Metabolic profiles in five high-producing Swedish dairy herds with a history of abomasal displacement and ketosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Body condition score and blood profiles have been used to monitor management and herd health in dairy cows. The aim of this study was to examine BCS and extended metabolic profiles, reflecting both energy metabolism and liver status around calving in high-producing herds with a high incidence of abomasal displacement and ketosis and to evaluate if such profiles can be used at herd level to pinpoint specific herd problems.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Body condition score and metabolic profiles around calving in five high-producing herds with high incidences of abomasal displacement and ketosis were assessed using linear mixed models (94 cows, 326 examinations). Cows were examined and blood sampled every three weeks from four weeks ante partum (ap) to nine weeks postpartum (pp). Blood parameters studied were glucose, fructosamine, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), insulin, β-hydroxybutyrate, aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, haptoglobin and cholesterol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All herds had overconditioned dry cows that lost body condition substantially the first 4–6 weeks pp. Two herds had elevated levels of NEFA ap and three herds had elevated levels pp. One herd had low levels of insulin ap and low levels of cholesterol pp. Haptoglobin was detected pp in all herds and its usefulness is discussed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>NEFA was the parameter that most closely reflected the body condition losses while these losses were not seen in glucose and fructosamine levels. Insulin and cholesterol were potentially useful in herd profiles but need further investigation. Increased glutamate dehydrogenase suggested liver cell damage in all herds.</p

Physiological and pathological adaptations in dairy cows that may increase susceptibility to periparturient diseases and disorders

Dairy cows undergo tremendous metabolic and physiological adaptations around parturition to support lactation. The liver&nbsp; is central to many of these processes, including gluconeogenesis and metabolism of fatty acids mobilized from adipose tis-&nbsp; sue. Fat accumulation may impair normal functions of the liver and increase ketogenesis, which in turn may predispose cows&nbsp; to other metabolic abnormalities. Several aspects of dietary management and body condition may alter these adaptations,&nbsp; affect dry matter intake, and increase or decrease susceptibility to periparturient health problems. Overfeeding energy dur-&nbsp; ing the dry period is a prominent risk factor. Considerable progress has been made in recent years in describing the adap-&nbsp; tive changes in the liver and other organs in normal and abnormal states, but this knowledge has not yet identified unequiv-&nbsp; ocally the key steps that might be compromised during development of metabolic disorders. The potential role of signaling&nbsp; compounds, such as the inflammatory cytokines released in response to environmental stressors, infectious challenge, and&nbsp; oxidative stress, in the pathogenesis of periparturient disease is under investigation. New techniques such as functional&nbsp; genomics, using cDNA or oligonucleotide microarrays, as well as proteomics and metabolomics, provide additional high-&nbsp; throughput tools to determine the effects of nutrition, management, or stressors on tissue function in development of dis-&nbsp; ease. Integrative approaches should be fruitful in unraveling the complex interactions of metabolism, immune activation,&nbsp; stress physiology, and endocrinology that likely underlie development of periparturient disease.&nbsp;</p