. Conclusion: Lactation telehealth is feasible and an effective intervention to increase breastfeeding rates and breastfeeding duration and decrease early breastfeeding cessation.

Oxytocin (OXT) is a nine amino acid neuropeptide hormone that has become one of the most intensively studied molecules in the past few decades. The vast majority of OXT is synthesized in the periventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus, and a few are synthesized in some peripheral organs (such as the uterus, ovaries, adrenal glands, thymus, pancreas, etc.) OXT modulates a series of physiological processes, including lactation, parturition, as well as some social behaviors. In addition, more and more attention has recently been focused on the analgesic effects of oxytocin. It has been reported that OXT can relieve tension and pain without other adverse effects. However, the critical role and detailed mechanism of OXT in analgesia remain unclear. Here, this review aims to summarize the mechanism of OXT in analgesia and some ideas about the mechanism.

The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effects of (1) a potential interaction between supplement crude protein (CP) concentration and differing cow genotypes on milk production, (2) differing cow genotypes on milk production, and (3) decreasing the supplement CP concentration on milk production and N excretion during the main grazing season within a spring-calving herd. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement experiment, with 2 feeding strategies [14%; n = 30 (lower CP; LCP) and 18%; n = 28 (higher CP; HCP) CP concentrate supplements] offered at varying levels according to pasture availability and days in milk (DIM) was conducted over the main grazing season from April 3 to September 3, 2019, at University College Dublin Lyons Farm. Cows were also grouped into 2 genotype groups: lower milk genotype; n = 30 [LM; milk kg predicted transmitting ability (PTA): 45 ± 68.6 (mean ± SD); fat kg PTA: 10 ± 4.9; and protein kg PTA: 7 ± 2.3] and higher milk genotype; n = 28 [HM; milk kg PTA: 203 ± 55.0; fat kg PTA: 13 ± 3.8; and protein kg PTA: 10 ± 2.4]. A total of 46 multiparous and 12 primiparous (total; 58) Holstein Friesian dairy cows were blocked on parity and balanced on DIM, body condition score, and Economic Breeding Index. Cows were offered a basal diet of grazed perennial ryegrass pasture. The N partitioning study took place from August 25 to 30, 2019 (187 ± 15.2 DIM). No interactions were observed for any milk production or milk composition parameter. No effect of supplement CP concentration was observed for any total accumulated milk production, daily milk production, or milk composition parameter measured. The HM cows had increased daily milk yield (+1.9 kg), fat and protein (+0.15 kg), and energy-corrected milk (+1.7 kg), compared with the LM cows. Furthermore, HM cows had decreased milk protein concentration (-0.1%) compared with LM cows. For the N partitioning study, cows offered LCP had increased pasture dry matter intake (PDMI; +0.9 kg/d), dietary N intake (+0.022 kg/d), feces N excretion (+0.016 kg/d), and decreased N partitioning to milk (-2%), and N utilization efficiency (-2.3%). In conclusion, offering cows LCP had no negative influence on milk production or milk composition over the main grazing season where high pasture quality was maintained. However, any potential negative effects of offering LCP on milk production may have been offset by the increased PDMI. Furthermore, offering cows LCP decreased N utilization efficiency due to the higher PDMI and feed N intake associated with cows on this treatment in our study.s.

The conventional dairy production system involves separation of the cow and calf at around 24 h after birth. Due to public concerns regarding this early separation, a few farmers are taking up the cow–calf contact system. However, some farmers have cited great variation in milk yield delivered to the parlor by cows in this sytem, with this being detrimental because it leads to low farm returns. The main objective of this study was to determine the source of variation in milk delivered to the parlor among cows in a cow–calf contact system. The study examined milk yield records for the first 28 d of lactation for 110 fall- and spring-calving cows from a farm running a full-time cow–calf contact system to investigate factors leading to variation among cows in milk delivered to the parlor. We observed great individual variation in milk yield delivered to the parlor among cows, with the range between the highest and lowest average being 22 L/d. The sex of the calf had an effect on the average milk yield delivered to the parlor: cows with female calves had higher average milk yield (Wald = 5.61, df = 1). Additionally, the lactation number of the dam affected average milk yield delivered to the parlor, with cows in their third lactation and above having the highest milk yield average (Wald = 20.90, df = 2). From the results of this study, we conclude that sex of the calf and lactation number of the dam affect milk yield delivered to the milking parlor in a cow–calf contact system.

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary glucose oxidase (GOD), catalase (CAT), or both supplementation on reproductive performance, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in sows.Methods: A total of 104 multiparous sows were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 26) with each group given a basal diet, basal diet plus GOD at 60 U/kg, basal diet plus CAT at 75 U/kg, and basal diet plus GOD at 60 U/kg and CAT at 75 U/kg. Sows were fed the experimental diets throughout gestation and lactation.Results: Dietary GOD supplementation increased average daily feed intake of sows and litter weight at weaning (p

To clarify the actual administration of thiamazole (MMI), the first choice of antithyroid drugs, the actual therapy provided by the Japan Thyroid Association (JTA) members for the following conditions was surveyed. The subjects included adult patients, pregnant women, and pediatric patients with Graves' disease who visited each medical institution from September 2019 to February 2020. Initial doses, frequency of administration, maintenance doses, maximum doses, consultation intervals for pregnant women, and dosages administrated to breastfeeding mothers were surveyed. The total number of cases collected was 11,663. Administration of 15 mg once a day was the most common initial therapy, constituted 74.4% (2,526/3,397 cases) of adults, 33.8% (44/130) of pregnant women, and 50.8% (61/120) of children. The maintenance dose before discontinuation was equivalent to 2.5 mg/day in 52.3% (3,147/6,015). The most common maximum dose for adults and children was 30 mg/day, administrated to 57.5% of adults (223/388) and 59.6% (28/47) of children; for pregnant women, it was 15 mg/day, administrated to 71.1% (27/38). The most common consultation interval for pregnant women was every four weeks (32.1%, 341/1,063). In lactating mothers, the dose was 10 mg/day or less in 366 of 465 cases (78.7%). Breastfeeding was also allowed 4-6 hours after the administration of 15-20 mg/day in 69 patients (14.8%). Breastfeeding was prohibited in 26 patients (5.6%). In conclusion, initial MMI therapy was started with 15 mg once a day in most patients, and MMI was also administrated to lactating mothers following the Graves' disease treatment guidelines by the JTA.

Background and Aims High fat diet (HFD) intake during gestation and lactation has been associated with an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic disorders in adult offspring. We investigated whether metabolic alterations resulting from the maternal consumption of HFD are prevented by addition of omega-3 (ɷ3) in the diet. Methods and Results Wistar rat dams were fed a Control (C: 19% of lipids and ɷ6:ɷ3=12), HF (HF: 33% lipids and ɷ6:ɷ3=21) or HF enriched with omega-3 (HFω3: 33% lipids and ɷ6:ɷ3=9) diet during gestation and lactation, and their offspring food consumption, murinometric measurements, serum levels of metabolic markers, insulin and pyruvate sensitivity tests were evaluated. The maternal HFD increased body weight at birth, dyslipidemia and elevated fasting glucose levels in the HF group. The enrichment of omega-3 in the maternal HFD led to lower birth weight and improved lipid, glycemic and transaminase biochemical profile of the HFω3 group until the beginning of adulthood. However, at later adulthood of the offspring, there was no improvement in these biochemical parameters. Conclusion Our findings show the maternal consumption of high fat omega-3 rich diet is able to attenuate or prevent metabolic disruption elicited by HFD in offspring until 90 days old, but not in the long term, as observed at 300 days old of the offspring.

Objective: To describe the maternal, neonatal and pregnancy characteristics related to inhibition of lactation (IL) with cabergoline. Method: We assessed 20,965 occasions of breastfeeding initiation, according to data collected from obstetric records at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Spain) between January 2011 and December 2017. Results: IL decreased over the study period from 8.78% to 6.18% (odds ratio [OR]: 0.93 per year; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.90-0.95). Women with a lower educational level (OR: 2.5; 95%CI: 2.0-3.0), mothers living in more depressed areas (OR: 1.08 per 10 extra points over 100; 95%CI: 1.04-1.12), smokers (OR: 2.2; 95%CI: 1.9-2.6), and those with more children (OR: 1.2 for each sibling; 95%CI: 1.1-1.3), preterm birth (OR: 1.8; 95%CI: 1.4-2.3), multiple births (OR: 1.6; 95%CI: 1.2-2.1) and a higher risk pregnancy (OR: 1.3 per risk point; 95%CI: 1.2-1.4) showed a higher prevalence of IL. Compared to women born in Spain, IL was less likely in all other women with the exception of Chinese women (OR: 7.0; 95%CI: 5.7-8.6). These disparities remained during the study period. Conclusions: Factors related to lower socioeconomic status and poor health were more likely to be associated with IL. The overall use of cabergoline decreased during the study period while inequalities persisted. Taking these inequalities into account is the first step to addressing them. Resumen: Objetivo: Describir las características maternas, neonatales y del embarazo relacionadas con la inhibición de la lactancia (IL) con cabergolina. Método: Se evaluaron 20.965 ocasiones de inicio de lactancia, según los registros obstétricos del Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (2011-2017). Resultados: La IL disminuyó durante el periodo de estudio del 8,78% al 6,18% (odds ratio [OR]: 0,93 anual; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 0,90-0,95). Las mujeres con menor nivel educativo (OR: 2,5; IC95%: 2,0-3,0), las madres que viven en áreas más deprivadas (OR: 1,08 por 10 puntos extra sobre 100; IC95%: 1,04-1,12), las fumadoras (OR: 2,2; IC95%: 1,9-2,6), las que tienen más hijos (OR: 1,2 por cada hermano; IC95%: 1,1-1,3), los nacimientos prematuros (OR: 1,8; IC95%: 1,4-2,3), los nacimientos múltiples (OR: 1,6; IC95%: 1,2-2,1) y los embarazos de mayor riesgo (OR: 1,3 por punto de riesgo; IC95%: 1,2-1,4) tuvieron una mayor prevalencia de IL. Respecto a las mujeres nacidas en España, la IL fue menor que en las demás mujeres, con la excepción de las nacidas en China (OR: 7,0; IC95%: 5,7-8,6). Estas desigualdades se mantuvieron durante el periodo de estudio. Conclusiones: Los factores relacionados con el bajo nivel socioeconómico y la mala salud tuvieron más probabilidades de estar asociados con la IL. El uso de cabergolina disminuyó durante el periodo de estudio, mientras que las desigualdades se mantuvieron. Tener en cuenta estas desigualdades es el primer paso para abordarlas.

Objective: Human milk (HM) sodium (Na) and potassium (K) concentrations, as well as the Na and K ratio (Na:K), are associated with stages of lactation and breast health. Portable point-of-care inst...

Direct selection for longevity results in improved health and fitness and even milk production of cows. However, longevity is lowly heritable and phenotypic information is obtained at the end of an animal’s life. Traits expressed early in life and which are favorably correlated to longevity can be useful in selecting for this trait. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between longevity and age at first calving, first lactation calving interval, number of services per conception, first lactation milk yield, and first parity lactation length. Heritability estimates for measures of longevity were also calculated. The measures of longevity were time between birth and last milking in days (Long1), time between first calving and last milking record in months (Long2), number of lactations initiated (Long3), and total number of days in lactation over all lactations (Long4), total milk yield over all lactations (kg) (Long5). A series of five-variate animal models were fitted to estimate the nature and magnitude of genetic and phenotypic correlations between each measure of longevity and the fertility and production traits. Genetic correlations between measures of longevity and age at first calving, calving interval and number of services per conception were negative ranging from -0.14 ± 0.05 to -0.96 ± 0.06, -0.06 ± 0.03 to -0.67 ± 0.08 and -0.02 ± 0.02 to -0.73 ± 0.34, respectively. Correlations between measures of longevity and first lactation milk yield ranged from 0.88 ± 0.01 to 0.97 ± 0.03. Those with first parity lactation length ranged from -0.10 to 0.72. Long1, Long4 and Long5, which measure time between birth and last milking day, total number of days in lactation over all lactations and total milk yield over all lactations (kg), respectively, had the highest heritability estimates. These three could therefore be used to directly select for longevity. Among the traits studied, first lactation milk yield and age at first calving had the highest genetic correlation with measures of longevity. Therefore, first lactation milk yield and age at first calving could, therefore, be used to indirectly select for longevity.

Folic acid (FA) supplementation in early pregnancy is recommended to protect against birth defects. But excess FA has exhibited neurodevelopmental toxicity. We previously reported that the mice treated with 2.5-fold the dietary requirement of FA one week before mating and throughout pregnancy and lactation displayed abnormal behaviors in the offspring. Here we found the levels of non-phosphorylated β-catenin (active) were increased in the brains of weaning and adult FA-exposed offspring. Meanwhile, demethylation of protein phosphatase 2 A catalytic subunit (PP2Ac), which suppresses its enzyme activity in regulatory subunit dependent manner, was significantly inhibited. Among the upstream regulators of β-catenin, PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β but not Wnt signaling was stimulated in FA-exposed brains only at weaning. In mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells, knockdown of PP2Ac or leucine carboxyl methyltransferase-1 (LCMT-1), or overexpression of PP2Ac methylation-deficient mutant decreased β-catenin dephosphorylation. These results suggest that excess FA may activate β-catenin via suppressing PP2Ac demethylation, providing a novel mechanism for the influence of FA on neurodevelopment.

BACKGROUND Cooking oil is an indispensable component of the human diet. However, oils usually undergo thermal oxidation. Oxidized soybean oil (OSO) has been shown to have detrimental effects on humans and has emerged as a root cause of many chronic diseases. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of puerpera exposure to OSO on kidney damage in the mother and offspring using lactating rats as an experimental model. RESULTS Pathological sections and ultrastructure showed that OSO exposure resulted in various levels of damage to lactating rats and their offspring. OSO induced oxidative stress in the kidneys of lactating rats, as evidenced by increased levels of hydrogen peroxide, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-8. OSO increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. OSO upregulated the expression of apoptosis-related genes, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and nuclear factor κB-related inflammatory factor genes. In the offspring of the OSO-exposed mothers, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha contents were increased. Furthermore, OSO enhanced the levels of Nrf2, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1, heme oxygenase 1, and p65 and decreased B-cell lymphoma 2. CONCLUSION These findings indicated that the kidneys of two generations of rats were compromised by oxidative damage when fed OSO during lactation. This study provides evidence for increasing the genes expression of the Nrf2/heme oxygenase 1 pathway to alleviate the kidney damage caused by OSO in the mother and offspring. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

A total of 60 sows (Landrace × Yorkshire, average parity was 1.39) were used to evaluate the effects of soy isoflavones (ISO) supplementation on reproductive performance, serum antioxidant enzyme parameters, and milk compositions of sows, and the growth performance of offspring. Sows were randomly assigned to 4 groups based on the parity. There were 15 replicates per treatment. Dietary treatments were based on a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet and supplemented with 0, 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg ISO. With the increase of the ISO dosage, average daily feed intake of sows increased linearly; oestrus interval decreased linearly and quadratically. In addition, on day 10 of lactation, linear increases in serum superoxide dismutase levels, linear and quadratic increases in serum total antioxidant capacity, and linear decreases in serum malondialdehyde levels were observed in increasing ISO dosage in the diet of sows. The body weight on day 10 and 21 and the average daily gain during days 3-10 and 3-21 of offspring increased linearly at graduated doses of ISO increased. Therefore, feeding sows with graded levels of ISO containing diet during late-gestation and lactation periods improved the reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of their offspring in a dose-dependent manner.

PURPOSE To examine plasma retinol status and its determinants in Chinese pregnant or lactating women. METHODS A cross-sectional study involving 1211 healthy women in mid-pregnancy, late pregnancy, or lactation was conducted in northern, central, and southern China. Plasma retinol concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Multivariate quantile regression or modified Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted medians, or to examine the associations of suboptimal retinol concentration (

The Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5A (STAT5A) gene involved in activating the transcription of milk protein genes was predicted to be influencing milk production traits. The present study was undertaken to investigate the suitability of the polymorphism of STAT5A as a marker for milk traits in Ongole, crossbred cattle and Murrah buffaloes from Southern India. Blood samples (n = 502) for DNA isolation and milk samples (n = 222) from different genetic groups were collected from various farms. The gene variants upon polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) on the exon 7 region of STAT5A were subjected to GLM analysis to evaluate their association with milk production traits. The frequencies of C and T alleles at the STAT5A/AvaI locus were 0.98 and 0.02 (Jersey crossbred), 0.94 and 0.06 [Holstein-Friesian (HF) crossbred], 0.97 and 0.03 (Ongole). T allele was not observed in Murrah buffaloes. The least squares mean lactation milk yield of CC and CT genotypes of STAT5A were 2,096.90 ± 48.63 and 2,294.41 ± 215.85 kg in Jersey crossbred, 2,312.92 ± 91.01 and 2,392.82 ± 207.66 kg in HF crossbred and 528.40 ± 22.10 and 396.37 ± 76.17 kg in Ongole cattle, respectively. The milk fat content of the CC genotype was higher (P > 0.05) in Jersey crossbred cattle. The CT genotypes of Ongole and HF crossbred cattle recorded a higher fat per cent than the CC genotypes. Significant associations were not observed in support of STAT5A as a marker for milk production traits in either Ongole or crossbred cattle of indicine admixture and no reason could be found to consider this locus as universal markers for milk production traits in indicine cattle and buffaloes. Considering the monomorphic nature of the gene in buffaloes and their higher milk fat content as compared to bovine milk, much remains to be explored regarding the underlying differences across the bovine and the bubaline species.

International audience; Metabolome profiling in biological fluids is an interesting approach for exploring markers of methane emissions in ruminants. In this study, a multiplatform metabolomics approach was used for investigating changes in milk metabolic profiles related to methanogenesis in dairy cows. For this purpose, 25 primiparous Holstein cows at similar lactation stage were fed the same diet supplemented with (treated, n = 12) or without (control, n = 13) a specific antimethanogenic additive that reduced enteric methane production by 23% with no changes in intake, milk production, and health status. The study lasted 6 wk, with sampling and measures performed in wk 5 and 6. Milk samples were analyzed using 4 complementary analytical methods, including 2 untargeted (nuclear magnetic resonance and liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer) and 2 targeted (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector) approaches. After filtration, variable selection and normalization data from each analytical platform were then analyzed using multivariate orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis. All 4 analytical methods were able to differentiate cows from treated and control groups. Overall, 38 discriminant metabolites were identified, which affected 10 metabolic pathways including methane metabolism. Some of these metabolites such as dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylsulfone, and citramalic acid, detected by nuclear magnetic resonance or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods, originated from the rumen microbiota or had a microbial-host animal co-metabolism that could be associated with methanogenesis. Also, discriminant milk fatty acids detected by targeted gas chromatography were mostly of ruminal microbial origin. Other metabolites and metabolic pathways significantly affected were associated with AA metabolism. These findings provide new insight on the potential role of milk metabolites as indicators of enteric methane modifications in dairy cows.

Sixteen Nordic Red dairy cows, at 80 ± 4.6 d in milk and with an average body weight of 624 ± 91.8 kg, were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design to investigate the effects of different concentrate supplements on milk production, enteric CH4 emissions, ruminal fermentation, digestibility, and energy utilization. The cows were blocked into 4 groups based on parity and milk yield and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 experimental concentrates: (1) barley, (2) hulled oats, (3) an oat mixture consisting of hulled and dehulled oats, 50:50 on dry matter basis, and (4) dehulled oats; canola meal was a protein supplement in all 4 concentrates. The cows were fed grass silage and experimental concentrate (forage-to-concentrate ratio 60:40 on dry matter basis) ad libitum. To compare the effects of barley and oats, the barley diet was compared with the overall mean of the hulled oat, oat mixture, and dehulled oat diets. To investigate the effects of gradual replacement of hulled oats with dehulled oats, linear and quadratic contrasts were specified. Milk and energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield were higher on the oat diets compared with the barley diet but were not affected by the type of oats. Concentrations of milk constituents were not affected by grain species or type of oats, except for protein concentration, which was lower on the oat diets than on the barley diet. Feeding the oat diets led to higher milk protein yield and higher milk urea N concentrations. Feed efficiency tended to be higher on the oat diets, and linearly increased with increased inclusion of dehulled oats. Methane emissions (g/d) and CH4 yield (g/kg of dry matter intake) were unaffected by grain species but increased linearly with increasing inclusion of dehulled oats in the diet. Because of higher ECM yield, CH4 intensity (g/kg of ECM) was on average 5.7% lower from cows on the oat diets than on the barley diet. Ruminal fermentation was not affected by dietary treatment. Total-tract apparent digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber was unaffected by grain species but linearly increased with increasing inclusion of dehulled oats. Gross energy content was higher on the oat diets and linearly increased with increasing inclusion of dehulled oats. Feeding the oat diets led to a lower ratio of CH4 energy to gross energy intake, greater milk energy and heat production but no change in energy balance. Gradual replacement of hulled oats with dehulled oats linearly increased gross energy digestibility, CH4 energy, metabolizable energy intake, heat production, and energy balance. We observed no effect of dietary treatment on efficiency of metabolizable energy use for lactation. In conclusion, replacing barley with any type of oats increased milk and ECM yield, which led to a 5.7% decrease in CH4 intensity. In addition, dehulling of oats before feeding is unnecessary because it did not significantly improve production performance of dairy cows in positive energy balance.

The study's objectives were to identify cow-level and environmental factors associated with metritis cure to predict metritis cure using traditional statistics and machine learning algorithms. The data set used was from a previous study comparing the efficacy of different therapies and self-cure for metritis. Metritis was defined as fetid, watery, reddish-brownish discharge, with or without fever. Cure was defined as an absence of metritis signs 12 d after diagnosis. Cows were randomly allocated to receive a subcutaneous injection of 6.6 mg/kg of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid (Excede, Zoetis) at the day of diagnosis and 3 d later (n = 275); and no treatment at the time of metritis diagnosis (n = 275). The variables days in milk (DIM) at metritis diagnosis, treatment, season of the metritis diagnosis, month of metritis diagnostic, number of lactation, parity, calving score, dystocia, retained fetal membranes, body condition score at d 5 postpartum, vulvovaginal laceration score, the rectal temperature at the metritis diagnosis, fever at diagnosis, milk production from the day before to metritis diagnosis, and milk production slope up to 5, 7, and 9 DIM were offered to univariate logistic regression. Variables included in the multivariable logistic regression model were selected from the univariate analysis according to P-value. Variables were offered to the model to assess the association between these factors and metritis cure. Additionally, the univariate logistic regression variables were offered to a recursive feature elimination to find the optimal subset of features for a machine learning algorithms analysis. Cows without vulvovaginal laceration had 1.91 higher odds of curing of metritis than cows with vulvovaginal laceration. Cows that developed metritis at >7 DIM had 2.09 higher odds of being cured than cows that developed metritis at ≤7 DIM. For rectal temperature, each degree Celsius above 39.4°C led to lower odds to be cured than cows with rectal temperature ≤39.4°C. Furthermore, milk production slope and milk production difference from the day before to the metritis diagnosis were essential variables to predict metritis cure. Cows that had reduced milk production from the day before to the metritis diagnosis had lower odds to be cured than cows with moderate milk production increase. The results from the multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that cows developing metritis at >7 DIM, with increase in milk production, and with a rectal temperature ≤39.40°C had increased likelihood of cure of metritis with an accuracy of 75%. The machine learning analysis showed that in addition to these variables, calving-related disorders, season, and month of metritis event were needed to predict whether the cow will cure or not from metritis with an accuracy ≥70% and F1 score (harmonic mean between precision and recall) ≥0.78. Although machine learning algorithms are acknowledged as powerful tools for predictive classification, the current study was unable to replicate its potential benefits. More research is needed to optimize predictive models of metritis cure.

Summary Background There is a plethora of research on the association of parity and duration of lactation with bone mineral density (BMD) during and after pregnancy. However, there are no consensus conclusions on the impact of the duration of lactation on BMD. Aims The aim of this study was to examine the effect of pregnancy, and the duration of lactation on BMD during pregnancy, postpartum phase and 12 months post-delivery. Methods The search terms ‘parity’ ‘lactation’ ‘BMD’ were searched for using PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS and EMBASE databases in English language. Two independent reviewers assessed the quality of the included studies using Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) appraisal tool and extracted data on BMD (g/cm2) in Excel. A meta-analysis was conducted with a random effect model using Cochrane Review Manager (Rev 5.4) to analyse the outcome. Heterogeneity was assessed with Chi Squared and I2 test. The duration of lactation was grouped into short lactation duration (SLD), ≤4 months and longer lactation duration (LLD) > 6 months. Results Twenty-one studies were included in this review with four studies included in the meta-analysis. BMD reduced during pregnancy and lactation. Recovery and net gains in BMD followed weaning. However, at 12 months postpartum, women in the LLD group had significant losses at the lumbar spine while those in the SLD recovered BMD. Between the SLD and LLD groups, the change in BMD was not significant 0.48 g/cm2 (95% CI -0.14, 1.10, p = 0.13). BMD losses were greater in primiparous women than multiparous women. Conclusion Women who breastfed for >6 months had significantly reduced BMD. However, compared to women that breastfed for a ≤4 months there was no significant change in BMD. Further investigation is needed to clarify the association between lactation and BMD in a postpartum population in those women extending breastfeeding beyond one year.

The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate postpartum phenotypes, cow factors, and genetic traits associated with plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations after first artificial insemination (AI); (2) determine variation in daily plasma P4 concentrations between d 7 and 13 after first AI; and (3) evaluate associations between plasma P4 concentrations and pregnancy success after first AI. First and second parity (n = 2,797) spring-calving lactating dairy cows from 35 dairy herds were enrolled. Farm visits were performed every 2 wk during the postpartum period as follows: cows that were at wk 3 (range: 14-27 d in milk) and wk 7 (range: 42-55 d in milk) postpartum were examined. Farm visits were performed weekly during the breeding season, and cows that were between 7 and 13 d after the first AI were examined. Body condition score (BCS) was measured at each visit using a 1 to 5 scale [low (≤2.75), target (≥3.0)]. Transrectal ultrasound examinations were conducted at wk 3 and wk 7 postpartum visits to determine presence or absence of a corpus luteum (CL) and uterine tract score [scale of G1 (best)-G4 (worst)]. Blood samples were collected at each visit, and plasma concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, and fatty acids were analyzed. On the day of the weekly farm visit during the breeding season, blood samples for P4 determination were collected from all cows that were between 7 and 13 d after first AI during the breeding period. Cows that had a CL present and a G1 uterine score at wk 7 postpartum had greater plasma P4 concentration after first AI (+0.67 ng/mL and +0.4 ng/mL, respectively) compared with cows with no CL present and with a uterine score ≥G3. Cows with low BCS at wk 7 postpartum had lesser plasma P4 concentration after first AI than cows with target BCS. Each unit increase in plasma fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate concentration at AI was associated with 0.45 ± 0.33 ng/mL (estimate ± standard error) and 0.07 ± 0.04 ng/mL greater plasma P4 concentration after first AI, respectively. Regarding genetic merit traits, each unit increase in fertility subindex was associated with 0.005 ± 0.003 ng/mL greater P4 concentration. In addition, for every 1 ng/mL increase in plasma P4 concentration, the odds of estimated probability of pregnancy per AI increased by 3% (odds ratio = 1.03; 95% confidence interval = 1.00, 1.05). In conclusion, cows with superior genetic merit for fertility traits and milk production traits, favorable fertility phenotypes at wk 7 postpartum, (e.g., presence of a CL, a G1 uterine score, and target BCS), and blood parameters indicative of better metabolic status at AI were all associated with greater plasma P4 concentration after AI. In turn, greater plasma P4 concentrations were associated with greater odds of successful pregnancy establishment. This study underlines the important associations between early postpartum fertility phenotypes (CL presence, uterine health status) and subsequent plasma P4 concentrations after first AI, and hence provides additional evidence of the mechanisms through which selection for fertility traits improves phenotypic fertility performance.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an ultra-diluted complex supplemented as a prophylactic strategy on the incidence risk of diseases, metabolism, and performance of weaned Holstein calves immediately after grouping. Additionally, the objective was to investigate the carryover effects on heifer-raising and first-lactation periods, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 184 weaned Holstein calves (83 ± 7.9 d of life; 112.5 ± 11.7 kg of body weight; values are mean ± standard deviation) were allocated to 8 paddocks in a completely randomized block design experiment. During a 112-d period, animals received a total mixed ration and were randomly allocated into 2 groups: (1) CON: placebo-control (basal diet + calcium carbonate, top-dressed at 30 g/animal per day of placebo), or (2) UD: ultra-diluted complex (basal diet + TopVita-Real H, top-dressed at 30 g/animal per day of sulfur (10-60) + viola tricolor (10-14) + caladium seguinum (10-30) + zincum oxydatum (10-30) + phosphorus (10-60) + carduus marianus (10-60) + colibacillinum (10-30) + podophyllum (10-30) + vehicle: calcium carbonate; quantum sufficit 1 kg). Incidence risk of diseases, number of days with disease, and mortality events were recorded daily. Performance measurements and blood collection were carried out at enrollment and every 28 d until the end of the study period. The incidence risk of digestive problems was higher for the CON group. Additionally, the CON group had higher cumulative number of days per calf affected by tick-borne disease. Blood analysis revealed that CON calves had increased mean corpuscular hemoglobin amount and concentration than UD calves on d 28 after enrollment and had increased serum albumin and total protein concentration on d 84. Furthermore, higher albumin to globulin ratio was found in CON calves than in those of UD group at enrollment; however, on d 56, the inverse was observed. On d 28 after enrollment, CON calves had increased serum cortisol concentration. Regarding body measurements, higher withers height and body depth were detected in UD calves, on d 28 and d 84, respectively. Finally, higher culling risk was observed in the CON group during the heifer-raising period. In conclusion, a lower incidence risk of digestive problems and days with tick-borne disease were detected in the UD group. Additionally, systemic inflammation was improved by UD complex based on circulating inflammation and stress biomarkers on specific days after enrollment. However, UD product did not improve performance at the post-weaning, heifer-raising, and first-lactation periods.

Early-life morphine exposure causes a variety of behavioural and physiological alterations observed later in life. In the present study, we investigated the effects of prenatal and early postnatal morphine on the maturation of the circadian clockwork in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the liver, and the rhythm in aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase activity in the pineal gland. Our data suggest that the most affected animals were those born to control, untreated mothers and cross-fostered by morphine-exposed dams. These animals showed the highest mesor and amplitude in the rhythm of Per2, Nr1d1 but not Per1 gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and arrhythmicity in AA-NAT activity in the pineal gland. In a similar pattern to the rhythm of Per2 expression in the SCN, they also expressed Per2 in a higher amplitude rhythm in the liver. Five of seven specific genes in the liver showed significant differences between groups in their expression. A comparison of mean relative mRNA levels suggests that this variability was caused mostly by cross-fostering, animals born to morphine-exposed dams that were cross-fostered by control mothers and vice versa differed from both groups of natural mothers raising offspring. Our data reveal that the circadian system responds to early-life morphine administration with significant changes in clock gene expression profiles both in the SCN and in the liver. The observed differences between the groups suggest that the dose, timing and accompanying stress events such as cross-fostering may play a role in the final magnitude of the physiological challenge that opioids bring to the developing circadian clock.

Objective: We aimed to investigate prospective associations between milk bioactives related to metabolic health (glucose, insulin, leptin, C reactive protein [CRP], and interleukin 6 [IL-6]) and incident formula initiation at 3 and 6 months postpartum. Design: This study included 363 mother–infant dyads who were fully breastfed at 1 month and participated in the prospective Mothers and Infants Linked for Healthy Growth study from pregnancy to 6 months postpartum. Associations between milk glucose, leptin, insulin, CRP, and IL-6 at 1 and 3 months and incident formula feeding (FF) at 3 and 6 months, respectively, were tested using multiple logistic regression, adjusting for numerous potential confounders such as maternal age and prepregnancy body mass index. Results: At 3 months postpartum, 1-month glucose (odds ratio [OR] 0.45 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.27–0.75], p ≤ 0.01) and smaller decreases in glucose from 1 to 3 months (OR 0.51 [95% CI: 0.28–0.92], p = 0.03) were associated with lower odds of FF, whereas 1-month leptin (OR 2.30 [95% CI: 1.30–4.07], p

Objectives were to determine the effects of 3 different levels of dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) fed during the last 22 d of gestation to pregnant nulliparous cows on pre- and postpartum acid-base balance, mineral metabolism, and health responses. In all, 132 pregnant nulliparous Holstein cows were enrolled at 250 (248-253) d of gestation, blocked by genomic merit of energy-corrected milk yield, and assigned randomly to diets varying in DCAD: +200 (P200, n = 43), -50 (N50, n = 45), or -150 (N150, n = 44) mEq/kg of dry matter. Dietary treatments were fed until calving, after which cows received the same lactation diet for the first 100 d postpartum. Urine and blood were sampled throughout the prepartum period and in the first weeks postpartum, and urine was assessed for pH, whereas blood was analyzed for gases, measures of acid-base balance, minerals, and metabolites. Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) retention and phosphorus (P) digestibility were evaluated in the last week of gestation and first week of lactation. Incidence of diseases was evaluated for the first 100 d postpartum. Data are presented in sequence as P200, N50, N150 (LSM ± SEM). Reducing the DCAD reduced urine (8.17 vs. 6.50 vs. 5.51 ± 0.11) and blood pH (7.442 vs. 7.431 vs. 7.410 ± 0.004) and induced a state of compensated metabolic acidosis with a reduction in blood HCO3- (28.4 vs. 26.7 vs. 24.9 ± 0.3 mM) and partial pressure of CO2 (41.8 vs. 40.1 vs. 39.1 ± 0.4 mmHg) prepartum. Reducing the DCAD linearly increased blood ionized Ca (iCa; 1.224 vs. 1.243 vs. 1.259 ± 0.008 mM) and serum total Ca (tCa; 2.50 vs. 2.53 vs. 2.56 ± 0.02 mM) prepartum, blood iCa on the day of calving, and serum Mg in the first days postpartum. Reducing the DCAD linearly increased the apparent absorption of Ca (12.9 vs. 19.0 vs. 20.9 ± 1.4 g/d) and Mg (7.0 vs. 9.9 vs. 10.4 ± 1.4 g/d) prepartum, but apparent retention of both Ca (13.9 g/d) and Mg (3.4 g/d) did not differ with treatment. Treatment did not affect digestibility of P pre- or postpartum or retention of Ca or Mg postpartum. Treatment did not affect the incidence or prevalence of subclinical hypocalcemia, hepatic composition, or the prevalence of fatty liver. Reducing the DCAD had a quadratic effect on incidence of fever (46.5 vs. 17.6 vs. 33.9 ± 7.0%), uterine diseases (36.3 vs. 25.6 vs. 46.0 ± 7.3%), and morbidity (41.4 vs. 28.1 vs. 55.6 ± 7.3%). Feeding a diet with -50 mEq/kg of dry matter promoted moderate changes in acid-base balance, altered mineral metabolism, and benefited health of nulliparous cows; however, further reducing the DCAD to -150 mEq/kg negated the benefits to health.

This study investigated the effects of inulin on rumen fermentation parameters, ruminal microbiome and metabolites, as well as lactation performance and serum indexes in dairy cows. Sixteen Holstein dairy cows with similar body conditions were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 8 per group), with inulin addition at 0 and 200 g/d per cow. The experiment lasted for 6 weeks, including a 1-week adaptation period and a 5-week treatment period. At the end of the experimental period, the milk, serum and rumen fluid were sampled and analyzed. The microbiome and metabolome in the rumen fluid were analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics, respectively. The results showed that supplementation with inulin (200 g/d per cow) increased the milk yield (P = 0.001), milk protein (P = 0.032), lactose rate (P = 0.004) and proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in milk (P < 0.001), but decreased the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) (P = 0.041). Rumen pH (P = 0.040) and the concentration of NH3-N (P = 0.024) were decreased; however, acetate (P < 0.001), propionate (P = 0.003), butyrate (P < 0.001) and lactic acid (LA) (P = 0.043) were increased. The total cholesterol (TC) (P = 0.008) and triglycerides (TG) (P = 0.01) in serum were also reduced. Additionally, inulin addition elevated the relative abundance of several beneficial symbiotic and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, such as Muribaculaceae (false discovery rate [FDR]-adjusted P < 0.01), Acetitomaculum (FDR-adjusted P = 0.043), and Butyrivibrio (FDR-adjusted P = 0.036), while elevating the levels of L-lysine (FDR-adjusted P = 4.24 × 10-3), L-proline (FDR-adjusted P = 0.0158), and L-phenylalanine (FDR-adjusted P = 0.027). In contrast, several pathogens and ruminal bacteria abundant in high-fat diets, such as Escherichia-Shigella (FDR-adjusted P = 0.022), Erysipelotrichaceae __UCG-004 (FDR-adjusted P < 0.01) and RF39 (FDR-adjusted P = 0.042) were decreased along with the reduction of lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC) (18:1 (9Z)) (FDR-adjusted P = 1.03 × 10-3), LysoPC (16:0) (FDR-adjusted P = 0.0108), LysoPC (18:2 (9Z, 12Z)) (FDR-adjusted P = 1.65 × 10-3) and 8-methylnonenoate. In conclusion, dietary inulin supplementation could increase the relative abundance of commensal microbiota and SCFA-producing bacteria, upregulate amino acidmetabolism and downregulate lipid metabolism in the rumen of dairy cows, which might further improve lactation performance and the level of serum lipids.

International audience; ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate whether the changes of backfat thickness (BFT) measurements throughout the lactation of cows in a grazing-based dairy farm in southern Brazil are reliably detected as changes in visual BCS.Materials and MethodsPaired measurements of BCS and BFT were taken monthly throughout 12 mo in 152 Holstein cows (585 ± 63 kg of BW; 18 ± 4.5 kg of milk/d; 113 ± 76 DIM) in a commercial herd in southern Brazil. The diets consisted of grazing tropical or temperate pastures, supplemented with additional feedstuffs. The changes of body condition throughout the lactation and month of experiment were identified, and linear regression analysis was performed between values of BCS and BFT.Results and DiscussionIn general, both BCS and BFT were not affected by month of year, although there was a reduction of both BCS and BFT in January compared with December (P < 0.05). A significant increase in relative variation of both BCS and BFT (P < 0.05) was detected only from mo 2 to 3 of lactation. However, the mean BFT values showed greater variability than those of BCS throughout lactation. The linear relationship between BCS and BFT measurements was as follows: BFT (mm) = 4.29BCS + 5.17 (root mean squared error = 2.88; P < 0.01; n = 669).Implications and ApplicationsThe change in BFT of cows was not precisely detected as a change in their BCS. However, the average variability of herd body condition, as detected by BFT, was also detected by BCS, and thus, either tool is acceptable to be used by farmers.

Maternal sodium butyrate (SB) intake has important effects on offspring growth and development. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of maternal SB supplementation during gestation and lactation on fatty acid composition and lipid metabolism in the offspring skeletal muscle of pigs. Twenty sows (Yorkshire, parity 2 to 3) were assigned to the control group (diets without SB, n = 10) and SB group (diets with 0.1% SB, n = 10). The results showed maternal SB supplementation throughout gestation and lactation increased (P