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Efficacy of a sustained-release formulation of bST was evaluated for two consecutive lactations. Response in milk and milk component yield was positive and very consistent for multiparous cows between lactations. Average responses in milk production for the first lactation and for the 320-, 640-, and 960-mg$ cdot$28d$ sp{-1}$ doses of bST were 4.3, 5.2 and 5.9 kg$ cdot$d$ sp{-1}$, respectively. Response was 4.9 kg$ cdot$d$ sp{-1}$ for the average of the second lactation with 640 mg bST$ cdot$28d$ sp{-1}$. Primiparous cows responded with the same numerical magnitude as multiparous cows but with higher variability. BST caused a response in milk yield irrespective of the stage of lactation when injections commenced, but the magnitude of response was greater at latter stages of lactation. No adverse effect of treatment on final body condition score and achievement of proper condition for a subsequent lactation was found. No effect of treatment was observed on health parameters in either lactation. Trends towards longer days open and more breedings per conception were apparent for both lactations. Total milk protein, caseins and whey proteins were not changed at any stage of lactation and for the average of the full lactation. BST did not significantly change proportions of $ alpha sb{s}$-, $ beta$- and K-caseins. Milk fat percentage and milk fatty acid profiles were not different between control and any dose level of bST for a complete lactation. Maximum response in milk yield for the different doses of bST was from d8 to 12 of the 28d cycle and was almost eliminated by d22 to 24. A 3.1 and 3.6 kg$ cdot$d$ sp{-1}$ milk augmentation with bST was estimated in cows infused for 6d with glucose and saline, respectively during peak lactation. There was no apparent milk yield response when cows were infused with insulin + glucose but cows exhibited positive energy balance, weight gain and only 5% less milk. Insulin + glucose infusion increased milk protein 11% and 14% compa

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No description available.

Dairy cows fed diets supplemented with 2.5% calcium-salt fatty acids (CSFA) (DM basis) during early lactation produced more 4% FCM than cows fed the control diet. Feeding this diet also increased whole lactation performance. Supplementing diets with 1.25% CSFA or animal fat did not increase production performance of cows. Dietary fats were used directly for greater milk production and, based on unchanged body condition scores, did not alleviate body fat mobilization. Changes in the milk fat content and composition due to fat supplemented diets were negligible. A slight decrease in milk protein and SNF percentage was observed with CSFA but not with animal fat feeding. Palatability of the diets was good and DM intake was not impaired. Feeding animal fat at 1.25% and CSFA up to 2.5% of the DM does not impair forage digestibility and nitrogen balance. Dietary fat increased plasma triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol concentration. Injection of 10.3 mg d$ sp{-1}$ or 350 mg 14d$ sp{-1}$ of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) did not change 4% FCM production or milk composition at any stage of lactation.

Two silages were prepared from mature orchardgrass ensiled at 19% dry matter. The additive NutroLac Sila-Aid, containing a dry culture, of lactobacilli, was added to one silage at a rate of 0.5 kg per tonne of fresh herbage, the other silage remained untreated. A wooden stave silo of 40-tonne capacity was filled with each silage. Silage effluent was collected daily for 30 days and the silage temperature was recorded daily for 2.5 months. These two silages comprised the only forage in a two-period crossover design feeding trial. The silages were fed ad libitum (10% feed refusal) and grain was fed at a rate of 1 kg per 3.5 kg milk yield. Twelve Holstein cows in early to mid lactation were subdivided in two groups and allocated to the treated or untreated silage. The cows were fed the assigned forage for a 7-day adjustment period and a 7-week experimental period. The treatments were reversed during a 7-day change-over period and the alternate forage fed for a further 6 weeks. Three cows from each group were assigned to a 7-day digestion trial for total collection of feces and urine during the second last week of each experimental period. The herbage ensiled had the same composition for both silos, the dry matter and protein contents being 19.0 and 14.4% respectively. The treated silage lost almost twice as much effluent compared to the control. Dry matter and protein loss accounted for 2.5 and 4.2% of the ensiled dry matter and protein in the treated silage and 1.5 and 2.3% in the control silage. Peak silage temperatures of 30.3 and 29.1°C for treated and untreated silage were recorded on the ninth day after ensiling. The resulting silage had a dry matter and protein content of 22.8 and 13.2% (treated) and 23.8 and 13.0% (untreated). There was no significant difference (P^.05) between the two treatments with regards to intake, body weight change and milk production. On the average the cows consumed 10.1 kg forage and 8.0 kg grain on a dry matter basis and yielded 2 28.0 kg milk containing 3.2% fat. The animals fed NutroLac silage gained an average of 3.7 kg per period whereas the cows on control silage lost 5.6 kg over the same time. The rumen pH and the acetate/propionate ratio of the ruminal fluid was the same for both treatments, the values being 6.6 and 2.4. The apparent dry matter digestibility of the total ration was significantly higher (P≤.05) for the control silage (70.7%) compared to the treated (69.1). The digestibility of organic matter and protein was not different (P≤.05) between treatments, the average being 7 3.3 and 74.4%. The results from the present experiment tended to be in favour of the control silage and indicated that there was no advantage, and perhaps even a disadvantage, in terms of dry matter digestibility and increased ensiling losses when NutroLac was added to the grass at ensiling time. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Unknown

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No description available.

No description available.

Thirty six: Holstein bull calves were assigned to a 3X3 factorial design with ration physical forms of chopped hay (CH), ground hay (GR) and all concentrate (CONC) and rumen degradable nitrogen (RDN) of 30, 45 and 60%. Metabolic body weight, liver weight and blood glucose were greatest in CONC-fed calves. Neither dry matter nor ash content of liver tissue was affected by either physical form or RDN. Within physical form, protein content was highest and fat lowest in livers of CH-fed caIves. Within RDN, livers of calves feel 30% RDN rations had lowest protein and highest fat content. RDN percent had no effect on carbon dioxide production. Livers from CONC-fed calves produced significantly· (P<.05) more carbon dioxide from [1⁻¹⁴C}propionate and [U⁻¹⁴C}lactate.Glucose production from propionate and lactate was greatest for CONC-fed and 60% RDN-fed calves, although significant only from lactate within physical form. Interaction between ration physical form and RDN makes interpretation of propionate data difficult. In 30% RDN-fed calves both lactate and propionate metabolism was similar for GR- and CONC-fed animals. At 45 and 60% RDN rations, CONC- and CH-fed calves had similar gluconeogenic rates from propionate but glucose from lactate was significantly greater in livers of CONC-fed calves compared to GR- and CH-feet animals. Ten lactating and five dry Holstein cows were liver biopsied at various stages of lactation (30,60,90,120,180 days postpartum and dry) and when fed two rations, control ( 18% CF) or high concentrate (HI CONC, 10.5% CF). Lactating cows at 30 and 60 days and dry cows were fed the control ration. After 60 days half the cows remained on the control ration and half the lactating cows were changed to the HI CONC ration. Milk fat percent was depressed in cows fed HI CONC ration. Milk fat percent was depressed in cows fed HI COCC ration. HI CONC cows consumed more dry matter and due to the higher energy content reached a positive energy balance before control cows. Rumen fluid volatile fatty acid production was not affected by stage of Lactation or ration fed. Both plasma glucose and plasma insulin nonsignificantly increased as lactation progressed. Liver tissue protein did not change over lactation but increased when HI CONC ration was fed. Stage of lactation affected (P<.0002) propionate metabolism to carbon dioxide with higher production at 120 days compared to 180 days. By ration, HI CONC cows' livers produced more carbon dioxide than control cows’ livers. Feeding the HI CONC ration significantly increased labelled glucose production. Increased production of both labeled carbon dioxide and glucose by liver from cows fed HI CONC ration was nonsignificant when based on liver protein content. Carbon dioxide/glucose ratio was similar for lactating (>60 days) and dry cows. Cows early in lactation (30 days) had significantly lower carbon dioxide/glucose ratios, indicating a higher glucose production. Ration and stage of lactation are important factors in ruminant metabolism.. Gluconeogenesis, a pathway especially important in ruminants, is affected by both factors. In calves and cows, concentrate rations increased glucose production. Ration RDN, studied in calves, affected lactate metabolism to glucose. The liver of lactating cows showed a greater response (increase in glucose production) to stage of lactation than ration fed demonstrating the importance of energy balance on ruminant metabolism. / Ph. D.