Oral and Poster Abstracts

2 Polyunsatured Fatty Acid in Dairy Cows:
a Case of Functional Feed (NAT3)
G. Gabaldo 1 , A. De Palma 3 , A. Fusari 2 , M. Pizzicara 1 ,
S. Tinelli 3 , A. Ubaldi 2
1 Original Process, Cholet, France
2 University of Parma, Department of Animal Health, Parma, Italy
3 Veterinary Practitioner, Verona, Italy
Omega 3 fatty acids can cross the rumen wall not being saturated by
saturates. In this mechanism, DHA plays a fundamental rule
conditioning the rumen flora to convert C18:2 fatty acids in C18:1
(trans vaccenic acid). This switch in the fatty acids production produces
an increase in CLA and DHA milk fat fractions other than other types
of unsaturated fatty acids specific for dairy milk, that ameliorates the
nutritional characteristics of the milk for humans.
Experimental study was performed utilising commercial product (FOG3)
containing an association of olyunsatured Fatty Acid (PUFAs) from
vegetable-origin like Linolenic Acid and from animal-origin like E.P.A.
and D.H.A. (NAT), associated with antioxidant molecules (Vitamin E and
Selenium) and stimulating factors of the rumen fauna (FAP).
The trial involved totally 44 heads of dairy cows by 5 farms, one in the
province of Verona (10 treatments and 10 controls), where only the
zoometric and milk quality indices were tested and 4 farms in the province
of Bari, where metabolic, endocrinological, fertility, zoometric and milk
quality indices were tested in 6 cows each farm (3 cases and 3 controls
each). Biochemical analysis performed stressed that treatments involved
in this study influenced particularly parameters correlated to lipid status.
The study confirms that omega 3 fatty acids influenced lipoproteic
fractions (LDL and HDL) and total cholesterol levels that can be use to
point out the necessity to administer omega 3 fatty acids. In treated and
control subjects, plasma progesterone levels were measured.
Reproduction performance tests showed a good correlation between
analytical data and the levels of progesterone and the proof of
pregnancy. In the milk collected by treated cows we noted a significant
increase in CLA (C18:2) +109,34%, DHA (C22:6) + 223,80%, and
palmitoleic acid (C16:1) +18.57%, while a decrease in ratios of EPA
(C20 :5) -57.14%, ALA (C18:3) -20.79% and stearic acid (C18:0) -
26.09% was observed.
Key words: PUFAs, omega 3, DHA, CLA, EPA, transition cow,
fertility
3 Three Methods of Supplementing Selenium to Intensively
Grazed Beef Cattle
J. Maas
University of California, Veterinary Medicine Extension, Davis,
United States
Objectives: To compare the efficacy of supplementing selenium (Se)
to grazing beef cattle by injection, intra-ruminal bolus, and Se
fertilization of pastures.
Materials and Methods: Weaned beef heifers (16 per group) intensively
grazing irrigated pastures were studied using 4 treatments in 4 replicates
for 2 years and the trials lasted 120 days. Group 1: one intra-ruminal
osmotic pump bolus supplying 3 mg Se for 120 days; group 2: 2.5 mg
Se/45.4 kg subcutaneously; group 3: pastures fertilized with 10g Se per
hectare (sodium selenate); and, group 4: Se deficient heifers with no Se
supplements. The Se fertilized pastures were treated prior to the grazing
season and all other treatments were administered on day 0. Blood
samples for Se analysis were collected at days 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 of
each trial period. Selenium was analyzed by ICP spectroscopy and data
was analyzed by ANOVA methods.
Results: Blood Se concentration (ppb; µg/l) data is listed as values for day
0, 30, 60, 90, and 120, respectively. Year 1. Group 1: 13 ± 4, 94 ± 28, 130
± 19, 184 ± 15, and 234 ± 27. Group 2: 13 ± 5, 30 ± 6, 20 ± 8, 15 ± 3, and
8 ± 6. Group 3: 13 ± 5, 113±28, 135 ± 23, 159 ± 20, and 148 ± 16. Group
4: 12 ± 4, 14 ± 5, 10 ± 6, 5 ± 1, and 4 ± 4. Year 2. Group 1: 16 ± 3, 88 ±
7, 126 ± 13, 172 ± 19, and 200 ± 19. Group 2: 20 ± 4, 31 ± 4, 27 ± 3, 18 ±
2, and 10 ± 3. Group 3: 17 ± 3, 46 ± 11, 56 ±9, 46 ± 8, and 40 ± 8. Group
4: 22 ± 8, 13 ± 6, 9 ± 2, 9 ± 4, and 7 ± 4. The blood Se concentrations were
significantly (P < 0.0001) increased above controls (group 4) for groups 1
and 3 in both years and at all times after day 0. Group 2 blood Se
Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders
concentrations were increased (P < 0.05) above control cattle only at day
30 (year 1 and 2) or day 60 (year 2 only).
Conclusions: The use of intra-ruminal Se boluses or Se fertilization of
pastures resulted in superior increases in blood Se concentrations in
cattle intensively grazing irrigated pastures vs. cattle receiving a single
Se injection. The bolus achieved more consistent increases in blood Se
concentrations.
4 Clinicopathological Evaluation of Downer Dairy Cows with
Fatty Liver
P. Kalaitzakis 1 , N. Panousis 1 , N. Roubies 2 , N. Giadinis 1 ,
E. Kaldrymidou 3 ,H. Karatzias 1
1
School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University, Clinic of Farm
Animals, Thessaloniki, Greece
2
School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University, Laboratory of
Clinical Diagnosis and Clinical Pathology, Thessaloniki, Greece
3
School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University, Laboratory of
Pathology, Thessaloniki, Greece
Objective: To evaluate the severity of fatty liver and macro mineral status
in downer dairy cows and asses the usefulness of determination of serum
ornithine carbamoyl transferase (OCT) activity, bile acids concentration,
and other variables for prognosis.
Materials and Methods: 36 Holstein downer cows were used. Blood and
liver biopsy specimens were obtained as soon as possible after cows
became recumbent and before any treatments were administered. Liver
tissue was examined histologically and classified according to the severity
of fatty liver. Serum activities of liver-derived enzymes (OCT, GDH,
SDH and also AST, ALT, GGT, ALP) and concentrations of total lipids,
triglycerides, bile acids, glucose, ‚-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetic acid, total
bilirubin, nonesterified fatty acids, cholesterol and macro minerals (Ca,
Mg, K, Na, P) were determined.
Results: The majority of the downer cows had fatty liver infiltration;
44% were classified as moderate and 44% were classified as severe
fatty liver infiltration. Survival of the downer cows with moderate and
severe fatty liver was poor. Serum activities of OCT and GDH, and
NEFA/cholesterol ratio were indicators of fatty liver. Serum bile acids
concentration was not an accurate indicator of fatty liver.
Conclusions: Fatty liver is quite common in downer cows. Serum
activities of OCT and GDH are useful indicators of fatty liver.
NEFA/cholesterol ratio is also recommended for diagnosis of fatty
liver in downer dairy cows, whereas determination of bile acids
concentration is not.
Key words: fatty liver, OCT, GDH, downer cows
5 Vitamin E and Oxidative Damage in Heifers
R. Bouwstra 1 , R. Goselink 1 , P. Dobbelaar 1 , M. Nielen 1 ,
J. Newbold 2 , T. Werven 1
1 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Animal Health
Department, Utrecht, Netherlands
2 Provimi Research and Innovation Centre, Brussels, Belgium
The question is whether measurements of oxidative and vitamin E
status in blood of a periparturient cow are representative for the total
body, given that blood concentrations of vitamin E and oxidative stress
products change around this period. This study investigated the
relationship between oxidative damage and the effect of vitamin E
supplementation in blood, milk and liver tissue in sixteen periparturient
heifers. The daily vitamin E intake of the vitamin E supplemented
Holstein Friesian heifers (n=8) was 3000 international units and started
two months before calving; the control heifers (n=8) were not
supplemented. Oxidative damage was determined on the basis of
malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. Blood was sampled nine
times before calving, on calving day and twice after calving. Liver
biopsies were taken at week -5, -1, and 2 relative to calving day. Milk
was obtained from all heifers immediately after calving, the first two
milkings and on days 3, 7 and 14 at 6 am. Serum and liver tissue were
analyzed for vitamin E, cholesterol and MDA and milk samples were
analyzed for vitamin E, MDA, fat, protein and somatic cell count. The
results show that vitamin E supplements increased both absolute
vitamin E concentrations and the ratio of vitamin E to cholesterol in
Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders 3