Liisa Syrjälä-Qvist

Resting Behaviour, Growth and Diarrhoea Incidence Rate of Young Dairy Calves Housed Individually or in Groups in Warm or Cold Buildings

The influence of housing and age on the resting, growth and diarrhoea incidence rate was studied by housing male dairy calves for 7 weeks individually (INDIV) or 12 weeks in groups of four; indoors (INGROUP) or outdoors either with (OUTWARM) or without a heated shelter (OUTCOLD). The preweaning (1–7 wk) diarrhoea incidence rates were lower for INGROUP than for INDIV or OUTCOLD. The postweaning growth (8–12 wk) was higher for INGROUP than for OUTCOLD or OUTWARM. The OUTWARM and OUTCOLD calves rested less on their side than the INGROUP calves and more with the neck relaxed. Individual pens did not decrease REM-type sleep, but this decreased overall as the calves aged. In conclusion, the young dairy calves reduced their body area when they were exposed to low temperatures. No clear advantage was found in offering a heated shelter, but a cold environment could be a potential health hazard for calves.

Transport of feed selenium to different tissues of bulls.

The effects of different types of Se supplementation on the selenium concentration of beef, bovine internal organs and some other tissues were studied. The animals (thirty-two bulls) were kept in four dietary groups from birth until to the age of 13-14 months, and fed on rations containing either 0.03 mg Se/kg (basic level in local feeds), 0.25 mg inorganic Se supplemented as sodium selenite, or 0.25 or 0.4 mg/kg plant Se in dry matter from feed produced by spraying with sodium selenite. Samples of four muscles and ten other tissues and organs were taken at slaughter. Se was determined by an electrothermal atomic absorption method. Se supplementation significantly increased the Se concentration of all tissue samples. The maximum response was caused by the diet containing 0.40 mg/kg plant Se. In muscles, this diet raised the Se concentration by a factor of 10-12. In other samples, the increment was 1.5-7.5 fold, depending on the type of tissue. In general, plant Se raised the Se level more effectively than inorganic Se. Se supplementation did not affect the vitamin E status of muscle tissue.

Phytoestrogen Content of Birdsfoot Trefoil and Red Clover: Effects of Growth Stage and Ensiling Method

The phytoestrogen content of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) was determined. In addition, the effects of growth stage, wilting and ensiling additives on content were studied. Birdsfoot trefoil raw material and silage contained only traces of phytoestrogens. In red clover raw material and silage, the phytoestrogen content varied from 0.8% to 1.1% of dry matter. Content was affected by growth stage of the plant and wilting. Formononetin concentration decreased as the plant matured from budding to flowering stage, and wilting from 25% to 40% of dry matter content decreased genistein and biochanin A content. The phytoestrogen content of red clover silage was 18% higher than that of raw material. Silage additives also affected the content. Silage ensiled with an additive containing Lactobacillus plantarum bacterial inoculate had higher concentrations of genistein and biochanin A than silage made with formic acid.

Effects of supplementary concentrate composition on milk yield, milk composition and pasture utilization of rotationally grazed dairy cows

Abstract Twenty eight lactating cows were used in a randomized block design experiment to evaluate the effects of supplementary nitrogen source and heat treatment of rapessed meal containing concentrate compound on pasture utilization under a controlled rotational grazing system. The four supplemental concentrates were: 1) a cereal by-product based basic dairy concentrate (BDC); 2) BDC with 0.9% additional urea (UREA); 3) BDC with 12% rapeseed meal (RSM); and 4) expanded (heat treated) concentrate compound containing BDC and 12% rapeseed meal (EDC). The crude protein (CP, g kg−1 DM) content in the supplement was 124 (BDC), 150 (UREA), 154 (RSM) and 156 (EDC) respectively. The supplementary concentrate was fed at a fixed rate of 0.30 kg−1 of milk. Daily milk yield and concentrate consumption were recorded. No differences existed among four concentrate supplements for energy corrected milk yield (27.4, 26.9, 27.1, 27.7 kg d−1) and fat content, (39.9, 38.2, 38.1, 39.8 g kg−1). Milk protein content tended to decrease (P 4 cm) available (HOMA) was 13.8, 24.5, 17.2 and 18.2 for the months of May, June, July and August-September, respectively. The mean in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD, g kg−1) was 788 and 770 for the periods of May and June and then dropped to 696 and 686 in the second half of the experimental period.

Degradation of crude protein and quality of undegradable protein in untreated or formaldehyde-treated rapeseed meal

Abstract Rapeseed ( Brassica campestris ) meal was treated with a sugar—alcohol—formaldehyde complex (Protona) using 0, 0.4 and 0.8 g formaldehyde (HCHO)/100 g crude protein. Degradation of crude protein was measured in rumendashfistulated sheep by the nylon bag technique. The experimental diet was composed of hay, grass silage and barley meal in proportions of 1 : 1 : 1 on a dry matter basis, and the sheep received a total of 2.0 kg dry matter/100 kg liveweight per day. The amino acid composition of the original and undegradable proteins was also studied. Degradation of crude protein was severely reduced by the HCHO treatment. Degradability after incubation for 2, 5 or 9 h for the untreated meal was 35.4, 39.7 and 64.2%, for meal treated with 0.4 g HCHO/100 g it was 2.1, 17.6 and 30.5%, and for meal treated with 0.8 g HCHO/100 g it was 3.6, 5.3 and 9.0%, respectively. Among the amino acids, methionine tended to be the most easily degradable in the rumen. Generally, the effect of rumen fermentation on the amino acid composition between the original and undegraded protein was small, and it was further decreased when the rapeseed meal was treated with formaldehyde.

Effect of silage dry matter content and rapeseed meal supplementation on dairy cows: 2. Rumen fermentation and digesta passage rate

The effects of direct-cut and wilted silage with or without rapeseed meal (RSM) supplementation on rumen fermentation and digesta passage rates were studied in a 44 balanced Latin square experiment with four multiparous cows. The dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradabilities of silages were determined in sacco. RSM supplementation replaced 16% of the oat‐barley concentrate mixture. The daily concentrate amount was 10 kg. Silages were given ad libitum. The effective degradabilities of dry matter and protein (EPD) were higher (p<0.001) in direct-cut silage but wilted silage had higher (p<0.001) content of rapidly degradable protein. Rumen ammonia concentration was higher with direct-cut silage (10.16 versus 8.47 mmol/l, p<0.01), reflecting higher CP content and EPD. Rumen pH and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration in rumen were not affected by silage type, and the differences in molar proportions of rumen VFA’s were small. The proportion of propionate tended to be higher (p<0.10) with wilted silage, whereas the proportion of butyrate was higher (133 versus 128 mmol/mol, p<0.01) with direct-cut silage. The retention time of the digesta particle phase in alimentary tract was shorter (p<0.05 or better) with wilted silage. Pool mean retention time (PMRT), which illustrates the retention time of particles in rumen, was shorter (34.0 versus 28.3 h, p<0.05) with wilted silage. Similarly, retention time of particles in the rumen pool of particles small enough to leave the rumen tended to be shorter (p<0.10) with wilted silage. RSM supplementation tended to increase (p<0.10) rumen ammonia concentration and decreased the molar proportion of rumen butyrate (132 versus 127 mmol/l, p<0.05). The retention time of particles in pool, which illustrates the rate of particle break down in the rumen, was shorter (p<0.10) with RSM. In conclusion, the ruminal retention time

Effect of Concentrate Crude Protein Level on Grass Silage Intake, Milk Yield and Nutrient Utilisation by Dairy Cows in Early Lactation

Twenty-one multiparous dairy cows were fed concentrates containing three levels (119, 154 and 191g/kg DM) of crude protein (CP) during the first ten weeks of lactation. Part of the grain and molassed sugar beat pulp was substituted with 0% (RSM0), 15% (RSM15) or 30% (RSM30) rapeseed meal. Wilted grass silage was fed ad libitum after calving. The average response between RSM0 and RSM15 was +1.66kg milk/d per percentage unit change in concentrate CP content. No further response occurred between RSM15 and RSM30. The positive effect of RSM inclusion was seen throughout the experimental period and was associated with increased plasma non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and decreased plasma insulin concentration one week after calving, and higher efficiency of metabolisable energy utilisation for milk production. Digestibility of the diet remained unaffected. Milk and plasma urea tended to increase with RSM30 indicating excessive supply of rumen degradable protein. Because of the limited potential of cows to compensate for a deficit in feed protein supply by mobilising tissue protein, a substantial milk yield response can be achieved with a moderate level of protein supplementation during early lactation.

Five or eight weeks of restricted suckling: influence on dairy calves’ feed intake, growth and suckling behaviour

Abstract Concern about welfare and behavioural needs of animals has increased the interest in keeping calf and cow together after parturition. In this experiment six calves suckled their dams twice a day for five weeks then once a day for three weeks (DAM8). Six calves (DAM5) suckled during five weeks in the same way as calves in DAM8 and were then abruptly weaned. Six calves (TEAT8) were fed the same amount of milk from teat buckets as DAM8. Consumption of dry feed by all calves was low at the age of five weeks. Consequently, the calves abruptly weaned at the age of five weeks lost weight after weaning. Nursing times were quite similar (about 20 min) during the entire suckling period. However, reducing suckling from twice a day to once a day at the age of five weeks increased the frequency of teat changing. In conclusion, total weaning at the age of five weeks from high milk allowance seems not recommendable. Five weeks of twice a day suckling followed by three weeks of once a day suckling is likely to reduce the decline in energy intake and growth following weaning.

Transfer of Selenium from Different Dietary Sources into Plasma and Milk of Dairy Cow

The results of several studies point to differences between the metabolism of inorganic and organic selenium sources (Jenkins and Hidiroglou, 1971; Fuss and Godwin, 1975). Seleno amino acids are more easily utilized and excreted into milk as compared to inorganic seleno compounds. Selenium in plant material is mostly in the form of seleno amino acids (Olson et al., 1970). The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the possibility of increasing the selenium content of cow milk.

Ruminal degradation and in vivo digestibility of processed rapeseed meal

The digestibility and nutritive value of rapeseed meal processed in different ways were studied with adult rams fed on alkali-treated straw. The rumen degradability was determined by the nylon bag technique. The rapeseed meal feeds were: 1) untreated rapeseed meal, 2) heat-treated rapeseed meal (2—5 sec. at over 100°C), 3) heattreated rapeseed meal + 5 % urea phosphate and 4) heat-treated rapeseed meal + 10 % rapeseed hulls. The heat treatment reduced the rumen degradation and in vivo digestibility of the rapeseed meal, althoughnot significantly (P > 0.05). Addition of urea phosphate to the heattreated rapeseed meal increased the ruminal degradability of the crude protein and improved the digestibility of all the constituents of the rapeseed meal, especially that of crude fibre (P > 0.05). The rapeseed hulls had no noticeable effect on digestibility.