The aim of this work was to investigate the metabolism of plasma serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), an important neurotransmitter, in Fresian dairy cows, a breed of zootechnical interest, using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The subjects under study were at the stage of early lactation (n=10; mean body weight 375 AE 50 kg; average age of 3 years; body condition score 2.5), bred in a farm at an altitude of 150 m a.s.l. To evaluate animal welfare on this farm, which is closely connected to an animal's physiological status, tryptophan and cortisol levels (measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), together with levels of certain blood components [total proteins (TP), albumin, creatinine, glucose (Glu), triglycerides, phospholipids, total cholesterol, and aspartate transaminase, measured by spectrophotometry] were analyzed. The results obtained are discussed in comparison with reference values, taking into account the environmental living conditions. Measured plasma serotonin concentrations, which were lower than values reported for Brown Swiss dairy cows of a comparable age and diet, appeared to be affected by breed, temperature, blood sampling season, and altitude. Additional differences between the levels of plasma tryptophan, the amino acid precursor of serotonin, of the two breeds were comparable. Negative correlations between plasma tryptophan and plasma cortisol levels (r=−0.83, P<0.005), plasma serotonin and plasma TP levels (r=−0.72, P<0.05), or Glu levels (r=−0.77, P< 0.05) highlight the existence of a stress condition, which is connected to an energetic deficit related to lactation.
The addition of Narbonne vetch grain in the diet of 20 Charolaise bulls (420 ± 44 BW), during the finishing period (100 days), was investigated to study the effects on in vitam and post mortem performances and on quality of meat. No significant differences for ADWG (“Vetch” 1.55 kg/d vs. “Control” 1.40 kg/d; P = 0.34), FCR (“Vetch” 7.10 kg/kg vs. “Control” 7.49 kg/kg; P = 0.93) and yield (“Vetch” 60.97% vs. “Control” 62.13%: P = 0.33) were observed. The nutritional and physical characteristics of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle showed no significant differences for Crude Protein (“Vetch” 22.47 vs. “Control” 22.36; P = 0.80), Fat (“Vetch” 2.56 vs “Control” 2.49; P = 0.87), Energy (“Vetch” 1130 vs. “Control” 1119; P = 0.79), TBARs (“Vetch” 0.063 vs. “Control” 0.069; P = 0.72), Luminosity (“Vetch” 46.47 vs. “Control” 43.43; P = 0.11), Hue (“Vetch” 0.6 vs. “Control” 0.6; P = 0.16), Chrome (“Vetch” 27.64 vs. “Control” 25.5; P = 0.56), Cooking loss (“Vetch” 26.77% vs. “Control” 28.62%; P = 0.33) and WBS (“Vetch” 3.4 kg f/cm2 vs. “Control” 3.3 kg f/cm2; P = 0.76). These preliminary results show interest towards the vetch grain as a protein source in the finishing period of bulls
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