Effects of Nutrition on Ruminants Production Performance and Health

The present study aims to evaluate the effect of a dietary supplementation with 10% grape pomace (GP) on the whole blood transcriptome of lactating ewes. By applying a log₂FC higher than 0.5 or lower than −0.5 and a false discovery rate (FDR) <0.05, the down-regulation of genes coding for plexin C1, ethanolamine kinase 1, tax1-binding protein 1, transmembrane 9 superfamily member 2, and Beclin-1 was observed in animals that received the dietary supplementation. This aspect was also accompanied by a reduction in the blood activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9; p < 0.05), a gelatinase commonly involved in both acute and chronic pathological events. The ELISA test on other factors involved in inflammatory processes, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), as well as in the antioxidant response, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT), did not reveal any significant changes (p > 0.05). Overall, the introduction of GP in the diet of ewes gave indications of greater efficacy in preserving animal welfare, with interesting cues regarding the valorization of a by-product with a high biological value. Full article

Our objective was to evaluate the effects of protein supplementation frequency and supplementation plans during gestation on productive performance and metabolic responses of grazing super-precocious Nellore heifers. Thirty-five pregnant Nellore heifers were used in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with an additional control group. The factors were the following: 1. Frequency of supplementation: (a) Daily (seven times per week), (b) Infrequent (three times per week); 2. Supplementation plans: (a) Constant, (b) Increasing. A control group with no supplementation was included. Two digestibility trials were carried out on the 40th and 130th experimental days. Productive performance and body composition were evaluated in the prepartum and postpartum periods. Blood samples were collected at −114, −113, −15, −14, +15, +30, and +45 days relative to calving for measuring metabolic status. Supplementation (daily and infrequent) increased the intake of total dry matter (DM) (p ≤ 0.004), average daily gain (p < 0.001), and body weight at calving (p = 0.008) at prepartum. However, frequency or supplementation plan did not alter (p > 0.17) the intake of total DM and forage DM. There was an effect (p ≤ 0.02) of the supplementation plan on subcutaneous thickness fat in the prepartum period and albumin and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations (p < 0.004) in the postpartum period. Nonetheless, frequency and supplementation plans did not affect (p ≥ 0.10) heifers’ productive performance during the postpartum period. In conclusion, protein supplementation frequency and supplementation plan during beef heifers’ gestation do not negatively impact their productive performance or metabolic responses. Full article

Mastitis is an important factor affecting the health of cows that leads to elevated somatic cell counts in milk, which can seriously affect milk quality and result in huge economic losses for the livestock industry. Therefore, the aim of this trial was to investigate the effect of melatonin on performance and mastitis in dairy cows. Forty-eight Holstein cows with a similar body weight (470 ± 10 kg), parity (2.75 ± 1.23), number of lactation days (143 ± 43 days), BCS (3.0–3.5), milk yield (36.80 ± 4.18 kg), and somatic cell count (300,000–500,000 cells/mL) were selected and randomly divided into four groups: control (CON group), trial Ⅰ (T80 group), trial Ⅱ (T120 group), and trial Ⅲ (T160 group). Twelve cows in trial groups I, II, and III were pre-dispensed 80, 120, and 160 mg of melatonin in edible glutinous rice capsules along with the basal ration, respectively, while the control group was fed an empty glutinous rice capsule along with the ration. The trial period was 37 days, which included a 7-day adaptive phase followed by a 30-day experimental period. At the end of the trial period, feeding was ended and the cows were observed for 7 days. Milk samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 37 to determine the somatic cell number and milk composition. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 15, 30, and 37 of the trial to determine the serum biochemical indicators, antioxidant and immune indicators, and the amount of melatonin in the blood. The results showed that the somatic cell counts of lactating cows in the CON group were lower than those in the T120 group on days 14 (p < 0.05) and 28 (p < 0.01) at 1 week after melatonin cessation. The milk protein percentage and milk fat percentage of cows in the T120 group were higher than those in the CON group (p < 0.01). The total protein and globulin content in the T120 group were higher than those in the CON group (p < 0.01). In terms of antioxidant capacity and immunity, the cows 1 week after melatonin cessation showed higher superoxide dismutase activity and interleukin-10 contents (p < 0.01) compared with the CON group and lower malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor-alpha contents (p < 0.01) compared with the T120 group. The melatonin content in the T120 group was increased relative to that in the other groups. In conclusion, exogenous melatonin can increase the content of milk components, reduce the somatic cell count, and improve the antioxidant capacity and immune responses to a certain extent. Under the experimental conditions, 120 mg/day melatonin is recommended for mid- to late-lactation cows. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of licorice extract (LE) on growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, serum index (biochemistry, hormones, humoral immunity, and antioxidant function), hindgut fecal microbiota, and metabolism in beef cattle. In total, 12 male yellow cattle aged 12 months were divided into two groups (6 cattle per group): the basal diet (CK group) and the basal diet supplemented with 2 g/kg LE (CHM group). The entire experimental phase lasted for 120 days, including a 30-day pre-feeding period. Compared to the CK group, the average daily gain, crude fiber, calcium, and crude protein nutrient digestibility were greater on d 30 than d 60 (p < 0.05) and the feed meat ratio was lower for LE addition (p < 0.01). In terms of serum indexes, the insulin and nitric oxide contents were enhanced on d 30, the alkaline phosphatase level was improved on d 60, and the levels of albumin, immunoglobulin A, and catalase were increased on d 90 (p < 0.05). In contrast, the cholesterol content was lower on d 60 for LE addition compared with the CK group (p < 0.05). The higher enrichment of [Eubacterium]-oxidoreducens-group, p-2534-18b5-gut-group, and Ileibacterium were observed in the CHM group (p < 0.05), while the relative abundances of Gallibacterium and Breznakia in the CHM group were lower compared with the CK group (p < 0.05). In addition, the differential metabolites related to healthy growth in the CHM group were increased compared with the CK group. And there was a close correlation between hindgut microbiota and metabolic differentials. In general, LE has a promoting effect on the growth performance and health status of beef cattle over a period (30 to 60 days). Full article

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of daily calcium propionate (CaPr) supplementation (0 or 20 g/calf) on growth performance, dietary energetics, body fat reserves, serum metabolites, and hematological responses in high-risk beef calves fed diets with varying (50, 60, or 70%) concentrate (CON) levels. In addition, a cost/income analysis of CaPr supplementation was carried out. Forty-eight crossbred bull calves (152.8 ± 1.56 kg body weight and 5.5 months of age) were involved in a fully randomized experimental design employing a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Calves were allocated (n = 8 per treatment) to individual pens (3.14 × 5.25 m) and were subjected to one of the following treatments during 42 d: No CaPr supplementation in diets containing 50, 60, or 70% CON (NoCaPr + 50, NoCaPr + 60, NoCaPr + 70, respectively) or daily CaPr supplementation dosed at 20 g/calf in diets containing 50, 60, or 70% CON (20CaPr + 50, 20CaPr + 60, 20CaPr + 70, respectively). Non-supplemented calves exhibited decreased dry matter intake (DMI) with increasing CON levels in their diets, while CaPr-supplemented calves displayed the opposite effect (interaction, p = 0.04). In calves fed a lower-CON diet (50%), those supplemented with CaPr showed greater average daily gain (ADG, 20.2%, p = 0.05) and lower DMI (2.2%, p = 0.03), resulting in improved ADG/DMI ratio, dietary energy, and energy retention (24.6, 14.4, and 18%, p < 0.05). These effects diminished when calves received diets with 60 or 70% CON but led to a 14.2% increase in rump fat thickness (p = 0.04). Only in non-supplemented CaPr calves, increasing the level of CON from 50 to 70% in the diet increased ADG (21.2%), decreased DMI (2.2%), and improved the ADG/DMI ratio (22.7%), with no impact on dietary net energy utilization. Non-supplemented calves exhibited an increase in lymphocytes as CON levels rose in their diets, whereas CaPr-supplemented calves showed the opposite effect (interaction, p = 0.05). Supplementation of CaPr decreased total protein (TP, p = 0.03) and albumin (ALB, p < 0.01) serum concentrations, with lower concentrations observed in 20CaPr + 50. CaPr supplementation reduced (p = 0.01) total cholesterol (TCHO) levels. An interaction between CaPr and CON level (p = 0.02) was observed since TCHO levels remained consistently low at higher CON levels. Glucose was decreased with increasing levels of CON (p = 0.02) but not (p = 0.85) for CaPr-supplemented calves. NoCaPr + 50 and NoCaPr + 70 increased (p = 0.05) ALB concentration. Gamma glutamyltransferase levels increased (p = 0.05) with increasing CON levels irrespective of CaPr supplementation. Comparing the profit within the same CON level in the diet, CaPr treatments yielded higher income, with the largest difference in profit observed when CaPr was supplemented at 50% CON level (USD 29 more/calf). In conclusion, CaPr supplementation proves to be an effective strategy for enhancing growth performance and dietary energy among high-risk beef calves, resulting in greater economic returns. The groups that received CaPr demonstrated superior profitability, particularly in calves fed diets with lower CON levels. Under the conditions in which this experiment was carried out, the optimal response occurred when the low-CON diet (50%) was supplemented with CaPr. Full article

This study assessed the impact of a mixture of garlic (Allium sativum) and oregano (Origanum vulgare) essential oils (EOGOs) on in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and in vivo apparent nutrient digestibility. Different EOGO inclusion levels were evaluated to assess the dose response and potential effects of the mixture. Three EOGO inclusion levels (0.5, 0.75, and 1 mL/kg of incubated dry matter) were evaluated in vitro, while four treatments (0.5, 0.75, and 1 mL/day of EOGO and a control group) were tested in vivo on 12 West African sheep. A randomized controlled trial was conducted using a 4 × 4 design. Blood parameters (glucose, blood urea nitrogen, and β-hydroxybutyrate) were measured to observe the effect of EOGO on the metabolism. The results showed that the inclusion of EOGO significantly enhanced IVDMD at low levels (p < 0.052) compared with the highest levels in treatments containing 0.5 and 0.75 mL/kg of EOGO dry matter. A higher intake of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (p < 0.05) was observed in the in vivo diets with the inclusion of EOGO. In terms of in vivo apparent digestibility, significant differences were found among treatments in the digestibility coefficients of DM, CP, and NDF. EOGO inclusion increased the digestibility of DM. CP digestibility displayed a cubic effect (p < 0.038), with the lowest values of digestibility observed at 1 mL EOGO inclusion. Additionally, NDF digestibility showed a cubic effect (p < 0.012), with the highest value obtained at 0.75 mL of EOGO inclusion. The inclusion levels above 0.75 mL EOGO showed a cubic effect, which indicates that higher concentrations of EOGO may not be beneficial for the digestibility of CP and NDF. Although no significant difference was observed in total digestible nutrients, a linear trend was observed (p < 0.059). EOGO improved the intake of DM, CP, and NDF. EOGO supplementation improved the digestibility of DM and NDF, with optimal levels observed at 0.5 mL/day. No significant effects were observed in the blood parameters. These results suggest that EOGO has the potential as an additive in ruminal nutrition to improve food digestibility and serve as an alternative to antibiotic additives. The use of EOGO potentially improves fiber digestion and may reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock production. Garlic (A. sativum) and oregano (O. vulgare) essential oils effectively modulated fiber digestibility at 0.75 mL/day. Garlic (A. sativum) and oregano (O. vulgare) essential oils have the potential to improve digestibility at low inclusion levels and serve as an alternative to antibiotic additives. The effectiveness of essential oils is greater in a mixture and at lower doses. Full article

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of prenatal nutritional stimulation at different pregnancy stages on carcass traits and meat quality in bovine progeny. For this purpose, 63 Nellore bulls, born from cows submitted to three nutritional plans, were used: not programmed (NP), which did not receive protein supplementation; partially programmed (PP), which had protein-energy supplementation (0.3% of mean body weight of each batch) only in the final third of pregnancy; and full programming (FP), which received supplementation (0.3% of mean body weight of each batch) throughout pregnancy. The averages of parameters were submitted to the ANOVA, and the supplementation periods, which were different when p value < 0.05, were compared. Carcass weights and rib eye area (REA) did not differ between treatments (p > 0.05), but subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) showed a tendency (p = 0.08) between groups. For lipids and marbling, no differences were found (p > 0.05). In the analyses of maturation time and shelf life, no difference was observed between treatments. However, there was a tendency between treatments at 14 days of maturation time for cooking loss (CL) (p = 0.08). Treatments did not affect shear force in the progenies (p > 0.05). Fetal programming had no effect on the meat quality of Nellore bulls. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different additives in preventing urolithiasis in lambs fed a diet rich in concentrate and their impact on performance and blood and urinary parameters. Thirty-two noncastrated male lambs, crossbred Dorper × Santa Inês, with initial body weights (BWs) of 23 ± 0.1 kg and ages of 50 ± 5 days, were kept in individual pens and fed a diet composed of 6% Cynodon ssp. hay and 94% concentrate and subjected to four treatments: CON without inclusion of additives, addition of ACL 5 g/kg of dry matter (DM), addition of CCL 6.3 g/kg of DM, and addition of BZA 5 g/kg of DM. There was no effect of treatment or interaction with time on blood parameters (p > 0.050), and performance characteristics, morphometry of ruminal papillae, and scores of cecum and rumen lesions were not affected by the addition of additives to the diet (p > 0.050). Greater urinary acidification was observed in animals from CCL and ACL treatments (p = 0.033). Calcium chloride acidified the urinary pH and can be used instead of ammonium chloride at a concentration of 0.63% based on DM, when this is the objective. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different prenatal nutrition treatments on pregnant cows and their progeny. One hundred and twenty-six pregnant Nellore cows (455.3 ± 8.1 kg) were allocated in three different nutritional treatments during pregnancy: NP—control, PP—protein-energy supplementation in the last 3 months of pregnancy, and FP—the same supplementation throughout pregnancy. After parturition, all cows and calves received the same environmental and nutrition condition. The body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), ribeye area (REA), backfat thickness (BFT), and rumpfat thickness (RFT) were collected on four occasions during pregnancy in the cows and from birth to finishing in calves. All data (cows and calves) were submitted to an analysis of variance (p < 0.05) using a linear model (MIXED procedure; SAS software). The BW, RFT, and BCS from the cows showed significant differences in the middle third of pregnancy and pre-delivery and RFT postpartum (p < 0.05). For the offspring, the weaning weight showed a tendency (NP lighter than others). In terms of gain, the PP group tended to be higher in RFT at calving (p = 0.06), in REA at finishing (p = 0.09), and in ADG in the same period (p = 0.09). The prenatal nutrition strategies had little or no effect on the beef cattle postnatal performance. Full article