Effects of replacing extracted soybean meal with rapeseed cake in corn grass silage-based diet for dairy cows

Enrichment of milk antioxidant activity by dietary supplementation of red clover isoflavone in cows and its improvement on mice intestinal health

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavone was supplemented to dairy cows, and antioxidant capacity of milk was assessed. Treated cows increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, reduced production of oxidation products, and enhanced the concentrations of vitamin E and vitamin C. Moreover, milk fatty acid profile was positive influenced by 8 g/kg red clover isoflavone, with changes in the lower saturated and higher unsaturated fatty acids. We further demonstrated the efficacy of antioxidant capacity of milk in mice, found that milk from cows feeding red clover isoflavone increased the expressions of antioxidant enzymes, and alleviated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated tissue damage of duodenum and jejunum, which was related to upregulated metabolism pathways of carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid, as well as downregulated inflammatory related pathways. Together, dietary supplementation of red clover isoflavone is an effective way to improve milk antioxidant capacity, providing a natural strategy for developing functional foods.

Effects of different protein sources on nutrient disappearance, rumen fermentation parameters and microbiota in dual-flow continuous culture system

Scarce high-quality protein feed resources has limited the development of animal husbandry. In this study, we used a dual-flow continuous culture system to evaluate effects of difference dietary protein sources including soybean meal (SBM), cottonseed meal (CSM), and rapeseed meal (RSM), on nutrient disappearance, rumen fermentation, and microbiota of XiongDong black goats. Dietary proteins of either CSM, RSM or SBM had no effect on nutrient disappearance (P > 0.05). CSM or RSM significantly reduced (P < 0.01) the pH and enhanced (P < 0.01) the ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentration in fermentation liquid compared to SBM. The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) contents were greater (P = 0.05) and acetate was lower (P < 0.01) in SBM than those in RSM and CSM, whereas propionate was greater (P < 0.01) in RSM than that in SBM, consequently reducing the acetate to propionate ratio (A/P) in RSM. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were detected as the dominant phyla, and the relative abundances of Spirochaetae (P < 0.01) and Chlorobi (P < 0.05) declined in the CSM and RSM groups as compared to those in the SBM group. At the genus level, Prevotella_1 was the dominant genus; as compared to SBM, its relative abundance was greater (P < 0.01) in CSM and RSM. The abundances of Prevotellaceae_Ga6A1 and Christensenellaceae_R7 were lower (P < 0.05) in CSM, whereas Eubacterium_oxidoreducens_group, and Treponema_2 were lower (P < 0.01) in both CSM and RSM, and other genera were not different (P > 0.10). Although the bacterial community changed with different dietary protein sources, the disappearances of nutrients were not affected, suggesting that CSM and RSM could be used by rumen bacteria, as in case with SBM, and are suitable protein sources for ruminant diets.

Intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter, milk production, and composition of cows fed with diets containing oilseed cakes: A meta-analysis

Oilseed cakes can partially replace corn or soy used in the diet without losing animal performance. The objective was to carry out a meta-analysis and principal component analysis to evaluate the effects of cakes on the intake and apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter (DM) and milk production and composition in lactating dairy cows. The data set used in the meta-analysis came from 51 studies published between 2009 and 2019, which resulted in 119 studies with 18 types of cakes evaluated in 1350 cows. Cows fed with cakes increased dry matter intake (DMI) by 0.366 kg d^-1 (P < 0.001) and DMI as a function of the animal's body weight by 0.103% (P < 0.0001) compared with the diet without cake. The milk protein content decreased by 0.050% (P < 0.010). The contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (26%-%) and ether extract (EE) (3%-7%) of the cake diets did not affect ADCDM. Cakes with contents between 10% and 30% can replace corn or soy in the diet without affecting milk production, components (fat, protein, and lactose), and contents (fat and lactose), but it can reduce the milk protein content of milk.

Nutritional Indices for Assessing Fatty Acids: A Mini-Review

Dietary fats are generally fatty acids that may play positive or negative roles in the prevention and treatment of diseases. In nature, fatty acids occur in the form of mixtures of saturated fatty acid (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), so their nutritional and/or medicinal values must be determined. Herein, we do not consider the classic indices, such as ∑SFA, ∑MUFA, ∑PUFA, ∑n-6 PUFA, ∑n-3 PUFA, and n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA; instead, we summarize and review the definitions, implications, and applications of indices used in recent years, including the PUFA/SFA, index of atherogenicity (IA), the index of thrombogenicity (IT), the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (HH), the health-promoting index (HPI), the unsaturation index (UI), the sum of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA + DHA), fish lipid quality/flesh lipid quality (FLQ), the linoleic acid/α-linolenic acid (LA/ALA) ratio, and trans fatty acid (TFA). Of these nutritional indices, IA and IT are the most commonly used to assess the composition of fatty acids as they outline significant implications and provide clear evidence. EPA + DHA is commonly used to assess the nutritional quality of marine animal products. All indices have their advantages and disadvantages; hence, a rational choice of which to use is critical.

Changes of milk fatty acid composition in four lipid classes as biomarkers for the diagnosis of bovine ketosis using bioanalytical Thin Layer Chromatography and Gas Chromatographic techniques (TLC-GC)

The aim of this study was to extend the limited research available on the association between the concentration of milk fatty acids and the elevated plasmatic value of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in early lactation of dairy cows. Fifty-four Holstein Friesian dairy cows were enrolled in the study. All animals were classified on the basis of their blood BHB concentration: BHB ≥ 1.0 mmol/L (BHB-1, sick group) and BHB ≤ 0.99 mmol/L (BHB-0, healthy group). Using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), four lipid classes (cholesterol esters -CE-, phospholipids -PL-, free fatty acids -FFA- and triacylglycerols -TAG-) were separated, and then the fatty acid (FA) composition was determined by High Resolution Gas Chromatography coupled with Flame Ionization Detector/Mass Spectrometer (HRGC-FID/MS). The FA profiles were used to investigate the diagnostic potential value of milk fatty acids for the correct classification of cows with BHB concentration above the established threshold (BHB < 1.0 mmol/L). Boruta Test and Receiver Operating Characteristic curves (ROC) were used to identify which FA and their thresholds of concentration could be used when animals presented hyperketonemia. The research has identified fourteen FA, belonging to CE, FFA, and TAG classes, useful for an association with BHB-1. These compounds, with predictive value for the development of hyperketonemia, could be considered valuable biomarkers. Further studies on a wider sampling, based on clinical and therapeutic approach, will be necessary to confirm, by bioanalytical chromatographic approaches, if these predictive FA will change between healthy and sick animals. New approaches in relation on the administration of different diets or supplements, and administration of drugs might improve the prevention of hyperketonemia.

Role of Fatty Acids in Milk Fat and the Influence of Selected Factors on Their Variability-A Review

Fatty acids (FAs) of milk fat are considered to be important nutritional components of the diets of a significant portion of the human population and substantially affect human health. With regard to dairy farming, the FA profile is also seen as an important factor in the technological quality of raw milk. In this sense, making targeted modifications to the FA profile has the potential to significantly contribute to the production of dairy products with higher added value. Thus, FAs also have economic importance. Current developments in analytical methods and their increasing efficiency enable the study of FA profiles not only for scientific purposes but also in terms of practical technological applications. It is important to study the sources of variability of FAs in milk, which include population genetics, type of farming, and targeted animal nutrition. It is equally important to study the health and technological impacts of FAs. This review summarizes current knowledge in the field regarding sources of FA variability, including the impact of factors such as: animal nutrition, seasonal feed changes, type of animal farming (conventional and organic), genetic parameters (influence of breed), animal individuality, lactation, and milk yield. Potential practical applications (to improve food technology and consumer health) of FA profile information are also reviewed.