Evaluation of the factors affecting silage intake of dairy cows: a revision of the relative silage dry-matter intake index

An evaluation of the factors affecting silage dry-matter intake (SDMI) of dairy cows was conducted based on dietary treatment means. The data were divided into six subsets based on the silage treatments used in the experiments: concentration of digestible organic matter in dry matter (D-value) influenced by the maturity of grass ensiled (n = 81), fermentation quality influenced by silage additives (n = 240), dry matter (DM) concentration influenced by wilting of grass prior to ensiling (W; n = 85), comparison of silages made from primary growth or regrowth of grass (n = 46), and replacement of grass silage with legume (L; n = 53) or fermented whole-crop cereal (WC; n = 37) silages. The data were subjected to the mixed model regression analysis. Both silage D-value and fermentation quality significantly affected SDMI. The average effects of D-value and total acid (TA) concentration were 17.0 g and − 12.8 per 1 g/kg DM, respectively. At a given D-value, silage neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) concentration tended to decrease SDMI. Silage TA concentration was the best fermentation parameter predicting SDMI. Adding other parameters into the multivariate models did not improve the fit and the slopes of the other parameters remained insignificant. Total NDF intake was curvilinearly related to silage D-value the maximum intake being reached at a D-value of 640 g/kg DM. Results imply that physical fill is not limiting SDMI of highly digestible grass silages and that both physical and metabolic factors constrain total DM intake in an interactive manner. Silage DM concentration had an independent curvilinear effect on SDMI. Replacing primary growth silage with regrowth, L or WC silages affected SDMI significantly, the response to regrowth silage being linearly decreasing and to L and WC quadratically increasing. The outcome of factors affecting SDMI was used to update the relative SDMI index as follows: SDMI index = 100+10 × [(D-value − 680) × 0.0170 − (TA − 80) × 0.0128+(0.0198 ×  (DM − 250) − 0.00002364 × (DM² − 250 ²)) − 0.44 × a+4.13 × b − 2.58 × b²+5.90 × c − 6.14 × c² − 0.0023 × (550 − NDF)], where a, b and c represent the proportions (0–1) of regrowth, L or WC silages from total silage DM. For the whole data set, one index unit corresponded to the default value of 0.10 kg in SDMI. The SDMI index explained proportionally 0.852 of the variation in SDMI with 0.34 kg DM per day residual. The updated SDMI index provides improved basis for the practical dairy cow ration formulation and economic evaluation.     

Systemic Induction of Salicylates in Salix myrsinifolia(Salisb.)

We studied the induction of salicylates in mature leaves ofSalix myrsinifolia Salisb. (Salicaceae) following severe woundingby a specialist leaf-beetle Phratora vitellinae L. (Chrysomelidae).Levels of individual salicylates and aromatic amino acids andtheir total levels were determined in leaves at different developmentalstages. Induction of salicylates depended on: (1) the individualcompound; (2) the developmental stage of the plant organ; and(3) the genotype of the plant. Induction of salicylates wassystemic: levels of salicylates rose in unwounded young immatureand mature leaves, but no local response was detected in woundedleaves. In addition, there were clear clonal variations in boththe constant and induced levels of salicylates: clones withthe highest levels of salicylates were also most capable ofincreasing this level in response to herbivore attack i.e. notrade-off between constant and induced levels was detected.Furthermore, the levels of three aromatic amino acids, Phe,Tyr and Trp, increased in immature leaves of herbivore-affectedplants, which may indicate induction of enzymes of the shikimatepathway by wounding. The increase in salicylates was suggestedto be a consequence of an increased rate of synthesis ratherthan that of translocation. The induced levels of salicylatesdid not affect the subsequent feeding of highly specializedP. vitellinae. However, the ability to increase levels of salicylatesmay reduce grazing by generalist herbivores which are not ableto tolerate high levels of salicylates. Copyright 2001 Annalsof Botany Company Salix myrsinifolia, dark-leaved willow, Phratora vitellinae, salicylates, phenolic glycosides, herbivory, induced defence     

Integration of the effects of animal and dietary factors on total dry matter intake of dairy cows fed silage-based diets

An empirical regression model for the prediction of total dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy cows was developed and compared with four published intake models. The model was constructed to include both animal and dietary factors, which are known to affect DMI. For model development, a data set based on individual cow data from 10 change-over and four continuous milk production studies was collected (n = 1554). Relevant animal (live weight (LW), days in milk (DIM), parity and breed) and dietary (total and concentrate DMI, concentrate composition, forage digestibility and fermentation quality) data were collected. The model factors were limited to those that are available before the diets are fed to animals, that is, standardized energy corrected milk (sECM) yield, LW, DIM and diet quality (total diet DMI index (TDMI index)). As observed ECM yield is a function of both the production potential of the cow and diet quality, ECM yield standardized for DIM, TDMI index and metabolizable protein concentration was used in modelling. In the individual data set, correlation coefficients between sECM and TDMI index or DIM were much weaker (0.16 and 0.03) than corresponding coefficients with observed ECM (0.65 and 0.46), respectively. The model was constructed with a mixed model regression analysis using cow within trial as a random factor. The following mixed model was estimated for DMI prediction: DMI (kg DM/day) = -2.9 (±0.56)+0.258 (±0.011) × sECM (kg/day) + 0.0148 (±0.0009) × LW (kg) -0.0175 (±0.001) × DIM -5.85 (±0.41) × exp (-0.03 × DIM) + 0.09 (±0.002) × TDMI index. The mixed DMI model was evaluated with a treatment mean data set (207 studies, 992 diets), and the following relationship was found: Observed DMI (kg DM/day) = -0.10 (±0.33) + 1.004 (±0.019) × Predicted DMI (kg DM/day) with an adjusted residual mean square error of 0.362 kg/day. Evaluation of the residuals did not result in a significant mean bias or linear slope bias, and random error accounted for proportionally >0.99 of the error. In conclusion, the DMI model developed is considered robust because of low mean prediction error, accurate and precise validation, and numerically small differences in the parameter values of model variables when estimated with mixed or simple regression models. The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System was the most accurate of the four other published DMI models evaluated using individual or treatment mean data, but in most cases mean and linear slope biases were relatively high, and, interestingly, there were large differences in both mean and linear slope biases between the two data sets.     

Phosphorylation regulates the activity of the SMN complex during assembly of spliceosomal U snRNPs

The assembly of spliceosomal U-rich small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (U snRNPs) is an ATP-dependent process mediated by the coordinated action of the SMN and the PRMT5 complex. Here, we provide evidence that the activity of this assembly machinery is regulated by means of post-translational modification. We show that two main components of the SMN/PRMT5 system, namely the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein (reduced levels thereof causing spinal muscular atrophy) and pICln, are phosphorylated in vivo. Both proteins share a previously unknown motif containing either one or two phosphoserines. Alteration of these residues in SMN (serines 28 and 31) significantly impairs the activity of the SMN complex. Despite the presence of SMN in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, we find that only the latter promotes efficient SMN-mediated U snRNP assembly activity. As cytoplasmic SMN is phosphorylated to a much larger extent, we hypothesize that this modification is a key activator of the SMN complex.     

Evaluation of concentrate factors affecting silage intake of dairy cows: a development of the relative total diet intake index

The aim of this work was to develop an index describing the relative intake of the total diet by dairy cows, and hence the ability to predict intake responses to changes in both forage and concentrate variables. An evaluation of concentrate factors affecting silage dry matter (DM) intake of dairy cows was conducted based on dietary treatment means from milk production experiments. The data were divided into four subsets according to concentrate treatments used within the experiments: the amount of concentrate supplementation (n = 217), protein supplementation (n = 336), carbohydrate composition (n = 114) and fat concentration of the concentrate (n = 29). The data were subjected to mixed-model regression analysis. Increased concentrate DM intake (CDMI) decreased silage DM intake (SDMI) quadratically. The substitution rate (substitution of silage DM for concentrate DM) increased with improved silage intake potential. SDMI increased quadratically with concentrate protein intake, the response being negatively related to the effective protein degradability (EPD) of concentrates. Replacement of starchy concentrate ingredients with fibrous supplements had a small positive effect on silage intake, whereas increased concentrate fat concentration slightly decreased SDMI. The outcome of concentrate factors influencing total DM intake (TDMI) was used to create a relative CDMI index as follows: CDMI index = 100 + 10 × [(CDMI - 0.1629 × CDMI - 0.01882 × CDMI2 - 5.49) + ((0.9474 × CCPI - 0.4965 × CCPI2) - 2.017 × (CEPD - 0.74)) + 0.00225 × (CNDF - 250) - 0.0103 × (40 - Cfat) - 0.00058 × (CDMI - 8.0) × (SDMI index - 100)], where CDMI = concentrate DM intake (kg/day), CCPI = supplementary concentrate CP intake (kg/day; CP>170 g/kg DM), CEPD = concentrate EPD (g/g), CNDF = concentrate NDF concentration (g/kg DM), Cfat = concentrate fat concentration (g/kg DM) and SDMI index is the relative intake potential of silage (Huhtanen, Rinne and Nousiainen 2007. Animal 1, 758-770). TDMI index was calculated as SDMI index + CDMI index - 100 to describe the relative intake potential of the total diet. For the whole data set (n = 943), one TDMI index unit was equivalent to 0.095 kg/day DM intake, i.e. close to the default value of 0.100 kg. The CDMI index explained proportionally 0.88 of the variation in TDMI within a study with a 0.27 kg/day residual mean-square error (n = 616). The corresponding values for the TDMI index were 0.81 and 0.37 kg/day (n = 943), respectively. The residual mean-square errors in cross-validation were marginally higher. The developed TDMI index can be used to estimate the intake responses to diet changes. It provides an improved basis for practical dairy cow ration formulation and economic evaluation.     

Acyl-CoA thioesterases belong to a novel gene family of peroxisome proliferator-regulated enzymes involved in lipid metabolism

Acyl-CoA thioesterases hydrolyze acyl-CoAs to the corresponding free fatty acid plus coenzyme A. The activity is strongly induced in rat and mouse liver after feeding the animals peroxisome proliferators (PPs). To elucidate the role of these enzymes in lipid metabolism, the authors have cloned the cDNAs corresponding to the inducible cytosolic and mitochondrial type I enzymes (CTE-I and MTE-I), and studied tissue expression and nutritional regulation of expression of the mRNAs in mice. The constitutive expression of both mRNAs was low in liver, with CTE-I expressed mainly in kidney and brown adipose tissue, and MTE-I expressed in brown adipose tissue and heart. As expected, the expression in liver of both the CTE-I and MTE-I mRNAs were strongly induced (>50-fold) by treatment with clofibrate. A similar level of induction was observed by fasting and a time-course study showed that the CTE-I and MTE-I mRNAs were increased already at 6 h after removal of the diet. Refeeding normal chow diet to mice fasted for 24h normalized the mRNA levels with a T _1/2 of about 3–4 h. Feeding mice a fat-free diet further decreased the expression, possibly indicating repression of expression. The strong expression of MTE-I and CTE-I in the heart was increased about 10-fold by fasting. To further characterize these highly regulated enzymes, the authors have cloned the corresponding genes and promoter regions. The structures of the two genes were found to be very similar, consisting of three exons and two introns. Exon-intron borders conform to general consensus sequences, and, especially, the first exon appears to be highly conserved. The promoter regions of both the CTE-I and MTE-I genes contain putative PP response elements, suggesting an involvement of PP-activated receptors in the regulation of these genes.     

Applying water scarcity footprint methodologies to milk production in Finland

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - Food production without consuming scarce local freshwater resources in an unsustainable way needs to be ensured. A robust method to assess water...     

Plasma copeptin in the assessment of febrile neutropenia

Copeptin, the surrogate marker of arginine vasopressin (AVP), has been suggested to be a useful biomarker in monitoring sepsis reflecting hemodynamic imbalance and stress state. This prospective study conducted at a hematology ward in a Finnish University Hospital aimed to investigate whether plasma copeptin predicts the development of complicated course of neutropenic fever (bacteremia or need for treatment at intensive care unit) in 100 hematological patients experiencing their first neutropenic fever episode after intensive chemotherapy for hematological malignancy. Contrary to study presumptions, not elevated copeptin but the lack of a proper initial increase of plasma copeptin (<0.02 ng/mL from day 0 to day 1) predicted blood culture positive sepsis (p=0.023) and gram-negative bacteremia (p=0.045). No correlation was observed with plasma sodium, blood pressure or evaluated osmolality. Plasma copeptin correlated inversely with the same day pentraxin 3 on day 0-day 2 (all p-values <0.001) and with C-reactive protein on day 1 (p=0.015). In conclusion, copeptin did not correlate with disease severity, but the lack of a proper initial increase was associated with bacteremic complications of febrile neutropenia in hematological patients. The findings suggest the possibility of central dysregulation of AVP release and do not support the use of copeptin as a biomarker of septic complications in this patient group.