Body condition score at calving affects systemic and hepatic transcriptome indicators of inflammation and nutrient metabolism in grazing dairy cows

Abstract

Calving body condition score (BCS) is an important determinant of early-lactation dry matter intake, milk yield, and disease incidence. The current study investigated the metabolic and molecular changes induced by the change in BCS. A group of cows of mixed age and breed were managed from the second half of the previous lactation to achieve mean group BCS (10-point scale) that were high (HBCS, 5.5; n=20), medium (MBCS, 4.5; n=18), or low (LBCS, 3.5; n=19). Blood was sampled at wk -4, -3, -2, 1, 3, 5, and 6 relative to parturition to measure biomarkers of energy balance, inflammation, and liver function. Liver was biopsied on wk 1, 3, and 5 relative to parturition, and 10 cows per BCS group were used for transcript profiling via quantitative PCR. Cows in HBCS and MBCS produced more milk and had greater concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate postpartum than LBCS. Peak concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate and greater hepatic triacylglycerol concentrations were recorded in HBCS at wk 3. Consistent with blood biomarkers, HBCS and MBCS had greater expression of genes associated with fatty acid oxidation (CPT1A, ACOX1), ketogenesis (HMGCS2), and hepatokines (FGF21, ANGPTL4), whereas HBCS had the lowest expression of APOB (lipoprotein transport). Greater expression during early lactation of BBOX1 in MBCS and LBCS suggested greater de novo carnitine synthesis. The greater BCS was associated with lower expression of growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling axis genes (GHR1A, IGF1, and IGFALS) and greater expression of gluconeogenic genes. These likely contributed to the higher milk production and greater gluconeogenesis. Despite greater serum haptoglobin around calving, cows in HBCS and MBCS had greater blood albumin. Cows in MBCS, however, had a higher albumin:globulin ratio, probably indicating a less pronounced inflammatory status and better liver function. The marked decrease in expression of NFKB1, STAT3, HP, and SAA3 coupled with the increase in ALB on wk 3 in MBCS cows were consistent with blood measures. Overall, results suggest that the greater milk production of cows with higher calving BCS is associated with a proinflammatory response without negatively affecting expression of genes related to metabolism and the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis. Results highlight the sensitivity of indicators of metabolic health and inflammatory state to subtle changes in calving BCS and, collectively, indicate a suboptimal health status in cows calving at either BCS 3.5 or 5.5 relative to BCS 4.5.

Relationship between Dietary Energy Level, Silage Butyric Acid and Body Condition Score with Subclinical Ketosis Incidence in Dairy Cows

“…Furthermore, obese cows would be more susceptible to the induction of ketosis than would cows of normal body condition. It has been recently reported that high BCS at calving were associated with greater concentrations of BHBA and upregulation of genes involved in ketogenesis in the liver during postpartum period compared to cows with low BCS at calving (Akbar et al, 2015). In the present study, ketotic cows had higher BCS at calving and during the first weeks postpartum than healthy cows, and they lost more body condition compared to the non-diseased cows.…”

“…In other word, the ketotic cows had higher BCS at calving and during the first weeks postpartum than the healthy cows, and significantly lost more body condition score over a prolonged period of time compared to the non-diseased cows (Gillund et al, 2001). Recently, Akbar et al (2015) reported that cows with high BCS at calving had greater concentrations of BHBA and hepatic expression of genes related to ketogenesis postpartum compared to cows with low BCS at calving. Some herds have persistent ketosis problems caused by feeding ketogenic silages (Tveit et al, 1992).…”

Relationship between the pre- and postpartum body condition scores and periparturient indices and fertility in high-yielding dairy cows

“…However, postpartum release of NEFA from adipose tissue mostly exceeds the needs and oxidation capabilities of the liver (19) and causes formation of ketone bodies including β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and reesterification to triglycerides (TG). The latter are stored in hepatocytes and implicate the development of fatty liver, reduced metabolic function, health status, productivity, and reproductive performance, as well as incidence and severity of metabolic disorders and infectious diseases (2). NEB delays the start of the ovarian activity and reduces the number of oestrus cycles, extending the days open (28).…”

Avances sobre nutrición y fertilidad en ganado lechero: Revisión

“…Durante el ciclo productivo la vaca lechera debe parir con una CC de 3.25 a 3.5 y no bajar a menos de 2.5 a los 60 a 90 días en leche. Si el animal pierde más de una unidad entre el parto y los 100 días en leche, verá comprometida su fertilidad (15,16) . La pérdida en CC durante el postparto es un fenómeno normal, debido a que los requerimientos son mayores a los aportes ofrecidos por la dieta y al nivel de consumo de alimento del animal.…”

“…Estas son vacas que presentan una marcada inmunosupresión, con mayores incidencias de retención de membranas fetales, metritis, mastitis, hipocalcemia e hipomagnesemia, cetosis, desplazamientos del abomaso e hígado graso. Además son animales que se tardan más en normalizar su ciclicidad postparto, con una TC reducida y por ende una tasa de preñez disminuida (3,13,16,28,(38)(39)(40)(41)(42) .…”