Increase in Colostrum Yield and Improvement of Calf Health by Folic Acid Supplementation in Pregnant Dairy Cows

Abstract

To provide a novel means effective for increasing the amount of colostrum in postpartum cows and improving the health of calves. 【Solution means】A method for improving the health of calves born to a cow, comprising administering to a pregnant cow non-bypass processed folic acid in an amount of 0.5 g to 10 g / head / day or bypass processed folic acid in an amount of 12 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day in terms of folic acid for at least 50 days before parturition, and a method for increasing the amount of colostrum in a cow, comprising administering to a pregnant cow non-bypass processed folic acid in an amount of 1.5 g to 10 g / head / day or bypass processed folic acid in an amount of 35 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day in terms of folic acid for at least 50 days before parturition are provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for increasing the amount of colostrum in pregnant cows by folic acid supplementation and improving the health status of calves.

Background Art

[0002] Colostrum components such as IgG play a very important role in maintaining the health and growth of newborn calves. Regarding the colostrum components of ruminants, it has been reported that the addition of dietary folic acid to pregnant ewes increased the IgG concentration and protein ratio in colostrum (Non-Patent Document 1). As reports on folic acid administration to cows, it has been reported that folic acid administration to lactating cows during lactation after parturition increased milk production (for example, Non-Patent Document 2), and that folic acid administration to calves or rumen-protected folic acid administration to fattening cows increased the weight gain (Non-Patent Documents 3 and 4). There is no knowledge at all about the effects of folic acid administration to pregnant cows on the amount of colostrum and the health status of calves after parturition.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Document 2

Non-Patent Document 3

Non-Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide novel means effective for increasing the amount of colostrum in postpartum dairy cows and improving the health of calves.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] As a result of intensive research, the inventors of the present application have found that by administering a predetermined amount of folic acid to pregnant dairy cows, the amount of colostrum increases and the health of calves after birth also improves, and have completed the present invention including the following aspects. [1] For pregnant dairy cows, non-bypass folic acid in an amount of 0.5 g to 10 g / head / day during at least 50 days before parturition, or bypass folic acid in an amount of 12 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day in terms of folic acid as a supplement A method for improving the health of calves born to the dairy cows, including administering a method of administering folic acid during the period before childbirth without administering the folic acid after childbirth . [2] Administering folic acid said The method according to [1], wherein the period of administration is at least 2 months before parturition. [3] The method according to [1] or [2], wherein the amount of non-bypass folic acid administered is 0.8 g to 10 g / head / day, and the amount of bypass folic acid administered is 20 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day in terms of folic acid. [4] The method according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the improvement in the health of calves is at least one selected from an increase in colostrum intake, an increase in the growth amount during the lactation to weaning period, and an improvement in the fecal state during the lactation or the lactation to weaning period. [5] For pregnant dairy cows, non-bypass folic acid in an amount of 1.5 g to 10 g / head / day during at least 50 days before parturition, or bypass folic acid in an amount of 35 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day in terms of folic acid as a supplement A method for increasing the amount of colostrum in the dairy cows, including administering a method of administering folic acid during the period before childbirth without administering the folic acid after childbirth . [6] Administering folic acid said The method according to [5], wherein the period of administration is at least 2 months before parturition. [7] The method according to [5] or [6], wherein the amount of folic acid not bypass-processed is 1.8 g to 10 g / head / day, and the amount of bypass-processed folic acid is 50 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day in terms of folic acid.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, by administering folic acid to pregnant cows, the health status of calves can be improved without administering folic acid to the calves themselves after birth. In addition, by administering folic acid to pregnant cows, the amount of colostrum can be increased even without folic acid administration after parturition.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] In the present invention, the cows to which folic acid is administered are pregnant cows. They may be meat-producing breeds such as Japanese Black, or dairy breeds such as Holstein or Jersey. The number of pregnancies of the pregnant cows is not limited. The month or age of the pregnant cows is not limited either.

[0009] The folic acid administered to pregnant cows may be rumen-protected (bypass-processed) folic acid or non-bypass-processed folic acid. Rumen protection, or bypass processing, is a technique for processing components such as vitamins and amino acids so that they are not decomposed by rumen microorganisms, and it is a well-known technique in the feed field (for example, Japanese Patent No. 3728738). Bypass processing can be performed, for example, by spray-coating or pan-coating the raw material to be processed with a raw material used for bypass processing such as hardened oil. When supplementing components such as vitamins and amino acids to cows, which are ruminants, it is common to add bypass-processed components to the feed and administer them. Hereinafter, in this specification, bypass-processed folic acid may be referred to as bypass folic acid, and non-bypass-processed folic acid may be referred to as non-bypass folic acid. When simply referred to as folic acid, it refers to both bypass folic acid and non-bypass folic acid, unless it is clear from the context that it is not the case. Incidentally, the currently commercially available general bypass folic acid preparation has a folic acid content of about 40% and a bypass rate of about 10% to 40%.

[0010] When non-bypass folic acid is administered to cows, as described above, most of it is decomposed in the rumen. However, regardless of the amount of folic acid ingested, it is known that a part (about 3%) of the ingested folic acid is absorbed by the cows themselves (Santschi DE et al., J Dairy Sci. 2005 Jun;88(6):2043-54. doi: 10.3168 / jds.S0022-0302(05)72881-2. PMID: 15905435.). Therefore, in the method of the present invention, it is also possible to use non-bypass folic acid as folic acid. In the following examples, 1 g or 2 g of non-bypass folic acid is administered to pregnant cows. In this case, the amount of folic acid absorbed by the pregnant cows is about 30 mg or about 60 mg, respectively.

[0011] The period of folic acid administration is at least 50 days before parturition, and may be, for example, at least two months before parturition. By not administering folic acid to cows after parturition and administering folic acid only during the period before parturition, the amount of colostrum increases and the health condition of the calves after parturition improves. Without administering folic acid to the calves themselves, administering folic acid to the cows after parturition does not supply folic acid to the calves via breast milk, and surprisingly, the health condition of the calves is improved by administering folic acid only to the cows before parturition. The increase in the amount of colostrum is also an effect of administering folic acid only during the period before parturition, which also acts after parturition without folic acid supplementation, and this was first revealed by the inventors of the present application.

[0012] In the present invention, colostrum is milk produced within 24 hours after parturition.

[0013] The improvement in the health condition of the calves is at least one selected from, for example, an increase in the amount of colostrum intake, an increase in the growth amount during the lactation to weaning period, and an improvement in the fecal state during the lactation period or the lactation to weaning period. The lactation period is the period during which liquid feed such as milk replacer or breast milk is given before weaning, and is the period from 0 weeks of age to weaning. During this period, not only liquid feed but also artificial milk and roughage are given as solid feed. The weaning period is the period after weaning during which artificial milk and roughage are given, and is generally a period of about 10 weeks after weaning. The weaning time is appropriately set for each farm according to the method of rearing management, but in the case of artificial rearing management by early mother-calf separation, it is common to wean at 6 to 12 weeks of age.

[0014] In the method of increasing the amount of colostrum in cows, it is desirable to administer folic acid in an amount that sufficiently increases the folic acid concentration in the blood of cows. Therefore, in this method, when non-bypass folic acid is used as folic acid, the amount of folic acid administered may be 1.5 g to 10 g per head per day, for example, 1.6 g to 10 g / head / day, 1.7 g to 10 g / head / day, 1.8 g to 10 g / head / day, 1.9 g to 10 g / head / day, or 2.0 g to 10 g / head / day. The upper limit value may be a value lower than 10 g, for example, 9 g, 8 g, 7 g, 6 g, or 5 g. Regarding the administration of bypass folic acid to dairy cows, it is known that the serum folic acid concentration increases by administering 35 mg / day of bypass folic acid in terms of folic acid during the period around parturition (Non-Patent Document 2). Therefore, when bypass folic acid is used in the method of increasing the amount of colostrum, the amount of administration may be 35 mg to 2,000 mg per head per day in terms of folic acid, for example, 40 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day, 50 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day, 70 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day, 80 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day, 90 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day, or 100 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day. The upper limit value may be a value lower than 2,000 mg, for example, 1,800 mg, 1,700 mg, 1,600 mg, 1,500 mg, 1,400 mg, 1,300 mg, 1,200 mg, 1,100 mg, or 1,000 mg.

[0015] In the method for improving the health condition of calves, the folic acid dosage may be a low dosage such that no significant increase in the blood folic acid concentration of female cows is observed. In the following examples, the blood folic acid concentration of pregnant female cows administered with folic acid shows a slight increasing tendency in the 1 g administration group compared to the 0 g administration group in Figure 1, but there is no significant difference. However, it is shown that the health condition improvement effects such as an increase in the colostrum intake amount and the growth amount are obtained in the calves born (Figure 2, etc.). Therefore, in the method for improving the health condition of calves, when using non-bypass folic acid as folic acid, the folic acid dosage per head per day may be 0.5 g to 10 g, for example, 0.8 g to 10 g / head / day, 1.0 g to 10 g / head / day, 1.2 g to 10 g / head / day, 1.5 g to 10 g / head / day, or 1.8 g to 10 g / head / day. The upper limit value may be a value lower than 10 g, for example, 9 g, 8 g, 7 g, 6 g, or 5 g. When using bypass folic acid as folic acid, the dosage in terms of folic acid conversion per head per day may be 12 mg to 2,000 mg, for example, 15 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day, 20 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day, 25 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day, 30 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day, 35 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day, or 40 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day. The upper limit value may be a value lower than 2,000 mg, for example, 1,800 mg, 1,700 mg, 1,600 mg, 1,500 mg, 1,400 mg, 1,300 mg, 1,200 mg, 1,100 mg, or 1,000 mg.

[0016] Incidentally, the feed (a combination of roughage and concentrate feed, or TMR mixed with these) given to pregnant dairy cows also contains a small amount of folic acid derived from the raw materials, and pregnant dairy cows generally ingest about 5 to 10 mg of folic acid from the feed. In the present invention, when non-bypass folic acid is administered, the above-mentioned non-bypass folic acid dosage is the amount to be added to the feed, in other words, the amount to be administered as a supplement. The dosage of non-bypass folic acid including the folic acid ingested from the feed may be a value obtained by adding about 5 mg to 10 mg to the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the above-mentioned non-bypass folic acid dosage, or the dosage of non-bypass folic acid including the folic acid ingested from the feed may be the same as the above-mentioned dosage.

[0017] During the folic acid administration period, it is desirable to administer folic acid every day. The folic acid for one day may be administered in multiple portions or in one portion.

[0018] Folic acid may be administered by adding it to the feed or drinking water, or may be administered directly without adding it to the feed or the like. In the present invention, as the feed for pregnant dairy cows, a general feed or a combination of feeds commonly used for pregnant dairy cows in the art may be used, except for supplementing non-bypass folic acid or bypass folic acid as a supplement. For example, in the present invention, the pregnant dairy cows targeted for folic acid supplementation are pregnant dairy cows under cobalt-sufficient conditions (as the total cobalt content of the feed, not less than about 0.25 ppm, which is the required amount, and not more than 25 ppm, which is the maximum allowable amount).

Example

[0019] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically based on examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0020] Example: Folic acid supplementation effect on growing dairy cows 1. Materials and methods (1) Period: November 2021 to September 2023 (2) Test site: Hatoma Dairy Beef Research Laboratory, Rearing Barn (3) Test animals: 42 Holstein growing cows 2 months before parturition

[0021] (4) Test method: A. Test groups; The following three groups were set up. As the folic acid preparation, a preparation with a composition of 98% defatted rice bran and 2% non-bypass folic acid was used. (A) 0 g group (n = 14); The feed (TMR, folic acid content 29 μg / 100 g) that has been customarily fed at the Kasama Dairy Cattle Research Institute was fed at 25.56 kg / head / day. The folic acid intake from the feed was 7.4 mg / head / day. (B) 1 g group (n = 14); The folic acid preparation was top-dressed to the 0 g group TMR at 50 g / head / day (1 g / head / day as folic acid). (C) 2 g group (n = 14); The folic acid preparation was top-dressed to the 0 g group TMR at 100 g / head / day (2 g / head / day as folic acid). B. Feeding management; The feed was given twice a day and free drinking water was provided. For calves within 24 hours after birth, the colostrum of the dam or the colostrum preparation "Saisyo no Miruku" was hand-fed until satiation. Colostrum was given preferentially, and the colostrum preparation was given when colostrum was not available. The colostrum or colostrum preparation was given within 1 hour after birth, at 8:30, and at 16:30, for a maximum of 3 times / 24 hours (2 times / 24 hours depending on the birth time). Milk was allowed to be freely ingested and forced administration was not performed. The dam was given the folic acid preparation from two months before parturition to parturition. The feeding management of calves and dams during other periods followed the custom of the Kasama Dairy Cattle Research Institute. The calves were weaned at 8 weeks of age.

[0022] (5) Investigation items: A. Feed components; The general components of the feed were analyzed by Cumberland Valley Analytical Service (CVAS) (the analysis data are omitted). The analysis of the folic acid content was commissioned to the Japan Food Analysis Center, a general incorporated foundation, and was performed by the microbiological quantification method (using the strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469). B. Colostrum volume; The milk volume within 24 hours after parturition was measured. C. Colostrum components; The milk fat percentage, milk protein percentage, non-fat solids percentage, lactose percentage, and milk urea nitrogen were measured by the Kanto Raw Milk Marketing Federation. In addition, the IgG concentration was measured. E. Blood components; Blood was collected once a week until parturition, and general biochemical tests and folic acid concentration measurements were performed at Koto Institute of Microbiology Co., Ltd. General biochemical tests were performed on the sera of calves immediately after birth and one day later. O. Body weight; The birth weight of the calves was measured. Thereafter, the body weight was measured weekly until 10 weeks of age, and the average daily weight gain over 10 weeks was calculated. K. Fecal score; The fecal characteristics were visually observed and recorded daily for 10 weeks. When evaluating the severity of diarrhea, normal feces were scored as 0, soft feces as 1, and watery feces as 2.

[0023] (6) Statistical analysis: Analysis of variance was performed by model fitting in JMP Ver. 17.1. For the items measured in the dam cows, one-way analysis of variance with treatment as a factor was performed. When significant, Tukey's HSD test was performed. For the items measured in the calf cows, two-way analysis of variance with treatment and sex as factors was performed. When the treatment or interaction was significant, Tukey's HSD test was performed. In addition, simple regression analysis of linear and quadratic polynomial degrees between the folic acid dosage and each item value was performed. A P-value of 0.05 or less was considered significant, and a P-value of 0.10 or less was considered a tendency.

[0024] 2. Results and discussion (1) Folic acid concentration in the serum of Holstein breeding cows (Figure 1) The folic acid concentration in the 2 g group was significantly higher than that in the 0 g group in the serum. On the other hand, the folic acid concentration in the 1 g group showed a tendency to increase slightly compared to the folic acid concentration in the 0 g group, but no significant difference was observed, and they were almost equivalent.

[0025] (2) Colostrum characteristics (Table 1) The amount of colostrum was high according to the folic acid dosage, and the amount of colostrum in the 2 g group was significantly increased compared to that in the 0 g group. No folic acid supplementation effect was observed on the proportion of each milk component, MUN concentration, and IgG concentration. However, the production of fat-free solids, protein, and IgG increased with folic acid supplementation, and the increase was higher according to the folic acid dosage. The linear increase in the production of fat-free solids and protein due to folic acid supplementation was considered to be due to the increase in IgG production. Since it is known that the proportion of milk components is diluted by the amount of milk, it is possible that proteins and fat-free solids were diluted in the 2 g group with a high milk volume and did not change as a proportion.

[0026]

Table 1

[0027] (3) Birth weight and colostrum intake of calves (Table 2) The sex distribution within each group was as follows: 0 g group (5 males and 9 females), 1 g (5 males and 9 females), and 2 g (6 males and 8 females). The birth weights were similar among the groups. The colostrum intake increased according to the folic acid dosage, and a significant difference was observed between the 0 g group and the folic acid-supplemented groups in the colostrum intake within 24 hours after birth. When calculating the colostrum intake ratio per birth weight, no inter-group difference was observed in the intake ratio per birth weight within 12 hours after birth, and the values were equivalent. However, the intake ratio per birth weight within 24 hours after birth increased with folic acid supplementation, and the increase was higher according to the folic acid dosage. In the folic acid-supplemented groups, calves actively ingested colostrum immediately after birth and continued to ingest colostrum without stalling even after 12 hours after birth. Since no inter-group difference was observed in the delivery time or the number of milk feedings (data omitted), the increase in the colostrum intake of calves was considered to be due to the folic acid supplementation to the dam cows.

[0028]

Table 2

[0029] (4) IgG intake, serum IgG concentration, and absorption efficiency (AEA) of calves (Table 3) There was no significant difference in IgG intake within 12 hours after birth among the groups, and the values were equivalent. However, IgG intake within 24 hours after birth increased with folic acid supplementation, and the increase was proportional to the amount of folic acid administered. Since the IgG concentration in colostrum contained in the "first milk" was stable and there was no significant difference in IgG concentration in colostrum among the groups as described above, it is considered to be the result according to the colostrum intake amount of calves. The serum IgG concentration immediately after birth showed no significant difference among the groups, confirming that there was no immune transfer. The serum IgG concentration of the 2 g group at 24 hours after birth was higher than that of the 0 g group at 24 hours after birth, and the increase was proportional to the amount of folic acid administered. No folic acid supplementation effect was observed on the AEA of colostrum at 24 hours after birth. From the above results, it was shown that folic acid supplementation before parturition increased the colostrum intake amount of calves and enhanced IgG intake.

[0030]

Table 3

[0031] (5) Average daily weight gain of calves at 10 weeks (Figure 2) The average daily weight gain of calves at 10 weeks after birth increased linearly with the increase in the amount of folic acid supplemented to the cows. It was confirmed that folic acid supplementation to pregnant cows before parturition improved the weight gain of calves and the effect persisted at least until the 10th week after birth.

[0032] (6) Fecal score (Table 4) The fecal score of calves at 10 weeks after birth decreased with folic acid supplementation to the cows. The calves were weaned at 8 weeks of age, and when evaluated separately by period with the period before weaning as the lactation period and the period after weaning as the weaning period, regardless of the period, the fecal score decreased linearly with the increase in the amount of folic acid supplementation during both the lactation period and the weaning period. It was confirmed that folic acid supplementation to pregnant cows before parturition improved the fecal characteristics of calves and the effect persisted at least until the 10th week after birth.

[0033]

Table 4

Claims

1. A method for improving the health of a calf born to a pregnant cow, comprising feeding said cow a supplement of non-bypassed folic acid in an amount of 0.5 g to 10 g / head / day, or bypassed folic acid in an amount of 12 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day in terms of folic acid, for a period of at least 50 days prior to calving, wherein said feeding of folic acid is not performed after calving, and said feeding of folic acid is performed during said period prior to calving.

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said period of folic acid supplementation is at least two months prior to parturition.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of non-bypassed folic acid fed is 0.8 g to 10 g / head / day, and the amount of bypassed folic acid fed is 20 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day in terms of folic acid.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the improvement in the health condition of the calf is at least one selected from an increase in colostrum intake, an increase in weight gain from the suckling period to the weaning period, and an improvement in fecal condition during the suckling period or from the suckling period to the weaning period.

5. 1. A method for increasing colostrum production in a pregnant cow, comprising feeding said cow a supplement of non-bypassed folic acid in an amount of 1.5 g to 10 g / head / day, or bypassed folic acid in an amount of 35 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day in terms of folic acid, for a period of at least 50 days prior to calving, wherein said feeding of folic acid is not performed after calving, and said feeding of folic acid is performed during said period prior to calving.

6. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said period of providing folic acid is at least two months prior to parturition.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the amount of non-bypassed folic acid fed is 1.8 g to 10 g / head / day, and the amount of bypassed folic acid fed is 50 mg to 2,000 mg / head / day in terms of folic acid.

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