1
|
Stefanska B, Pruszynska-Oszmalek E, Fievez V, Purwin C, Nowak W. Impact of heat stress during close-up dry period on performance, fertility and immunometabolic blood indices of dairy cows: prospective cohort study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:21211. [PMID: 39261589 PMCID: PMC11390746 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72294-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether heat stress, as defined by the temperature-humidity index (THI) during the close-up dry period, had any impact on the productive performance, fertility, and immunometabolic blood indices of dairy cows in the subsequent lactation. Lactation performance was associated with increasing THI values on - 21, - 14, and - 7 d before calving resulting in decreased milk yield by about 2.30, 2.60, and 2.90 kg, respectively. The THI on the - 7 d before the calving was negatively associated with fertility parameters such as delayed first estrus postpartum, an elongated calving interval by approximately 32 d, a higher number of services per conception by 1.00, and an elongated artificial insemination service period, days open, and inter-calving period by about 20, 52, and 52 d, respectively. The study found that the immunometabolic blood indices were associated with increasing THI values during the close-up dry period. The study showed that exposing dairy cows to close-up dry period heat stress had negative consequences on performance, fertility, and immunometabolic blood indices in the subsequent lactation. Therefore, it is recommended that herd management and barn microclimate changes be implemented earlier, starting from the late dry period, to mitigate the negative impact of heat stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Stefanska
- Department of Grassland and Natural Landscape Sciences, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-632, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Ewa Pruszynska-Oszmalek
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry, and Biostructure, Poznań University of Life Science, 60-637, Poznan, Poland
| | - Veerle Fievez
- Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality (Lanupro), Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Cezary Purwin
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Feed Science, and Cattle Breeding, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Włodzimierz Nowak
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-637, Poznan, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Arias RA, Soto F, Keim JP. Assessment of the effects of heat stress on the production of dairy cows by using two comfort thermal indices in Southern Chile. J Therm Biol 2024; 124:103942. [PMID: 39178648 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Heat stress has been recognized as a serious problem in dairy farms around the world due to the increasing heat waves and higher genetic potential of dairy cows. In Chile, milk production is concentrated in the southern regions of the country, where animals graze all year around, consequently being exposed directly to environmental conditions. Nevertheless, there are few studies conducted in Chile that have evaluated at the commercial level the impact of heat stress on milk production. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of summer conditions, across periods, on the milk production of cows at different stages of lactation in a dairy farm located in Southern Chile. Daily meteorological and milk yield records of three summers from a dairy farm were collected to characterize the relationship between two thermal stress indices and milk yield. The thermal comfort indices used were the comprehensive climate index (CCI), and the adjusted temperature humidity index (THIadj). The average values of CCI and THIadj were dependent on the period (P < 0.0001) with maximum CCI of 40.2 °C, 31.7 °C, and 27.5 °C for the 2012-2013, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017 periods, respectively. A similar response was recorded when THIadj was used (85.5, 78.0, and 73.9, respectively). In the 2012-2013 summer, 44.4% of the days presented conditions of heat stress (CCI ≥23), a value that fell to 26.7% in the summer of 2015-2016 and only 5.6% in the 2016-2017. On the opposite, when the THIadj was used, these values were 50%, 48.9%, and 5.6%, respectively. In conclusion, both comfort thermal indices are good tools to determine the risk of thermal stress in dairy cows, with a large variation between the three summer periods but also between indices. Likewise, cows in the early and mid-lactation periods are more affected in terms of milk yield.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo A Arias
- Instituto de Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Alimentarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, 5090000, Chile; Centro de Investigación de Suelos Volcánicos, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, 5090000, Chile.
| | - Fernando Soto
- Instituto de Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Alimentarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, 5090000, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Keim
- Instituto de Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Alimentarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, 5090000, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen X, Li C, Fang T, Yao J, Gu X. Effects of heat stress on endocrine, thermoregulatory, and lactation capacity in heat-tolerant and -sensitive dry cows. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1405263. [PMID: 39044743 PMCID: PMC11263114 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1405263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Increasing global temperatures present a significant challenge to livestock production. The dry period is an important stage in the production cycle of cow, and environmental heat stress (HS) during this period can have adverse effects on the subsequent lactation performance. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of HS on endocrine, thermoregulatory, and lactation parameters in heat-tolerant dry cows (HTDC) and heat-sensitive dry cows (HSDC). Methods We measured the respiratory rate (RR), body temperature (BT), and temperature-humidity index (THI) in 66 dry cows during HS. The slopes of RR and BT to THI were determined through analysis of measurements and dry cows background information using a mixed-effects model. Subsequently, the heat tolerance or sensitivity of dry cows was assessed using clustering method (HTDC = 19 and HSDC = 47). Results Compared with that of HSDC, the RR of HTDC significantly increased after exposure to HS (p < 0.05). The average reduction in milk yield from new lactation to the previous lactation was significantly lower in HTDC compared to HSDC (p < 0.05). Plasma cortisol and non-esterified fatty acid levels were significantly lower in HTDC compared to HSDC (p < 0.05), while plasma triiodothyronine (p = 0.07) and growth hormone (p = 0.08) levels tended to be higher in HTDC relative to HSDC. Discussion HTDC can more effectively alleviate the impacts of HS through their superior thermoregulation and metabolism, thereby ensuring optimal postpartum lactation performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shanxi, China
| | - Chenyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Junhu Yao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, Shanxi, China
| | - Xianhong Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Westhoff TA, Borchardt S, Mann S. Invited review: Nutritional and management factors that influence colostrum production and composition in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:4109-4128. [PMID: 38246551 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Colostrum is a rich source of nutritional and non-nutritional components and is recognized as essential to transfer passive immunity to newborn calves. Because of the individual and seasonal variability in colostrum yield and composition, maintaining an adequate supply of high-quality colostrum year-round remains a challenge for commercial dairy producers. In this narrative review, we described the individual, seasonal, and herd-level variability of colostrum production and summarized the association between individual animal factors such as parity, sex of the calf, calf birth weight, as well as indicators of the cow's metabolic status and the yield and composition of colostrum. Further, we reviewed the current knowledge on the influence of prepartum nutrition and management strategies on colostrum production. Research on the metabolizable energy and protein supplied in the prepartum diet as well as on the inclusion and source of vitamins, minerals, and feed additives suggests prepartum nutrition influences the yield, quality, and composition of colostrum. Furthermore, the prepartum environment and dry period length remain influential factors in the production of colostrum. However, additional research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which prepartum nutrition and management affect colostrum production. Finally, time from calving to colostrum harvest and oxytocin administration as well as the current knowledge on the effect of heat treatment and colostrum storage strategies on colostral components were discussed. To conclude, we identify critical gaps in knowledge for future focus of investigation in colostrum research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T A Westhoff
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - S Borchardt
- Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - S Mann
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Davidson BD, Zambon AA, Guadagnin AR, Hoppmann A, Larsen GA, Sherlock DN, Luchini D, Apelo SIA, Laporta J. Rumen-protected methionine supplementation during the transition period under artificially induced heat stress: impacts on cow-calf performance. J Dairy Sci 2024:S0022-0302(24)00898-1. [PMID: 38851569 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2024-24739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Dairy cows experiencing heat stress (HS) during the pre-calving portion of the transition period give birth to smaller calves and produce less milk and milk protein. Supplementation of rumen-protected methionine (RPM) has been shown to modulate protein, energy, and placenta metabolism, making it a potential candidate to ameliorate HS effects. We investigated the effects of supplementing RPM to transition cows under HS induced by electric heat blanket (EHB) on cow-calf performance. Six weeks before expected calving, 53 Holstein cows were housed in a tie-stall barn and fed a control diet (CON, 2.2% Met of MP) or a CON diet supplemented with Smartamine®M (MET, 2.6% Met of MP, Adisseo Inc., France). Four weeks pre-calving, all MET and half CON cows were fitted with an EHB. The other half of the CON cows were considered thermoneutral (TN), resulting in 3 treatments: CONTN (n = 19), CONHS (n = 17), and METHS (n = 17). Respiratory rate (RR), skin temperature (ST), and rectal temperature (RT) were measured thrice weekly and core body temperatures recorded bi-weekly. Post-calving body weights (BW) and BCS were recorded weekly, and DMI was calculated and averaged weekly. Milk yield was recorded daily and milk components were analyzed every third DIM. Biweekly AA and weekly nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), insulin, and glucose were measured from plasma. Calf birth weight and 24 h growth, thermoregulation, and hematology profile were measured and apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA) of immunoglobulins was calculated. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with 2 preplanned orthogonal contrasts: CONTN vs. the average of CONHS and METHS (C1) and CONHS vs. METHS (C2). Relative to TN, EHB cows had increased RT during the post-calving weeks and increased RR and ST during the entire transition period. Body weight, BCS, DMI, and milk yield were not impacted by the EHB or RPM. However, protein % and SNF were lower in CONHS, relative to METHS cows. At calving, METHS dams had higher glucose concentrations, relative to CONHS, and during the post-calving weeks, the EHB cows had lower NEFA concentrations than TN cows. Calf birthweight and AEA were reduced by HS, while RR was increased by HS. Calf withers height tended to be shorter and RT were lower in CONHS, compared with MTHS heifers. Overall, RPM supplementation to transition cows reverts the negative impact of HS on blood glucose concentration at calving and milk protein % in the dams and increases wither height while decreasing RT in the calf.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B D Davidson
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI †Adisseo USA Inc., Alpharetta, GA, USA
| | - A A Zambon
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI †Adisseo USA Inc., Alpharetta, GA, USA
| | - A R Guadagnin
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI †Adisseo USA Inc., Alpharetta, GA, USA
| | - A Hoppmann
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI †Adisseo USA Inc., Alpharetta, GA, USA
| | - G A Larsen
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI †Adisseo USA Inc., Alpharetta, GA, USA
| | - D N Sherlock
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI †Adisseo USA Inc., Alpharetta, GA, USA
| | - D Luchini
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI †Adisseo USA Inc., Alpharetta, GA, USA
| | - S I Arriola Apelo
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI †Adisseo USA Inc., Alpharetta, GA, USA
| | - J Laporta
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI †Adisseo USA Inc., Alpharetta, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lu J, Zhao P, Ding X, Liu Y, Li H. N-Acetylcysteine assists muscle development in offspring of mice subjected to maternal heat stress during pregnancy. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2024. [PMID: 38828636 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heat stress (HS) has been shown to affect reproductive performance and muscle development negatively in animals. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) plays a pivotal role in enhancing the antioxidant performance in animals as a recognized antioxidant. The present study assesses the potential of NAC to modulate the reproductive performance and antioxidant function in pregnant mice exposed to HS. The role of NAC in muscle development of offspring mice was also explored. RESULTS The results showed that NAC supplementation from day 12 to day 18 of gestation increased the number of litters and enhanced the antioxidant function in pregnant mice under HS exposure. It improved the weight and body condition significantly in the offspring mice (P < 0.05). The alleviation of HS-induced muscle impairment with NAC was consistent with the alleviation of apoptosis, the enrichment of the proliferation and differentiation in the offspring mice muscle. N-Acetylcysteine also reversed HS-induced reduction in the cross-sectional area of the leg muscle and increased the proportion of myosin heavy chain IIx (MYHCIIx) in the muscle fiber. CONCLUSION The results of the present study support the use of NAC at a dose of 100 mg kg-1 body weight as supplement for protecting the offspring derived from pregnant mice exposed to HS from muscle impairment by accelerating proliferation and differentiation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Lu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiuhu Ding
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huixia Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rodríguez-Godina IJ, García JE, Morales JL, Contreras V, Véliz FG, Macías-Cruz U, Avendaño-Reyes L, Mellado M. Effect of heat stress during the dry period on milk yield and reproductive performance of Holstein cows. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2024; 68:883-890. [PMID: 38308728 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-024-02633-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the influence of heat stress during the dry period on milk yield and reproductive performance of Holstein cows in a hot environment. Breeding and milk production records of cows, as well as meteorological data between 2017 and 2020 from a commercial dairy herd (n = 12,102 lactations), were used to determine the relationship between climatic conditions during the dry period (average of the temperature-humidity index (THI) at the beginning, middle, and end of the dry period) and reproductive efficiency and milk yield traits. THI was divided into < 70 (no heat stress), 70-80 (moderate heat stress), and > 80 (severe heat stress). First-service pregnancy rate of cows decreased (P < 0.01) with increasing hyperthermia during the dry period (9.5, 7.3, and 3.4% for THI < 70, 70-80, and > 80, respectively). All-service pregnancy rate was highest (P < 0.01) for cows not undergoing heat stress during the dry period (60.2%) and lowest (42.6%) for cows with severe heat stress during the dry period. Cows not experiencing heat stress during the dry period required a mean ± SD of 5.6 ± 3.8 services per pregnancy compared with 6.5 ± 3.6 (P < 0.01) for cows subjected to THI > 80 during the dry period. Cows not suffering heat stress during the dry period produced more (P < 0.01) 305-day milk (10,926 ± 1206 kg) than cows subjected to moderate (10,799 ± 1254 kg) or severe (10,691 ± 1297 kg) heat stress during the dry period. Total milk yield did not differ (P > 0.10) between cows not undergoing heat stress (13,337 ± 3346 kg) and cows subjected to severe heat stress during the dry period (13,911 ± 4018 kg). It was concluded that environmental management of dry cows during hot months is warranted to maximize reproductive performance and milk yield in the following lactation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iris J Rodríguez-Godina
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, 25315, Saltillo, Mexico
| | - José E García
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, 25315, Saltillo, Mexico
| | - Juan L Morales
- Department of Veterinary Science, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, 27054, Torreon, Mexico
| | - Viridiana Contreras
- Department of Veterinary Science, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, 27054, Torreon, Mexico
| | - Francisco G Véliz
- Department of Veterinary Science, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, 27054, Torreon, Mexico
| | - Ulises Macías-Cruz
- Institute of Agriculture Science, Autonomous University of Baja California, 21705, Mexicali, Mexico
| | - Leonel Avendaño-Reyes
- Institute of Agriculture Science, Autonomous University of Baja California, 21705, Mexicali, Mexico
| | - Miguel Mellado
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Autonomous Agrarian University Antonio Narro, 25315, Saltillo, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Jurkovich V, Bakony M, Reiczigel J. A retrospective study of thermal events on the mortality rate of hutch-reared dairy calves. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1366254. [PMID: 38560627 PMCID: PMC10980180 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1366254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Heat stress in hutch-reared dairy calves (Bos taurus) is highly relevant due to its adverse effects on animal welfare, health, growth, and economic outcomes. This study aimed to provide arguments for protecting calves against heat stress. It was hypothesized that the thermal stress caused by high ambient temperature in summer months negatively affects the survival rate in preweaning calves. Methods In a retrospective study, we investigated how calf mortality varied by calendar month and between thermoneutral and heat stress periods on a large-scale Hungarian dairy farm (data of 46,899 calves between 1991 and 2015). Results The daily mortality rate was higher in the summer (8.7-11.9 deaths per 10,000 calf days) and winter months (10.7-12.5 deaths per 10,000 calf-days) than in the spring (6.8-9.2 deaths per 10,000 calf-days) and autumn months (7.1-9.5 deaths per 10,000 calf-days). The distribution of calf deaths per calendar month differed between the 0-14-day and 15-60-day age groups. The mortality risk ratio was highest in July (6.92). The mortality risk in the 0-14-day age group was twice as high in periods with a daily mean temperature above 22°C than in periods with a daily mean of 5-18°C. Conclusions Heat stress abatement is advised in outdoor calf rearing when the mean daily temperature reaches 22°C, which, due to global warming, will be a common characteristic of summer weather in a continental region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Jurkovich
- Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Animal Hygiene, Herd Health and Mobile Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mikolt Bakony
- Centre for Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jeno Reiczigel
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Landi V, Maggiolino A, Hidalgo J, Rossoni A, Chebel RC, De Palo P. Effect of transgenerational environmental condition on genetics parameters of Italian Brown Swiss. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:1549-1560. [PMID: 37806626 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to infer the effects of heat stress (HS) of dams during late gestation on direct and maternal genetic parameters for traits related to milk production and milk quality parameters (90,558 records) in Italian Brown Swiss cattle (12,072 cows in 617 herds). Daily average temperature-humidity indices (THI) during the last 56 d of pregnancy were calculated, using the climate data from the nearest public weather station for each herd. Heat load effects were considered as the average across the entire periods considering a thermoneutrality condition for data below the THI 60. For parameter estimation a random regression model using the second-order Legendre polynomial regression coefficient for THI considering both animal and maternal effect for heat load. Direct heritability increased sharply from THI 60 to 65, then decreased gradually up to THI ∼72, and sharply thereafter. Maternal heritability showed a different trend, with values close to 0 up until to THI 65 and slightly increasing toward extreme THI values. The study suggests a lower threshold of THI 60 for the onset of HS. Higher heritability values indicate greater selective efficiency in the THI range of 65 to 70, even if a higher standard deviation value have been detected. The effects of high THI during intrauterine life varied among traits with different heritability levels. Genetic correlations for milk, fat, and protein content at 60 THI with increasing value of environmental variable, remained constant (∼0.90) until THI >75, where they slightly decreased (∼0.85). Fat and protein yields, as well as milk and energy-corrected milk, showed correlations dropping to 0.80 around THI 67 to 68 and stabilizing between 0.75 and 0.85 at extreme THI values. Maternal component correlations dropped close to zero, with negative values for protein content at THI 65 to 70. Antagonism between direct and maternal components was stronger for intermediate THI values but less divergent for extremes. Genotype by environment interaction was observed, indicating the selection of resilient animals would be theoretically possible. In the future, the application of climate variables in selection schemes first should take into account the dimensions of the genetic correlations to be able to decide between the simple inclusion of the environmental effect in the statistical models, rather than a real parallel genetic evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Landi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari A. Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| | - A Maggiolino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari A. Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
| | - J Hidalgo
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
| | - A Rossoni
- Italian Brown Swiss Breeders Association, Loc. Ferlina 204, Bussolengo 37012, Italy
| | - R C Chebel
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Pasquale De Palo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari A. Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cardoso MGR, Bignardi AB, Pereira RJ, Eler JP, Ferraz JBS, Brito LF, Santana ML. Genotype-by-gestational thermal environment interaction and its impact on the future performance of tropical composite beef cattle offspring. J Anim Sci 2024; 102:skae200. [PMID: 39028536 PMCID: PMC11303872 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
With global warming, there are growing challenges for raising taurine and composite beef cattle populations in tropical regions, including elevated temperatures, limited forage availability, parasite infestation, and infectious diseases. These environmental factors can trigger specific physiological responses in the developing fetus, which may have long-term implications on its performance. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the influence of naturally induced thermal stress during the gestation period on the subsequent performance of tropical composite beef cattle progeny. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the impact of genotype-by-gestational thermal environment interaction (G×Eg) on traits under selection pressure in the breeding population. A total of 157,414 animals from 58 farms located in various Brazilian states were recorded for birth weight (BW), preweaning weight gain (PWG), yearling weight (YW), hip height (HH), scrotal circumference (SC), and days to first calving (DFC). We first applied a linear regression model to the BW data, which revealed that the last 40 d of gestation were suitable for calculating the mean temperature humidity index (THIg). Subsequent regression analyses revealed that for every 10-unit increase in THIg, detrimental effects of approximately 1.13% to 16.34% are expected for all traits evaluated. Genetic parameters were estimated through a reaction norm model using THIg as the environmental descriptor. The posterior means of heritability estimates (SD) were 0.35 (0.07), 0.25 (0.03), 0.31 (0.03), 0.37 (0.01), 0.29 (0.07), and 0.20 (0.09) for the direct effect of BW, PWG, YW, HH, SC, and DFC, respectively. These estimates varied along the range of THIg values, suggesting a variable response to selection depending on the thermal environment during gestation. Genetic correlation estimates between more divergent THIg values were low or negative for YW, PWG, and DFC, indicating that the best-performing individuals at low THIg values may not perform as well at high THIg values and vice versa. Overall, thermal stress during gestation impacts the future performance of beef cattle offspring. Our results indicate the need for developing effective breeding strategies that take into account G×Eg effects and the re-ranking of breeding animals along the THIg scale, particularly for traits such as DFC that are highly sensitive to thermal stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Gomes Rodrigues Cardoso
- Grupo de Melhoramento Animal de Mato Grosso, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Tecnológicas, Universidade Federal de Rondonópolis, Rondonópolis, MT, 78736-900, Brazil
| | - Annaiza Braga Bignardi
- Grupo de Melhoramento Animal de Mato Grosso, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Tecnológicas, Universidade Federal de Rondonópolis, Rondonópolis, MT, 78736-900, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Junqueira Pereira
- Grupo de Melhoramento Animal de Mato Grosso, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Tecnológicas, Universidade Federal de Rondonópolis, Rondonópolis, MT, 78736-900, Brazil
| | - Joanir Pereira Eler
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - José Bento Sterman Ferraz
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fernando Brito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Mário Luiz Santana
- Grupo de Melhoramento Animal de Mato Grosso, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Tecnológicas, Universidade Federal de Rondonópolis, Rondonópolis, MT, 78736-900, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wen H, Johnson JS, Freitas PHF, Maskal JM, Gloria LS, Araujo AC, Pedrosa VB, Tiezzi F, Maltecca C, Huang Y, Schinckel AP, Brito LF. Longitudinal genomic analyses of automatically-recorded vaginal temperature in lactating sows under heat stress conditions based on random regression models. Genet Sel Evol 2023; 55:95. [PMID: 38129768 PMCID: PMC10734178 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00868-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Automatic and continuous recording of vaginal temperature (TV) using wearable sensors causes minimal disruptions to animal behavior and can generate data that enable the evaluation of temporal body temperature variation under heat stress (HS) conditions. However, the genetic basis of TV in lactating sows from a longitudinal perspective is still unknown. The objectives of this study were to define statistical models and estimate genetic parameters for TV in lactating sows using random regression models, and identify genomic regions and candidate genes associated with HS indicators derived from automatically-recorded TV. RESULTS Heritability estimates for TV ranged from 0.14 to 0.20 over time (throughout the day and measurement period) and from 0.09 to 0.18 along environmental gradients (EG, - 3.5 to 2.2, which correspond to dew point values from 14.87 to 28.19 ˚C). Repeatability estimates of TV over time and along EG ranged from 0.57 to 0.66 and from 0.54 to 0.77, respectively. TV measured from 12h00 to 16h00 had moderately high estimates of heritability (0.20) and repeatability (0.64), indicating that this period might be the most suitable for recording TV for genetic selection purposes. Significant genotype-by-environment interactions (GxE) were observed and the moderately high estimates of genetic correlations between pairs of extreme EG indicate potential re-ranking of selection candidates across EG. Two important genomic regions on chromosomes 10 (59.370-59.998 Mb) and16 (21.548-21.966 Mb) were identified. These regions harbor the genes CDC123, CAMK1d, SEC61A2, and NUDT5 that are associated with immunity, protein transport, and energy metabolism. Across the four time-periods, respectively 12, 13, 16, and 10 associated genomic regions across 14 chromosomes were identified for TV. For the three EG classes, respectively 18, 15, and 14 associated genomic windows were identified for TV, respectively. Each time-period and EG class had uniquely enriched genes with identified specific biological functions, including regulation of the nervous system, metabolism and hormone production. CONCLUSIONS TV is a heritable trait with substantial additive genetic variation and represents a promising indicator trait to select pigs for improved heat tolerance. Moderate GxE for TV exist, indicating potential re-ranking of selection candidates across EG. TV is a highly polygenic trait regulated by a complex interplay of physiological, cellular and behavioral mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wen
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jay S Johnson
- USDA-ARS Livestock Behavior Research Unit, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Pedro H F Freitas
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jacob M Maskal
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Leonardo S Gloria
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Andre C Araujo
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Victor B Pedrosa
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Francesco Tiezzi
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Christian Maltecca
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | | | - Allan P Schinckel
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Luiz F Brito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Souza VC, Moraes LE, Santos JEP, Baumgard LH, Mueller ND, Kebreab E. Modeling the relationship between heat stress, feed intake, and day relative to calving in nonlactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:8942-8952. [PMID: 37678784 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Heat stress (HS) during the dry period can affect animal welfare, health, dry matter intake (DMI), and milk production in the subsequent lactation, which will negatively affect the profitability of dairy farms. In this study, the objective was to model the changes in DMI in pregnant nonlactating heat-stressed dairy cows with or without access to evaporative cooling systems. A database was built, composed of individual DMI records from 244 pregnant nonlactating dairy cows from an average -29.3 d (range: -42 to -21 d; SD: ±7.54 d) to -1 d relative to calving (DRC) and housed in environmental conditions in which temperature-humidity index (THI) ranged from 58.4 to 83.3, with or without access to evaporative cooling systems. Generalized additive mixed-effects models were used to describe the relationships of DMI with HS and DRC. Changes in DMI with the increase in THI and the progression of pregnancy in cows with or without evaporative cooling systems were estimated using differential equations. On average, cows housed in barns without evaporative cooling systems had a reduction in DMI of 1.30 kg/d and increased rectal temperature in 0.22°C in relation to those housed in barns with evaporative cooling systems. Dry matter intake decreased as THI increased, but the reduction was greater for noncooled cows as THI values increased. In addition, regardless of the THI, DMI started to decrease at -14 DRC for cooled cows, whereas for noncooled cows it already started at -30 DRC, relative to the previous days evaluated. The intensity of the reduction was lesser for cows that had access to evaporative cooling systems or were in the dry period in May to June as compared with those that were in the dry period in July to August or September to October. The models generated in this study, which include environmental variables, should lead to more accurate predictions of DMI during HS that can be used to formulate diets to meet the needs of the late pregnant cow because it is possible to predict changes in DMI as the heat load and DRC change. Such models are also expected to help dairy nutritionists to decide when and how to apply the dietary strategies available to attenuate the reductions in DMI with the intensity of HS and progression of pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V C Souza
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616.
| | - L E Moraes
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
| | - J E P Santos
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
| | - L H Baumgard
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
| | - N D Mueller
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - E Kebreab
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mozaffari Makiabadi MJ, Bafandeh M, Gharagozlou F, Vojgani M, Mobedi E, Akbarinejad V. Developmental programming of production and reproduction in dairy cows: II. Association of gestational stage of maternal exposure to heat stress with offspring's birth weight, milk yield, reproductive performance and AMH concentration during the first lactation period. Theriogenology 2023; 212:41-49. [PMID: 37690376 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Although the negative effect of maternal exposure to heat stress on production and reproduction of offspring has been reported, there are some discrepancies among various studies about which gestational stage is more critical in this regard. Therefore, the present research was conducted to identify during which stage(s) of pregnancy maternal exposure to heat stress would lead to more dramatic decrease in productive and reproductive performance of offspring. To this end, offspring were classified based on the gestational stage they were in utero exposed to heat stress into four categories, including heat stress exposure (HSE) during only the first trimester of gestation (HSE1), HSE during the first and second trimester of gestation (HSE2), HSE during the second and third trimester of gestation (HSE3) and HSE during only the third trimester of gestation (HSE4). In study I, data of birth weight, milk yield and reproductive variables of 11,788 offspring and data of the month they were conceived were retrieved. In study II, blood samples (n = 521) were collected from offspring in various categories of HSE for measurement of serum AMH. Offspring in HSE1 and HSE2 categories were heavier than offspring in HSE3 and HSE4 categories (P < 0.0001). Offspring in HSE1 and HSE3 categories had the lowest and highest milk production, respectively (P < 0.05). First service conception rate was the greatest and worst in HSE1 and HSE4 categories, respectively (P < 0.05). Service per conception and calving to conception interval were greater in HSE2 than HSE4 category (P < 0.05). Concentration of AMH was lower in HSE1 than HSE4 category (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the present study indicated that the early stage of gestation could be a more critical period for the negative impact of in utero heat stress on developmental programming of milk production and ovarian reserves. Yet an evident temporal pattern for the adverse effect of maternal heat stress on developmental programming of reproductive performance in offspring was not found.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Bafandeh
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faramarz Gharagozlou
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Vojgani
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Emadeddin Mobedi
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Akbarinejad
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Yin T, Halli K, König S. Effects of prenatal heat stress on birth weight and birth weight genetic parameters in German Holstein calves. JDS COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 4:469-473. [PMID: 38045893 PMCID: PMC10692342 DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2023-0381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to infer the effects of heat stress (HS) during late gestation of dams on phenotypes and on direct and maternal genetic parameters for birth weight (BiW). We considered 171,221 Holstein calves kept in 56 large-scale co-operator herds. For a clear separation of maternal effects, only calves from dams with at least 3 offspring were included in the analyses. The genotype data set comprised 41,143 SNPs from 1,883 Holstein bulls. Temperature-humidity indices (THI) during the last 8 wk of gestation were calculated in each herd to reflect prenatal HS. A further prenatal HS descriptor was the first principal component (PC1) from principal component analysis considering the daily THI during the last 56 d of gestation. Regression coefficients of BiW on prenatal THI during the last 12 wk of gestation and PC1 were estimated in 13 consecutive phenotypic analyses. The strongest BiW decline was -0.63 kg per standardized THI, identified during 50 to 56 d before birth. A reaction norm model with weekly prenatal THI or PC1 nested within maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects was defined to infer maternal sensitivity in response to prenatal THI alterations. Direct BiW heritabilities were close to 0.33 in the course of prenatal THI. Maternal BiW heritabilities marginally increased from 0.07 to 0.08 with increasing THI. Genetic correlations between maternal genetic effects at maximum HS levels and remaining THI were larger than 0.95, indicating the absence of genotype by time-lagged HS interactions. In contrast, maternal permanent environmental correlations between BiW at prenatal THI indicating HS with BiW at remaining THI substantially declined with increasing THI distances. Hence, from a herd management perspective, avoiding HS during the dry period of the dams will contribute to a slight increase in fetus growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T. Yin
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - K. Halli
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - S. König
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Khan I, Mesalam A, Heo YS, Lee SH, Nabi G, Kong IK. Heat Stress as a Barrier to Successful Reproduction and Potential Alleviation Strategies in Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2359. [PMID: 37508136 PMCID: PMC10376617 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, the adverse effects of global warming on all living beings have been unanimously recognized across the world. A high environmental temperature that increases the respiration and rectal temperature of cattle is called heat stress (HS), and it can affect both male and female reproductive functions. For successful reproduction and fertilization, mature and healthy oocytes are crucial; however, HS reduces the developmental competence of oocytes, which compromises reproduction. HS disturbs the hormonal balance that plays a crucial role in successful reproduction, particularly in reducing the luteinizing hormone and progesterone levels, which leads to severe problems such as poor follicle development with a poor-quality oocyte and problems related to maturity, silent estrus, abnormal or weak embryo development, and pregnancy loss, resulting in a declining reproduction rate and losses for the cattle industry. Lactating cattle are particularly susceptible to HS and, hence, their reproduction rate is substantially reduced. Additionally, bulls are also affected by HS; during summer, semen quality and sperm motility decline, leading to compromised reproduction. In summer, the conception rate is reduced by 20-30% worldwide. Although various techniques, such as the provision of water sprinklers, shade, and air conditioning, are used during summer, these methods are insufficient to recover the normal reproduction rate and, therefore, special attention is needed to improve reproductive efficiency and minimize the detrimental effect of HS on cattle during summer. The application of advanced reproductive technologies such as the production of embryos in vitro, cryopreservation during the hot season, embryo transfer, and timed artificial insemination may minimize the detrimental effects of HS on livestock reproduction and recover the losses in the cattle industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Imran Khan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
| | - Ayman Mesalam
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Yun Seok Heo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
- Department of Premedicine, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo-Hyun Lee
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Ghulam Nabi
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
| | - Il-Keun Kong
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
- The King Kong Corp., Ltd., Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Cartwright SL, Schmied J, Karrow N, Mallard BA. Impact of heat stress on dairy cattle and selection strategies for thermotolerance: a review. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1198697. [PMID: 37408833 PMCID: PMC10319441 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1198697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change is a problem that causes many environmental issues that impact the productivity of livestock species. One of the major issues associated with climate change is an increase of the frequency of hot days and heat waves, which increases the risk of heat stress for livestock species. Dairy cattle have been identified as being susceptible to heat stress due to their high metabolic heat load. Studies have shown heat stress impacts several biological processes that can result in large economic consequences. When heat stress occurs, dairy cattle employ several physiological and cellular mechanisms in order to dissipate heat and protect cells from damage. These mechanisms require an increase and diversion in energy toward protection and away from other biological processes. Therefore, in turn heat stress in dairy cattle can lead numerous issues including reductions in milk production and reproduction as well as increased risk for disease and mortality. This indicates a need to select dairy cattle that would be thermotolerant. Various selection strategies to confer thermotolerance have been discussed in the literature, including selecting for reduced milk production, crossbreeding with thermotolerant breeds, selecting based on physiological traits and most recently selecting for enhanced immune response. This review discusses the various issues associated with heat stress in dairy cattle and the pros and cons to the various selection strategies that have been proposed to select for thermotolerance in dairy cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shannon L. Cartwright
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Julie Schmied
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Niel Karrow
- Centre of Genetics of Improvement of Livestock, Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Bonnie A. Mallard
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Centre of Genetics of Improvement of Livestock, Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Pajohande K, Amirabadi Farahani T, Farsuni NE. Increased incidence of reproductive disorders associated with short gestation length in Holstein dairy cows. Theriogenology 2023; 205:9-17. [PMID: 37084503 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of gestation length (GL) on productive performance, and the incidence of calving and reproductive diseases in Holstein dairy cows. In total, 3800 Holstein singleton cows (2000 heifers and 1800 cows) from two commercial dairy farms were used. The average gestation length for 3800 cows was 276 ± 6 d. Cows with GL shorter or longer than 3 SD from the mean were removed and considered outliers. This process led to the elimination of 20 cows from the 3800 cows enrolled in the study. Therefore, 3780 cows (1994 heifers and 1786 cows) remained for data analysis, with a range of GL between 258 and 294 d. The mean of GL for the remaining 3780 cows in the study was 276 ± 5 d, which were classified as short (SGL; more than 1SD less than the population mean, mean = 267, range 258-270 d), average (AGL; population mean ± 1SD, mean = 276, range 271-281 d), and long (LGL; more than 1SD greater than the population mean, mean = 284, range 282-294 d) gestation length. In primiparous cows, the incidence of stillbirth, retained placenta, metritis, and clinical endometritis were higher in the SGL cows than in the AGL cows, but the incidence of dystocia was similar across groups. In multiparous cows, the incidence of dystocia, retained placenta, and metritis were higher in the SGL cows than in the AGL cows, and the incidence of stillbirth was higher in the SGL and LGL cows than in the AGL cows. In primiparous cows, milk yield was not different across groups. However, in multiparous cows, the SGL cows had lower milk yield than the AGL cows. In primiparous cows, the SGL cows had lower colostrum production than the AGL cows, but in multiparous cows, there was no difference in colostrum production across groups. In general, cows with either short or long gestation length had impaired health and production, but this impact was more pronounced in cows with short gestation length.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Pajohande
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural College, Shahrekord University, Sharekord, Iran
| | - T Amirabadi Farahani
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural College, Shahrekord University, Sharekord, Iran.
| | - N E Farsuni
- Department of Animal Science, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Shahrekord, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Halli K, Cohrs I, Brügemann K, Koch C, König S. A Pilot Study on Across-Generation Impacts of Maternal Heat Stress on Blood Metabolites of Female Holstein Dairy Calves. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13040494. [PMID: 37110153 PMCID: PMC10141042 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13040494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat stress (HS) during late gestation implies unfavorable effects on dairy cows and their in-utero heat stressed offspring. The objective of the present study was to elucidate the effect of intrauterine (maternal) HS during the last week of gestation on blood metabolite concentrations of female dairy calves during their first week of life. We defined the mean temperature humidity index (mTHI) during the last gestation week of ≥60 as threshold for maternal HS. In this regard, we compared differences in metabolite concentrations of maternally heat stressed (MHSCALVES) (n = 14) and not heat stressed (NMHSCALVES) (n = 33) calves. We identified 15 metabolites from five different biochemical classes (phosphatidylcholines, cholesteryl esters, sphingomyelins, cresols and hexoses) as potential biomarkers for maternal HS in calves. The plasma concentrations of all significantly affected metabolites were lower in MHSCALVES when compared to NMHSCALVES. The effect of maternal HS during the last week of gestation on blood metabolite concentrations of the female offspring during the first week after birth might be due to HS induced intergenerational physiological alterations, impaired colostrum quality or epigenetic modifications of the calf genome. The results of this pilot study should be validated in ongoing fully standardized studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Halli
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Ludwigstraße 21 b, 35390 Gießen, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Imke Cohrs
- Educational and Research Centre for Animal Husbandry, Hofgut Neumuehle, 67728 Muenchweiler an der Alsenz, Germany
| | - Kerstin Brügemann
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Ludwigstraße 21 b, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - Christian Koch
- Educational and Research Centre for Animal Husbandry, Hofgut Neumuehle, 67728 Muenchweiler an der Alsenz, Germany
| | - Sven König
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Ludwigstraße 21 b, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Lopreiato V, Minuti A, Trevisi E, Piccione G, Ferronato G, Loor JJ, Britti D, Liotta L, Giannetto C, Arfuso F. Maternal treatment with pegbovigrastim influences growth performance and immune-metabolic status of calves during the pre-weaning period. Res Vet Sci 2023; 158:151-163. [PMID: 37012186 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the immune-metabolic status and growth performance of Simmental calves born from cows subjected to pegbovigrastim administration 7 days before calving. Eight calves born from cows subjected to pegbovigrastim administration (PEG group) and 9 calves born from untreated cows (CTR group) were used. Growth measurements and blood samples were collected from birth to 60 d of age. The PEG group had lower body weight from 28 up to 60 d of age (P < 0.01), lower heart girth (P < 0.05), lower weekly and total average daily gain values (P < 0.05) than the CTR group throughout the monitoring period. A decrease in milk replacer (MR) intake was observed in the PEG group compared with the CTR group around 20-28 d of age (P < 0.01). The PEG group had lower values of γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) at d 1 of age (P < 0.05), Zn at 21 and 28 d of age (P < 0.05), hemoglobin, MCH and MCHC at 54 and 60 d of age (P < 0.01), and higher urea concentration at 21 and 28 d of age (P < 0.05) compared with the CTR group. Lower values of retinol (P < 0.05), tocopherol (P < 0.01), mean myeloperoxidase index (P < 0.05) and higher total reactive oxygen metabolites (P < 0.05) and myeloperoxidase (P < 0.05) were also detected in the PEG group. In light of the results gathered in the current study, it can be speculated that activation of the cow's immune system by pegbovigrastim could have influenced the immune competence, growth performance as well as the balance between oxidant and antioxidant indices of the newborn calf.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Lopreiato
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci, snc, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Andrea Minuti
- Department of Animal Sciences, Food and Nutrition (DiANA), Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
| | - Erminio Trevisi
- Department of Animal Sciences, Food and Nutrition (DiANA), Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Piccione
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci, snc, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Giulia Ferronato
- Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Environment, Land Planning and Mathematics (DICATAM), Università degli Studi di Brescia, 25121 Brescia, Italy
| | - Juan J Loor
- Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801, United States of America
| | - Domenico Britti
- Interdepartmental Services Centre of Veterinary for Human and Animal Health, Department of Health Science, Magna Græcia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Luigi Liotta
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci, snc, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Claudia Giannetto
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci, snc, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Francesca Arfuso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci, snc, 98168 Messina, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Molinari PCC, Davidson BD, Laporta J, Dahl GE, Sheldon IM, Bromfield JJ. Prepartum heat stress in dairy cows increases postpartum inflammatory responses in blood of lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:1464-1474. [PMID: 36460497 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Uterine diseases and heat stress (HS) are major challenges for the dairy cow. Heat stress alters host immune resilience, making cows more susceptible to the development of uterine disease. Although HS increases the incidence of uterine disease, the mechanisms by which this occurs are unclear. We hypothesize that evaporative cooling (CL) to alleviate HS in prepartum cows has carry-over effects on postpartum innate immunity. Nulliparous pregnant Holstein heifers were assigned to receive either forced CL that resulted in cool conditions (shade with water soakers and fans; n = 14) or to remain under HS conditions (barn shade only; n = 16) for 60 d prepartum. Postpartum, all cows were housed in a freestall barn equipped with shade, water soakers, and fans. Respiratory rate and rectal temperature during the prepartum period were greater in HS heifers compared with CL heifers, indicative of HS. Although milk production was decreased in HS cows compared with CL cows, the incidence of uterine disease and content of total or pathogenic bacteria in vaginal mucus on d 7 or d 21 postpartum was not affected by treatment. Whole blood was collected on d 21 and subjected to in vitro stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. Lipopolysaccharide-induced accumulation of IL-1β, IL-10, and MIP-1α was greater in blood collected from HS cows compared with CL cows. Our results imply that prepartum HS during late pregnancy has carry-over effects on postpartum innate immunity, which may contribute to the increased incidence of uterine disease observed in cows exposed to prepartum HS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jimena Laporta
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608
| | - Geoffrey E Dahl
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608
| | - I Martin Sheldon
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - John J Bromfield
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Placental Development and Physiological Changes in Pregnant Ewes in Silvopastoral and Open Pasture Systems during the Summer. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030478. [PMID: 36766367 PMCID: PMC9913088 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the reproductive and physiological changes in ewes subjected to heat stress during pregnancy at UTFPR-Brazil. Twenty-four pregnant crossbred ewes were kept in a silvopastoral system (SP) or an open pasture system (OP) throughout the final trimester of pregnancy. Both systems were stressful, but the SP system had lower air temperature than the OP system (26.0 ± 0.38 and 26.9 ± 0.41 °C, respectively; p = 0.0288). Moreover, the radiant thermal load of the two groups presented a difference of 34 Wm-2 (p = 0.0288), and the grass temperature was also lower in the SP system compared to that in the OP system (23.4 ± 0.37 and 25.6 ± 0.44 °C, respectively; p = 0.0043). The respiratory and heart rates of animals from the OP group were higher than those from the SP group (p < 0.001), but no difference was observed in the mobilization of white blood cells (p = 0.4777), and the neutrophil count was only affected by time (p < 0.0001). As regards placental biometry, placentas in twin pregnancies had a greater membrane area (p = 0.0223), but no differences between the systems were observed in placental weight (p = 0.1522) and the number of cotyledons (p = 0.5457). We concluded that the type of rearing system used affects the thermal comfort of pregnant ewes, and that an SP system can offer more amenable microclimatic conditions, which result in greater comfort for the ewes.
Collapse
|
22
|
Carlson JM, Zanobetti A, Ettinger de Cuba S, Poblacion AP, Fabian PM, Carnes F, Rhee J, Lane KJ, Sandel MT, Janulewicz PA. Critical windows of susceptibility for the effects of prenatal exposure to heat and heat variability on gestational growth. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114607. [PMID: 36279910 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have shown that prenatal heat exposure may impact fetal growth, but few studies have examined the critical windows of susceptibility. As extreme heat events and within season temperature variability is expected to increase in frequency, it is important to understand how this may impact gestational growth. OBJECTIVES We investigated associations between various measures of weekly prenatal heat exposure (mean and standard deviation (SD) of temperature and heat index (HI), derived using temperature in °C and dew point) and term birthweight or odds of being born small for gestational age (SGA) to identify critical windows of susceptibility. METHODS We analyzed data from mother-child dyads (n = 4442) in the Boston-based Children's HealthWatch cohort. Birthweights were collected from survey data and electronic health records. Daily temperature and HI values were obtained from 800 m gridded spatial climate datasets aggregated by the PRISM Climate Group. Distributed lag-nonlinear models were used to assess the effect of the four weekly heat metrics on measures of gestational growth (birthweight, SGA, and birthweight z-scores). Analyses were stratified by child sex and maternal homelessness status during pregnancy. RESULTS HI variability was significantly associated with decreased term birthweight during gestational weeks 10-29 and with SGA for weeks 9-26. Cumulative effects for these time periods were -287.4 g (95% CI: -474.1 g, -100.8 g for birthweight and 4.7 (95% CI: 1.6, 14.1) for SGA. Temperature variability was also significantly associated with decreased birthweight between weeks 15 and 26. The effects for mean heat measures on term birthweight and SGA were not significant for any gestational week. Stratification by sex revealed a significant effect on term birthweight in females between weeks 23-28 and in males between weeks 9-26. Strongest effects of HI variability on term birthweight were found in children of mothers who experienced homelessness during pregnancy. Weekly HI variability was the heat metric most strongly associated with measures of gestational growth. The effects observed were largest in males and those who experienced homelessness during pregnancy. DISCUSSION Given the impact of heat variability on birthweight and risk of SGA, it is important for future heat warnings to incorporate measure of heat index and temperature variability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Carlson
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Antonella Zanobetti
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Children's HealthWatch, USA
| | - Ana P Poblacion
- Children's HealthWatch, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patricia M Fabian
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fei Carnes
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jongeun Rhee
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin J Lane
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Megan T Sandel
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patricia A Janulewicz
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
The Impact of Heat Stress on Immune Status of Dairy Cattle and Strategies to Ameliorate the Negative Effects. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010107. [PMID: 36611716 PMCID: PMC9817836 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat stress (HS) is well known to influence animal health and livestock productivity negatively. Heat stress is a multi-billion-dollar global problem. It impairs animal performance during summer when animals are exposed to high ambient temperatures, direct and indirect solar radiations, and humidity. While significant developments have been achieved over the last few decades to mitigate the negative impact of HS, such as physical modification of the environment to protect the animals from direct heat, HS remains a significant challenge for the dairy industry compromising dairy cattle health and welfare. In such a scenario, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of how the immune system of dairy cattle responds to HS and identify the variable responses among the animals. This understanding could help to identify heat-resilient dairy animals for breeding and may lead to the development of climate resilient breeds in the future to support sustainable dairy cattle production. There are sufficient data demonstrating the impact of increased temperature and humidity on endocrine responses to HS in dairy cattle, especially changes in concentration of hormones like prolactin and cortisol, which also provide an indication of the likely im-pact on the immune system. In this paper, we review the recent research on the impact of HS on immunity of calves during early life to adult lactating and dry cows. Additionally, different strategies for amelioration of negative effects of HS have been presented.
Collapse
|
24
|
Miętkiewska K, Kordowitzki P, Pareek CS. Effects of Heat Stress on Bovine Oocytes and Early Embryonic Development-An Update. Cells 2022; 11:4073. [PMID: 36552837 PMCID: PMC9776454 DOI: 10.3390/cells11244073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat stress is a major threat to cattle reproduction today. It has been shown that the effect of high temperature not only has a negative effect on the hormonal balance, but also directly affects the quality of oocytes, disrupting the function of mitochondria, fragmenting their DNA and changing their maternal transcription. Studies suggest that the induction of HSP70 may reduce the apoptosis of granular layer cells caused by heat stress. It has been shown that the changes at the transcriptome level caused by heat stress are consistent with 46.4% of blastocyst development disorders. Cows from calves exposed to thermal stress in utero have a lower milk yield in their lifetime, exhibit immunological disorders, have a lower birth weight and display a shorter lifespan related to the expedited aging. In order to protect cow reproduction, the effects of heat stress at the intracellular and molecular levels should be tracked step by step, and the impacts of the dysregulation of thermal homeostasis (i.e., hyperthermy) should be taken into account.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klaudia Miętkiewska
- Department of Preclinical and Basic Sciences, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland
| | - Pawel Kordowitzki
- Department of Preclinical and Basic Sciences, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland
| | - Chandra S. Pareek
- Department of Preclinical and Basic Sciences, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland
- Division of Functional Genomics in Biological and Biomedical Research, Interdisciplinary Center for Modern Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Razzaghi A, Ghaffari MH, Rico DE. The impact of environmental and nutritional stresses on milk fat synthesis in dairy cows. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2022; 83:106784. [PMID: 36586193 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2022.106784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Stress reduces milk and milk components synthesis and increases maintenance requirements of cows. The major stress-related alterations involve enhanced secretion of glucocorticoids and increased sympathetic nervous system activity, which results in biochemical and physiologic changes. In dairy cows exposed to social (ie housing conditions, overstocking, regrouping, feed delivery), physiological (ie initiation of lactation and parturition), or physical (ie heat or cold stress) stressors, responses involve alterations in energy balance and nutrient partitioning. The capacity of the animal to synthesize milk fat largely depends on the availability of substrates for lipid synthesis from the diet, ruminal fermentation or adipose tissue stores, all of which can be altered under stress conditions. Indeed, milk fat concentration is particularly responsive to diet and environment modifications, where a wide range of nutritional and non-nutritional factors influence milk fat output. Milk fat synthesis is an energy demanding process, and extremely sensitive to stress factors during lactation and the involvement of multiple organs. Recent studies examining social, physical, and physiological stressors have provided important insights into how differences in milk yield and milk components may be associated with biological responses to stress factors in dairy cows. This review focuses primarily on the role of stress sources and indicators to which the dairy cow is exposed in regulating milk fat synthesis. We will review the role of nutritional and non-nutritional factors on milk fat synthesis in dairy cows under stress conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Razzaghi
- Innovation Center, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - M H Ghaffari
- Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - D E Rico
- Centre de recherche en sciences animales de Deschambault (CRSAD), Deschambault, QC, Canada, G0A 1S0
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Gan M, Ma J, Chen L, Zhang S, Niu L, Zhao Y, Li X, Pan H, Zhu L, Shen L. Identification of tRNA-derived small RNAs and their potential roles in porcine skeletal muscle with intrauterine growth restriction. Front Physiol 2022; 13:962278. [PMID: 36388094 PMCID: PMC9662792 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.962278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in humans often manifests as poor growth and delayed intellectual development, whereas in domestic animals it results in increased mortality. As a novel epigenetic regulatory molecule, tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) have been reported to be involved in many biological processes. In this study, pigs (35d) were used as a model to characterize tsRNAs by sequencing in normal and IUGR porcine skeletal muscle. A total of 586 tsRNAs were identified, of which 103 were specifically expressed in normal-size pigs and 38 were specifically expressed in IUGR pigs. The tsRNAs formed by splicing before the 5' end anti codon of mature tRNA (tRF-5c) accounted for over 90% of tsRNAs, which were significantly enriched in IUGR pigs than in normal-size pigs. Enriched pathways of differentially expressed tsRNAs target genes mainly included metabolic pathways, Rap1 signaling pathway, endocytosis, mTOR signaling pathway, and AMPK signaling pathway. Regulatory network analysis of target genes revealed that IGF1 was one of the most important molecules of regulatory nodes in IUGR and normal porcine skeletal muscle. In addition, IGF1 was found to be one of the target genes of tRF-Glu-TTC-047, which is a highly expressed tsRNA in IUGR pigs. The findings described herein uncover the role of tsRNAs in IUGR porcine skeletal muscle development, thus providing insights into the prevention and treatment of IUGR in mammals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mailin Gan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resource Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jianfeng Ma
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resource Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resource Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shunhua Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resource Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lili Niu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resource Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ye Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resource Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuewei Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resource Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongmei Pan
- Key Laboratory of Pig Industry Science of Agriculture Ministry, Chongqing Academy of Animal Science, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resource Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Linyuan Shen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resource Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Mandal A. The Focus on Core Genetic Factors That Regulate Hepatic Injury in Cattle Seems to be Important for the Dairy Sector’s Long-Term Development. Vet Med Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.108151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cattle during the perinatal period, as well as malnutrition, generate oxidative stress which leads to high culling rates of calves after calving across the world. Although metabolic diseases have such a negative impact on the welfare and economic value of dairy cattle, that becomes a serious industrial concern across the world. According to research, genetic factors have a role or controlling fat deposition in the liver by influencing the biological processes of hepatic lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, gluconeogenesis, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and inflammation, all of which contribute to hepatic damage. This review focuses on the critical regulatory mechanisms of VEGF, mTOR/AKT/p53, TNF-alpha, Nf-kb, interleukin, and antioxidants that regulate lipid peroxidation in the liver via direct or indirect pathways, suggesting that they could be a potential critical therapeutic target for hepatic disease.
Collapse
|
28
|
Mutwedu VB, Nyongesa AW, Kitaa JM, Ayagirwe RBB, Baharanyi C, Mbaria JM. Effects of Moringa oleifera aqueous seed extracts on reproductive traits of heat-stressed New Zealand white female rabbits. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:883976. [PMID: 36172616 PMCID: PMC9510754 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.883976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat stress is reported to have deleterious effects on rabbit physiology by impairing reproductive performances arising from free radical production due to oxidative stress. Plant extracts have been listed among efficient and healthy strategies for alleviating the effects of free radicals in the body of an animal. Numerous studies have documented the medicinal value of Moringa oleifera on various body functional systems although most of these data have not been scientifically validated. The growing concern of heat stress owing to the effects of global warming has affected animal productivity and even reproductive health, yet mitigation measures are still scanty. To this end, we investigated the efficacy of Moringa oleifera aqueous seed extract on selected in the alleviation of morphofunctional impairments on functional systems of the body. Here, we quantified the effects of Moringa oleifera seed extracts on reproductive performances, hormonal profile, and ovarian histology in the management of heat stress in female rabbits. We were particularly interested in testing the hypothesis that Moringa oleifera seed extracts do not have medicinal value in the mitigation of oxidative stress accompanying heat-stressed animals and, therefore, affecting growth performance and reproductive value. Twenty-eight female rabbits aged 6 months and weighing between 2015.6 and 2322.7 g were randomly assigned to four treatment groups of temperature, relative humidity, temperature humidity index, and M. oleifera seed extracts as follows: T0: ambient temperature (18–24°C), 59 ± 0.48%, 23.6 ± 1.52; T1, T2, and T3: 35–36°C, 64 ± 0.6%, 32.5 ± 0.7, followed by 100, 200, and 0 mg/kg b.w of M. oleifera seed extracts. Artificial heat was introduced in each rabbit cage from 08:00 h to 16:00 h. Reproductive performances related to female rabbits and relevant biodata of their young ones were recorded. All animals were sacrificed at the end of 80 days of experiments, and blood was collected for hormonal assays and ovary tissues for histology. Data on hormones and reproductive parameters of adult females as well as parameters related to kid performance and milk yield were subjected to one-way ANOVA, and significant differences among treatment subjects were analyzed using Tukey's post-hoc test at 5% significance level. The results revealed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in food consumption, body weight, and body weight gain in pregnant and lactating female rabbits exposed to heat stress. A decrease in fur removal by mothers, litter size from birth to weaning, litter weight, kid body weight, and body weight gain in adult rabbits submitted to heat stress was observed. The findings were also reflected on weekly milk yield and daily milk efficiency as well as serum hormone levels. Following administration of M. oleifera seed extracts at 200 mg/kg b.w., there was significant increase (P < 0.05) in these parameters. On the contrary, an increase (P < 0.05) in the number of services per conception, milk intake, and serum progesterone level was initially observed in the same subjects, but upon administration of M. oleifera seed extracts, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) on these measures. Ovarian histology of animals at T0 and T2 treatments showed structural features comparable to those of controls. Overall, our results show that administration of M. oleifera seed extracts at 200 mg/kg b.w possesses therapeutic value to the effects of oxidative stress associated with heat stress. Further pharmacological evaluation on seed extracts of M. oleifera may yield the much-needed medicine in the treatment and management of poor animal productivity and reproductive health arising from severe weather associated with global warming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valence B. Mutwedu
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA), Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- *Correspondence: Valence B. Mutwedu
| | - Albert W. Nyongesa
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jafred M. Kitaa
- Clinical Studies Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rodrigue B. B. Ayagirwe
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA), Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Chasinga Baharanyi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA), Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - James M. Mbaria
- Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Alves MS, Bignardi AB, Zuim DM, Silva JAD, Cardoso MGR, Piccoli ML, Roso VM, Carvalheiro R, Faro LE, Pereira RJ, Santana ML. Thermal stress during late gestation impairs postnatal growth and provides background for genotype-environment interaction in Hereford-Braford and Angus-Brangus cattle. Livest Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2022.105027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
|
30
|
Hut PR, Scheurwater J, Nielen M, van den Broek J, Hostens MM. Heat stress in a temperate climate leads to adapted sensor-based behavioral patterns of dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:6909-6922. [PMID: 35787319 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Most research on heat stress has focused on (sub)tropical climates. The effects of higher ambient temperatures on the daily behavior of dairy cows in a maritime and temperate climate are less studied. With this retrospective observational study, we address that gap by associating the daily time budgets of dairy cows in the Netherlands with daily temperature and temperature-humidity index (THI) variables. During a period of 4 years, cows on 8 commercial dairy farms in the Netherlands were equipped with neck and leg sensors to collect data from 4,345 cow lactations regarding their daily time budget. The time spent eating, ruminating, lying, standing, and walking was recorded. Individual cow data were divided into 3 data sets: (1) lactating cows from 5 farms with a conventional milking system (CMS) and pasture access, (2) lactating cows from 3 farms with an automatic milking system (AMS) without pasture access, and (3) dry cows from all 8 farms. Hourly environment temperature and relative humidity data from the nearest weather station of the Dutch National Weather Service was used for THI calculation for each farm. Based on heat stress thresholds from previous studies, daily mean temperatures were grouped into 7 categories: 0 = (<0°C), 1 = (0-12°C, reference category), 2 = (12-16°C), 3 = (16-20°C), 4 = (20-24°C), 5 = (24-28°C), and 6 = (≥28°C). Temperature-humidity index values were grouped as follows: 0 = (THI <30), 1 = (THI 30-56, reference category), 2 = (THI 56-60), 3 = (THI 60-64), 4 = (THI 64-68), 5 = (THI 68-72) and 6 = (THI ≥72). To associate daily mean temperature and THI with sensor-based behavioral parameters of dry cows and of lactating cows from AMS and CMS farms, we used generalized linear mixed models. In addition, associations between sensor data and other climate variables, such as daily maximum and minimum temperature, and THI were analyzed. On the warmest days, eating time decreased in the CMS group by 92 min/d, in the AMS group by 87 min/d, and in the dry group by 75 min/d compared with the reference category. Lying time decreased in the CMS group by 36 min/d, in the AMS group by 56 min/d, and in the dry group by 33 min/d. Adaptation to daily temperature and THI was already noticeable from a mean temperature of 12°C or a mean THI of 56 or above, when dairy cows started spending less time lying and eating and spent more time standing. Further, rumination time decreased, although only in dry cows and cows on AMS farms. With higher values for daily mean THI and temperature, walking time decreased as well. These patterns were very similar for temperature and THI variables. These results show that dairy cows in temperate climates begin to adapt their behavior at a relatively low mean environmental temperature or THI. In the temperate maritime climate of the Netherlands, our results indicate that daily mean temperature suffices to study the effects of behavioral adaptation to heat stress in dairy cows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P R Hut
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Division Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80151, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - J Scheurwater
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Division Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80151, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - M Nielen
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Division Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80151, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - J van den Broek
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Division Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80151, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - M M Hostens
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Division Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80151, 3508 TD Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Animal Science and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653-Block F, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Ghaffari MH. Developmental programming: prenatal and postnatal consequences of hyperthermia in dairy cows and calves. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2022; 80:106723. [PMID: 35339732 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2022.106723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
With global warming, the incidence of heat stress in dairy cows is increasing in many countries. Temperatures outside the thermoneutral zone (heat stress) are one of the environmental factors with the greatest impact on milk production and reproductive performance of dairy cows. In addition to several biological mechanisms that may contribute to the effects of fetal programming, epigenetic modifications have also been investigated as possible mediators of the observed associations between maternal heat stress during late gestation and performance and health later in life. In utero programming of these offspring may coordinate changes in thermoregulation, mammary gland development, and milk production ability at different developmental stages. This review examines the effects of prenatal and postnatal hyperthermia on the developmental outcomes of dairy cows, as well as the physiological and molecular mechanisms that may be responsible for the negative phenotypic consequences of heat stress that persist throughout the neonatal and adult periods and may have multigenerational implications. The physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the negative phenotypic consequences of heat stress are discussed. Research challenges in this area, future research recommendations, and therapeutic applications are also discussed. In summary, strategies to reduce heat stress during the dry period should consider not only the productivity of the pregnant cow but also the well-being of the newborn calf.
Collapse
|
32
|
Yin T, Halli K, König S. Direct genetic effects, maternal genetic effects, and maternal genetic sensitivity on prenatal heat stress for calf diseases and corresponding genomic loci in German Holsteins. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:6795-6808. [PMID: 35717335 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-21804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to infer the effects of heat stress (HS) of dams during late gestation on direct and maternal genetic parameters for pneumonia (PNEU, 112,563 observations), diarrhea (DIAR, 176,904 observations), and omphalitis (OMPH, 176,872 observations) in Holstein calves kept in large-scale co-operator herds. The genotype dataset included 41,135 SNPs from 19,247 male and female cattle. Temperature-humidity indices (THI) during the last 8 wk of pregnancy were calculated, using the climate data from the nearest public weather station for each herd. Heat load effects were considered for average weekly THI larger than 60. Phenotypically, regression coefficients of calf diseases on prenatal THI during the last 8 wk of gestation were estimated in 8 consecutive runs. The strongest detrimental effects of prenatal HS on PNEU and DIAR were identified for the last week of pregnancy (wk 1). Thus, only wk 1 was considered in ongoing genetic and genomic analyses. In an advanced model considering prenatal HS, random regression coefficients on THI in wk 1 nested within maternal genetic effects (maternal slope effects for heat load) were considered as parameters to infer maternal sensitivity in response to prenatal THI alterations. Direct heritabilities from the advanced model ranged from 0.10 (THI 60) to 0.08 (THI 74) for PNEU and were close to 0.16 for DIAR. Maternal heritabilities for PNEU increased from 0.03 to 0.10 along the THI gradient. For DIAR, the maternal heritability was largest (0.07) at the minimum THI (THI = 60) and decreased to 0.05 at THI 74. Genetic correlations smaller than 0.80 for PNEU and DIAR recorded at THI 60 with corresponding diseases at THI 74 indicated genotype by climate interactions for maternal genetic effects. Genome-wide associations studies were performed using de-regressed proofs of genotyped sires for direct genetic, maternal genetic, and maternal slope effects. Thirty suggestive and 2 significant SNPs were identified from the GWAS. Forty-three genes located close to the suggestive SNPs (±100 kb) were annotated as potential candidate genes. Three biological processes were inferred on the basis of the these genes, addressing the negative regulation of the viral life cycle, innate immune response, and protein ubiquitination. Hence, the genetics of prenatal heat stress mechanisms are associated with immune physiology and disease resistance mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Yin
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus Liebig University Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - K Halli
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus Liebig University Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - S König
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus Liebig University Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Hassan FU, Nadeem A, Javed M, Saif-ur-Rehman M, Shahzad MA, Azhar J, Shokrollahi B. Nutrigenomic Interventions to Address Metabolic Stress and Related Disorders in Transition Cows. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:2295017. [PMID: 35726316 PMCID: PMC9206560 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2295017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
For dairy cattle, the period involving a shift from late pregnancy to early lactation termed transition or periparturient is an excruciating phase. Health-related disorders are likely to happen in this time frame. Timely postpartum and metabolic adjustments to this new physical state demands correct management strategies to fulfill the cow's needs for a successful transition to this phase. Among the management strategies, one of the most researched methods for managing transition-related stress is nutritional supplementation. Dietary components directly or indirectly affect the expression of various genes that are believed to be involved in various stress-related responses during this phase. Nutrigenomics, an interdisciplinary approach that combines nutritional science with omics technologies, opens new avenues for studying the genome's complicated interactions with food. This revolutionary technique emphasizes the importance of food-gene interactions on various physiological and metabolic mechanisms. In animal sciences, nutrigenomics aims to promote the welfare of livestock animals and enhance their commercially important qualities through nutritional interventions. To this end, an increasing volume of research shows that nutritional supplementation can be effectively used to manage the metabolic stress dairy cows undergo during the transition period. These nutritional supplements, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, dietary amino acids, and phytochemicals, have been shown to modulate energy homeostasis through different pathways, leading to addressing metabolic issues in transition cows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Faiz-ul Hassan
- Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Asif Nadeem
- Department of Biotechnology, Virtual University of Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Maryam Javed
- Institute of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Jahanzaib Azhar
- Department of Biotechnology, Virtual University of Pakistan, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Borhan Shokrollahi
- Department of Animal Science, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Trifković J, Jovanović L, Bošnjaković D, Savić Đ, Stefanović S, Krajišnik T, Sladojević Ž, Kirovski D. Summer Season-Related Heat Stress Affects the Mineral Composition of Holstein Dams' Colostrum, and Neonatal Calves' Mineral Status and Hematological Profile. Biol Trace Elem Res 2022; 200:2122-2134. [PMID: 34286471 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-021-02834-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study examines the effect of season-related heat stress in dams on mineral status, and hematological profile of their calves. Ten Holstein dams (LowT group) were exposed to the 49-day-long period of low air temperature (5.2 ± 0.5 °C) and ten dams (HighT group) were exposed to a 53-day-long high air temperature (27.4 ± 0.4 °C). The dams' blood samples were taken one hour after parturition, while colostrum was sampled at 2, 14, and 26 h after calving. Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Se concentrations were significantly lower while Cu and Co concentrations were significantly higher at least in two examined colostrum sampling points in HighT group. Calf`s blood samples were taken before 1st colostrum intake, and on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 postnatal. Ca, P, Na, K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Se, and Co were significantly lower while concentration of Mg was significantly higher in calves that originated from HighT group at least at two examined sampling points. Season affected dam's blood mineral status but the pattern was not always the same as in calves, since Na, K, Cu, and Co were significantly higher in HighT group. Calves that originated from HighT group had significantly lower hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, and MPV values, as well as neutrophils and monocyte counts, while platelets, eosinophils, basophils, and lymphocyte counts were significantly higher. Season-related heat stress leads to a reduction of the most minerals in both dams' colostrum and calves' blood and certain minerals' deficiencies are linked to impaired calves' hematological adaptation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julijana Trifković
- Department of Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of East Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Ljubomir Jovanović
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dušan Bošnjaković
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Đorđe Savić
- Institute for Reproduction of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Srđan Stefanović
- Department for Residues, Institute for Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tatjana Krajišnik
- Department of Animal Production and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of East Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Željko Sladojević
- PI Veterinary Institute of the Republic of Srpska "Dr. Vaso Butozan", Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Danijela Kirovski
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Bahrami-Yekdangi M, Ghorbani GR, Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi A, Mahnani A, Drackley JK, Ghaffari MH. Identification of cow-level risk factors and associations of selected blood macro-minerals at parturition with dystocia and stillbirth in Holstein dairy cows. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5929. [PMID: 35396559 PMCID: PMC8993806 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09928-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A deeper understanding of the risk factors for dystocia and stillbirth could help farmers make decisions about dairy cow management. The objectives of this study were to investigate cow-level risk factors associated with dystocia and stillbirth in a relatively large sample of dairy cows using multivariable linear regression models. The data consisted of 51,405 calving records of 14,546 Holstein cows from 3 dairy herds in Isfahan Province, Iran, collected between April 2011 and September 2017. To investigate the association between selected blood macro-minerals and the incidence of dystocia and stillbirth, blood samples were collected at the time of parturition from a random subset of these cows, which included 1311 animals. The incidence of dystocia and stillbirths averaged 14.7% and 4.3%, respectively. Results showed that calving year, calving season, dry period length, BCS, parity, calf sex, calf birth weight, twin status, and stillbirth were significantly associated with the incidence of dystocia. According to the Random Forest (RF) classifier, we found that dry period length, calf birth weight, and parity were the most important cow-level risk factors for the incidence of dystocia. Calving year, calving season, parity, twin status, dry period length, calf birth weight, calf sex, and dystocia were significantly associated with the incidence of stillbirths. The most important risk factors identified by the RF classifier for stillbirths were twin status, parity, dry period length, and calf birth weight. Also, interactions between the cow-level risk factors associated with dystocia and stillbirth were identified. The incidence of dystocia was associated with the interactions of twin status × calf birth weight and twin status × stillbirth. According to our analysis, the incidence of stillbirth is caused by interactions among several factors, such as twin status × length of dry period, twin status × calving season, and twin status × parity. The highest incidence of dystocia (21.3%) and stillbirths (5.4%) was observed in hypo-calcemic cows. In conclusion, twin status seems to be a determining factor for the incidence of stillbirths but not for dystocia. Finally, the results of this study may help the dairy industry make management decisions aimed at reducing dystocia and stillbirth rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Bahrami-Yekdangi
- Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), 3146618361, Karaj, Iran
| | - G R Ghorbani
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, PO Box, 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran
| | - A Sadeghi-Sefidmazgi
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, PO Box, 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran
| | - A Mahnani
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, PO Box, 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran
| | - J K Drackley
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - M H Ghaffari
- Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53111, Bonn, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Daros RR, Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MA. Invited review: Risk factors for transition period disease in intensive grazing and housed dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:4734-4748. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-20649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
37
|
Toledo IM, Ouellet V, Davidson BD, Dahl GE, Laporta J. Effects of Exposure to Heat Stress During Late Gestation on the Daily Time Budget of Nulliparous Holstein Heifers. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2022.775272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure of dairy cows to heat stress negatively affects welfare and performance during all phases of the lactation cycle. Detrimental effects include decreased milk and reproductive performance, reduced immune status and health, and altered natural behaviors. While we understand how mature cows respond to heat stress, the effects of late gestation heat stress on pregnant heifers is still unknown. Automated monitoring devices were used to document the behavioral activity of heifers during the pre- (final 60 d of gestation) and postpartum (first 60 d of lactation) periods. Twenty-five pregnant Holstein heifers were housed in a free-stall barn and enrolled to heat stress (HT; shade; n = 13) or cooling (CL; shade, soakers and fans; n = 12) treatments during the last 60 days of gestation. All animals were provided active cooling postpartum. Upon enrollment, heifers were fitted with a leg tag, which measured daily lying time, number of steps, and standing bouts, and a neck tag that measured eating and rumination times. Rectal temperatures (RT) and respiration rates (RR) were measured thrice weekly during the prepartum period. Relative to CL, HT heifers had elevated RT (38.8 vs. 38.7 ± 0.04°C) and RR (59.6 vs. 44.4 ± 1.9 breaths/min) during the prepartum period. Heat-stressed heifers tended to spend more time eating (224 vs. 183 min/d) and less time ruminating (465 vs. 518 min/d) during the prepartum period compared to CL, but dry matter intake did not differ. During the postpartum period, HT heifers spent more time eating (209 vs. 180 min/d) during weeks 1–4 of lactation, but rumination time was similar. Lying time was reduced by 59 and 88 min per day during weeks −7 and −6 prepartum and 84 and 50 min per day during weeks 2 and 3 postpartum in HT heifers, relative to CL. The number of steps was greater for HT during the postpartum period, from weeks 2 to 9 (3019 vs. 2681 steps/d). Eating frequency was similar during pre- and postpartum periods, however, based on semi quantitative visualization of the smarttag reports, HT consumed larger meals at night during the pre- and postpartum periods compared with CL heifers. In summary, late-gestation exposure to heat stress affects the daily time budget of first lactation heifers during both the pre- and postpartum periods. Current insights of heat stress effects on behavioral responses of dairy heifers may contribute to the development of more effective management strategies to mitigate heat load.
Collapse
|
38
|
Kra G, Daddam JR, Moallem U, Kamer H, Ahmad M, Nemirovski A, Contreras GA, Tam J, Zachut M. Effects of Environmental Heat Load on Endocannabinoid System Components in Adipose Tissue of High Yielding Dairy Cows. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:795. [PMID: 35327191 PMCID: PMC8944798 DOI: 10.3390/ani12060795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental heat load (HL) adversely affects the performance of dairy cows. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates metabolism and the stress response, thus we hypothesized that HL may affect the ECS of dairy cows. Our objective was to determine the levels of endocannabinoids (eCBs) and gene and protein expressions of the ECS components in adipose tissue (AT) and plasma of early postpartum (PP) and late-lactation cows. In addition, we examined eCBs in milk, and studied the interaction of eCBs with bovine cannabinoids receptors CB1 and CB2. In the first experiment, plasma and AT were sampled from cows calving during summer (S, n = 9) or winter (W, n = 9). Dry matter intake (DMI) and energy balance (EB) were lower in S vs. W, and relative gene expressions of transient-receptor-potential-cation-channel-subfamily-V-member-1 (TRPV1), the cannabinoid receptors CNR1 (CB1) and CNR2 (CB2), and monoglyceride lipase (MGLL) were decreased in AT of S compared to W. Protein abundance of peroxisome proliferator-activated-receptor-alpha (PPAR-α) was decreased, while tumor-necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was increased in AT of S vs. W. Other components of the ECS were not different between S and W calving cows. To study whether the degree of HL may affect the ECS, we performed a second experiment with 24 late-lactation cows that were either cooled (CL) or not cooled (heat-stressed; HS) during summer. DMI was lower in HS vs. CL, AT protein abundance of PPAR-α was lower, and TRPV1 tended to be lower in HS vs. CL, but other components of the ECS were not different between groups. Milk levels of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) tended to increase in HS vs. CL. Additionally, modeling of the bovine cannabinoid receptors demonstrated their binding to anandamide and 2-AG. Environmental HL, possibly via lower intake, is associated with limited alterations in ECS components in AT of dairy cows.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gitit Kra
- Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon Lezion 7505101, Israel; (G.K.); (J.R.D.); (U.M.); (H.K.)
- Department of Animal Science, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Jayasimha Rayalu Daddam
- Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon Lezion 7505101, Israel; (G.K.); (J.R.D.); (U.M.); (H.K.)
| | - Uzi Moallem
- Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon Lezion 7505101, Israel; (G.K.); (J.R.D.); (U.M.); (H.K.)
| | - Hadar Kamer
- Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon Lezion 7505101, Israel; (G.K.); (J.R.D.); (U.M.); (H.K.)
| | - Majdoleen Ahmad
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel; (M.A.); (A.N.); (J.T.)
| | - Alina Nemirovski
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel; (M.A.); (A.N.); (J.T.)
| | - G. Andres Contreras
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
| | - Joseph Tam
- Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel; (M.A.); (A.N.); (J.T.)
| | - Maya Zachut
- Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon Lezion 7505101, Israel; (G.K.); (J.R.D.); (U.M.); (H.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Immler M, Büttner K, Gärtner T, Wehrend A, Donat K. Maternal Impact on Serum Immunoglobulin and Total Protein Concentration in Dairy Calves. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12060755. [PMID: 35327151 PMCID: PMC8944455 DOI: 10.3390/ani12060755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
For dairy calves, sufficient supply with high-quality maternal colostrum is crucial to achieve adequate passive transfer of immunoglobulins. This observational cross-sectional study aimed to determine the influence of the prepartum metabolic status of dams on the serum immunoglobulin and total protein concentrations of their dairy calves, taking other relevant management factors into account. A total of 551 cows and their calves from 124 German dairy farms were included. Blood and urine samples of the cows were sampled 1 to 3 weeks before the expected calving date. Two generalized linear mixed effects regression models were fitted to the data. An increase in a dam’s prepartum serum non-esterified fatty acids concentration was associated with greater serum immunoglobulin concentration in her calf. Calves of herds with established birth monitoring at night showed greater serum immunoglobulin and total protein concentrations. Calves being fed more than 2 L of colostrum and higher Brix values for colostrum were related to greater serum immunoglobulin and total protein concentrations in calves. In conclusion, there is evidence that, besides timely and sufficient supply of high-quality colostrum to new-born calves, the prepartum metabolic status of cows and birth monitoring impact the passive transfer of immunoglobulins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Immler
- Animal Health Service, Thuringian Animal Diseases Fund, Victor-Goerttler-Straße 4, 07745 Jena, Germany; (M.I.); (T.G.)
| | - Kathrin Büttner
- Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Veterinary Faculty, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Frankfurter Str. 95, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Tanja Gärtner
- Animal Health Service, Thuringian Animal Diseases Fund, Victor-Goerttler-Straße 4, 07745 Jena, Germany; (M.I.); (T.G.)
| | - Axel Wehrend
- Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology with Veterinary Ambulance, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 106, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Karsten Donat
- Animal Health Service, Thuringian Animal Diseases Fund, Victor-Goerttler-Straße 4, 07745 Jena, Germany; (M.I.); (T.G.)
- Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology with Veterinary Ambulance, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 106, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-3641-88550
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Tang C, Liang Y, Guo J, Wang M, Li M, Zhang H, Arbab AAI, Karrow NA, Yang Z, Mao Y. Effects of Seasonal Heat Stress during Late Gestation on Growth Performance, Metabolic and Immuno-Endocrine Parameters of Calves. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12060716. [PMID: 35327113 PMCID: PMC8944852 DOI: 10.3390/ani12060716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat stress during late gestation could affect subsequent lactation performance, resulting in damage to the immune function, health, and growth performance of calves. This study aimed to compare the effects of 33 days of summer stress (Summer group, 70.15 < THI < 74.28) with 33 days of winter during late gestation (Winter group, 57.55 < THI < 67.25) on the growth, hormones, oxidative stress, and immune function of calves. Calves (Summer, n = 28; Winter, n = 23) were separated from cows immediately after birth and fed with 2 L colostrum within 2 h and 8−10 h after birth, respectively, and weaned at 60 days of age. Bodyweight (BW) was measured at birth and weaning. Withers height (WH), body length, and chest girth were measured at birth, 30 days, and 60 days of age. The health of calves ranging in age from 1 to 7 days was recorded. Plasma interferon-γ (IFN-γ), superoxide dismutase (SOD), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), IgG, cortisol, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), growth hormone (GH), insulin, lipid peroxide (LPO), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were measured in calves at 0 (before colostrum feeding), 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days of age. The pregnancy period of the Summer group was shortened by 1.44 days. The Winter and Summer groups had the same birth weight. One week after birth, the incidence of diarrhea was 57.14% and 21.74% in Summer and Winter groups, respectively. Compared with the Winter group, TNF-α in the Summer group increased significantly before colostrum feeding. ACTH and LPO decreased significantly at 3 days of age, ACTH and TNF-α decreased significantly at 7 days of age, Hsp70 increased significantly, ACTH was significantly reduced at 14 days of age, and Hsp70 increased dramatically at 7 days of age. SOD and TNF-α increased statistically at 28 days of age, LPO decreased significantly, and IFN-γ decreased significantly at 56 days of age, while IgG and GH increased significantly. We conclude that maternal heat stress during late gestation can damage the oxidative stress and immune plasma indexes of offspring before weaning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Tang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (C.T.); (Y.L.); (J.G.); (M.W.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (A.A.I.A.); (Z.Y.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yan Liang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (C.T.); (Y.L.); (J.G.); (M.W.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (A.A.I.A.); (Z.Y.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Jiahe Guo
- Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (C.T.); (Y.L.); (J.G.); (M.W.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (A.A.I.A.); (Z.Y.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Mengqi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (C.T.); (Y.L.); (J.G.); (M.W.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (A.A.I.A.); (Z.Y.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Mingxun Li
- Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (C.T.); (Y.L.); (J.G.); (M.W.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (A.A.I.A.); (Z.Y.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Huimin Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (C.T.); (Y.L.); (J.G.); (M.W.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (A.A.I.A.); (Z.Y.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Abdelaziz Adam Idriss Arbab
- Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (C.T.); (Y.L.); (J.G.); (M.W.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (A.A.I.A.); (Z.Y.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Niel A. Karrow
- Center for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Zhangping Yang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (C.T.); (Y.L.); (J.G.); (M.W.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (A.A.I.A.); (Z.Y.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yongjiang Mao
- Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (C.T.); (Y.L.); (J.G.); (M.W.); (M.L.); (H.Z.); (A.A.I.A.); (Z.Y.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-514-8797-9307; Fax: +86-514-8735-0440
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Menta P, Machado V, Piñeiro J, Thatcher W, Santos J, Vieira-Neto A. Heat stress during the transition period is associated with impaired production, reproduction, and survival in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:4474-4489. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
42
|
Kim SH, Ramos SC, Valencia RA, Cho YI, Lee SS. Heat Stress: Effects on Rumen Microbes and Host Physiology, and Strategies to Alleviate the Negative Impacts on Lactating Dairy Cows. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:804562. [PMID: 35295316 PMCID: PMC8919045 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.804562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat stress (HS) in dairy cows causes considerable losses in the dairy industry worldwide due to reduced animal performance, increased cases of metabolic disorders, altered rumen microbiome, and other health problems. Cows subjected to HS showed decreased ruminal pH and acetate concentration and an increased concentration of ruminal lactate. Heat-stressed cows have an increased abundance of lactate-producing bacteria such as Streptococcus and unclassified Enterobacteriaceae, and soluble carbohydrate utilizers such as Ruminobacter, Treponema, and unclassified Bacteroidaceae. Cellulolytic bacteria, especially Fibrobacteres, increase during HS due to a high heat resistance. Actinobacteria and Acetobacter, both acetate-producing bacteria, decreased under HS conditions. Rumen fermentation functions, blood parameters, and metabolites are also affected by the physiological responses of the animal during HS. Isoleucine, methionine, myo-inositol, lactate, tryptophan, tyrosine, 1,5-anhydro-D-sorbitol, 3-phenylpropionic acid, urea, and valine decreased under these conditions. These responses affect feed consumption and production efficiency in milk yield, growth rate, and reproduction. At the cellular level, activation of heat shock transcription factor (HSF) (located throughout the nucleus and the cytoplasm) and increased expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) are the usual responses to cope with homeostasis. HSP70 is the most abundant HSP family responsible for the environmental stress response, while HSF1 is essential for increasing cell temperature. The expression of bovine lymphocyte antigen and histocompatibility complex class II (DRB3) is downregulated during HS, while HSP90 beta I and HSP70 1A are upregulated. HS increases the expression of the cytosolic arginine sensor for mTORC1 subunits 1 and 2, phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin and decreases the phosphorylation of Janus kinase-2 (a signal transducer and activator of transcription factor-5). These changes in physiology, metabolism, and microbiomes in heat-stressed dairy cows require urgent alleviation strategies. Establishing control measures to combat HS can be facilitated by elucidating mechanisms, including proper HS assessment, access to cooling facilities, special feeding and care, efficient water systems, and supplementation with vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, and probiotics. Understanding the relationship between HS and the rumen microbiome could contribute to the development of manipulation strategies to alleviate the influence of HS. This review comprehensively elaborates on the impact of HS in dairy cows and introduces different alleviation strategies to minimize HS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seon Ho Kim
- Ruminant Nutrition and Anaerobe Laboratory, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
| | - Sonny C. Ramos
- Ruminant Nutrition and Anaerobe Laboratory, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
| | - Raniel A. Valencia
- Ruminant Nutrition and Anaerobe Laboratory, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Muñoz, Philippines
| | - Yong Il Cho
- Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
| | - Sang Suk Lee
- Ruminant Nutrition and Anaerobe Laboratory, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Toledo I, Dahl G, De Vries A. Dairy cattle management and housing for warm environments. Livest Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
44
|
The Transition Period Updated: A Review of the New Insights into the Adaptation of Dairy Cows to the New Lactation. DAIRY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/dairy2040048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research on the transition period (TP) of dairy cows has highlighted the pivotal role of immune function in affecting the severity of metabolic challenges the animals face when approaching calving. This suggests that the immune system may play a role in the etiology of metabolic diseases occurring in early lactation. Several studies have indicated that the roots of immune dysfunctions could sink way before the “classical” TP (e.g., 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after calving), extending the time frame deemed as “risky” for the development of early lactation disorders at the period around the dry-off. Several distressing events occurring during the TP (i.e., dietary changes, heat stress) can boost the severity of pre-existing immune dysfunctions and metabolic changes that physiologically affect this phase of the lactation cycle, further increasing the likelihood of developing diseases. Based on this background, several operational and nutritional strategies could be adopted to minimize the detrimental effects of immune dysfunctions on the adaptation of dairy cows to the new lactation. A suitable environment (i.e., optimal welfare) and a balanced diet (which guarantees optimal nutrient partitioning to improve immune functions in cow and calf) are key aspects to consider when aiming to minimize TP challenges at the herd level. Furthermore, several prognostic behavioral and physiological indicators could help in identifying subjects that are more likely to undergo a “bad transition”, allowing prompt intervention through specific modulatory treatments. Recent genomic advances in understanding the linkage between metabolic disorders and the genotype of dairy cows suggest that genetic breeding programs aimed at improving dairy cows’ adaptation to the new lactation challenges (i.e., through increasing immune system efficiency or resilience against metabolic disorders) could be expected in the future. Despite these encouraging steps forward in understanding the physiological mechanisms driving metabolic responses of dairy cows during their transition to calving, it is evident that these processes still require further investigation, and that the TP—likely extended from dry-off—continues to be “the final frontier” for research in dairy sciences.
Collapse
|
45
|
Cantet JM, Yu Z, Ríus AG. Heat Stress-Mediated Activation of Immune-Inflammatory Pathways. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10111285. [PMID: 34827223 PMCID: PMC8615052 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10111285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiological changes in animals exposed to elevated ambient temperature are characterized by the redistribution of blood toward the periphery to dissipate heat, with a consequent decline in blood flow and oxygen and nutrient supply to splanchnic tissues. Metabolic adaptations and gut dysfunction lead to oxidative stress, translocation of lumen contents, and release of proinflammatory mediators, activating a systemic inflammatory response. This review discusses the activation and development of the inflammatory response in heat-stressed models.
Collapse
|
46
|
Identification of candidate genes on the basis of SNP by time-lagged heat stress interactions for milk production traits in German Holstein cattle. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258216. [PMID: 34648531 PMCID: PMC8516222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to estimate genotype by time-lagged heat stress (HS) variance components as well as main and interaction SNP-marker effects for maternal HS during the last eight weeks of cow pregnancy, considering milk production traits recorded in the offspring generation. The HS indicator was the temperature humidity index (THI) for each week. A dummy variable with the code = 1 for the respective week for THI ≥ 60 indicated HS, otherwise, for no HS, the code = 0 was assigned. The dataset included test-day and lactation production traits from 14,188 genotyped first parity Holstein cows. After genotype quality control, 41,139 SNP markers remained for the genomic analyses. Genomic animal models without (model VC_nHS) and with in-utero HS effects (model VC_wHS) were applied to estimate variance components. Accordingly, for genome-wide associations, models GWA_nHS and GWA_wHS, respectively, were applied to estimate main and interaction SNP effects. Common genomic and residual variances for the same traits were very similar from models VC_nHS and VC_wHS. Genotype by HS interaction variances varied, depending on the week with in-utero HS. Among all traits, lactation milk yield with HS from week 5 displayed the largest proportion for interaction variances (0.07). For main effects from model GWA_wHS, 380 SNPs were suggestively associated with all production traits. For the SNP interaction effects from model GWA_wHS, we identified 31 suggestive SNPs, which were located in close distance to 62 potential candidate genes. The inferred candidate genes have various biological functions, including mechanisms of immune response, growth processes and disease resistance. Two biological processes excessively represented in the overrepresentation tests addressed lymphocyte and monocyte chemotaxis, ultimately affecting immune response. The modelling approach considering time-lagged genotype by HS interactions for production traits inferred physiological mechanisms being associated with health and immunity, enabling improvements in selection of robust animals.
Collapse
|
47
|
Ioannis N, Eleni D, Dimitrios P, Katerina D, Thomas-Markos C, Maria S, Panagiotis G, Georgios S A. Age, gestational and heat stress effects on ghrelin secretion in dairy cattle. Theriogenology 2021; 176:82-93. [PMID: 34597845 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
It is known that heat stress decreases dry matter intake in cattle with impacts on milk production and fertility. Ghrelin is an orexigenic hormone with suppressive effects on reproduction. In this study, we investigated the effects of heat stress and gestational status on ghrelin secretion and its possible associations with DMI in Holstein cattle. The study was conducted in a dairy farm without any artificial cooling measures. The animals were fed a total mixed ration twice daily; each morning the leftovers were removed and weighted. Lactating cows and heifers were used during the winter and the summer; in each season 8 groups were formed as following: non-pregnant cows (n = 10) and non-pregnant heifers (n = 10) and pregnant cows (3 groups, each n = 8) and heifers (3 groups, each n = 10), being at the 1st (days 65-90), the 2nd (days 114-144) and the 3rd (dry cows, days 198-220; heifers, days 192-230) trimester of gestation. In each season the blood samples were collected from all groups on the same day, 1 h prior to morning feeding. In the winter, the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) was 58 in the winter and 73 in the summer. Normal and acidified sera were stored at -20 °C and analyzed for cortisol, total and acylated ghrelin concentrations, respectively. T-Test and Welch-Satterthwaite were performed for continuous data comparison, while two-way ANOVA to test for differences between gestation and season. Feed refusals were higher (p < 0.01) during the summer compared to the winter. In cows, total ghrelin levels differed between gestation stages in winter and summer(p < 0.04), while acylated ghrelin levels differed by gestation stage in winter (p < 0.001) but not in summer. There was an effect of season by the gestational stage in the pattern of acylated (p < 0.001) but not of total ghrelin. In heifers, the pattern of total and acylated ghrelin secretion was not affected by season or gestation stage (p > 0.05). Both in cows and heifers, acylated ghrelin levels were lower in summer compared to winter, (p < 0.002). During the summer months the low ghrelin levels might explain the reduced feed consumption of heat stressed animals. We infer that the lactation-induced altered metabolic status of the animals governed the different ghrelin levels at various gestational stages in cows and heifers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nanas Ioannis
- Clinic of Obstetrics & Reproduction, Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Dovolou Eleni
- Clinic of Obstetrics & Reproduction, Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece; Laboratory of Reproduction, Department of Animal Science, University of Thessaly, Greece
| | - Psimadas Dimitrios
- Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Dadouli Katerina
- Clinic of Obstetrics & Reproduction, Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece; Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Chouzouris Thomas-Markos
- Clinic of Obstetrics & Reproduction, Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Satra Maria
- Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Georgoulias Panagiotis
- Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Amiridis Georgios S
- Clinic of Obstetrics & Reproduction, Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Contreras-Correa ZE, Messman RD, Sidelinger DR, Heath King E, Sánchez-Rodríguez HL, Burnett DD, Lemley CO. Melatonin alters bovine uterine artery hemodynamics, vaginal temperatures, and fetal morphometrics during late gestational nutrient restriction in a season-dependent manner. J Anim Sci 2021; 99:6350784. [PMID: 34387666 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skab242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives were to examine melatonin-mediated changes in temporal uterine blood flow (UBF), vaginal temperatures (VTs), and fetal morphometrics in 54 commercial Brangus heifers (Fall, n = 29; Summer, n = 25) during compromised pregnancy. At day 160 of gestation, heifers were assigned to one of the four treatments consisting of adequately fed (ADQ-CON; 100% National Research Council [NRC]; n = 13), global nutrient restricted (RES-CON; 60% NRC; n =13), and ADQ or RES supplemented with 20 mg/d of melatonin (ADQ-MEL, n = 13; RES-MEL, n = 15). In the morning (0500 hours; AM) and afternoon (1300 hours; PM) of day 220 of gestation, UBF was determined via Doppler ultrasonography, while temperature data loggers attached to progesterone-free controlled internal drug releases were used to record VTs. At day 240 of gestation, heifers underwent cesarean sections for fetal removal and morphometrics determination. The UBF and VT data were analyzed using repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA), while the morphometrics was analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Seasons were analyzed separately. In Fall, a nutrition by treatment interaction was observed, where the RES-CON heifers exhibited reduced total UBF compared with ADQ-CON (5.67 ± 0.68 vs. 7.97 ± 0.54 L/min; P = 0.039). In Summer, MEL heifers exhibited increased total UBF compared with the CON counterparts (8.16 ± 0.73 vs. 6.00 ± 0.70 L/min; P = 0.048). Moreover, there was a nutrition by treatment by time interaction in VT for Fall and Summer heifers (P ≤ 0.005). In Fall, all groups had decreased VT in the morning compared with the afternoon (P < 0.05). Whereas, in Summer, VT increased for ADQ-CON and RES-CON (P < 0.0001) from morning to afternoon, the ADQ-MEL and RES-MEL remained constant throughout the day (P = 0.648). Furthermore, the RES-MEL-PM exhibited decreased VT compared with ADQ-CON-PM (38.91 ± 0.09 vs. 39.26 ± 0.09 °C; P = 0.018). Lastly, in Fall, a main effect of nutrition was observed on fetal weights, where the RES dams had fetuses with decreased body weight when compared with ADQ (24.08 ± 0.62 vs. 26.57 ± 0.64 kg; P = 0.0087). In Summer, a nutrition by treatment interaction was observed on fetal weights where the RES-CON dams had fetuses with reduced weight when compared with ADQ-CON and RES-MEL (P < 0.05). In summary, nutrient restriction decreased UBF and melatonin supplementation increased UBF depending on the season. Additionally, melatonin appeared to decrease VT and rescue fetal weights when supplemented in the Summer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zully E Contreras-Correa
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Riley D Messman
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Darcie R Sidelinger
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - E Heath King
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | | | - Derris D Burnett
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Caleb O Lemley
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Ahmed B, Younas U, Asar T, Monteiro A, Hayen M, Tao S, Dahl G. Maternal heat stress reduces body and organ growth in calves: Relationship to immune status. JDS COMMUNICATIONS 2021; 2:295-299. [PMID: 36338391 PMCID: PMC9623671 DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2021-0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
In utero heat stress reduces growth relative to calves born to cooled dams. Immune organ growth is further compromised beyond whole body growth. Jejunal enterocyte apoptosis is accelerated at birth after in utero heat stress.
Late-gestation heat stress of dairy cows reduces fetal growth and influences postnatal performance and immune status of the offspring. Our first objective was to evaluate the effect of in utero heat stress on overall fetal and organ growth, particularly organs associated with immune function. The second objective was to examine the cellular mechanism of altered passive immunity in neonatal bull calves after in utero heat stress. Specifically, we examined the rate of apoptosis of intestinal cells early in life, as it is associated with gut closure. Dams were dried off approximately 45 d before expected calving and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: heat stress (HT) or cooling (CL). During the dry period all cows were housed under shade in a freestall barn, where the pen for CL cows was equipped with active cooling, including water soakers and fans, whereas the pen for HT cows had no soakers or fans. Using rectal temperature and respiration rate as indicators, heat stress was severe. Average rectal temperature in HT cows was 39.3°C compared with 39.0°C in CL cows, and HT cows had a respiration rate of 66.7 breaths/min compared with 43.2 breaths/min for CL cows. Bull calves (n = 30) were immediately separated from their dams at birth, weighed, and then killed before colostrum feeding (n = 5/treatment; d 0) or at 1 or 2 d of age following colostrum feeding (n = 5/treatment per day). After slaughter, the small intestine was removed and weighed, and samples from the jejunum were fixed for immunohistochemistry. Birth weight of bulls from HT dams was 1.1 kg lower than that of bulls from CL dams. Thymus, spleen, and heart weights of HT bulls were lower relative to those of CL bulls, whereas liver weight of HT bulls tended to be lower relative to that of CL bulls. Jejunal cell apoptosis decreased with age in both HT and CL calves after birth, mirroring gut closure. However, in utero heat stress increased the apoptotic rate in the jejunum, particularly at birth. We conclude that the chronic exposure to heat strain of HT compared with CL dams in late gestation significantly affected fetal growth and immune tissue development, which may be associated with reduced immune function in early life. Also, late-gestation heat stress increased calves' intestinal apoptosis in the first 2 d of life, which might explain the decreased IgG uptake and limited passive immune competence observed in previous studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B.M.S. Ahmed
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608
| | - U. Younas
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608
| | - T.O. Asar
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608
| | - A.P.A. Monteiro
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Tifton 31793
| | - M.J. Hayen
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608
| | - S. Tao
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Tifton 31793
| | - G.E. Dahl
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608
- Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Laporta J. ADSA Foundation Scholar Award: Early-life exposure to hyperthermia: Productive and physiological outcomes, costs, and opportunities. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:11337-11347. [PMID: 34419283 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-20722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Global rising temperature is a considerable threat to livestock production and an impediment to animal welfare. In fact, the 5 warmest years on record have occurred since 2016. Although the effect of heat stress on lactating cattle is well recognized and extensively studied, it is increasingly evident that rising temperatures will affect dairy cattle of all ages and lactation states. However, the extent and consequences of this effect are less understood and often overlooked in the literature and dairy industry. Early-life experiences, such as exposure to hyperthermia, can have life-long implications for health and productivity. This review highlights the body of work surrounding the effects of heat-stress exposure in young dairy cattle, including the prenatal fetus (in utero), postnatal calves (preweaning), and growing heifers, which are all categories that are typically not considered for heat-stress abatement on farm. Insights into the physiological and molecular mechanisms that might explain the adverse phenotypic outcomes of heat-stress exposure at different stages of development are also discussed. The estimated economic loss of in utero hyperthermia is addressed, and the ties between biological findings and opportunities for the application of cooling management interventions on farm are also presented. Our research highlights the importance of heat-stress abatement strategies for dry-pregnant cows to ensure optimal multigenerational productivity and showcases the benefits of cooling neonatal calves and growing heifers. Understanding the implications of heat stress at all life stages from a physiological, molecular, economic, and welfare perspective will lead to the development of novel and refined practices and interventions to help overcome the long-lasting effects of climate change in the dairy industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Laporta
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
| |
Collapse
|