Feeding a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product improves udder health and immune response to a Streptococcus uberis mastitis challenge in mid-lactation dairy cows

Background:We aimed to characterize the protective effects and the molecular mechanisms of action of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product(NTK)in response to a mastitis challenge.Eighteen mid-lactation multiparous Holstein cows(n=9/group)were fed the control diet(CON)or CON supplemented with 19 g/d NTK for 45 d(phase 1,P1)and then infected in the right rear quarter with 2500 CFU of Streptococcus uberis(phase 2,P2).After 36-h,mammary gland and liver biopsies were collected and antibiotic treatment started until the end of P2(9 d post challenge).Cows were then followed until day 75(phase 3,P3).Milk yield(MY)and dry matter intake(DMI)were recorded daily.Milk samples for somatic cell score were collected,and rectal and udder temperature,heart and respiration rate were recorded during the challenge period(P2)together with blood samples for metabolite and immune function analyses.Data were analyzed by phase using the PROC MIXED procedure in SAS.Biopsies were used for transcriptomic analysis via RNA-sequencing,followed by pathway analysis.Results:DMI and MY were not affected by diet in P1,but an interaction with time was recorded in P2 indicating a better recovery from the challenge in NTK compared with CON.NTK reduced rectal temperature,somatic cell score,and temperature of the infected quarter during the challenge.Transcriptome data supported these findings,as NTK supplementation upregulated mammary genes related to immune cell antibacterial function(e.g.,CATHL4,NOS2),epithelial tissue protection(e.g.IL17C),and anti-inflammatory activity(e.g.,ATF3,BAG3,IER3,G-CSF,GRO1,ZFAND2A).Pathway analysis indicated upregulation of tumor necrosis factorα,heat shock protein response,and p21 related pathways in the response to mastitis in NTK cows.Other pathways for detoxification and cytoprotection functions along with the tight junction pathway were also upregulated in NTK-fed cows.Conclusions:Overall,results highlighted molecular networks involved in the protective effect of NTK prophylactic supplementation on udder health during a subclinical mastitic event.

Evaluation of Milk Compositional Quality and Mammary Gland Health of Dairy Herds in the Southwestern Brazilian Amazon

Samples of raw milk from bulk cooling tanks were collected in five municipalities of the Southwestern Brazilian Amazon to establish the prevalence of Staphylococcus aueus and Streptococcus agalactiae, as well as to evaluate the milk composition and its correlation with the bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC). A total of 250 samples were collected to investigate the causal agents of bovine mastitis in whole milk, from 50 bulk milk tanks in each municipality. Under laboratory conditions, the samples were diluted to 1/10 and 1/100, and samples of 0.1 ml from each dilution were plated in triplicate on selective media for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae. To evaluate the correlation between the major milk components (fat, protein and lactose) and the BTSCC, samples were collected for 18 months from 73 dairy herds. The presence of the above-mentioned contagious mastitis pathogens was detected in 97.2% (243/250) of refrigerated raw milk samples evaluated. Analysis of the major milk components and BTSCC demonstrated that during the study period, fat compo-nent showed the largest variance, followed by protein and lactose, which also showed significant variances.

宁夏地区荷斯坦泌乳牛健康性状影响因素分析

旨在探究宁夏地区荷斯坦泌乳牛健康问题发生的群体规律,分析风险因子对健康性状的影响。本研究收集并整理了宁夏地区13个规模化牧场2015—2021年间产犊的58549头泌乳牛的产犊和健康记录,采用UpSet程序和Spearman相关性分析方法揭示了不同健康问题之间的相关,利用Logistic回归模型分析了胎次、产犊季节、产犊难易评分等因素对6类健康性状的影响。研究结果表明,在宁夏地区的泌乳牛中,乳房健康和繁殖障碍在泌乳牛健康记录中占比较高,占比分别达29.97%和28.95%;产后前60 d是泌乳牛发生健康问题的关键阶段;随着胎次的增加,乳房健康、消化障碍、代谢障碍的发生率均逐渐升高,而繁殖障碍的发生率呈先下降后上升的趋势,2胎牛的发生率最低;健康问题之间表型相关性均较弱;风险因子Logistic分析发现,胎次、产犊季节和产犊难易评分对泌乳牛部分健康性状存在显著影响;春、夏季产犊的奶牛,代谢障碍的发生风险较高,秋、冬季产犊的奶牛,乳房健康和繁殖障碍的发生风险较高;难产母牛的代谢障碍和繁殖障碍的发生风险显著高于顺产母牛(1.30~1.82倍)。基于大规模牛群健康记录,本研究发现繁殖障碍和乳房健康是宁夏地区泌乳牛的关键健康问题,各类健康问题具有弱的表型相关,胎次、产犊季节和产犊难易评分均为泌乳牛健康性状的风险因子,研究结果为规模化牧场管理牛群健康问题提供参考,为奶牛健康性状的研究和选育提供理论依据。

中国荷斯坦牛干奶期长度的群体特征及其与生产性能的关系

本研究旨在探究北京地区中国荷斯坦牛干奶期长度(DPL)的变化规律及其变异对奶牛各项生产性能的影响,包括产奶性能、繁殖性能、初乳品质和乳房健康。收集了北京地区34个牧场出生于2009—2018年136231头中国荷斯坦牛的干奶日期、生产性能记录、繁殖性能记录等。通过整理试验牛群的干奶记录,揭示了北京地区中国荷斯坦牛1胎和2胎DPL的群体规律,利用固定模型分析了胎次、产犊季节、场-产犊年和初产月龄对DPL的影响;此外,利用固定模型分析了DPL的变异对日产奶量、乳脂率、乳蛋白率、首末次配种间隔(interval from first to last insemination,IFL)、产犊至首次配种间隔(interval from calving to first insemination,ICF)和初乳品质的影响,利用Logistic回归过程分析了DPL的变异对首次配种受胎率(conception rate of first insemination,CR)、首次配种56 d不返情率(56-days non-return rate of first insemination,NRR56)、难产率和乳房健康的影响。研究结果显示,北京地区中国荷斯坦牛DPL平均为58.81 d,胎次、产犊季节、场-产犊年和初产月龄均对DPL有显著影响(P<0.05)。DPL的变异对日产奶量、乳蛋白率、ICF、CR、NRR56、难产率和乳房健康有显著影响(P<0.05)。干奶期短的奶牛测定日平均乳蛋白率、CR和NRR56更高;DPL适中的奶牛测定日平均产奶量更高、乳房健康水平更好、ICF更短、难产率更低。本研究在国内利用大规模牛群数据揭示了中国荷斯坦牛DPL的群体规律,可为中国规模化奶牛场提升管理水平提供参考。

挤奶设备对奶牛乳房健康的影响

挤奶设备是牧场中最重要的设备之一,也是直接关乎牧场经济效益的关键组成部分。高效挤奶并最大程度地保护奶牛乳房健康是任何类型挤奶机的终极使命。奶牛的乳房是非常脆弱的,很多外界因素都会引起乳房感染。除了环境和管理因素等,不规范的挤奶操作、设备缺乏维护、设备功能缺陷,都会对乳房健康产生重大的影响。因此了解挤奶设备对乳房健康的影响具有重大意义。