Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-5nwft Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-16T02:56:38.568Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Relationships between energy balance and health traits of dairy cattle in early lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

B. L. Collard ,
P. J. Boettcher ,
J. C. M. Dekkers ,
L. R. Schaeffer  and
D. Petitclerc
B. L. Collard
Affiliation:
Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1
P. J. Boettcher
Affiliation:
Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1
J. C. M. Dekkers
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA50011
L. R. Schaeffer
Affiliation:
Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaN1G 2W1
D. Petitclerc
Affiliation:
Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Lennoxville, Quebec, CanadaJ1M 1Z3
Get access

Abstract

Data were records of daily food intake and milk production, periodic measures of milk composition and all health and reproductive information from 140 multiparous Holstein cows involved in various experiments at the Agriculture Canada dairy research station in Lennoxville, Quebec. Energy concentrations of the total mixed rations were also available. Daily energy balance was calculated by multiplying the food intake by the concentration of energy in the diet and then subtracting from this quantity the expected (National Research Council) amount of energy required for maintenance (based on parity and body weight) and for milk production (based on yield and concentrations of fat, protein and lactose). Four energy balance traits were defined: (1) average daily energy balance within the first 10 to 100 days of lactation, (2) minimum daily energy balance, (3) days in negative energy balance and (4) total energy deficit during the period of negative energy balance. Health traits were the numbers of incidences of each of the following: (1) all udder problems, (2) mastitis, (3) all locomotive problems, (4) laminitis, (5) digestive problems and (6) reproductive problems. Reproductive traits were the number of days to first observed oestrous and number of inseminations. Phenotypic relationships between energy balance and health were investigated by regressing the energy balance traits on each health trait. Parity and treatment (according to the research trial that the cow was involved with) were also included in the model. Genetic parameters were estimated with restricted maximum likelihood and a model that included effects of parity, treatment and animal. Phenotypically, several significant (P<0.10) relationships between energy balance and health were observed. Cows with longer periods of negative energy balance had increased digestive problems. Cows with greater total energy deficit had more digestive problems and laminitis. Estimates of heritabilities for energy intake and milk energy were 0.42 and 0.12, respectively but estimates of heritability for all energy balance traits were zero. The low estimates for these traits may have been due to (1) low true additive genetic variance, (2) small amount of data, or (3) relatively few genetic ties among cows.

Type
Research Article
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 24: Metabolic stress in dairy cows , 1999 , pp. 171 - 175
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1999

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

Bauman, D. E. and Currie, W.B. 1980. Partitioning of nutrients during pregnancy and lactation: a review of mechanisms involving homeostasis and homeorhesis. Journal of Dairy Science 63:1514–1529.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blowey, R. 1993. Cattle lameness and hoof care: an illustrated guide. Farming Press Books and Videos, Ipswich, UK.Google Scholar
Boettcher, P. J., Dekkers, J. C. M., Warnick, L. D. and Wells, S. J. 1997a. Genetic analysis of clinical lameness in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 81:1148–1156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boettcher, P. J., Jairath, L. K., Koots, K. R. and Dekkers, J. C. M. 1997b. Effects of interactions between type and milk production on survival traits of Canadian Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science 81:1157–1168.Google Scholar
Butler, W. R., Everett, R. W. and Coppock, C.E. 1981. The relationships between energy balance, milk production and ovulation in postpartum Holstein cows. Journal of Animal Science 53: 742–748.Google Scholar
Butler, W. R. and Smith, R. D. 1989. Interrelationships between energy balance and postpartum reproductive function in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 72: 767–783.Google Scholar
Canfield, R. W., Sniffen, C. J. and Butler, W. R. 1990. Effects of excess degradable protein on postpartum reproduction and energy balance in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 73:2342–2349.Google Scholar
Domecq, J. J., Skidmore, A. L., Lloyd, J. W. and Kaneene, J. B. 1997. Relationship between body condition scores and conception at first aritificial insemination in a large dairy herd of high yielding Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 80:113–120.Google Scholar
Girard, C. L. and Matte, J. J. 1998. Dietary supplement of folie acid during lactation: effects on the performance of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 81:1412–1419.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Manson, F. J. and Leaver, J. D. 1989. The effect of concentrate: silage ratio and of hoof trimming on lameness in dairy cattle. Animal Production 49:15–22.Google Scholar
Nebel, R. L. and McGilliard, M. L. 1993. Interactions of high milk yield and reproductive performance in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 76:3257–3268.Google Scholar
Ngwerume, F. and Mao, I. L. 1992. Estimation of residual energy intake for lactating cows using an animal model. Journal of Dairy Science 75:2283–2287.Google Scholar
Nocek, J. E. 1997. Bovine acidosis: implications on laminitis. Journal of Dairy Science 80:1005–1028.Google Scholar
Oldenbroek, J. K. and Veerkamp, R. F. 1998. Energy metabolism in early lactation heifers selected for milk yield. Journal of Dairy Science 81: (supplement 1) 275.Google Scholar
Petit, H. V., Rioux, R. and Ouellet, D. R. 1997. Milk production and intake of lactating cows fed raw or extruded peas. Journal of Dairy Science 80:3377–3385.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tyrrell, H. F. and Reid, J. T. 1965. Prediction of the energy value of cow’s milk. Journal of Dairy Science 48:1215–1223.Google Scholar
Wells, S. J., Trent, A. M., Marsh, W. E., McGovern, P. G. and Robinson, R. A. 1993. Individual cow risk factors for clinical lameness in lactating dairy cows. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 17:95–109.Google Scholar