scholarly journals Towards a Sustainable Reproduction Management of Dairy Sheep: Glycerol-Based Formulations as Alternative to eCG in Milked Ewes Mated at the End of Anoestrus Period

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 922
Author(s):  
Francesca Sotgiu ◽  
Cristian Porcu ◽  
Valeria Pasciu ◽  
Maria Dattena ◽  
Marilia Gallus ◽  
...  

This study investigated whether the administration of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) in a protocol to induce and synchronize ovulations before mating could be replaced by the administration of glycerol-based formulations in milked ewes at the end of their seasonal anoestrus. Forty-eight late-lactation dairy ewes of the Sarda breed were synchronized using sponges impregnated with progestogen and then joined with fertile rams (day (D) 0, ram introduction). From D−4 to D−1, the ewes received by gavage either 100 mL of a glucogenic mixture (70% glycerol, 20% propylene glycol and 10% water; GLU group; n = 24) or 100 mL of water (GON group; n = 24) twice daily. Moreover, on the day of sponge withdrawal (D−1), GON ewes received 200 IU of eCG. There were no differences in reproductive performances between groups. GLU ewes showed higher glycemia (p < 0.001), insulinemia (p < 0.05), plasma glycerol (p < 0.001), triglycerides (p < 0.001) and lower cholesterol (p < 0.001), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA; p < 0.05) and urea (p < 0.001). Plasma osmolality was higher in GLU but only 4 h after dosing (p < 0.001). Milk yield and milk composition were not affected by the treatments with exception of milk glycerol (p < 0.001) and milk urea (p < 0.001), which were higher and lower in GLU than GON ewes, respectively. In conclusion, the administration of the glucogenic mixture to late lactation dairy ewes at the end of anoestrus period resulted in reproductive responses as good as the ones obtained by the eCG treatment, suggesting that the objective of a sustainable reproductive management of dairy sheep can be successfully pursued.

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Karagiannis ◽  
C. Brozos ◽  
E. Kiossis ◽  
C. Boscos ◽  
G. Fthenakis ◽  
...  

This Research Paper addresses the hypothesis whether in dairy ewes: periparturient β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations are associated with milk yield, composition and udder halves with increased somatic cell counts (SCC ≥ 0.5 × 106 cells/mL). A total of 186 Chios ewes reared under intensive system were used for this research. Serum BHBA and NEFA concentrations were measured before lambing (-30d,  -15d), and BHBA concentrations after lambing (+7d, +15d, +30d, +45d). Milk samples were collected at 15, 30 and 45days in milk (DIM). Total milk yield (MY) of the first 30, 60 and 90 DIM and total fortnightly milk yield (FMY) produced from 15 to 59 DIM were recorded. Positive associations between BHBA at +7d and MY of the first 30, 60 and 90 DIM were revealed (P < 0.001). For every increased unit of BHBA at +15d, +30d and +45d, FMY was decreased (DIM: 15 – 29 and 30 – 44) (P = 0.001 and P = 0.015, respectively) or increased (DIM: 45 – 59) (P < 0.001). BHBA before lambing (-30d, -15d) affected the number of halves presented SCC ≥ 0.5 × 106 cells/mL at 15 and 30 DIM (P = 0.011, P = 0.014, P = 0.009, P = 0.096, respectively). Finally, for every increased unit of BHBA during lactation (+15d, +30d, +45d) a decrease in the concentration of milk in proteins, solids not fat and lactose was noted (P < 0.001). This work demonstrates the associations of periparturient blood biochemical parameters (BHBA, NEFA) with milk yield and specific milk production characteristics.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Giovanetti ◽  
Filippo Boe ◽  
Mauro Decandia ◽  
Giovanni Cristoforo Bomboi ◽  
Alberto Stanislao Atzori ◽  
...  

In dairy sheep milk urea concentration (MUC) is highly and positively correlated with dietary crude protein (CP) content and, to a lesser extent, with protein intake. However, the effect of dietary energy and carbohydrate sources on MUC of lactating ewes is not clear. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of diets differing in energy concentration and carbohydrate sources on MUC values in lactating dairy ewes. Two experiments were conducted (experiment 1, E1, and experiment 2, E2) on Sarda ewes in mid and late lactation kept in metabolic cages for 23 d. In both experiments, homogeneous groups of five ewes were submitted to four (in E1) or three (in E2) dietary treatments, consisting of pelleted diets ranging from low energy (high-fiber diets: 1.2–1.4 Mcal of net energy for lactation (NEL)) to high energy (high-starch diets: 1.7–1.9 Mcal of NEL) contents, but with a similar CP concentration (18.4% dry matter (DM), on average). Each diet had a different main ingredient as follows: corn flakes, barley meal, beet pulp, or corn cobs in E1 and corn meal, dehydrated alfalfa, or soybean hulls in E2. Regression analysis using treatment means from both experiments showed that the best predictor of MUC (mg/100 mL) was the dietary NEL (Mcal/kg DM, MUC = 127.6 − 51.2 × NEL, R2 = 0.85, root of the mean squared error (rmse) = 4.36, p < 0.001) followed by the ratio CP/NEL (g/Mcal, MUC = −14.9 + 0.5 × CP/ NEL, R2 = 0.83, rmse = 4.63, p < 0.001). A meta-regression of an extended database on stall-fed dairy ewes, including the E1 and E2 experimental data (n = 44), confirmed the predictive value of the CP/ NEL ratio, which resulted as the best single predictor of MUC (MUC = −13.7 + 0.5 × CP/NEL, R2 = 0.93, rmse = 3.30, p < 0.001), followed by dietary CP concentration (MUC = −20.7 + 3.7 × CP, R2 = 0.82, rmse = 4.89, p < 0.001). This research highlights that dietary energy content plays a pivotal role in modulating the relationship between MUC and dietary CP concentration in dairy sheep.


2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 787-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela C. Guzatti ◽  
Paulo G. Duchini ◽  
Marco A.S. Gama ◽  
Henrique M.N. Ribeiro-Filho

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two isoproteic total mixed rations containing either red clover (Trifolium pratense L.; RC diet) or lucerne (Medicago sativa L.; LU diet) silage as the major forage source on milk yield, milk composition, and milk fatty acid (FA) profile in dairy ewes. Sixteen dairy ewes were housed individually to receive the drawn diet (eight ewes eating each diet) and milked twice a day (0700 and 1500). Total dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, and nitrogen use efficiency were unaffected by treatments. The n-6/n-3 FA ratio tended to decrease, whereas the total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and PUFAs/saturated fatty acids ratio increased in the milk fat of ewes fed the RC diet compared with ewes fed the LU diet. The presence of α-linolenic (C18:3n-3) and linoleic (C18:2n-6) acids in the milk fat was 22% higher in ewes fed the RC diet than in those fed the LU diet. Compared with the LU diet, the RC diet had no effect on milk yield and composition, but improved the milk FA profile in dairy ewes due to an increased proportion of PUFAs (in particular C18:3n-3 and, to a lesser extent, C18:2n-6) and a decreased n-6/n-3 FA ratio.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-221
Author(s):  
Maria Jesús Lisbona-González ◽  
Candela Reyes-Botella ◽  
Esther Muñoz-Soto ◽  
Maria Victoria Olmedo-Gaya, ◽  
Jorge Moreno-Fernandez ◽  
...  

Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ and has central role in interaction with other organs or tissues while propolis can induce lipolysis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide detailed information about adipose tissue homeostasis modifications and body composition during propolis supplement consumption. Twenty male Wistar albino rats (8 weeks) were divided into two groups of 10 animals each and fed for 90 days with two different types of diets: standard for the control group (diet C) and standard diet + 2% propolis (diet P). Thyroid hormones did not show differences, while ghrelin and adiponectin decreased in the group that was fed propolis. Insulin, leptin, and non-esterified fatty acids also increased along with reduced body weight and fat, in addition to increased lean mass when propolis was in the diet. We conclude that propolis could decrease ghrelin and adiponectin but increase non-esterified fatty acids and insulin secretion, which improves body composition.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 29-30
Author(s):  
Kirsten Nickles ◽  
Alejandro E Relling ◽  
Anthony J Parker

Abstract Beef calves express behaviors such as walking and vocalizing to a greater extend during weaning. These behaviors increase production costs due to compromised calf growth, health, and welfare. Oxytocin treatment reduces anxious behaviors and attenuates the HPA axis, thus the objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of oxytocin on calf growth, cortisol, and distance walked at weaning. A total of 20 Angus x Simmental heifer calves were randomly allotted to each treatment group (n = 10), intranasal oxytocin or saline (OXT, CON). All calves were administered the respective intranasal treatment at weaning (day 0), and then placed in the same pasture. Calves were weighed and blood sampled on days 0, 1, 7, and 14. Blood samples were used to quantify non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate, and cortisol. Each heifer was fitted with a global positioning system collar that recorded calf location every 10 seconds for 16 h on days 0, 7, and 14. To further evaluate calf behavior, observations were made on days 0, 7, and 14 using instantaneous scan sampling from 0730 to 0830, 1200 to 1300, and 1700 to 1800 h. Data were analyzed using a completely randomized design with repeated measures model (SAS 9.4). Providing calves with intranasal oxytocin on the day of weaning did not have an effect on the distance walked, observed behavior, body weight, β-hydroxybutyrate, or cortisol concentrations, however, there was a day effect (P &lt; 0.05) for these variables. Intranasal oxytocin treatment did affect NEFA concentrations, as calves in the CON group had greater NEFA concentrations on day 1 compared with calves in the OXT group (P &lt; 0.05). These data imply that intranasal oxytocin could have the capacity to decrease mobilization of NEFA, but this change was not enough to affect body weight 14 days after weaning.


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