Short-Day Photoperiod Increases Milk Yield in Cows with a Reduced Dry Period Length

Velasco, Josè M.; Reid, Eric D; Fried, Karen; Smith, Marshall S.; Wallace, R.L.; Dahl, G.E.

doi:10.3168/jds.2008-1028

Cited by 30 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The milk yield response to LDPP during lactation averages around 2.5 kg/cow per d and becomes apparent after approximately 4 wk of exposure to extended light. Recent studies indicate that dry cows do not increase milk yield in the next lactation with only 21 d of exposure to SDPP, whereas a 35-d exposure to SDPP is sufficient to produce such a response in the next lactation (Reid et al, 2004;Velasco et al, 2006). Collectively, these studies support the concept that milk yield in cattle is greatly affected by varying the photoperiod exposure during the lactation cycle.…”

Section: Photoperiod Effects On Lactationmentioning

confidence: 68%

Effects of short day photoperiod on prolactin signaling in dry cows: A common mechanism among tissues and environments?1,2

Dahl

2008

Journal of Animal Science

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Photoperiodic manipulation has dramatic physiological and production effects in dairy cows. During lactation, exposure to long day photoperiod (LDPP) increases milk yield and circulating IGF-I and prolactin (PRL) concentrations. Conversely, cows housed under a short day photoperiod (SDPP) during the dry period produce more milk in the subsequent lactation than cows exposed to LDPP or natural photoperiod. Exposure to SDPP depresses PRL secretion but increases PRL receptor mRNA levels in mammary, immune, and hepatic tissues. In dry cows under SDPP, PRL signaling is a potential mechanism to drive more extensive mammary cell differentiation and growth relative to LDPP. In mammary biopsies taken during the dry period and into lactation, the amount of IGF-II mRNA was greater in SDPP vs. LDPP cows during the dry period, whereas IGFBP-5 mRNA increased in both groups during lactation even though photoperiodic treatments ended at parturition and all cows were on an ambient lighting schedule when lactating. Levels of IGF-I mRNA did not differ over time or between treatments; however, during the dry period, lower IGFBP-5 and increased IGF-II expression in SDPP cows may enhance mammary cell growth and survival. Key among the potential modulators of PRL signaling is the suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family. Mammary transcription of mRNA for SOCS proteins was low during the dry period but increased in lactation. During the dry period, SOCS mRNA level in the mammary gland of cows on SDPP was reduced compared with cows on LDPP, which may enhance PRL-induced proliferation and subsequent milk production. However, improved mammary capacity and immune function alone are likely insufficient to support increased milk yield. Using improved milk yield as a functional indicator of greater animal well-being during the transition, it is clear that some metabolic accommodation is necessary for expression of that capacity. Emerging evidence supports a link between PRL signaling and hepatic lipid metabolism, with decreases in PRL being beneficial to lipid metabolism. Extending that concept to broad environmental responses, it can be speculated that altered PRL signaling impairs lipid metabolism, mammary growth, and immune function under conditions of stress (e.g., heat stress) also. Thus, shifts in gene expression related to PRL signaling may provide an environmentally mediated mechanism to alter production and health in cows as they transition into lactation.

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Section: Photoperiod Effects On Lactationmentioning

confidence: 68%

Effects of short day photoperiod on prolactin signaling in dry cows: A common mechanism among tissues and environments?1,2

Dahl

2008

Journal of Animal Science

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“…The effect in cattle is dependent on the duration of treatment because cows that were exposed to SDPP for only the final 21 d of the dry period did not exhibit the improvement in milk yield in the subsequent lactation (Reid et al, 2004). However, Velasco et al (2008) reported that treatment with SDPP during a shortened dry period of about 42 d did result in greater milk yield relative to cows on LDPP. Indeed, the SDPP cows in the study of Velasco et al (2008) averaged 35 d dry despite the target of 6 wk dry.…”

Section: Photoperiod and Lactationmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…However, Velasco et al (2008) reported that treatment with SDPP during a shortened dry period of about 42 d did result in greater milk yield relative to cows on LDPP. Indeed, the SDPP cows in the study of Velasco et al (2008) averaged 35 d dry despite the target of 6 wk dry. Thus, SDPP during the dry period improve milk yield in the next lactation in ruminants, and that effect takes between 35 and 60 d to be fully expressed.…”

Section: Photoperiod and Lactationmentioning

confidence: 94%

LACTATION BIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM: Effects of photoperiod on mammary gland development and lactation1

Dahl

Tao

Thompson

2012

Journal of Animal Science

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Photoperiod, or the daily sequence of light and dark, has dramatic effects on many physiological systems across animal species. Light patterns alter melatonin secretion profiles and, subsequently, the release profiles and circulating concentrations of several hormones that influence a variety of physiological responses. Although the impact of photoperiod on reproductive processes is perhaps the most common example, it is often the seasonal aspects of ovulation and anestrus that are considered. However, in cattle, the final phase of reproduction, that is, lactation, is significantly influenced by photoperiod. In contrast to short days (SDPP; 8 h light:16 h dark), exposure to long days (LDPP) of 16 to 18 h of light and 6 to 8 h of darkness increases milk yield 2 to 3 kg/d, regardless of the stage of lactation. There is evidence that this LDPP effect is due to increased circulating IGF-I, independent of any effect on GH concentrations. Cows that are housed under SDPP during the dry period have increased mammary growth and produce 3 to 4 kg/d more milk in the subsequent lactation compared with cows on LDPP when dry. While cows are on SDPP, circulating prolactin (PRL) diminishes but expression of PRL receptor increases in mammary, liver, and immune cells. Moreover, PRL signaling pathways within those tissues are affected by photoperiod. Further, replacement of PRL to cows on SDPP partially reverses the effects of SDPP on production in the next lactation. Thus, effects on dry cows are mediated through a PRL-dependent pathway. Before maturity, LDPP improve mammary parenchymal accumulation and lean body growth, which lead to greater yields in the first lactation. The accumulated evidence supports the concept that photoperiod manipulation can be harnessed to improve the efficiency of production across the life cycle of the dairy cow.

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“…The increased mesor and greater AUC of melatonin in PS versus CTR cows supports that PS cows had greater daily exposure to melatonin. The increase in milk yield due to exposure to a short-day photoperiod during the nonlactating dry period is also associated with greater circulating melatonin levels (Velasco et al, 2008;Dahl et al, 2012), suggesting that there may be a relationship between melatonin concentrations and milk yield. However, feeding melatonin to increase plasma concentrations did not increase milk yield (Lacasse et al, 2014).…”

Section: Circadian Disruption Changed Rhythms Of Body Temperature Mementioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to chronic light–dark phase shifts during the prepartum nonlactating period attenuates circadian rhythms, decreases blood glucose, and increases milk yield in the subsequent lactation

Suárez-Trujillo

Wernert

Sun

et al. 2020

Journal of Dairy Science

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Maintaining metabolic balance is a key factor in the health of dairy cattle during the transition from pregnancy to lactation. Little is known regarding the role of the circadian timing system in the regulation of physiological changes during the transition period. We hypothesized that disruption of the cow's circadian timing system by exposure to chronic light-dark phase shifts during the prepartum period would negatively affect the regulation of homeostasis and cause metabolic disturbances, leading to reduced milk production in the subsequent lactation. The objective was to determine the effect of exposure to chronic light-dark phase shift during the last 5 wk prepartum of the nonlactating dry period on core body temperature, melatonin, blood glucose, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations, and milk production. Multiparous cows were moved to tiestalls at 5 wk before expected calving and assigned to control (CTR; n = 16) or phase-shifted (PS; n = 16) treatments. Control cows were exposed to 16 h of light and 8 h of dark. Phase-shifted cows were exposed to the same photoperiod; however, the light-dark cycle was shifted 6 h every 3 d until parturition. Resting behavior and feed intake were recorded daily. Core body temperature was recorded vaginally for 48 h at 23 and 9 d before expected calving using calibrated data loggers. Blood concentrations of melatonin, glucose, BHB, and NEFA were measured during the pre-and postpartum periods. Milk yield and composition were measured through 60 DIM. Treatment did not affect feed intake or body condition. Cosine fit analysis of 24-h core body temperature and circulating melatonin indicated attenuation of circadian rhythms in the PS treatment compared with the CTR treatment. Phase-shifted cows had lower rest consolidation, as indicated by more total resting time, but shorter resting period durations. Phase-shifted cows had lower blood glucose concentration compared with CTR cows (4 mg/mL decrease), but BHB and NEFA concentrations were similar between PS and CTR cows. Milk yield and milk fat yield were greater in PS compared with CTR cows (2.8 kg/d increase). Thus, exposure to chronic light-dark phase shifts during the prepartum period attenuated circadian rhythms of core body temperature, melatonin, and rest-activity behavior and was associated with increased milk fat and milk yield in the postpartum period despite decreased blood glucose pre-and postpartum. Therefore, less variation in central circadian rhythms may create a more constant milieu that supports the onset of lactogenesis.

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Short-Day Photoperiod Increases Milk Yield in Cows with a Reduced Dry Period Length

Cited by 30 publications

References 16 publications

Effects of short day photoperiod on prolactin signaling in dry cows: A common mechanism among tissues and environments?1,2

Effects of short day photoperiod on prolactin signaling in dry cows: A common mechanism among tissues and environments?1,2

LACTATION BIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM: Effects of photoperiod on mammary gland development and lactation1

Exposure to chronic light–dark phase shifts during the prepartum nonlactating period attenuates circadian rhythms, decreases blood glucose, and increases milk yield in the subsequent lactation

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