Effects of Protein Supplementation Strategy and Genotype on Milk Production and Nitrogen Utilisation Efficiency in Late-Lactation, Spring-Calving Grazing Dairy Cows.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of (1) protein supplementation strategy, (2) cow genotype and (3) an interaction between protein supplementation strategy and cow genotype on milk production and nitrogen (N) utilisation efficiency (milk N output/ total dietary N intake × 100; NUE) in late-lactation, spring-calving grazing dairy cows. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement experiment, with two feeding strategies [13% (lower crude protein; LCP) and 18% CP (higher CP; HCP) supplements with equal metabolisable protein supply] offered at 3.6 kg dry matter/cow perday, and two cow genotype groups [lower milk genotype (LM) and higher milk genotype (HM)], was conducted over 53 days. Cows were offered 15 kg dry matter of grazed herbage/cow/day. Herbage intake was controlled using electric strip wires which allowed cows to graze their daily allocation-only. There was an interaction for herbage dry matter intake within cows offered HCP, where higher milk genotype (HM) cows had increased herbage dry matter intake (+0.58 kg) compared to lower milk genotype (LM) cows. Offering cows LCP decreased fat + protein yield (-110 g) compared to offering cows HCP. Offering cows LCP decreased the total feed N proportion that was recovered in the urine (-0.007 proportion units) and increased the total feed N proportion that was recovered in the faeces (+0.008 proportion units) compared to offering cows HCP. In conclusion, our study shows that reducing the supplementary CP concentration from 18% to 13% resulted in decreased milk production (-9.8%), reduced partitioning of total feed N to urine (-0.9%) and increased partitioning of total feed N to faeces (+14%) in late lactation, grazing dairy cows.

The effect of cereal type and α-tocopherol supplementation on selective quality and processability parameters of milk from late lactation grazing dairy cows.

This research communication addressed the hypothesis that late lactation cows offered an oat-grain-based supplement or a high level of α-TOC supplementation at pasture would have improved milk composition and processability. Over a grazing period of 49 d, 48 Holstein Friesian dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments. The dietary treatments were: control, pasture only (CTRL), pasture + 2.65 kg DM barley-based concentrate + 350 IU α-TOC/kg (BARLO), pasture + 2.65 kg DM oat-based concentrate + 350 IU α-TOC/kg (OATLO) and pasture + 2.65 kg DM oat-based concentrate + 1050 IU α-TOC/kg (OATHI). Within this randomised complete block design experiment cows were blocked on days in milk (DIM) and balanced for parity, milk yield and composition. Rennet coagulation time (RCT) was reduced in milk from cows offered OATHI compared to CTRL cows and OATLO. Concentration of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was increased by OATHI compared to OATLO and in OATLO compared to CTRL. Supplementation with OATHI reduced individual saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in milk compared to OATLO. In conclusion, supplementing grazing dairy cows with an oat-based supplement improved total milk CLA concentration compared to pasture only. Offering a high level of α-TOC (2931 IU/d) to dairy cows reduced RCT, individual SFA and increased total CLA concentration of milk compared to a lower α-TOC level (738 IU α-TOC/d).

Correction: Boland, T.M.; et al. Feed Intake, Methane Emissions, Milk Production and Rumen Methanogen Populations of Grazing Dairy Cows Supplemented with Various C 18 Fatty Acid Sources. Animals 2020, 10, 2380.

The authors wish to make a change to the published paper [...].

Feed Intake, Methane Emissions, Milk Production and Rumen Methanogen Populations of Grazing Dairy Cows Supplemented with Various C 18 Fatty Acid Sources.

Emissions of methane (CH4) from dairy production systems are environmentally detrimental and represent an energy cost to the cow. This study evaluated the effect of varying C18 fatty acid sources on CH4 emissions, milk production and rumen methanogen populations in grazing lactating dairy cows. Forty-five Holstein Friesian cows were randomly allocated to one of three treatments (n = 15). Cows were offered 15 kg dry matter (DM)/d of grazed pasture plus supplementary concentrates (4 kg DM/d) containing either stearic acid (SA), linseed oil (LO), or soy oil (SO). Cows offered LO and SO had lower pasture DM intake (DMI) than those offered SA (11.3, 11.5 vs. 12.6 kg/d). Cows offered LO and SO had higher milk yield (21.0, 21.3 vs. 19.7 kg/d) and milk protein yield (0.74, 0.73 vs. 0.67 kg/d) than those offered SA. Emissions of CH4 (245 vs. 293, 289 g/d, 12.4 vs. 15.7, 14.8 g/kg of milk and 165 vs. 207, 195 g/kg of milk solids) were lower for cows offered LO than those offered SA or SO. Methanobrevibacter ruminantium abundance was reduced in cows offered LO compared to SA. Offering supplementary concentrates containing LO can reduce enteric CH4 emissions from pasture fed dairy cows.

The effect of dietary Laminaria-derived laminarin and fucoidan on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilisation, intestinal microflora and volatile fatty acid concentration in pigs.

BACKGROUND: In experiment 1, 30 boars were assigned to one of five treatments (n = 6): T1, 0 g kg(-1) seaweed extract (SWE); T2, 0.7 g kg(-1) SWE; T3, 1.4 g kg(-1) SWE; T4, 2.8 g kg(-1) SWE and T5, 5.6 g kg(-1) SWE. The extract contained laminarin and fucoidan only and was extracted from Laminaria spp. In experiment 2, 28 boars were assigned, in a 2 x 2 factorial to one of four treatments (n = 7): T1, control; T2, control plus 300 mg laminarin; T3, control plus 240 mg fucoidan; T4, control plus 300 mg laminarin and 240 mg fucoidan kg(-1) diet. RESULTS: In experiment 1 there was a response to SWE on colonic Bifidobacterium spp. (P < 0.01 quadratic), Enterobacterium spp. (quadratic P < 0.05) and on caecal Enterobacterium spp. (quadratic P < 0.05). In experiment 2 there was an interaction (P < 0.05) between laminarin and fucoidan supplementation on Enterobacterium spp. in the proximal and distal colon. Pigs offered laminarin had reduced Enterobacterium spp. compared with pigs offered the control diet. However, the combination of laminarin and fucoidan had increased Enterobacterium spp. compared with alone. Pigs offered diets containing fucoidan had increased Lactobacilli spp. in the proximal colon (P < 0.05) and distal colon (P < 0.001) compared with non-fucoidan diets. CONCLUSION: Overall, the reductions in intestinal Enterobacterium spp. and increases in Lactobacilli spp. obtained suggest that laminarin and fucoidan may provide a dietary means to improve gut health in pigs.

Music for patients with hematological malignancies undergoing bone marrow biopsy: a randomized controlled study of anxiety, perceived pain, and patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of random assignment to music versus usual care on anxiety, perceived pain level and patient satisfaction in patients undergoing bone marrow biopsies. METHOD: Patients were randomized to music or usual care after completing a baseline questionnaire. All patients completed a post-procedure questionnaire. RESULTS: Study participants (N=59) had a mean age of 50.9 years (SD = 13.9; range 22-78). Post-procedure state anxiety (STAI) and pain rating (VAS) were not significantly different between groups (STAI p=0.766; VAS p=0.771). However, patient satisfaction with music was high; 66% of these patients said they very much preferred to listen to music at a future biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: While there were no significant group differences for the music intervention compared to standard of care for anxiety or perceived pain, additional feedback indicated that patients found the music intervention beneficial and requested use of music during future procedures.