Increasing the prepartum dose of rumen-protected choline: Effects of maternal choline supplementation on growth, feed efficiency, and metabolism in Holstein and Holstein × Angus calves.

Feeding pregnant cows rumen-protected choline (RPC) may have the potential to affect the growth and health of offspring, but little is known about the optimal dose, or the potential mechanisms of action. The objectives of this experiment were to 1) determine if increasing RPC supplementation during late gestation in multiparous Holstein cows would improve calf growth and 2) determine if maternal choline supplementation alters global DNA methylation patterns. Pregnant multiparous Holstein cows (n = 116) were randomly assigned to diets targeting 0g choline ion (0.

Increasing the prepartum dose of rumen-protected choline: Effects on milk production and metabolism in high-producing Holstein dairy cows.

Peripartum rumen-protected choline (RPC) supplementation is beneficial for cow health and production, yet the optimal dose is unknown. In vivo and in vitro supplementation of choline modulates hepatic lipid, glucose, and methyl donor metabolism. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of increasing the dose of prepartum RPC supplementation on milk production and blood biomarkers.

Comparison of warm season and cool season forages for dairy grazing systems in continuous culture.

The objective of this study was to compare warm-season annual grasses to cool-season perennial () grasses for ruminal nutrient digestibility and N metabolism in a dual-flow continuous culture fermentation system. Dietary treatments were 1) fresh alfalfa, 2) grasses and legumes, 3) brown-midrib sorghum-sudangrass (), and 4) teff grass from an organic dairy production system. Eight dual-flow continuous culture fermenters were used during two consecutive 10-d periods consisting of 7 d for stabilization followed by 3 d of sampling.

Validation of an approach to predict total-tract fiber digestibility using a standardized in vitro technique for different diets fed to high-producing dairy cows.

The experimental objective was to validate an in vitro model to predict total-tract neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility in dairy cattle. Twenty-one diets from 7 studies conducted at University of Wisconsin-Madison were analyzed for in vitro fiber digestibility. Forages varied among diets (corn, alfalfa, tall and meadow fescue, and wheat straw silages) and nutrient composition (ranges: NDF = 22.

Prophylactic bosentan does not improve exercise capacity or lower pulmonary artery systolic pressure at high altitude.

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in response to high altitude ascent may contribute to decreased exercise capacity. Endothelin receptor antagonists reduce pulmonary artery pressure and improve exercise capacity in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, but their effects on exercise capacity at altitude are unknown. We studied the efficacy of bosentan started 5 days prior to ascent on exercise capacity and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) at 3800 m altitude.

Severe high altitude pulmonary oedema: a patient managed successfully with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in the Emergency Department.

High altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) is a well-known potential hazard of activities at high altitudes but not a common disease presentation that most emergency physicians have experience treating. The mainstay of treatment is intuitive--early recognition with immediate descent, rest and oxygen--but what does the emergency physician do when a patient is in severe distress from HAPE even after descent to sea level? A case of severe HAPE is presented in a young man; the successful treatment strategy is outlined including non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. The role of calcium antagonists, corticosteroids and phosphodiesterase inhibitors are also discussed in the acute management of this potentially life-threatening condition.