Dry period plane of energy: Effects on feed intake, energy balance, milk production, and composition in transition dairy cows

Abstract

The objective was to investigate the effect of different dry cow feeding strategies on the degree of ketonemia postpartum. Epidemiologic studies provide evidence of an association between elevated β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations in postpartum dairy cows and a decreased risk for reproductive success as well as increased risk for several diseases in early lactation, such as displacement of the abomasum and metritis. The plane of energy fed to cows in the prepartum period has been shown to influence ketogenesis and the degree of negative energy balance postpartum. Our hypothesis was that a high-fiber, controlled-energy diet (C) fed during the dry period would lead to a lower degree of hyperketonemia in the first weeks postpartum compared with either a high-energy diet (H), or a diet where an intermediate level of energy would only be fed in the close-up period (starting at 28d before expected parturition), following the same controlled-energy diet in the far-off period. Hyperketonemia in this study was defined as a blood BHBA concentration of ≥1.2mmol/L. Holstein cows (n=84) entering parity 2 or greater were enrolled using a randomized block design and housed in individual tiestalls. All treatment diets were fed for ad libitum intake and contained monensin. Cows received the same fresh cow ration after calving. Blood samples were obtained 3 times weekly before and after calving and analyzed for BHBA and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA). Milk components, production, and dry matter intake were recorded and energy balance was calculated. Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted for the outcomes dry matter intake, energy balance, BHBA and NEFA concentrations, milk and energy-corrected milk yield, as well as milk composition. Predicted energy balance tended to be less negative postpartum in group C and cows in this group had fewer episodes of hyperketonemia compared with both the intermediate group and group H in the first 3 wk after calving. Postpartum BHBA and NEFA concentrations over time were highest in group H and lowest in group C, whereas milk production was not affected by prepartum plane of energy. Analysis of milk fatty acid composition showed a higher yield of preformed fatty acids in group H compared with group C, suggesting higher lipid mobilization for cows fed H. In this study, a 1-group, controlled-energy dry period approach decreased the degree of negative energy balance as well as the number of episodes and degree of hyperketonemia postpartum.

Pre- and postpartum effects of starch and fat in dairy cows: A review

“…Several studies have investigated and reviewed the possible benefits of starch-and fat-based ingredients in prepartum diets of dairy cows (Grum et al, 1996;Drackley, 1999;Agenäs et al, 2003;McNamara et al, 2003;Dann et al, 2005;Janovick & Drackley, 2010;Janovick et al, 2011;Damgaard et al, 2013). However, results are limited, and in some instances are conflicting, with certain studies showing a positive prepartum effect on EB status (Grum et al, 1996;Janovick & Drackley, 2010;Janovick et al, 2011;Damgaard et al, 2013), milk yield (Ingvartsen & Andersen, 2000;Cavestany et al, 2009a), milk composition (Cavestany et al, 2009b;Grum et al, 1996;Damgaard et al, 2013), and reproduction performance (Cavestany et al, 2009b), with others reporting the lack of effect on these traits (McNamara et al, 2003;Agenäs et al, 2003;Burke et al, 2010;Mann et al, 2015). Unrestricted feeding of a diet containing higher energy levels (starch or fat) to prepartum cows enhanced DMI, allowing them to consume too much energy relative to their nutritional requirements, compared with those being fed a lower energy density diet (Janovick & Drackley, 2010).…”

“…Additionally, feeding high prepartum levels of dietary fat negatively affected the EB status, as is evidenced by increased plasma NEFA and BHB levels and decreased insulin levels (Leroy et al, 2008b;Damgaard et al, 2013), which result in longer anoestrous periods in the subsequent lactation (Giuliodori et al, 2011). In both energy feeding contexts, dry cows can possibly fail to adapt to the NEB stress when fed high prepartum levels of starch and fat due to the associated metabolic and rumen dysfunctions (Jouany, 2006;Janovick et al, 2011;Mann et al, 2015). Furthermore, a severe NEB during the prepartum period has been associated in the subsequent lactation with increased health problems (e.g.…”

“…Some studies indicated that an overconsumption of energy prepartum is detrimental to postpartum cow health and liver function (Grum et al, 1996;Rukkwamsuk et al, 1999), whereas others demonstrated that supplementing extra energy during the dry period is beneficial to transition success (Dann et al, 1999;Rabelo et al, 2005). Consequently, recent studies investigated the potential benefits of feeding fibre-based diets containing > 400g/kg of NDF and low digestible energy levels on DM basis during the dry period (Janovick et al, 2011;Mann et al, 2015). Such prepartum diets were reported to adjust the DMI, which optimized the rumen digestion and fermentation (Jouany, 2006) and decreased the mobilization of body reserves, as well as the deposition of lipid and tri-acyl glycerol (TAG) in the liver (Mann et al, 2015).…”

<b>Modelo de risco para mastite no pós-parto:</b> aspectos hematológicos e bioquímicos

“…Os principais aminoácidos que contribuem são a alanina e a glutamina, que respondem por 60% do potencial gliconeogênico de todos os aminoácidos, derivam de dietas ricas em proteínas, enquanto a lisina e leucina são cetogênicas (DRACKLEY; DOUGLAS, 2001;MANN et al, 2015).…”

“…É fato, admitido e fundamentado, que a afecção predomina no início da lactação e a higidez em que a fêmea transpõe o período de transição tem relação direta com o desencadeamento de doenças, entre as quais a mastite (BARKEMA et al, 1998;DRACKLEY;DOUGLAS, 2001;MANN et al, 2015;SORDILLO, 2016).…”