Effects of feeding synthetic zeolite A during the prepartum period on serum mineral concentration, oxidant status, and performance of multiparous Holstein cows.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding synthetic zeolite A for 3 wk before expected calving on peripartal serum mineral concentrations, hypocalcemia, oxidant status, and performance. Holstein cows (n = 55) entering their second or greater lactations were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 dietary treatments starting 21 d before expected calving: control (CON: 40% corn silage, 33% wheat straw, and 27% concentrate; n = 29) or experimental [EXP: CON plus zeolite A (X-Zelit, Protekta Inc., Lucknow, ON, Canada/Vilofoss, Graasten, Denmark; n = 26) at an inclusion rate of 3.3% of dry matter, targeting 500 g/d as-fed]. Cows were fed the same postpartum diet and housed in individual tiestalls through 28 d in milk. Cows fed EXP had higher serum Ca concentrations as parturition approached and during the immediate postpartum period. Serum P concentrations were lower for the EXP-fed cows during the prepartum period and the first 2 d of lactation, whereas serum Mg concentrations were lower than those of the CON-fed cows only during the immediate periparturient period. Cows fed EXP had decreased prevalence of subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH) from d -1 through 3 relative to day of parturition, with the largest difference occurring within the first day postpartum. Prepartum dry matter intake tended to be decreased and rumination was decreased in cows fed EXP; however; postpartum dry matter intake, rumination, milk yield, milk component yield, and colostrum measurements did not differ between treatments. Cows fed EXP tended to have increased hazard of pregnancy by 150 d in milk when controlling for parity compared with CON-fed cows; potential reproductive benefits merit further study. This study demonstrated that zeolite A supplementation during the prepartum period results in markedly improved serum Ca concentrations around parturition and similar postpartum performance compared with controls and is effective at decreasing hypocalcemia in multiparous Holstein cows.

Differences in productive robustness in rabbits selected for reproductive longevity or litter size.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of a line selected for reproductive longevity (LP) to confront productive challenges compared to a line selected during 31 generations for litter size at weaning (V). A total of 133 reproductive rabbit does were used (72 and 61 from LP and V lines, respectively). Within each line, three groups with different levels of productive effort were planned: PP9, inseminated at day 4 after the first partum and with nine kits during the second partum, and inseminated after first weaning (30 days) and with nine (PW9) or five kits (PW5) during the second partum. The reproductive performance, body condition (perirrenal fat thickness (PFT)) and lipolytic response were controlled. LP does showed greater mean live weight (LW; +128 g; P < 0.05), PFT (+0.47 mm; P < 0.05) and estimated body energy (EBE; +0.29 MJ/kg; P < 0.01) than V does at second partum. However, LP does that mated at first post partum did not significantly differ in EBE relative to V does at second partum. During the first week of lactation, dry matter (DM) intake was similar for both lines (94 and 95 g DM/kg LW0.75 day for V and LP does, respectively). There was a significant difference in milk yield between both lines during the first week when litter size was nine (60 v. 54 g of milk/kg LW0.75 day for LP and V does, respectively; P < 0.01), but no difference when litter size was five. Consequently, when litter size was nine, LP does showed a lower recovery of PFT (0.6 mm less; P < 0.05) than V does during the first 10 days of lactation. However, when litter size was five, LP does showed a higher LW (+210 g; P < 0.05) than V does at 10 days of lactation and a similar recovery of PFT. During the last 3 weeks of the lactation, LP does showed a higher feed intake (+6 g DM/kg LW0.75 day; P < 0.05) and milk yield (+27 g/day; P < 0.001) than V does when litter size was nine, resulting in no significant differences in LW at 30 days of lactation. However, when litter size was five, both lines showed similar feed intake and milk yield, maintaining their differences in LW at 30 days of lactation (+206 g for LP does; P < 0.05). These results show that the rabbit line selected for reproductive longevity is more robust with respect to coping with productive challenges, than a line selected for reproductive intensity.

Constitution and evaluation of a long-lived productive rabbit line.

An evaluation of a new maternal line (LP) of rabbits was carried out. This new line was founded following a scheme similar to that applied in the selection for hyperprolificacy in rabbits or pigs. In this case, the selection criteria were hyperlongevity and an independent culling level near the average for prolificacy. Evaluation was carried out by comparison of the reproductive and longevity performance of the LP line with another maternal line recognized for good reproductive performance and standard longevity (V line). The results indicate that the LP line could be a valuable resource for inclusion in the current 3-way cross schema used in rabbit production, because females showed better survival ability and nearly the same prolificacy as the well-reputed V line. A V doe was 1.3 times more likely to leave the herd than an LP doe, and the probability of the differences in prolificacy between lines being greater than 0 was not extreme (no more than 0.22). Differences in relative performance of the lines were observed across farms for prolificacy, longevity, cumulative production, and fertility; however, based on deviance information criterion results, the data supported the hypothesis of only these differences being generated under a genotype x environment interaction for prolificacy traits. The longer productive life of LP females could partially be understood as an indication of success of the selection procedure during the foundation of this line.

Breed and parity effects on energy balance profiles through lactation: evidence of genetically driven body energy change.

The aim of this study was to characterize patterns of energy balance through lactation of cows kept under constant feeding conditions. Danish Holstein, Danish Red, and Jersey cows were studied during consecutive lactations and remained on the same dietary treatment throughout. They were fed a normal (13.55 MJ of digestible energy/kg of dry matter) or a lower energy diet (12.88 MJ of digestible energy/kg of dry matter) ad libitum throughout lactation. Energy balance was calculated using the effective energy (EE) system in such a way that energy balance equated to body energy reserve change. In the EE system the energy values assigned to feeds are directly equivalent to the energy requirements of the animal; 1 MJ of EE supply has the same energy value as 1 MJ of lipid loss from the body. The resulting body energy change data were analyzed using a linear spline model. There was no evidence to suggest that different combinations of breed and parity required different knot placements. The Holstein mobilized significantly more body energy in early lactation than the Danish Red and Jersey breeds. Parity 1 cows mobilized significantly less than parity 2 and 3 cows. There was a significant interaction between breed and parity in the first half of lactation due to parity 1 Jersey cows having a greater mobilization than would be expected of the difference between parities in the other breeds. As lactation progressed, the differences between parities and between breeds decreased. Cows on the higher energy diet had a more positive energy balance. Within breed and parity, the following possible predictors of individual differences in body energy change were examined: fatness-corrected live weight, condition score at calving, and genotype. There was no difference in the predicted cow effect or residual energy balance profile when grouped according to quartiles of corrected live weight or according to condition score at calving. During the period of most negative energy balance (d 14) there was no significant relationship between live weight and intake, suggesting that, within diet type, the systematic patterns of body energy change through lactation in cows that were kept under stable and sufficient nutritional conditions cannot be accounted for by environmental factors such as constrained intake or condition score at calving. Thus, these patterns appear to have a genetic basis. The proportion of the phenotypic variation (remaining after accounting for fixed effects) accounted for by additive genetic effects varied through lactation from 4.2 to 13.0%. Genetic correlations between early and late lactation energy balances were low and close to zero, suggesting that body energy changes in early and late lactation are genetically independent traits.

Variation in plasma growth hormone during first parity in lactating cows.

This study analyzed genetic and phenotypic variation in plasma GH during lactation in first parity dairy cows. The heritability and repeatability were examined using an algorithm for separation of basal and peak concentrations and different power transformations. Blood samples were obtained 17 times during first parity in 85 Holstein, 67 Red Dane, and 62 Jersey cows and assayed for GH. Each breed comprised 2 genetic groups; thus, a total of 6 genetic groups were defined. Across genetic groups, cows were assigned to 1 of 2 total mixed rations with a low or a normal energy concentration. The separation algorithm identified only 4.0% of the plasma GH concentrations as peaks. After excluding peak concentrations, the repeatability of GH during lactation was improved. A log-transformation was found appropriate for GH. The log-transformed GH concentrations for lactating dairy cows had a heritability ranging between 0.14 in early lactation to 0.08 in mid and late lactation. The repeatability was 0.24 in early lactation and increased to between 0.58 and 0.61 in mid and late lactation. We conclude that for GH concentrations in lactating cows that are sampled infrequently, the exclusion of peak values to obtain a basal GH concentration was not effective in clarifying phenotypic or genetic effects.