Effects of daily propylene glycol drenching during the Ovsynch protocol on fertility and metabolic parameters in lactating dairy cows.

Negative energy balance (NEB) caused by restricted feed intake leads to body condition loss (BCS), increased metabolic stress and reduced fertility in dairy cows. Propylene glycol (PG) is a precursor of ruminal propionate for gluconeogenesis used to increase metabolic adaptation to the early postpartum period. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of daily drenching of PG during the fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol on beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), glucose, adiponectin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) concentrations, follicle size and pregnancy rate in dairy cows. Cows (n = 148) were randomly divided into two groups and received either 300 mL of PG (PG-OVS, n = 76) or 300 mL of water (CON-OVS, n = 72) each day of the Ovsynch protocol (GnRH-7 days-PGF2α -56 hours-GnRH-16-18-hour FTAI) between days 57 ± 3 to 67 ± 3 postpartum for the first service. Body condition scores (14 days before expected calving, at calving, on days 21 and 42 postpartum) were recorded. Blood samples were collected days 7 ± 3, 21 ± 3 postpartum, at the beginning of the Ovsynch (days 57 ± 3) and at the time of FTAI (days 67 ± 3) for measurements of BHBA, glucose, adiponectin and IGF1 concentrations. Ultrasonographic examinations were done to measure follicle size at the beginning of Ovsynch and FTAI and to determine pregnancy on days 30 and 60 following FTAI. There were no differences (p > .05) in glucose, adiponectin and IGF1 concentrations between the groups during the study. Although there was no difference (p > .05) in BHBA concentrations on postpartum day 7 ± 3, 21 ± 3 and 57 ± 3 between the groups, BHBA concentrations at the time of insemination was lower (p < .05) in the PG-OVS group (0.72 ± 0.03 mmol/L) than in the CON-OVS group (0.81 ± 0.03 mmol/L). Follicle sizes at the beginning of Ovsynch (PG-OVS, 14.5 ± 0.48 mm; CON-OVS, 14.3 ± 0.59 mm) and FTAI (PG-OVS, 17.8 ± 0.52 mm; CON-OVS, 17.7 ± 0.42 mm) were not different (p < .05). Pregnancy rate of the cows in the PG-OVS group (46.1%, 35/76) was higher (p = .05) than in the CON-OVS group (30.6%, 22/72) on day 30 following FTAI. In conclusion, decreasing serum BHBA concentrations at the time of FTAI by means of daily drenching of PG during the Ovsynch protocol, increased the pregnancy rate at first service in lactating dairy cows. On the other hand, blood glucose was not related with pregnancy rates in our study, probably as a result of our sampling time and more rapid fluctuations of blood glucose concentrations when compared to BHBA.

Effects of gender and slaughter age on meat quality of Anatolian water buffaloes.

The study aimed to investigate the effects of slaughter age and gender on specific carcass and technological meat quality characteristics in Anatolian water buffaloes. The study was conducted on 55 water buffaloes using a 2 × 2 factorial design with two independent variables at two levels. Gender subgroups of male (n = 29) and female (n = 26) and slaughter age subgroups of younger than 2 years of age (n = 29) and older than 2 years of age (n = 26) were evaluated. Hot carcass and cold carcass weights were higher in old water buffaloes than young ones (P < 0.001). The skin weight of old buffaloes was also higher than young buffaloes (P < 0.01). Drip loss, expressed juice, and Warner Bratzler (WB) shear force values of longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles were not influenced by age group and gender of buffaloes. The lightness (L*) and hue (H*) values were higher in young buffaloes than old animals (P < 0.001). The meat of male buffaloes had lower redness (a*) and chroma (C*) values than that of female buffaloes. The current results indicated that female water buffalo could also be used for meat production away from negative impressions on the meat quality of female water buffalo.

Effect of delaying the time of insemination with sex-sorted semen on pregnancy rate in Holstein heifers.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the interval from onset of oestrus to time of artificial insemination (AI) to obtain the optimum pregnancy rate with sex-sorted semen in Holstein heifers. Heifers in oestrus were detected and inseminated only by using heat-rumination neck collar comprised electronic identification tag at the age of 13-14 months. Heifers (n = 283) were randomly assigned to one of three groups according to the timing of insemination at 12-16 hr (G1, n = 97), at 16.1-20 hr (G2, n = 94) and at 20.1-24 hr (G3, n = 92) after reaching the activity threshold. The mean duration of oestrus was 18.6 ± 0.1 hr, and mean peak activity was found at 7.5 ± 0.1 hr after activity threshold. The mean interval from activity threshold to ovulation was 29.4 ± 0.4 hr. The overall pregnancy per AI (P/AI) was 53.0% at 29-35 days and 50.9% at 60-66 days after AI. There was a significant reduction between G1 (13.8 ± 1.4 hr) and G3 (7.9 ± 1.4 hr) related to the intervals from AI to ovulation time. Sex-sorted semen resulted in significantly higher P/AI at 29-35 days when heifers inseminated in G3 (60.9%) after oestrus than those inseminated in G1 (49.5%) and G2 (48.9%). In terms of fertility, when the temperature-humidity index (THI) was below the threshold value (THI ≤65) at the time of AI, there was a tendency (≤65; 57.2% vs. > 65; 47.1%) for high pregnancy rate. There was no effect of sire on P/AI. In addition, the interaction of the technician with the time of AI was found significant, and three-way interaction of technician, sire and time of AI was tended to be significant on pregnancy rate. Thus, in addition to delaying the time of insemination (between 20.1 and 24 hr) after oestrous detection, THI and experienced technician were also found to be critical factors in increasing fertility with the use of sex-sorted semen in Holstein heifers.

Effects of Supplemental Mannanoligosaccharides on Growth Performance, Faecal Characteristics and Health in Dairy Calves.

Twenty Holstein calves were used to investigate the effects of mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) supplementation in the whole milk on growth performance, faecal score, faecal pH, selected faecal bacterial populations and health during the preweaning period. Healthy calves selected by clinical examination were allocated to one of the two groups (control [CG] and experimental [EG]) at 5 days old. Each group consisted of 5 male and 5 female calves. Each calf in EG was supplemented with 7 g/d of a MOS product (Celmanax) from 5 days to 56 days of age. MOS supplement was mixed with the whole milk once in the morning and administered to the calves in EG via nipple bottle, whereas the calves in CG were fed the whole milk without MOS. Calves were weaned at 56 days of age. The final body weight, average daily weight gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were statistically similar (p>0.05) but were higher by 3.70%, 6.66%, and 10.97%, respectively, in MOS than in control calves. Feed efficiency (ADG/ADFI) was also similar in two calves group. While faecal scores did not differ on day 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 49, and 56 between groups, EG had a higher faecal score (p = 0.05) than CG on day 35. Faecal concentration of Lactobacillus was lower (p<0.05) in EG compared with CG. No differences (p>0.05) in faecal concentrations of Bifidobacterium, Clostridium perfringens, and Escherichia coli were found between groups. Although there were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the incidence of diarrhoea, treatment days for diarrhoea and the costs associated with diarrhoea treatments between groups, collectively, the observed reductions in treatment days and the cost of diarrhoea treatments accompanying increases in final body weight, ADG and ADFI for EG may indicate potential benefit of MOS in treatment of diarrhoea.

Evaluation of glutaraldehyde coagulation test and colostrum BRIX refractometer compared with SNAP foal IgG test in neonatal foals.

BACKGROUND: Prompt diagnosis of passive transfer failure in the neonatal period is important for early treatment. OBJECTIVES: To compare the diagnostic performance of serum glutaraldehyde coagulation test (GCT) and colostrum BRIX% for failure to transfer passive immunity (FTPI) diagnosis with the results of SNAP foal test and to evaluate the results of serum GCT and colostrum BRIX% measurements in foals with diarrhoea in the 0-1 month period. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro experiments. METHODS: Excess serum and colostrum (n: 298) from samples collected from newborn foals and their dams for clinical purposes were used. Foals were classified as FTPI positive (IgG < 8 g/L) or negative (IgG ≥ 8 g/L) using the SNAP foal test. We compared the sensitivity and specificity of serum GCT and colostrum BRIX % for diagnosing FTPI in all foals and in the sub-group of foals which developed diarrhoea within the first month of life was noted. The relationships between the results of the serum GCT and colostrum BRIX% and diarrhoea in foals with and without FTPI were evaluated. RESULTS: Serum GCT and colostrum BRIX % were statistically significantly different (p < 0.05) between the foals without FTPI and with FTPI classified according to the SNAP test. Using a cut-off value for serum GCT of >10, sensitivity was 100% (95% CI 92.9%-100%) and specificity 100% (98.3%-100%) while with a cut-off value of ≤24, with colostrum BRIX% of ≤24 sensitivity was 92% (80.9%-97.8%), and specificity was 98% (95.3-99.3). In the sub-group of foals without FTPI using a colostrum BRIX% cut-off value of ≤26 the sensitivity for prediction of diarrhoea in the 0-1 month period was only 72.4% (52.8-87.3, p < 0.001) with specificity 54.3% (47.6-61.1) but the test performance was not robust (ROC AUC 0.61). MAIN LIMITATIONS: The number of repeated measurements in the evaluation of serum GCT, and colostrum BRIX% was low. More clinical problems could be examined. CONCLUSIONS: The serum GCT, and colostrum BRIX%, both economical and practical to use in the field, gave results comparable with the SNAP foal IgG test. The ability to accurately predict diarrhoea in the first month of life with these tests was limited.

INTRODUCTION/CONTEXTE: Être capable de diagnostiquer rapidement un défaut de transfert d'immunité passive en période néonatale est primordial au prompt traitement des poulains. OBJECTIFS: Comparer la performance diagnostique du test de coagulation au glutaraldéhyde sur sérum (GCT) et du BRIX du colostrum pour le diagnostic de défaut de transfert d'immunité passive (FTPI) avec les résultats de test SNAP Foal. Évaluer les résultats de GCT sur sérum et les mesures de colostrum BRIX chez les poulains âgés de 0-1 mois d'âge souffrant de diarrhée. TYPE D'ÉTUDE: Étude in vitro. MÉTHODES: Les excédents de sérum et colostrum (N = 298) provenant de poulains nouveaux-nés et leur mère à partir d'échantillons cliniques ont été sauvegardés. Les poulains ont été divisés en deux groupes: FTPI négatifs (IgG ≥ 8 g/L) et positifs (IgG ≤ 8 g/L). La spécificité et la sensibilité de GCT sur sérum et le % BRIX du colostrum ont été comparés pour diagnostiquer les défauts de transfert d'immunité passive chez tous les poulains, incluant le sous-groupe ayant développé de la diarrhée. En parallèle, le développement de diarrhée chez les poulains jusqu'à 1 mois d'âge a été noté. La relation entre les résultats de GCT sur sérum et le % BRIX du colostrum et la diarrhée chez les poulains souffrant de diarrhée avec ou sans défaut de transfert d'immunité passive a été évaluée. RÉSULTATS: Le GCT sur sérum et le % BRIX du colostrum ont montré une différence statistiquement significative (p < 0.05) entre les poulains sans FTPI et ceux avec FTPI tel que déterminé par le SNAP Foal test. En utilisant une valeur seuil pour le GCT sur sérum de >10, la sensibilité était de 100% (95% IC 92.9%-100%) et la spécificité de 100% également (98.3%-100%). Avec une valeur seuil à ≤24, avec une valeur au colostrum BRIX% de ≤24, la sensibilité était de 92% (80.9%-97.8%) et la spécificité de 98% (95.3%-99.3%). Dans le groupe de poulains sans défaut de transfert d'immunité passive, en utilisant une valeur seuil de ≤26, la sensibilité pour la détection de diarrhée durant la période de 0-1 mois d'âge était seulement de 72.4% (52.8-87.3%, p < 0.001) avec une spécificité de 54.3% (47.6%-61.1%), mais la performance du teste n'était considérée robuste (ROC AUC 0.61). LIMITES PRINCIPALES: Le nombre de mesures répétées lors de l'évaluation de GCT sur sérum et du % BRIX de colostrum était bas. Davantage de paramètres pourraient être ajoutés. CONCLUSIONS: Le GCT sur sérum et le % BRIX de colostrum, tous deux économique et facile à utiliser en pratique, ont donné des résultats comparables aux résultats de SNAP Foal pour les immunoglobulines G.

The effect of body weight on some welfare indicators in feedlot cattle in a hot environment.

Heat stress has important effects on the welfare of livestock. The effects of heat stress in cattle include changes in biological functions and behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate the behavioral differences between light and heavy feedlot cattle reared in a hot environment. Sixteen male Holstein feedlot cattle were allocated to light (353.8 ± 15.5 kg, n = 8) and heavy (737.1 ± 15.8 kg, n = 8) groups according to their live weight and were kept in a semi-open feedlot barn. The individual behavioral response variables measured were standing, lying, feeding, drinking, ruminating, locomotor activity and elimination (urinating and defecating). The effects of group, day, observation time, replicate and all interactions were included in an explanatory statistical (GLM) model. The data were analyzed using the PROC GLM procedure of SAS. Overall, the heavy cattle spent more time standing (P < 0.001), lying (P < 0.001), and eliminating (P < 0.05) compared to the light group. In contrast, the light group spent more time eating, drinking and ruminating (P < 0.001). Locomotor activity did not differ significantly between groups (P > 0.05). During the day, heavy cattle spent more time standing (at 1600 hours) and less time eating in comparison with the light cattle (P < 0.001) (at 1300 and 1600 hours). Light and heavy feedlot cattle behaved differently in a hot environment. The findings of the study indicate that the welfare of the heavy Holstein feedlot cattle was impacted negatively when the ambient temperature was high (at 1300 hours).

The effect of shearing in a hot environment on some welfare indicators in Awassi lambs.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of shearing on the individual behaviors and rectal temperature profile during the day at hot environment in Awassi lambs. Twenty Awassi male lambs were randomly allocated into shorn (n = 10) and unshorn (n = 10) groups (28.8 ± 0.7 and 29.9 ± 0.7 kg, respectively) and were kept indoor during the experiment. The physiological and behavioral response variables measured were rectal temperature, standing, lying, feeding, ruminating, drinking, locomotor activity, and elimination. The effect of day, time of day, and all interactions on rectal temperature were found significant (P < 0.001). The effect of shearing on the rectal temperatures of lambs was tend to be significant (P = 0.06). Overall, unshorn lambs showed more frequencies of locomotor activity (P < 0.05) and there was a tendency of less standing behavior (P = 0.08) when compared to the lambs in shorn group. The difference of the other behaviors was not significant (P > 0.05). Within the observation hours, there was a tendency of difference for behavioral frequencies between groups especially early in the day and late at night (P = 0.07). But during the day, the difference of behavior type between groups was highly significant at 1300 and 1600 hours (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). The findings of the current study showed that the behavior of shorn lambs changed with the changing of environmental heat and showed more behavioral differences at 1300 hours but they tend to cope with heat stress better than unshorn lambs in a hot environment when their rectal temperatures were compared.

The assessment of carcass composition of Awassi male lambs by real-time ultrasound at two different live weights.

The accuracy of ultrasonography to measure fat thickness (FT) and longissimus dorsi muscle (LM) traits (area, depth and width) in live Awassi male lambs and predict carcass FT and LM traits was studied. Twenty six Awassi male lambs were randomly divided into light (L) (n=13) and heavy (H) (n=13) finishing lambs. Slaughter weight of lambs in L and H groups were 40 and 45kg, respectively. FT and LM traits, cross-sectional area between the 12th and 13th rib were measured using real-time ultrasound in vivo and on the carcass after slaughter. All ultrasound and carcass measurements were the same except live weight (LW) (P<0.001), cold carcass weight (CCW) (P<0.001) and carcass LM width (P<0.05). Overall, correlation coefficients between ultrasound and carcass FT, LM depth, width and area were 0.79, 0.82 (P<0.001); 0.60, 0.58 (P<0.05); 0.48, -0.17 (P>0.05) and 0.89, 0.87 (P<0.001), respectively, for lambs in L and H groups. The introduction of ultrasound FT and ultrasound LM area as independent variables in addition to LW in the multiple regression equations further improved the variations for carcass FT (84%, 71%), carcass LM area (79%, 79%), CCW (72%, 65%) for lambs in light and heavy groups whereas no improvement was observed for carcass yield. These results indicate that in vivo ultrasound FT and measurement of the LM area in association with LW could be used to estimate carcass FT, carcass LM area and CCW in different LW Awassi lambs.

D-dimer levels as a procoagulative marker in association with disease progress during giardiasis in dogs / D dímero como marcador procoagulante en asociación con el progreso de la enfermedad durante la giardiasis en perros

Abstract Objective. The present study was conducted to measure D-dimer concentrations and assess their value in disease activity in dogs with giardiasis. Furthermore another purpose was to analyze correlation between cyst excretion and D-dimer levels to those of dogs naturally infected with Giardia sp. Materials and methods. D-dimer analysis were performed in three groups of dogs; (i) 15 dogs with giardiasis to those of treated with secnidazol, (ii) 10 dogs with giardiasis, left untreated as control group, then were compared to those of (iii) 17dogs without giardiasis, used to detect reference ranges for D-dimer values as control group. was a correlation between D-dimer levels and logarythmic cyst counts. Results. The D-dimer range in healthy dogs was <0.1 mg/L. In dogs with giardiasis, the D-dimer concentrations were greater than those of healthy dogs (p<0.05) and (p<0.01), respectively. The mean initial plasma D-dimer level was 2.84±0.50 and 2.99±0.61 ng/L in treated and untreated control groups. At the final follow-up evaluation on day 10 was 0.27±0.50 and 2.14±0.61 ng/L, in treated and untreated control groups, respectively, which was significantly lower in treated group (p<0.001). The area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics for d-dimer was 0.922 (z-value = 12.977, p<0.0001). (95%CI: 0.780-0.885). At a cut-off value of 0.1 ng/L, the D-dimer measurement had a sensitivity of 87.2%, a specificity of 90.9%. Conclusions. As a result D-dimer concentrations measured in giardiasis support the probable link between probable pro-thrombotic and inflammatory condition.

Resumen Objetivo. El presente estudio se realizó para medir las concentraciones del dímero D y detectar su valor en la actividad de la enfermedad en perros con giardiasis. Además, otro objetivo fue analizar la correlación entre la excreción de quistes y los niveles de D-dímero a los de perros naturalmente infectados con Giardia sp. Materiales y métodos. El análisis del dímero D se realizó en tres grupos de perros; (I) 11 perros con giardiasis tratados con secnidazol, (ii) 10 perros con giardiasis, no tratados como grupo control, luego se compararon con los de (iii) 17 perros sin giardiasis, utilizados para detectar rangos de referencia para el dímero D Valores como grupo de control. Resultados. El rango del D-dímero en perros sanos fue <0.1 mg/L. En perros con giardiasis, las concentraciones de dímero D fueron mayores que las de perros sanos (p<0.05) y (p<0.01), respectivamente. El nivel medio inicial de dímero D plasmático fue 2.84±0.50 y 2.99±0.61 ng/L en los grupos de control tratados y no tratados. En la evaluación final de seguimiento al día 10 se obtuvieron 0.27±0.50 y 2.14±0.61 ng/L, tratados y no tratados, respectivamente, que fue significativamente menor en el grupo tratado (p<0.001). El área bajo curva (AUC) de las características de funcionamiento del receptor para el dímero d fue 0.922 (valor z = 12.977, p<0.0001). (IC del 95%: 0.780-0.885). Con un valor de corte de 0.1 ng/l, la medida del dímero-D tenía una sensibilidad de 87.2%, una especificidad de 90,9%. Hubo una correlación entre los niveles de D-dímero y los recuentos de quistes logarítmicos. Conclusiones. Como resultado, las concentraciones del dímero D medidos en la giardiasis apoyan el probable vínculo entre la probable condición pro-trombótica e inflamatoria.

The effects of short-term recombinant bovine somatotropin treatment on fattening performance, carcass composition and visceral organ weights in karayaka lambs in Turkey.

Recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) was administered s.c. to lambs for 6 weeks to evaluate its effects on fattening performance, carcass composition and visceral organ weights. Twenty male Karayaka lambs were injected with 250 mg bST every two weeks. Body weight, live weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion rate were not affected by treatment. Head, feet, skin, liver, spleen, kidneys, filled and empty gastrointestinal tract, penis, testis, pelvic fat and internal fat weights were similar for the two groups. Lung weight increased by 17.4% (P<0.01) and weight of heart decreased 22.7% (P<0.05) in bST treated lambs. The only carcass characteristics that were affected by bST administration were limb muscle which increased from 1331 g to 1417 g (P<0.05), loin fat which decreased from 275 g to 174 g (P<0.01), shoulder fat which decreased from 26 g to 13 g (P<0.01) and total fat/final weight percentage which decreased from 9.8% to 7.6% (P<0.05). The results of this study show that prolonged release formulation of bST treatment reduces fat tissue, but does not significantly affect fattening performance or weights of visceral organs, muscle and bone.