Comparison of peripartum metabolic status and postpartum health of Holstein and Montbéliarde-sired crossbred dairy cows

Abstract

Objectives of the current experiment were to evaluate plasma concentrations of metabolites and haptoglobin peripartum, uterine health and involution, and follicle growth and resumption of cyclicity of Holstein (HO) and Montbéliarde-sired crossbred cows. Cows (52 HO and 52 crossbred) were enrolled in the study 45 d before expected calving date. Cows had body weight and body condition score recorded on d -45, -14, 0, 1, 28, and 56 relative to calving. Dry matter intake was calculated for a subgroup of cows (25 HO and 38 crossbred) from 6 wk before to 6 wk after calving. Blood was sampled weekly from d -14 to 56 relative to calving for determination of glucose, nonesterified fatty acid, and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations; from d -7 to 21 relative to calving for determination of haptoglobin concentration; and from d 14 to 56 postpartum for determination of progesterone concentration. Cows were examined at calving and on d 4, 7, 10, and 14 postpartum for diagnosis of postparturient diseases, on d 24 postpartum for diagnosis of purulent vaginal discharge, and on d 42 postpartum for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis. Uteri and ovaries were examined by ultrasonography every 3 d from d 14 to 41 postpartum. Milk yield and composition were measured monthly and yield of milk, fat, protein, and energy-corrected milk were recorded for the first 90 d postpartum. Body weight was not different between Holstein and crossbred cows, but HO cows had reduced body condition score compared with crossbred cows. Even though DMI from 6 wk before to 6 wk after calving tended to be greater for HO cows (16.8 ± 0.7 vs. 15.3 ± 0.5 kg/d), HO cows tended to have more pronounced decline in dry matter intake, expressed in percentage of body weight from d -15 to 0 relative to calving. Energy-corrected milk and nonesterified fatty acid and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were not different between breeds. No differences were observed in incidence of retained fetal membranes, metritis, and subclinical endometritis, but HO cows tended to be more likely to have pyrexia from d 0 to 15 postpartum (50.0 vs. 31.4%) and to have greater incidence of purulent vaginal discharge (44.2 vs. 26.5%) than crossbred cows. Holstein cows were more likely to have at least 1 uterine disorder postpartum than crossbred cows (63.5 vs. 36.7%). No differences between breeds were observed in uterine involution. Holstein cows had larger subordinate follicles (10.1 ± 0.4 vs. 8.9 ± 0.5) and a greater number of class III follicles (1.6 ± 0.1 vs. 1.2 ± 0.1) than crossbred cows. Furthermore, the first corpus luteum postpartum of HO cows was diagnosed at a slower rate compared with crossbred cows. Crossbred cows had improved uterine health compared with HO cows and this may have been a consequence of heterosis and (or) breed complementarity and less pronounced decrease in DMI during the last days of gestation.

Reproductive performance and survival of Holstein and Holstein × Simmental crossbred cows

“…However, this does not seem to be the reason of greater fertility of crossbred cows, whereas in another study with data of the cows from herd 1, crossbred cows had higher milk yield than the Holstein cows (31.8 vs. 30.5 l/day, respectively; The reproductive parameters examined in this study may have been influenced by the energy balance of the animals, because of the higher BCS in crossbred Holstein × Simmental cows throughout the lactation (Fig. 1), confirming the results obtained by Hazel et al (2014) and Mendonça et al (2014), who compared crossbred Holstein × Monbelierde with Holstein cows. There is a negative correlation of BCS with energy balance and fertility (Banos and Coffey 2010;Bastin et al 2010).…”

“…In a study with Holstein and Holstein × Montbeliarde crossbred cows, Mendonça et al (2014) reported that the diagnosis of first postpartum corpus luteum happened earlier in crossbred cows than in Holstein cows (28.4 vs. 30.2 days, respectively). This report demonstrates that crossbred cows have an average first ovulation and therefore the first postpartum estrus earlier than the Holstein cows, helping to explain the shortest calving to first service interval observed in this study.…”

“…Comparing the performance of Holstein cows and crossbred of Holstein with Simmental or Montebeliarde breeds, crossbreds demonstrate increased solids in milk, improved fertility, longevity, somatic cell score (Schwaiger 2008;Brähmig 2011;Heins and Hansen 2012;Mendonça et al 2014), conception rate (Heins and Hansen 2012;Hazel et al 2014;Malchiodi et al 2014), and calving to first service interval (Malchiodi et al 2014;Walsh et al 2008).…”

Vulvovaginal laceration as a risk factor for uterine disease in postpartum dairy cows

“…Uterine diseases, such as metritis and clinical endometritis/purulent vaginal discharge (PVD), are highly prevalent in high-producing dairy cows. Metritis and PVD affect ~20% of lactating dairy cows, with the incidence ranging from 8% to more than 40% (Goshen and Shpigel, 2006;LeBlanc, 2008;Mendonça et al, 2014). Metritis is characterized by the presence of fetid redbrownish uterine discharge in the first 21 DIM (Sheldon et al, 2006), whereas PVD is characterized purulent vaginal discharge after 21 DIM or mucopurulent vaginal discharge after 26 DIM (Sheldon et al, 2006).…”

The Role of Innate Immune Response and Microbiome in Resilience of Dairy Cattle to Disease: The Mastitis Model

“…The literature is not very extensive and has some limitations (e.g., number of animals, different environments, diet, and management), but important physiological information can be deduced. Mendoca et al [ 145 ] compared HF and Montbéliarde-sired crossbred cows in the peripartum; no differences were found in terms of metabolic and inflammatory (haptoglobin concentration) responses, milk yield and incidence of typical peripartum diseases (retained fetal membranes, metritis, and subclinical endometritis). Despite that, the HF showed more pyrexia events in early lactation (50.0 vs. 31.4%) and a higher incidence of purulent vaginal discharge (44.2 vs. 26.5%) than crossbred cows.…”