Kinematic gait analysis and lactation performance in dairy cows fed a diet supplemented with zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt

Abstract

This study investigated how supplementation of the diet of dairy cows with trace minerals (zinc, manganese, copper and cobalt) affected kinematic gait parameters and lactation performance. Eight Holstein cows were divided into two groups, with each group receiving a different dietary treatment (control diet, or control diet supplemented with trace minerals) in a two-period crossover design. Kinematic gait parameters were calculated by using image analysis software. Compared to cows fed the control diet, cows that received the trace mineral-supplemented diet exhibited significantly increased walking and stepping rates, and had a shorter stance duration. Feed intake and milk production increased in cows fed the trace mineral-supplemented diet compared with control groups. The plasma manganese concentration was not different in control and experimental cows. In contrast, cobalt was only detected in the plasma of cows fed the supplemented diet. These results provide the first evidence that trace mineral supplementation of the diet of dairy cows affects locomotion, and that the associated gait changes can be detected by using kinematic gait analysis. Moreover, trace mineral supplementation improved milk production and only minimally altered blood and physiological parameters in dairy cows.

Malnutrition as the cause of recumbency in suckler cows associated with Trypanosoma theileri infection

“…Nutritional muscular dystrophy (white muscle disease) [4] is caused by a deficiency of selenium (Se) and vitamin E and may result in cattle spending more time lying down. Copper (Cu) is another trace element that is associated with clinical signs affecting locomotion [7]. It is a co-factor for lysil oxidase, an enzyme involved in bone formation [8], and deficiency causes diminished strength of the bone [9].…”

Organic supplementation of Cu and Se in the diets of Normande dairy cows

“…Phipps et al (26) informaron que la suplementación con Se aumenta la concentración de GSH-Px, lo que contribuye a reducir la incidencia de mastitis (número más bajo de RCS). Con respecto al cobre, Yamamoto et al (27), concluyeron que la suplementación con 125 mg de cobre al día, contribuyó a aumentar la producción de leche en un 5% en comparación con el tratamiento sin suplementación, sin embargo, no se encontró ningún efecto en el RCS versus el grupo de control, que difiere de lo reportado por Griffiths et al (28), quienes observaron que la suplementación dietética con una combinación de minerales traza orgánicos aumentó la producción de leche, pero no afectó la composición de la misma.…”

“…Los valores de los indicadores bioquímicos obtenidos en este estudio están dentro de los rangos de referencia normales (20). Sin embargo, Juniper et al (29) y Phipps et al (26) indican que cantidades iguales de Se en forma orgánica o inorgánica no causan diferencias en la composición química de la sangre frente a una vaca no suplementada; Del mismo modo, Yamamoto et al (27) informan que la combinación dietética de cobre, zinc, manganeso y cobalto no afecta los parámetros sanguíneos de NUS y glucosa en vacas Holstein en lactancia. Al igual, en otros estudios informan que la suplementación de minerales traza orgánicos o el reemplazo de la forma inorgánica de minerales traza con una forma orgánica en la dieta no afecta los parámetros bioquímicos del plasma (30,31).…”

Concentrations and uptake of micronutrients by oat and pea in intercrops in response to N fertilization and sowing ratio

“…Additionally, mineral supplements are used to meet requirements (Suttle, 2010). For example, supplementation of dairy cow diets with Cu, Mn, Zn, and cobalt reduced days to first estrus (Campbell et al, 1999) and increased milk production (Yamamoto et al, 2014). The body weight gain of crossbred male calves was shown to increase with the supplementation of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn (Mondal et al, 2009).…”