bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Milk urea concentrations and pregnancy rate in dairy cows and a comparison of a dip-stick method and a laboratory method to measure milk urea concentrations
Authors: Ponter A.A. , Grimard B. , Ficheux C. , Beduneau J.-M. , Deletang F. , Mialot J.-P. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe first study was conducted to investigate the possible relationship between milk urea concentrations and pregnancy rate in dairy cows. A total of 173 dairy cows were used in the study. They had not experienced reproductive problems post partum, however they were treated for suboestrus between 60 to 90 d post partum with either PGF2α or GnRH, PGF2α and GnRH. Suboestrus cows were studied in this experiment in order to see whether, when ovulation is initiated, high milk urea concentrations were associated with a poorer response to treatment. Milk samples were collected on the day of AI, for the measurement of urea concentrations, and pregnancy diagnosis was performed by the assay of Pregnancy Specific Protein Binding (PSPB) 50 d post-AI. Peak milk production (P=0.06), the type of diet (P=0.05), the main forage type (P=0.07) and the concentrate distribution system (P=0.03) influenced milk urea concentrations. There was no difference in the concentrations of urea in the milk of pregnant and non-pregnant cows (P = 0.33, 0.25 g L-1 vs. 0.27 g L-1, respectively). Pregnancy rate was not influenced by the type of suboestrus treatment used. A second experiment showed that there was a linear relationship between milk urea concentrations measured by a dipstick method (Azotest) and a laboratory method (r=0.51, P<0.001, n=89)
Hormone and metabolite profiles as well as the onset of ovarian cyclicity in dairy cows suffering from various forms of ketosis
Authors: Huszenicza Gy. , Kulcsár M. , Dieleman S. J. , Kóródi P. , Bartyik J. , Rudas P. , Ribiczei-Szabó P. , Nikolic J. A. , Samanch H. , Ivanov I. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe involvement of adrenocortical and thyroid hormones in the pathogenesis of ketosis as well as the ovarian consequences of this metabolic disorder were studied in ≥2 parity cows (n=199) in 3 large scale dairy herds. To compare the plasma / serum concentrations of certain hormones [Cortisol, thyroxin (T4), triiodo-thyronine (T3), insulin, isulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-l)J and metabolites [glucose (G), acetoacetic acid (ACAC), βOH-butyrate (BHB), non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), trigliceride (TG), total cholesterol (TCh)J, and the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood samples were taken 1 to 3 days after calving and again at 7-day intervals on four other occasions. The ACTH-challenged Cortisol responsiveness and the TRH-induced T4/T3 increase were determined between days 1 to 3 and again between days 28 to 35. The resumption of ovarian cyclicity was followed up by individual progesterone (P4) profiles based on milk samples taken 3 times a week for about 80 to 85 days postpartum. A concentration of 1 mmol/l of BHB level was estimated as a border between hyper- (>1 mmol/l) and normal ketonaemic (<1 mmol/l) conditions. 5 different ketone patterns were distinguished: (1) non-ketotic (n=98; normal ketonaemia in all samples), (2) early type ketosis (n=45; hyperketonemia was detected only in the first week after calving), (3) late type (lacta-tional) ketosis (n=11; after a normal ketonaemic period increasing hyperketonaemia was detected in the 5th, or in the 4th and 5th weeks), (4) temporary ketosis (n=ll; hyperketonaemia was detected for 1-2 weeks in the 2nd and 3rd or in the 3rd and 4th weeks); (5) long-lasting ketosis (n=34; hyperketonaemia had been detected since calving for 4 to 5 weeks or until death or emergency slaughtering). Simultaneously with the hyperketonaemic stage increased NEFA, ACAC, depressed TCh, glucose and decreased insulin, IGF-1, T4 and T3 concentrations were detected in almost all the cases. Obvious metabolic and endocrine alterations were found, however, only in long-lasting ketosis. The TRH-stimulated T4 and T3 responses remained almost unaffected proving intact thyroid function in early and late type as well as in temporary ketosis. Depressed thyroid response and delayed onset of cyclic ovarian function were detected only in cases of long-lasting ketosis. The cows characterized by lower than normal (< mean-SD of non-ketotic cows) ACTH-stimulated cortisol response on days 1-3 after calving showed poorer chancefor spontaneous recovery. There was a significant negative correlation between the IGF-1 level in the 1st week after calving and the duration of the postpartum acyclic period. In late type (lactational) ketosis the cessation of ovarian cyclicity was the most characteristic genital malfunction.
Plasma leptin concentration and its interrelation with some blood metabolites, metabolic hormones and the resumption of cyclic ovarian function in postpartum dairy cows supplemented with monensin or inert fat in feed
Authors: Huszenicza Gy. , Kulcsar M. , Nikolic J. A. , Schmidt J. , Korodi P. , Katai L. , Dieleman S. , Ribiczei-Szabo P. , Rudas P. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe postpartum changes in plasma leptin levels of dairy cows ovulated within 35 days after calving were compared to of those with delayed onset of cyclicity in two experiments. The cows were sampled for leptin, insulin, IGF-1, thyroid hormones (T4, T3, rT3), Cortisol and also for some metabolites (glucose, NEFA, BHB and TCH) on day 1-3 after calving and again four times 7 days apart (Exp. 1), or in weeks 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 postpartum (Exp. 2). In Exp. 1 also the standard low dose ACTH-induced Cortisol response and TRH-stimulated T4/T3 responses were determined on days 1-3 and 28-35. In cows of Exp. 1 the leptin level varied within a wide range with a mean of about 4 ng/ml HE in the first samples. Up to week 5 it remained unchanged in cows ovulated within day 35 but reduced in those with delayed onset of cyclicity, resulting in significant difference between the two group means.In cows of Exp. 2 the week 1 leptin levels were lower and less variable than that of Exp. 1. In weeks 2 and 3 a slightly increasing tendency of leptin pattern was seen in cows resuming their ovarian cyclicity within 35 days whereas in those with delayed onset of cyclicity the leptin level remained unchanged. Up to week 5 this tendency resulted in exactly the same leptin values as seen in Exp. 1 with significant differences between the group means in both of the weeks 5 and 10. It was concluded that the plasma leptin concentration in postpartum dairy cows may interfere with resumption of cyclic ovarian function, but its influence may be only permissive (e.g. a minimal concentration above a supposed threshold seems to be the prerequisite of the onset of cyclicity)
A comparison of two intrauterine antibiotic treatments for endometritis in dairy cows by means of survival analysis
Authors: Loeffler S.H. , de Zeeuw A.C. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA prospective cohort study was designed to compare the effects of two different intrauterine antibiotic treatments for endometritis on fertility in a multi-farm trial during a 4 year-period. Product A contained 1.5 million I.E. of Procaine Penicilline-G and 500 mg of Neomycine sulfate in 20 ml of an oil in water suspension with a gas-driven applicator (Ubrocelan®, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Germany) and product B (positive control) contained 2g of Oxytetracycline and 500.000 I.E. Colistine in a 20 ml oil in water suspension (Colicycline® , A. U. V., Cuyk, The Netherlands). Diagnosis was by field veterinarians during routine monthly visits. Pyometra, vaginitis, toxic endometritis and post-insemination uterine treatments were excluded from the study. Only cases of non-toxic endometritis prior to first insemination in the period from 1- 150 days after calving were included. Cows were allocated to treatment group based on ear tag number (even/uneven) at the time of diagnosis by the veterinarian. Cows received only a single treatment. Cases were coded as censored at 150 days if not yet inseminated and at 180 days if not yet pregnant. A total of 623 cases of endometritis in first or later parity cows on 13 farms were used in the analysis. The distribution of treatments among farms was unequal ( chi-square = 0.167) , but no farm had more than 70% of one treatment and farm was included as a correction factorin all models. A larger number of controls than cases also had no effect on study outcome. The effect oftreament on the interval (days) from from treatment to conception or censoring was analyzed with a Cox proportional hazards model. Other variables included in the models were season, parity, herd and time of treatment (late/early) with respect to calving. There was no effect of treatment on the number of days to breeding or days open. Early/late ( cutoff = 40 days) endometritis was a significant factor for the interval from treatment to first insemination and conception rate to first breeding. Early/late metritis, however, was not a factor for the interval from treatment to pregnancy. This study suggests that there is an equal treatment efficacy for intrauterine therapy of endometritis between the two products tested. The authors discuss the growing trend away from intrauterine treatments and the suitability of survival analysis techniques for multi-farm field studies of this type.
An investigation into the relationship between milk progesterone concentrations in fore-milk and composite milk samples
Authors: McCoy M.A. , Lennox S.D. , Mayne C.S. , McCaughey W.J. , Verner M. , Catney D.C. , Wylie A.R.G. , Kennedy B. , Gordon F.J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMilk progesterone concentrations are generally estimated on a composite, “jar”, sample from the bulk milk collecting jar, with concentrations >3 ng/ml considered as indicative of the presence of luteal tissue. However, on a number of dairy farms composite sampling is not possible as they operate a direct pipeline milking system, without milk meters, and the only practical means of obtaining a milk sample is via fore-milk sampling. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between progesterone concentrations, as estimated by an ELISA procedure, in fore-milk strippings and composite milk samples. A significant relationship (r2 = 0.83) was obtained between the progesterone concentration in composite milk and fore-milk samples; y = 1.52 - 1.41(0.163)x, where y = log10(composite progesterone) and x = log10(fore-milk progesterone). A milk progesterone concentration of 3 ng/ml in composite milk corresponded to a milk progesterone concentration of 1.47 ng/ml in fore-milk. Using this relationship progesterone profiles may be compared between herds where milk samples have been obtained by either composite milk or fore-milk sampling. In addition, composite milk samples only should be used with qualitative on-farm assays.
Production and Profitability Responses to Alternative Protein Sources and Levels in Broiler Rations
Authors: Costa Ecio F. , Miller Bill R. , Houston Jack E. , Pesti Gene M. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractProfitability of using alternative protein sources in broiler feed is investigated through the development of a two-stage mathematical program that optimizes broiler production. A case study of peanut meal vs. soybean meal is examined. Value of marginal product concepts incorporated in this model permit analysis of demand adjustments before decisions on the production process occur. Given reported input and output prices, results indicate that soybean meal is generally more profitable than peanut meal. Peanut meal can be more profitable at higher dietary protein levels fed to broilers processed into whole carcass or at relatively higher prices for soybean meal.
The Keys to Preparing Successful Research Grant Proposals
Authors: Marchant Mary A. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThis article seeks to demystify the competitive grant recommendation process of scientific peer review panels. The National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRICGP) administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Cooperative State Research, Extension, and Education Service (USDA-CSREES) serves as the focus of this article. This article provides a brief background on the NRICGP and discusses the application process, the scientific peer review process, guidelines for grant writing, and ways to interpret reviewer comments if a proposal is not funded. The essentials of good grant writing discussed in this article are transferable to other USDA competitive grant programs.
Caecotrophes intake in growing rabbits estimated either from urinary excretion of purine derivatives or from direct measurement using animals provided with a neck collar: effect of type and level of dietary carbohydrate
Authors: Belenguer A. , Balcells J. , Fondevila M. , Torre C. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe present study compares estimates of caecotrophes production from urinary purine derivatives (PD) excretion with that from preventing caecotrophy by using a neck collar. A total of 64 New Zealand growing male rabbits were used to study the effect of diet composition on caecotrophes production. Diets were formulated using two sources of structural carbohydrates (fibre): alfalfa hay (AH) and sugar-beet pulp (SBP), mixed at two constant proportions, (0·75: 0·25) AH diets and (0·25: 0·75) SBP diets. Both diets included either barley or maize grain at two fibre: grain ratios (F/G, 80: 20 and 45: 55). Diets were given ad libitum. Growth rate, dry matter intake and digestibility were not modified by the grain source, although high F/G diets resulted in a lower growth rate (19·8 v. 26·4 g/day; P < 0·001). Between fibre sources, dry-matter intake and growth were higher in AH than in SBP diets (122·5 and 25·6 v. 101·6 and 20·4 g/day, respectively, P < 0·001 and P < 0·01). Rabbits given high F/G ratio and AH diets excreted more caecotrophes than those given low F/G ratio and SBP diets (19·5 and 20·9 v. 16·3 and 14·85 g/day, respectively). Microbial-N recycling through the caecotrophy process was higher when considering data from PD excretion (1·33 g/d) than when estimated by preventing caecotrophy (0·72 g/day).
Effect of calcium salts of fatty acids and calcium salt of methionine hydroxy analogue on reproductive responses and milk production in Holstein-Friesian cows
Authors: Fahey J. , Mee J.F. , O’Callaghan D. , Murphy J.J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe effects of a dietary supplement with calcium salts of fatty acids and methionine hydroxy analogue on reproductive performance, blood metabolites, milk production, milk composition, body weight and body condition score was studied in lactating dairy cows. Autumn-calving, Holstein-Friesian cows (no. = 162) were assigned 1 week post calving to one of two diets: (1) unsupplemented maize-silage-based complete diet while housed before turn-out to perennial ryegrass pasture and (2) the same diet with 400 g per cow per day of a supplement with calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids and methionine hydroxy analogue (Megalac Plus, Volac Ltd). Eleven cows were removed from the study following randomization for reasons not related to the experiment leaving 151 cows on dietary treatments. The diets were offered until the end of the 18-week breeding period. Cows receiving supplement had higher milk yield and milk lactose production and lower milk protein and milk fat proportion (P < 0·05). Body weight and body condition scores were not different between treatments in the first 20 weeks of lactation (P > 0·05). Overall reproductive performance was not different between dietary treatments (P > 0·05). However, first lactation animals (no. = 33) receiving the dietary lipid and methionine supplement tended to have increased conception rates to first and second service (P < 0·09) which resulted in a shorter calving-to-conception interval in those animals (P < 0·06). Services per conception (P < 0·08), services per cow served (P < 0·05) and services per conception for pregnant cows (P < 0·05) in first lactation animals was reduced in the supplemented group. Although plasma cholesterol concentrations were increased following lipid and methionine supplementation (P < 0·01), plasma progesterone concentrations on day 5 and day 8 after artificial insemination were not different between dietary treatments (P > 0·05). In conclusion, a dietary supplement of calcium salts of fatty acids and methionine hydroxy analogue increased milk yield, milk lactose production and blood cholesterol concentration but did not improve reproductive performance, except in first lactation cows.
Genetic variances, trends and mode of inheritance for hip and elbow dysplasia in Finnish dog populations
Authors: Mäki1 K. , Groen A. F. , Liinamo A.-E. , Ojala M. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe aims of this study were to assess genetic variances, trends and mode of inheritance for hip and elbow dysplasia in Finnish dog populations. The influence of time-dependent fixed effects in the model when estimating the genetic trends was also studied. Official hip and elbow dysplasia screening records of 42 421 dogs from seven breeds were analysed with REML. To investigate the mode of inheritance of hip and elbow dysplasia, trait distributions, genetic variances and regressions of offspring phenotypes on parental predicted breeding values were studied separately in males and in females. Genetic trends for hip dysplasia between the years 1983 and 1998 were favourable only in the Rottweiler. In elbow dysplasia, the trends were favourable after the year 1992 in all the four breeds studied but the overall changes were small. The reason for this seemed to be negligible selection pressure against these traits. Time-dependent fixed effects in the model had an influence on the estimated genetic trends, resulting either in a more negative or more positive genetic trend compared with the model from which the time-dependent effects were removed. Mitochondrial or sex-linked inheritance did not seem likely in the expression of hip and elbow dysplasia in the populations studied. Regression coefficients of offspring phenotypes on estimated parental breeding values were approximately equal to their expected value in a situation with equal parental contribution. Furthermore, the phenotypic frequency distributions of hip and elbow dysplasia grades were similar among males and females in each breed studied. No indication of major genes was found in the offspring frequency distributions within individual sires. According to these Finnish data, mode of inheritance for both hip and elbow dysplasia is polygenic (quantitative) with equal expression of the genes from both parents, although the estimates of heritability for hip dysplasia in the Rough Collie and for elbow dysplasia in the German Shepherd and the Golden Retriever were somewhat different in males compared with females.
The effect of breed, parity and body fatness on the lipolytic response of dairy cows
Authors: Theilgaard P. , Friggens N. C. , Sloth K. H. , Ingvartsen K. L. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe objective of this study was to examine the effect of breed, parity and body fatness on the lipolytic response of dairy cows. The lipolytic response was estimated as the plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) response to an adrenergic challenge. Four challenges per lactation were carried out on 124 Danish Holsteins, 101 Danish Red and 82 Jerseys through consecutive lactations. Within breed, there were two genetic lines. Cows were equally distributed across two feeding treatments, a normal and a low energy total mixed ration. Diet composition was constant throughout lactation. The lipolytic response was significantly affected by breed, parity and stage of lactation. Lipolytic response was greater in early lactation than other stages in lactation (P 0·001). The larger breeds had a higher lipolytic response than Jerseys (P 0·05), and showed an increase in lipolytic response between first and second parity (P 0·05), but not between second and third lactation. Lipolytic response in Jerseys was not significantly affected by parity. No line or feeding treatment effects were observed on the lipolytic response. Ultrasound measurement of the area of subcutaneous backfat was used to estimate effect of body fatness on the lipolytic response. There was an increase in lipolytic response with increasing body fatness (P 0·05) in mid lactation and the dry period. The slope of this was not affected by breed or parity. It was concluded that the lipolytic response of dairy cows, and by implication the responsiveness of the lipid reserves, varies according to breed, parity and physiological state.
Oestrous synchronization under range conditions in dairy goats treated with different PGF2α doses during the transitional period in Greece
Authors: Lymberopoulos A. G. , Boscos C. M. , Dellis S. , Papia A. , Belibasaki S. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractEfficacy of oestrous synchronization and post-treatment fertility was studied in a herd of 149 dairy goats (Swiss breed no. = 104, indigenous Greek breed no. = 45) kept under an extensive farming system. All does were synchronized during the transitional period (during July prior to the breeding season) using fluorogestone acetate (FGA) impregnated intra-vaginal sponges, equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and different prostaglandin F2a (PGF2α) analogues. Four doses of prostaglandin F2a (group 1: 4·5 mg luprostiol; group 2: 2·25 mg luprostiol; group 3: 0·2 mg cloprostenol; group 4: 0·1 mg cloprostenol) were administered i. m. 48 h prior to the end of progestagen treatment and 400 IU eCG was administered at sponge removal. All does were inseminated with fresh semen (300 ✕ 106 spermatozoa per insemination) 42 to 44 h after sponge removal. There were no significant differences (P > 0·05) in the number of goats showing ovarian activity (blood progesterone concentration ³ 1 ng/ml) prior to oestrous synchronization between PGF2α treatment groups. No significant differences (P > 0·05) were observed for the kidding rates between the treatment groups. Our results indicate that goats with ovarian activity prior to sponge application who received high doses of PGF2α showed lower conception rates than those detected in anoestrus (P 0·05). No differences (P 0·05) were observed in conception rates between groups that received lower doses of PGF2α. July is considered to be a transitional period suitable for oestrous synchronization for both Swiss and indigenous dairy goats. Natural mating during the two subsequent cycles after artificial insemination improved kidding rate, but without any significant difference either between treated groups or between Swiss and indigenous breeds.
On the critical conditions for an assembly of interacting thermons
Authors: Gray B. F. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe interaction of a number of self-heating bodies depositing heat into a common finite heat bath and thereby influencing each other is a problem of great practical importance in many areas including storage and transport of self-heating materials, drums of chemicals, foodstuffs etc. Critical conditions for the complete assembly of interacting heat producers (thermons) are derived under various assumptions and modes of ignition are identified. These include cooperative modes as well as modes which are simply perturbations of ignition for single thermons.