Association of low serum calcium concentration after calving with productive and reproductive performance in multiparous Jersey cows

Abstract

Consequences of postpartum low blood calcium (Ca) concentration are still under study and literature describing this condition in Jersey cows is scarce. A prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the association of low serum Ca concentration shortly after calving with milk and energy-corrected milk yields, somatic cell count linear score, and pregnancy to first service and within 150 d in milk in multiparous Jersey cows from 2 commercial herds. Blood samples for serum Ca determination were collected on average at 3 h 10 min postpartum from 352 multiparous Jersey cows. Productive data up to the 10th monthly test were obtained from the Dairy Herd Improvement Association and reproductive data were obtained from herd records. Multiple linear, log-binomial, and Cox's proportional hazards regressions were used to evaluate the association of low serum Ca concentration with productive and reproductive outcomes. Serum Ca concentration ≤2.18 mmol/L was associated with 1.43 and 1.85 kg/d more milk and energy-corrected milk. However, lower serum Ca concentrations were associated with a 0.28-unithigher somatic cell count linear score per monthly test (Ca ≤2.00 mmol/L), and decreased pregnancy risk at first service (risk ratio = 0.64; Ca ≤1.94 mmol/L) and hazard of pregnancy within 150 d in milk (hazard ratio = 0.40; Ca ≤1.90 mmol/L). The present study is based on a convenience sample of multiparous Jersey cows from 2 commercial herds; further research including more herds and additional blood Ca determinations is needed to describe postpartum blood Ca dynamics and its association with productive and reproductive outcomes for the Jersey breed.

A Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating the Effect of an Oral Calcium Bolus Supplementation Strategy in Postpartum Jersey Cows on Mastitis, Culling, Milk Production, and Reproductive Performance

“…No effect of oral Ca treatment was found in pregnancy at first service in a previous Jersey study [ 25 ]. The literature is inconsistent when evaluating low concentrations of Ca in the blood as a risk factor for impaired reproduction [ 5 , 30 , 37 , 41 ]. While we did not measure serum Ca dynamics in early postpartum, Valldecabres et al (2021) demonstrated that Jersey cows with Ca ≤ 1.94 mmol/L within the first hours postpartum had decreased risk of pregnancy [ 41 ].…”

“…The literature is inconsistent when evaluating low concentrations of Ca in the blood as a risk factor for impaired reproduction [ 5 , 30 , 37 , 41 ]. While we did not measure serum Ca dynamics in early postpartum, Valldecabres et al (2021) demonstrated that Jersey cows with Ca ≤ 1.94 mmol/L within the first hours postpartum had decreased risk of pregnancy [ 41 ]. On the other hand, Menta et al (2021) demonstrated no association of blood Ca levels in the first 3 d postpartum and pregnancy to first service [ 5 ].…”

Effectiveness of Intramammary Antibiotics, Internal Teat Sealants, or Both at Dry-Off in Dairy Cows: Milk Production and Somatic Cell Count Outcomes

“…Splines have been used to model milk production resulting in pre- and post-peak linear predictions that meet at a fixed knot representing DIM at peak milk production [ 31 , 32 ]. Subsequent modifications allowed for a lactation-specific knot such that the two splines meet at the naturally observed DIM at peak milk production for each lactation [ 33 ] and have been applied to other dairy cattle health outcomes [ 34 ].…”

Production and reproduction responses for dairy cattle supplemented with oral calcium bolus after calving: Systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Processes such as colostrogenesis, milk synthesis, immune activation, or inflammation challenge the homeostatic and homeorhetic mechanisms responsible to maintain blood calcium (Ca) concentration, and may lead to low blood Ca concentration during the peripartum period ( Horst et al, 2020 ; Valldecabres and Silva-del-Río, 2022 ). Low blood Ca concentration postpartum has been associated in epidemiological studies with undesired outcomes such as increased risk of diseases and reproductive inefficiency ( Rodríguez et al, 2017 ; Valldecabres and Silva-del-Río, 2021a ). Thus, management strategies aiming to support blood Ca concentration during the periparturient period are common in commercial farms.…”