Metabolic and endocrine profiles of primiparous beef cows grazing native grassland. 1. Relationships between body condition score at calving and metabolic profiles during the transition period

Abstract

The body condition score (BCS) at calving has been postulated as the main factor in the interaction of nutrition and reproduction in beef-cow ecosystems. The objective of the present study was to analyse the effect of BCS at calving on endocrine and metabolic profiles during the transition period in primiparous Hereford cows (n = 56) grazing native grassland. Cow BCS was registered and plasma insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and metabolites (concentrations of urea, albumin, cholesterol, total protein, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA)) were determined in plasma from –30 to +45 days postpartum (DPP). The effect of BCS at calving (low ≤3.5 and moderate ≥4; 1–8 visual scale) on BCS evolution and hormone and metabolite concentrations were analysed using a time repeated-measures analysis. Cow BCS, NEFA, urea and IGF-I profiles were affected (P < 0.05) by the BCS at calving and DPP interaction, while insulin tended (P = 0.06) to be affected only by BCS at calving. The low-BCS cows presented a smaller loss of BCS during the prepartum than did moderate-BCS cows, and a delayed BCS recovery during the postpartum. The increase in plasma NEFA was greater (P < 0.05) and started earlier during the prepartum period in the low-BCS cows. Protein concentrations increased during prepartum to +30 DPP, while albumin and urea concentrations were maintained until calving and decreased during the postpartum. Urea concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) during prepartum in low-BCS cows. Concentrations of IGF-I and insulin were greater (P < 0.05) in moderate- than low-BCS cows during prepartum, but did not differ between the groups after calving. No effects were observed in calf weight or milk production at +45 DPP. The association between BCS during prepartum and at calving with the endocrine and metabolic profiles (positive: insulin, IGF-I; negative: NEFA and urea) reflected a better nutritional status and plasticity to negative energy balance on moderate cows. This different endocrine milieu did not affect calf weight and/or milk production. In conclusion, the BCS at calving affected the metabolic and endocrine profile during the transition period of primiparous beef cows grazing native grassland.

Supplementation with a mixture of whole rice bran and crude glycerin on metabolic responses and performance of primiparous beef cows

“…Cows, in these conditions, show a negative energy balance and lose BCS (Soca et al, 2014a). As reported in other countries (Houghton et al, 1990;Perry et al, 1991;Stalker et al, 2006), and in our conditions (Quintans et al, 2010;Scarsi, 2012), in the present work, the loss of BCS was greater during prepartum than early postpartum.…”

Influence of a short-term prepartum supplementation on beef cows and calves’ performance in pastoral conditions

“…However, SUP cows conceived earlier and tended to have greater pregnancy rate than CON cows. In our pastoral conditions, it has been reported that a small difference in BCS at calving (0.6 u) was associated with important differences in metabolic changes (Soca et al 2014a(Soca et al , 2014b. In fact, these authors observed that cows with a BCS of only 0.6 u greater than cows in low BCS (4.1 vs 3.5 for moderate and low BCS cows, respectively), presented higher insulin-like growth factor-1 and early pregnancy rate.…”

Blood Metabolite Profiles in Cycling and Non‐cyclingFriesian–Sanga Cross‐bred Cows Grazing Natural Pasture During the Post‐partum Period

“…; Soca et al. ). Milk production during early lactation with its associated high nutritional requirements induce a physiological state of negative energy balance (NEB) in most cows (Walsh et al.…”

“…Nutrient intake and body energy reserves are major regulators of ovarian function in cattle (Montiel and Ahuja 2005;Roche et al 2007); thus, the loss of body condition score (BCS) at calving and during the postpartum period has been associated with delays in resumption of ovarian cycles (Shrestha et al 2005;Soca et al 2014). Milk production during early lactation with its associated high nutritional requirements induce a physiological state of negative energy balance (NEB) in most cows (Walsh et al 2011;Esposito et al 2014) and delays ovulation in association with a suppression of the frequency of release of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary gland (Diskin et al 2003;Butler 2005).…”