The aim of this study was to examine the possibility of using results of metabolic profile test in the prediction and diagnosis of fatty liver in Holstein cows. Forty dry cows, 5 to 7 days before calving, were chosen from the commercial dairy herd and included in the study. Four blood samples were taken by jugular venipuncture from each animal: 5 to 7 days before expected calving (dry period), as well as on day 12, 30 and 60 of lactation. Concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), total protein, albumin, urea, total bilirubin, calcium and phosphorus concentrations were measured in all blood samples. On day 12 after calving, liver percutaneous biopsies were obtained using a biopsy instrument. Liver tissue lipid content was determined by pathohistological determination. Cows were divided into two groups of equal size based on the degree of lipid accumulation in the liver: healthy cows (0.00 fat, n = 20) and cows with fatty liver syndrome (>20% fat, n = 20). Milking was measured each day from day 7 to day 60 of lactation. Results showed that 5 to 7 days before calving, as well as 12 days after calving, BHBA concentrations were significantly higher (p<0.001, respectively) in diseased cows than in healthy cows. Additionally, the concentration of glucose was significantly lower (p<0.01) and the concentration of total bilirubin significantly higher (p<0.001) in diseased compared to healthy cows, at day 12 of lactation. Thirty days after calving, concentrations of albumin, glucose, BHBA and Ca were significantly lower in diseased compared to healthy cows (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). At day 60 after calving, concentrations of biochemical parameters did not differ between diseased and healthy cows. The lactation curve differed in diseased compared to healthy cows, starting from day 26 of lactation. Starting form that day until day 60 of lactation average daily milk production was significantly higher in healthy than in diseased cows, except on day 32 of lactation when the difference was not significant. Based on these results it can be concluded that the metabolic profile test may be a reliable tool for the prediction and diagnosis of fatty liver in Holstein cows
Causes for cow culling in a tie stall system were investigated on a sample of 3060 cows culled in 2011, on seven large dairy farms in the Belgrade region. The total level of culling was 34.58% of the average number of cows. The number of cows culled decreased with lactation order (from 981 cows in the first to 294 cows in the sixth and later lactations). The most dominant cause for culling were diseases of the legs and hooves (28.4%), as was expected, having in mind the tie stall system. If selection (low production) is abstracted as the reason for culling, what stands out by importance are metabolic diseases (15.7%) and problems of reproduction (reproductive diseases-8.6%, and difficult calvings and abortions 5.7%). With the increase of duration of the lactation during which cows were culled, reproductive diseases gained importance as the reason for culling, while the importance of metabolic diseases and diseases of the legs and hooves in this context decreased. When culled, on the average, cows were 5.2 years old, having on the average spent 1112 days in production, of which 978 days in milking. Their average milk production per day of milking was 22.00 kg, per day of life 10.6 kg, and per day of production 19.8 kg.
It is general knowledge that management influences results in cattle production to the highest extent, and that the culling of cows is a very good indicator of the success of farm management. A comparison of results of culling for first calving cows on farms with various levels of production in 2011 established differences both for the number of culled animals and the reasons for culling. On farms with higher levels of production, the share of first calving cows in overall culling was 25.9% or 4.5% less than on farms with a lower level of production, i.e. 4.8% less died, and 0.7% first calving cows had to be slaughtered, while 5.6% more first calving cows were culled for economic reasons. At both levels of production, dominant reasons for culling were diseases of the legs and hoofs, which can be linked to the tie stall system (more pronounced on farms with higher production) and metabolic disorders (more dominant on farms with lower production). Reproduction was a more considerable problem on farms with higher milk production, while culling due to selection was more pronounced on farms with lower production. In early lactation of first calving cows, regardless of the level of production, dominant reasons for culling on farms are leg and hoof problems and metabolic disorders (total: 55% i.e. 55.9%). When reasons for culling of first calving cows after 100 days of lactation are investigated, on farms with high production the significance of diseases of legs and hoofs remains almost unchanged, but culling due to reproduction grows to 28%. On farms with lower production, culling due to leg and hoof diseases is considerably reduced after 100 days of lactation, however culling due to selection is tripled (62%).
The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of blood variables obtained simultaneously from the jugular and mammary veins of dairy cows. Eighty Holstein cows were divided into four equal groups: dry, low-(LY), medium-(MY) and high-yielding (HY). Blood insulin, glucose, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and urea concentrations were measured. The jugular and mammary vein (J/M) ratio between concentrations of each variable was calculated. Differences between the groups of cows in concentrations of variables in the jugular vein were not in accordance with those obtained for the mammary vein. J/M values for insulin and glucose concentrations were above 1.0 in all groups of cows. The ratios for NEFA and BHBA concentrations were under or equal to 1.0 in dry and LY cows but above 1.0 in the MY and HY groups, indicating that in MY and HY cows those metabolites are apparently utilised by the mammary gland. J/M values for urea were above 1.0 in dry and LY cows but less than 1.0 in groups MY and HY, indicating that in the latter case urea is apparently released by the mammary gland. In conclusion, J/M for NEFA, BHBA and urea may be useful for estimation of the critical point when the mammary gland receives insufficient energy precursors for its current activity.Key words: Energy balance, mammary vein, jugular vein, dairy cow, milk yield Energy balance (EB) is calculated as the difference between energy consumption in the diet and energy use by the body to support maintenance, growth, milk
The aim of this study was to estimate the association between body condition and fatty liver in high-yielding dairy cows. One hundred dry Holstein cows were selected. Cows were scored once for body condition during the dry period, puerperium and month 2 of lactation, according to the system provided by Elanco Animal Health Buletin Al 8478. Body condition loss was determined as marked if loss was over 0.7 points between two consecutive phases of cycles and over 1.5 points between puerperium and month 2 of lactation. Liver tissue samples were taken 12 d after calving and tested for lipid content. 50% of cows had mild (3.92 ± 3.33% fat), 33% moderate (19.28 ± 5.18% fat), and 17% severe fatty liver (36.21 ± 4.55% fat). The mean body condition scores were 3.79 ± 0.55 (dry period), 3.18 ± 0.34 (puerperium) and 2.90 ± 0.29 (month 2 of lactation). Marked body condition loss from the dry period to puerperium had 38% of cows, 20% from dry period to month 2 of lactation and 8% from puerperium to month 2 of lactation. Body condition scores out of the physiological range had 39% dry cows, 49 % cows in puerperium and 9% cows at month 2 of lactation. After dividing cows into groups according to fatty liver degree, it was shown that only cows with severe fatty liver were obese during the dry period and that 76.47% of cows from this group had marked condition loss from the dry period to puerperium, 47.06% from dry period to month 2 of lactation and 23.53% from puerperium to month 2 of lactation. These indicate that in cows with severe fatty liver lipomobilisation is intensive and starts around calving, before milk production enhacement. Our results indicate a strong association between body condition and fatty liver in cows, which can be estimated only when body condition is analyzed in details. Besides, our results clearly indicate that body condition is not the only etiological factor that leads to fatty liver in dairy cows
The aim of this study was to determine the influence of an energy supplement on the basis of propylene glycol on the values of metabolic profile parameters in periparturient cows. Fifteen days before calving, 40 cows were selected and divided into two groups: control (n=20) and experimental (n=20). From day 15 before to day 30 after calving, the experimental group of cows received an energy supplement based on propyleneglycol added in food ("OSIMOL“, Veyx-Pharma GmbH, Germany). Blood samples were taken 15 days before and 10 days after calving. Concentrations of glucose and betahydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) were determined immediately after blood was taken. Concentrations of total protein, albumin, urea and total bilirubin were determined in the blood serum. There was no significant difference in the average values of the measured parameters between the control and the experimental group of cows. After parturition glycemia in cows of the control group was lower than physiologically acceptable (x=1.93±0.43 mmol/L), and glucose in cows of the experimental group was at the upper physiological limit (x=3.13±0.33 mmol/L) and signicantly higher (p<0.001) than in the control group. The concentration of BHBA in cows that received the energy supplement („OSIMOL“) was 0.40±0.12 mmol/L, while in the control group of cows it was significantly higher (p<0.001) and stood at 0.88 ±0.39 mmol/L. Furthermore, the concentration of total bilirubin in the cows of the experimental group was within the physiological range (x = 4.09± 1.42 μmol/L), while in the cows of the control group it was significantly higher (p<0.05) and stood at 10.19±5.16 μmol/l
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