The effects of maternal supplementation of selenium and iodine via slow-release blouses in late pregnancy on milk production of goats and performance of their kids

SUMMARY1. Scottish Half-bred ewes carrying twin foetuses were fed individually to make live-weight gains in the last six weeks of pregnancy of (1) 20%, (2) 10% and (3) 0% of their live weight in week 14 of pregnancy. In lactation the ewes were fed ad libitum. The lambs were removed 12 to 16 hr after parturition and the ewes were machine-milked twice daily for the first six weeks of lactation.2. Total birth weights per ewe of twin lambs from the treatments were (1) 10·10 kg, (2) 9·44 kg and (3) 8·18 kg and differed significantly.3. The level and pattern of voluntary intake in lactation did not differ significantly between the treatments. Total dry-matter intakes in the six weeks of lactation were (1) 121·9 kg (2) 105·9 kg and (3) 109·5 kg.4. The pregnancy treatments affected the level of milk production and the shape of lactation curves. The total yields in the first six weeks of lactation were (1) 58·8 kg, (2) 43·5 kg and (3) 26·9 kg. Higher contents of fat and protein and the lower content of lactose in the milk from treatment-3 ewes on days 1 and 3 of lactation indicated a slower onset of lactation in these ewes. Between days 7 and 35 of lactation the contents of fat and SNF were lowest on treatment 3 but the differences were not significant.5. The live-weight changes in lactation, which were in inverse order to the gains in late pregnancy, were (1) 3·4 kg, (2) 5·5 kg and (3) 9·5 kg.

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Supplementation of Merino ewes with cholecalciferol in late pregnancy improves the vitamin D status of ewes and lambs at birth but is not correlated with an improvement in immune function in lambs

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an15085 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 757 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. Lockwood ◽

A. Currie ◽

S. Hancock ◽

S. Broomfield ◽

S. Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Immune Function ◽

Tetanus Toxoid ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Control Group ◽

Vitamin D Status ◽

Phagocytic Capacity ◽

Specific Antibody Response ◽

Adaptive Immune ◽

Maternal Supplementation

Functional deficiencies of the immune system are known to predispose human and animal neonates to death. Thus, immune competency may be a significant factor influencing the mortality of lambs. Vitamin D has been recognised to improve immune function and is transferred across the placenta. This study tested the hypotheses that (1) supplementation of Merino ewes with cholecalciferol during late pregnancy will increase the concentrations of vitamin D in the ewe and lamb at birth and (2) supplementation of Merino ewes with cholecalciferol during late pregnancy is correlated with an increase in innate phagocytic and adaptive antibody immune responses in the lamb. Merino ewes (n = 53) were injected intramuscularly with 1 × 106 IU cholecalciferol at Days 113 and 141 of pregnancy. A control group (n = 58) consisted of ewes receiving no additional nutritional treatments. The vitamin D status of ewes and lambs was assessed up until 1 month post-lambing. Lamb immune function was assessed by analysing the functional capacity of phagocytes, and the plasma IgG and anti-tetanus-toxoid antibody concentrations between birth and weaning. Maternal supplementation with cholecalciferol increased the plasma 25(OH)D concentrations of both ewes (137 vs 79 nmol/L; P < 0.001) and lambs (49 vs 24 nmol/L; P < 0.001) at birth compared with the controls. Supplementation with cholecalciferol had no significant effect on the phagocytic capacity of monocytes or polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the concentration of IgG in the colostrum or plasma of lambs, or the vaccine-specific antibody response against tetanus toxoid. Overall, the results support our first hypothesis, but suggest that maternal supplementation with 1 × 106 IU cholecalciferol does not improve innate, passive or adaptive immune function in lambs.

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Genetic variation of rectal temperature and its relationship to milk production in Holstein dairy cows

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200029021 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2009 ◽

pp. 63-63

Author(s):

S Khalajzade ◽

N Emam Jomeh ◽

A Salehi ◽

A Moghimi Esfandabadi

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Production ◽

Heat Tolerance ◽

Rectal Temperature ◽

Weather Factors ◽

And Performance ◽

Very High ◽

Selection Of ◽

Holstein Dairy Cows

Milk production is significantly decreased by thermal stress. The survival and performance of an animal during heat stress periods depend on several weather factors, especially temperature and humidity. Researchers reported dramatic decreases in milk production as temperature rose above 30 degree of centigrade. Very high environmental temperature is common during the summer months in Iran. Rectal temperature is as indicator of heat tolerance and has been the most frequently used physiological variable for estimating heat tolerance in cattle. Some dairy cows are more heat tolerant and productive when subjected to heat stress. Identification and selection of heat stress resistant cattle offers the potential to increase milk yield in tropical environment. The aim of the present study was to estimate genetic parameters of heat tolerance and its relationship to milk production in Holstein Dairy Cows in Iran.

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Production, Forage Quality, and Performance of Holstein Cows under Intermittent Grazing on Tifton 85

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v9n8p11 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 11

Author(s):

Valdevino Rodrigues Da Silva ◽

Kátia Aparecida De Pinho Costa ◽

Marco Antônio Pereira Da Silva ◽

Edmar Soares Nicolau ◽

Victor Costa Da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Forage Quality ◽

Live Weight ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Holstein Cows ◽

Production Parameters ◽

Randomized Design ◽

And Performance

Tropical forage grasses compose the base diet of the Brazilian cattle herd due to their low production cost, high production potential, and good adaptation to various Brazilian ecosystems. In recent years, the search has intensified for alternatives that increase the yield in pasture milk production systems. Thus, the present study evaluated the production and quality of Tifton 85 grass in relation to the production parameters (e.g. greater leaf: stem ratio), and milk quality of Holstein cows in an intermittent grazing system during different seasons of the year. The experiment was conducted at the Córrego da Ponte Farm in Santa Helena de Goias, Goias, Brazil, from April 2014 to March 2015. The experiment used a completely randomized design with nine replicates and the four seasons (fall, winter, spring, and summer) as treatments. The Holstein cows had a live weight of 560±36.8 kg and averages four years of age. The grazing method used was a mob-stocking, with one day of grazing and 19 days of rest. The results showed that Tifton 85 was efficient regarding production parameters (total dry mass) and forage quality (IVDMD, NDF, ADF). The milk production was satisfactory during the fall, spring, and summer. The forage showed limited production during the winter, due the highest NDF, ADF levels and lower IVDMD (P < 0.05), which was directly reflected in the milk yield, fat, protein and lactose (P < 0.05). A reduction in the stocking rate or an increase in the number of paddocks is advisable during the winter to maximize milk production without compromising forage development. The correlation data showed the importance of consuming better-quality forage to increase milk production without compromising the levels of milk solids.

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Effects of varying silage quality for dry cows on feed intake, weight change and performance in the subsequent lactation

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200001435 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 2000 ◽

pp. 142-142

Author(s):

R. J. Dewhurst ◽

D. W. R. Davies ◽

W. J. Fisher

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Metabolic Activity ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Nutrient Supply ◽

Current Experiment ◽

High Quality ◽

Grass Silage ◽

Silage Quality ◽

Voluntary Intake ◽

And Performance

Earlier studies (e.g. Dewhurst et al., 1996, 1999) have shown marked declines in forage voluntary intake as calving approaches. The resultant reduction in nutrient supply may compromise performance in the next lactation, because it coincides with a period of intense metabolic activity in preparation for the next lactation. Feeding concentrates to dry cows did not overcome this problem (Dewhurst et al., 1999). The objective of the current experiment was to investigate alternative dry cow strategies, using only high-quality grass silage, to minimise the severity and consequences for subsequent milk production of the reduction in nutrient supply in this period.

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The effects of bacterial inoculation of unwilted and wilted grass silages on digestibility by sheep and intake and performance by dairy cows

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0308229600030373 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 1996 ◽

pp. 66-66

Author(s):

T. Yan ◽

D.C. Patterson ◽

F.J. Gordon

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Production ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Bacterial Inoculation ◽

Bacterial Inoculants ◽

And Performance ◽

Two Parameters

In a previous study carried out at this Institute the application of a bacterial inoculant to unwilted grass at ensiling produced significant increases in silage DM intake and milk production across 3 harvests, while the use of the inoculant with wilted grass silages indicated no benefits in those two parameters (Yan, Patterson and Gordon, 1995). The reason for the lack of improvement when the inoculant was used with wilted grass silages was unclear, but could partially reflect greater potential rates of aerobic deterioration with wilted inoculated than wilted untreated silages during the feeding-out period. The present study was designed to further investigate the effects of inoculation of both unwilted and wilted grass silages.A set of four silages, comprising unwilted and wilted material, both with and without application of one of four bacterial inoculants at ensiling, was prepared from perennial ryegrass swards on each of 8 harvesting occasions during 1994.

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Pregnancy nutrition does not influence lamb liveweight in developmentally programmed ewes

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an14217 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 54 (9) ◽

pp. 1465 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

P. R. Kenyon ◽

R. A. Corner-Thomas ◽

S. W. Peterson ◽

S. J. Pain ◽

H. T. Blair

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Body Condition ◽

Maternal Nutrition ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Developmental Programming ◽

Minor Effect ◽

Nutritional Treatment ◽

Ad Libitum ◽

A Minor ◽

Body Condition Scores

In sheep, maternal nutrition can affect the offspring’s milk production at its first lactation and the grand-offspring’s liveweight to weaning. However, this apparent developmental programming effect on milk production and grand-offspring liveweight has not persisted. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine if nutrition of the programmed ewe in mid- to late pregnancy affected this response. Developmentally programmed ewes (G1) that had been born from dams (G0) offered submaintenance, maintenance or ad libitum feeding levels from Day 21 to Day 50 of pregnancy and then either pregnancy maintenance or ad libitum to Day 140 were used for this study. These ewes were offered one of two pastoral-based pregnancy nutritional treatments (controlled vs unrestricted) from Day 76 of pregnancy until lambing. Pre- and post-herbage masses of the unrestricted treatment (2181 ± 47.6 and 1431 ± 24.6 kg DM/ha, respectively), were greater (P < 0.05) than the controlled treatment (1164 ± 31.6 and 819 ± 16.0 kg DM/ha, respectively). At Day 71 of pregnancy, there were no differences (P > 0.05) in G1 liveweight (70.2 ± 0.8 vs 70.3 ± 0.8 kg for controlled and unrestricted feeding, respectively), or body condition scores (2.5 ± 0.06 vs 2.5 ± 0.05) between pregnancy nutritional treatments. In late pregnancy, unrestricted G1 ewes were heavier (P < 0.05, 97.4 ± 1.0 vs 86.8 ± 1.0 kg) and had greater (P < 0.05) body condition scores (3.4 ± 0.06 vs 2.5 ± 0.06) and back-fat depths (8.0 ± 0.3 vs 5.9 ± 0.03 mm) than controlled nutritional treatment ewes. There were no interactions (P > 0.05) between grand-dam feeding levels and ewe nutritional treatment on lamb (G2) liveweights at birth or in lactation. This indicates that under the conditions of the present study, nutrition of the G1 ewe did not affect the expression of the developmental programming effect. Further studies might be warranted to determine the causes of this inconsistency in grand-offspring liveweight. Nutrition of the G1 ewe had a minor effect (P < 0.05) on G2 lamb birthweight and liveweight in early lactation but not (P > 0.05) in late lactation or on lamb survival. These findings indicate there is no little to no benefit to the lamb until weaning from offering ewes pre- and post-grazing masses above ~1200 and 800 kg DM/ha, respectively, in mid- to late pregnancy.

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