• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2018

Objective: To examine the effects of Rhodobacter sphaeroides (R. sphaeroides) supplementation as a direct-fed microbial (DFM) on rumen fermentation in dairy cows and on coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) transition into milk, an in vitro rumen simulation batch culture and an in vivo dairy cow experiment were conducted. Methods: The characteristics of in vitro ruminal fermentation were investigated using rumen fluids from six cannulated Holstein dairy cows at 2 h post-afternoon feeding. A control treatment was included in the experiments based on a typified total mixed ration (TMR) for lactating dairy cows, which was identical to the one used in the in vivo study, plus R. sphaeroides at 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5% TMR dry matter. The in vivo study employed six ruminally cannulated lactating Holstein cows randomly allotted to either the control TMR (C-TMR) treatment or to a diet supplemented with a 0.5% R. sphaeroides culture (S-TMR, dry matter basis) ad libitum. The presence of R. sphaeroides was verified using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) applied to the bacterial samples obtained from the in vivo study. The concentration of CoQ10 in milk and in the supernatant from the in vitro study was determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Results: The results of the in vitro batch culture and DGGE showed that the concentration of CoQ10 significantly increased after 2 h of R. sphaeroides supplementation above 0.1%. When supplemented to the diet of lactating cows at the level of 0.5%, R. sphaeroides did not present any adverse effect on dry matter intake and milk yield. However, the concentration of CoQ10 in milk dramatically increased, with treated cows producing 70.9% more CoQ10 than control cows. Conclusion: The CoQ10 concentration in milk increased via the use of a novel DFM, and R. sphaeroides might be used for producing value-added milk and dairy products in the future.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to investigate the resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity, and to determine the relationship between concentrations of plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) and resumption of ovarian cyclicity in Holstein cows. The cows were considered to have resumed ovarian cyclicity on the day of ovulation, if followed by regular ovarian cycles. 58.8 percentage of the cows (114/194) had normal resumption of ovarian cyclicity (resumption within 40days after calving), and 41.2% (80/194) had delayed resumption (resumption did not occur until> 40days after calving). Delayed resumption Type I (one or more ovarian cycles with luteal phase> 20days, i.e. prolonged luteal phase; 17.5%) and delayed resumption Type II (first ovulation did not occur until ${\ge}40days$ after calving, i.e. delayed first ovulation 22.7%) were the most common types of delayed resumption. 18 percentage of the cows (35/194) did not resume their ovarian cyclicity until 60days postpartum. Prolonged luteal phase and delayed first ovulation were two important ovarian dysfunctions that delayed postpartum resumption of cyclicity in dairy cows. Cows with PUN of <15, $15{\sim}19.9\;and\;{\ge}20mg/dl$ had the likelihood ratios of normal ovarian cyclicity of 0.9, 1.14 and 0.55, respectively. Thus, PUN concentration of $15{\sim}19.9mg/dl$ had a favorable association with postpartum resumption of cyclicity, whereas lower or higher PUN had a negative association with postpartum resumption of cyclicity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.493-498
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• 1994

The response of crossbred Holstein milking cows to the neutralized urea-treated rice straw feeding was investigated. Rice straw was treated with 6% urea for at least 21 days and further with sulfuric acid for overnight to complete the neutralization. The neutralized straw was then sun-dried and its feeding value was compared with that of the dried non-neutralized urea-treated straw. They were fed to the cows with concentrates either by the ration formulation based on the nutrient requirements for milk production recommended by NRC or by the traditional way in which straw was fed ad libitum and concentrates at 1 kg/2 kg of milk production. The results showed that milk production as well as milk composition of cows were not different between neutralized and non-neutralized straw. The feeding of the neutralized straw could significantly reduce the supply of protein-rich feed such as soybean oil meal, and it was demonstrated that ammonium sulfate in the neutralized straw could be utilized as effective as the plant origin protein. The results also suggested that if the traditional feeding method is applied to the dairy cattle, protein content of the supplementing concentrates should be increased to meet the requirement.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2012

This study investigated the effect of birth weight on the fertility of Holstein heifers. Growth parameter (body weight) was measured at birth. Calves were analyzed as three subgroups: low (L), average (A) and high (H) birth weight (BW) calves. LBW calves were born 10 kg lighter than HBW calves. Fertility data collected included age at first breeding (AFB), number of services per conception, pregnancy rate to first artificial insemination (AI), and age at first calving (AFC). Primiparous calves in HBW are smaller compared to multiparous cows (18.3% versus 48%). Although not significantly different, LBW offspring appeared to breed faster over the service period compared with the ABW offspring that bred three weeks later on the average. The mean pregnancy rate to first AI for LBW heifers was higher (60%) than ABW (48%) and HBW (45%). HBW cows required more services per conception (2.1) than the LBW (1.7) and ABW (1.9). There were significant differences (p<0.05) in age at first calving among the different calving birth weights. Smaller birth size did not have any subsequent adverse effects on fertility. HBW offspring were more likely or tend to have worse fertility parameters.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.479-484
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• 2011

The study was conducted on 20 Holstein X Sahiwal cross bred dairy cows, with an average milk production of $2,752{\pm}113.79$ liters in $284{\pm}5.75$ days during a single lactation, that were divided in to two groups of 10 animals. We investigated the oxidative stress and antioxidant status during the transition period in dairy cows. In this study, plasma level of MDA was considered as an indicator of lipid peroxidation and SOD, catalase, GSH and GSHPx as antioxidants. The lipid peroxidation was significantly (p<0.001) higher in cows during early lactation as compared to the cows in advanced pregnancy. A significant positive correlation (r = +0.831, p<0.01) was determined between MDA and catalase in early lactating cows. In early lactating cows, blood glutathione was significantly lower than in advanced pregnant cows. However, early lactating cows showed non-significant negative correlation for all antioxidant enzymes with lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, dairy cows seemed to have more oxidative stress and low antioxidant defense during early lactation or just after parturition than advanced pregnant cows, and this appears to be the reason for their increased susceptibility to production diseases (e.g. mastitis, metritis, retention of fetal membranes etc.) and other health problems.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.1001-1008
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• 2005

This study examined the effect of corn processing with varying rumen undegradable protein (RUP) on feed intake, milk yield, its composition and, blood characteristics in Holstein cows during the transitional period (21 days pre partum to 21 days post partum). Twenty Holstein cows were randomly assigned to four diets (five cows/diet), ground corn with 30 % RUP (GCR30), ground corn with 40 % RUP (GCR40), flaked corn with 30 % RUP (FCR30), and flaked corn with 40 % RUP (FCR40). The processed corn with varying RUP was fed in total mixed rations (TMR) to cows. Dry matter intake (DMI) was higher with 40 % RUP diet than with 30 % RUP diet, resulting in higher protein and energy intake by cows during pre and post partum (p＜0.05). However, it was not affected by corn processing during pre and post partum. Similarly milk yield was higher with 40 % RUP diet than with 30 % RUP diet. and milk yield was affected by corn processing at RUP 30 % level. Corn processing did not affected the milk fat and protein contents in dairy cows. The concentration of blood non esterified fatty acid (NEFA) were effected by RUP level with flaked corn, however, it was non-significant with RUP levels when given with ground corn. It is concluded that increasing RUP from 30 % to 40 % in iso-nitrogenous diet could increase milk yield in dairy cows during the transitional phase.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1122-1127
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of current study was to investigate the lactation performance and rumen fermentation characteristics of dairy cows fed a diet with alfalfa hay replaced by corn stover but supplemented with molasses. Methods: Sixteen Holstein cows in mid-lactation were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments: i) alfalfa based diet (AH), and ii) corn stover based diet supplemented with molasses (CSM). The experiment was conducted according to a $2{\times}2$ crossover design with 22-d each period, consisting of 17 d for adaptation and 5 d for data and samples collection. Results: Dry matter intake and milk yield were higher for cows fed AH than CSM (p<0.01). Milk protein content and nitrogen conversion were higher (p<0.05), while milk urea nitrogen was lower (p<0.01) for cows fed AH than CSM-fed cows. Contents of milk total solids, fat and lactose were not different between two groups (p>0.10). Total rumen volatile fatty acid concentration tended to be higher (p = 0.06) for cows fed AH than CSM-fed cows. Molar proportion of acetate was lower (p = 0.04), but valerate was higher (p = 0.02) in cows fed AH than CSM-fed cows. Rumen concentration of propionate, and isobutyrate, and ratio of acetate to propionate tended to be different (p<0.10) between two groups. The feed cost per kilogram of milk was lower in CSM than AH (p<0.01). No differences were found in feed efficiency and most plasma parameters tested (p>0.10). Conclusion: In comparison with AH diet, CSM diet could be fed to dairy cows without negative effect on feed efficiency, ruminal fermentation, but economically beneficial, indicating that CSM could be an alternative choice for dairy farms instead of AH to feed midlactation dairy cows.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.1021-1027
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• 1999

This study was carried out to determine the effects of ${\beta}-carotene$ on the control of mastitis in dairy cows during the dry period. The relationship between the levels of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ and the status of udder health in Holstein dairy cows were investigated. Blood samples were collected from 117 cows to compare the levels of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ in lactating cows. The levels of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ were $1.82{\mu}g/ml$ in healthy cows(n = 65) and $1.12{\mu}g/ml$ in mastitic cows(n = 52), respectively(p < 0.01). In the experiment to compare the level of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ in the cows at different stages of lactation, the plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ levels were $1.73{\mu}g/ml$ in lactating cows(n = 22), $1.29{\mu}g/ml$ in nonlactating cows(n = 35) and $0.43{\mu}g/ml$ in cows after calving(n = 16)(p < 0.05).

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.407-412
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• 2001

Milk data may be increasingly used as indicators of the protein-energy balance and actual farm feeding practices. It was related to milk production, nutritional and reproductive disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between level of fat, protein or milk urea nitrogen (MUN) from the first test within 35 days in milk and displaced abomasum (DA) in a large dairy herd with high yielding Holstein cows. Milk data from forty-five DA cases were compared to those from 90 healthy cows. Higher odds of DA diagnosis was found with higher 5.0% milk fat, lower 3.0% milk protein. Therefore, cows with a fat to protein ratio of>1.5 had higher risks for DA. Also, incidence rates of DA was higher in the cows which the level of MUN was lower than 12.0 mg/dl or higher than 25.0 mg/dl relative to healthy cows. These results indicate that cows diagnosed with DA were energy deficient prior to DA diagnosis. We conclude that level of fat, protein or MUN serve as a monitoring tool of protein and energy nutritional balance in early lactation cows and also as a significant predictor of risk for DA.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1105-1116
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• 2017

Objective: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplemental fat containing saturated free fatty acids (FA) on milk performance of Holstein dairy cows. Methods: A database was developed from 21 studies published between 1991 and 2016 that included 502 dairy cows and a total of 29 to 30 comparisons between dietary treatment and control without fat supplementation. Only saturated free FA (>80% of total FA) was considered as the supplemental fat. Concentration of the supplemental fat was not higher than 3.5% of diet dry matter (DM). Dairy cows were offered total mixed ration, and fed individually. Statistical analysis was conducted using random- or mixed-effects models with Metafor package in R. Results: Sub-group analysis showed that there were no differences in studies between randomized block design and Latin square/crossover design for dry matter intake (DMI) and milk production responses to the supplemental fat (all response variables, $p{\geq}0.344$). The supplemental fat across all studies improved milk yield, milk fat concentration and yield, and milk protein yield by 1.684 kg/d (p<0.001), 0.095 percent unit (p = 0.003), 0.072 kg/d (p<0.001), and 0.036 kg/d (p<0.001), respectively, but tended to decrease milk protein concentration (mean difference = -0.022 percent unit; p = 0.063) while DMI (mean difference = 0.061 kg/d; p = 0.768) remained unchanged. The assessment of heterogeneity suggested that no substantial heterogeneity occurred among all studies for DMI and milk production responses to the supplemental fat (all response variables, $I^2{\leq}24.1%$; $p{\geq}0.166$). Conclusion: The effects of saturated free FA were quantitatively evaluated. Higher milk production and yields of milk fat and protein, with DMI remaining unchanged, indicated that saturated free FA, supplemented at ${\leq}3.5%$ dietary DM from commercially available fat sources, likely improved the efficiency of milk production. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to assess the variation of production responses to different saturated free FA, either C16:0 or C18:0 alone, or in combination with potentially optimal ratio, when supplemented in dairy cow diets.