Zinpro Availa®4 Research Brochure

Study Objective

Evaluate the impact of feeding Availa®4 to beef cows, during the second and third trimesters of gestation, on female offspring.

Study Duration

620 d

Animals

Female offspring sub-set (n = 78) from 190 crossbred beef cows

Treatments

Availa 4: Zn, Cu, Mn from amino acid complexes, Co glucoheptonate; fed to equal 7 g/hd/d (49 g/hd over 3 feedings/week)

Inorganic: Zn, Cu, Mn, and Co from inorganic sources fed at Iso-levels to Availa 4

Experimental Procedures

Day –167 to 0: Cows individually fed respective mineral treatments, three times per week from midgestation through calving

Day 0: Calves born; all cow-calf pairs managed as a single group and fed inorganic mineral supplement

Day 200 : Calves weaned and managed as one group; fed inorganic mineral supplement

Day 245: Heifer calves moved to oat pastures. Weekly blood samples collected and evaluated for circulating progesterone to determine age at puberty

Day 453: Heifer evaluation ends

Results

• Feeding Availa 4 to beef cows the last 5 months of gestation results in female offspring that reach puberty at a younger age

• Greater bodyweights were not necessary to achieve earlier puberty

Age at Puberty, d

Body Weight at Puberty, kg

Percent Heifers Pubertal by Age

Implications

• Earlier puberty allows heifers more estrus cycles prior to breeding, resulting in greater potential for reproductive success

• First breeding season success leads to greater herd longevity and profitability

Study

Objectives

Evaluate the impact of replacing inorganic trace minerals with Availa®Plus on ovum recovery and in vitro embryo production in lactating beef cows.

Study Duration

97 days

Research Brief

Effect of Availa®Plus on Oocyte and Embryo Production In Lactating Beef Cows

Results

• Cows fed Availa-Plus produced more total oocytes, culturable oocytes, transferable embryos, and freezable embryos

• Feeding Availa-Plus improved oocyte to embryo efficiency as evidenced by the smaller oocyte to embryo ratio for cows fed Availa-Plus

Culturable Oocytes Categories A to Ca

Transferable Embryos Grades 1 to 3

Animals

Treatments

Availa-Plus: Zn, Cu, Mn from amino acid complexes, Co glucoheptonate and I

Control: Zn, Cu, Mn, Co and I from inorganic sources fed at Iso-levels to Availa-Plus

Experimental Procedures

• Cows maintained on fescue and clover mix pastures

• Treatment supplements fed free-choice, in weekly allotments, with a target intake of 4 oz supplement per cow per day

• Supplements formulated to provide 60 ppm Zn, 20 ppm Mn, 10 ppm Cu, 1 ppm Co and 1.3 ppm I on a total dietary basis, based on estimated forage intake

• Follicle stimulating hormone was not administered to cows

• Day 0: Cows stratified by body weight, BCS, days post-partum and age and assigned to Availa-Plus or Control treatments

• Day 30: Following a 7 d CO-Synch+CIDR protocol cows inseminated via fixed time AI to a single sire in order to maintain a normal breeding season

• Day 58: Cows diagnosed pregnant (n = 38) via ultrasound remained on their respective mineral supplementation treatments; non-pregnant cows removed from experiment

• Day 82 and 97: Cows subjected to oocyte pickup. All follicles greater than 5 mm were aspirated to recover cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC). After washing, COC’s evaluated and graded (A to D). Within pen, COC’s graded A through C were pooled and fertilized for in vitro embryo production. Eight days after fertilization, the embryos progressing to blastocyst stage were assessed and graded (1 to 4) prior to freezing

• Day 97: Backfat measurements and liver biopsy samples collected from each cow

a Oocyte categorization: A, homogenous, evenly granulated cytoplasm and numerous layers of compact, non-expanded cumulus cells; B, similar to A, but fewer layers of cumulus cells; C, ooplasmic irregularities, very few cumulus or expanding cumulus cells; D, atretic, too small (< ~100 µm), denuded, lysed, and/or morphologically abnormal b Availa-Plus: Availa®Zn zinc amino acid complex, Availa®Mn manganese amino acid complex, Availa®Cu copper amino acid complex, COPRO® cobalt glucoheptonate, and potassium iodide yz Means lacking a common superscript letter differ, P = 0.05

Freezable

a Availa-Plus: Availa-Zn zinc amino acid complex, Availa-Mn manganese amino acid complex, Availa-Cu copper amino acid complex, COPRO cobalt glucoheptonate, and potassium iodide yz Means lacking a common superscript letter differ, P = 0.06

a Availa-Plus: Availa-Zn zinc amino acid complex, Availa-Mn manganese amino acid complex, Availa-Cu copper amino acid complex, COPRO cobalt glucoheptonate, and potassium iodide yz Means lacking a common superscript letter differ, P = 0.03

Conclusions

a Availa-Plus: Availa-Zn zinc amino acid complex, Availa-Mn manganese amino acid complex, Availa-Cu copper amino acid complex, COPRO cobalt glucoheptonate, and potassium iodide yz Means lacking a common superscript letter differ, P = 0.06

• Feeding Availa-Plus resulted in a greater quantity of high quality, transferable embryos

• Results agree with previous research showing beneficial impacts of Zinpro Performance Minerals on bovine reproduction

Thirty-eight Angus cow-calf pairs

Research Now

Availa®Zn Improved Ruminant Gut Health in Heat-Stressed Holstein Steers

Introduction:

This study was designed to assess the effect of Availa®Zn on ameliorating the negative impacts of heat stress on intestinal integrity and villi morphology in Holstein steers.

Experimental Design:

Forty Holstein steers were fed ad libitum 1 of 2 Zn treatment diets for 21 days: 75 ppm Zn from ZnSO4 (0AvZn) or 35 ppm Zn from ZnSO4 and 40 ppm Zn from Availa-Zn (40AvZn). On d 22 steers were moved to environmental chambers and continued to receive treatment diets ad libitum (AL) under thermal neutral conditions (TN) for 5 days (Period 1). Steers were then assigned to 1 of 5 diets and environment combinations for 6 days (Period 2). Steers continued to receive either 0AvZn or 40AvZn and were housed under TN or heat stress (HS) conditions. Pair-fed (PF) steers were fed similar amounts of dry matter as their ad libitum fed HS counterparts.

Period 2 treatments:

T1: TN, AL, 0AvZn (CON)

T2: TN, PF to T3, 0AvZn (0CZPF)

T3: HS, AL, 0AvZn (0CZHS)

T4: TN, PF to T5, 40AvZn (40CZPF)

T5: HS, AL, 40AvZn (40CZHS)

Results:

Feeding 40AvZn tended to increase dry matter intake (DMI) regardless of environment, P = 0.09

Compared to HS steers fed 0AvZn, HS steers receiving 40AvZn were observed to have (P < 0.01):

• Reduced rectal temperatures

• Decreased duodenum villi width

• Increased jejunum villi height and villi height:crypt depth

Compared to TN, HS steers were observed to have (P < 0.01):

• Decreased NEFA and serum amyloid A

• Increased BUN, insulin:DMI, and L-lactate

Compared to PF, HS steers had (P < 0.01):

• Increased numbers of goblet cells in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon

Feeding Availa-Zn improved DMI, reduced rectal temperature, and altered intestinal morphology resulting in improved ruminant gut health of heat-stressed steers.

The Effects of Zinc Amino Acid Complex on Biomarkers of Gut Integrity and Metabolism in Heat-Stressed Steers. M. Abuajamieh1, S.K. Kvidera1, E.A. Horst1, E.J. Mayorga1, J.T. Seibert1, J.S. Johnson1, J. W. Ross1, M. Al-Qaisi1, P.J. Gordon1, J.M. DeFrain3, R.P. Rhoads2, and L.H. Baumgard1 1Iowa State University, 2Virginia Tech University, 3Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN, USA.

Supplemental Zn improves monogastric intestinal integrity during heat stress (HS), but its ability to improve ruminant gut health is unknown. Forty Holstein steers (173.6 ± 4.9 kg) were used in a replicated, incomplete 2x3 factorial design to determine the effect of Zn source (ZnSO4 vs. Zn amino acid complex [CZ; Availa®Zn, Zinpro Corporation]) and environment (thermal neutral [TN] conditions or cyclical HS) on biomarkers of intestinal integrity and villi morphology. Steers were fed ad libitum (AL) one of two diets for 21 d: 1) 75 mg/kg of Zn from ZnSO4 or 2) 35 mg/kg Zn from ZnSO4 and 40 mg/kg Zn from of CZ. Steers remained on assigned diets and were then housed in environmental chambers. The experiment consisted of two periods (P): P1) 5 d of baseline in TN-AL conditions (20.2±1.4°C, 30.4±4.3% RH) and P2) 6 d of environment implementation followed by euthanasia. During P2, steers received one of five diet by environment combinations:

1) TN fed AL 75 mg/kg of Zn from ZnSO4 (Ctrl; n=8), 2) TN pair-fed (PF) 75 mg/kg of Zn from ZnSO4 (0CZPF, n=8), 3) HS (27.1±1.5 to 35.0±2.9°C, 19.3±3.5% RH) and fed AL 75 mg/kg of Zn from ZnSO4 (0CZHS; n=8), 4) TN and PF 35 mg/kg of Zn from ZnSO4 and 40 mg/kg of Zn from CZ (40CZPF, n=8), and 5) HS and fed AL 35 mg/kg of Zn from ZnSO4 and 40 mg/kg of Zn from CZ (40CZHS; n=8). The Ctrl, 0CZPF, and 40CZPF steers remained in TN continuously. The 0CZPF and 40CZPF steers were fed to their 0CZHS and 40CZHS counterparts, respectively. Data were analyzed with repeated measures using PROC MIXED in SAS and P1 data used as a covariate. Preplanned contrasts evaluated Zn source and environment. Regardless of environment, 40CZ tended to increase DMI (10%; P = 0.09) relative to 0CZ (P < 0.01). Compared to TN, HS decreased NEFA, serum amyloid A and increased BUN, insulin:DMI, and L-lactate (P < 0.01). 40CZHS calves had reduced rectal temperature compared to 0CZHS (0.24°C; P < 0.01). Compared to PF, HS calves had increased (P < 0.01) goblet cell numbers in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon. 40CZHS decreased duodenum villi width and increased both jejunum villi height and villi height:crypt depth relative to 0CZHS (P < 0.01). Feeding CZ improved DMI, reduced rectal temperature, and altered intestinal morphology; changes indicative of improved intestinal barrier function during HS.

Key words: gut health, heat stress, intestine, zinc

Research Now

ZINPRO® Zinc Methionine Improved Mammary Tight Junction Integrity

Introduction:

This study was designed to assess the effect of ZINPRO® zinc methionine (ZINPRO) on mammary tight junction (MTJ) integrity in heat-stressed lactating dairy cows.

Experimental Design:

Seventy-two multiparous, lactating Holstein cows were evaluated during two 84-day periods. During the baseline period, cows received 1 of 2 zinc treatments: ZnCl alone or ZnCl + ZINPRO, and were cooled with fans and misters. Diets were maintained during a subsequent environmental challenge when some cows were deprived of access to cooling mechanisms (Cooled or Not Cooled).

Baseline Treatments:

T1: 75 ppm ZnCl; Cooled

T2: 35 ppm ZnCl + 40 ppm ZINPRO; Cooled

Environmental Challenge Treatments:

T1: 75 ppm ZnCl; Cooled

T2: 35 ppm ZnCl + 40 ppm ZINPRO; Cooled

T3: 75 ppm ZnCl; Not Cooled

T4: 35 ppm ZnCl + 40 ppm ZINPRO; Not Cooled

Results:

Baseline phase

At the start of the baseline phase, plasma lactose was similar between Zn treatments; however, as the baseline phase progressed, plasma lactose increased in cows receiving only ZnCl, but remained unchanged in cows consuming ZINPRO (Zn source X day, P = 0.06).

Environmental challenge phase

During the environmental challenge, feeding ZINPRO tended to decrease plasma lactose, P = 0.11.

Cooled cows receiving ZINPRO had lower milk fat % compared to other treatments (Zn treatment X environment, P = 0.04).

Cows deprived of cooling systems were observed to have:

• Decreased feed intake, energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield, milk lactose, and milk solids, P ≤ 0.05

• Increased milk urea nitrogen and vaginal temperature, P < 0.01

• A tendency for increased plasma lactose over time, P = 0.09

Removing cooling systems impaired lactation performance; however, cows receiving ZINPRO® zinc methionine had improved MTJ integrity as evidenced by lower plasma lactose.

Abstract

Effects of heat stress and dietary zinc source on mammary tight junction of lactating dairy cows. X-S. Weng1, A.

P. A. Monteiro1, J-R Guo1†, J. K. Bernard1, J. M. DeFrain2, S. Tao1

1Department of Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Tifton, 31793, 2Zinpro Corporation, Eden Prairie, MN, USA

Dietary Zn has been shown to alter gut integrity in monogastrics under heat stress. However, the effect of Zn on mammary tight junction (MTJ) integrity in heat-stressed lactating dairy cows has not been studied. Seventy-two multiparous lactating Holstein cows (2.9±1.1 parity; 99.7±55.5 d in milk) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with a 2×2 factorial arrangement to study the effect of environment and Zn source on performance and MTJ integrity (n=18/treatment). Treatments included two environments: cooled (CL) or not cooled (NC) and two Zn source: 75 ppm supplemental Zn as ZnCl (IOZ), or 35 ppm ZnCl + 40 ppm Zn-methionine complex (ZMC). The experiment was divided into baseline and environmental challenge phases, 84 d each. During the baseline phase, all cows were cooled (fans and misters over the freestall and feeding areas, average temperature-humidity index = 73) and fed respective dietary treatments while during the environmental challenge phase NC cows were not cooled (average temperaturehumidity index = 78). Feed intake was measured daily. Milk yield was recorded at each milking (3×/d) and composition was analyzed weekly. Vaginal temperature was measured every 5 min for 4 d/wk. Milk and plasma samples were collected weekly for analyses of milk BSA and plasma lactose. Deprivation of cooling decreased DMI (P < 0.01). Energy-corrected milk yield decreased (P < 0.01) for NC cows relative to CL (24.5 vs. 34.1 kg/d). An interaction between environment and Zn source (P = 0.04) occurred for milk fat percent as CL cows fed ZMC had lower milk fat percent relative to other groups. Relative to CL, NC cows had lower milk lactose and solids-not-fat percent (P = 0.05) but higher concentration of milk urea nitrogen (P < 0.01). Vaginal temperature was higher (P < 0.01) in NC cows relative to CL (39.9 vs. 39.0 °C). Plasma lactose was similar between treatments at the start of the baseline phase, but increased in cows fed IOZ and was unchanged in cows fed ZMC throughout the baseline phase (Zn source × d, P = 0.06). Relative to CL cows, plasma lactose tended to increase in NC cows over time (environment × d, P = 0.09), indicating increased MTJ permeability, and feeding ZMC tended to decrease plasma lactose during the environmental challenge phase relative to IOZ (P = 0.11). In conclusion, removing active cooling impairs lactation performance and feeding a portion of dietary Zn as ZMC improves the integrity of MTJ as evidenced by the decreased permeability of lactose through MTJ.

Key words: heat stress, mammary tight junction, zinc