Biogeographical Differences in the Influence of Maternal Microbial Sources on the Early Successional Development of the Bovine Neonatal Gastrointestinal tract.

The impact of maternal microbial influences on the early choreography of the neonatal calf microbiome were investigated. Luminal content and mucosal scraping samples were collected from ten locations in the calf gastrointestinal tract (GIT) over the first 21 days of life, along with postpartum maternal colostrum, udder skin, and vaginal scrapings. Microbiota were found to vary by anatomical location, between the lumen and mucosa at each GIT location, and differentially enriched for maternal vaginal, skin, and colostral microbiota.

Clinical disease associated with epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus in cattle in Illinois.

Objective: To describe the clinical manifestation of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in cattle during an outbreak in northwestern Illinois in the fall of 2013.

Design: Outbreak survey.

Sample: 18 EHDV-affected cattle herds.

Effect of the inclusion of quebracho tannins in a diet rich in linoleic acid on milk fatty acid composition in dairy ewes.

Despite controversy surrounding the ability of tannins to modulate the fatty acid (FA) profile of ruminant-derived products, reports on this issue are still very limited for dairy sheep. This study was conducted to examine the effect of the inclusion of quebracho tannins in a diet rich in linoleic acid on ewe performance and milk FA composition. Thirty-six lactating ewes were distributed into 6 lots and allocated to 2 treatments (3 lots/treatment): control or quebracho.

Milk fat depression induced by dietary marine algae in dairy ewes: persistency of milk fatty acid composition and animal performance responses.

Addition of marine algae (MA) to the diet of dairy ruminants has proven to be an effective strategy to enhance the milk content of some bioactive lipids, but it has also been associated with the syndrome of milk fat depression. Little is known, however, about the persistency of the response to dietary MA in sheep. Based on previous experiments with dairy ewes fed sunflower oil plus MA, it was hypothesized that the response might be mediated by time-dependent adaptations of the rumen microbiota, which could be evaluated indirectly through milk fatty acid (FA) profiles.

Inhibition of ∆9-desaturase activity with sterculic acid: effect on the endogenous synthesis of cis-9 18:1 and cis-9, trans-11 18:2 in dairy sheep.

This study was conducted in lactating ewes to examine the involvement of ∆(9)-desaturase in mammary lipogenesis, especially in the endogenous synthesis of cis-9, trans-11 18:2 and cis-9 18:1, because no information on this matter was available for dairy sheep. With this aim, 6 Assaf ewes were monitored in a 15-d experiment, which included a 5-d pretreatment period, a 5-d treatment period, and a 5-d posttreatment period. During the treatment period, ewes received 0.