ABSTRACT: In this study, a novel composite probiotic fermented milk was developed using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P-8 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei ProSci-92 strains with promising probiotic properties. Different proportions of the 2 strains were evaluated to identify the optimal coculture ratio. The physicochemical properties, storage stability, viable bacterial counts, and metabolomic profiles of the coculture fermented milk, single-strain fermented milk samples, and a commercial fermented milk (PYS-010) were compared. The results demonstrated that the ProSci-92&P-8 (1,000:1) coculture exhibited a significant synergistic effect. This coculture not only enhanced viable counts, acid production capacity, and water-holding capacity but also markedly improved the texture and flavor characteristics of the fermented milk. Untargeted metabolomic analysis further revealed the positive effect of cofermentation on the accumulation of various characteristic flavor-inducing compounds (acetoin, acetaldehyde, butyric acid, propionic acid, arachidonic acid) and functionally relevant AA (lysine, ornithine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine) in the fermented milk. Glutathione was identified as a potential metabolic biomarker associated with synergistic interactions between the strains. This study provides a theoretical foundation and technical support for developing next-generation fermented dairy products with desirable sensory attributes and health benefits.
ABSTRACT: Mastitis is an udder inflammation and infection causing several economic losses in dairy cows. The milk metabolomic changes associated with clinical or subclinical mastitis have been investigated. However, little is known on milk metabolome associated with intramammary infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the quarter-milk metabolomic profile affected by intramammary infection, subclinical mastitis, and clinical mastitis in dairy cows. A total of 80 quarter-milk samples of multiparous Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were used in this cross-sectional design study. Samples were equally divided into 4 groups: healthy (H; no clinical signs of mastitis, SCC <200,000 cells/mL, negative at bacteriological analysis); intramammary infection (IMI group; no clinical signs of mastitis, SCC <200,000 cells/mL, positive at bacteriological analysis); subclinical mastitis (SCM; no clinical signs of mastitis, SCC ≥200,000 cells/mL, positive at bacteriological analysis); and clinical mastitis (CM; clinical signs of mastitis, SCC ≥200,000 cells/mL, positive at bacteriological analysis). Statistical analysis was conducted by fitting a linear mixed model with the group as the fixed effect, quarter nested within animal as random effect, and DIM as covariate. Analysis identified 45 metabolites, and among them 34 were significantly different among groups. Among these, 18 metabolites (2-aminoadipate, Ala, creatine-phosphate, dimethylamine, N-acetyl-Gly, O-phosphocholine, glucose, lactose, maltose, cis-aconitate, carnitine, fumarate, lactate, phenylacetate, 2-ketobutyrate, acetoacetate, citicoline, and orotate) progressively changed from the H to the CM stage, and other 12 metabolites (Leu, taurine, Val, arabinose, galactose, ribose, acetate, formate, pyruvate, 5-dodecenoic acid, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and ascorbate) differed only in the CM group. These metabolites were related to blood-milk barrier damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, cell proliferation, energy and lipid metabolisms, the citrate (TCA) cycle, systemic energy status, and microorganism metabolism. These results suggest that metabolomic alterations in milk begin to occur when the mammary gland is infected with somatic cells within normal limits and progressively worsen.
ABSTRACT: Arginine is one of the most versatile among the AA because of its important role in multiple functions of the body. However, the effect of Arg supplementation on lactational performance in dairy cows, and the associated influencing factors, have not been well characterized. Weighted mean differences (WMD) of continuous variables from 14 articles published by March 31, 2025, were pooled by random-effects models using the Stata version 17 to explore the details regarding Arg application in dairy cows. Results showed that Arg supplementation increased milk yield (WMD = 1.29 kg/d, [95% CI: 0.58, 1.99]), milk protein yield (WMD = 0.04 kg/d, [95% CI: 0.00, 0.07]), and milk fat yield (WMD = 0.06 kg/d, [95% CI: 0.02, 0.10]) with significant heterogeneities (Varlevel1 < 75%), but had no overall effects on DMI, milk protein concentration, milk fat concentration, lactose yield, and lactose concentration. Moderator analysis revealed that the positive effects of Arg supplementation on milk yield, milk protein yield, and milk fat yield were more prominent in dairy cows in early lactation or being fed an MP-adequate diet or corn silage–based diet. Compared with feeding rumen-protected Arg, Arg supplementation through infusion increased the milk yield (WMD = 1.21 kg/d, [95% CI: 0.48, 1.95]) and had a tendency to increase the milk protein yield (WMD = 0.04 kg/d, [95% CI: 0.00, 0.08]). Regression analysis showed that graded increases of total digestible Arg supply had linear effects on milk yield and milk fat yield. These findings indicated the beneficial effects of supplemental Arg on lactational performance in dairy cows.
ABSTRACT: Milk fatty acid (FA) composition is an indicator of both farm management and the nutritional quality of dairy products. Few studies have linked diverse, multicountry observational farm data to milk FA variation through a validated machine learning workflow. We surveyed 75 European farms representing a broad gradient of production intensity, analyzed seasonally pooled bulk milk samples for 12 FA traits, and examined 29 management practices. A 2-stage workflow combined optimized random forests (RF) to predict FA and rank practices, with conditional inference trees to visualize management synergies and trade-offs. RF models achieved high predictive accuracy (R2 ≥ 0.50) for 8 traits: α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, CLA, n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio, linoleic acid, vaccenic acid (VA), and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA). Conditional inference trees models had comparable accuracy (R2 ≥ 0.50) for all these traits except VA and BCFA. Across models, fresh grass intake, maize silage and concentrate use, stocking rates, herd size, milk yield, and mineral fertilizer were dominant drivers, together explaining most variance in the models. Farms adopting low-input, pasture-based strategies were consistently associated with lower n-6:n-3 PUFA ratios and higher n-3 PUFA, CLA, and BCFA in milk, highlighting synergies alongside trade-offs between production intensity and nutritional quality. Although this profile is associated with favorable health outcomes and contributes to meeting dietary recommendations, further targeted validation is needed to confirm generalizability and adaptability across dairy production contexts.
ABSTRACT: Plastic is widespread in our lives, releasing various microplastics (MP) with toxicity. In recent years, the potential threat of MP on the reproductive system has aroused public concern. Numerous reports have focused on its damage to spermatogenesis. Nevertheless, the toxicity of MP on female reproduction is unclear. Here, we explored this question using bovine oocyte. Through immunofluorescence staining, the results revealed that MP disrupts spindle organization, chromosome alignment, and actin assembly, leading to failed maturation of bovine oocytes. Concurrently, abnormal expression and localization of cortical granules suggest a failure of cytoplasmic maturation. Therefore, embryonic development is affected. Utilizing single-cell transcriptome sequencing technology, we found that MP induced changes in the expression of mitochondrial-related genes, reflecting the damage of MP are mediated by mitochondrial functions. The MP indeed causes oxidative stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis. Taurine is capable of stabilizing cellular antioxidant levels. Our results suggest that taurine can inhibit mitochondrial dysfunction, reversing the failure of oocyte maturation and embryo development following MP exposure. Collectively, we reveal the reproduction toxicity of MP on bovine oocytes and demonstrate the restorative effect of taurine against MP.
Chloé Desmousseaux, Morgan Guilbaud, Gwenaëlle Jard
et al.
ABSTRACT: Raw milk is known to harbor a complex microbial community, including microorganisms of technological and human health interest. However, it can also be a source of pathogenic and spoilage bacteria, such as spore-forming bacteria and Pseudomonas spp. Despite cleaning and disinfection procedures, biofilms in milking machines are difficult to remove and represent a major source of milk contamination. This work aims to describe biofilms in milking machines at both the laboratory and farm scales. Encouraging studies on the microbiota of milking machine biofilms, the parameters influencing changes in biofilm composition, and the methods used to characterize them are essential for managing the formation and composition of these biofilms. Enhancing such knowledge will help improve the understanding of milking machine biofilms and their impact on the quality of milk and dairy products.
ABSTRACT: Sizes and rates of potentially digestible (B) and undegradable (C) pools of amylase-treated neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) are used to predict ruminal aNDF digestibility (raNDFD%) in widely used dairy cattle diet formulation programs. An exponential 3-pool (3P) model has been suggested for estimating digestion kinetics parameters for this purpose; however, the approach has not been compared with using a simpler exponential 2-pool (2P) model, nor with using commercial laboratory data on which applications would rely, nor on model effect on predictions of raNDFD%, which is the aim of their application. Our objective was to determine whether the 2P or 3P model most accurately and efficiently characterizes aNDF digestion kinetics and whether the models differ in predicted raNDFD%. Dry forages and silages (6 alfalfas, 6 species of grasses) were analyzed by 2 commercial laboratories that each performed 2 in vitro incubation runs with mixed ruminal microbes, with samples and blanks in duplicate at each of 11 time points; residual aNDF (Ut) was measured at each time point. Sampling hours (t) were 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 48, 72, 120, and 240 h. Outlier Ut values were removed. Pools as proportions of aNDF were B in 2P, B1 rapid and B2 slow in 3P, and C in both; B pools have digestion rates (kd, h−1; denoted as kd“Bpool”) and lag (h). Models were fit to data for each forage in each incubation with equations 2P: Ut = B × e(−kdB × z) + C and 3P: Ut = B1 × e(−kdB1 × z) + B2 × e(−kdB2 × z) + C, where z = [−(lag − t − |t − lag|)/2]. There were 48 curves for each model. Parameters were estimated with the optim function in base R. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used to select the model with the best fit for each forage in each incubation: 16 3P and 32 2P curves were selected. Expressed as (difference between runs)/mean, average deviations between runs for laboratories 1 and 2, respectively, were as follows: for 3P, B1 = 0.50, 0.17; B2 = 0.26, 0.33; C = 0.50, 0.06; kdB1 = 0.81, 0.32; and kdB2 = 0.93, 0.54; for 2P, B = 0.04, 0.01; C = 0.07, 0.01; and kdB = 0.17, 0.08. Estimates of raNDFD% for 2P and 3P were calculated with no lag at passage rates (kp) reported for forages of 0.02 through 0.07 h−1. T-tests determined whether differences were ≠ 0 for 2P − 3P for raNDFD% at each kp for each feed evaluated. With 2P minus 3P differences in raNDFD% listed sequentially by 0.01 h−1 from kp = 0.02 to 0.07 h−1, for 16 AIC-selected 3P curves, differences were −0.29, −0.45, −0.65, −0.87, −1.04, and −1.20%, and for 32 AIC-selected 2P curves, values were −0.15, −0.13, −0.14, −0.17, −0.19, and −0.22%. Some differences were significant, but all were quite small. With little difference between models, use of the more complex 3P conferred no advantage over 2P for prediction of raNDFD% in this dataset.
ABSTRACT: With multiparous Jersey cows, colostrum production seems to be variable. Due to this, we aimed to identify specific variables involved in colostrum production and quality. From 2021 to 2023, data from 28 US farms (415 multiparous Jersey cows) were used to investigate if colostrum yield, IgG concentration (g/L), and IgG yield (g) could be predicted by farm variables and transmitting abilities. With the data collected, multiple regression equations were developed to aid in predicting colostrum yield, IgG concentration, and IgG yield. Colostrum was weighed and sampled for IgG analysis. Dairy Herd Information (DHI), calving, diet, and management information data were compiled. Days below 5°C (D<), days above 23°C (D>), and days between 5 and 23°C (D) were recorded. We evaluated transmitting abilities for milk, fat, protein, and dollars; previous lactation milk yield, fat percent, fat yield, protein percent, protein yield, previous lactation somatic cell score, previous lactation days open, previous lactation days dry, previous lactation days in milk, and previous parity; and current lactation parity, days dry, and calving information, birth ordinal day, and latitude. Colostrum yield, IgG yield, and concentration had 1 added to correct for values = 0. After addition, values >0 were transformed to ln or log10. Nontransformed variables were also used to develop the model. Variance inflation factor analysis was conducted, followed by backward elimination. The log10 colostrum yield model (R2 = 0.55; β in parentheses) included herd size (−0.0001), ordinal days (−0.001), ln ordinal days (0.07), latitude (−0.02), dry period length (0.004), D< (−0.005), D (−0.003), time to harvest (0.05), ln time to harvest (−0.35), IgG (−0.004), log10 IgG (0.46), feedings per day (0.06), ln pasture access (−0.13), and ln previous lactation days open (0.14). The model showed that previous lactation days open contributed the most toward increasing and latitude contributed the most toward decreasing colostrum yield. The IgG model (R2 = 0.21) included herd size (0.02), D> (0.38), ln time to harvest (−19.42), colostrum yield (−4.29), ln diet type (18.00), ln previous lactation fat percent (74.43), and previous parity (5.72). The model showed that previous lactation milkfat percent contributed the most toward increasing and time from parturition to colostrum harvest contributed the most toward decreasing colostrum IgG concentration. The log10 IgG yield model (R2 = 0.79) included ln ordinal days (0.03), time to harvest (−0.01), colostrum yield (−0.11), ln colostrum yield (1.20), ln pasture access (−0.09), ln previous lactation fat percent (0.53), and previous parity (0.02). The model showed that colostrum yield contributed the most toward increasing IgG yield, followed by previous lactation milkfat percentage. Pasture access contributed the most toward decreasing IgG yield, although the contribution was very small. These models were validated using 39 samples from 22 farms. Actual minus predicted colostrum yield and IgG concentration and yield were 0.89 kg, −21.10 g/L, and −65.15 g, respectively. These models indicate that dry period management and cow information can predict colostrum yield and IgG concentration and yield.
Noémie Vanacker, Henrique Barbosa Hooper, Richard Blouin
et al.
ABSTRACT: During the transition period, dairy cows often experience negative energy balance, which can induce metabolic and immunological disturbances. Previous work has shown that there is a relationship between the dysfunction of immune cells and the increase in blood nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration. Nevertheless, it is difficult to determine the exact effect of NEFA on the immune system, as other metabolic and hormonal perturbations occur simultaneously during the transition period. In the present study, we have determined the effect of NEFA on immune functions using an experimental model designed to assess the effects independently of energy balance, as well as hormonal and metabolic changes due to parturition. Six dry and nonpregnant cows were infused with either sterile water (control treatment) or a lipid emulsion (Intralipid 20%, Frenesius Kabi, lipid treatment) at a rate of 1 mL/kg per hour for 6 h according to a crossover design. Blood concentrations of NEFA, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and glucose were measured every hour throughout the infusion period, and 1 and 18 h after the end of infusion. Proliferation and interferon-γ secretion of lymphocytes, phagocytosis, and oxidative burst of neutrophils and blood insulin concentration were evaluated before, during, and at the end of the infusion. For NEFA, BHB, and glucose, treatment × time interactions were present. When compared with the control condition, NEFA and BHB levels were greater in the plasma of cows infused with lipids from 1 h after the start of infusion until 1 h after the end of infusion. Glucose level also increased in response to lipid infusion from 2 h of infusion until 1 h after the end of treatment. For sterile water and lipid infusions, respectively, maximal concentrations were 0.06 ± 0.10 mM and 1.39 ± 0.10 mM for NEFA, 0.70 ± 0.05 mM and 1.06 ± 0.05 mM for BHB, and 4.56 ± 0.27 mM and 6.90 ± 0.27 mM for glucose. For all blood metabolites, there were no differences between treatments 18 h postinfusion. Lipid infusion significantly increased blood insulin concentration at 3 and 6 h of infusion. However, it returned to its basal concentration 18 h after the end of the infusion. Lymphoproliferation declined as early as 3 h after the start of the lipid infusion. At 3 and 6 h of infusion, lipid treatment significantly reduced INF-γ concentration in the culture cell supernatant. The lipid infusion did not affect neutrophil phagocytosis. Nevertheless, the efficacy of the response was affected by a reduction of neutrophils' oxidative burst. These results confirm that NEFA inhibits immune functions independently of energy balance and other changes that occur during the transition period. They also indicate that high blood lipid concentration causes insulin resistance.
O. Ramezani Afarani, A. Zali, M. Dehghan-Banadaki
et al.
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of varying the ratio of dietary palmitic (C16:0; PA) and stearic (C18:0; SA) acids on nutrient digestibility, production, and blood metabolites of early-lactation Holsteins under mild-to-moderate heat stress. Eight multiparous Holsteins (body weight = 589 ± 45 kg; days in milk = 51 ± 8 d; milk production = 38.5 ± 2.4 kg/d; mean ± standard deviation) were used in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design (21-d periods inclusive of 7-d data collection). The PA (88.9%)- and SA (88.5%)-enriched fat supplements, either individually or in combination, were added to diets at 2% of dry matter (DM) to formulate the following treatments: (1) 100PA:0SA (100% PA + 0% SA), (2) 66PA:34SA (66% PA + 34% SA), (3) 34PA:66SA (34% PA + 66% SA), and (4) 0PA:100SA (0% PA + 100% SA). Diets offered, in the form of total mixed rations, were formulated to be isonitrogenous (crude protein = 17.2% of DM) and isocaloric (net energy for lactation = 1.69 Mcal/kg DM), with a forage-to-concentrate ratio of 40:60. Ambient temperature-humidity index averaged 72.9 throughout the experiment, suggesting that cows were under mild-to-moderate heat stress. No differences in DM intake across treatments were detected (mean 23.5 ± 0.64 kg/d). Increasing the dietary proportion of SA resulted in a linear decrease in total-tract digestibility of total fatty acids, but organic matter, DM, neutral detergent fiber, and crude protein digestibilities were not different across treatments. Decreasing dietary PA-to-SA had no effect on the time spent eating (340 min/d), rumination (460 min/d), and chewing (808 min/d). As dietary PA-to-SA decreased, milk fat concentration and yield decreased linearly, resulting in a linear decrease of 3.5% fat-corrected milk production and milk fat-to-protein ratio. Feed efficiency expressed as kg 3.5% fat-corrected milk/kg DM intake decreased linearly with decreasing the proportion of PA-to-SA in the diet. Treatments had no effect on milk protein and lactose content. A linear increase in de novo and preformed fatty acids was identified as the ratio of PA to SA decreased, while PA and SA concentrations of milk fat decreased and increased linearly, respectively. A linear reduction in blood nonesterified fatty acids and glucose was detected as the ratio of PA to SA decreased. Insulin concentration increased linearly from 10.3 in 100PA:0SA to 13.1 µIU/mL in 0PA:100SA, whereas blood β-hydroxybutyric acid was not different across treatments. In conclusion, the heat-stressed Holsteins in early-lactation phase fed diets richer in PA versus SA produced greater fat-corrected milk and were more efficient in converting feed to fat-corrected milk.
Ligia Cavani, Michael B. Poindexter, Corwin D. Nelson
et al.
ABSTRACT: The onset of lactation results in a sudden irreversible loss of Ca for colostrum and milk synthesis. Some cows are unable to quickly adapt to this demand and succumb to clinical hypocalcemia, whereas a larger proportion of cows develop subclinical hypocalcemia that predisposes them to other peripartum diseases. The objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive genomic analysis of blood total Ca concentration in periparturient Holstein cows. We first performed a genomic scan and a subsequent gene-set analysis to identify candidate genes, biological pathways, and molecular mechanisms affecting postpartum Ca concentration. Then, we assessed the prediction of postpartum Ca concentration using genomic information. Data consisted of 7,691 records of plasma or serum concentrations of Ca measured in the first, second, and third day after parturition of 959 primiparous and 1,615 multiparous cows that calved between December 2015 and June 2020 in 2 dairy herds. All cows were genotyped with 80k SNPs. The statistical model included lactation (1 to 5+), calf category (male, females, twins), and day as fixed effects, and season-treatment-experiment, animal, and permanent environmental as random effects. Model predictive ability was evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation. Heritability and repeatability estimates were 0.083 (standard error = 0.017) and 0.444 (standard error = 0.028). The association mapping identified 2 major regions located on Bos taurus autosome (BTA)6 and BTA16 that explained 1.2% and 0.7% of additive genetic variance of Ca concentration, respectively. Interestingly, the region on BTA6 harbors the GC gene, which encodes the vitamin D binding protein, and the region on BTA16 harbors LRRC38, which is actively involved in K transport. Other sizable peaks were identified on BTA5, BTA2, BTA7, BTA14, and BTA9. These regions harbor genes associated with Ca channels (CACNA1S, CRACR2A), K channels (KCNK9), bone remodeling (LRP6), and milk production (SOCS2). The gene-set analysis revealed terms related to vitamin transport, calcium ion transport, calcium ion binding, and calcium signaling. Genomic predictions of phenotypic and genomic estimated breeding values of Ca concentration yielded predictive correlations up to 0.50 and 0.15, respectively. Overall, the present study contributes to a better understanding of the genetic basis of postpartum blood Ca concentration in Holstein cows. In addition, the findings may contribute to the development of novel selection and management strategies for reducing periparturient hypocalcemia in dairy cattle.
Ligia Cavani, William E. Brown, Kristen L. Parker Gaddis
et al.
ABSTRACT: Residual feed intake (RFI) is commonly used to measure feed efficiency but individual intake recording systems are needed. Feeding behavior may be used as an indicator trait for feed efficiency using less expensive precision livestock farming technologies. Our goal was to estimate genetic parameters for feeding behavior and the genetic correlations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows. Data consisted of 75,877 daily feeding behavior records of 1,328 mid-lactation Holstein cows in 31 experiments conducted from 2009 to 2020 with an automated intake recording system. Feeding behavior traits included number of feeder visits per day, number of meals per day, duration of each feeder visit, duration of each meal, total duration of feeder visits, intake per visit, intake per meal [kg of dry matter (DM)], feeding rate per visit, and feeding rate per meal (kg of DM per min). The meal criterion was estimated as 26.4 min, which means that any pair of feeder visits separated by less than 26.4 min were considered part of the same meal. The statistical model included lactation and days in milk as fixed effects, and experiment-treatment, animal, and permanent environment as random effects. Genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits were estimated using daily records and weekly averages. Estimates of heritability for daily feeding behavior traits ranged from 0.09 ± 0.02 (number of meals; mean ± standard error) to 0.23 ± 0.03 (feeding rate per meal), with repeatability estimates ranging from 0.23 ± 0.01 (number of meals) to 0.52 ± 0.02 (number of feeder visits). Estimates of heritability for weekly averages of feeding behavior traits ranged from 0.19 ± 0.04 (number of meals) to 0.32 ± 0.04 (feeding rate per visit), with repeatability estimates ranging from 0.46 ± 0.02 (duration of each meal) to 0.62 ± 0.02 (feeding rate per visit and per meal). Most of the feeding behavior measures were strongly genetically correlated, showing that with more visits or meals per day, cows spend less time in each feeder visit or meal with lower intake per visit or meal. Weekly averages for feeding behavior traits were analyzed jointly with RFI and its components. Number of meals was genetically correlated with milk energy (0.48), metabolic body weight (−0.27), and RFI (0.19). Duration of each feeder visit and meal were genetically correlated with milk energy (0.43 and 0.44, respectively). Total duration of feeder visits per day was genetically correlated with DM intake (0.29), milk energy (0.62), metabolic body weight (−0.37), and RFI (0.20). Intake per visit and meal were genetically correlated with DM intake (0.63 and 0.87), milk energy (0.47 and 0.69), metabolic body weight (0.47 and 0.68), and RFI (0.31 and 0.65). Feeding rate was genetically correlated with DM intake (0.69), metabolic body weight (0.67), RFI (0.47), and milk energy (0.21). We conclude that measures of feeding behavior could be useful indicators of dairy cow feed efficiency, and individual cows that eat at a slower rate may be more feed efficient.
ABSTRACT: This study aimed to investigate the effects of compound probiotics (consisting of 108 cfu/g of Lactobacillus plantarum, 108 cfu/g of Pediococcus acidilactici, 108 cfu/g of Pediococcus pentosaceus, 107 cfu/g of and Bacillus subtilis) on growth performance, rumen fermentation, bacteria community, blood parameters, and health status of Holstein calves at the first 3 mo of age. Forty-eight newborn calves were randomly divided into the following 3 groups: control group (milk replacer with no compound probiotics), low compound probiotics group (milk replacer + 0.12 g of compound probiotics per head per day), and high compound probiotics group (HP; milk replacer + 1.2 g of compound probiotics per head per day). Starter pellets of the low compound probiotics and HP groups were coated with 0.05% compound probiotics. Milk replacer was provided from 2 to 63 d of age (6 L at 2–10 d, 8 L at 11–42 d, 6 L at 43–49 d, 4 L at 50–56 d, and 2 L at 57–63 d), and starter pellets were provided ad libitum from 7 to 90 d of age. Body weight and body size (d 1, 30, 60, and 90), blood (d 40 and 80), and rumen fluid (d 90) were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA procedure; fecal score was recorded daily and analyzed as repeated measures using the mixed model procedure. Results showed that diet supplemented with compound probiotics had no effects on the body weight, average daily gain, dry matter intake, and feed efficiency. At 90 d of age, diet supplemented with compound probiotics decreased the withers height. Immunity activities increased in the HP group, supported by the increased concentrations of serum total protein and immunoglobulins at 40 d of age, and by the increased activity of superoxide dismutase at 80 d of age. Diet supplemented with compound probiotics altered rumen fermentation, indicated by the decreased rumen acetic acid and propionic acid, and the increased butyric acid concentrations. Diet supplemented with compound probiotics improved the health status of calves, indicated by the decreased fecal score at 3 wk of age and the decreased medicine treatments. In summary, although diet supplemented with HP decreased the withers height, this level of probiotics is recommended to improve rumen development and health status of newborn Holstein calves.
ABSTRACT: A new undesirable genetic factor, neuropathy with splayed forelimbs (JNS), has been identified recently in the Jersey breed. Calves affected with JNS are unable to stand on splayed forelimbs that exhibit significant extensor rigidity and excessive lateral abduction at birth. Affected calves generally are alert at birth but exhibit neurologic symptoms, including spasticity of head and neck and convulsive behavior. Other symptoms reported include dislocated shoulders, congenital craniofacial anomalies, and degenerative myelopathy. Inheritance of an undesirable genetic factor was determined from a study of 16 affected calves reported by Jersey breeders across the United States. All of their pedigrees traced back on both paternal and maternal sides to a common ancestor born in 1995. Genotypes revealed that JNS is attributable to a specific haplotype on Bos taurus autosome 6. Currently 8.2% of the genotyped US Jersey population are carriers of the haplotype. Sequencing of the region of shared homozygosity revealed missense variant rs1116058914 at base 60,158,901 of the ARS-UCD1.2 reference map as the most concordant with the genetic condition and the most likely cause. The single-base G to A substitution is in the coding region of the last exon of UCHL1, which is conserved across species. Mutations in humans and gene knockouts in mice cause similar recessive symptoms and muscular degeneration. Since December 2020, carrier status has been tracked using the identified haplotype and reported for all 459,784 genotyped Jersey animals. With random mating, about 2,200 affected calves per year with losses of about $250,000 would result from the 1.3 million US Jersey cows in the national population. Selection and mating programs can reduce numbers of JNS-affected births using either the haplotype status or a direct gene test in the future. Breeders should report calf abnormalities to their breed association to help discover new defects such as JNS.
ABSTRACT: The US dairy industry has made substantial gains in reducing the greenhouse gas emission intensity of a gallon of milk. At the same time, consumer and investor interest for improved environmental benefits or reduced environmental impact of food production continues to grow. Following a trend of increasing greenhouse gas emission commitments for businesses across sectors of the economy, the US dairy industry has committed to a goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Paris Climate Accord's goal is to reduce warming of the atmosphere to less than 1.5 to 2°C based on preindustrial levels, which is different from emission goals of historic climate agreements that focus on emission reduction targets. Most of the emissions that account for the greenhouse gas footprint of a gallon of milk are from the short-lived climate pollutant CH4, which has a half-life of approximately 10 yr. The relatively new accounting system Global Warming Potential Star and the unit CO2 warming equivalents gives the industry the appropriate metrics to quantify their current and projected warming impact on future emissions. Incorporating this metric into potential future emissions pathways can allow the industry to understand the magnitude of emissions reductions needed to no longer contribute additional warming. Deterministic modeling was performed across the dairy industry's emission areas of enteric fermentation, manure management, feed production, and other upstream emissions necessary for dairy production. By reducing farm-level absolute emissions by 23% based on current levels, there is the opportunity for the US dairy industry to realize climate neutrality within the next few decades.
Hindu nationalists and NGOs proffer camel dairying as an employment strategy for Rajasthan's nomadic pastoralists, akin to the commodification of bovine milk for poverty alleviation in India. Commercial dairying however is inconsistent with pastoralist ethics though it is consistent with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's broader agenda to consolidate Hindutva at the national and subnational levels in India, and with developmentalism that regards animals as capital. In an original contribution bringing together pastoralist studies and critical animal geographies, this paper introduces species to the ‘conjugated oppressions’ in agrarian economies, currently composing caste, tribes, and class, through the suturing of (dairy) capitalism and right-wing ultranationalism. Focussing the camels and the Raika herders in the subregions of Jaisalmer, and Sirohi, home to India's only camel sanctuary, the paper delineates how the camel is entrapped in the coalescing and conflicts of dairy-based development and Hindutva nationalism. Interconnected oppressions upon the camels and herders are conceptualised and enacted through the control and appropriation of rangelands, understood as yatra or pilgrimage by the pastoralists. However, the camel is also enmeshed in the older violent histories of domestication, raising difficult questions about how nomadic and camel sovereignties may be imagined, together. Arguing that dairy capitalism will discipline the nomads and camels while strengthening Hindutva in Rajasthan, the paper draws on pastoralist worldviews as a starting point to re-imagine human–animal relations, based on an ethic of de-commodification.
Abstract Water quality has become a significant concern for the New Zealand public. The source of its decline in recent years has been largely attributed to the expansion of the dairying industry, and its improvement, a focal point of environmental management. A collaborative model has been developed in the Canterbury region, where committees have been created including government representatives, water management experts, farmers, and non-farming community members. These committees develop water management plans in a water catchment and can be seen to embody a form of socialising accountability where different groups hold each other accountable and share responsibility. One feature of the plans is the establishment of nitrogen loss thresholds for farms in a catchment, implemented through a highly technical form of nutrient modelling. Drawing from interviews and observations in Canterbury water governance networks, we argue that there is a tension between collaborative forms of environmental governance that seeks to socialise accountability, and nutrient modelling that de-socialise accountability in practice. We discuss how these tensions may challenge participatory forms of governance.
Despite the growing literature on the impact of immigration, little is known about the role existing migrant settlements can play for knowledge transmission and the location of industry. We present a case that can illustrate this important mechanism and hypothesize that nineteenth-century Danish American communities helped spread knowledge on modern dairying to rural America. From around 1880 Denmark developed rapidly, and by 1890 it was a world-leading dairy producer. Using a difference-in-differences strategy and data taken from the US census and Danish emigration archives, we find that counties with more Danes in 1880 subsequently both specialized in dairying and used more modern practices. (JEL J15, J61, L66, N31, N51, O33, Q12)