Effectiveness of Short-Term Cooling and Vitamin E for Alleviation of Infertility Induced by Heat Stress in 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.

Download Full-text

Short term post-partum heat stress in dairy cows

International Journal of Biometeorology ◽

10.1007/bf02253802 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 141-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

J. W. Fuquay ◽

L. T. Chapin ◽

W. H. Brown

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Post Partum ◽

Short Term

Download Full-text

Comparing responses of dairy cows to short-term and long-term heat stress in climate-controlled chambers

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2020-18946 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Y. Hou ◽

L. Zhang ◽

R.Y. Dong ◽

M.Y. Liang ◽

Y. Lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Short Term

Download Full-text

Responses of dairy cows to short-term heat stress in controlled-climate chambers

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an16472 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 57 (7) ◽

pp. 1233 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

J. B. Garner ◽

M. Douglas ◽

S. R. O. Williams ◽

W. J. Wales ◽

L. C. Marett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Temperate Climate ◽

Short Term ◽

Temperature And Humidity ◽

Humidity Index

The objective of the present research was to describe the physiological and production responses of lactating dairy cows during and after sudden exposure to temperate-climate heat-wave conditions, compared with cows in thermoneutral conditions. Twelve lactating multiparous Holstein–Friesian dairy cows were housed in controlled-climate chambers for 4 days. Six were exposed to a short-term temperature and humidity challenge (THc, diurnal temperature and humidity fluctuations inducing moderate heat stress; temperature humidity index 74–84) and six cows were exposed to thermoneutral conditions (THn, temperatur humidity index 55–61). Cows were also measured during a 7-day pre-experimental and 14-day post-experimental period. Physiological indicators of heat stress were measured, including rectal and vaginal temperature and respiration rate, which indicated that the THc in controlled-climate chambers induced moderate heat stress. The cows exposed to the 4-day THc reduced their milk yield by 53% and their dry-matter intake by 48%, compared with the cows in the THn treatment. Milk yield of THc cows returned to pre-experimental milk yield by Day 7 and dry-matter intake by Day 4 of the post-experimental period. The short-term heat challenge induced metabolic adaptations by mobilising adipose tissue, as indicated by increased non-esterified fatty acids, and amino acids from skeletal muscle, as indicated by increased urea nitrogen to compensate for reduced nutrient intake and increased energy expenditure. Endocrine responses included greater prolactin concentrations, which is associated with thermoregulation and water metabolism. The cows exposed to THc displayed production and physical responses that facilitated lower metabolic heat production and greater heat dissipation in an attempt to maintain homeostasis during the short-term heat exposure. These results indicated that the conditions imposed on the cows in the controlled-climate chambers were sufficient to induce heat-stress responses and adversely affected production in the lactating dairy cow, and the delay between the return to normal feed intake and milk yield following the heat challenge suggests a period of metabolic recovery was occurring.

Download Full-text

Physiological and Production Responses to Feeding Schedule in Lactating Dairy Cows Exposed to Short-Term, Moderate Heat Stress

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(02)74130-1 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 85 (4) ◽

pp. 730-737 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

K.H. Ominski ◽

A.D. Kennedy ◽

K.M. Wittenberg ◽

S.A. Moshtaghi Nia

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Feeding Schedule ◽

Short Term ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

Download Full-text

The Impact of Antioxidant Supplementation and Heat Stress on Carcass Characteristics, Muscle Nutritional Profile and Functionality of Lamb Meat

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10081286 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1286

Author(s):

Surinder S. Chauhan ◽

Frank R. Dunshea ◽

Tim E. Plozza ◽

David L. Hopkins ◽

Eric N. Ponnampalam

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Heat Stress ◽

Vitamin E ◽

Carcass Weight ◽

Antioxidant Supplementation ◽

Short Term ◽

Nutritional Profile ◽

Omega 6 ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

The Impact

The impact of antioxidant supplementation and short-term heat stress on lamb body weight gain, meat nutritional profile and functionality (storage stability of lipids and colour) of lamb meat was investigated. A total of 48 crossbred ((Merino × Border Leicester) × Dorset) lambs (42 ± 2 kg body weight, 7 mo age) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments (n = 16) by liveweight (LW) that differed in dosage of vitamin E and selenium (Se) in the diet. Vitamin E and Se levels in the control (CON), moderate (MOD) and supranutritional (SUP) dietary treatments were 28, 130 and 228 mg/kg DM as α-tocopherol acetate and 0.16, 0.66 and 1.16 mg Se as SelPlex™/kg DM, respectively. After four weeks of feeding in individual pens, including one week of adaptation, lambs were exposed to two heat treatments. Animals were moved to metabolism cages for one week and subjected to heat treatments: thermoneutral (TN; 18–21 °C and 40–50% relative humidity) and heat stress (HS; 28–40 °C and 30–40% relative humidity) conditions, respectively. Final LW and hot carcass weight were influenced by dietary treatments with higher final live weight (FLW) (p = 0.05; 46.8 vs. 44.4 and 43.8 kg, respectively) and hot carcass weight (HCW) (p = 0.01; 22.5 vs. 21.3 and 21.0 kg, respectively) recorded in lambs fed the SUP as opposed to the CON and MOD diets. Vitamin E concentration in the longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle tended to be higher in lambs fed MOD or SUP diets than the CON group. Lipid oxidation of aged meat at 72 h of simulated retail display was reduced by antioxidant supplementation. Short-term (one week) heat stress treatment significantly increased muscle linoleic acid and total omega-6 concentrations compared with the CON group. The results demonstrate that four-week antioxidant supplementation at the SUP level improved animal productivity by increasing LW and carcass weight and the functionality of meat exhibited by reduced lipid oxidation. An increase in muscle omega-6 fatty acid concentration from short-term heat stress may induce oxidative stress via proinflammatory action.

Download Full-text

Physiological and production responses when feeding Aspergillus oryzae to dairy cows during short-term, moderate heat stress

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800054424 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 77 (3) ◽

pp. 485-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

K. H. Ominski ◽

K. M. Wittenberg ◽

A. D. Kennedy ◽

S. A. Moshtaghi-Nia

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Aspergillus Oryzae ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Short Term ◽

Vaginal Temperature ◽

Intense Heat ◽

Production Losses ◽

Temperate Climates

AbstractDairy operations located in many temperate climates experience a decline in milk production associated with short-term moderate heat stress during the summer months. The duration and intensity of this heat stress differs dramatically from the sustained, intense heat experienced in many tropical and subtropical countries where the vast majority of heat stress research has been conducted. As such, many of the strategies utilized to ameliorate production losses associated with sustained, intense heat may not be effective in temperate climates. The objective of this research was to characterize the production responses of lactating dairy cows during and after short-term, moderate heat exposure and, to determine if feeding a fungal culture, Aspergillus oryzae, during a 5-day heat stress period, could effectively alleviate the associated production losses. In a two-period, cross-over design, eight mature lactating cows were given a total mixed ration with or without Aspergillus oryzae. Each 15-day period consisted of a 5-day thermoneutral phase, a 5-day heat stress phase and a 5-day thermoneutral recovery phase. When exposed to moderate heat stress for a 5-day period, cows experienced a rise in vaginal temperature and a decline in dry-matter intake. Following the 5-day heat stress phase, milk yield declined by a factor of 0·09. Supplementation with Aspergillus oryzae had no effect on vaginal temperature, dry-matter intake, water intake, milk yield or milk components. These data indicate that short-term, moderate heat stress, which occurs during the spring and summer months in temperate climates, will significantly decrease production in the lactating cow. Addition of fungal cultures to the diet during the period of imposed heat did not ameliorate production losses associated with this type of heat stress.

Download Full-text