Metabolic and hormone profiles of Holstein x Gyr cows during pre- and postpartum

Abstract

The objective of this work was to describe the effect of genetic composition on body condition score (BCS), on total lactation production, and on metabolic and hormone profiles of Holstein x Gyr cows under the same pre- and postpartum management conditions. The genetic groups ½ (n=8), – (n=10), and ≥⅞ (n=10) Holstein x Gyr (HG) were evaluated within the same farm, and all of them showed typical lactation curves. The time required to reach peak production did not differ between groups. The groups also did not differ as to time to reach the lowest BCS after calving or to recover BCS after calving, nor as to their BCS values in the week of first ovulation, number of weeks required for first ovulation, and service period. However, ½ HG cows had higher BCS at calving, but also greater BCS loss postpartum. Total lactation production and plasma insulin concentrations of – HG cows postpartum were similar to those of cows specifically selected for milk production. Using parameters obtained with Holstein cows to determine management conditions in farms with crossbred cows can have unwanted consequences, since these animals have different metabolic and hormone profiles.

Effect of Parity, Body Condition Score at Calving, and Milk Yield on the Metabolic Profile of Gyr Cows in the Transition Period

“…Even with high production, the values found in the studied cows were still below those described for high-producing Holstein cows, ranging from 40 to 50 kg/day [31][32][33], but were similar to those found in Jersey cows, ranging from 31 to 37 kg/day [34] and in Simmental cows [35]. These values are also higher than those usually reported for crossed Holstein × Gyr cows, which range from 20 to 30 kg/day [5,14,16,17,36]. Metabolic profile studies are more suitable for high-producing dairy cows due to the greater risk of metabolic imbalances in these cows [37,38].…”

Daily vaginal temperature in Girolando cows from three different genetic composition under natural heat stress

“…Holstein cows have been selected over the last decades to increase milk yield, however, the increase in productivity was followed by an increase of sensibility to the heat ( Lucy et al, 2001 ). Indeed, Holstein cows can achieve high milk yield potential on temperate regions but can not express all genetic potential under tropical conditions ( Guimarães et al, 2002 ; Mellado et al, 2011 ; Franzoni et al, 2018 ). On the other hand, zebu breeds are more resistant to environmental challenges, but have lower milk yield ( Ruas et al, 2014 ).…”

“…On the other hand, zebu breeds are more resistant to environmental challenges, but have lower milk yield ( Ruas et al, 2014 ). Farmers in tropical and subtropical regions use to raise Holstein × Zebu crossbred animals to take advantage of complementarity between desired traits from both strains, as the Holstein milk yield and the Zebu resistance to heat and ectoparasites ( Porto-Neto et al, 2014 ; Franzoni et al, 2018 ). In Brazil, the most used dairy crossbred is the Holstein × Gir animal, which originated the Girolando breed.…”

Diet crude protein reduction on follicular fluid and cumulus-oocyte complexes of mid-lactating Girolando cows

“…Dairy herds in tropical and subtropical regions depend on adapted breeds to support production under an adverse environment (Porto-Neto et al, 2014). In Brazil, milk production is predominantly supported by crossbred zebu and taurine breeds, especially the Girolandocomposed of Holstein (Bos taurus) and Gyr (Bos indicus) breeds -which combines Gyr's thermal and ectoparasite tolerance benefits with the Holstein breed's high milk production potential (Franzoni et al, 2018). Research on CP reduction in diets has focused specifically on the milk production of indoor-housed high milk production Holstein cows (Reed et al, 2017), while research on crossbred cows raised in tropical environments is still limited.…”