Performance of transition dairy cows dosed with Megasphaera elsdenii

• Grant number: 13/19240-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: December 10, 2013
• End date: June 09, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Vaz Pires
• Grantee: Vinícius Nunes de Gouvêa
• Supervisor: Maurice L. Eastridge
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Ohio State University, Columbus, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/14289-0 - Effects of whole cottonseed in finishing Nelore feedlot cattle diets on performance, carcass characteristics, ruminal metabolism and nutrients digestibility., BP.DR

Abstract

Thirty transition Jersey cows will be used for this project. Cows will be blocked based on parity and date of calving; cows within a block will be randomly assigned to one of the two diets: 1) control and 2) a single oral dose of 200 mL of Megasphaera elsdenii (Lactipro; MSBiotec, Littleton, CO; product is already available commercially; 10^8/mL of organism) will be drenched within 24 hr after calving. All cows will be placed in a tie-stall barn at calving and fed the common herd diet for 30 days. After this time, cows will be moved to freestalls and fed the common herd diet ad libitum. Water will be available at all times. Daily milk weights will be recorded through 90 days in milk using the standard equipment in place at the farm for all lactating animals. Milk samples will be collected weekly for 4 consecutive milkings during the first 30 DIM while the cows are in the tiestalls for analysis of milk composition. Front quarter milk strippings will be taken (during milking) at 7 to 14 DIM for determination of ketones. Urine ketones also will be measured at 7 to 14 DIM. Health events will be monitored for 90 DIM. Body condition scores will be recorded prepartum and every 30 days in milk. Body weight will be measured weekly. Weekly samples of the corn silage, hay, and diet will be collected. The DM intake will be recorded for the first 30 DIM after calving while the cows are in the tiestalls. Blood will be sampled at 3 to 5 days prior to projected calving date and 7 to 14 DIM via tail vein venipuncture for determination of beta-hydroxybutyrate and non-esterified fatty acids.In addition, 6 rumen cannulated Jersey cows (already cannulated under 2010A00000176) will be housed in freestalls, fed as described above, and be given a single 200 mL dose of Lactipro. Rumen samples will be collected routinely over several days to monitor the presence of the Megasphaera elsdenii in the ruminal contents.Housing: All cows will be placed in a tie-stall barn at calving and fed the common herd diet for the first 30 DIM. After this time, cows will be moved to freestalls. Cows (AU)