Rumen-protected l-carnitine supplementation during mating period altered metabolic status and reproductive performance of ewes.

Current study hypothesized that dietary l-carnitine (LC) inclusion during the mating period ameliorates both metabolic status and reproductive performance of ewes. Seventy Baluchi ewes (52 ± 4.2 kg of bodyweight and 18 ± 6 months old of age) were enrolled in this study. Animals were randomly allocated into two dietary treatments, control (only basal diet) or basal diet plus supplementation with a rumen-protected LC (Carneon 20 Rumin-pro; 20% LC; Kaesler Nutrition GmbH) at the rate of 10 g/head/day from 21 days before until 35 days after introducing rams to the ewes (MP). Feed intake was monitored by subtracting the ort from feed offered. Blood sample collection was conducted on Days -10, +10 and +20 relative to MP. Pregnancy was confirmed on Day 30 post-MP. Feed intake of the ewes in the LC group was higher than the control (p < 0.05). LC supplementation increased the cholesterol concentration in the ewes (p < 0.05). Blood urea concentration of animals in the LC group was significantly lower than the control (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of toll-like receptor 4 was evidently lower in animals supplemented with LC than the control (p < 0.05). Both lambing and fecundity rates in the LC group tended to be higher compared with the control. LC supplementation showed potential to alter certain metabolites in the ewes. A tendency for higher lambing rate may partly be driven by dams efficient energy partitioning to support foetal growth and maintaining pregnancy.

Rumen-protected zinc-methionine dietary inclusion alters dairy cow performances, and oxidative and inflammatory status under long-term environmental heat stress.

Dairy cows are susceptible to heat stress due to the levels of milk production and feed intake. Dietary supplemental amino acids, particularly rate-limiting amino acids, for example, methionine (Met), may alleviate the potential negative consequences. Zinc (Zn) is beneficial to the immune system and mammary gland development during heat stress. We investigated the impact of a source of a rumen-protected Zn-Met complex (Loprotin, Kaesler Nutrition GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany) in high-producing Holstein cows during a long-term environmental heat stress period. A total of 62 multiparous lactating Holstein cows were allocated in a completely randomized design to two dietary treatments, namely, basal diet without (control) and basal diet with the supplemental Zn-Met complex (RPZM) at 0.131% of diet DM. Cows in the RPZM group had higher energy-corrected milk (46.71 vs. 52.85 ± 1.72 kg/d for control and RPZM groups, respectively) as well as milk fat and protein concentration (27.28 vs. 32.80 ± 1.82 and 30.13 vs. 31.03 ± 0.25 g/kg for control and RPZM groups, respectively). The Zn-Met complex supplemented cows had lower haptoglobin and IL-1B concentration than the control (267 vs. 240 ± 10.53 mcg/mL and 76.8 vs. 60.0 ± 3.4 ng/L for control and RPZM groups, respectively). RPZM supplementation resulted in better oxidative status, indicated by higher total antioxidant status and lower malondialdehyde concentrations (0.62 vs. 0.68 ± 0.02 mmol/L and 2.01 vs. 1.76 ± 0.15 nmol/L for control and RPZM groups, respectively). Overall, the results from this study showed that RPZM dietary inclusion could maintain milk production and milk composition of animals during periods of heat stress. Enhanced performance of animals upon Zn-Met complex supplementation could be partly due to improved oxidative and immune status.

Diets containing processed barley grain as a potential rumen bypass starch source enhance productive responses of lactating Holstein dairy cows.

Effect of diets containing untreated or processed barley grain [treated with sugar beet pulp extract (SBPE) or double sulphate of aluminium and potassium (ALUM)] and different levels of rumen undegradable crude protein (RUP) on production, rumen fermentation and blood metabolites of lactating Holstein cows were investigated. Untreated soybean meal (SBM) or xylose protected 'Yasminomax soy® (YAS)' was included to represent a low (LR, 4.2% DM) and high (HR, 5.4% DM) RUP diets, respectively. Experimental diet was as follows: (a) untreated barley grains with high RUP (HRCON); (b) untreated barley grains with low RUP (LRCON); (c) ALUM-treated barley grain with high RUP (HRAL; (d) ALUM-treated barley grain with low RUP (LRAL); (e) SBPE-treated barley grain with high RUP (HRSE); and (f) SBPE-treated barley grain with low RUP (LRSE). The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with lactating dairy cows (n = 36) averaging 215 ± 18 days in milk, milk yield 31.7 ± 5.8 kg/day, 620 ± 61 kg body weight. Diets containing processed barley grain increased feed intake, while decreased both rumination and eating (p < 0.001). Feed intake of dairy cows on Low RUP and High RUP were 23 and 24 kg/day, respectively (p < 0.01). Daily production of milk fat, protein, lactose and total solids was improved when the processed barley grain was included in the diets (p < 0.05). Present study pinpointed that the inclusion of the processed barley grain in diets might improve production indices of dairy cows.

Peripartal Rumen-Protected L-Carnitine Manipulates the Productive and Blood Metabolic Responses in High-Producing Holstein Dairy Cows.

This study aimed to monitor the effect of including rumen-protected L-carnitine (Carneon 20 Rumin-Pro, Kaesler Nutrition GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany) in the transition diet on the productive and metabolic responses of multiparous high-producing Holstein dairy cows. Thirty-two multiparous cows were allocated in a completely randomized design to receive the same diet plus 60 g fat prill containing 85% palmitic acid (control, n = 16) or 100 g rumen-protected L-carnitine (RLC, n = 16); at 28 days before expected calving until 28 days in milk (DIM). Fat prill was included in the control diet to balance the palmitic acid content of both experimental diets. Milk production over the 28 DIM for the control and RLC groups was 46.5 and 47.7 kg, respectively. Milk fat content tended to increase upon rumen-protected L-carnitine inclusion (p = 0.1). Cows fed rumen-protected L-carnitine had higher fat- and energy-corrected milk compared with the control group. Pre- and post-partum administration of L-carnitine decreased both high- and low-density lipoprotein concentrations in peripheral blood of post-partum cows. The results of this study indicated that the concentration of triglycerides and beta-hydroxybutyrate was not significantly different between the groups, whereas the blood non-esterified fatty acid concentration was markedly decreased in cows supplemented with L-carnitine. Animals in the RLC group had a significant (p < 0.05) lower blood haptoglobin concentration at 7 and 14 DIM than the control. Animals in the RLC group had a lower concentration of blood enzymes than those of the control group. The mRNA abundance of Toll-like receptors 4, cluster of differentiation 14, and myeloid differential protein 2 did not significantly change upon the supplementation of L-carnitine in the transition diet. In summary, the dietary inclusion of RLC improved dairy cow's performance during the early lactation period. Greater production, at least in part, is driven by improved energy utilization efficiency and enhanced metabolic status in animals during the periparturient period.

mRNA expression pattern of selected candidate genes differs in bovine oviductal epithelial cells in vitro compared with the in vivo state and during cell culture passages.

BACKGROUND: The mammalian oviduct provides the optimal environment for gamete maturation including sperm capacitation, fertilization, and development of the early embryo. Various cell culture models for primary bovine oviductal epithelial cells (BOEC) were established to reveal such physiological events. The aim of this study was to evaluate 17 candidate mRNA expression patterns in oviductal epithelial cells (1) in transition from in vivo cells to in vitro cells; (2) during three consecutive cell culture passages; (3) affected by the impact of LOW or HIGH glucose content media; and (4) influenced by different phases of the estrous cycle in vivo and in vitro. In addition, the release of a metabolite and proteins from BOEC at two distinct cell culture passage numbers was estimated to monitor the functionality. METHODS: BOEC from 8 animals were isolated and cultured for three consecutive passages. Total RNA was extracted from in vivo and in vitro samples and subjected to reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction to reveal mRNA expression of selected candidate genes. The release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), oviduct-specific glycoprotein 1 (OVGP1) and interleukin 8 (IL8) by BOEC was measured by EIA or ELISA after 24 h. RESULTS: Almost all candidate genes (prostaglandin synthases, enzymes of cellular metabolism and mucins) mRNA expression pattern differed compared in vivo with in vitro state. In addition, transcription of most candidate genes was influenced by the number of cell culture passages. Different glucose medium content did not affect mRNA expression of most candidate genes. The phase of the estrous cycle altered some candidate mRNA expression in BOEC in vitro at later passages. The release of PGE2 and OVGP1 between passages did not differ. However, BOEC in passage 3 released significantly higher amount of IL8 compared with cells in passage 0. CONCLUSION: This study supports the hypothesis that candidate mRNA expression in BOEC was influenced by transition from the in vivo situation to the new in vitro environment and during consecutive passages. The consequence of cell culture passaging on BOEC ability to release bioactive compounds should be considered.