Journal of Animal Science

Journal: Journal of Animal Science

Abbreviation

J. Anim. Sci.

Publisher

American Society of Animal Science

ISSN

1525-3163
0021-8812

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Publications 1 - 10 of 32

Influence of altitude on vitamin D and bone metabolism of lactating sheep and goats
Kohler, Martina; Leiber, Florian; Willems, Helen; et al. (2013)
Journal of Animal Science
This study investigated the influence of alpine grazing on vitamin D (vitD) and bone metabolism in sheep and goats. Two groups of five adult lactating East Friesian milk sheep and Saanen dairy goats were kept on pastures at 2,000 to 2,600 m a.s.l. (SA: sheep alpine; GA: goats alpine) and 400 m a.s.l. (SL: sheep lowland; GL: goats lowland). The animals were milked twice daily and the milk yield was measured. Blood, milk, skin, and forage samples were collected and the left metatarsi were measured with peripheral quantitative computed tomography. The relative humidity and air temperature were recorded and the ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation was measured with a solar meter at both research stations. In addition, animals from the alpine group were equipped with a global positioning system receiver. The UVB radiation was higher at the alpine station (P < 0.05) compared to the lowland station. In contrast, both the relative humidity and the air temperature were higher at the lowland station (P < 0.04). The group GA produced more milk than GL (P < 0.043). No differences in milk production between SA and SL were detected. Only minor differences between the alpine and lowland species groups were found in the total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D serum concentration and in the 25(OH)D milk concentration. 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 concentration in serum was higher in sheep compared to goats and the 25(OH)D3 concentration in serum increased in all four groups but was higher in the alpine groups during the experiment. In addition, no differences in 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) concentrations in the skin at high altitude and lowland groups were detectable. However the 7-DHC concentrations in the skin of sheep were less than a tenth of the concentrations in the skin of goats and were nearly not detectable. In both groups SA and SL bone strength index increased during the trial (P = 0.043). Bone strength index was lower in GA compared to GL at wk 12 (P = 0.047). Mean serum Ca concentrations were higher and P concentrations were lower in the alpine groups than in the lowland groups (P = 0.047). In both groups SA and GA the distance travelled increased during the trial. In conclusion, no effect of altitude on vitD status, vitD milk concentration and bone strength could be detected. Both sheep and goats are able to produce vitD in the skin, but sheep depend more on vitD intake with feedstuff, whereas goats rely more on cutaneous vitD production.
Effects of supplementing tanniferous sainfoin hay on nitrogen metabolism of grass-fed dairy cows
Dohme, F.; Scharenberg, A.; Kreuzer, M. (2008)
Journal of Animal Science
Intrauterine crowding decreases average birth weight and affects muscle fiber hyperplasia in piglets
Berard, J.; Pardo, C.E.; Bethaz, S.; et al. (2010)
Journal of Animal Science
Intrauterine crowding impairs formation as well as growth of secondary myofibers
Pardo, C.E.; Koller-Bähler, A.; Kreuzer, Michael; et al. (2011)
Journal of Animal Science
A mixed model approach to map QTL controlling complex binary disease traits and interacting with environments
Li, Y.; Kadarmideen, Haja N. (2006)
Journal of Animal Science
Cryptorchidism affects the sex ratio in dogs and pigs
Dolf, G.; Gaillard, C.; Schelling, C.; et al. (2008)
Journal of Animal Science
Segregation analysis of milk flow in Swiss dairy cattle by Bayesian approach
Ilahi, Houcine; Kadarmideen, Haja N. (2004)
Journal of Animal Science
Nutritive quality of a species-rich, extensively managed pasture exposed to elevated ozone in a free-air fumigation system
Lin, J.C.; Nadarajah, K.; Volk, M.; et al. (2007)
Journal of Animal Science
Nitrogen and mineral balance of lambs artificially infected with Haemonchus contortus and fed tanniferous sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia)
Scharenberg, A.; Heckendorn, F.; Arrigo, Y.; et al. (2008)
Journal of Animal Science
Relationship between average litter weight and intralitter weight variability on myogenesis in newborn piglets
Pardo-Mariño, C.; Kreuzer, Michael; Bee, G. (2010)
Journal of Animal Science

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