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ns based on these mechanisms will likely increase overt signs of estrus in dairy cows.Circular RNAs are a class of noncoding RNA with a widespread occurrence in eukaryote tissues, and with some having been demonstrated to have clear biological function. this website In sheep, little is known about the role of circular RNAs in mammary gland tissue, and therefore an RNA sequencing approach was used to compare mammary gland tissue expression of circular RNAs in 9 Small Tail Han sheep at peak lactation, and subsequently when they were not lactating. These 9 sheep had their RNA pooled for analysis into 3 libraries from peak lactation and 3 from the nonlactating period. A total of 3,278 and 1,756 circular RNAs were identified in the peak lactation and nonlactating mammary gland tissues, respectively, and the expression and identity of 9 of them was confirmed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis and DNA sequencing. The type, chromosomal location and length of the circular RNAs identified were ascertained. Forty upregulated and one downregulated circular RNAs were characterized in the mammary gland tissue at peak lactation compared with the nonlactating mammary gland tissue. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that the parental genes of these differentially expressed circular RNAs were related to molecular function, binding, protein binding, ATP binding, and ion binding. Five differentially expression circular RNAs were selected for further analysis to predict their target microRNAs, and some microRNAs reportedly associated with the development of the mammary gland were found in the constructed circular RNA-microRNA network. This study reveals the expression profiles and characterization of circular RNAs at 2 key stages of mammary gland activity, thereby providing an improved understanding of the roles of circular RNAs in the mammary gland of sheep.Intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) act as an important intestinal barrier whose function can be impaired upon induction by hypoxia. Although intestinal barrier injuries are preventable by milk-derived exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs), the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the effect of yak and cow milk-derived exosomal miRNA on the barrier function of IEC-6 under hypoxic conditions, and explore the mechanism of yak milk exosomal miRNA to relieve the hypoxia stress. First, by Illumina HiSeq 2500 (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA) sequencing, the miRNA expression was systematically screened, and differential expression of 130 miRNAs was identified with 51 being upregulated and 79 downregulated in yak and cow milk-derived exosomes. Furthermore, the top 20 miRNAs that had a relatively consistent high expression in yak milk exosome were identified, and bta-miR-34a was found to be an effective regulator for alleviating hypoxic injury of IEC-6. In vitro assay of the role of bta-miR-34a on survival of IEC-6 in hypoxia by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) confirmed its effectiveness to significantly increase IEC-6 survival up to 13% for 12 h, and up to 9.5% for 24 h. Investigation on the regulatory relationship between bta-miRNA-34a and the hypoxia-inducible factor/apoptosis signaling pathway provided insights into the possible mechanisms by which bta-miR-34a activated the hypoxia-inducible factor and apoptosis signaling pathway, thus promoting IEC-6 survival. The results of this study suggest an important relationship between miRNA expression and intestine barrier integrity, which facilitated further understanding of the physiological function of yak and cow milk exosomal miRNAs, as well as mechanisms of hypoxia-driven epithelial homeostasis.Managing body condition in dairy cows during the close-up period could alter the availability of nutrients to the fetus during the final growth stages in utero. We investigated how maternal body condition score (BCS) in late pregnancy affected calf whole-blood mRNA abundance and IL-1β concentrations after ex vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Thirty-eight multiparous Holstein cows and their calves from a larger cohort were retrospectively grouped by prepartal BCS as normal BCS (≤3.25; n = 22; NormBCS) and high BCS (≥3.75; n = 16; HighBCS). Calf blood samples collected at birth (before receiving colostrum, d 0) and at ages 21 and 42 d (at weaning) were used for ex vivo whole-blood challenge with 3 µg/mL of LPS before mRNA isolation. Target genes evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR were associated with immune response, antioxidant function, and 1-carbon metabolism. Plasma IL-1β concentrations were also measured. Responses in plasma IL-1β and mRNA abundance were compared between LPS-challenged and noncl BCS in late prepartum influences the calf immune system response to an inflammation challenge after birth. Although few genes among those studied were altered due to maternal BCS, the fact that genes related to oxidative stress and 1-carbon metabolism responded to LPS challenge in HighBCS calves underscores the potential role of methyl donors (e.g., methionine, choline, and folic acid) in the early-life innate immune response.Newborn ungulates depend on the timely supply of colostrum containing sufficient immunoglobulins to obtain passive immunity against disease. Brix refractometry enables a rapid on-farm estimation of colostrum quality and has been intensively studied in bovines. However, the suitability of Brix refractometers for assessing colostrum quality in goats and ewes has been scarcely evaluated. The present study compared bovine, caprine, and ovine colostrum quality estimation using an optical Brix refractometer. In addition, between-species variations in the relationships between Brix values and colostrum constituents (IgG, fat, protein, and lactose) and the accuracy of Brix refractometry at different cutoff values were evaluated by a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. We measured the Brix value and contents of IgG, fat, protein, and lactose in 324 colostrum samples (108 cows, 116 does, and 100 ewes). link2 Thresholds for classification of good colostrum quality (as determined by ELISA) were set at 50 mg IgG/mpite distinct between-species variations in colostrum composition.Estrus traits have economic value in dairy production systems and could be incorporated into genetic selection indices. In an effort to further understand selection responses, 2 studies were performed to estimate the intra- and interclass correlation coefficients for estrus traits. Holstein-Friesian cows (n = 1,197; study 1) across 5 pasture-based grazing dairy herds were fitted with a capacitive touch sensing (CTS) device on the rump (FlashMate, Farmshed Labs Limited, Hamilton, New Zealand). The daily number of rump touches were subjected to a peak detection program to objectively identify periods of increased rump touches above baseline (indicative of estrus). The number of times touched and the sum of the touch duration were used to compare farms and estimate the intraclass correlation (repeatability). For study 2, postpartum Holstein (n = 85) and Guernsey (n = 5) cows in a confinement-style dairy were used. Cows were fitted with an IceQube accelerometer (IceRobotics Ltd., Edinburgh, United Kingdom) to mea chin rests, and so on, received from other cows) if a genetic correlation exists for the phenotypic correlation that we observed.Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic and environmental mastitis-causing pathogen, with potential for contagious transmission. Repetitive element sequence-based PCR was used to determine genetic diversity and explore potential transmission and reservoirs for mastitis caused by K. pneumoniae on 2 large Chinese dairy farms. A total of 1,354 samples was collected from the 2 dairy farms, including milk samples from cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis, bedding, feces, feed, teat skin, and milking liners. Environmental samples were collected from all barns and milking parlors and extramammary samples from randomly selected dairy cows on both farms. In total, 272 and 93 K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from Farms A and B, respectively (with ~8K and 2K lactating cows, respectively). Isolation rates from clinical mastitis (CM), subclinical mastitis (SCM), and environmental or extramammary samples were 34, 23 and 37%, respectively for Farm A and 42, 3, and 34% for Farm B. The K. pneumoniae isolated fromurces of infection.Maladjusted cubicles for dairy cattle may cause increased skin alterations, lameness, and dirtiness. The International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering has produced several recommendations for cubicle design, but a previous study showed that not all of them seem efficient. Here, we aim to refine and complete these recommendations. We collected data on 76 dairy farms (2,404 cows). We modeled the association between combinations of cubicle properties (e.g., type of bedding litter) and dimensions (e.g., cubicle width) relative to cow size, and prevalence of cow skin alterations, lameness, and dirtiness. We used weighted multivariable logistic regression models to predict the presence of skin alteration on the carpus; the neck, shoulder, and back; the flank, side, and udder; and the tarsus or hindquarters. We also evaluated the presence of lameness as well as the dirtiness of the lower hind legs including hocks; the hindquarters, upper hind legs, and flank; the cow rear including tail; and thions and used to update the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering recommendations.Deoiled soy lecithin is a feed additive enriched in phospholipids. Our study evaluated the effects of dietary deoiled soy lecithin supplementation on (1) milk production and composition, (2) plasma and milk fatty acid (FA) content and yield, and (3) apparent FA digestibility and absorption in lactating dairy cows fed fractionated palm fat. In a split-plot Latin square design, 16 Holstein cows (160 ± 7 days in milk; 3.6 ± 1.2 parity) were randomly allocated to a main plot receiving a corn silage and alfalfa haylage-based diet with palm fat containing either moderate (MPA) or high palmitic acid (HPA) content at 1.75% of ration dry matter (72 or 99% palmitic acid, respectively; n = 8/palm fat diet). On each palm fat diet, deoiled soy lecithin was top-dressed at 0, 0.12, 0.24, or 0.36% of ration dry matter in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Following a 14-d covariate period, lecithin supplementation spanned 14 d, with milk and blood collected during the final 3 d. Milk composition and pooled plasma markert modify FA digestibility or absorption. Our observations suggest that soy lecithin feeding modifies rumen digestion to reduce dry matter intake and change milk composition.In dairy cattle infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV), the proviral load (PVL) level is directly related to the viral transmission from infected animals to their healthy herdmates. link3 Two contrasting phenotypic groups can be identified when assessing PVL in peripheral blood of infected cows. A large number of reports point to bovine genetic variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms) as one of the key determinants underlying PVL level. However, biological mechanisms driving BLV PVL profiles and infection progression in cattle have not yet been elucidated. In this study, we evaluated whether a set of candidate genes affecting BLV PVL level according to whole genome association studies are differentially expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from phenotypically contrasting groups of BLV-infected cows. During a 10-mo-long sampling scheme, 129 Holstein cows were phenotyped measuring anti-BLV antibody levels, PVL quantification, and white blood cell subpopulation counts. Finally, the expression of 8 genes (BOLA-DRB3, PRRC2A, ABT1, TNF, BAG6, BOLA-A, LY6G5B, and IER3) located within the bovine major histocompatibility complex region harboring whole genome association SNP hits was evaluated in 2 phenotypic groups high PVL (n = 7) and low PVL (n = 8).