Effects of feeding magnesium sulfate to dry pregnant dairy cows with different body condition scores on intake in late gestation, periparturient blood calcium concentrations and production in early lactation

An experiment was conducted to investigate the interaction between the responses of cows fed magnesium sulfate during late gestation and body condition score (BCS). Cows were fed a total mixed ration before calving and a pasture-based diet in early lactation. Seventy-two cows were fed differentially to achieve target BCS, on an 8-point scale, of about 4, 5 and 6 units, 1 month before calving. Cows were individually fed a total mixed ration of maize silage, crushed barley, canola meal and barley straw at about 1.6 kg dry matter (DM)/100 kg liveweight during the 27 days, on average, before parturition. In each BCS treatment, half the cows were fed 105–155 g magnesium sulfate (depending on liveweight) in the last 3 weeks while the remaining cows were provided with 18–27 g magnesium oxide, maintaining similar levels of magnesium in both diets.The dietary cation–anion difference of the control and magnesium sulfate diets averaged +5.1 and –5.5�cmol(+)/kg, respectively, while urine pH values were 6.4 and 5.4, respectively. The cows fed the control diet, on average, calved in better condition (P<0.05) than those fed magnesium sulfate (BCS at calving were 5.1 and 4.7 units for the control and the magnesium sulfate treatments, respectively). The feed intake of cows that did not receive magnesium sulfate was maintained until the day before calving whereas the feed intake of cows fed magnesium sulfate declined sharply from about a week before calving, and was always lower (P<0.05) than the control group. During the 4 weeks before parturition, the cows in the medium BCS group generally consumed more DM than did those in the other 2 BCS treatments (8.9 v. 7.4 and 8.2 kg DM/cow.day; P<0.05). During the 2 days before calving, all cows had similar intakes (7.7 kg DM/cow.day; P>0.05). The control diet resulted in lower concentrations of total blood serum calcium but only immediately after calving (1.90 v. 2.02 mmol/L; P<0.05). The production data indicated that magnesium sulfate had no effect (P>0.05) on either milk yield or milk composition even though the use of magnesium sulfate reduced the incidence of subclinical hypocalcaemia from 64 to 46%. However, there was a positive relationship between BCS at calving and milk fat concentration (P<0.05). There were no significant (P>0.05) interactions between dietary additives and the BCS of the cows. In conclusion, the use of magnesium sulfate resulted in the relative maintenance of blood calcium concentrations, reducing the incidence of subclinical hypocalcaemia at calving, while having a negative effect on intake before calving. However, these effects were not translated into benefits in animal production.

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27 Defining a robust sow: swine nutrition perspective on reproduction and lactation

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz122.023 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 13-13

Author(s):

Joel M DeRouchey ◽

Mike D Tokach ◽

Robert D Goodband ◽

Jason C Woodworth ◽

Steve S Dritz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Milk Production ◽

Body Condition ◽

Fetal Growth ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Energy Requirement ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Mammary Development ◽

Late Gestation ◽

Embryo Survival

Abstract Improvements in modern sow prolificacy have markedly increased the number of pigs weaned, thus the ability of sows to provide nutrients to support fetal growth and milk production has been enhanced. The goals of the gestation nutrition program consist of meeting the nutrient requirements for maintenance and growth and for adequate conceptus development, while managing body condition. Early gestation represents the best opportunity for replenishing body reserves, whereas in late gestation, both estimated protein deposition and energy requirement are exponentially increased and directed towards fetal growth and mammary development. Increased feed intake after breeding has been presumed to be detrimental to embryo survival; however, data with modern line sows demonstrates to feed thin sows to recover body condition as quickly as possible while avoiding feed deprivation immediately after breeding. Importance of body condition scoring remains unchanged: feed thin sows to bring back to adequate body condition and prevent over-conditioned sows at farrowing. A recent meta-analysis showed increasing late gestation feed intake seems to modestly improve piglet birth weight by 28 g per piglet in gilts and sows. Also, recent findings in gestating sows suggest modern genotypes have improved feed efficiency and propensity for growth. Therefore, increasing energy intake during late gestation has a modest effect on piglet birth weight and a negative effect on stillborn rate. Historically, lactation catabolism impacted subsequent reproductive performance of sows, particularly in first-parity. However, contemporary sows appear to be increasingly resistant to the negative effects of lactational catabolism. Even so, continued emphasis on maximizing lactation feed intake is critical to support milk production and prevent excessive lean tissue mobilization. Research data suggests that ad libitum feeding and offering lactation diets during the wean-to-estrus interval is not needed. Modern genetic sow lines appear to be more robust from a nutritional perspective than in the past.

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Effects of late-gestation heat stress independent of reduced feed intake on colostrum, metabolism at calving, and milk yield in early lactation of dairy cows

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2020-19115 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

S.M.M. Seyed Almoosavi ◽

T. Ghoorchi ◽

A.A. Naserian ◽

H. Khanaki ◽

J.K. Drackley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Late Gestation ◽

Early Lactation

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Effect of Supplementing TMR Diets with Artificial Saliva and Acid Buf on Optimizing Ruminal pH and Fermentation Activity in Cows

Annals of Animal Science ◽

10.2478/aoas-2014-0043 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 585-593 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Krzysztof Bilik ◽

Juliusz Strzetelski ◽

Iwona Furgał-Dierżuk ◽

Bogdan Śliwiński

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Artificial Saliva ◽

Control Diet ◽

Chemical Compounds ◽

Barley Straw ◽

Experimental Diet ◽

N Content ◽

Total Mixed Ration ◽

Concentrate Mixture

AbstractThe objective of the study was to determine the effect of adding buffering agents to a total mixed ration (TMR) on the pH and on the VFA, lactic acid and NH3-N content of rumen fluid. The experiment was carried out with three nonproductive cows fitted with permanent rumen fistulas in a 3×3 Latin square design with two stages differing in the amount of added buffer (50 g/day in stage I or 100 g/day in stage II). The control diet (C) contained no buffering agent. The AB experimental diet was supplemented with Acid Buf (Noack Polen Ltd.) containing calcium carbonate, major and trace elements, and the AS experimental diet was supplemented with our own produced artificial saliva powder containing a mixture of chemical compounds (NaHCO3, KCl, CaCl2, Na2HO4·12H2O, NaCl, MgSO4·7H2O) in the appropriate proportions (McDougall, 1948), combined with wheat bran at a 1:1 ratio. The preparations were added to the concentrate mixture in TMR which contained (% DM): maize silage, 29.9; wilted grass silage, 17.4; ensiled brewers’ grains, 2.4; barley straw, 10.3; and concentrate mixture, 40.0. Samples of rumen fluid collected before feeding (0 h) and after feeding (2, 4, 6 and 8 h) were analysed for pH, and the samples collected 4 h postprandial were analysed for VFA, lactic acid and NH3-N. The artificial saliva added at 100 g/day to the mixture of chemical compounds (without a carrier) contributed to a significant (P≤0.01) increase in rumen fluid pH at 4 h compared to cows receiving diets C and AB. In both stages of the experiment, cows receiving the buffering agents tended to achieve higher pH values in the other hours of the test compared to group C. In the collected samples of rumen fluid, no significant (P>0.05) differences were observed among the cows in VFA and total VFA, in C2/C3 and C3/C4 acid ratios, and in NH3-N content. Neither did the type and amount of buffers had a significant effect on the percentage ratios of selected fatty acids (acetic, propionic and butyric) in total VFA. No presence of lactic acid was detected in the analysed samples of rumen fluid. It can be stated that when the total mixed ration is properly balanced, the type and amount of buffers have no significant effect on changes in the rumen fermentation activity of cows.

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365 Effect of feeding a blend of short, medium, and long chain fatty acids and triglycerides to lactating sows on piglet growth, feed intake, and survivability to weaning

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz122.269 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 152-153

Author(s):

Larissa Becker ◽

Nick Knute ◽

Mahfuz Abdullah ◽

Mohan Dasari ◽

Chad W Hastad

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Body Condition ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Control Diet ◽

Long Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Weaning Weight ◽

Piglet Growth ◽

Oil Blend ◽

Long Chain ◽

Chain Fatty Acids

Abstract Dietary fat may impact energy intake and palatability of feed, and influence energy storage. The objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that including a blend of short, medium, and long chain fatty acids and triglycerides (R2 Feed Energy, Pleasant Hill, IA) in lactation diets will reduce pre-weaning mortality and increase litter weaning weight. On day 114 of gestation, dietary treatments were initiated: 1) Negative control diet and 3.2% of an all-vegetable oil blend, (Trt B); 2) Control diet with replacement of oil blend with 3.2% proprietary blend of short, medium, and long chain fatty acids and triglycerides (Trt R). Sows (n = 207; L02 Cross; PIC, Hendersonville, TN) were allotted to treatment based on body condition and parity. There were 88 parity 0 and 1 sows: 45 on TRT R and 43 on TRT B, and 119 parity 2 to 6 sows: 59 on TRT R and 60 on TRT B. Average sow parity was 2.85. Sows received 1.56 kg of their assigned diet twice per day prior to farrowing. After farrowing, sows were fed ad libitum with free access to water. Data on sow ADFI, litter weaning weight, and number of piglets weaned per sow were evaluated using PROC MIXED (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Compared with B, sows fed R consumed more feed (6.44 vs. 5.90 kg/d; P < 0.025). There was no difference in weaning weight (6.1 vs. 5.9kg; P > 0.10) or number weaned per litter (11.44 vs. 11.28; P > 0.10), for treatments R and B, respectively. There was no difference in sow body condition score after weaning (2.07 vs. 1.93; P = 0.18) for treatments R and B, respectively. The addition of R2 to sow lactation diets improved sow feed intake, but not piglet growth or number weaned.

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Effect of Increasing Dietary Aminoacid Concentration in Late Gestation on Body Condition and Reproductive Performance of Hyperprolific Sows

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10010099 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 99

Author(s):

Senén Seoane ◽

Pasquale De Palo ◽

José Manuel Lorenzo ◽

Aristide Maggiolino ◽

Pablo González ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Control Diet ◽

The Body ◽

Late Gestation ◽

Dietary Amino Acid ◽

Ideal Protein ◽

Performance Results ◽

Standardized Ileal Digestible Lysine ◽

The Ideal

A total of 62 highly prolific Danbred sows was used to evaluate the implications of increasing dietary amino acid (AA) concentration during late gestation (from day 77 to 107 of pregnancy) on body condition and reproductive performances. Sows were assigned to one of the two treatments (n = 31, with similar number of sows in the second-, third- and fourth-cycle); control diet (containing 6 g of standardized ileal digestible lysine -SID Lys-)/kg) and high AA level (containing 10 g SID Lys/kg and following the ideal protein concept for the remaining essential AA). On day 108 of pregnancy, animals were moved to the farrowing-lactating facilities where they spent until weaning receiving a common standard lactation diet. After farrowing, litters were standardized to 13 piglets each. At 107 d of gestation, backfat depth was thicker in sows fed high AA concentration than in those fed control diet (p < 0.0001) but these significant differences disappeared at weaning (p > 0.05). Additionally, at farrowing, the litter size (p = 0.043) and weight (p = 0.017) were higher in sows fed high AA level. It can be concluded that the increase in the AA content in the feed during the last month of gestation could improve the body condition of the sows and their performance results.

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Increasing metabolisable energy and protein supplementation to stimulate the subsequent milk production during late gestation by increasing proliferation and reducing apoptosis in goat mammary gland prepartum

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an17876 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 59 (10) ◽

pp. 1820

Author(s):

F. Shabrandi ◽

E. Dirandeh ◽

Z. Ansari-Pirsaraei ◽

A. Teimouri-Yansari

Keyword(s):

Mammary Gland ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Milk Production ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Late Gestation ◽

Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

Metabolisable Energy ◽

Igfbp 3

In total, 32 pregnant goats were assigned randomly to four diets fed from Day 100 of pregnancy to Day 30 after parturition, to determine the effects of metabolisable energy (ME) and metabolisable protein (MP) supplementation levels on feed intake, subsequent colostrum and milk production and expression of genes regulating mammary-cell proliferation and apoptosis. Diets were as follows: (1) diet with ME and MP provided according to NRC recommendations (control), (2) diet with extra 10% ME, (3) diet with extra 10% MP, and (4) diet 1 with 10% extra of both ME and MP. Mammary biopsies were obtained from each udder half 24 h after parturition. Feed intake (g/day), and colostrum (kg/day) and milk (kg/month) production increased when the extra ME and MP were provided together prepartum and in early lactation (P < 0.05). Relative mRNA expressions significantly increased in the mammary gland of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, 4.3-fold), IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R, 3.6-fold) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2, 4.6-fold), whereas insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3, 3.2-fold), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax, 16.7-fold) and the ratio of Bax:Bcl-2 expressions significantly decreased (69.8-fold) with increased ME and MP levels fed in late gestation. In conclusion, colostrum production and milk yield in the early lactation period are sensitive to nutrient supply during gestation, where increased dietary ME as well as MP supplementation levels during late gestation will favour mammary development, by increasing expression of genes stimulating cellular proliferation (IGF-1, IGF-1R, Bcl-2) and reduced those stimulating apoptosis (IGFBP-3, Bax).

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Effects of body condition and diet in late gestation on the subsequent health and performance of dairy cows

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea05198 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 47 (5) ◽

pp. 495 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

C. R. Stockdale

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Body Condition ◽

Serum Calcium ◽

Late Gestation ◽

Urine Ph ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

Milk Fever ◽

And Performance ◽

Cow Health ◽

Subclinical Hypocalcaemia

The objective of the experiment reported here was to compare the effects of a total mixed ration (TMR) with a pasture hay diet on the healthy transition from late gestation to early lactation of dairy cows with different body condition scores [BCS; 4.2 (thin) and 5.8 (fat) units on an 8-point scale]. It was hypothesised that providing the dietary cation-anion differences (DCAD) of the two diets were similar, more clinical and subclinical hypocalcaemia would be recorded in fat cows than in thin cows, and that this would not be affected by type of diet. The design of the experiment included 72 cows in a 2 × 2 factorial (two BCS × two types of diet fed for the 4 weeks before expected calving date) where cows were fed individually indoors before calving, and grazed pasture and fed concentrates after calving. The calculated DCAD of the two diets were similar (22.1 v. 18.4 meq/100 g DM for the hay and TMR diets) as were the precalving urine pH levels (7.73 and 7.74) of the cows. Intakes of hay and TMR during late gestation were on average 8.8 and 9.3 kg DM/cow.day, respectively, but the patterns of intake varied, with hay intake declining over the 3 weeks before calving and that of TMR remaining relatively constant until just before parturition. Cows fed hay had higher (P < 0.05) non-esterified fatty acid (0.90 v. 0.64 mmol/L), β-hydroxybutyrate (0.61 v. 0.43 mmol/L) and calcium (2.50 v. 2.24 mmol/L) concentrations, and lower (P < 0.05) glucose (3.03 v. 3.21 mmol/L) concentrations, than the cows fed the TMR before calving. Immediately after calving, most of these differences had disappeared. Average blood serum calcium concentrations within 12 h of calving were similar (P > 0.05) in cows fed each diet (1.94 and 1.79 mmol/L for hay and TMR, respectively). At calving, concentrations of serum calcium and urea were greater (P < 0.05) in the thin cows than the fat cows. Only fat cows had clinical hypocalcaemia (serum calcium concentrations <1.40 mmol/L) or needed to be treated for milk fever either at calving or in the week following calving, whereas there tended to be more thin cows with subclinical hypocalcaemia (serum calcium concentrations of 1.40–2.00 mmol/L). Subclinical ketosis (serum β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations of 1.00–3.00 mmol/L) was more prevalent in fat cows than in thin cows; otherwise health disorders were evenly spread across treatments. In the first 5 weeks of lactation, there were no significant (P > 0.05) effects of late gestation diet on any aspect of production. In contrast, there were positive (P < 0.05) effects of BCS on milk yield and concentrations of fat and protein in milk. The hypothesis concerning the amount and severity of hypocalcaemia in fat cows was only partially supported by the results, but type of diet had no effects on cow health or subsequent production.

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Responses of Vaginal Microbiota to Dietary Supplementation with Lysozyme and its Relationship with Rectal Microbiota and Sow Performance from Late Gestation to Early Lactation

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11030593 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 593

Author(s):

Shengyu Xu ◽

Yanpeng Dong ◽

Jiankai Shi ◽

Zimei Li ◽

Lianqiang Che ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Performance ◽

Control Diet ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽

Interleukin 10 ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Vaginal Microbiota ◽

Late Gestation ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Early Lactation

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary lysozyme (LZM) supplementation on the vaginal microbiota, as well as the relationship between vaginal microbiota and the fecal microbiota of rectum and the reproductive performance of the sow. A total of 60 Yorkshire × Landrace sows (3–6 of parity) were arranged from day 85 of gestation to the end of lactation in a completely randomized design with three treatments (control diet, control diet + lysozyme 150 mg/kg, control diet + lysozyme 300 mg/kg). The results showed that sows fed with lysozyme increased serum interleukin-10 (IL-10, p < 0.05) on day 7 of lactation. The vaginal microbiota varied at different taxonomic levels with LZM supplementation by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The most representative changes included a decrease in Tenericutes, Streptococcus, Bacillus and increase in Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Enterococcus, and Lactobacillus (p < 0.05). There were 777 OTUs existing in both, vaginal and fecal microbiota. The addition of LZM also decreased the abundance of Tenericutes (p < 0.05) in the vagina and feces. The changes in the microbiota were correlated in some cases positively with the performance of the sow, for example, Bacillus in feces was positively correlated with the neonatal weight (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the addition of lysozyme to the diet of sow during perinatal period promote the change of vaginal bacterial community after farrowing. The variations in vaginal microbiota are also associated with the changes in the fecal microbiology of the rectum and the reproductive performance of the sow. Therefore, it is concluded that dietary supplementation with lysozyme in sows in late gestation stage until early lactation, is beneficial to establish vaginal microbiota that seems to promote maternal health and reproductive performance.

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Effect of feeding level in late pregnancy and early lactation and fibre level in mid lactation on body mass, milk production and quality in Awassi ewes

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800050268 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 68 (1) ◽

pp. 231-241 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. V. Goodchild ◽

A. I. El-Awad ◽

O. Gürsoy

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Body Condition ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Low Cost ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Period Change ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Barley Straw ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Body Reserves

AbstractIn west Asia, it is traditional for sheep to gain body condition when low-cost native pastures are available and to mobilize reserves thus built up at other times. With diminishing shares of native pasture, crop by-products and food grains are increasing in sheep diets, and facilitate feeding for constant body condition.In a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment, 48 Awassi ewes were individually fed indoors, nursed single lambs for 42 days, and were hand-milked from day 29 after lambing. Dietary treatments were imposed at different times: level of feeding (i) in the last 24 days of pregnancy (Lconstv. Lmob), (ii) in days 18 to 60 after lambing (Lconstv. Lmob), and (iii) level of fibre in days 60 to 102 after lambing (Fhighv. Flow). RationsPconst, Lconst, Flowand Fhighwere calculated to maintain body condition. Fhighprovided the calculated maximum ingestible quantity of barley straw and Flowprovided 0·08 kg barley straw per kg diet. Live weights (M) of ewes and lambs, milk yield and milk quality were recorded.WithPconst, andPmob(0·51 and 0·33 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per kg M0.75per day), M gains were 140 and 23 g/day (P< 0·001). Lamb birth mass and subsequent maternal milk yield were not affected. WithLconstandLmob(0·81 and 0·61 MJ ME per kg M0.75 per day), M changes were -28 and -70 g/day (P< 0·001) and milk yields (calculated in part from lamb growth) were 1042 and 892 g/day (P < 0·01). Fhighand Flow(385 and 170 g acid-detergent fibre per kg dry matter) were compared in a two-period change-over design experiment. Milk yields were similar (414 and 427 g/day), milk fat concentrations were 64·8 and 72·9 g/kg (P < 0·001) and milk fat yields were 26·5 and 31·1 g/day (P < 0·001) but solids-not-fat and protein yields were not affected.There were benefits and costs in manipulating body reserves in Awassi sheep. M at lambing affects milk yield and body condition around mating is known to improve lambing rate. The existence of body reserves also allows body condition to be lost in late pregnancy and early lactation without affecting health or apparent welfare, which simplifies management of pregnant ewes, permits feeding of milk-fat-increasing high-fibre diets but the ME to maintain increased body reserves must not be ignored.

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