The effect of supplements of formaldehyde-treated casein on the partitioning of nutrients between cow and calf in lactating Bos indicus × Bos taurus heifers fed a roughage diet

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1151 ◽  
Author(s):  
RA Hunter ◽  
T Magner

The effect of a supplement of formaldehyde-treated casein on partition of nutrients and productivity of Bos indicus x Bos taurus (50% x 50%) first-calf heifers was studied. Sixteen pregnant heifers were fed a long-chopped roughage diet (13 g N/kg organic matter) ad lib. for approximately 3 weeks before calving and for 16 weeks after calving. Half the animals were supplemented with formaldehyde-treated casein (300 g per day). There were also 8 non-pregnant, non-lactating controls, half of which were supplemented with formaldehyde-treated casein. Supplementation had no significant effect on intake, irrespective of the physiological state of the heifers. There was a significant (P < 0.05) positive multiple regression between peak intake during lactation and the weight change of both heifer and calf in the first 8 weeks of lactation. Milk yield was not significantly affected by supplementation for the first 8 weeks. In the second half of lactation supplemented heifers produced significantly (P < 0.05) less milk, but not less milk solids, than unsupplemented heifers. During the latter half of lactation there was a highly significant (P < 0.001) positive relationship between milk yield and lactose secretion. The mean (� s.e.m.) length of the period of anoestrus after calving was 17 � 2.5 and 12 � 1.7 weeks for unsupplemented and supplemented heifers respectively. The length of the period of anoestrus was positively related to milk production (P < 0.01) and peak intake during lactation (P < 0.05). Supplemented lactating heifers had significantly (P < 0.05) higher plasma insulin concentrations and significantly (P < 0.01) lower plasma growth hormone concentrations than unsupplemented lactating heifers. In supplemented heifers in the second 8 weeks of lactation plasma insulin concentration was significantly (P < 0.01) negatively correlated with milk yield and yield of milk constituents. Supplementation with formaldehyde-treated casein did not increase roughage intake but did affect the partition of nutrients via a positive insulin and negative growth hormone response. Nutrients were preferentially diverted into maternal body growth rather than milk synthesis in the second half of lactation.

1971 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Turner ◽  
B. Schneeloch ◽  
P. Paterson

ABSTRACT Plasma immunoreactive insulin and growth hormone of 20–24 weeks' gestation human foetuses were assayed in serial samples following delivery by hysterotomy. The mean umbilical cord plasma growth hormone concentration was 71 ng/ml (range 13–120 ng/ml) and the mean plasma insulin was 5 μU/ml (range 2–8 μU/ml). Following delivery the growth hormone levels increased, but there was no significant change in plasma insulin concentration. The hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis controlling growth hormone secretion appears to be developed by 20 weeks' gestation, and »stress« appears to be a provocative stimulus.


1972 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 519 ◽  
Author(s):  
RH Hayman

An attempt to breed a dairy animal having satisfactory milk production in a difficult environment is reported. Red Sindhi and Sahiwal (Bos indicus) males crossed with Jersey (Bos taurus) females were used as foundation breeds, and each cross was bred on to the F3 generation. All females in each generation were milked for at least one lactation. Males used as sires in each generation were chosen from progeny of the best available females. The report covers the 16 year period 1955–1970 and is based on the first lactation records of parental females and their F1, F2, and F3 progenies. Owing to the phenomenon known as "maternal instinct", the mean first lactation milk yield of each filial generation was inferior to that of the parental generation of Jerseys. The Jersey mean was 1944 kg milk in 206 days, that of F1, F2, and F3 Sahiwal x Jersey crosses 815 kg in 112 days, and that of F1, F2, and F3 Sindhi x Jersey crosses 375 kg in 83 days. Maximum first lactation yield recorded for a Jersey was 4536 kg in 305 days, for a Sahiwal x Jersey cross 4649 kg in 305 days, and for a Sindhi x Jersey cross 2694 kg in 305 days. The range in recorded milk yields among F2 and F3 Sahiwal x Jersey females indicated that selection against maternal instinct and for total milk yield would be effective.


1973 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. B. JACK ◽  
R. D. G. MILNER

SUMMARY One rabbit foetus in a litter was decapitated on day 24 of gestation. On day 29 the litter was killed and blood was collected from all foetuses for the measurement of plasma insulin concentration. The pancreas of the decapitated foetus and that of the control litter-mate with the nearest headless body weight were cut into pieces and incubated in a physiological buffer containing 0·6 or 3·0 mg glucose/ml. The pancreas of the decapitated foetus secreted significantly more insulin than that of the control foetus in either concentration of glucose in the medium. Higher insulin secretion from the decapitated foetus persisted for 4·5 h of incubation and was demonstrable in both the first 5 and subsequent 25 min of incubation when the pancreas was initially transferred to incubation medium containing 3·0 mg glucose/ml. The mean plasma insulin concentration of the foetuses decapitated on day 24 was higher on day 29 than that of the control foetuses but there was no significant difference between the concentration of insulin in the pancreas of the two groups of animals. The results indicate that removal of the foetal head influences the intrauterine development of the rabbit β-cell.


2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 1415 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Watson ◽  
R. Polkinghorne ◽  
A. Gee ◽  
M. Porter ◽  
J. M. Thompson ◽  
...  

The effect of several different hormonal growth promotant (HGP) implant strategies on the palatability and carcass traits of different muscles in beef carcasses was investigated using samples from heifer and steer carcasses from a Bos indicus composite breed. In experiment 1, there were seven different implant strategies evaluated in heifers that were given different combinations of up to three implants (implanted at weaning, during backgrounding and at feedlot entry). A total of 112 heifers were slaughtered and 11 muscles or portions were collected from both sides [Mm. adductor femoris, gracilus, semimembranosus, longissimus dorsi lumborum, triceps brachii caput longum, semispinalis capitis, serratus ventralis cervicis, spinalis dorsi, biceps femoris (syn. gluteobiceps), tensor fasciae latae, gluteus medius (both the ‘D’ and the ‘eye’ portions) rectus femoris, vastus intermedius, vastus lateralis and vastus medialis]. These muscles were used to prepare a total of 1030 sensory samples which were aged for either 7 or 21 days and frozen. Thawed samples were cooked using different cooking methods (grill, roast and stir frying) before being evaluated by a consumer taste panel that scored samples for tenderness, juiciness, like flavour and overall liking. Experiment 2 used the steer portion from the same calving, which were treated to a similar array of HGP strategies, except that they were given up to four implants between weaning and slaughter at ~3 years of age. In experiment 2, there was a total of 12 different HGP implant strategies tested. At boning, three muscles (Mm. psoas major, longisimuss dorsi thoracis and lumborum portions) were collected from each of 79 carcasses with a total of 237 steak samples that consumers tested as grilled steaks. For both experiments, the mean of the HGP implant strategies resulted in increased ossification scores (P < 0.05) and decreased marbling scores (P < 0.05) compared with the controls, with the effect on ossification being much larger in the older steer groups. In both experiments, the different HGP strategies decreased (P < 0.05) all sensory scores compared with the controls, for all cooking method and muscle combinations. In experiment 1, there was no interaction between the mean HGP effect and muscle (P > 0.05), and aging rates differed among the muscles (P < 0.05). In experiment 2, there was a significant (P < 0.05) muscle × HGP treatment interaction, with a decrease in tenderness score due to HGP implant strategies in the M. longisimuss thoracis and lumborum portions, compared with no significant effect in the M. psoas major. For both experiments, there were no significant differences among the different implantation strategies on sensory scores (P > 0.05).


1955 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 776 ◽  
Author(s):  
DF Dowling

The mean total skin thicknesses (mm) for the breeds sampled were: Devon 8.15, Hereford 6.7, Zebu cross 6.43, Australian Illawarra Shorthorn 6.23, Friesian 6.0, Zebu 5.77, Aberdeen Angus 5.75, Shorthorn 5.69, and Jersey 5.46. The early maturing Shorthorn (Bos taurus L.) and the Zebu (Bos indicus L.) differed significantly in the depth of the papillary and reticular layers, and in the relative thickness of these skin layers. The mean thickness for the papillary layer; was 0.98 mm in the Zebu, 1.40 mm in the Zebu cross, and 1.70 mm in the Shorthorn. Thus the larger, more active sweat glands of the Zebu are more superficial. The corresponding reticular layer averaged 4.45 mm in the Zebu, 4.5 mm in the Zebu cross, and 4.08 mm in the Shorthorn. The thickness of the papillary layer relative to the total skin thickness was 18.3, 23.7, and 29.3 per cent., for the Zebu, Zebu cross, and Shorthorn respectively. The Zebu and the Jersey have relatively thin skins. Therefore a thick skin is not essential for adaptability to a hot environment. Inherent differences in the function of the follicles and the glands of the papillary layer may be critical characteristics for heat tolerance.


1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 795 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Hearnshaw ◽  
PF Arthur ◽  
R Barlow ◽  
PJ Kohun ◽  
RE Darnell

Post-weaning growth and body condition, puberty and pelvic size of 197 heifers comprising straightbred Hereford (HxH) and Brahman (BxB), first-cross (BxH) and back-cross (HxBH and BxBH) heifers were evaluated. The heifers were born over a 3 year period, and grazed improved and semi-improved pastures following weaning at Grafton, New South Wales. Prior to weaning, heifers had been reared by dams on three pasture systems (high, medium and low quality pastures). Heifers from low quality pre-weaning pasture had higher (P < 0.05) post-weaning liveweight gain than those from high and medium quality pastures. BxH heifers gained 71 g/day more (P < 0.05) than the mean gain of their contemporaries of the other genotypes, whose gains were similar, from weaning to either 26 or to 30 months of age. Liveweight at all ages was influenced by genotype x pre-weaning pasture system interaction. At 30 months of age, BxH heifers from high and medium pre-weaning pastures were the heaviest. At the same age, but from low quality pre-weaning pasture, heifers with crossbred dams (HxBH and BxBH) were the heaviest. Wither height depended significantly (P < 0.05) on the proportion of Bos indicus genes, increasing from 113.8 cm in the HxH heifers to 124.4 cm in the BxB heifers at 30 months of age. BxH heifers had a higher (P < 0.05) body condition score than their contemporaries of the other genotypes, which were in similar condition, at 26 and 30 months of age. On average (across pre-weaning pasture system), 9% of BxB heifers had reached puberty by 22 months of age compared to 62, 95, 82 and 64% (s.e.= 9) for HxH, HxBH, BxH and BxBH heifers respectively. No significant genotype differences were obtained in the height, width and size of the pelvic opening of the heifers, measured just prior to the beginning of the mating season at 26 months of age.


1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (61) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
JE Frisch

The mortality rates, weight changes and associated effects of a. draught in 1969 were observed in a herd of Shorthorn x Hereford (SH), Brahman x SH (BX) and Africander x SH (AX) crossbred cows and small herds of purebred Brahman and Africander cows at 'Belmont', Queensland. About half of the cows calved over a two month period from mid-October 1969. All the cows were weighed in February 1968, February and October 1969 and in January 1970 and the data from the crossbreds analysed by the method of least squares. The weights and weight changes of both the calving and non-calving groups followed a similar pattern though the weight changes of the non-calving group were of greater magnitude. The weights showed that the three crossbreds reached the same mature weight but at different rates. The SH cows reached mature weight least rapidly, had the highest mean weight loss during the drought and had the lowest mean gains after the season broke. Weight changes both during and after the drought were however dependent on lactational status in February 1969. The mean weight loss of cows that weaned a calf in 1969 (wet) was similar for all breeds. However, the mean loss of the dry SH cows was significantly greater than that of the dry BX and AX cows. Previously wet cows exhibited compensatory gains after calving but the gain of the wet SH cows was the lowest of the crossbred means. The mean birth weight of the SH calves was reduced below the long term mean by about 4 kg but birthweights of BX and AX calves were similar to those in other years. During the drought the purebred Brahmans lost the least and the purebred Africanders lost the most weight of all breeds. However, the nature of the data precludes any strict comparisons from being drawn. Mortality rates of breeding cows were recorded from 1960 to 1969. Rates were generally highest for the SH, particularly in the drought years of 1965 and 1969. Some reasons are advanced which may explain the differences in performance of the breed types.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 248 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. F. Pontes ◽  
K. C. F. Silva ◽  
A. C. Basso ◽  
C. R. Ferreira ◽  
G. M. G. Santos ◽  
...  

In recent years, Brazil has become the leading country in the world for the number of embryos produced in vitro (Thibier M 2009 IETS Embryo Transfer Newsletter 22, 12-19). This is partly due to the large numbers of Bos indicus animals in Brazil, making up about 80% of the total cattle. The mean oocyte production per ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration from Bos indicus is higher than those for European breeds (Pontes JHF et al. 2009 Theriogenology 71, 690-697). In the present study, we analyzed 5407 ovum pick ups (OPU) and compared the average production of total (n = 90,086) and viable (n = 64,826) oocytes and the number of embryos produced in vitro from Gir (Bos taurus indicus), Holstein (Bos taurus taurus), 1/4 Holstein × 3/4 Gir, and 1/2 Holstein-Gir crossbreed cows. To obtain oocytes, OPU was repeated from 4 to 7 times (mean = 5.7 ± 2.4) in each donor cow aged from 3 to 7 years (mean = 5.0 ± 2.3) during a 12-mo period. COCs (n = 90,086) obtained were classified according to the presence of cumulus cells and the oocyte cytoplasm aspect (homogeneous or heterogeneous/fragmented). The viable oocytes (n = 64,826) were in vitro matured for 24 h at 38.8°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. Since this was a commercial programm, frozen sexed semen (2 × 106 mL-1) from Gir (n = 8) or Holstein (n = 7) sires previously tested for high efficiency was used for IVF. Fertilization was carried out (18-20 h) and the presumed embryos were cultured for 7 days in the same conditions as were used for IVM. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. On average, 16.7 ± 6.2 oocytes were obtained per OPU/IVF procedure and 71.96% were considered viable. The mean numbers of total oocytes per OPU/IVF procedure were 17.1 ± 4.4 for Gir cows (n = 617), 11.4 ± 3.9 for Holstein cows (n = 180), 20.4 ± 5.8 for 1/4 Holstein × 3/4 Gir (n = 44), and 31.4 ± 5.6 for 1/2 Holstein-Gir crossbreed females (n = 37, P < 0.01). The mean numbers of viable oocytes per OPU/IVF procedure were 12.1 ± 3.8 for Gir cows, 8.0 ± 2.6 for Holstein cows, 16.8, ± 5.0 for 1/4 Holstein × 3/4 Gir, and 24.3 ± 4.7 for 1/2 Holstein-Gir crossbreed females (P < 0.01). The average number of embryos produced by OPU/IVF were 3.2 (n = 12,243/3378) for Gir cows, 2.2 (n = 2426/1138) for Holstein cows, 3.9 (n = 1033/267) for 1/4 Holstein × 3/4 Gir, and 5.5 (n = 1222/224) for 1/2 Holstein-Gir. The average number of embryos produced per IVF session from 1/2 taurus × indicus donor cows was greater (P < 0.01) than from Bos indicus cows. The number of recoverable and viable oocytes and the number of embryos produced in vitro from Bos indicus donors were higher than from Bos taurus females. Therefore, the highest oocyte yield and the greatest embryo production were obtained from 1/2 taurus × indicus females. This work was supported by In Vitro Brasil.


1985 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 649-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Hunter ◽  
B. D. Siebert

1. In a number of experiments voluntary food intake of three low-quality roughages, either alone or supplemented with rumen-degradable nitrogen and sulphur and minerals, was measured in Brahman (Bos indicus) and Hereford (Bos taurus) steers. The chaffed hays were Spear grass (Heteropogon conform) (6.2 g N/kg organic matter (OM)), Pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens) (7.9 g N/kg OM), and Pangola grass (12.0 g N/kg OM). Rumen characteristics relating to rate of fluid outflow from the rumen were also determined.2. There was no significant difference between breeds in the dry-matter intakes of the unsupplemented diets which ranged from 11.3 to 17.8 g/kg body-weight (BW) by Herefords and from 11.8 to 16.1 g/kg BW by Brahmans.3. Supplementation of Spear grass with N and S significantly (P < 0.05) increased intake by Herefords (24%) but not by Brahmans. When the lower-N Pangola grass was supplemented there was a significant increase in intake by both breeds with the magnitude of the response in Herefords (42%) (P < 0.001) being greater than that in Brahmans (15%) (P < 0.05). The intakes of both the supplemented Spear grass and the lower-N Pangola diets were significantly (P < 0.05) greater by Herefords than Brahmans. There was no breed difference in intake when the higher-N Pangola grass was supplemented. Both breeds recorded an 8% intake response to supplementation, although the increase was only significant (P < 0.05) in Herefords.4. The mean retention time of fluid in the rumen on the unsupplemented Pangola grass diet of lower N content was 12.7 h in Brahmans compared with 17.5 h in Herefords (P < 0.01). When the higher-N Pangola was fed, both alone and supplemented, the mean retention times were similar on both diets (10.5 and 9.9 h for Herefords; 9.5 and 8.1 h for Brahmans for unsupplemented and supplemented diets respectively).5. Plasma urea concentrations were higher in Brahmans than in Herefords on all diets. Rumen ammonia concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in Brahmans than Herefords when the lower-N Pangola grass diet was unsupplemented.6. The intakes and the variable intake responses to supplementation between breeds and diets are discussed in relation to a number of animal and dietary factors.


1973 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Knut Hove ◽  
Anne Kristine Blom

ABSTRACT Marked diurnal variations were found in plasma growth hormone (GH), insulin, acetoacetate (AcAc) and sugar in two herds (U and A) of dairy cows kept at two different levels of feeding. Seven animals from each herd were tested. The main diurnal variations were related to food intake, a significant increase in plasma insulin, and a significant decrease in plasma sugar being found. The acetoacetate level rose significantly during feeding in herd U (moderately underfed), while no significant increase was found in herd A (adequately fed). Plasma growth hormone was found to decrease (P < 0.01) only during feeding in herd U, while no change in the GH level could be detected in herd A. The mean level of GH in herd U was found to be twice the value found in herd A. There were no significant differences between the herds in plasma insulin and sugar. Significant differences in plasma levels of GH, insulin and sugar were found between animals when analysed within the herds. Variations in the levels of insulin and acetoacetate were very small during the night. This is contrary to GH, which shows the least variation during food intake. The correlation coefficient between the plasma components was low, although in many cases significant.


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