Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Diameter, Backfat Thickness, Body Condition Scores and Skinfold Values Related to Metabolic and Endocrine Traits in Lactating Dairy Cows Fed Crystalline Fat or Free Fatty Acids

Abstract

An experiment was performed using 18 dairy cows with 2 2 lactations from parturition until week 20 of lactation to investigate the effects of feeding rumen-protected crystalline fat (group A) or free fatty acids (group B) compared with a control group not fed supplementd fat or fatty acids (group C). The feeding effects studied were those on milk yield and composition, body weight (By, body conditions scores (BCS), skinfold values (a measure of subcutaneous fat tissue thickness), backfat thickness and longissimus dorsi muscle diameter (measured by ultrasound), as well as on blood plasma metabolic and endocrine traits. Fat and fatty-acid feeding reduced roughage intake. Net energy and protein balances during the first week of lactation were negative. Milk yield was sirmlar in all groups, but concentrations of milk fat were reduced in group B and of milk protein i n groups A and B. BW, BCS, skinfold value, backfat thickness and longissimus dorsi musde diameter similarly decreased in all groups until weeks 8-12.Concentrations of glucose and fructosamine decreased transiently during early lactation, whereas levels of /3-hydroxybutyrate, urea, total protein and albumin increased reversibly and similarly in all groups. Concentrations of creatinine decreased similarly in all groups until week 4 and those of nonesterified fatty acids until week 12. Triglyceride concentrations increased continuously unul week 18, whereas concentrations of phospholipid and cholesterol increased until week 10 and then remained elevated. Triglyceride, phospholipid and cholesterol concentrations were higher in group B than in groups A and C throughout the experiment. Concentrations of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, thyroxine and 3,5,3'triiodothyronine started to increase after the first 6-8 weeks of lactation, while those of growth hormone were transiently low in week 16. None of the hormones exhibited group differences. In this study rumenprotected fat or fatty-acid supplementation failed to improve the energy and protein balances during early lactation and did not affect milk yield, likely due to decreased roughage intake. BCS, skinfold values and backfat ultrasound measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue mass and of longissimus dorsi muscle diameter indicated mobilization of fat tissue and protein mobilization in early lactation and were mirrored by typical changes of metabolic and endocrine traits.

Time Empty and Ketone Body Status in the Early Postpartum Period of Dairy Cows

“…Concentration of NEFA typically increased markedly after parturition, peaked in week 1 p.p. and reflected mobilization of body fat as shown previously (Blum et al 1983; Ronge et al 1988; Bruckmaier et al 1998). The slower decrease of NEFA concentrations in LC than in EC was associated with higher concentrations of blood and milk ketone bodies.…”

“…Tubes were then centrifuged for 20 min at 1500 × g within 4 h after collection. Serum for the determination of BHBA and plasma for the determination of glucose and NEFA was stored at –20°C until assayed as described (Bruckmaier et al 1998; Reist et al 2000). Serum for the determination of AC and ACAC was stored at 4°C and was analysed within 5 days after sampling.…”

Effects of supplementation with a phytobiotics-rich herbal mixture on performance, udder health, and metabolic status of Holstein cows with various levels of milk somatic cell counts

“…However, the BHBA concentrations in our study were within the physiological ranges and did not indicate a subclinical ketotic state (Tedesco et al, 2004). Also, plasma creatinine concentration was lower in cows supplemented with PRHM, suggesting more intensive mobilization of skeletal muscle protein in the latter cows (Bruckmaier et al, 1998). Our results indicate an apparent energetic shift away from gaining body reserves to milk output in response to PRHM supplementation in cows.…”

Milk Yield and Composition, Nutrition, Body Conformation Traits, Body Condition Scores, Fertility and Diseases in High‐Yielding Dairy Cows – Part 1

“…However, BCS losses were similar in different breeds and there were no differences between HC and CC cows. Because decrements of BCS are primarily a measure of subcutaneous fat mobilization (Otto et al., 1991; Waltner et al., 1993; Bruckmaier et al., 1998), mobilization of subcutaneous fat in HC and CC cows was probably similar. There were no significant breed differences with respect to BCS losses during early lactation, but higher BCS values before parturition and a more rapid recovery from low BCS scores during lactation in Br than in HF and to some extent in Si‐RH cows demonstrated breed differences and suggested that Br cows were able to recover more rapidly from energy deficiency after peak lactation than the other breeds.…”

“…At the start of lactation, feed intake is insufficient to cover requirements for energy, protein and some minerals, and hence tissue reserves are utilized to support milk yield (Bines, 1976; Bauman et al., 1985; Blum, 1992). Fat stores (Chilliard et al., 1984), and to a smaller extent also protein stores (Journet and Remond, 1981; Reid et al., 1986) and stores of some minerals (especially calcium in bones), are mobilized and there are transient decreases of body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) (Otto et al., 1991; Bruckmaier et al., 1998). There is evidence for a higher disease incidence if milk yields increase, as confirmed for Swiss dairy cows (Danuser et al., 1988; Danuser and Gaillard, 1990; Aeberhard et al., 1997).…”