Reference values for biochemical analytes in Mexican dairy farms: interactions and adjustments between production groups

Abstract

Blood samples of 189 healthy Holstein cows classified as high-producers, low-producers, or dry cows, were collected with the purpose of establishing reference values for several biochemical analytes in Mexican dairy farms. Mean values were calculated for: 1) Energy profile: glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, β-hydroxybutyrate, and non-esterified fatty acids, 2) Protein profile: urea, albumin, globulin, and total protein, 3) Mineral profile: calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and anion gap, and 4) Hepatic enzyme: γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. The resulting data set was analyzed using Gaussian distribution and descriptive statistics. Confidence intervals of 95% were established. The linear relationships between the biochemical analytes were quantified, and an analysis of variance was performed to compare the mean values between the three production groups. The overall concentrations of the described analytes are consistent with values reported by international literature. However, lower values were found for urea, calcium, and sodium; higher values were found for cholesterol, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. Negative correlations were found between β-hydroxybutyrate and glucose or urea, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and urea, and bicarbonate and urea or phosphorus or anion gap. Positive correlations were found between β-hydroxybutyrate and cholesterol or anion gap, non-esterified fatty acids and anion gap, cholesterol and globulin, different analytes of mineral profile and anion gap or urea or glucose, and between sodium and calcium. Differences among the three production groups were observed for β-hydroxybutyrate and cholesterol concentrations. The γ-glutamyl transpeptidase concentration was similar in high and low-producing cows but was higher in comparison to serum levels of dry cows. Calcium showed differences between high-producing cows and the other two groups, and sodium showed the highest concentration in dry cows. The outcomes of this work improve the accuracy of the metabolic profiles as a tool for assessing the nutritional and health status of dairy cows.Keywords: dairy cow, blood chemistry, metabolic profile RESUMO

Evaluation of Energy Balance in Tropical and Temperate Crossbred Dairy Cows at Post-Partum Transition Stage: A Case Study

“…Serum calcium and urea contents of tropical crossbred cows were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those of temperate crossbred cows at the post-partum transition stage (Figures 2 and 3). Garcia et al (2017) and Sosa et al (2010) have also reported greater serum calcium and urea contents in high producing cows than in low producing cows.…”

Reference values for biochemical analytes in feral sheep from Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico

“…Urea is a detoxifying nitrogenous compound, synthesized from ammonium ions (NH4 + ) by periportal hepatocytes, and excreted by the renal tubules to dispose of excess dietary nitrogen (Weiner et al, 2015), or recycled via salivary secretion (Jaber et al, 2004). Serum urea concentration is a good indicator of the energy intake of sheep, as it indicates the existing synchronization rate between fermentable carbohydrates and rumen degradable protein (RDP) (García et al, 2017). CK, another nitrogenous compound, is produced by myocytes and excreted by renal tubules in proportion to the muscular mass and the rate of early endogenous proteolysis in the animal (Caldeira et al, 2007).…”

Relationship between biochemical analytes and milk fat/protein in Holstein cows

“…Considering the use of body tissues in response to NEB, the produced ketone bodies (by its acidic nature) decrease the natural buffering capacity of bicarbonate (HCO 3 -), increasing the anion gap in the blood, and causing changes in pH by movements of electrolytes, water, and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) (Herdt et al 2000, García et al 2017. The essential biochemical analytes of the mineral profile are: sodium ion (Na + ), which is the main extracellular fluid cation and an important determinant of body water homeostasis (Kume et al 2011); chlorine ion (Cl -), the most abundant anion in extracellular fluid (Soetan et al 2010); potassium ion (K + ), the principal intracellular cation in mammals (van Saun 2006); calcium ion (Ca 2+ ) and magnesium ion (Mg 2+ ) due to their importance in the rapidity of metabolic reactions and their role in the transmembrane transport systems (Houillier 2014); PO 4 -3 , its insufficient intake may result in a reduction in lactation performance and has been purported to lead to inadequate reproductive performance (Brscic et al 2015); and the enzyme γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), an essential indicator of hepatic lesions and function (Stojević et al 2005).…”