Effect of Holstein–Friesian genetic group on peripartum and early lactation haematological and acute phase proteins profiles, health and fertility

Abstract

Pasture-based Holstein-Friesian cows from three genetic groups differing in the Irish 'Economic Breeding Index' (EBI) value and genetic background, namely North-American (NA) national average EBI genetic merit (LOW-NA, n 5 42), North-American high EBI genetic merit (HIGH-NA, n 5 42) and New Zealand (NZ) high EBI genetic merit (HIGH-NZ, n 5 42), were studied. These genetic groups have been selected in different environments: pasture for NZ and confinement for NA. The objective was to determine the effect of genetic group on haematological and acute phase proteins profiles (white blood cell (WBC) counts, red blood cell (RBC) counts, acute phase proteins: serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin), health (rectal temperature (RT), clinical mastitis (CM) and somatic cell score), calving performance (stillbirth, calving assistance) and post-partum reproductive parameters (endometritis and ovarian cyclicity). Blood sampling and data recording took place 3 weeks pre-calving up to 7 weeks post-calving. Linear mixed models, logistic regression and generalised estimating equations were used for data analysis. HIGH-NZ animals had the highest ( P , 0.05) RBC mean corpuscular volume (50.0 fl), exhibited a different WBC distribution pattern ( P , 0.05) and had the lowest ( P , 0.05) mean RT (38.48C) for the first 10 days post-calving. These findings suggest enhanced reticulocyte turnover, peripartum response mechanisms and thermoregulation in the HIGH-NZ compared to the other two genetic groups. LOW-NA animals had the highest SAA peak throughout the peripartum period (55.12 mg/l, P , 0.05) and a tendency for higher somatic cell scores ( P , 0.10) in early lactation. The HIGH-NA animals had the lowest incidence of udder quarter milk sample bacteria at calving, suggesting better udder health when commencing lactation. No differences were detected between genetic groups in calving performance, post-partum reproductive parameters or CM in the first 42 days post-calving. These results suggest that while inherited peripartum adaptation strategies have been developed by the different genetic groups selected in different environments (pasture 5 NZ v. confinement 5 NA), such differences have minimal impact on peripartum clinical health.

A reduction in milking frequency and feed allowance improves dairy cow immune status

“…Acute phase protein concentrations change in animals subjected to internal and external challenges, such as infection, inflammation, trauma, and stress (Baumann and Gauldie, 1994;Murata et al, 2004). The high SAA and Hp concentrations recorded at calving in this study were as expected, and the values at each sampling point were similar to those reported in previous studies (Nyman et al, 2008;Huzzey et al, 2009;Olmos et al, 2009). Higher concentrations of Hp around calving are indicative of a well-functioning immune system, in particular with regard to udder health (Nyman et al, 2008).…”

Effects of Energy Supply from Roughage and Concentrates and the Occurrence of Subclinical Ketosis on Blood Chemistry and Liver Health in Lactating Dairy Cows during Early Lactation

“…The low concentration of granulocytes in these animals may indicate that the low energy consumption of this group did not trigger acute inflammatory events, which concurs with the absence of significant influences of energy supply on health reported in Schmitz et al [12]. In this group also, the RBC was increased combined with lowered MCV and MCH values and slightly reduced bilirubin concentration in blood, which could be signs of a reduced turnover rate of erythrocytes [24]. Also, most variables of biochemical blood variables remained on physiological levels in all treatment groups without clear signs of treatment effects.…”

Relationships between endometritis and metabolic state during the transition period in pasture-grazed dairy cows

“…The prevalence of endometritis diminishes with time postpartum (McDougall et al, 2007;Gautam et al, 2009) because most infected cows recover spontaneously. Although some physiological differences during calving transition were evident between genetic strains of Holstein-Friesian cows selected for production within either pasture-based or TMR-based systems, the risk of uterine infection was the same for both strains (Olmos et al, 2009). A constraint within a seasonal, pasture-based dairy system is that breeding begins on a calendar date, irrespective of previous calving date for individual cows.…”