Search

Effects of duration of grain feeding on the concentration of endotoxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in digesta throughout the digestive tract and on acute phase proteins and LPS in peripheral blood were determined in Holstein yearling calves. Twenty-five Holstein yearling steer calves received either a forage-based diet containing 92% hay and 8% of a mineral and vitamin pellet on a dry matter basis (CON) or a moderate-grain diet, obtained by replacing 41.5% of the hay in the foragebased diet with barley grain, for 3 (MG3), 7 (MG7), 14 (MG14), or 21 d (MG21) before slaughter. Immediately before slaughter, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein. Immediately after slaughter, digesta samples were collected from the rumen, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, and rectum. Rumen liquid digesta, digesta from the intestines, and peripheral blood plasma were analyzed for LPS. Peripheral blood plasma and serum were analyzed for the acute phase proteins amyloid A, haptoglobin, and LPS-binding protein. Feeding the grain diet increased the LPS concentration in rumen fluid linearly from 15,488 endotoxin units (EU)/mL for CON to 70,146 EU/mL for MG7. Concentrations of LPS in rumen fluid in MG14 and MG21 were 61,944 and 56,234 EU/mL, respectively, and did not differ. The LPS concentrations in jejunal digesta were much lower than that in digesta elsewhere in the digestive tract, which suggests that ruminal LPS is broken down in the abomasum or proximal jejunum. The concentration of digesta LPS in the ileum was higher than that of digesta elsewhere in the intestines and similar to that in rumen fluid. The duration of grain feeding increased the LPS concentration in digesta in the ileum and cecum and tended to increase that in the colon cubically. Concentrations of LPS in this part of the digestive tract were highest in the MG3 and MG21 groups. The highest concentrations of LPS in digesta in the cecum, colon, and rectum were 3.7, 3.8, and 5.6 times higher than that in CON, respectively. Grain feeding and the increase in LPS in digesta were not accompanied by an acute phase response or a detectable concentration of LPS in peripheral blood. The absence of LPS in peripheral blood and the lack of increase in acute phase proteins indicated that the grain feeding protocol used in the current study and the accompanying changes in LPS concentrations of the digesta did not result in systemic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies indicated that only subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), induced by feeding a high-grain diet, is associated with an inflammatory response and increased abundance of Escherichia coli in the rumen. We hypothesized that ruminal E. coli in grain pellet-induced SARA carried virulence factors that potentially contribute to the immune activation during SARA. One hundred twenty-nine E. coli isolates were cultured from the rumens of 8 cows (4 animals per treatment) in which SARA had been nutritionally induced by feeding a high-grain diet (GPI-SARA) or a diet containing alfalfa pellets (API-SARA). The population structure of the E. coli was evaluated with the ABD genotyping system and repetitive sequence-based (rep)-PCR fingerprinting. Twenty-five virulence factors were evaluated with PCR. Escherichia coli numbers were higher in the GPI-SARA treatment than in the API-SARA treatment. The genetic structure of the E. coli was significantly different between SARA challenge models. Isolates from GPI-control (46%), API-control (70%), and API-SARA (53%) were closely related and fell into one cluster, whereas isolates from GPI-SARA (54%) grouped separately. The ABD typing indicated a shift from an A-type E. coli population to a B1-type population only due to GPI-SARA. Of the 25 virulence factors tested, curli fiber genes were highly associated with GPI. Curli fibers were first identified in E. coli mastitis isolates and are potent virulence factors that induce a range of immune responses. Results suggest that under low rumen pH conditions induced by a grain diet, there is a burst in the number of E. coli with virulence genes that can take advantage of these rumen conditions to trigger an inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of prepartum administration of a monensin controlled release capsule (CRC) on rumen pH, dry matter intake, and milk production during the transition period and early lactation were determined in 16 multiparous Holstein cows. Cows were divided into blocks of 2 depending on calving date. Cows were fed either a close-up dry cow or a lactating cow total mixed ration ad libitum. Rumen pH was monitored continuously using indwelling probes. Monensin did not affect average daily rumen pH, time below pH 6, time below pH 5.6, area below pH 6, and area below pH 5.6 throughout the experiment. Average daily pH, time below pH 6, and time below pH 5.6 before calving were 6.62, 65.6 min/d, and 17.6 min/d, respectively, and did not differ among the weeks before calving. Average daily pH, time below pH 6, and time below pH 5.6 were 6.19, 443.3 min/d, and 115.5 min/d, respectively, during the first week after calving, and were 6.36, 204.3 min/d, and 52.4 min/d, respectively, during the sixth week after calving. In the weeks after calving, average daily pH showed a quadratic increase, time below pH 6 showed a quadratic decrease, and time below pH 5.6 showed a linear decrease. Monensin did not affect dry matter intake and daily yields of milk, milk fat, and milk protein. Results suggest that prepartum administration of a monensin CRC did not increase rumen pH in multiparous cows fed the experimental diets during the transition period and early lactation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of prepartum administration of a monensin controlled release capsule (CRC) and stage of lactation on variation of blood metabolites within 24 h were determined in 16 dairy cows. Cows were fed a total mixed ration ad libitum twice daily at 0700 and 1300 h. At calving, cows were switched from a close-up dry cow diet to a lactating cow diet. Cows were blood sampled every 3 h for 24 h at 3 stages of lactation, including 1 wk before calving (wk -1), 1 wk after calving (wk 1), and 6 wk after calving (wk 6). Serum concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), and urea exhibited significant variation within 24 h. Glucose and NEFA were, respectively, 0.09 and 0.08 mM lower between 1030 and 2230 h than between 2230 and 1030 h. β-Hydroxybutyrate and urea were, respectively, 95.1 and 0.49 mM higher between 1030 and 2230 h than between 2230 and 1030 h. Monensin did not significantly affect glucose, NEFA, and urea in this study. Monensin reduced BHBA at wk 1, but not at wk -1 or wk 6. Glucose was lower and BHBA and NEFA were higher at wk 1 compared with wk -1 and wk 6. Urea was higher at wk 6 compared with wk -1. The variation within 24 h of glucose, BHBA, and NEFA were not affected by monensin and stage of lactation. Diurnal variation of urea was affected by stage of lactation, but not by monensin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hooves of 16 lactating Holstein cows were examined twice for sole hemorrhages and underrun heels. Images of hooves were taken using infrared thermography to determine the temperatures of the coronary band and that of a control area above the coronary band. To adjust for skin (control) temperature, the difference (ΔT) between the coronary band and the control area was calculated. Effects of stage of lactation, that is, ≤200 d in milk (DIM) vs. >200 DIM, on temperature of the coronary band, ΔT, and visual abnormalities were determined. Temperatures of the coronary bands of cows were greater for cows ≤200 DIM (n = 17) than for cows (n = 15) in late lactation (25.5 ± 1.3 vs. 21.0°C). The AT was also greater for cows ≤200 DIM compared with those >200 DIM (6.1 ± 0.8 vs. 3.3 ± 0.9°C). The ΔT was greater for lateral claws than for medial claws (5.2 ± 0.6 vs. 4.2 ± 0.6°C). Chi-square analysis revealed that the frequency of sole hemorrhages in hind lateral claws was significantly higher for cows ≤200 DIM compared with those in late lactation. In contrast, underrun heel was more frequently observed among cows >200 DIM. Increased temperatures of the coronary band and AT in early/midlactation coincided with increased incidence of sole hemorrhages, but not to incidences of underrun heels. Because higher hoof temperatures occurred in cows ≤200 DIM compared with cows later in lactation, measurement of hoof temperatures among cows in early lactation may be useful in monitoring hoof health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) was induced in 3 rumen fistulated Jersey steers by offering them different combinations of wheat-barley pellets and chopped alfalfa hay. Steers were offered 4, 5, and 6 kg/d of pelleted concentrate and 6, 5, and 4 kg/d of chopped alfalfa hay for diets 1, 2, and 3, respectively, during 5-d treatment periods and were fed chopped alfalfa hay between treatment periods. Inducing SARA increased blood concentrations of haptoglobin and serum amyloid-A. Dry matter intake of concentrate and hay decreased from d 1 to 5 in each period. Subacute ruminal acidosis was induced in all steers during d 4 and 5 when concentrate was fed, with ruminal pH remaining below 5.6 for an average of 187 and 174 min/d on these days. Lipopolysaccharide concentration increased significantly during periods of grain feeding compared with times when only hay was fed. Inducing SARA by feeding wheat-barley pellets activated a systemic inflammatory response in the steers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley silage, cut at the early dough stage, was chopped long (19 mm) or short (10 mm), ensiled, and incorporated into total mixed rations (TMR). The TMR contained (dry matter [DM] basis) either 58.0 or 41.4% concentrate and either short- or long-chopped barley silage. Reducing chop length of barley silage decreased the proportion (as-is basis) of TMR particles retained by the 8- and 19-mm screens of the Penn State Particle Separator (PSPS) from 66.9 to 52.7% in the high concentrate TMR and from 74.8 to 60.9% in the low concentrate TMR. Chop length reduction decreased dietary physically effective fiber, calculated as the NDF retained by the 8- and 19-mm screens of the PSPS, from 29.2 to 25.2% DM in the high concentrate TMR and from 34.9 to 30.6% DM in the low concentrate TMR. Reduction in chop length did not affect rumen pH, total rumen volatile fatty acids, milk yield, and milk composition, but increased DM intake from 19.4 to 20.1 kg/d at the high level of concentrate and from 16.9 to 17.7 kg/d at the low level of concentrate and increased rumen propionate. Increasing the concentrate inclusion rate reduced rumen pH from 6.52 to 6.35, did not affect total volatile fatty acids, reduced the acetate-to-propionate ratio from 3.1 to 2.7, increased milk yield from 28.7 to 31.3 kg/d, reduced milk fat content from 3.48 to 2.94%, and increased milk protein content from 3.11 to 3.27% across chop lengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage in a fine barley grain and alfalfa-based total mixed ration (TMR) were evaluated. Diets contained (dry matter basis) 53.0% commercial energy supplement, 10.3% commercial protein supplement, and 9.7% corn silage. Diets varied in inclusion of chopped alfalfa hay and alfalfa silage, and contained either 20.0% chopped alfalfa hay and 7.0% alfalfa silage, 10.0% chopped alfalfa hay and 17.0% alfalfa silage, or 27.0% alfalfa silage. Contents of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber, and minerals did not differ among diets. Replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage decreased dietary dry matter, and increased dietary soluble protein and physical effective NDF calculated as the proportion of dietary NDF retained by the 8- and 19-mm screens of the Penn State Particle Separator (peNDFNDF) from 13.3 to 15.6% DM. Replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage did not affect dry matter intake, rumen pH, rumen volatile fatty acids, blood lactate, milk fat, and milk protein percentage, but did decrease blood glucose, tended to increase blood urea, and numerically decreased milk yield and milk protein yield. A wider range in peNDFNDF and a higher inclusion of corn silage might have resulted in greater differences in rumen fermentation and milk production among diets. The pH of rumen fluid samples collected 4 h after feeding varied from 5.90 to 5.98, and milk fat percentage varied from 2.50 to 2.60% among diets. These values suggest that mild subacute ruminal acidosis was induced by all diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subacute rumen acidosis is thought to be a common condition in early lactating dairy cattle; however, diagnosis is difficult. There are currently only two techniques available for measuring rumen pH under field conditions: rumenocentesis and oral stomach tube. Sixteen rumen-fistulated cows were sampled in four sites of the rumen (cranial-ventral, caudal-ventral, central, and cranial-dorsal) with a rumen cannula. Rumen pH results were compared to those obtained at the same time with rumenocentesis and with an oro-ruminal (Geishauser) probe. Rumen fluid was obtained between 6 and 12 wk of lactation. Samples were analyzed for pH, lactate, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, and chloride. Rumen pH results were also compared to those obtained from 24-h continuous rumen pH measurement using indwelling rumen pH probes. Oro-ruminal probe samples had the highest pH values and the highest bicarbonate concentrations. Rumenocentesis samples had the lowest pH values and the lowest bicarbonate concentrations. Small differences in electrolyte concentrations were noted among rumen fluid collection techniques in the different rumen sites. The highest correlations of rumen pH were obtained between rumenocentesis and rumen cannulation (cranial-ventral), and between rumen cannulation (cranial-ventral) and the 24-h indwelling pH meter. Compared with samples obtained from the cranial-ventral rumen, rumenocentesis was more sensitive than the oro-ruminal probe in the measurement of low rumen pH; both techniques were moderately specific. The most accurate field technique was rumenocentesis. Improved field techniques are required for better on-farm diagnosis of subacute rumen acidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage in a total mixed ration containing barley grain and corn silage on production and rumen conditions were investigated. Cows received three diets that all contained (dry matter basis) 38.5% barley grain-based energy supplement, 30.5% corn silage, 17.0% protein supplement, and 4.2% sunflower seeds. One diet contained (dry matter basis) 9.8% of chopped alfalfa hay and no alfalfa silage. One diet contained (dry matter basis) 4.9% chopped alfalfa hay and 4.9% alfalfa silage. One diet contained (dry matter basis) 9.8% of alfalfa silage and no chopped alfalfa hay. Contents of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and starch, averaged across diets, were 16.7, 41.3, 21.1, and 24.4% DM, respectively, and did not differ significantly among diets. Replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage decreased the proportion of dietary DM passing through the 8-mm screen of the Penn State Particle Separator from 61.9 to 55.2% dry matter and significantly increased dietary physical effective NDF (peNDF) content, calculated as the NDF retained by the two screens of the Penn State Particle Separator, from 20.1 to 23.3% DM. Replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage also reduced dietary DM content, increased rumen pH from 6.27 to 6.47, reduced volatile fatty acid concentrations, numerically increased milk fat concentration and milk fat yield. Milk yield, milk protein concentration, dry matter intake, and rumen ammonia concentration were not affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the effect of inducing subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) on the free-choice intake of sodium bicarbonate (SB) in four midlactation Holstein cows in a switchover experiment with four 1 week periods. Overview of SARA; Induction of SARA in lactating dairy cows; Impact of SB on the diet of dairy cows.

The effects of grain induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) on free ruminal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the acute phase proteins serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp) in peripheral blood serum were determined in four mid lactation Holstein dairy cows using a repeated switchover design with four 7 day experimental periods. During each period, SARA was induced in two animals for 5 subsequent days by replacing 25% of their total mixed ration on a dry matter basis with grain pellets consisting of 50% ground wheat and 50% ground barley, and two other cows acted as controls. The control cows received a total mixed ration containing 50% of dry matter as concentrate. Rumen pH was monitored continuously using indwelling probes. During one day in each period blood was collected at 9 am and at 3 pm, and rumen fluid was collected at six hour intervals. Data was evaluated by SAS Mixed procedure for repeated measures with treatment (SARA or control), sampling time and their interaction as fixed effects, and cow and experimental period as random effects. On average, inducing SARA reduced average daily rumen pH from 6.24 to 6.01, increased the duration of time below rumen pH 5.6 from 187 to 309 min/d, increased LPS from 22,908 to 147,910 EU/mL, increased SAA in blood serum from 286.8 to 498.8 μg/mL, but did not affect the Hp, milk yield and dry matter intake. Rumen pH data and the milk fat contents suggest that, although inducing SARA reduced rumen pH, control cows also experienced a mild form of this disease. Concentrations of LPS in blood serum of control and SARA cows was lower than the detection limit of <0.01 EU /mL. Results suggest that inducing SARA in mid lactation dairy Holstein cows increases the lysis of gram-negative bacteria. The increase in SAA suggests that SARA also activated an inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of providing fresh total mixed ration (TMR) either at 0900 or at 2100 h on lactation performance were studied using four multiparous (645 ± 75 kg BW; 90 ± 33 days in milk) and four primiparous (576 ± 46 kg BW; 77 ± 25) Holstein cows. A cross-over design with two 6-week periods was used. The first 3-week of each period were for adaptation and the last 3-week for data collection. The TMR contained a 50% concentrate on a dry mater basis. Rumen fluid was sampled at 0000 and 1200 h at day-5 of week-5 via rumen cannula from four cannulated cows (3 primi- and 1 multiparous) and using oral probe from four non-cannulated cows. Cows were milked twice daily at 0430 and 1630 h. Nutrient digestibility was measured using total fecal collection technique during week-4. Results were analyzed with SAS (v. 9.1) as a linear mixed model including the fixed effects of time of feeding, parity, and time of feeding × parity; and the random effects of cow within parity and period. Provision of fresh TMR at 2100 h instead of 0900 h enhanced dry matter intake in primiparous cows (20.7 vs. 18.5 ± 0.96 kg/d, P < 0.05) but not in multiparous cows (20.6 vs. 21.0 kg/d), and improved the apparent total tract digestibility of dry mater (63.4 vs. 60.6 ± 0.63%, P < 0.01), NDF (50 vs. 45 ± 0.6%, P < 0.001), and ADF (45 vs. 41 ± 1.3%, P < 0.05) in all cows. Time of feed delivery did not affect milk yield, milk protein yield, and rumen pH. Milk fat yield tended to increase (1.1 vs. 0.96 ± 0.05 kg/d, P = 0.07) when cows were fed at 2100 h instead of 0900 h. Rumen pH was lower at 3 h postfeeding than at 15 h postfeeding (6.21 vs. 6.40, P = 0.01). No interactions were found between the time of feed delivery and time of rumen sampling on rumen pH. Results suggest that evening rather than morning provision of fresh TMR can improve feed intake, milk fat, and nutrient digestibility. Parity appears to affect the impact of time of feeding on cow performance, notably feed intake and milk protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of chop length of alfalfa silage and oat silage on dry matter intake, rumen conditions, and milk production were investigated in 16 mid-lactation Holstein, four of which were rumen fistulated. Forages were chopped short (6 mm) or long (19 mm) using a New Holland Forage Harvester, model 790. A four by four replicated Latin square design with experimental periods of two adaptation weeks and one sampling week was used. Feeding behavior was monitored in 8 cows using video taping and a 5 min scan sampling technique. Cows were fed total mixed rations containing (DM basis) 42% barley grain based energy supplement, 10% protein supplement, and 24% long chop alfalfa silage (AL)or short chop alfalfa silage (AS) and 24% long chop oats silage (OL) or short chop oat silage (OS). Hence, the four diets were ALOL, ALOS, ASOL, and ASOS. Reducing the chop length reduced the proportion of the alfalfa silage and the oat silage retained by the 8 and 19 mm screens of the Penn State particle Separator (pe) from 83.5 to 75.3% of DM and from 81.8 to 74.8% of DM, respectively. This shows that all forages were coarse, and that theoretical chop length might not predict particle size distribution. The chop length reduction decreased the pH of alfalfa silage and oats silage from 6.0 to 4.9 and from 5.4 to 4.6, respectively. Statistical analysis was conducted with SAS Mixed procedure. The effects of alfafa chop length and oats chop length were considered fixed. The effects of cow and period were considered random. Reducing the chop length of both silages reduced the pe of the diets from 71.4 to 64.6%DM (Table). Reducing oat silage chop length increased DMI, but did not alter rumen pH, feeding behavior, and milk production. Reducing alfalfa chop did not affect DMI, rumen pH, feeding behaviour, and milk production. In this study reducing chop length improved silage quality, but this did not result in increased milk production or put cows at risk for subacute ruminal acidosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to evaluate the impact of providing fresh TMR at 9 am or at 9 pm on daily average and 24-h variation of blood metabolites in lactating cows. Four multiparous (645 ± 75 kg body weight, BW; 90 ± 33 days in milk) and 4 primiparous (576 ± 46 kg BW; 77 ± 25 days in milk) lactating Holsteins were used in a 2 × 2 cross-over design with two 6-week periods. Each period consisted of a 4-week adaptation period followed by 2 sampling weeks. A TMR containing 50% concentrate on a dry mater basis was fed ad libitum allowing for between 5 and 10% orts. Blood was sampled via jugular catheter every 2 h for 24-h at week-5 of each period. Data were analyzed using Proc Mixed of SAS (v. 9.1) with appropriate covariance structure for repeated measures. Fresh feed delivery at 9 pm instead of 9 am did not affect daily averages of glucose, lactate, and urea in blood plasma (Table 1). All metabolites showed diurnal variation (H, P < 0.05) which for glucose and urea was altered markedly by time of feeding (T × H, P < 0.0001, Table 1). Blood glucose in cows fed at 9 pm showed a dramatic preprandial decline lasting until 2 h after feeding, and a remarkable postprandial rise shortly thereafter. Although less dramatic than in evening fed cows, blood glucose in morning fed cows started to drop at 4 h before feeding and rose gradually at 2 h after feeding. Both groups exhibited a postprandial increase in blood lactate, which was higher and more long-lasting in cows fed at 9 pm than in cows fed at 9 am. Blood urea increased shortly after feeding in morning fed cows but not in evening fed cows. After peak at 2 h post-feeding, blood urea declined progressively until 10 h post-feeding in all cows. Results showed that provision of fresh TMR at different times of a 24-h period alters the diurnal variation of blood metabolites and, thereby, may affect the peripheral nutrient utilization by lactating cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to determine if subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) induced by feeding alfalfa pellets results in increases in free bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rumen fluid and peripheral blood, and acute phase proteins in plasma, and to determine the effect of alfalfa pellet-induced SARA on feed intake, rumen fermentation characteristics, milk production and composition, and blood metabolites. Eight lactating Holstein cows, 4 of which were ruminally cannulated, were used in a 6-wk experiment and were fed once daily at 0900 h. During wk 1, cows received a diet containing 50% of DM as concentrate and 50% of DM chopped alfalfa hay. Between wk 2 and wk 6, alfalfa hay was gradually replaced with alfalfa pellets at the rate of 8% per week to reduce rumen pH. Rumen pH was monitored continuously in the ruminally cannulated cows using indwelling pH probes. Rumen fluid and peripheral blood were sampled 15 mm before feed delivery and at 6 h after feed delivery. Based on adopted threshold of SARA of at least 180 min/d below pH 5.6, SARA was induced from wk 3 onwards. Replacing 40% of alfalfa hay with alfalfa pellets quadratically increased the DM1 from 18.1 kg/d in wk 1 to 23.4 kg/d in wk 6. This replacement linearly decreased milk yield (32.7 vs. 35.9 kg/d) and milk fat percentage and yield (2.32 vs. 3.22%, and 0.77 vs. 1.14 kg/d, respectively), but increased milk protein percentage and yield (3.80 vs. 3.04%, and 1.23 vs. 1.07 kg/d, respectively). This gradual replacement also linearly increased the daily averages of total volatile fatty acids (90 to 121.9 mM), acetate (53.9 to 66.8 mM), propionate (21.5 to 39.6 mM), and osmolality (277.7 to 293.8 mmol/kg) in the rurnen and decreased the acetate to propionate ratio from 2.62 to 1.73. Replacing alfalfa hay with alfalfa pellets linearly-increased blood lactate from 1.00 mM in wk 1 to a peak of 3.46 mM in wk 5. Induction of SARA in this study increased free rumen LPS concentration from 42,122 endotoxin unit (EU)/mL in wk 1 to 145,593 EU/mL in wk 6. However, this increase was not accompanied by an increase in LPS (<0.05 EU/ mL) and in acute phase proteins serum amyloid-A, haptoglobin, and LPS-binding protein in peripheral circulation. Results suggest that SARA induced by alfalfa pellets increased LPS in the rumen without causing translocation of LPS and an immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of a grain-based subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) challenge on translocation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the peripheral circulation, acute phase proteins in blood and milk, feed intake, milk production and composition, and blood metabolites were determined in 8 lactating Holstein cows. Between wk 1 and 5 of 2 successive 6-wk periods, cows received a total mixed ration ad libitum with a forage to concentrate (F:C) ratio of 50:50. In wk 6 of both periods, the SARA challenge was conducted by replacing 21% of the dry matter of the total mixed ration with pellets containing 50% wheat and 50% barley. Rumen pH was monitored continuously using indwelling pH probes in 4 rumen cannulated cows. Rumen fluid samples were collected 15 rain before feed delivery and at 2, 4, 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 24 h after feed delivery for 2 d during wk 5 (control) and wk 6 (SARA). Peripheral blood samples were collected using jugular catheters 15 min before feeding and at 6 and 12 h after feeding at the same days of the rumen fluid collections. The SARA challenge significantly reduced average daily pH from 6.17 to 5.97 and increased the duration of tureen pH below pH 5.6 from 118 to 279 min/d. The challenge reduced dry matter intake (16.5 vs. 19 kg/d), milk yield (28.3 vs. 31.6 kg/d), and milk fat (2.93 vs. 3.30%, 0.85 vs. 0.97 kg/d), and tended to increase milk protein percentage (3.42 vs. 3.29%), without affecting milk protein yield (1.00 vs. 0.98 kg/d). The challenge also increased the concentration of free LPS in rumen fluid from 28,184 to 107,152 endotoxin units (EU)/mL. This was accompanied by an increase in LPS in peripheral blood plasma (0.52 vs. <0.05 EU/mL) with a peak at 12 h after feeding (0.81 EU/mL). Concentrations of the acute phase proteins serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, and LPS-binding protein (LBP) in peripheral blood as well as LBP concentration in milk increased (438.5 vs. 167.4, 475.6 vs. 0, 53.1 vs. 18.2, and 6.94 vs. 3.02 µg/ mL, respectively) during SARA. The increase in LBP in combination with the increase in LPS in peripheral blood provides additional evidence of translocation of LPS. Results suggest that the grain-based SARA challenge resulted in translocation of LPS into the peripheral circulation, and that this translocation triggered a systemic inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of grain-induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in lactating dairy cows on free ruminal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and indicators of inflammation were determined. Four mid lactation dairy cows were divided into 2 groups of 2 cows and used in a repeated switchover design. During each period, SARA was induced in 2 animals for 5 subsequent days by replacing 25% of their total mixed ration (dry matter basis) with a concentrate made of 50% wheat and 50% barley. The other 2 cows acted as controls and were fed a total mixed ration diet in which 44% of dry matter was concentrate. On average, inducing SARA did not affect milk composition, increased the duration of rumen pH below 5.6 from 187 to 309 min/d, and increased free ruminal LPS concentration from 24,547 endotoxin units (EU)/mL to 128,825 EU/mL. Averaged across treatments, milk fat yield and milk protein yield were 0.66 and 1.00 kg/d, respectively. Rumen pH and milk fat data suggest that control cows also experienced ruminal acidosis, albeit a milder form of this disease than SARA cows. Serum LPS concentration in both control and SARA cows was less than the detection limit of <0.01 EU/mL for the assay. Induction of SARA elevated serum amyloid A concentration from 286.8 to 498.8 µg/mL, but did not affect other markers of inflammation including haptoglobin, fibrinogen, serum copper, or white blood cells. These results suggest that grain-induced SARA in mid lactation dairy cows increases the lysis of gram-negative bacteria and activates an inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three rumen-fistulated Jersey steers were gradually adapted to a wheat-barley concentrate over a 4-wk period. Adaptation steps consisted of four 1-wk periods during which steers were fed diets with forage-to-concentrate (F:C) ratios of 100:0, 79:21, 59:41, and 39:61. The forage consisted of chopped hay (CH), and the concentrate consisted of pelleted concentrate containing 50% ground wheat and 50% ground barley. Steers were fed the all-forage diet ad libitum during wk 1. Feed offered in wk 2 to 4 was kept constant at the ad libitum intake during wk 1. On 2 d that were set 3 d apart during wk 5, subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) was induced in the steers by feeding a diet with an F:C ratio of 24:76 by offering them 0.9 kg of CH at 0900 h followed by 2 meals of 3.0 kg each of wheat-barley pellets (WBP) at 1100 h and 1300 h and 0.9 kg of CH at 1700 h, to depress rumen pH for at least 3 h/d below 5.6. The average concentrate inclusion for the SARA induction diet was 76 ± 10% DM. During stepwise adaptation, time with pH below 5.6 increased to an average of 121 min/d when the steers were consuming a diet containing 61%, DM as WBP. Dietary inclusion of WBP at the rate of 76% DM induced SARA because the steers spent an average of 219 min/d with pH below 5.6. The free ruminal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentration increased from 6,310 endotoxin units (EU)/mL with the all-forage diet to 18,197 EU/mL with the 61% concentrate diet. The ruminal LPS concentration increased to 26,915 EU/mL when SARA was induced. Serum haptoglobin increased from 0.53 mg/mL when steers were on the all-forage diet to 1.90 mg/mL with the 61% concentrate diet and were not increased further by inducing SARA. The serum amyloid-A concentration was not affected by increasing dietary concentrate during stepwise adaptation to the concentrate, but increased from 71 to 163 µg/mL when SARA was induced. A gradual increase in dietary concentrate so that the F:C ratio decreased to 39:61 resulted in increased ruminal LPS concentrations. Subsequent induction of SARA further increased ruminal LPS and activated an inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the time course for adaptation of the reticulo-rumen, omasum, abomasum, and small intestine in response to an abrupt increase in the proportion of grain in the diet. Adaptive responses include tissue and digesta mass, small intestinal length, and brush border enzyme activity in the duodenum, proximal jejunum, and ileum. Twentyfive Holstein steers (213 ± 23 kg; 5 to 7 mo of age) were blocked by body weight, and within block were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments: the control diet (CTRL; 92% chopped grass hay and 8% mineral and vitamin supplement on a dry matter basis) or a moderate grain diet (MGD; 50% chopped grass hay, 42% rolled barley grain, and 8% mineral and vitamin supplement) that was fed for 3 (MGD3), 7 (MGD7), 14 (MGD14), or 21 d (MGD21). Dry matter intake was limited to 2.25% of body weight to ensure that changes in dry matter intake did not confound the results. On the last day of the dietary exposure, steers were slaughtered 2 h after feeding. Reticulo-rumen tissue mass and ruminal epithelium mass in the ventral sac of the rumen were not affected by the MGD. Wet reticuloruminal digesta mass decreased from CTRL to MGD7 and then increased, but reticulo-ruminal digesta dry matter mass did not differ between treatments. Omasal mass, omasal tissue mass, and omasum digesta mass decreased linearly with the number of days fed MGD, but abomasal tissue mass tended to increase linearly. Duodenal tissue mass tended to increase linearly, and ileal length increased linearly with the number of days fed MGD. Lactase activity in the proximal jejunum increased linearly and maltase activity in duodenum tended to increase linearly with days fed MGD. Aminopeptidase N activity in the proximal jejunum increased cubically with days fed MGD, and dipeptidylpeptidase IV activity in ileum tended to decrease from CTRL to MGD14 and then tended to increase. Adaptation to a diet with a greater proportion of concentrate involves changes in the mass and length of regions of the gastrointestinal tract and brush border enzyme activity. These changes take place gradually over at least 3 wk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at investigating Enterococcus faecium alone or E. faecium in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Lactococcus lactis during a subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) challenge. Four ruminally fistulated Holstein dairy cows were assigned to the following treatments in a 4 x 4 Latin square design: (1) control (CON); (2) E. faecium (EF); (3) EF + S. cerevisiae (EFSC); (4) EF + L. lactis DSM 11037 (EFLL). Each experimental period consisted of 18 d of adaptation to the respective direct-fed microbial, 3 d of SARA challenge, and 7 d of rest. Rumen pH was recorded every 10 min over 24 h on d 17 of adaptation, d 2 of SARA, and d 6 of rest. On the last day of adaptation, SARA, and rest, samples of rumen content (0 and 3 h after feeding) were taken for volatile fatty acids, lactate, vitamin B12, rumen microbes, and lipopolysaccharides determination. Blood samples (0 and 6 h after feeding) were taken for the measurement of acute-phase proteins. Dry matter intake and milk yield were recorded daily. During SARA, mean rumen pH with EFSC (5.94) was not different from that of EFLL (5.95) and tended to be higher than with CON (5.82) or EF (5.82). Postfeeding vitamin B12 concentrations in the rumen were greater with EFSC (134.5 ng/g) than with EF (99.6 ng/g) and tended to be greater when compared with CON (101.2 ng/g) or EFLL (104.9 ng/g). During rest, prefeed vitamin B12 was greater with EFSC (166.5 ng/g) compared with CON (132.3 ng/g). The EFSC treatment did better than EF alone on pH characteristics during adaptation and SARA and on maintenance of ruminal vitamin B12 status during SARA. Milk yield drop from d 1 to 3 of SARA was smaller with EFSC (-0.8 kg/d), EF (-0.9 kg/d), or EFLL (-0.9 kg/d) compared with CON (-7.5 kg/d). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) increases lipopolysaccharide endotoxin in the rumen, which might translocate into the systemic circulation, triggering a cascade of clinical and immunological alterations. The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical immune and metabolic responses to ruminal-derived lipopolysaccharide in nonlactating cows induced with SARA using 2 challenges, a grain-based SARA challenge (GBSC) or an alfalfa-pellet SARA challenge (APSC). Six dry, nonlactating Holstein cows were used in a 3 x 3 Latin square arrangement of treatments with 4-wk experimental cycles. All cows received the control diet containing 70% forage and 30% mixed concentrates (dry matter basis) for 3 wk. In wk 4, cows received a control diet, GBSC (38% wheat-barley pellets, 32% other mixed concentrate, and 30% forages), or APSC (45% mixed concentrate, 32% alfalfa pellets, and 23% other forages). Total plasma proteins and immunology-related proteins, acute phase proteins, blood cells, serum chemistry, mRNA gene expression of peripheral blood cell surface markers, and selected proinflammatory cytokines were evaluated. Ruminal pH was lower in both groups with induced SARA compared with a control group. Ruminal endotoxins were higher in GBSC; however, plasma endotoxin was not detected in any study group. No significant differences in feed intake, rectal temperature, white blood cell counts, or differentials were found between control and SARA challenge groups; changes in glucose, urea, Ca, and Mg were observed in SARA groups. Total plasma proteins were lower in both SARA groups, and acute phase proteins were higher in GBSC. The expression of CD14, MD2, and TLR4 mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes was not affected by SARA induction. The induction of SARA as a result of GBSC or APSC challenge was successful; however, LPS was not detected in plasma. Changes in clinical, metabolic, and inflammatory responses were not observed in the SARA-challenged cows, suggesting that, in this study, SARA was not associated with a systemic response to inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is one of the most important metabolic disorders, traditionally characterized by low rumen pH, which might be induced by an increase in the dietary proportion of grains as well as by a reduction of structural fiber. Both approaches were used in earlier published experiments in which SARA was induced by replacing part of the ration by a grain mixture or alfalfa hay by alfalfa pellets. The main differences between both experiments were the presence of blood lipopolysaccharide and Escherichia coli and associated effects on the rumen microbial population in the rumen of grain-based induced SARA animals as well as a great amount of quickly fermentable carbohydrates in the grain-based SARA induction experiment. Both induction approaches changed rumen pH although the pH decrease was more substantial in the alfalfa-based SARA induction protocol. The goal of the current analysis was to assess whether both acidosis induction approaches provoked similar shifts in the milk fatty acid (FA) profile. Similar changes of the oddand branched-chain FA and the C18 biohydrogenation intermediates were observed in the alfalfa-based SARA induction experiment and the grain-based SARA induction experiment, although they were more pronounced in the former. The proportion of trans-10 C18:1 in the last week of the alfalfa-based induction experiment was 6 times higher than the proportion measured during the control week. The main difference between both induction experiments under similar rumen pH changes was the decreasing sum of iso FA during the grain-based SARA induction experiment whereas the sum of iso FA remained stable during the alfalfa-based SARA induction experiment. The cellulolytic bacterial community seemed to be negatively affected by either the presence of E. coli and the associated lipopolysaccharide accumulation in the rumen or by the amount of starch and quickly fermentable carbohydrates in the diet. In general, changes in the milk FA profile were related to changes in rumen pH. Nevertheless, feed characteristics (low in structural fiber vs. high in starch) also affected the milk FA profile and, as such, both effects should be taken into account when subacute acidosis occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of a grain-based subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) challenge (GBSC) and an alfalfa-pellet SARA challenge (APSC) on fermentation and endotoxins in the rumen and in the cecum, as well as on endotoxins in peripheral blood, were determined. Six nonlactating Holstein cows with cannulas in the rumen and cecum were used in the study. A 3 x 3 Latin square arrangement of treatments with 4-wk experimental periods was adopted. During the first 3 wk of each experimental period, all cows received a diet containing 70% forages [dry matter (DM) basis]. In wk 4 of each period, cows received 1 of the following 3 diets: the 70% forage diet fed during wk 1 to 3 (control), a diet in which 34% of the dietary DM was replaced with grain pellets made of 50% ground wheat and 50% ground barely (GBSC), or a diet in which 37% of dietary DM was replaced with pellets of ground alfalfa (APSC). Rumen pH was monitored continuously using indwelling pH probes, and rumen fluid, blood, cecal digesta, and fecal grab samples were collected immediately before feed delivery at 0900 h and at 6 h after feed delivery on d 3 and 5 of wk 4. The time for which rumen pH was below 5.6 was 56.4, 225.2, and 298.8 min/d for the control, APSC, and GBSC treatments, respectively. Compared with the control, SARA challenges resulted in similar reductions in cecal digesta pH, which were 7.07, 6.86, and 6.79 for the control, APSC, and GBSC treatments, respectively. Compared with the control, only GBSC increased starch content in cecal digesta, which averaged 2.8, 2.6, and 7.4% of DM for the control, APSC, and GBSC, respectively. Free lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS) concentration in rumen fluid increased from 10,405 endotoxin units (EU)/mL in the control treatment to 30,715 and 168,391 EU/mL in APSC and GBSC, respectively. Additionally, GBSC increased the LPS concentration from 16,508 to 118,522 EU/g in wet cecal digesta, and from 12,832 to 93,154 EU/g in wet feces. The APSC treatment did not affect LPS concentrations in cecal digesta and feces. All concentrations of LPS in blood plasma were below the detection limit of >0.05 EU/mL of the technique used. Despite the absence of LPS in blood, only GBSC increased the concentration of LPS-binding protein in blood plasma, which averaged, 8.9, 9.5, and 12.1 mg/L for the control, APSC, and GBSC treatments, respectively. This suggests that GBSC caused translocation of LPS from the digestive tract but that LPS was detoxified before entering the peripheral blood circulation. The higher LPS concentration in cecal digesta in the GBSC compared with the APSC suggests a higher risk of LPS translocation in the large intestine in GBSC than in APSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changing the delivery of fresh feed from the morning to the evening has shown improvement in average daily gain as well as in feed:gain ratio in beef cattle. This could be due to reduced heat stress in the summer and reduced cold stress in the winter with PM feeding. However, research in a thermal neutral environment demonstrated a trend towards higher milk fat in dairy cows fed fresh total mixed ration (TMR) at 9 pm compared to cows fed at 9 am. To confirm this result, a 6 wk feeding trial with two groups of 14 lactating Holstein cows was conducted using a randomized complete block design. Cows received fresh TMR (97% DM, 18% DM CP, 36% DM NDF) at 9 am or 9 pm for ad libitum feeding allowing between 5 and 10% orts. Subcutaneous fat (back & hip) measurements were made using ultrasound at the beginning and end of the trial. Dry matter intake (24.36 kg/d), milk yield (42.9 kg/d), milk fat percentage (2.2%), milk protein percentage (3.3%), BW (645 kg), BCS (2.9) averaged across weeks and treatments were not affected by time of feed delivery. By the end of the trial, subcutaneous fat level of PM fed cows (1.53±0.35 mm) was 2 times that of AM fed cows (0.77±0.35 mm) but the treatment effect was significant only at P = 0.18. A significant effect might be found with a larger number of cows and a longer treatment duration since subcutaneous fat variation was large. The above results suggest a possible improved efficiency of energy utilization with PM feeding since the PM fed cows tended to lay down more subcutaneous fat while producing the same amount of milk fat as the AM fed cows. Milk fat percentage decreased from 2.5% to 1.7% from wk 1 to wk 6, even though the composition of the TMR was constant. The milk fat results suggest that the cows were sorting the TMR which had a high dry matter content. Also, the absence of a milk fat response to PM feeding might relate to the milk fat depression that occurred during the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of feed delivery time and its interactions with dietary concentrate inclusion and parity on milk production and on 24-h averages and patterns of feed intake and blood metabolites. Four multiparous and 4 primiparous lactating Holstein cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Experimental periods included 14 d of adaptation and 7 d of sampling. A higher concentrate diet with a forage:concentrate ratio (dry matter basis) of 38:62 or a lower-concentrate diet with a forage:concentrate ratio of 51:49 was delivered at either 0900 or 2100 h. During sampling periods, daily feed intakes, as well as feed intakes during 3-h intervals relative to feed delivery, were determined. During 2 nonconsecutive days of the sampling period, jugular blood was sampled every 2 h. Average temperature and relative humidity in the experimental facility were 20.4°C and 68.1%, and the maximum daily air temperature did not exceed 25°C. This data does not suggest that cows were heat-stressed. Changing feed delivery time from 0900 to 2100 h increased the amount of feed consumed within 3 h after feeding from 27 to 37% of total daily intake but did not affect daily dry matter intake. The cows fed at 2100 h had lower blood glucose at 2 h after feeding but greater blood lactate and 8-hydroxybutyrate acid at 2 and 4 h after feeding than cows fed at 0900 h. These effects of feed delivery time on the 24-h patterns in blood metabolites may be caused by the greater feed intake during the 3 h after feed delivery of the cows fed at 2100 h. Daily averages of glucose, urea, lactate, and β-hydroxybutyrate acid and nonesterified fatty acids in peripheral blood were not affected by time of feeding. The change in feed delivery time did not affect milk yield and milk protein but increased milk fat percentage from 2.5 to 2.9% and milk fat yield from 0.98 to 1.20 kg/d in multiparous cows, without affecting milk fat in primiparous cows. The interactions between diet and time of feeding on daily feed intake, milk production, and blood metabolites were not significant. The effects of the time of feed delivery on the 24-h patterns in blood metabolites suggest that this time may affect peripheral nutrient availability. Results of this study suggest beneficial effects of feeding at 2100 h instead of at 0900 h on milk fat production of lactating cows, but parity appears to mediate this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of chop length (shorter: 6 mm, or longer: 19 mm) of alfalfa silage and oat silage were determined in 16 mid-lactation Holstein cows, 4 of which were rumen cannulated, using areplicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with a 2 x 2 arrangement of treatments. Experimental periods were 21 d long and consisted of 14 d of adaptation and 7 d of sampling. Cows received a total mixed ration containing [dry matter (DM) basis] 42.0% barley grain-based energy supplement, 10% protein supplement, and 24% of DM longer chop or shorter chop alfalfa silage and 24% of DM longer chop or shorter chop oat silage. Rumen pH was measured continuously, and rumen liquid flow rates were determined in rumen-cannulated cows. Feeding behavior was determined by video-taping, and meal patterns were determined by continuously weighing the feed in the bunk of 8 cows. Reducing the chop length of alfalfa silage and oat silage reduced the average geometric particle length from 14.2 to 10.9 mm and from 13.4 to 10.4 mm, respectively. Reducing the alfalfa chop length did not affect feed intake, whereas reducing the oat silage chop length increased DM intake from to 19.4 to 21.2 kg/d. Reducing the chop lengths of alfalfa silage and oat silage chop length did not affect milk production, rumen fermentation, feeding behavior, meal patterns, and blood metabolites. Daily milk yield, milk fat percentage, and milk protein percentage averaged 36.1 kg/d, 3.00%, and 3.16%, respectively, across diets. The low milk fat percentages suggest that the diets induced subacute ruminal acidosis. This was also substantiated by the rumen pH, which was below 5.6 for more than 122 min/d for all diets. The onset of subacute ruminal acidosis despite apparently adequate dietary neutral detergent fiber content and particle size distribution as well as the long duration of chewing might be attributed to sorting against long feed particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of chop length (shorter = 10 mm or longer = 19 mm) of alfalfa silage and corn silage were determined in 16 midlactation Holstein cows using a 4 x 4 Latin square design with a 2 x 2 arrangement of treatments. Experimental periods were 21 d long and consisted of 14 d of adaptation and 7 d of sampling. Cows received total mixed ration containing (dry matter basis) 44.0% barley grain-based energy supplement, 12.6% protein supplement, and 21.7% longer chop or shorter chop alfalfa silage and 21.7% longer chop or shorter chop corn silage. Reducing the chop length of alfalfa silage and corn silage reduced the average geometric particle length from 14.4 to 11.0 mm and from 14.2 to 10.4 mm, respectively. Reducing the chop length of both silages reduced the proportion of the diets retained by the 8-and 19-mm screen of the Penn State Particle Separator from 55.0 to 46.0% of dry matter. Reducing the alfalfa chop length increased total rumen volatile fatty acids at 4 to 5 h after feeding but did not affect rumen pH at 4 to 5 h after feeding, feed intake, and milk production. Reducing the corn silage chop length increased dry matter intake from 22.3 to 23.2 kg/d, increased rumen pH at 4 to 5 h after feeding from 6.12 to 6.20, but did not alter rumen volatile fatty acids at 4 to 5 h after feeding or milk production. Daily milk yield, milk fat percentage, and milk protein percentage averaged 38.2 kg/d, 2.62%, and 3.29%, respectively, across all diets. The low milk fat percentages suggest that all diets induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), whereas the rumen pH did not indicate SARA. This discrepancy could be due to a difference in the time of rumen pH measurement and the time of the lowest rumen pH. Hence, the pH data need to be interpreted with caution. Diets could have induced SARA, because for all experimental diets the content of forage neutral detergent fiber was lower than recommended for barley grain-based diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crucial role of rumen and hindgut microbiomes in intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases is emerging. Both rumen and hindgut microbiomes have been shown to impact host physiology, metabolism, and immune function and to confer direct and indirect (immune-mediated) resistance against enteric pathogens. Disruption of rumen and hindgut microbiomes or dysbiosis - which is referred to as an abnormal balance of beneficial and protective versus opportunistic members of microbiota - have been linked to a number of metabolic disorders that occur around early to mid-lactation periods, such as acute and subacute ruminal acidosis, milk fat depression, and bloat. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome impacts the profile of microbially-driven metabolites and compounds produced by the microbiota. These molecules influence the metabolic and immunological capacities of the host both within and outside of the gut, e.g. through the enterohepatic pathway or the gut-brain axis, which retroactively impacts the diversity and behaviour of the microbiome in the digestive tract, and also potentially influences the microbiomes of other body sites, such as vaginal tract or mammary gland resulting in initiation or progression of infectious or inflammatory diseases in those systems, e.g. mastitis. The research by our group and others shows that interactions among commensal members inhabiting different ecological niches of the udder (i.e. teat apex, teat canal, and milk) are crucial for shaping the composition and functional properties of the mammary gland microbiome, and potentially govern the susceptibility of dairy cows to infectious mastitis. Similarly, a healthy vaginal microbiome has a key role in improving ruminants' reproductive performance and preventing infectious diseases. It is thus speculated that nutritional and physiological stressors at early lactation, which are one of the significant underpinnings of the microbiome-gut-brain axis, not only impact the diversity and behavior of the gastrointestinal tract microbiome but also the vaginal and mammary gland microbiomes and thus susceptibility to infectious diseases. In this presentation, I will review the role of rumen and hindgut microbiomes in the context of their association with vaginal tract and mammary microbiomes in dairy cows subjected to subacute ruminal acidosis during early lactation. I will also highlight the pressing need for development of synthetic microbial communities to improve gut, mammary and vaginal health and production efficiency of ruminant animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]