Natural tree shade increases milk stability of lactating dairy cows during the summer in the subtropics

Abstract This research communication addresses the hypothesis that, during the summer in the subtropics, natural tree shade helps to improve milk functional characteristics such as stability and acidity. Sixteen Holstein lactating cows were enrolled. The study consisted of three periods (pre-stress, heat stress and post-stress) based on allocating grazing cows into two treatments (with and without access to shade during the Heat Stress period). Overall THI during the trial was (mean ± se) 76.0 ± 3.4. Access to shade prevented the heat stress-related decrease in milk stability both in the ethanol and in the coagulation time test, as well as maintained milk acidity within an acceptable range (14 to 18°D).

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Characterization of Short-Term Heat Stress in Holstein Dairy Cows Using Altered Indicators of Metabolomics, Blood Parameters, Milk MicroRNA-216 and Characteristics

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11030722 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 722

Author(s):

Jang-Hoon Jo ◽

Jalil Ghassemi Nejad ◽

Dong-Qiao Peng ◽

Hye-Ran Kim ◽

Sang-Ho Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Blood Parameters ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Lactating Cows ◽

Humidity Index ◽

Holstein Dairy Cows

This study aims to characterize the influence of short-term heat stress (HS; 4 day) in early lactating Holstein dairy cows, in terms of triggering blood metabolomics and parameters, milk yield and composition, and milk microRNA expression. Eight cows (milk yield = 30 ± 1.5 kg/day, parity = 1.09 ± 0.05) were homogeneously housed in environmentally controlled chambers, assigned into two groups with respect to the temperature humidity index (THI) at two distinct levels: approximately ~71 (low-temperature, low-humidity; LTLH) and ~86 (high-temperature, high-humidity; HTHH). Average feed intake (FI) dropped about 10 kg in the HTHH group, compared with the LTLH group (p = 0.001), whereas water intake was only numerically higher (p = 0.183) in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Physiological parameters, including rectal temperature (p = 0.001) and heart rate (p = 0.038), were significantly higher in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Plasma cortisol and haptoglobin were higher (p < 0.05) in the HTHH group, compared to the LTLH group. Milk yield, milk fat yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM), and energy-corrected milk (ECM) were lower (p < 0.05) in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Higher relative expression of milk miRNA-216 was observed in the HTHH group (p < 0.05). Valine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, lactic acid, 3-phenylpropionic acid, 1,5-anhydro-D-sorbitol, myo-inositol, and urea were decreased (p < 0.05). These results suggest that early lactating cows are more vulnerable to short-term (4 day) high THI levels—that is, HTHH conditions—compared with LTLH, considering the enormous negative effects observed in measured blood metabolomics and parameters, milk yield and compositions, and milk miRNA-216 expression.

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Fertility and hormonal responses to temporary relief of heat stress in lactating dairy cows

Theriogenology ◽

10.1016/s0093-691x(88)80026-8 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 1027-1035 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

M.E. Wise ◽

R.E. Rodriguez ◽

D.V. Armstrong ◽

J.T. Huber ◽

F. Wiersma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Hormonal Responses ◽

Temporary Relief ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

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Evaluation of Precision Xceed® for on-site monitoring of blood ß-hydroxybutyric acid and glucose in dairy cows

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society ◽

10.12681/jhvms.14839 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 109 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

N. PANOUSIS (Ν. ΠΑΝΟΥΣΗΣ) ◽

M. KRITSEPI (Μ. ΚΡΙΤΣΕΠΗ) ◽

I. KARAGIANNIS (Ι. ΚΑΡΑΓΙΑΝΝΗΣ) ◽

E. KALAITZAKIS (ΕΜ. ΚΑΛΑΪΤΖΑΚΗΣ) ◽

E. LAFI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

False Negative ◽

Laboratory Method ◽

Hydroxybutyric Acid ◽

Subclinical Ketosis ◽

Lactating Cows ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows ◽

Site Monitoring ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Positive Correlations

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of the Precision Xceed® hand-held meter as an on-site method for determining blood ß-hydroxyboutyric acid (BHBA) and glucose concentrations, for the diagnosis of subclinical ketosis in dry and lactating dairy cows. A total of 163 clinically healthy Holstein cows (113 lactating, 8-50 days-in-milk; and 50 dry, 10-40 days pre-partum) from 5 farms located around Thessaloniki region, were blood-sampled once, from the jugular vein of each animal, 5 to 8 hours after the start of morning feeding. BHBA was determined in all 163 cows, whereas glucose only in 114 cows (50 dry and 64 lactating cows). These analyses were performed, for each cow, by both laboratory method (in serum) and Precision Xceed® meter (in whole blood, cowside). Using laboratory serum BHBA concentrations > 1.2 mmol/L as the cut-off point, 11/163 (6.7%) of the tested cows were considered as subclinically ketotic, whereas raising the cut-off to > 1.4 mmol/L, 9/163 (5.5%) cows had subclinical ketosis. All these cows (11 and 9, respectively) were lactating. None of the dry cows had subclinical ketosis at BHBA cut-off of > 1.4 mmol/L. One out of the 50 dry cows (2%) and 15/113 (13.3%) lactating cows sampled were classified as subclinically ketotic when the Precision Xceed® meter was set at BHBA concentrations > 1.2 mmol/L. Overall, mean BHBA and glucose concentrations were not statistically different (P>0.05) between the two methods. Significant positive correlations were found for BHBA (strong correlation: r=0.99; n=163; P<0.01) and glucose (moderate correlation: r=0.63; n=114; P<0.01) concentrations between Precision Xceed® and laboratory results. Precision Xceed® is less accurate for measuring glucose (glucometer) compared to BHBA (ketometer). The low percentage of false positive (<0.6%) and false negative (<4%) indicating that the Precision Xceed® meter is an accurate screening test and its results are highly reliable under field conditions. Precision Xceed® meter was highly sensitive (90.9%) and specific (96.05%) at cut off point of BHBA concentrations > 1.2 mmol/L and it had excellent test agreement for detection of subclinical ketosis when using a threshold of blood BHBA > 1.4 mmol/L.

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The role of the mammary gland during heat stress

10.32469/10355/72201 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Ricardo Oliveira Rodrigues

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Heat Stress ◽

Mammary Gland ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Prolonged Exposure ◽

Transcriptional Profiling ◽

Mammary Tissue ◽

Secretory Cells ◽

University Of Missouri ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Disruptive effects of climate change, such as increasing environmental temperature, have direct impacts on economic viability and efficiency of food production. In lactating dairy cows, heat stress reduces milk production and alters function of mammary secretory cells, at least partly by disturbing local protein metabolism. We hypothesized that hyperthermia would not only reduce mammary blood flow but would also reduce mammary extraction of nutrients from blood. In addition, we hypothesized that transcriptional profiling of mammary tissue would reveal disruption of cellular homeostasis. Our objective was to determine the effects of hyperthermia on mammary function. More specifically, we aimed to profile mammary blood flow and the changes in mammary transcriptome of heat-stressed lactating dairy cows. We investigated the effects of early and prolonged exposure of lactating dairy cows to hyperthermia by exposing cows to programmed constantly elevated temperature and humidity to induce and maintain body temperature approximately 1[degree]C above normal. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the production responses of hyperthermic lactating dairy cows, to characterize total and nutritive mammary blood flow, and to elucidate the regulation of mammary function during early and prolonged exposure to hyperthermia. Results from these studies established that 1) hyperthermia reduces total and nutritive mammary blood flow, limiting nutrient disappearance across the mammary gland; 2) hyperthermia does not induce shunting of blood away from the gland; 3) hyperthermia affects mammary tissue transcriptome, mainly altering processes associated with ECM and cell adhesion; 4) the effects of exposure to prolonged heat stress on mammary gene expression are distinct from the effects of feed restriction, in lactating dairy cows; and 5) mammary function is reestablished within 8 days after cessation of heat stress.

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Daily rumination time of lactating dairy cows under heat stress conditions

Journal of Thermal Biology ◽

10.1016/j.jtherbio.2019.102484 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 88 ◽

pp. 102484 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Theresa Müschner-Siemens ◽

Gundula Hoffmann ◽

Christian Ammon ◽

Thomas Amon

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Stress Conditions ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

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Improving reproductive performance in lactating dairy cows by synchronising ovulation or inducing oestrus

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica ◽

10.1556/avet.50.2002.2.12 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 231-234 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Gy. Gábor ◽

J. P. Kastelic ◽

S. Pintér ◽

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Fixed Time ◽

Pregnancy Rates ◽

Preliminary Trial ◽

Lactating Cows ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows ◽

Considerable Promise ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Prostaglandin F

Lactating crossbred Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (n = 331) were started on an Ovsynch regimen 68 ± 8.2 days after calving; 200 µg GnRH intramuscularly (i.m.) on Days 0 and 9, and 35 mg prostaglandin F2a i.m. on Day 7. Thirty-eight and 31 cows (11.5 and 9.4%, respectively) were in oestrus on Days 0 to 6 and 7 to 8, respectively, and inseminated, and the remainder were fixed-time inseminated (on Day 10). For these three groups, pregnancy rates (60-65 days after breeding) were 31.6, 38.7 and 34.0%, respectively (P = 0.82) and calving rates were 100, 100 and 89.9% (P = 0.23). In a preliminary trial, twelve lactating cows (45 to 60 days postpartum) with inactive ovaries were given 1500 IU eCG i.m.; 10 were in oestrus within 10 days after treatment (and inseminated) and eight of these were pregnant (30 days after breeding). The Ovsynch program resulted in acceptable reproductive performance in cyclic cows and eCG treatment has considerable promise for inducing oestrus in anoestrous cows.

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Effect of Heat Stress on Bacterial Composition and Metabolism in the Rumen of Lactating Dairy Cows

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9110925 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 925

Author(s):

Zhao ◽

Min ◽

Zheng ◽

Wang

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Production ◽

Dry Matter ◽

16S Rrna Genes ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Rrna Genes ◽

Bacterial Composition ◽

Rumen Ph ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

Heat stress negatively impacts the health and milk production of dairy cows, and ruminal microbial populations play an important role in dairy cattle’s milk production. Currently there are no available studies that investigate heat stress-associated changes in the rumen microbiome of lactating dairy cattle. Improved understanding of the link between heat stress and the ruminal microbiome may be beneficial in developing strategies for relieving the influence of heat stress on ruminants by manipulating ruminal microbial composition. In this study, we investigated the ruminal bacterial composition and metabolites in heat stressed and non-heat stressed dairy cows. Eighteen lactating dairy cows were divided into two treatment groups, one with heat stress and one without heat stress. Dry matter intake was measured and rumen fluid from all cows in both groups was collected. The bacterial 16S rRNA genes in the ruminal fluid were sequenced, and the rumen pH and the lactate and acetate of the bacterial metabolites were quantified. Heat stress was associated with significantly decreased dry matter intake and milk production. Rumen pH and rumen acetate concentrations were significantly decreased in the heat stressed group, while ruminal lactate concentration increased. The influence of heat stress on the microbial bacterial community structure was minor. However, heat stress was associated with an increase in lactate producing bacteria (e.g., Streptococcus and unclassified Enterobacteriaceae), and with an increase in Ruminobacter, Treponema, and unclassified Bacteroidaceae, all of which utilize soluble carbohydrates as an energy source. The relative abundance of acetate-producing bacterium Acetobacter decreased during heat stress. We concluded that heat stress is associated with changes in ruminal bacterial composition and metabolites, with more lactate and less acetate-producing species in the population, which potentially negatively affects milk production.

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Feeding diets with fodder beet decreased methane emissions from dry and lactating dairy cows in grazing systems

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an16441 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 57 (7) ◽

pp. 1445 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Arjan Jonker ◽

David Scobie ◽

Robyn Dynes ◽

Grant Edwards ◽

Cecile De Klein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Production ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Pastoral Systems ◽

Hordeum Vulgare L ◽

Fodder Beet ◽

Ch4 Emissions ◽

Lactating Cows ◽

Carbohydrate Concentration ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

Fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) has a very high readily fermentable carbohydrate concentration, which could affect rumen fermentation and reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions. The objective of the current study was to estimate CH4 emissions from dry dairy cows grazing either fodder beet supplemented with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-dominated pasture silage (6 kg DM/cow/day; FB+Sil) or forage kale (Brassica oleracea L.) supplemented with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw (3 kg DM/cow/day; kale+Str; dry cows, Experiment 1), and from dairy cows in early lactation grazing perennial ryegrass-dominated pasture alone (pasture) or supplemented with fodder beet bulbs (3 kg DM/cow/day; past+FB; lactating cows; Experiment 2). Methane measurements were performed using GreenFeed units (C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA) for 40 days in August–September 2015 (Experiment 1) and for 22 days in November–December 2015 (Experiment 2), from 45 and 31 Holstein–Friesian × Jersey dairy cows in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Dry cows grazing FB+Sil in Experiment 1 produced 18% less CH4 (g/day) and had 28% lower CH4 yield (g/kg DM intake; P < 0.001) than did cows grazing kale+Str. Lactating cows grazing past+FB in Experiment 2 produced 18% less CH4 and had 16% lower CH4 intensity (g/kg fat and protein-corrected milk production; P < 0.01) than did cows grazing pasture alone, while milk production and composition were similar for the two groups. In conclusion, feeding fodder beet at ~50% and 20% of the diet of dry and lactating dairy cows in pastoral systems can mitigate CH4 emissions.

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