Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vfjqv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-28T21:59:00.073Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The relationship between body condition at calving, uterine performance postpartum and trends in selected blood metabolites postpartum in high yielding Californian dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

M. Titterton  and
L.D. Weaver
M. Titterton
Affiliation:
Dept. Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
L.D. Weaver*
Affiliation:
Veterinary Medical Teaching and Research Centre, University of California, Davis, 18830 Road 112, Tulare, California 93274, USA
*
Current address: 09212 US Route 20, Montpelier, Ohio 43543, USA
Get access

Abstract

The relationship between body condition at calving, uterine tone and discharge, time to first oestrus and changes in concentration of serum calcium and magnesium in early post partum was examined in 209 multiparous dairy cows located in four herds in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Body condition score (BCS) was graded from 0 to 5 and BCS at calving was estimated from BCS in the late dry period (LDBCS). Uterine tone and discharge were graded from l(best) to 3(worst) after rectal palpation at two weeks post partum. Concentrations of blood metabolites and levels of progesterone were determined from blood samples taken at selected stages of lactation from the late dry period to ten weeks post partum. Abnormal uterine discharges were strongly correlated with uterine tone. Uterine tone and discharge scores were significantly lower in cows that calved with body condition scores of 2.5 and 3.0 than in those which calved with body condition scores of < 2.5 and ≥ 3.5. Serum calcium and magnesium concentrations were higher at two weeks post partum in cows with scores of 2.5 and 3 than in cows with higher or lower scores. Serum calcium and magnesium concentrations appeared to be higher with decrease in grades of uterine discharge and tone but this was significant only in the case of serum calcium and uterine discharge. The number of days to first oestrus was significantly associated with uterine discharge and tone (P < 0.05) but not significantly associated with LDBCS. The number of days to second oestrus was not significantly associated with uterine discharge and tone but was significantly less in cows with LDBCS 3 (17.28 days) than cows with lower or higher LDBCS (P < 0.05). It is concluded that body condition at calving is associated with serum micromineral balance and subsequent uterine and ovarian health. Based on these measurable indicators, cows calving with body condition scores of 2.5 and 3 appeared to be in optimum condition for post partum reproductive performance.

Type
Posters
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 26 , Issue 2: Fertility in the High-Producing Dairy Cow , September 2001 , pp. 335 - 339
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Curtis, C.R., Erb, N.N. and Sniffen, C.J. 1983. Association of parturient hypocalcaemia with eight peri parturient disorders in Holstein cows. Journal of American Medical and Veterinary Association 183: 559.Google Scholar
Dinarello, C.A. 1984. Interleuk-I promotes proteolysis in stressed cows. In Reviews of Discharges and Diseases. 6: 51–59 Google Scholar
Erb, H.N., Smith, R.D., Oltanacu, P.A., Guard, C.L., Hillman, R.B., Powers, P.A., Smith, M.C. and White, N.E. 1985. Path model of reproductive disorders and performance, milk fever, mastitis, milk yield and culling in Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 68: 3337–3346 Google Scholar
Gearhart, M.A., Curtis, C.R., Erb, H.N., Smith, R.D., Sniffen, C.J., Chase, L.E. and Cooper, M.D. 1990. Relationship of changes in condition score to cow health in Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science. 73: 3132–3144.Google Scholar
Gröhn, Y.T. 1996. Interrelationships between milk yield and disease in dairy cows. In Cornell nutrition conference for food manufacturers. Rochester, NY. 22–24 October, 1996 pp28–37.Google Scholar
Kichera, T.A., Horst, R.L. and Beitz, D.C.. 1982. Relationship between pre partal dietary calcium and phosphorus, vitamin D metabolism and parturient paresis in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 112: 480.Google Scholar
Martinez, J. and Thibier, M. 1984. Reproductive disorders in dairy cattle. II. Interrelationships between pre- or post- service discharges and functional disorders. Theriogenology. 21: 584–592.Google Scholar
Mulvaney, P.1977. Dairy cow condition scoring. NIRD paper no. 4468. National Institute for Research in Dairying. Reading.Google Scholar
Munro, C. and Stabenfeldt, G. 1984. Development of a microlitre plate enzyme immunoassay for the determination of Oprogesterone. Journal of Endocrinology 101: 41–50.Google Scholar
Oltanacu, P.A., Britt, J.H., Braun, R.K. and Mellenberger, R.W. 1984. Effect of health status on culling and reproductive performance of Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 67: 1783.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Odegaard, S.A. 1977. Uterine prolapse in dairy cows. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica (Suppl) 63: 1–9 Google Scholar
Risco, C.A., Reynolds, J.P. and Hird, D. 1984. Uterine prolapse and hypocalcaemia in dairy cows. Journal of American Veterinary and Medical Association 185: 1517–1526.Google Scholar