Effects of prepartum supplementation of ß-carotene on colostrum and calves.

Little is known about transfer of dietary ß-carotene into colostrum, its absorption by the calf, and its effects on retinol and α-tocopherol in the calf when the dam's dietary vitamin A is adequate. Our objective was to assess the effect of ß-carotene supplementation during the close-up dry period on the colostrum and calf. The study was conducted on a large commercial dairy farm in Indiana during early summer of 2015. Ninety-four multiparous Holstein cows were blocked by calving data, parity, and previous production, and then randomly assigned to either control or ß-carotene (BC) treatments. While locked in headgates each morning, each cow received a topdress of ß-carotene (Rovimix, DSM Nutritional Products, 8 g/d; provided 800 mg ß-carotene) or carrier from 21 d before expected calving until calving. Colostrum was collected within 2 h of parturition. Calf blood samples were obtained within 2 h of birth before receiving the dam's colostrum, at 24 h after birth, and at 7 d and 60 d of age. Blood serum was analyzed for ß-carotene, retinol, α-tocopherol, and other metabolites and enzymes. Colostrum was analyzed for ß-carotene, retinol, α-tocopherol, colorimetry profile, and milk components. Data were analyzed using mixed-effects models in SAS (SAS Institute Inc.). Calf serum ß-carotene data were analyzed using the FREQ procedure. Colostrum ß-carotene was higher for BC cows. Colostrum from BC cows had increased a* [measures red (positive) to green (negative)] and b* [measures yellow (positive) to blue (negative)] colorimeter values, indicating that ß-carotene altered colostrum color toward red and yellow. Supplementation did not affect colostral or calf IgG concentrations. Colostrum color indices were correlated with IgG concentrations as well as concentrations of ß-carotene, retinol, and α-tocopherol. Before receiving colostrum, the concentration of ß-carotene in calf serum was below the detectable threshold of 0.05 µg/mL. At 24 h of age, the number of calves with detectable ß-carotene concentrations increased, with more calves from BC cows (52.1%) having detectable concentrations than calves from cows in the control group (6.1%). No differences in concentrations of retinol or α-tocopherol were observed in calf serum. Supplementation of ß-carotene to cows decreased activities of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and glutamate dehydrogenase in calf serum. In pregnant cows already receiving adequate vitamin A, supplementation of ß-carotene increased concentration of ß-carotene in colostrum, altered colostrum color, and increased serum ß-carotene in calves at birth.

Effects of prepartum supplementation of ß-carotene in Holstein cows.

Whether supplemental dietary ß-carotene affects periparturient cows and vitamins A and E in cows when dietary vitamin A is adequate remains uncertain. Our objective was to assess the effect of ß-carotene supplementation during the close-up dry period in a herd with adequate status of vitamins A and E but low in ß-carotene. The study was conducted on a large commercial dairy farm in Indiana during early summer of 2015. Ninety-four multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to either control (CON; n = 47) or ß-carotene (BC; n = 47) treatments. When locked in headgates each morning, each cow received a topdress of ß-carotene (Rovimix, 8 g/d; provided 800 mg of ß-carotene) or carrier from 21 d before expected calving until calving. Blood samples were collected at 21 ± 1 d (mean ± standard deviation) before expected calving (before treatments began), 7 ± 1 d before calving, immediately following parturition, and 7 ± 1 d postpartum. Blood serum was analyzed for vitamins A and E, ß-carotene, cholesterol, and other metabolites and enzymes. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure in SAS (SAS Institute Inc.). Cows had low ß-carotene concentrations (0.85 µg/mL) in blood serum before treatments began. Compared with CON cows, BC cows had higher overall mean concentrations of ß-carotene (2.87 µg/mL vs. 0.73 µg/mL) and retinol (165 vs. 143 ng/mL). Cows fed BC had lower α-tocopherol in serum than cows fed CON (2.26 vs. 2.46 µg/mL). Cows fed BC had lower peak milk than cows fed CON (50.9 vs. 55.3), but total lactation milk yield did not differ significantly. No effects of BC were observed on days to conception (100 d) or times bred (2.4). Treatments did not affect incidences of ketosis, retained placenta, displaced abomasum, off feed, lameness, footrot, mastitis, or metritis. In conclusion, in pregnant cows already receiving adequate vitamin A but with low serum ß-carotene concentration, supplementation of ß-carotene increased concentrations of ß-carotene and vitamin A in blood serum, but did not affect production, reproduction, or health.

Effects of limonene on ruminal concentrations, fermentation, and lysine degradation in cattle.

Previous in vitro data showed that was inhibited by limonene. We further evaluated effects of limonene on growth of in vitro as well as on ruminal concentrations of in vivo. With in vitro cultivation in anaerobic brain-heart infusion broth, limonene decreased growth of . Thymol also reduced growth of , but it was less effective than limonene. Tylosin effectively reduced growth of in vitro. Although the response over fermentation times and concentrations of antimicrobials differed somewhat between tylosin and limonene, the 2 antimicrobial agents yielded similar inhibitory effects on growth of at concentrations ranging from 6 to 24 mg/L. The effects of limonene on ruminal concentration in vivo were tested in 7 ruminally cannulated heifers (225 kg initial BW) used in a 7 × 4 Youden square design. Treatments included: 1) control, 2) limonene at 10 mg/kg diet DM, 3) limonene at 20 mg/kg diet DM, 4) limonene at 40 mg/kg diet DM, 5) limonene at 80 mg/kg diet DM, 6) CRINA-L (a blend of essential oil components) at 180 mg/kg diet DM, and 7) tylosin at 12 mg/kg diet DM. Each period included 11 d with 10 d washouts between periods. Samples of ruminal contents were collected before treatment initiation and after 4, 7, and 10 d of treatment for measuring by the most probable number method using selective culture medium. Limonene linearly decreased ( = 0.03) ruminal concentration, with the lowest concentration achieved with 40 mg of limonene/kg dietary DM. Limonene tended ( ≤ 0.07) to linearly reduce ruminal molar proportions of propionate and valerate while tending to linearly increase ( ≤ 0.10) those of butyrate and 2-methyl butyrate. Limonene did not affect ruminal NH concentrations or degradation rates of lysine. Neither CRINA-L ( = 0.52) nor tylosin ( = 0.19) affected ruminal concentrations. CRINA-L significantly decreased ruminal concentrations of NH and molar proportions of 3-methyl butyrate, whereas tylosin significantly decreased molar proportions of propionate while increasing those of butyrate and tending to increase those of acetate. Limonene supplementation reduced ruminal concentrations of suggesting that it may have the potential to reduce the prevalence of liver abscesses, although further research is needed to assess the effect of limonene in feedlot cattle.

The effect of an exogenous amylase on performance and total-tract digestibility in lactating dairy cows fed a high-byproduct diet.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the performance and digestibility response of lactating dairy cows fed a reduced-starch diet containing a commercial amylase product. Treatments consisted of a normal-starch total mixed ration (NS-), a reduced-starch total mixed ration (RS-), and a reduced-starch total mixed ration with exogenous amylase (RS+) added to the concentrate. Treatments were assigned according to a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 28-d periods. Twenty-three cows completed the study. Starch concentrations in NS-, RS-, and RS+ total mixed rations were 27.7, 23.5, and 22.7%, respectively. Effects of treatment on intake, milk production, milk composition, and total-tract apparent nutrient digestibility were evaluated during the last week of each period. Effects of amylase on in vitro starch digestibility of the NS- and RS- grain mixes were also measured. We hypothesized that the reduction in dietary starch in the RS- ration would decrease diet digestibility and limit milk production compared with NS- due to a decrease in available energy, and that RS+ would alleviate some of this decrease by increasing nutrient digestibility. Contrary to this hypothesis, the RS- diet did not affect intake or milk production relative to the NS- diet, except for increased milk urea nitrogen and a tendency for a decrease in milk protein yield. This lack of response is attributed to both low milk fat concentrations across treatments and greater than predicted dietary energy content preventing the energy deficit that was intended to occur with the reduced-starch rations. Cows fed the RS+ ration had the lowest production performance, with reduced milk, fat-corrected milk, protein, and lactose yields relative to cows fed NS-. Cows fed RS+ also had reduced lactose yield and tended to have reduced milk and fat-corrected milk relative to cows fed RS-. Despite the negative effects of the RS+ treatment on performance, exogenous amylase did increase both in vitro and in vivo measurements of digestibility. Although amylase increased nutrient digestibility, this did not translate into improved milk performance, likely due to the relatively high energy content of experimental diets compared with cow requirements.

Milk production and nutrient digestibility by dairy cows when fed exogenous amylase with coarsely ground dry corn.

The digestibility of starch provided by coarsely ground corn is often low, which reduces the digestible energy (DE) concentration of the diet. We hypothesized that adding exogenous amylase to diets based on coarsely ground dent corn would increase dietary DE resulting in greater milk production. Total-tract nutrient digestibility was measured in a partially replicated Latin square experiment (6 cows and 4 periods) with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Diets had 26 or 31% starch with or without exogenous amylase (amylase was added to the concentrate mixes at the feed mill). In the low and high starch diets, coarsely ground dry corn (mean particle size=1.42 mm) provided 43 and 62% of total dietary starch (corn silage provided most of the remaining starch). No treatment interactions were observed. High starch diets had greater dry matter (DM), organic matter, and energy digestibility than low starch diets, and diets with amylase had greater neutral detergent fiber digestibility than diets without amylase. Digestibility of starch averaged 88% and was not affected by treatment. A long-term (98-d) lactation study with 48 Holstein cows (74 d in milk) was conducted using 3 of the diets (low starch diets with and without amylase and the high starch diet without amylase). Addition of amylase to a diet with 26% starch did not affect intake, milk yield, milk composition, body weight, or body condition. Cows fed the diet with 31% starch had greater DM and DE intakes; yields of milk, fat, and protein; and feed efficiency than those fed diets with 26% starch. Milk composition was not affected by starch concentration. Adding exogenous amylase to a lower starch diet did not make the diet nutritionally equivalent to a higher starch diet.

Effect of essential oils, tylosin, and monensin on finishing steer performance, carcass characteristics, liver abscesses, ruminal fermentation, and digestibility.

A feedlot (Exp. 1) experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of an essential oil mixture (EOM), experimental essential oil mixture (EXP), tylosin, and monensin (MON) on performance, carcass characteristics, and liver abscesses. A metabolism experiment (Exp. 2) was conducted to evaluate the effects of EOM, EXP, and MON on ruminal fermentation and digestibility in finishing steers. In Exp. 1, 468 yearling steers (398 +/- 34 kg initial BW) were used in 50 pens (10 pens/treatment) and received their respective dietary treatments for 115 d. Five dietary treatments were compared in Exp. 1: 1) control, no additives (CON); 2) EOM, 1.0 g/steer daily; 3) EXP, 1.0 g/steer daily; 4) EOM, 1.0 g/steer daily plus tylosin, 90 mg/steer daily (EOM+T); and 5) monensin, 300 mg/steer daily plus tylosin, 90 mg/steer daily (MON+T). Compared with CON, steers fed MON+T had decreased DMI (P < 0.01), and steers fed EOM+T and MON+T had improved G:F (P 0.58). There was a trend (P = 0.09) for a treatment effect on 12th-rib fat thickness, which resulted in a significant increase in calculated yield grade for the EOM+T treatment. No other carcass characteristics were affected by treatment (P >/= 0.10). Prevalence of total liver abscesses was reduced for steers fed tylosin compared with no tylosin (P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, 8 ruminally fistulated steers (399 +/- 49 kg initial BW) were assigned randomly to 1 of 4 treatments in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square designed experiment. Treatments were 1) CON, 2) EOM, 3) EXP, and 4) MON with feeding rates similar to Exp. 1. There were no differences in DMI, OM intake, and apparent total tract DM or OM digestibilities among treatments (P > 0.30). Feed intake patterns were similar among feed additive treatments (P > 0.13). Total VFA (P = 0.10) and acetate (P = 0.06) concentrations tended to be affected by treatment with EOM numerically greater than CON. Average ruminal pH ranged from 5.59 to 5.72 and did not differ among treatments. Addition of a EOM or monensin to a diet containing tylosin improves G:F, but little difference was observed in metabolism or digestibility.

Rates of oxidation of the methionine and S-adenosylmethionine methyl carbons in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The methyl group of methionine (Met) is metabolized via activation to S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) and subsequent transmethylation and also by a transamination-decarboxylation route. To estimate the contribution of pathways independent of AdoMet formation in the oxidation of physiological levels of Met to CO2, the oxidation rates of L-[methyl-14C]Met and L-[methyl-14C] AdoMet were compared in hepatocyte suspensions. Hepatocytes took up AdoMet from the medium and oxidized its methyl group to CO2 at a rate of 280 +/- 22 nmol/g wet cells per hour, which was constant at extracellular concentrations between 0.1 and 1.0 mM AdoMet and Met. Hepatocytes took up L-[methyl-14C]Met and reached an intracellular specific activity within 10 min that was less than 10% of the specific activity in the medium at 0.1 mM Met and 20-30% at 1.0 mM Met. In contrast, L-[methyl-14C]AdoMet formed from L-[methyl-14C]Met reached a specific activity that was 40-50% (0.1 mM Met) and 50-60% (1.0 mM Met) of the specific activity of Met in the medium. These results suggest that AdoMet is formed from a mixture of extracellular and intracellular Met. If the specific activity of AdoMet represents the pool from which Met is oxidized, then the oxidation rates of Met methyl were 1200 and 1859 nmol/(g.h) at 0.1 and 1.0 mM Met, respectively. Thus, oxidation of Met via AdoMet formation accounts for only 12% (at 1 mM Met) to 21% (at 0.1 mM Met) of the total in rat hepatocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relationship of chemical structure and solvent to in vivo scintigraphic distribution patterns of 11C compounds. II. 11C aminonitriles.

The preparation and scintigraphic evaluation of the distribution patterns in dogs of a series of structurally related aminonitriles labeled with 11C is described. Carbon-11-HCN was collected in water containing carrier NaCN following 22 MeV proton bombardment of 99% N2 and 1% H2 gas mixture for 1 hr. Ten 11C alphaN-alkylaminophenylacetonitrile hydrochlorides and 12 11C alpha-N-arylaminoarylacetonitriles were prepared from 11C-NaCN and the corresponding Schiff base, Ar-CH=N-R(Ar). Those 11C aminonitriles that were administered intravenously in aqueous solution showed some initial accumulation of activity in the liver followed by diffuse whole-body distribution and some small accumulation in urine. Aqueous insoluble 11C aminonitriles, which were administered intravenously in ethanol, ether, or DMSO, showed variable initial partial retention of activity in the lungs with prominent accumulation of activity in liver and excretion in bile. Several of these compounds showed pronounced and rapid accumulation of activity in the brain. Such activity in the brain was largely cleared within 15 min. Concentration of activity in the cerebrospinal fluid following clearance from the brain was 30 times greater than blood and equivalent in concentration to that noted in bile 18 min after intravenous administration of 11C alpha-anilinophenylacetonitrile in ethanol. These results suggest the possible correlation of regional brain uptake of activity of certain 11C aminonitriles with regional brain perfusion. Use of these or similar materials could permit assessment of brain tissue morphology followed by scintigraphic imaging of the bulk flow characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid.