Reciprocal combinations of barley and corn grains in oil-supplemented diets: Feeding behavior and milk yield of lactating cows

et al. 2015

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The objective of this study was to evaluate cooling to lessen the effects of heat stress during the last 3 wk of gestation on performance and behavior of multiparous Holstein cows. Twenty nonlactating cows were randomly assigned to treatments approximately 21 d before their expected calving date based on mature equivalent milk production and parity. Treatments were only imposed during the last 3 wk of gestation and included heat stress (HT; n=10) and cooling (CL; n=10), both under a similar photoperiod (14 h of light and 10 h of dark). Dry cows were housed in a sand-bedded stall with the stall areas for CL cows equipped with sprinklers and fans that were on from 0700 to 1900 h, whereas those for the HT cows were not. After parturition, all cows were housed in a barn with cooling devices. Rectal temperatures were measured daily at 1400 h and respiration rates were recorded by counting the flank movements for 1 min at 1500 h on odd days over the last 3 wk of gestation to calving. Daily dry matter intake was measured from -21 d relative to expected calving to 21 d after calving and milk production was recorded daily up to 180 d in milk. Behavioral changes of dry cows were studied continuously for 24 h at -10 d relative to expected calving. The average temperature-humidity index during the last 3 wk of gestation was 69.7 and was not significantly different between treatments. Heat-stressed cows exhibited greater rectal temperatures (39.5 vs. 39.2°C), greater respiration rates (70.4 vs. 63.3 breaths/min), and decreased dry matter intake (13.7 vs. 15.5 kg/d) compared with CL cows. Compared with HT cows, CL cows produced more milk during 180 d in milk (40.5 vs. 44.6 kg/d). Heat stress decreased ruminating (243.2 vs. 282.5 min/d) and chewing times (390.6 vs. 448.7 min/d) at -10 d before calving. The CL cows had shorter standing times than their HT counterparts (390.4 vs. 474.0 min/d). These results confirm that heat stress abatement in the late gestation period improves performance of dairy cows in subsequent lactation.

Section: Behavioral Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Behavioral Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late-gestation heat stress abatement on performance and behavior of Holstein dairy cows

Karimi

Ghorbani

et al. 2015

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“…A total of 4 individuals in 2-person teams rotated throughout the 12-h period; 2 individuals observed the calves simultaneously for 2 h with a 2-h rest period before recording again. All activities were noted every 5 min and each activity was assumed to persist for the entire 5-min interval between observations (Kargar et al, 2010(Kargar et al, , 2013(Kargar et al, , and 2014. A period of eating was defined as at least 1 observation of eating activity occurring after at least 5 min without eating.…”

Section: Data Collection and Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth performance, feeding behavior, health status, and blood metabolites of environmentally heat-loaded Holstein dairy calves fed diets supplemented with chromium

Mousavi

Dehkordi

et al. 2018

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We investigated the effect of Cr supplementation on growth performance, feeding behavior, health status, and blood metabolites of summer-exposed dairy calves during the pre- and postweaning periods. A total of 24 newborn Holstein female calves (1 d of age; 42.1 ± 0.89 kg of body weight) were assigned randomly to a control group (no Cr supplement; Cr-) or a Cr group (Cr+) receiving 0.05 mg of Cr/kg of body weight. During the study period, the average maximum temperature-humidity index was 81.3 units, indicating a high environmental heat load. Chromium was provided in colostrum and milk during the preweaning period, and in the starter feed during the postweaning period. Calves had free access to fresh water and starter feed throughout the experiment and were weaned on d 63. Starter feed intake and total dry matter intake were greater in Cr+ calves. Despite decreased meal frequency in Cr+ calves, during the preweaning period the starter feed intake increased due to increases in meal duration and meal size and a tendency for greater meal interval. Increased postweaning starter intake in Cr+ calves was attributed to a tendency for an increase in meal duration. Chromium-supplemented calves had greater overall weight gain, but their feed efficiency and rectal temperature were not affected by Cr treatment. Chromium supplementation tended to increase the heart girth during the preweaning and overall periods and increased the hip width during the postweaning and overall periods. Respiration rates were lower in Cr+ calves than Cr- calves during the preweaning and overall periods. During the preweaning period, the time spent in eating and ruminating per 12-h period was not affected by Cr treatment. During the postweaning period, the rumination time (min per 12-h period) was unaffected but total eating time (min per 12-h period) increased in Cr+ calves. Times spent resting, drinking, standing, lying, and in nonnutritive oral behaviors were not affected by treatments during the pre- and postweaning periods. Chromium supplementation had no effects on serum concentrations of cortisol, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine measured at weaning or the end of the trial. The Cr+ calves tended to have higher serum concentrations of glucose and a higher ratio of insulin to glucose measured at the end of the trial. In conclusion, Cr supplementation of both liquid and solid feeds improved growth performance in summer-exposed calves as a result of reduced respiration rate and increased feed intake; however, no beneficial effects were found on feed efficiency and insulin metabolism.

“…Corn and barley grains, containing a high level of starch, are commonly fed to ruminants worldwide. The slow ruminal fermentation rate of corn grains is associated with a higher quantity of starch available in the small intestine (Kargar et al, 2013(Kargar et al, , 2014, which supplies more energy (Khan et al, 2007). It is not clear how grains with different ruminal fermentation, especially in Cr-supplemented diets, affect the dairy calf energy metabolism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ruminal digestion of starch increases the molar concentration of propionate, with the propionate being absorbed across the rumen wall and converted to glucose in the liver. Resistant starch, however, is digested in the small intestine to directly increase the circulatory glucose concentration (Kargar et al, 2013(Kargar et al, , 2014. Biologically, the site of starch digestion (rumen vs. intestine) is of interest because propionate and glucose might have different effects on metabolic hormones (Garnsworthy et al, 2009).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Grain source and chromium supplementation: Effects on health, metabolic status, and glucose-insulin kinetics in Holstein heifer calves

Habibi

Dehkordi

et al. 2019

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Carbohydrate-rich diets may increase urinary excretion of chromium (Cr) and the need to supplement the diet with Cr to meet animal requirements. The present study was performed to examine the effect of the type of grain (corn vs. barley) and Cr-methionine supplementation on health-related variables, blood levels of metabolites and hormones related to energy metabolism, and insulin sensitivity in Holstein calves. Forty-eight newborn heifers (3 d of age) were assigned randomly to 4 diets in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Experimental diets were either corn-based (CBD) or barley-based (BBD) diets supplemented with 0 or 0.05 mg/kg of metabolic body weight. Chromium was provided in milk before weaning (d 3-73 of age) and in prewarmed water after weaning (d 74-94 of age). There was no interaction between the type of grain and Cr on the health-related variables and blood metabolites and hormones. Type of grain did not affect fecal score, respiration rate, and rectal temperature; however, there were tendencies for higher diarrhea occurrence (odds ratio = 1.69) and lower chance of having pneumonia (odds ratio = 0.49) in calves fed BBD versus CBD despite longer duration of diarrhea (0.54 d) and shorter days with pneumonia (0.63 d) in calves fed BBD. Calves supplemented with Cr had lower fecal score during the preweaning and overall periods and respiration rate throughout the study. Supplemental Cr decreased the duration (0.63 d) and chance of having pneumonia (odds ratio = 2.01). Calves fed BBD had lower blood levels of urea N during the postweaning period, with no changes in other blood variables between CBD and BBD. Tendencies were detected for lower blood levels of β-hydroxybutyric acid during the preweaning and overall periods and higher cortisol in Cr-supplemented calves. Chromium supplementation increased insulin clearance rate and decreased the time to half-maximal concentration and the area under the curve in BBD but not CBD calves. The calves were generally healthy, and the type of grain did not affect the health and blood variables related to energy metabolism. However, Cr supplementation increased fecal consistency, decreased respiration rate and days with pneumonia, and increased insulin sensitivity when added to BBD.