rtery at 0730 h on d 14, 18, and 21 (n = 3) of each period from each cow (BD Vacutainer, Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ). Serum and plasma samples were attained via centrifugation of the tubes at 2,500 × g for 15 min at 4°C and stored at −80°C until further analysis was conducted.