Dynamics of blood Taurine concentration and its correlation with nutritional and physiological status during the fattening period of Japanese black cattle.

Taurine, biosynthesized from methionine or cysteine in the liver, plays a crucial regulatory role in bile acid conjugation, antioxidant effects, and glucose and cholesterol metabolism. This may influence the metabolic changes associated with fat accumulation in beef cattle. However, the physiological role of taurine in this species has not been fully elucidated.

Analysis of the relationship between energy balance and properties of rumen fermentation of primiparous dairy cows during the perinatal period.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced in the rumen are key factors affecting dairy cows' energy balance (EB). This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the effects of SCFAs production on EB in dairy cows. Primiparous dairy cows were divided into high non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA; group H) and low NEFA (group L) groups based on their blood NEFA levels at week 3 postpartum, which served as an indicator of EB.

Effect of residual methane emission on physiological characteristics and carcass performance in Japanese Black cattle.

This study investigated the physiological characteristics and carcass performance associated with residual methane emissions (RME), and the effects of bull differences on CH-related traits in Japanese Black cattle. Enteric methane (CH) emissions from 156 Japanese Black cattle (111 heifers and 45 steers) were measured during early fattening using the sniffer method. Various physiological parameters were investigated to clarify the physiological traits between the high, middle, and low RME groups.

Assessing the impact of three feeding stages on rumen bacterial community and physiological characteristics of Japanese Black cattle.

In Japan, Japanese Black cattle, known for their exceptional meat quality owing to their abundant intramuscular fat, undergo a unique three-stage feeding system with varying concentrate ratios. There is limited research on physiological and rumen microbial changes in Japanese Black cattle during these stages. Therefore, this study aimed to examine Japanese Black steers in these three stages: early (T1, 12-14 months), middle (T2, 15-22 months), and late (T3, 23-30 months).

Variation among individual beef cattle in methane-to-carbon dioxide ratio measured under on-farm conditions using the sniffer method.

This study proposed a method for measuring the methane (CH )/carbon dioxide (CO ) ratio from individual beef cattle under on-farm conditions and estimated the variance components of the CH /CO ratio. Gas measurements were conducted using 166 Japanese Black cattle group-housed in pens equipped with individual feed bins. The gas containing the animal's breath was measured individually after concentrate feeding by covering the feed bin with a sheet with sampling inlets.

Developing models to predict feces and urine excretion in Japanese Black fattening steer by multiple regression analysis.

The objective of this study was to develop models for predicting the amount of feces and urine excreted by Japanese Black fattening steer using a dataset of 119 digestion trials for a total of 46 animals. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationships between feces and urine excretion and feed intake, feed digestibility, and nitrogen balance. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to develop models for predicting the amount of feces and urine excreted using the explanatory variables selected from various animal and dietary parameters based on P-value (<0.

Exploring indicators of genetic selection using the sniffer method to reduce methane emissions from Holstein cows.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether the methane (CH4) to carbon dioxide (CO2) ratio (CH4/CO2) and methane-related traits obtained by the sniffer method can be used as indicators for genetic selection of Holstein cows with lower CH4 emissions.

Methods: The sniffer method was used to simultaneously measure the concentrations of CH4 and CO2 during milking in each milking box of the automatic milking system to obtain CH4/CO2. Methane-related traits, which included CH4 emissions, CH4 per energy-corrected milk, methane conversion factor (MCF), and residual CH4, were calculated.

Rumen microbial composition associated with the non-glucogenic to glucogenic short-chain fatty acids ratio in Holstein cows.

This study aimed to determine the physiological features and rumen microbial composition associated with the non-glucogenic-to-glucogenic short-chain fatty acids ratio (NGR). Holstein cows were housed in a free-stall barn with an automatic milking system and fed a partially mixed ration. Physiological and microbial analyses were performed on 66 datasets collected from 66 cows (50-250 days in milk).

Prediction of methane emissions from fattening cattle using the methane-to-carbon dioxide ratio.

This study aimed to develop a prediction equation for methane (CH ) emissions from fattening cattle based on the CH /carbon dioxide (CO ) ratio and validate the predictive ability of the developed equation. The prediction equation was developed using the CH /CO ratio combined with oxygen consumption and respiratory quotient estimations that were theoretically calculated from the relation between gas emissions and energy metabolism. To validate the prediction equation, gas measurements in the headboxes were conducted using eight Japanese Black steers.

Effects of feeding wood kraft pulp silage containing sweet-potato shochu distillery by-product on feed intake, feed digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood components, and growth performance in Japanese Black fattening steers during early period.

The effects of long-term feeding of wood kraft pulp (KP) silage containing sweet-potato shochu distillery by-product (SDP) on feed intake, feed digestibility, rumen fermentation, and growth performance of Japanese Black steers were investigated during the early fattening period. Ten Japanese Black steers (9.8 ± 0.

Physiological responses and adaptations to high methane production in Japanese Black cattle.

In this study, using enteric methane emissions, we investigated the metabolic characteristics of Japanese Black cattle. Their methane emissions were measured at early (age 13 months), middle (20 months), and late fattening phases (28 months). Cattle with the highest and lowest methane emissions were selected based on the residual methane emission values, and their liver transcriptome, blood metabolites, hormones, and rumen fermentation characteristics were analyzed.

The influence of breath concentration in the gas sample on the accuracy of methane to carbon dioxide ratio using the sniffer method in dairy cows.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the carbon dioxide (CO ) concentration in the sampled gas to avoid low concentration of breath while measuring the methane (CH )/CO ratio using the sniffer method. This study also assessed the effect of selective elimination by applying the threshold of CO concentration to the CH /CO ratio. The gas measurement in the automatic milking system was conducted with 26 multiparous Holstein cows using an electric fan to manipulate the CO concentration in the sampled gas.

Effect of vitamin K3 supplementation on immunoglobulin G concentration in colostrum of periparturient Holstein dairy cows.

This study was to examine the effects of dietary vitamin K (VK) 3 supplementation on immune-related substances in milk, oxidative stress indices in plasma and VK1, and menaquinone 4 (MK-4) in plasma and milk in periparturient dairy cows. Forty healthy perinatal Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were used in this study. Twenty-one animals were randomly selected and categorized into the VK3 supplemented (50 mg/day/head as VK3) group; the remaining 19 were categorized into the control group.

Changes in the liver transcriptome and physiological parameters of Japanese Black steers during the fattening period.

We investigated the physiological changes during the fattening period and production characteristics in Japanese Black steers bred and raised using the typical feeding system in Japan. Here, 21 Japanese Black steers aged 12 months were used, with experimental period divided into early (12-14 months of age), middle (15-22 months), and late fattening phases (23-30 months). The liver transcriptome, blood metabolites, hormones, and rumen fermentation characteristics were analyzed.

Effects of dietary vitamin K supplementation on vitamin K and K (menaquinone) dynamics in dairy cows.

The effect of dietary vitamin K (VK3) on ruminant animals is not fully investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of dietary VK3 on lactation performance, rumen characteristics, and VK1 and menaquinone (MK, or VK2) dynamics in the rumen, plasma, and milk of dairy cows. Eight Holstein dairy cows in late lactation periods were used in two crossover trials including a control (nontreatment) and a 50 or 200 mg/day (d) VK3 supplementation group.

Prediction of enteric methane emissions from lactating cows using methane to carbon dioxide ratio in the breath.

The aim of this study was to develop prediction equations for methane (CH ) emissions from lactating cows using the CH /carbon dioxide (CO ) ratio in the breath measured in the automatic milking system (AMS) and to evaluate the predicted values and factors affecting the CH /CO ratio. The model development was conducted using a dataset determined in respiration chambers or head boxes (n = 121). Then, gas measurements in the AMS as well as in the head box were carried out with six lactating cows fed one of three different levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content, following a 3 × 3 Latin square experimental design.

Effects of wood kraft pulp feeding on feed digestibility and rumen fermentation of Japanese Black steer in the middle fattening stage.

We investigated the effects of wood kraft pulp (KP) feeding on feed digestibility and rumen fermentation of Japanese Black (JB) steer in the middle fattening stage. The feeding experiment was carried out a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design using six JB steers (16.2 ± 0.

Cluster analysis to evaluate disease risk in periparturient dairy cattle.

Predicting periparturient disease risk is of immense value to the dairy industry. Periparturient diseases are interrelated with each other; however, predicting the onset risk of these diseases has predominantly been based on a single blood parameter for a single disease. This study examined a new diagnostic method to predict the risk of periparturient diseases.

Genetic and genomic analyses for predicted methane-related traits in Japanese Black steers.

The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters and to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for predicted methane-related traits in Japanese Black steers. The methane production and yield traits were predicted using on-farm measurable traits, such as dry matter intake and average daily gain. A total of 4,578 Japanese Black steers, which were progenies of 362 sires genotyped with imputed 551,995 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), had phenotypes of predicted methane-related traits during the total fattening period (52 weeks).

Development of prediction equation for methane-related traits in beef cattle under high concentrate diets.

The objective of this study was to develop a prediction equation for methane-related traits in beef cattle and evaluate this equation using datasets with different cattle breeds and roughage rates. Enteric methane emission (CH , l/day) was measured using open-circuit respiration chambers. Dry matter intake (DMI, kg/day), body weight (BW, kg), daily gain (DG, kg), total digestible nutrients (TDN, %DMI), and roughage rate (Rrate, %) were used as independent variables, and methane-related traits-CH , CH per DMI (CH /DMI, l/kg), and methane conversion factor (MCF, %)-were used as dependent variables.

Effect of feeding wood kraft pulp on the growth performance, feed digestibility, blood components, and rumen fermentation in Japanese Black fattening steers.

This study aimed to examine the effects of feeding kraft pulp (KP) on the growth performance, feed digestibility, and rumen fermentation of Japanese Black fattening steers. Ten Japanese Black fattening steers (aged 26 months) were randomly divided into control and KP groups. The control group (n = 5) was fed concentrate feed without KP, and the KP group (n = 5) was fed concentrate feed containing 10% KP.

Effect of wood kraft pulp feed on digestibility, ruminal characteristics, and milk production performance in lactating dairy cows.

The effect of wood kraft pulp (KP) feed on dietary digestibility, ruminal fluid pH, rumen fermentation characteristics, and milk production performance in lactating dairy cows was examined. Four lactating dairy cows were used for the feeding experiment by the cross-over design. The control group and KP group were set up as treatments.

Prediction of enteric methane emission from beef cattle in Southeast Asia.

We conducted a meta-data analysis to develop prediction equations to estimate enteric methane (CH ) emission from beef cattle in Southeast Asia. The dataset was obtained from 25 studies, which included 332 individual observations on nutrient intakes, digestibilities, and CH emissions. Cattle were provided tropical forage or rice straw, with or without concentrates in individual pens equipped with indirect open-circuit head hood apparatus.