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An alpine environment is unique due to pasture biodiversity, with an abundant content of natural antioxidant polyphenols. The present study investigated the effects of lowland and alpine grazing on the oviduct and uterine tissue redox status and amino acid concentrations in plasma and reproductive fluids. In the first experiment, heifers grazed on lowland (H-LOW: n = 13) and on alpine (H-ALP: n = 15) pastures. In the second experiment, heifers grazed on the same lowland (HS-LOW: n = 6) and on a different alpine (HS-ALP: n = 6) pasture. The abundance of mRNA transcripts for antioxidant enzymes in the oviduct (glutathione S-transferase alpha 2, glutathione synthetase (GSS)) and the endometrium (catalase, glutathione-disulfide reductase, GSS) was less (P < 0.05), and for glutathione peroxidase 4 in the endometrium greater (P = 0.006) in the H-LOW than in the H-ALP group. The abundance of mRNA transcript for catalase was less in the endometrium in the H-LOW than in the H-ALP (P = 0.001) group. Catalase and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 concentrations in the oviduct were greater in the HS-LOW than in the HS-ALP group (P < 0.05). Of 32 amino acids analysed, there were differences in concentrations in the H-LOW and H-ALP group of 13, seven and 15 in plasma, oviduct and uterine fluids, respectively (P < 0.05). Comparing the HS-LOW to the HS-ALP groups, there were 13, one and three amino acids in the plasma, oviduct and uterine fluids, respectively, that were differentially abundant (P < 0.05). The grazing systems had some effect on the redox status and amino acid patterns in reproductive tissues.
Daniel Chiumia; Anna-Katharina Hankele; Barbara Drews; Tobias Zehnder; Joel Berard; Pieter Giesbertz; Susanne E. Ulbrich; Katrin Giller. Alpine and lowland grazing differentially alter the reproductive tract redox milieu and amino acid composition in cattle. Animal Reproduction Science 2019, 213, 106268 .
AMA StyleDaniel Chiumia, Anna-Katharina Hankele, Barbara Drews, Tobias Zehnder, Joel Berard, Pieter Giesbertz, Susanne E. Ulbrich, Katrin Giller. Alpine and lowland grazing differentially alter the reproductive tract redox milieu and amino acid composition in cattle. Animal Reproduction Science. 2019; 213 ():106268.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniel Chiumia; Anna-Katharina Hankele; Barbara Drews; Tobias Zehnder; Joel Berard; Pieter Giesbertz; Susanne E. Ulbrich; Katrin Giller. 2019. "Alpine and lowland grazing differentially alter the reproductive tract redox milieu and amino acid composition in cattle." Animal Reproduction Science 213, no. : 106268.
Different grazing management systems are practiced on upland dairy farms during summer, depending on topography, local traditions, and infrastructure. The present experiment compared two distinct management systems with respect to feeding behavior and milk-related properties. Two similar groups of eight Valdostana Red Pied cows originating from two farms were followed during three grazing events in summer on three upland grazing sites. Cows in the full-time grazing group were kept exclusively on pasture and milked twice daily in a mobile milking parlor. Cows in the part-time grazing group had access to pasture for 4 h and 2 h after their morning and evening milkings, respectively. The part-time grazing cows differed markedly in their feeding behavior; they exhibited shorter daily ingestion times and longer durations of ingestion and idling bouts than full-time grazing cows. Part-time grazing cows had lower milk protein and casein contents, but milk yield and milk coagulation properties did not differ from the full-time grazing cows. As a result of the fasting periods in the barn, part-time grazing cows synthesized less fatty acids de novo and mobilized body fat reserves, as evidenced by the higher proportion of oleic acid in their milk fat.
Elisa Manzocchi; Madeline Koczura; Mauro Coppa; Germano Turille; Michael Kreuzer; Joel Berard. Grazing on Upland Pastures Part-Time Instead of Full-Time Affects the Feeding Behavior of Dairy Cows and Has Consequences on Milk Fatty Acid Profiles. Animals 2019, 9, 908 .
AMA StyleElisa Manzocchi, Madeline Koczura, Mauro Coppa, Germano Turille, Michael Kreuzer, Joel Berard. Grazing on Upland Pastures Part-Time Instead of Full-Time Affects the Feeding Behavior of Dairy Cows and Has Consequences on Milk Fatty Acid Profiles. Animals. 2019; 9 (11):908.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElisa Manzocchi; Madeline Koczura; Mauro Coppa; Germano Turille; Michael Kreuzer; Joel Berard. 2019. "Grazing on Upland Pastures Part-Time Instead of Full-Time Affects the Feeding Behavior of Dairy Cows and Has Consequences on Milk Fatty Acid Profiles." Animals 9, no. 11: 908.
Short-term effects of transhumance to high altitude were investigated in Valdostana bovine milk and Fontina cheeses. The study included samples taken at each milking on days 1, 2 and 5 after transhumance compared with 5 days before; individual cow milk was collected and bulk milk was manufactured to cheese. Somatic cell count and milk fat content increased the day immediately after transhumance. In bulk milk, transhumance effects were less pronounced. Except for sour taste, no clear trend for impaired composition or sensory properties was observed in the cheeses produced on the day after transhumance and ripened for 115 days. Milking time and, with that, manufacturing time influenced milk and cheese quality, leading to higher fat and more melting cheeses in the evening. These results allow better characterisation of the changes during this transition and will help farmers to tackle the difficulties in producing cheese during this period.
Madeline Koczura; Bruno Martin; Germano Turille; Massimo De Marchi; Michael Kreuzer; Joël Berard. Milk composition, but not cheese properties, are impaired the day after transhumance to alpine pastures. International Dairy Journal 2019, 99, 104540 .
AMA StyleMadeline Koczura, Bruno Martin, Germano Turille, Massimo De Marchi, Michael Kreuzer, Joël Berard. Milk composition, but not cheese properties, are impaired the day after transhumance to alpine pastures. International Dairy Journal. 2019; 99 ():104540.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMadeline Koczura; Bruno Martin; Germano Turille; Massimo De Marchi; Michael Kreuzer; Joël Berard. 2019. "Milk composition, but not cheese properties, are impaired the day after transhumance to alpine pastures." International Dairy Journal 99, no. : 104540.
The aim of this study was to determine how cows with different genetic merit behave and perform when grazing biodiverse and heterogeneous mountain pastures with different slopes. Three groups of 12 cows in late lactation, each composed of four Holstein, four Montbéliarde and four Valdostana Red Pied cows, breeds of increasing presumed robustness and decreasing milk yield (MY) potential. Cows grazed without concentrate either on a low-diversity flat pasture or on two species-rich mountainous pastures having slopes of either 7° or 22°. Milk yield, BW and grazing behaviour were monitored two times in the first and once in the second grazing cycle. Cows of different breeds had similar behaviour on all pastures. The Montbéliarde cows performed close to their production potential; Holstein and Valdostana cows produced less milk than anticipated. No breed difference in terms of BW loss was found. The Valdostana cows exhibited the least selective behaviour with respect to plant species and plant growth stage. Still, all cows searched for the most palatable vegetation regardless of pasture diversity. On the steep pasture, cows optimised the trade-off between ingesting and saving energy to obtain feed. They remained longer at the lowest zone and selected forbs, whereas cows on the flatter pasture went to the upper zone to select grasses. The present study gave no evidence for a superior short-term adaptation to harsh grazing conditions through an optimised feeding behaviour of the Valdostana breed compared to Montbéliarde and Holstein cows.
Madeline Koczura; B. Martin; M. Bouchon; G. Turille; J. Berard; A. Farruggia; M. Kreuzer; M. Coppa. Grazing behaviour of dairy cows on biodiverse mountain pastures is more influenced by slope than cow breed. Animal 2019, 13, 2594 -2602.
AMA StyleMadeline Koczura, B. Martin, M. Bouchon, G. Turille, J. Berard, A. Farruggia, M. Kreuzer, M. Coppa. Grazing behaviour of dairy cows on biodiverse mountain pastures is more influenced by slope than cow breed. Animal. 2019; 13 (11):2594-2602.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMadeline Koczura; B. Martin; M. Bouchon; G. Turille; J. Berard; A. Farruggia; M. Kreuzer; M. Coppa. 2019. "Grazing behaviour of dairy cows on biodiverse mountain pastures is more influenced by slope than cow breed." Animal 13, no. 11: 2594-2602.
Previous grazing experience on high alpine pastures may help cows to optimise feed selection and minimise impairments in milk production. Eight inexperienced and eight experienced Aosta Red Pied cows were compared (primiparous:multiparous = 1:1). Measurements were performed when cows grazed sites at 600, 1800 and 2100 m a.s.l. The statistical model included experience, parity and site as fixed effects. The longest ingestion time was recorded for primiparous inexperienced cows at 1800 m a.s.l. Milk yield remained unaffected by experience, but the main milking time was shorter in inexperienced cows in the lowlands. Milk of inexperienced cows had a higher urea content than experienced cows. Somatic cell score remained unaffected by experience, but inexperienced cows had more incidences of clinical mastitis on alpine pastures. Compared with experienced cows, proportions of the fatty acids ΣC16:1 and ΣC17:1 in milk fat of inexperienced cows were higher and proportions of C18:1 t9 and C18:1 t6–8 lower. Overall, alpine grazing had substantial effects on milk yield and composition coinciding with results from previous studies. There were interactions between experience and site in milking characteristics and milk composition, and for the latter also between experience and parity. In conclusion, experience had effects on several of the variables tested, effects which were sometimes exhibited already on lowland pasture. Still, the effects of experience were much lower than those of the transhumance system.
Madeline Koczura; Steve Pervier; Elisa Manzocchi; Germano Turille; Rupert M. Bruckmaier; Michael Kreuzer; Joel Berard. Previous alpine grazing experience of cows has little medium-term effect on feeding behaviour, milk yield and composition in a traditional alpine system. Italian Journal of Animal Science 2018, 18, 410 -422.
AMA StyleMadeline Koczura, Steve Pervier, Elisa Manzocchi, Germano Turille, Rupert M. Bruckmaier, Michael Kreuzer, Joel Berard. Previous alpine grazing experience of cows has little medium-term effect on feeding behaviour, milk yield and composition in a traditional alpine system. Italian Journal of Animal Science. 2018; 18 (1):410-422.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMadeline Koczura; Steve Pervier; Elisa Manzocchi; Germano Turille; Rupert M. Bruckmaier; Michael Kreuzer; Joel Berard. 2018. "Previous alpine grazing experience of cows has little medium-term effect on feeding behaviour, milk yield and composition in a traditional alpine system." Italian Journal of Animal Science 18, no. 1: 410-422.
Summer transhumance is often practiced in mountainous farming systems. It includes moving dairy cows from lowland (LO) to highland (HI) pastures during summer. It is known that high genetic merit cows are susceptible to the HI conditions, but it is unclear if this also applies to more adapted, regional cow types. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of HI sojourn on cheese-making properties of Aosta Red Pied cows, a dual purpose cattle type. Milk coagulation properties were measured in the milk of 47 cows before and after transhumance. Sources of variation were investigated using linear mixed models, including parity, site, milking time, the interaction parity × site, milking time × site and milking time × parity. Cow was nested within site, and used as subject for repetition, and sampling date was included as repeated factor. Curd-firming time and curd firmness did not vary between LO and HI, whereas rennet coagulation time was prolonged in HI compared to LO in both primiparous (16.4 vs. 18.5 min) and multiparous cows (17.5 vs. 21.1 min, respectively). The percentage of non-coagulating samples was greater in HI (15.0%) compared to LO (8.5%). The lower milk reactivity to rennet addition in HI seems to be mostly related to the simultaneously increasing somatic cell score. Morning and evening milk were similar in coagulation properties. In conclusion, even indigenous dual purpose cows were affected by HI conditions and the experience the multiparous cows had with the transhumance was not helpful either.
Giovanni Niero; Madeline Koczura; Massimo De Marchi; Sarah Currò; Michael Kreuzer; Germano Turille; Joel Berard. Are cheese-making properties of dual purpose cattle impaired by highland grazing? A case study using Aosta Red Pied cows. Italian Journal of Animal Science 2018, 17, 827 -834.
AMA StyleGiovanni Niero, Madeline Koczura, Massimo De Marchi, Sarah Currò, Michael Kreuzer, Germano Turille, Joel Berard. Are cheese-making properties of dual purpose cattle impaired by highland grazing? A case study using Aosta Red Pied cows. Italian Journal of Animal Science. 2018; 17 (4):827-834.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Niero; Madeline Koczura; Massimo De Marchi; Sarah Currò; Michael Kreuzer; Germano Turille; Joel Berard. 2018. "Are cheese-making properties of dual purpose cattle impaired by highland grazing? A case study using Aosta Red Pied cows." Italian Journal of Animal Science 17, no. 4: 827-834.