Feed intake, performance and redox status in Holstein and Girolando F1 heifers presenting high body condition score during the transition period

AbstractTo examine the effects of body condition and previous nutrition on the herbage intake of ewes grazing swards of different heights in autumn, 96 Scottish Blackface X Border Leicester ewes with a wide range of body condition (score 1·75 to 3·50), were initially housed and given 50 g dry matter (DM) per kg metabolic live weight (M)0·75 per day (treatment L) or 95 g DM per kg M0·75 per day (treatment H) of a pelleted dried grass diet (11·6 MJ metabolizable energy per kg DM) for 6 weeks after weaning in July. The H ewes gained more live weight (9·0 v. 2·7 kg) and body condition score (0·39 v. 0·17) than the L ewes. Half the animals from each treatment were then allocated to each of two ryegrass pastures with a sward height of 5 cm (LS) or 10 cm (HS) for a further 6-week grazing period. During the grazing period there was no significant effect of indoor feeding level on herbage intake, but the L ewes gained more live weight (6·4 v. 5·0 kg) than the H ewes. On the HS, compared with the LS sward, mean herbage intakes were higher (70·0 v. 60·5 g DM per kg M0·75) as were gains in live weight and condition score (7·9 v. 3·4 kg; 0·18 v. 0·0). There were no interactions between the effects of sward height and previous feeding level on herbage intake. Ewes in low body condition (< 2·5) at the start of the grazing period ingested the same amount of herbage on both swards (70·3 g DM per kg M0·75) whereas ewes in high body condition (> 2·5) ingested more (67·0 v. 51·6 g DM per kg M0·75) on the HS compared with the LS sward. The responses of ewes in low and high body condition to different sward heights are discussed in relation to appetite drive and aspects of grazing behaviour.

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Influence of body condition score at calving on the metabolic status and production performance of Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) during the transition period

Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences ◽

10.5713/ajas.17.0223 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (11) ◽

pp. 1756-1765 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nelson Carvalho Delfino ◽

Lucas Fialho de Aragão Bulcão ◽

Henry Daniel Ruiz Alba ◽

Mauricio Xavier da Silva Oliveira ◽

Filipe Pinheiro Soares de Queiroz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Transition Period ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Bubalus Bubalis ◽

Production Performance ◽

Metabolic Status ◽

Murrah Buffaloes ◽

Condition Score

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Prepartum feeding level and body condition score affect immunological performance in grazing dairy cows during the transition period

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2015-10135 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 99 (3) ◽

pp. 2329-2338 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Joshua Lange ◽

Allison McCarthy ◽

Jane Kay ◽

Susanne Meier ◽

Caroline Walker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Body Condition ◽

Transition Period ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Feeding Level ◽

Condition Score ◽

Grazing Dairy Cows

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Effect of the body condition of ewes on the secretion of LH and FSH and the pituitary response to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.1200497 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 120 (3) ◽

pp. 497-502 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

S. M. Rhind ◽

S. McMillen ◽

W. A. C. McKelvey ◽

F. F. Rodriguez-Herrejon ◽

A. S. McNeilly

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Luteal Phase ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Pulse Amplitude ◽

Ovarian Hormones ◽

Pulse Frequency ◽

Follicular Phase ◽

High Body ◽

Condition Score ◽

Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone

ABSTRACT The effects of body fat content (body condition) of ewes on hypothalamic activity and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion and on pituitary sensitivity to GnRH were investigated using Scottish Blackface ewes. Two groups of 12 ewes were fed so that they achieved either a high body condition score (2·98, s.e.m. = 0·046; approximately 27% of empty body weight as fat) or a low body condition score (1·94, s.e.m. = 0·031; approximately 19% of empty body weight as fat) by 4 weeks before the period of study. Thereafter, they were differentially fed so that the difference in mean condition score was maintained. Oestrus was synchronized, and on day 11 of the subsequent cycle half of the ewes of each group were ovariectomized. On day 12, the remaining ewes were injected (i.m.) with 100 μg prostaglandin F2α analogue and ovariectomized 30 h later. Numbers of large ovarian follicles and corpora lutea present at ovariectomy were recorded. Blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 12 h on day 10 of the cycle (luteal phase) and at 10-min intervals from 24 to 30 h after prostaglandin injection (follicular phase). At days 2 and 7 after ovariectomy, samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 8 h and ewes were then injected with 10 μg GnRH and samples were collected for a further 3 h. Samples were assayed for LH and FSH. Ewes in high body condition had more more large follicles than ewes in low body condition during the luteal phase (15·3 vs 6·5; P < 0·05) and follicular phase (11·5 vs 7·0; NS) and a slightly higher mean ovulation rate (1·50 vs 1·20; NS). However, during the luteal and follicular phases of the cycle before ovariectomy there was no effect of condition score on mean LH or FSH concentrations or mean LH pulse frequency or pulse amplitude. Two days after ovariectomy, ewes of high body condition had a higher mean LH pulse frequency than ewes of low body condition (P < 0·05) and higher mean FSH concentrations (P < 0·05). Mean LH concentration and pulse amplitude were not affected. LH and FSH profiles were not affected by body condition on day 7. GnRH-induced increases in LH and FSH concentrations on days 2 and 7 were not affected by body condition. At day 7, but not day 2, ewes ovariectomized during the luteal phase of the cycle had a significantly (P < 0·05) greater GnRH-induced LH release compared with ewes ovariectomized during the follicular phase. It is concluded that body condition directly affects hypothalamic activity and GnRH secretion, but not pituitary sensitivity to GnRH, and that effects on reproductive performance are also mediated through changes in ovarian hormones or in hypothalamo-pituitary sensitivity to ovarian hormones. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 120, 497–502

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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

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an13250 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 54 (7) ◽

pp. 856 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

P. Soca ◽

M. Carriquiry ◽

M. Claramun ◽

V. Gestido ◽

A. Meikle

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Body Condition ◽

Transition Period ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Beef Cows ◽

The Body ◽

Metabolic Profiles ◽

Native Grassland ◽

Igf I ◽

Condition Score

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.

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The effects of dry period body condition score on some trace minerals, oxidative, and inflammatory indicators in transition dairy cows

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an18790 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 363

Author(s):

Fatemeh Dehghan Shahreza ◽

Hesam A. Seifi ◽

Mehrdad Mohri

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Transition Period ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Paraoxonase 1 ◽

Dry Period ◽

Sod Activity ◽

Condition Score ◽

Endogenous Antioxidant ◽

Serum Paraoxonase

Context Body condition score (BCS) management throughout the dry period to calving is one of the strategies that can ensure optimal overall health and high milk yield after parturition. Aim The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BCS during the dry period on serum concentrations of some trace elements, oxidative, and inflammatory indices during the transition period of Holstein cows. Methods Fifty multiparous cows were classified based on their dry BCS (scale of 1 to 5) at the beginning of dry period as non-fat (NFC) (BCS <3.75; BCS minimum: 3; BCS maximum: 3.5, BCS means: 3.36; n = 25), and fat (FC) (BCS ≥ 3.75; BCS maximum: 4.25, means: 3.87; n = 25) groups, and received similar diet and kept under same management condition. Sampling was performed at 14 ± 2 days before expected calving date and 10, 20 and 30 days after calving. Key results FC had lower zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn) concentrations. Furthermore, iron (Fe) concentrations were significantly higher in FC in comparison with NFC –14 days before parturition. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and haptoglobin (Hp) elevated significantly in FC 20 days after calving, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher in NFC on day 14 before calving. Its activities increased significantly in FC on day30thof lactation. In addition, the highest serum ferric reducing antioxidants power (FRAP) and copper (Cu) and the lowest serum paraoxonase 1(PON1) and iron (Fe) concentrations were observed on day 20th of lactation. Conclusion Serum Zn, Mn, and Cr amounts were significantly affected by BCS. Furthermore, fat cows had more extensively endogenous antioxidant and inflammatory responses. Implication Our data highlights the fact that although all cellular metabolic, oxidative and inflammatory processes varied at different times of transition period, fat cows are more susceptible to metabolic and health disorders than non-fat animals.

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