首页 | 本学科首页   官方微博 | 高级检索  
相似文献
 共查询到20条相似文献，搜索用时 15 毫秒
1.
Through conditioned food aversion learning, livestock can be trained to avoid eating harmful plants. The objectives of this study were to determine whether social facilitation will extinguish an aversion to larkspur (a poisonous plant on mountain rangelands) and to determine whether the aversion can be reinforced to withstand social facilitation in a group-feeding and field-grazing situation. Two groups of heifers offered fresh larkspur were simultaneously infused intraruminally with lithium chloride (LiCl) to create an association between the taste of larkspur and LiCl-induced gastrointestinal distress. A third control group was infused with water. Heifers from one averted group (extinction) were paired with nonaverted controls and offered larkspur. When the extinction group sampled larkspur, and LiCl was not infused, the aversion was extinguished rapidly. Heifers in the other averted group (reinforcement), being infused with LiCl whenever they sampled larkspur, abstained from eating larkspur in the group-feeding situation. Heifers were then taken to larkspur-infested rangeland. After the control heifers began eating larkspur, the averted heifers started to sample it and the aversion was extinguished in three of four heifers. However, the aversion was renewed when the heifers were returned to the pen- and group-feeding situation where the aversion was created. Reinforced aversion was overcome by social facilitation in an unfamiliar field-grazing environment.  相似文献   

2.
Lithium chloride (LiCl) and larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi) alkaloid extract were compared in their effect as an emetic to create taste aversions to fresh larkspur. They were further compared in the field to determine whether the indigenous larkspur alkaloids were more effective in maintaining the aversion when conditioned cattle were subjected to the social pressure (social facilitation) of control cattle eating larkspur. Taste aversions were produced in two groups of 1-yr-old cattle by offering fresh larkspur and then gavaging with either LiCl at 200 mg/kg of BW or larkspur alkaloid extract at 1.1 to 1.6 mL/kg of BW. The third group (control) was gavaged with water. The alkaloid group was slower to form an aversion than the lithium group, requiring four doses compared with two doses. All groups were then taken to larkspur-infested rangeland to test the aversion in the field. In the first field trial in which groups grazed separately, both aversion-induced groups generally abstained from eating larkspur. In the second trial in which all groups grazed together, both aversion-induced groups consumed less than half as much larkspur as the controls, but neither group abstained completely. Larkspur alkaloids did not maintain the aversion to larkspur to a greater degree than did LiCl when aversion-induced cattle were subjected to social facilitation.  相似文献   

3.
The objective of this experiment was to determine if titanium dioxide (TiO2) dosed through an automated head chamber system (GreenFeed; C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA) is an acceptable method to measure fecal output. The GreenFeed used on this experiment had a 2-hopper bait dispensing system, where hopper 1 contained alfalfa pellets marked with 1% titanium dioxide (TiO2) and hopper 2 contained unmarked alfalfa pellets. Eleven heifers (BW = 394 ± 18.7 kg) grazing a common pasture were stratified by BW and then randomized to either 1) dosed with TiO2-marked pellets by hand feeding (HFD; n = 6) or 2) dosed with TiO2-marked pellets by the GreenFeed (GFFD; n = 5) for 19 d. During the morning (0800), all heifers were offered a pelleted, high-CP supplement at 0.25% of BW in individual feeding stanchions. The HFD heifers also received 32 g of TiO2-marked pellets at morning feeding, whereas the GFFD heifers received 32 g of unmarked pellets. The GFFD heifers received a single aliquot (32 ± 1.6 g; mean ± SD) of marked pellets at their first visit to the GreenFeed each day with all subsequent 32-g aliquots providing unmarked pellets; HFD heifers received only unmarked pellets. Starting on d 15, fecal samples were collected via rectal grab at feeding and every 12 h for 5 d. A two-one sided t-test method was used to determine agreement and it was determined that the fecal output estimates by HFD and GFFD methods were similar (P = 0.04). There was a difference (P < 0.01; Bartlett’s test for homogenous variances) in variability between the dosing methods for HFD and GFFD (SD = 0.1 and 0.7, respectively). This difference in fecal output variability may have been due to variability of dosing times-of-day for the GFFD heifers (0615 ± 6.2 h) relative to the constant dosing time-of-day for HFD and constant 0800 and 2000 sampling times-of-day for all animals. This research has highlighted the potential for dosing cattle with an external marker through a GreenFeed configured with two (or more) feed hoppers because estimated fecal output means were similar; however, consideration of the increased variability of the fecal output estimates is needed for future experimental designs.  相似文献   

4.
Anderson larkspur (Delphinium andersonii A. Gray) is a toxic plant responsible for cattle death losses in the western United States. The objectives of the present study were to determine when cattle consumed Anderson larkspur in relation to plant phenology and toxicity, and to determine if animal age influenced selection of Anderson larkspur. These grazing studies were conducted on semiarid sagebrush rangeland near Picabo, Idaho. Eight 6–7-yr-old mature Angus cows were used in 2008, whereas during 2009, 12 Angus cattle were used, including six yearling heifers and six 4-yr-old cows. The overall density of Anderson larkspur was 2.8 plants · m?2 during 2008, and 4.9 plants · m?2 during 2009. Total toxic alkaloid concentrations in Anderson larkspur plants were near or above 5 mg · g?1 during both studies. During 2008 consumption peaked during the late flower and pod stage of growth. Overall in 2008 cows ate 3% of their bites as larkspur. During 2009 heifers ate about twice as much Anderson larkspur as did mature cows (5.1% of bites vs. 2.9%, respectively). Heifers repeatedly consumed sufficient larkspur that they collapsed; however, no animals were fatally intoxicated. Heifers appeared to become transiently averted to larkspur; however, heifers resumed consumption of D. andersonii after a period of one to several days of low or no consumption. Livestock management to reduce losses to Anderson larkspur should include timed grazing to avoid infested pastures during full flower to pod phenological stages, and grazing with older animals rather than yearling heifers.  相似文献   

5.
Conditioned feed aversion was investigated as a means to prevent tulp (Homeria pallida) poisoning in cattle on tulp-infested grazing. Aversion treatment with a combination of epoxyscillirosidin and lithium chloride together with a tulp-hexane extract, which served as identification factor for tulp, resulted in a significantly lower (P < 0.001) proportion of severe tulp poisoning. In a first trial where 21 averted and 21 non-averted control cattle were exposed to a tulp-infested grass pasture, only two of the averted cattle were severely poisoned compared to 13 of the non-averted control cattle. In a second trial, with cattle being exposed to a pure stand of tulp supplemented with maize residues, only two of 21 averted cattle were severely poisoned compared to 14 of 21 non-averted control cattle. Occurrence of mild tulp poisoning, however, did not differ much between averted and non-averted control cattle. The results show that conditioned feed aversion effectively restricted severe poisoning in cattle on tulp-infested grazing.  相似文献   

6.
In order to improve methods to investigate individual variation in responses of cattle toward novel food, the influence of food type offered to neighbors and time of testing were investigated in tethered heifers. Twenty-four Danish Friesian heifers were used in two 2 x 3 factorial experiments, using 8 kg of a mixed ration (grass silage and concentrates) and 4.5 kg of carrots as a novel food. The factors were 1) time of testing: heifers tested at usual feeding time (1000) vs after 30 min with access to their usual food; and 2) food type of neighbors: either no food, novel food, or usual food. During the 30-min period with novel food in front of them, the behavior of the experimental heifers was video recorded. Testing at usual feeding time led to a tendency to increase the latency to eat the mixed ration (P = 0.08), a tendency to reduce intake of the mixed ration (P = 0.08), increased frequency and duration of sniffing carrots (P = 0.1 and P = 0.02, respectively), increased duration of sniffing the mixed ration (P = 0.05), and decreased frequency and duration of disturbance from neighbors (carrots: P = 0.0002 and P = 0.003). The food type of the neighbors did not have major influence on the behavioral reactivity. For both the mixed ration and carrots, the frequency of eating was increased when the neighbors got novel food rather than their usual food (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02). However, the frequency and duration of disturbance from neighbors was increased when no food was offered to the neighbors (carrots: P = 0.001; mixed ration: P = 0.01 and P = 0.09, respectively). It is concluded that time of testing is an important factor for the behavioral response toward novel food, leading to increased responses when tested at the usual feeding time compared with testing after 30 min of access to usual food. The minor effects of food type of neighbors indicate that it is possible to perform individual testing in a home environment, where the animals have limited possibility for contact with neighbors.  相似文献   

7.
Subluteolytic doses of prostaglandin F2alpha analogue (oestrophan) given i.m. and oxytocin (OT) antagonist (CAP) and noradrenaline (NA) infused into the abdominal aorta were used to test the importance of luteal OT in pulsatile secretion of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF) during luteolysis in heifers (n = 17). In experiment 1, heifers were pre-infused for 30 minutes with saline on either day 17 of the oestrous cycle (group 1; n = 4) or on day 18 of the oestrous cycle (group 2; n = 3), and with CAP (8 mg per animal) on day 17 of the oestrous cycle (group 3; n = 4). Next, heifers were injected with oestrophan (30 microg per animal). Injection of oestrophan in Group 3 increased OT concentrations (P < 0.001) to values similar to those observed during spontaneous luteolysis (50 to 70 pg ml(-1)). PGFM concentrations in this group also increased (P < 0.001), but were lower (P < 0.05) than the values in groups 1 and 2, CAP given prior to oestrophan decreased both PGFM elevation (P < 0.06) and its area under the curve (P < 0.01), compared to the saline pretreated heifers. In experiment 2 NA (4 mg) was infused twice for 30 minutes at five hour intervals to release OT on day 17 of the oestrous cycle (n = 6). However, during hormone analysis it appeared that three of six heifers had elevated PGFM concentrations (group 1) and three others did not (group 2). NA caused the correlated increase of progesterone and OT secretion (r = 0.68; P < 0.05) in both groups but it only influenced PGF secretion in group 1 only (P < 0.05). We postulate that OT can amplify and modulate the course of induced luteolysis as a regulator of the amplitude of pulsatile PGF secretion. PGF analogue stimulates secretion of endogenous PGF from the uterus in cattle and this may be an important component of the luteolytic response to exogenous PGF.  相似文献   

8.
The ruminal degradability, intake, and metabolism of diets differing in their relative rate of energy and nitrogen release in the rumen were characterized prior to their use in a study of the effects of high peripheral levels of ammonia on reproductive function in cattle. In a 2 x 2 factorial experiment, replicated four times, 16 heifers were offered isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets containing two sources of fermentable carbohydrate, fiber (slow energy release, SE) or starch (fast energy release, FE), and two rates of nitrogen release, which were either synchronous (S) or asynchronous (A) to that of energy release. Throughout the experiment, the amount of feed offered was held constant, at a level equivalent to 1.5 x maintenance. Four ruminally fistulated sheep were used to determine the in situ degradability of these diets. The 16 heifers were bled before feeding at 0800 and at 0900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1400, and 1600 on d 0 (introduction to dietary treatments) and on d 4, 7, 11, 14, 21, and 28. Diet refusals were recorded at hourly intervals after feeding. The rapidly degradable nitrogen fraction of the SE:A and FE:A diets was greater than that of the SE:S and FE:S diets. Postprandial jugular plasma ammonia levels rose to a peak of around 300 micromol/L in heifers offered the SE:A and FE:A diets but did not rise in heifers offered the SE:S and FE:S diets. All feed offered was consumed within 1 h on diets SE:S and FE:S throughout the experiment. The proportion of feed consumed within 1 h of feeding declined from 100% on d 0 to around 70 and 56% by d 21 for heifers given the SE:A and FE:A diets, respectively. Peak postprandial plasma ammonia levels were accordingly lower, at around 160 micromol/L. Plasma urea levels averaged 7 mmol/L and were unaffected by dietary treatment. High plasma ammonia levels were associated with a suppression in the normal postprandial rise in insulin. There was no significant metabolic adaptation to high-ammonia-generating diets, and heifers given these diets modified their pattern of intake in an apparent attempt to avoid excessively high levels of plasma ammonia.  相似文献   

9.
The present study evaluated whether feed deprivation can increase reactivity to stressful events, such as those that can occur at slaughter. Therefore, effects of 30 h of feed deprivation on behavior, including reactions to psychological stressors, and physiological status in cattle were determined. Sixteen Holstein cows (Exp. 1) and 32 Holstein heifers (Exp. 2) were either fed (FE) or 30-h feed deprived (FD). Throughout the first day of feed deprivation and during evening feed distribution to control animals, FD heifers and cows were more active than controls (P < 0.05). In Exp. 1, during a feeding test, in response to a sudden air blast arising from the bucket from which the cow was feeding, FD cows showed a longer latency to return to feed (P = 0.0002), spent less time in the bucket air blast zone (P = 0.008) and less time motionless (P = 0.03), and tended to withdraw over a longer distance (P = 0.07) than FE cows. In Exp. 2, during a reactivity test, FD heifers spent more (P = 0.0001) time motionless in response to social isolation than FE heifers. In Exp. 2, one-half of the FE and FD heifers were subjected to an additional physical and psychological stressor just before the reactivity test by driving them for 5 min through a labyrinth. Within heifers subjected to the additional stressor, FD heifers were less accepting of being detained (P = 0.05) and stroked (P = 0.003) by a familiar stockperson in a corner of the test arena. Compared with FE animals, FD heifers and FD cows had greater plasma cortisol concentrations (P < 0.05). Feed-deprived cows also had reduced β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations (P = 0.02) compared with FE cows. Thus, in cattle, FD influenced some of the classical indicators of energy metabolism and exacerbated reactivity to sudden events. In addition, when additional stressors were applied, FD cattle were more reluctant to accept handling. Results indicate that a multifactorial origin of stressors during the slaughter period may synergistically increase psychological stress of cattle.  相似文献   

10.
Yearling cattle (n = 25; 416.1 +/- 25.9 kg) were stratified by weight and gender across five groups. Group 1 (OAT) was offered oat/rape haylage (ORH) for ad libitum consumption during two daily feeding periods. Group 2 (SPURGE) was offered leafy spurge/grass haylage (LSGH) for ad libitum consumption during the same feeding periods. Group 3 was offered ORH in an amount equal to the average amount of LSGH consumed by SPURGE at the previous feeding. Group 4 (MIX) was offered LSGH mixed with ORH for ad libitum consumption during the two feeding periods. Group 5 (PAIR) received the equivalent amount of ORH consumed by MIX at the previous feeding. The DMI for OAT, SPURGE, and MIX were similar at the first feeding (P = .52). The SPURGE group consumed very little LSGH thereafter and was removed from the trial. The OAT and MIX groups consumed similar amounts of DM daily on d 1 to 4 when the ration offered to MIX was only 7% LSGH (P = .33). When LSGH made up > or = 21% of the mixture (d 7 to 32), the OAT group consumed more daily DM than did MIX (P < .05). The spurge/oatlage ration offered to MIX was less digestible than the oatlage-only ration offered to PAIR (P < or = .01). Even though blood chemistry did not indicate that LSGH consumption caused organ damage, its intake caused minor alterations (P < or = .05) in serum albumin, calcium, gamma glutamyltransferase, P, K, and urea nitrogen. No gross or microscopic lesions, infectious agents, or significant numbers of parasites were detected in any of the carcasses or tissues examined. The MIX group had diarrhea for much of the trial. In Trial 2, five yearling cattle were adapted to a mixture of 21% LSGH and 79% ORH. Then they were simultaneously offered three mixtures of spurge and oat haylages: 1) spurge ensiled with a microbial inoculant (LSGH); 2) spurge ensiled with the same inoculant and a cellulolytic/hemicellulolytic enzyme (ENZ); and 3) spurge ensiled with the same inoculant and molasses (MOL). The mixture with ENZ was preferred over those with MOL or LSGH (P < .001), but the amounts consumed were low and similar to those for LSGH-ORH in Trial 1 when amounts of ENZ and LSGH in the mixtures were similar. The ENZ mixture may have been more palatable than LSGH and MOL because it had less (P < .05) lactic acid, but intake of ENZ indicates that it had aversive characteristics, like LSGH. Ensiling leafy spurge did little, if anything, to improve its palatability to cattle.  相似文献   

11.
The objective of this research was to assess the genetic control of BW, hip height, and the ratio of BW to hip height (n = 5,055) in Brahman cattle through 170 d on feed using covariance function-random regression models. A progeny test of Brahman sires (n = 27) generated records of Brahman steers and heifers (n = 724) over 7 yr. Each year after weaning, calves were assigned to feedlot pens, where they were fed a high-concentrate grain diet. Body weights and hip heights were recorded every 28 d until cattle reached a targeted fatness level. All calves had records through 170 d on feed; subsequent records were excluded. Models included contemporary group (sex-pen-year combinations, n = 63) and age at the beginning of the feeding period as a covariate. The residual error structure was modeled as a random effect, with 2 levels corresponding to two 85-d periods on feed. Information criterion values indicated that linear, random regression coefficients on Legendre polynomials of days on feed were most appropriate to model additive genetic effects for all 3 traits. Cubic (hip height and BW:hip height ratio) or quartic (BW) polynomials best modeled permanent environmental effects. Estimates of heritability across the 170-d feeding period ranged from 0.31 to 0.53 for BW, from 0.37 to 0.53 for hip height, and from 0.23 to 0.6 for BW:hip height ratio. Estimates of the permanent environmental proportion of phenotypic variance ranged from 0.44 to 0.58 for BW, 0.07 to 0.26 for hip height, and 0.30 to 0.48 for BW:hip height ratio. Within-trait estimates of genetic correlation on pairs of days on feed (at 28-d intervals) indicated lower associations of BW:hip height ratio EBV early and late in the feeding period but large positive associations for BW or hip height EBV throughout. Estimates of genetic correlations among the 3 traits indicated almost no association of BW:hip height ratio and hip height EBV. The ratio of BW to hip height in cattle has previously been used as an objective measure of BCS in cows or calves; it may offer a unique assessment of body dimension. Results indicated that there is substantial additive genetic variation for this trait, and it may be possible to use EBV to increase BW without increasing frame score in Brahman cattle.  相似文献   

12.
We determined how a food's flavor and digestibility, along with an animal's recent experiences, influenced food preference and intake. In three experiments, pregnant heifers were fed a basal ration (7.75 kg/animal) of alfalfa, barley, corn silage, and a vitamin/mineral supplement from 1500 to 2200. Exp. 1 determined the influence of recent exposure to flavored straw. Animals were divided into two groups (n = 16/group) and fed either untreated or ammoniated straw with digestibilities of 43 and 58%, respectively. Within each group, half of the heifers were fed maple-flavored straw and the other half were fed coconut-flavored straw from 1100 one day to 0900 the next day, with no base ration. We then offered straw in both flavors from 1000 to 1200 for the next 5 d. Animals fed maple-flavored straw for 1 d generally preferred coconut- over maple-flavored straw for the next 5 d, whereas animals previously fed coconut-flavored straw preferred maple-flavored straw (P < 0.001). The change in preference was stronger when animals were fed untreated compared with ammoniated straw. Experiments 2 and 3 determined the influence of offering straw in different flavors, either in sequence (Exp. 2) or simultaneously (Exp. 3). In Exp. 2, we offered heifers (n = 16) straw in three flavors (maple from 0900 to 1100, coconut from 1100 to 1300, and unflavored from 1300 to 1500) and compared their intake with that of heifers (n = 16) offered unflavored straw throughout the day. In Exp. 3, we compared intake of heifers (n = 16) simultaneously offered straw in three flavors (coconut, maple, and unflavored) with that of heifers (n = 16) offered only unflavored straw from 1000 to 1500. In both experiments, straw intake and preference differed between heifers offered straw in a variety of flavors as opposed to only unflavored straw (P < 0.05), but animals fed a variety of flavors did not consistently eat more than those fed only one flavor. During a post-trial preference test, heifers previously restricted to straw in one flavor for 5 d preferred straw in alternative flavors, whereas heifers fed straw in all three flavors preferred unflavored straw. Changes in preference were stronger for heifers fed untreated compared with ammoniated straw. Collectively, our results suggest that palatability, as evidenced by changes in preference and intake, is dynamic and depends on a food's flavor and nutritional quality and an animal's recent experiences with the food.  相似文献   

13.
Lactating Black-Pied (DSR) cows were used to study, over a period of 100 days, the influence of different basal ration types (experimental group - straw pellets; control group - dried forage + fodder root crops) on fermentation response and daily production rate of volatile fatty acids (VFA) as well as on some criteria of milk yield. Whilst only slight differences were found between the experimental groups in the molar proportions of VFA, the straw pellet-concentrate ration resulted in a lower VFA production as compared to the conventional ration. The control group's VFA production relativated to energy intake, was found to be of the same level (4.1, 4.3 and 3.9 Mol/1 kilo energetic feed equivalents/cattle) after 30, 60 and 100 days of feeding, respectively. The corresponding values in the experimental group declined from 3.3 to 2.3 and 1.9 Mol/1 kilo EF/cattle when feeding a high-fibre straw-pellet batch as basal ration component. The VFA production rates rather diverging between both groups were not found to have a uniform effect on the milk synthesis processes. Both the daily and the first 100-day milk yields did not differ between the groups but within the range of statistical error. Statistically secured positive correlations were found to exist between concentration and production of VFA which, however, depend on the basal ration type and revealed a relatively wide deviation.  相似文献   

14.
The objective of the experiment was to investigate the effect of clinoptilolite (a natural zeolite) supplementation in the ration of dairy cows on serum beta-carotene, vitamins A and E concentrations. Fifty-two clinically healthy Holstein cows were randomly assigned to one of three groups according to their age and parity. The first group (group A, n = 17), was offered a concentrate feed supplemented with 1.25% clinoptilolite. The second group (group B, n = 17), was offered a concentrate feed supplemented with 2.5% clinoptilolite. The third group (group C, n = 18), which served as controls, was offered the same concentrate feed without clinoptilolite supplementation. All cows were fed the above concentrates continuously starting 30 days before the expected parturition up to the end of lactation. Blood samples from individual animals were collected just before the start of experiment, at the day of calving and, thereafter, at monthly intervals. All samples were tested for serum beta-carotene, vitamins A and E concentrations. The results showed that the 1.25 and 2.5% supplementation of clinoptilolite had no adverse effect on serum concentrations of beta-carotene, vitamins A and E.  相似文献   

15.
The effects of 3 supplemental Cu concentrations on feedlot performance, mineral absorption, carcass characteristics, and ruminal S metabolism of cattle fed diets containing 60% dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) were evaluated in 2 experiments. Experiment 1 was conducted with 84 Angus-cross yearling steers and heifers (initial BW = 238 ± 36 kg), which were blocked by gender and allocated to 12 pens. Supplemental dietary Cu (tribasic copper chloride) treatments were: 1) 0 mg Cu/kg diet DM, 2) 100 mg Cu/kg diet DM, 3) 200 mg Cu/kg diet DM. The remainder of the diet was DDGS (60%), grass hay (10%), pelleted soy hulls (15%), and a vitamin-mineral supplement (15%). Diets were offered ad libitum throughout the finishing phase (168 d). Three cattle from each pen (n = 36) were harvested on d 168 and carcass data and liver samples were collected. Copper supplementation did not affect ADG (P = 0.22). However, the nonsignificant trend for increased ADG and decreased DMI led to a linear increase (P = 0.02) feed efficiency (G:F = 0.167, 0.177, and 0.177 for 0, 100, and 200 mg Cu/kg diet DM, respectively). The apparent absorption of Cu decreased quadratically (P = 0.07) and the apparent absorption of Mn and Zn were decreased linearly (P = 0.03 and P = 0.05, respectively) with increased Cu supplementation. Cattle supplemented with 100 or 200 mg Cu/kg diet DM had greater liver Cu concentrations (P < 0.01) than cattle that were not supplemented with Cu. There were no treatment effects (P > 0.10) on HCW, LM area, USDA yield grade, backfat, or marbling score. Experiment 2 was conducted with 6 ruminally fistulated steers that were fed the same diets as in Exp 1 in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin Square design. Copper supplementation did not affect (P > 0.10) ruminal pH or liquid S(2-) concentrations in steers consuming 60% DDGS diets (total dietary S = 0.55%). From 3 to 9 h after feeding, H(2)S gas concentration was decreased in those cattle supplemented with 100 mg Cu/kg diet. Concentration of H(2)S gas did not differ among cattle supplemented with 0 or 200 mg Cu/kg diet DM on 60% DDGS diets. Supplemental Cu improved feed efficiency in cattle consuming diets containing 60% DDGS; however, effects of Cu on rumen S metabolism were minimal even when supplemented at twice the maximum tolerable limit for beef cattle (NRC, 2000).  相似文献   

16.
The objectives of this study were to provide baseline data for alpha-tocopherol, selenium and polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in the serum and feed of New Zealand dairy cattle, and to assess the likelihood that abnormal peroxide metabolism has a role in the impaired lactational and reproductive performance noted in selenium-deficient cattle. Twenty-four Friesian heifers were randomly allocated one of four winter diets consisting of hay with or without selenium supplementation, or pasture and silage with or without selenium supplementation. A winter diet consisting exclusively of hay (alpha-tocopherol concentration 19 mg/kg of dry matter) resulted in a pre-calving serum alpha-tocopherol concentration of 1.2 mg/l compared to 4.5 mg/l for pastured heifers (p<0.01). The pre-calving alpha-tocopherol concentration for the heifers fed hay fell into the range considered deficient (<2.0 mg/l), whereas heifers fed pasture and silage remained in the range considered adequate throughout the study period. Serum fatty acid concentration, and the proportion of fatty acids that were polyunsaturated, were lowest in the hay-fed heifers before calving (1.0 mg/ml, 37.1% respectively), and remained unchanged following re-introduction to pasture after calving in late July and August. Serum fatty acid concentration did not increase following the re-introduction of the heifers to pasture because of the unexpectedly low fatty acid concentration (4.8 g/kg of dry matter) of the mature winter pasture. In October, however, the proportion of fatty acids in serum that were polyunsaturated increased (50%) as did serum cy-tocopherol concentrations (greater than 13 mg/l). Mean serum selenium concentrations in the unsupplemented heifers ranged from 139 to 204 nmol/l, being lowest in October (p<0.01). Supplementation with intraruminal selenium pellets (two pellets delivering about 3 mg of selenium/day) increased serum selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity (p<0.01) whereas the type of winter diet had no effect (p>0.05). These results suggest that dairy cattle wintered on hay can become Vitamin E-depleted, whereas the feeding of pasture and silage should provide adequate Vitamin E. The pasture offered following calving during July and August provided a low dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid challenge, suggesting that abnormal peroxide metabolism is unlikely to be an important mechanism in the impaired performance of selenium-deficient adult cattle which calve at this the of year.  相似文献   

17.
In each of two dairy herds (A and B), rising yearling heifers (Trial 1) and adult cows (Trial 2) were assigned to three treatment groups. Untreated animals were compared to animals treated with either two or four intra-ruminal pellets containing 3 g of elemental selenium. The administration of pellets at the recommended dose (two pellets per animal) was effective in elevating whole blood glutathione peroxidase activity and selenium concentration to over 10 times those of control animals.

In Trial 1, a 15% response in liveweight gain (p<0.001) occurred in yearling heifers in the herd with the lowest pre-treatment selenium status. In Trial 2, cows receiving two pellets produced a greater milk volume (p=0.06) and more milk solids (p=0.02) than untreated controls; an increase in volume of 5.4% and 8%, and in milk solids of 6.5% and 6.4%) were noted in herds A and B respectively. There was a trend toyards decreasing somatic cell counts in milk from the treated cows when compared to controls, the four-pellet group in Herd A and the two-pellet group in Herd B being significantly different from their respective control group. No between-group differences were noted in calving-first service or calving-conception intervals, nor in the proportion of animals pregnant to first or all services. The administration of selenium at twice the recommended dose rate yielded no additional response above that noted after the administration of the recommended dose. The results of this study support the use of currently recommended Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries selenium reference ranges in cattle for the prediction of a response to supplementation.  相似文献   

18.
In each of two dairy herds (A and B), rising yearling heifers (Trial 1) and adult cows (Trial 2) were assigned to three treatment groups. Untreated animals were compared to animals treated with either two or four intra-ruminal pellets containing 3 g of elemental selenium. The administration of pellets at the recommended dose (two pellets per animal) was effective in elevating whole blood glutathione peroxidase activity and selenium concentration to over 10 times those of control animals. In Trial 1, a 15% response in liveweight gain (p<0.001) occurred in yearling heifers in the herd with the lowest pre-treatment selenium status. In Trial 2, cows receiving two pellets produced a greater milk volume (p=0.06) and more milk solids (p=0.02) than untreated controls; an increase in volume of 5.4% and 8%, and in milk solids of 6.5% and 6.4%, were noted in herds A and B respectively. There was a trend towards decreasing somatic cell counts in milk from the treated cows when compared to controls, the four-pellet group in Herd A and the two-pellet group in Herd B being significantly different from their respective control group. No between-group differences were noted in calving-first service or calving-conception intervals, nor in the proportion of animals pregnant to first or all services. The administration of selenium at twice the recommended dose rate yielded no additional response above that noted after the administration of the recommended dose. The results of this study support the use of currently recommended Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries selenium reference ranges in cattle for the prediction of a response to supplementation.  相似文献   

19.
Two trials were conducted to evaluate intake restriction, energy, and protein source on the performance and carcass merit of heifers limit-fed corn gluten feed. Trial 1 crossbred heifers (n = 140) were allotted to ad libitum wet corn gluten feed (WCGF)-hay, ad libitum WCGF-corn, WCGF-corn continuously limit-fed to achieve a gain of 1.1 kg/d or WCGF-corn fed in the following sequence: 70% of ad libitum for 20 d, ad libitum for 20 d, and 2 d common intake during the 84-d growing period. One-half of these restricted-refed heifers received a rumen-undegraded protein supplement, and the other half received a rumen degraded protein supplement. Heifers were fed a common finishing diet ad libitum subsequent to the growing period. Heifers offered ad libitum WCGF-hay and WCGF-corn were slaughtered at a common compositional fat end point. Heifers limit-fed WCGF-corn were slaughtered at the same time as heifers offered ad libitum WCGF-corn, regardless of subcutaneous fat cover. Limit-feeding WCGF-corn diets to growing heifers reduced ADG (P < or = 0.01) but did not compromise feed efficiency. Method of intake restriction, continuous or ad libitum-interrupted, and supplemental protein source did not affect combined growing-finishing performance. However, when fed for a common length of time, the average of the limit-fed heifers had lighter carcass weights (P < or = 0.01) and lower (P = 0.04) marbling scores. Heifers offered ad libitum WCGF-hay gained slower (P < or = 0.01) and less efficiently (P < or = 0.01) than heifers offered WCGF-corn. Trial 2 crossbred heifers (n = 222) were allotted to dry corn gluten feed (DCGF)-corn ad libitum or restricted to 80% of ad libitum for 42, 84, or 126 d; or ad libitum corn silage or DCGF-corn silage at 80% of ad libitum for 84 d. Feed efficiency (P = 0.07) and ADG (P = 0.08) tended to behave quadratically, being poorer for heifers limit-fed for 126 d during the growing period. Heifers limit-fed DCGF-corn gained more efficiently (P = 0.05) than heifers grown on ad libitum corn silage. Limit-feeding CGF-corn to growing beef heifers can be used to achieve moderate rates of gain without compromising feed efficiency. However, limit-feeding during the growing period may result in lighter weight carcasses with lower quality grades if not fed to the same fat end point as heifers grown with free access to concentrate.  相似文献   

20.
We determined if sequence of ingestion affected use of endophyte-infected tall fescue (TF) when cattle also grazed birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) or alfalfa (ALF). Based on chemical characteristics of TF (alkaloids), BFT (tannins), and ALF (saponins), we hypothesized that cattle first allowed to graze ALF or BFT would subsequently spend more time grazing TF than cattle that first grazed TF followed by ALF or BFT. Sixteen bred heifers (478 ± 39 kg initial BW) were randomly assigned to 4 replicated pasture units. Each replicated unit consisted of 4 treatment sequences (TF → BFT, TF→ALF, BFT → TF, or ALF→TF), with 2 cows per sequence. Pastures were in the vegetative stage of growth at a height of 20 to 30 cm and provided ad libitum forage to cattle. We recorded foraging on TF, BFT, and ALF using scan sampling of individuals at 2-min intervals. The study was conducted in 4 phases run sequentially, for a total of 30 d. In phases 1 and 3, cattle in group 1 grazed TF pastures for 45 min and were then moved to BFT pastures for the next 45 min (TF→BFT); cattle in group 2 grazed in the reverse sequence (BFT → TF). In phases 2 and 4, cattle in group 1 grazed TF pastures for 45 min and then subsequently grazed ALF pastures for the remaining 45 min (TF→ALF); cattle in group 2 grazed in the reverse sequence (ALF→TF). Sequence of plant ingestion affected food selection. In phase 1, scans revealed grazing of TF by heifers was cyclic, and heifers tended to have more scans (P = 0.52) grazing TF when they grazed BFT → TF; scans for heifers grazing TF were consistently greater (P < 0.05) throughout phase 3 of the trial. In phase 2, heifers that grazed in the sequence ALF→TF spent considerably more scans (P = 0.03) foraging on TF from d 4 to 10 than heifers that grazed in the sequence TF→ALF, and they remained greater throughout phase 4 of the trial. Although the sequence ALF→TF appeared to be more effective than BFT → TF, consistent with the hypothesis of a complementary relationship between the steroidal alkaloids in TF and saponins in ALF, tannin concentrations in BFT were minimal (1.8%), which likely reduced the presumed inactivation of alkaloids by tannins. We also speculate that heifers needed to learn about the positive postingestive influence of sequence, a notion consistent with more similar scans spent foraging BFT and TF early in phases 1 (BFT → TF) and 2 (ALF→TF), and with the consistent and marked increase in scans spent foraging on TF for animals foraging in phases 3 (BFT → TF) and 4 (ALF→TF).  相似文献   

设为首页 | 免责声明 | 关于勤云 | 加入收藏

Copyright©北京勤云科技发展有限公司  京ICP备09084417号