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Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the...
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Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Physiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 26331

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mariangela Caroprese

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Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources, and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Interests: ruminant welfare; veterinary immunology; heat stress; feeding strategies; milk production
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Maria Giovanna Ciliberti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources, and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
Interests: animal welfare; heat stress; sheep; cytokines; immunity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past half century, economic growth has led to a sharp increase in global per capita meat consumption. In order to meet the demand associated with the increase in consumption through sustainable intensification, animal husbandry has made advancements in all aspects of animal production, including development, growth, nutrition, metabolism, management, and welfare according to livestock precision farming technologies.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish high-quality papers concerning ruminants nutrition physiology,  metabolism，feeding management, and welfare in the sustainability era. Therefore, we invite the submission of recent findings, as original research articles or reviews, on ruminants nutrition and management including, but not limited to, the following areas: ruminant production systems; the nutrient requirements of ruminants; the use of functional feed additives and feeding systems oriented toward improving ruminant immune systems during climate change;  ruminant production: meat, milk, and dairy products in order to improve the sustainability of livestock production.

Prof. Dr. Mariangela Caroprese
Dr. Maria Giovanna Ciliberti
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • ruminant production systems
  • functional feed additives
  • feeding strategies
  • immune responses
  • physiological responses
  • ruminant products
  • sustainable intensification
  • precision livestock farming
  • productive performance

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1073 KiB  
Article
Evaluation and Development of Analytical Procedures to Assess Buffering Capacity of Carbonate Ruminant Feed Buffers
by Patrick Quille, Tommy Higgins, Enda W. Neville, Katy Regan and Shane O’Connell
Animals 2024, 14(16), 2333; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162333 - 13 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1071
Abstract
The inclusion of rumen buffers in ruminant feeds has gained widespread adoption for the prevention of rumen acidosis, thereby avoiding the negative production and health consequences of low rumen pH and resulting in improved feed efficiency. Benchmarking and quality controlling the performance of [...] Read more.
The inclusion of rumen buffers in ruminant feeds has gained widespread adoption for the prevention of rumen acidosis, thereby avoiding the negative production and health consequences of low rumen pH and resulting in improved feed efficiency. Benchmarking and quality controlling the performance of rumen buffer materials is of significant interest to feed mills and end-user producers. The aim of this study was to evaluate, develop and optimise a laboratory protocol to consistently and robustly evaluate rumen buffering materials in order to predict their in vivo efficacy. Three different methods were evaluated for determining the buffering potential of carbonate buffer materials: (a) 2 and 8 h static pH, (b) 8 h fixed HCl acid load addition and (c) 3 h acidotic diet simulation using acetic acid. Buffer material, threshold pH, test duration and interactions between all three variables were significant (p < 0.001) in evaluating the performance of the buffer materials. The acidotic diet simulation was found to provide a different ranking of materials to the 8 h fixed HCl acid load methodology. The results highlight the importance of method selection and test parameters for accurately evaluating the potential efficacy of rumen buffer materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era)
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13 pages, 1655 KiB  
Article
Dietary Supplementation with Rumen-Protected Arginine or N-Carbamylglutamate Enhances Fetal Liver Development in Nutrient-Restricted Pregnant Hu Ewes
by Yuexia Lin, Lingwei Sun, Mengqian He, Jiehuan Xu, Caifeng Wu, Jun Gao and Jianjun Dai
Animals 2024, 14(13), 1988; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14131988 - 5 Jul 2024
Viewed by 952
Abstract
This study was conducted in nutrient-restricted pregnant Hu ewes to determine whether rumen-protected arginine (RP-Arg) or N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) supplementation affects fetal liver growth and development. From 35 d to 110 d of gestation, 32 Hu ewes were randomly divided into four groups: a [...] Read more.
This study was conducted in nutrient-restricted pregnant Hu ewes to determine whether rumen-protected arginine (RP-Arg) or N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) supplementation affects fetal liver growth and development. From 35 d to 110 d of gestation, 32 Hu ewes were randomly divided into four groups: a control group (100% of the National Research Council (NRC) requirements), a nutrient-restricted group (50% of the NRC requirements), and two treatment groups (ARG and NCG, 50% of the NRC requirements, supplemented with 20 g/day RP-Arg or 5 g/day NCG, respectively). Fetal body weights, fetal liver growth performance, the capability of antioxidation, and the expression of the mRNA and proteins of apoptosis-related genes in the fetal liver were determined and analyzed at 110 d of gestation. The dry matter, water, fat, protein, and ash components of the fetal livers in the RG group were found to be lower than in the CG group, and these components were significantly higher in the NCG group than in the RG group (p < 0.05). A decrease in DNA, RNA, and protein concentrations and contents, as well as in protein/DNA ratios, was observed in the RG group in comparison to the CG group (p < 0.05). Compared with the RG group, the NCG group had higher concentrations of DNA, RNA, and protein, as well as higher protein/DNA ratios (p < 0.05). The RG group had lower concentrations of cholinesterase, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase, alanine aminotransferase, and total protein than the CG group (p < 0.05). The RG group had higher levels of glutathione peroxidase, maleic dialdehyde, and aspartate aminotransferase than the CG group (p < 0.05). In the RG group, the mRNA and protein expression of p53 and Bax was significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared with the CG group, and the gene expression of FasL and Bcl-2, the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax, and the protein expression of Bcl-2 in the RG group were lower (p < 0.05) than in the CG group. It appears that RP-Arg and NCG supplementation during pregnancy could influence fetal liver growth and development. A nutrition-based therapeutic intervention to alleviate reduced fetal growth can be developed based on this study, which has demonstrated that maternal undernutrition during pregnancy induces the maldevelopment of the fetal liver. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era)
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16 pages, 2026 KiB  
Article
YAP1/TAZ Mediates Rumen Epithelial Cell Proliferation but Not Short-Chain Fatty Acid Metabolism In Vitro
by Bin Yang, Zebang Xu, Hongwei Chen, Tingting Ma, Yiming Zhao, Mengxin Pang and Jiakun Wang
Animals 2024, 14(6), 922; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14060922 - 17 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1302
Abstract
Promoting rumen development is closely related to the health and efficient growth of ruminants. The transcriptional co-activators Yes1-associated protein (YAP1) and WW domain-containing transcription regulator protein 1 (TAZ) are key regulators of the mammalian epithelium. In the present study, we assessed the impact [...] Read more.
Promoting rumen development is closely related to the health and efficient growth of ruminants. The transcriptional co-activators Yes1-associated protein (YAP1) and WW domain-containing transcription regulator protein 1 (TAZ) are key regulators of the mammalian epithelium. In the present study, we assessed the impact of YAP1/TAZ on rumen epithelial (RE) cell proliferation using their activator GA-017 (GA) and inhibitor verteporfin (VP). We also investigated whether YAP1/TAZ-dependent alteration was involved in the RE developmental process induced by sodium butyrate (SB). The results indicated that GA promoted RE cell proliferation, while VP disrupted RE cell proliferation. The Hippo, Wnt, and calcium signaling pathways were altered following the regulation of YAP1/TAZ. Upon YAP1/TAZ activation, the expression of CCN1/2 increased. However, when YAP1/TAZ was inhibited, the expression of BIRC3 decreased. In the SB-treated cells, YAP1/TAZ-induced changes were not observed. SB increased the expressions of differentiated cell marker genes and genes involved in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolism, while YAP1/TAZ did not. Thus, YAP1/TAZ could be potential targets for regulating RE cell proliferation but not for SCFA metabolism. SB could not affect YAP1/TAZ. These findings broaden our understanding of the role of YAP1/TAZ and their regulators in RE development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era)
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7 pages, 476 KiB  
Communication
Difructose Anhydride and Passive Immunity Effects on Passive Immune Transfer and Performance of Feeding Difructose Anhydride to Neonatal Calves
by Miguel Escartín, Núria Rialp and Alex Bach
Animals 2024, 14(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14010035 - 21 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1049
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the potential effects of supplementing difructose anyhdride III (DFAIII) during the first days of life on the absorption of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and growth performance of calves early in life fed colostrum with a high [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to assess the potential effects of supplementing difructose anyhdride III (DFAIII) during the first days of life on the absorption of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and growth performance of calves early in life fed colostrum with a high IgG concentration. Sixty-six healthy new-born Holstein calves were randomly assigned to three treatments consisting of no supplementation (control), supplementation of 12 g/d (DFA12), or 36 g/d (DFA36) of DFAIII during the first 7 d of life via colostrum and milk replacer (MR). Calves were separated from dams at birth and bottle-fed colostrum in two meals, each targeting 2.5 L within the first 18 h of birth. Colostrum had been previously collected from other dams (and preserved frozen) within the first 2 h of calving and had a Brix value ≥32%. Daily consumption of starter concentrate and MR (and colostrum on the first day) were individually monitored. Calves were body weighed using an electronic scale at birth and on a weekly basis thereafter until the end of study at 42 d of age. A sample of colostrum fed to each calf and a blood sample from the jugular vein of the calves were collected at 12 and 24 h of life to determine the IgG concentration. The mean colostrum IgG concentration fed in the current study was 110 ± 33.7 g/L (mean ± SD). No differences in animal performance were found among the treatments. Calves on all treatments consumed the same amount of colostrum with a similar concentration of IgG, and thus the amount of IgG consumed was also similar. Serum IgG concentrations were greater at 24 than at 12 h but did not differ among treatments. However, the apparent efficiency of absorption of colostral immunoglobulins was greater in DFA12 and DFA36 at 12 h of life than in control calves, with no differences observed at 24 h. Even when feeding high-quality colostrum, in terms of IgG concentration, supplementation with difructose anhydride III may pose an additional advantage in promoting the passive transfer of immunoglobulins in neonatal Holstein calves during the first 12 h of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era)
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21 pages, 962 KiB  
Article
Pre-Partum Supplementation with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Colostrum Characteristics and Lamb Immunity and Behavior after a Mild Post-Weaning Aversive Handling Period
by Xavier Averós, Itsasne Granado-Tajada, Josune Arranz, Ignacia Beltrán de Heredia, Laura González, Roberto Ruiz, Aser García-Rodríguez and Raquel Atxaerandio
Animals 2022, 12(14), 1780; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141780 - 11 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2120
Abstract
We studied the effect of pre-natal supplementation with n-3 α-linolenic acid (ALA) combined with a tannin-rich forage on colostrum composition and immunological quality and whether these changes had advantageous effects on lambs’ survival and stress reaction to a post-weaning stressor. Forty-eight Latxa ewes [...] Read more.
We studied the effect of pre-natal supplementation with n-3 α-linolenic acid (ALA) combined with a tannin-rich forage on colostrum composition and immunological quality and whether these changes had advantageous effects on lambs’ survival and stress reaction to a post-weaning stressor. Forty-eight Latxa ewes were fed during the last five weeks of pregnancy with two experimental diets: a control diet based on a neutral concentrate and forage (tall fescue hay; CO-FES), and a supplemented diet based on polyunsaturated (PUFA)-rich concentrate and tanniferous forage (sainfoin; ALA-SAIN). After parturition, twenty ewes had their blood and colostrum sampled, and their lambs were monitored until post-weaning. Lambs were afterwards subjected to (i) an aversive handling period (AHP) followed by a behavioral assessment and (ii) inflammatory and lymphocyte proliferation challenge. Feeding ALA-SAIN resulted in changes in colostrum fatty acid composition, specifically higher α-linoleic acid (p < 0.001), conjugate linoleic acid (p = 0.005), vaccenic acid (p = 0.006) and long-chain n-3 PUFA (p = 0.004). Pre-partum nutrition did not affect lamb immunoglobulin (Ig) G apparent efficacy absorption, but circulating IgG tended to be higher (p = 0.054) in ALA-SAIN lambs. ALA-SAIN lambs interacted more frequently with other lambs (p = 0.002), whereas ALA-SAIN females spent more time closer to other lambs (p < 0.001). Plasma cortisol was higher (p = 0.047) and plasma interleukin (IL)-2 lower (p = 0.003) in CO-FES lambs. This research highlights the importance of prenatal nutrition on the immune system stimulation and lambs’ behavior as a strategy to improve lambs’ health and welfare during early life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era)
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16 pages, 1147 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Female Verzaschese and Camosciata delle Alpi Goats’ Hematological Parameters in The Context of Adaptation to Local Environmental Conditions in Semi-Extensive Systems in Italy
by Stella Agradi, Laura Menchetti, Giulio Curone, Massimo Faustini, Daniele Vigo, Luca Villa, Sergio Aurelio Zanzani, Rezart Postoli, Tana Shtylla Kika, Federica Riva, Susanna Draghi, Sebastiano Luridiana, Ivonne Archetti, Gabriele Brecchia, Maria Teresa Manfredi and Alessia Libera Gazzonis
Animals 2022, 12(13), 1703; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12131703 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2740
Abstract
Local livestock breeds are pivotal to ensure sustainable agriculture and represent a real genetic resource in the context of genetic variability reduction. This study aimed at broadening the knowledge about hematological values in female Verzaschese and Camosciata delle Alpi goats (an Italian local [...] Read more.
Local livestock breeds are pivotal to ensure sustainable agriculture and represent a real genetic resource in the context of genetic variability reduction. This study aimed at broadening the knowledge about hematological values in female Verzaschese and Camosciata delle Alpi goats (an Italian local and a cosmopolitan goat breed, respectively) and investigating factors affecting them (i.e., breed, age, season). Blood samples were collected monthly from 34 Verzaschese and 37 Camosciata delle Alpi female goats kept under the same semi-extensive farming system for a whole year. The main hematological parameters were evaluated, and descriptive as well as inferential statistical analyses were performed. Reference intervals for complete blood cell count were established and several inter-breed differences were found. In particular, most of the red blood cell parameters were higher in Verzaschese than Camosciata delle Alpi (p < 0.05) suggesting a greater gastrointestinal parasites’ resilience of the local breed. The age effect (p < 0.05) was consistent with the literature while the season effect (p < 0.05) could be explained by the melatonin immunostimulant action and gastrointestinal parasitism influence. Overall, differences in blood values could be attributed to physiological changes and adaptive strategies developed through centuries highlighting the remarkable rusticity and adaptation to the environment and farming system of the local breed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era)
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15 pages, 2078 KiB  
Article
Cadmium Accumulation in the Goat Liver and Kidney Is Partially Promoted by the Upregulation of Metal Transporter Genes
by Kefyalew Gebeyew, Chunyu Jiang, Qinghua Gao, Liping Zhang, Hanhua Zhu, Yushi Tian, Qi Wang, Yuqing Wei, Zhiliang Tan and Xuefeng Han
Animals 2022, 12(11), 1408; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12111408 - 30 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2471
Abstract
Metal transporters, including divalent metal-ion transporter-1 (DMT1), Zrt-/Irt-like protein 8 and 14 (ZIP8 and ZIP14), and ferroportin-1 (FPN1), reportedly participate in cellular cadmium (Cd) uptake, but those in farm animals remain unclarified. This study aimed to examine the growth, plasma biochemical indices, Cd [...] Read more.
Metal transporters, including divalent metal-ion transporter-1 (DMT1), Zrt-/Irt-like protein 8 and 14 (ZIP8 and ZIP14), and ferroportin-1 (FPN1), reportedly participate in cellular cadmium (Cd) uptake, but those in farm animals remain unclarified. This study aimed to examine the growth, plasma biochemical indices, Cd accumulation, and expression of metal transporter genes in the liver, kidney, and muscle of goats exposed to rice paddies contaminated with different levels of Cd. Twenty-four goats were randomly assigned across three dietary treatments: 0.23, 0.63, and 1.07 mg of Cd/kg of dry matter (DM) for 60 days. The results showed that dietary Cd exposure increased (p < 0.05) both Cd accumulation and the mRNA expressions of metal transporter genes (DMT1, ZIP, and FPN1) in the liver and kidney but not in the muscle, suggesting dietary Cd exhibited different deposition rates between goat liver, kidney, and muscle. These outcomes suggest that high levels of dietary Cd stimulated the expression of metal transporter genes and thereby enhanced the uptake and accumulation of Cd in the goat liver and kidney. As such, higher Cd concentrations in the liver and kidney observed with Cd diets could be partly explained by upregulation of metal transport genes expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era)
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12 pages, 801 KiB  
Article
Effect of Long-Acting Selenium Preparation on Health and Productivity of Sheep
by Justyna Błażejak-Grabowska, Stanisław Milewski, Katarzyna Ząbek, Przemysław Sobiech, Roman Wójcik, Katarzyna Żarczyńska and Jan Miciński
Animals 2022, 12(2), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020140 - 7 Jan 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2272
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of long-acting selenium (Se) preparation in sheep. The experimental material comprised Skudda ewes and their lambs. The animals were divided into two equal groups: C-control, and E-experimental. Between days 70 and 80 of [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of long-acting selenium (Se) preparation in sheep. The experimental material comprised Skudda ewes and their lambs. The animals were divided into two equal groups: C-control, and E-experimental. Between days 70 and 80 of pregnancy, group E ewes were injected with Se preparation (Barium Selenate Injection, BVP Animal Care, Ireland) at f 1 mL/50 kg body weight. Hematological, biochemical and immunological blood parameters as well as Se levels were analyzed in ewes. The growth rate of lambs, the dimensions of the musculus longissimus dorsi (MLD) cross-section, and fat thickness over the loin-eye area were also determined. It was found that barium selenate stimulated the mechanisms of humoral and cellular immunity. The injection was an effective form of Se supply, which was confirmed by its increased concentration in the blood serum of lactating ewes. The offspring of the experimental ewes were characterized by a faster growth rate, and they achieved significantly higher body weight (p ≤ 0.05) at 100 days of age. The lambs also had significantly higher parameters of MLD (p ≤ 0.05) at similar carcass fat content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era)
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15 pages, 954 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Effectiveness of a Portable NIRS Instrument in Controlling the Mixer Wagon Tuning and Ration Management
by Lorenzo Serva, Luisa Magrin, Giorgio Marchesini and Igino Andrighetto
Animals 2021, 11(12), 3566; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123566 - 15 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2764
Abstract
The adoption of the mixer wagon and total mixed ration aimed to decrease dysmetabolic diseases and improve feed efficiency in dairy cows. Differences between theoretical and eaten diets are imputable to errors in diet preparation or cow feed sorting. We proposed a method [...] Read more.
The adoption of the mixer wagon and total mixed ration aimed to decrease dysmetabolic diseases and improve feed efficiency in dairy cows. Differences between theoretical and eaten diets are imputable to errors in diet preparation or cow feed sorting. We proposed a method to measure the chemical composition and particle size distribution of the ration and determined its peNDF content through a portable Near Infra-Red spectrophotometer that allowed the calculation of two indexes: the homogeneity and the sorting indexes. In a cohort of 19 Italian Holstein breeding farms, we studied the correlation of these indexes with the mixer wagon settings. Determination coefficients in the validation (Rv2) for dry matter, crude protein, aNDF, and starch were 0.91, 0.54, 0.86, and 0.67, respectively. The ration fractions (%, w/w of wet weight) retained by the 3.8 and 1.8 mm sieves, and the bottom showed Rv2 of 0.46, 0.49, and 0.53, respectively. The homogeneity index regressed negatively with the mixer wagon load fullness (R2 = 0.374). The homogeneity-binary classification showed an odds ratio of 1.72 for dry matter and 0.39 for aNDF (p < 0.05). The sorting-binary classification showed an odds ratio of 2.54 for aNDF (p < 0.05). The studied farms showed low peNDF values (median = 17.9%). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era)
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20 pages, 3541 KiB  
Article
Association of Melatonin Administration in Pregnant Ewes with Growth, Redox Status and Immunity of Their Offspring
by Efterpi Bouroutzika, Maria Giovanna Ciliberti, Mariangela Caroprese, Ekaterini Theodosiadou, Serafeim Papadopoulos, Sotiria Makri, Zoi-Vasiliki Skaperda, Georgios Kotsadam, Marios-Lazaros Michailidis, George Valiakos, Stella Chadio, Dimitris Kouretas and Irene Valasi
Animals 2021, 11(11), 3161; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113161 - 5 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3074
Abstract
In this study, the effects of melatonin treatment on growth, redox status and immunity in prenatally stressed newborn lambs were evaluated. Thirty-seven newborn lambs were allocated into two groups (melatonin-MEL and control-CON), based on whether their mothers were treated with melatonin implants or [...] Read more.
In this study, the effects of melatonin treatment on growth, redox status and immunity in prenatally stressed newborn lambs were evaluated. Thirty-seven newborn lambs were allocated into two groups (melatonin-MEL and control-CON), based on whether their mothers were treated with melatonin implants or not, respectively. All pregnant ewes were exposed to heat stress. The body weight of lambs was recorded at birth (L0), and then on days 15 (L15) and 40 (L40). Redox biomarkers [total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)] were assayed in blood samples collected from lambs on days L0, L1, L2, L5, L10 and L40. Chemical analysis and antioxidant capacity were evaluated in colostrum and milk samples collected at the same time points with blood samples. Cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ) and immunoglobulin (IgG) were assayed in blood and colostrum samples collected from ewes on days L0 and L1, and in lambs’ blood on days L0, L1 and L2. The results revealed that body weight gain of newborn lambs did not differ between the two groups (p > 0.05). Better redox status was found in MEL lambs until L2, as well as higher antioxidant capacity in the colostrum of MEL ewes compared to CON ones on day L0 (p < 0.05). In MEL ewes’ colostrum, higher protein content was measured on day L0 and higher fat content on L1 compared to CON group (p < 0.05). The highest level of IL-6 was found in MEL ewes on L1, with a concomitant increase of IL-10 level in MEL lambs in comparison to CON lambs on L2. Moreover, CON colostrum resulted in a higher level of IL-10 within time, coupled with an increased level of IgG found in lambs’ plasma on L2 (p = 0.04). This study indicated that melatonin could be administered as antioxidant and immune-modulatory regime in prenatally stressed offspring in order to cope with the crucial first days of their life. This effect of melatonin was also amplified by crosstalk between IL-6, IL-10 and IgG production, resulting in an improved quality of produced milk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era)
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Review

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25 pages, 440 KiB  
Review
Use of Camelina sativa and By-Products in Diets for Dairy Cows: A Review
by Roshan Riaz, Ibrar Ahmed, Ozge Sizmaz and Umair Ahsan
Animals 2022, 12(9), 1082; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12091082 - 22 Apr 2022
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4164
Abstract
Camelina sativa, belonging to the Brassicaceae family, has been grown since 4000 B.C. as an oilseed crop that is more drought- and cold-resistant. Increased demand for its oil, meal, and other derivatives has increased researchers’ interest in this crop. Its anti-nutritional factors [...] Read more.
Camelina sativa, belonging to the Brassicaceae family, has been grown since 4000 B.C. as an oilseed crop that is more drought- and cold-resistant. Increased demand for its oil, meal, and other derivatives has increased researchers’ interest in this crop. Its anti-nutritional factors can be reduced by solvent, enzyme and heat treatments, and genetic engineering. Inclusion of camelina by-products increases branched-chain volatile fatty acids, decreases neutral detergent fiber digestibility, has no effect on acid detergent fiber digestibility, and lowers acetate levels in dairy cows. Feeding camelina meal reduces ruminal methane, an environmental benefit of using camelina by-products in ruminant diets. The addition of camelina to dairy cow diets decreases ruminal cellulolytic bacteria and bio-hydrogenation. This reduced bio-hydrogenation results in an increase in desirable fatty acids and a decrease in saturated fatty acids in milk obtained from cows fed diets with camelina seeds or its by-products. Studies suggest that by-products of C. sativa can be used safely in dairy cows at appropriate inclusion levels. However, suppression in fat milk percentage and an increase in trans fatty acid isomers should be considered when increasing the inclusion rate of camelina by-products, due to health concerns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition, Physiology, Feeding Management and Welfare of Ruminants in the Sustainability Era)
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