Metabolic evaluation of dairy cows submitted to three different strategies to decrease the effects of negative energy balance in early postpartum

In early lactation dairy cattle suffer metabolic alterations caused by negative energy balance, which predisposes to fatty liver and ketosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic condition of high yielding dairy cows subjected to three treatments for preventing severe lipomobilization and ketosis in early lactation. Fifty four multiparous Holstein cows yielding >30 L/day were divided into four groups: control (CN= no treatment), glucose precursor (PG= propylene-glycol), hepatic protector (Mp= Mercepton®), and energy supplement with salts of linolenic and linoleic faty acids (Mg-E= Megalac-E®). Treatments were administrated randomly at moment of calving until 8 weeks postpartum. Blood samples were collected on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 postpartum. Body condition score (BCS) was evaluated at the same periods and milk yield was recorded at 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th weeks of lactation. Concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), albumin, AST, ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), cholesterol, glucose, total protein, urea and triglycerides were analyzed in blood samples. Cut-off points for subclinical ketosis were defined when BHBA >1.4 mmol/L and NEFA >0.7 mmol/L. General occurrence of subclinical ketosis was 24% during the period. An ascendant curve of cholesterol and glucose was observed from the 1st to the 8th week of lactation, while any tendency was observed with BHBA and NEFA, although differences among treatments were detected (p<0.05). BCS decreased from a mean of 3.85 at 1st week to 2.53 at 8th week of lactation (p=0.001). Milk yield was higher in the Mg-E group compared with the other treatment groups (p<0.05) Compared with the CN group, the treatments with Mp and PG did not show significant differences in blood biochemistry and milk yield. Cows receiving PG and Mg-E showed higher values of BHBA and NEFA (P<0.05), indicating accentuated lipomobilization. Supplementation with Mg-E also resulted in significant higher concentrations of cholesterol, BHBA, urea, AST and lower values of glycemia. This performance may be explained by the highest milk yield observed with this treatment. Treatments with PG and Mp did not improve milk yield, compared with control cows, but did not show metabolic evidence of ketosis, fat mobilization or fatty liver. These results suggest that treatment with Mg-E improves milk production but induces a higher negative energy balance leading to moderated lipomobilization and ketone bodies production, increasing the risk of fatty liver.

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Changes in selected biochemical parameters during subclinical and clinical ketosis in dairy cows

Medycyna Weterynaryjna ◽

10.21521/mw.6133 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 74 (10) ◽

pp. 6133-2019

Author(s):

YUANYUAN CHEN ◽

ZHIHAO DONG ◽

RUIRUI LI ◽

CHUANG XU

Keyword(s):

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Energy Balance ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Oxidative Capacity ◽

Negative Energy ◽

Negative Energy Balance ◽

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 ◽

Acid Oxidation ◽

Subclinical Ketosis

Negative energy balance (NEB) is a common pathological cause of ketosis. As the major organs of lipid metabolism, the liver and fat tissue take part in regulating lipid oxidative capacity and energy demands, which is also a key metabolic pathway that regulates NEB development during the perinatal period. Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) is a novel metabolic regulator involved in the control of fatty acid oxidation and lipid metabolism during a prolonged negative energy balance. Our study determined a correlation between serum FGF21 and β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) levels in dairy cows with ketosis. We used sixty cows with low milk yield, abnormal glucose metabolism, and ketosis. Serum FGF21 and BHBA levels were measured using commercial kits. Serum FGF21 increased with increasing BHBA levels up to 1.6 mmol/L. At BHBA levels > 1.6 mmol/L, FGF21 decreased. Serum FGF21 levels were positively associated with BHBA levels, particularly in dairy cows with subclinical ketosis (r = 0.647, P < 0.01). At BHBA levels between 1.2 mmol/L and 1.6 mmol/L, FGF21 was more closely correlated with BHBA than with other metabolic parameters. At BHBA levels > 1.6 mmol/L, the association between FGF21 and BHBA was not significant. In conclusion, our results show that FGF21 was closely related with SK in cows. FGF21 may be a promising regulator in the prevention of subclinical ketosis.

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Effects of Propylene Glycol on Negative Energy Balance of Postpartum Dairy Cows

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10091526 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1526

Author(s):

Fan Zhang ◽

Xuemei Nan ◽

Hui Wang ◽

Yiguang Zhao ◽

Yuming Guo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Balance ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Propylene Glycol ◽

Milk Production ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Metabolic Diseases ◽

Ketone Bodies ◽

Negative Energy ◽

Negative Energy Balance ◽

Research Progress

With the improvement in the intense genetic selection of dairy cows, advanced management strategies, and improved feed quality and disease control, milk production level has been greatly improved. However, the negative energy balance (NEB) is increasingly serious at the postpartum stage because the intake of nutrients cannot meet the demand of quickly improved milk production. The NEB leads to a large amount of body fat mobilization and consequently the elevated production of ketones, which causes metabolic diseases such as ketosis and fatty liver. The high milk production of dairy cows in early lactation aggravates NEB. The metabolic diseases lead to metabolic disorders, a decrease in reproductive performance, and lactation performance decline, seriously affecting the health and production of cows. Propylene glycol (PG) can alleviate NEB through gluconeogenesis and inhibit the synthesis of ketone bodies. In addition, PG improves milk yield, reproduction, and immune performance by improving plasma glucose and liver function in ketosis cows, and reduces milk fat percentage. However, a large dose of PG (above 500 g/d) has toxic and side effects in cows. The feeding method used was an oral drench. The combination of PG with some other additives can improve the effects in preventing ketosis. Overall, the present review summarizes the recent research progress in the impacts of NEB in dairy cows and the properties of PG in alleviating NEB and reducing the risk of ketosis.

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Metabolic and Ruminal Fluid Markers of Dairy Cows Supplemented with a Combination of Yeast Culture and Hydrolyzed Yeast

Acta Scientiae Veterinariae ◽

10.22456/1679-9216.80499 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 8

Author(s):

Tatiele Mumbach ◽

Raquel Fraga e Silva Raimondo ◽

Claudia Faccio Demarco ◽

Vanessa Oliveira Freitas ◽

Rodrigo Chaves Barcellos Grazziotin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Balance ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Postpartum Period ◽

Transition Period ◽

Negative Energy ◽

Negative Energy Balance ◽

Yeast Culture ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Early Postpartum Period ◽

Early Postpartum

Background: In order to reduce the effects of a negative energy balance, some measures have been taken into account in nutritional management during the transition period. The use of yeast, has been a good alternative used to improve the rumen metabolism and helping the adjustment of the microbiotato the new diet. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing a combination of yeast culture and hydrolyzed yeast on the metabolism of dairy cows during the transition period.Materials, Methods & Results: The experiment was conducted in a semi-extensive system, using 20 Holstein cows, divided equally into a control group (CG) and a supplemented group (SG). The SG received 28 g/animal/day of a combination of yeast culture and hydrolyzed yeast from 20 ± 2 days pre-calving until early lactation (18 ± 3 days). Serum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), albumin and urea were determined at calving, and for three time points during the early postpartum period and three time points during the early lactation period. Regarding energy metabolism, prepartum concentrations of NEFA were higher than the physiological standard in both groups. However, NEFA, albumin and urea decreased during the early postpartum period in the supplemented animals and could be attributed to the yeast in enhancing ruminal microorganisms’ cellulolytic capacity, increasing fibre digestibility and starch utilization.Discussion: The increased concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) due to the mobilization of fat deposits that happens in the transition period, especially in the postpartum period reflects the cow’s adaptation to the negative energy balance (NEB). The lower concentrations of NEFA observed in the present study could be attributed to the effect of the yeast in enhancing the ruminal microorganisms’ cellulolytic capacity. The control cows had a BCS within the recommended range while the supplemented group had it close to the minimal limit proposed for this period. Thus, supplemented cows lost less BCS during the early postpartum period, had a lower BCS loss during the experimental period and had lower NEFA concentration that the CG. It was possible to observe a difference in serum albumin and urea between treatments only in the postpartum period. Besides showing no significant effect in BCS on prepartum period, control cows had a BCS within the recommended range while the supplemented group had it close to the minimal limit proposed for this period. Cows with high BCS prepartum had higher plasma NEFA before and after calving. It can be observed in the present study in both groups. However, a positive effect in prevent subclinical disorders might be attributed to YC, since the SG showed low NEFA plasma levels compared to the CG. Thus, supplemented cows lost less BCS during the early postpartum period, had a lower BCS loss during the experimental period and had lower NEFA concentration that the CG. There is a negative correlation between BCS and NEFA in the early postpartum period and this information explains the results observed in the present study where BCS declines in the SG are followed by a NEFA increase. This is not so marked in the CG, indicating that SG supplementation can act by improving digestibility. Yeast supplementation promotes higher output energy, enhancing postpartum performance in dairy cows. Yeast supplementation showed benefits in early lactation compared to the prepartum and early postpartum periods, suggesting that supplementation has to have an adaptation period to be effective in protein synthesis. In conclusion, supplementation with a combination of yeast culture and hydrolyzed yeast to cows during the transition period can positively influence the energy and protein metabolism, reducing the collateral effects of negative energy balance.

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Milk fatty acid profile in dairy cows during a negative energy balance in early lactation and feed-restriction in mid-lactation

Energy and protein metabolism and nutrition in sustainable animal production ◽

10.3920/978-90-8686-781-3_125 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 361-362

Author(s):

J. J. Gross ◽

H. A. van Dorland ◽

R. M. Bruckmaier ◽

F. J. Schwarz

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Energy Balance ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Fatty Acid Profile ◽

Negative Energy ◽

Negative Energy Balance ◽

Feed Restriction ◽

Milk Fatty Acid ◽

Early Lactation

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Ruminal Degradation of Rumen-Protected Glucose Influences the Ruminal Microbiota and Metabolites in Early-Lactation Dairy Cows

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.01908-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 87 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Yapin Wang ◽

Xuemei Nan ◽

Yiguang Zhao ◽

Yue Wang ◽

Linshu Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Balance ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Rumen Fluid ◽

Block Design ◽

Negative Energy ◽

Negative Energy Balance ◽

Feed Additive ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Different Doses

ABSTRACT Rumen-protected glucose (RPG) plays an important role in alleviating the negative energy balance of dairy cows. This study used a combination of rumen microbes 16S and metabolomics to elucidate the changes of rumen microbial composition and rumen metabolites of different doses of RPG’s rumen degradation part in early-lactation dairy cows. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows in early lactation were randomly allocated to control (CON), low-RPG (LRPG), medium-RPG (MRPG), or high-RPG (HRPG) groups in a randomized block design. The cows were fed a basal total mixed ration diet with 0, 200, 350, and 500 g of RPG per cow per day, respectively. Rumen fluid samples were analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. MRPG supplementation increased bacterial richness and diversity, including increasing the relative abundance of cellulolytic bacteria, such as Ruminococcus, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, Ruminiclostridium, and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-008. MRPG significantly increased the concentrations of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total volatile fatty acid in the rumen. Ruminal fluid metabolomics analysis showed that RPG supplementation could significantly regulate the synthesis of amino acids digested by protozoa in the rumen. Correlation analysis of the ruminal microbiome and metabolome revealed some potential relationships between major bacterial abundance and metabolite concentrations. Our analysis found that RPG supplementation of different doses can change the diversity of microorganisms in the rumen and affect the rumen fermentation pattern and microbial metabolism and that a daily supplement of 350 g of RPG might be the ideal dose. IMPORTANCE Dairy cows in early lactation are prone to a negative energy balance because their dry matter intake cannot meet the energy requirements of lactation. Rumen-protected glucose is used as an effective feed additive to alleviate the negative energy balance of dairy cows in early lactation. However, one thing that is overlooked is that people often think that rumen-protected glucose is not degraded in the rumen, thus ignoring its impact on the microorganisms in the rumen environment. Our investigation and previous experiments have found that rumen-protected glucose is partially degraded in the rumen. However, there are few reports on this subject. Therefore, we conducted research on this problem and found that rumen-protected glucose supplementation at 350 g/day can promote the development and metabolism of rumen flora. This provides a theoretical basis for the extensive application of rumen bypass glucose at a later stage.

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Reducing or eliminating the dry period of dairy cows

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea05304 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 46 (7) ◽

pp. 957 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

C. R. Stockdale

Keyword(s):

Energy Balance ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Body Condition ◽

Post Partum ◽

Negative Energy ◽

Late Gestation ◽

Negative Energy Balance ◽

Dry Period ◽

Dairy Farmers

This review considers the research that has been conducted recently on reducing the length of the dry period of dairy cows, with particular emphasis on the effects of eliminating the dry period altogether. Milk yield in the subsequent lactation is reduced by up to 25%, but this loss is offset to some degree by the milk produced when cows would otherwise be dry. The lower subsequent milk yield in cows continuously milked is most likely to be a consequence of changes in the mammary gland during late gestation rather than insufficient feed or body condition to maintain milk synthesis. Shortening or eliminating the dry period may result in a lower incidence of metabolic problems post-partum, and a reduced negative energy balance in early lactation due to the maintenance of dietary intake while milk yields and body condition loss are reduced. The reductions in both body condition loss and negative energy balance may have a beneficial influence on reproductive performance. However, it is concluded that more research, particularly with cows that graze pasture during lactation, together with an economic appraisal, is needed before it could be recommended that Australian dairy farmers change their current dry period practices, particularly if continuous milking was to be considered.

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Serum Apelin-36 alteration in late pregnancy and early lactation of dairy cows and its association with negative energy balance markers

Research in Veterinary Science ◽

10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.07.012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 125 ◽

pp. 285-289 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Farideh Norvezh ◽

Mohammad Razi Jalali ◽

Mohammad Reza Tabandeh ◽

Mohammad Rahim Haji Hajikolaei ◽

Saad Gooraninejad

Keyword(s):

Energy Balance ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Negative Energy ◽

Negative Energy Balance ◽

Early Lactation

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Glucose and Fatty Acid Metabolism of Dairy Cows in a Total Mixed Ration or Pasture-Based System During Lactation

Frontiers in Animal Science ◽

10.3389/fanim.2021.622500 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Mercedes García-Roche ◽

Guillermo Cañibe ◽

Alberto Casal ◽

Diego A. Mattiauda ◽

Mateo Ceriani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Energy Balance ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Fatty Acid Metabolism ◽

Acid Metabolism ◽

Negative Energy ◽

Negative Energy Balance ◽

Feeding Strategies ◽

Early Lactation

In this study, we explored mechanisms related to glucose and fatty acid metabolism in Holstein–Friesian multiparous dairy cows during lactation under two feeding strategies. From 0 to 180 days postpartum, cows were fed total mixed ration (TMR) ad libitum (non-grazing group, G0) or grazed Festuca arundinacea or Medicago sativa and were supplemented with 5.4 kg DM/d of an energy-protein concentrate (grazing group, G1). From 180 to 250 days postpartum, all cows grazed F. arundinacea and were supplemented with TMR. Plasma samples and liver biopsies were collected at −14, 35, 60, 110, 180, and 250 days in milk (DIM) for metabolite, hormone, gene expression, and western blot analysis. Our results showed increased levels of negative energy balance markers: plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), liver triglyceride and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) (P < 0.01), triglyceride and β-hydroxybutyrate concentration were especially elevated for G1 cows. Also, hepatic mRNA expression of gluconeogenic enzymes was upregulated during early lactation (P < 0.05). In particular, methymalonyl-CoA mutase expression was increased for G0 cows (P < 0.05) while pyruvate carboxylase (PC) expression was increased for G1 cows (P < 0.05), suggesting differential gluconeogenic precursors for different feeding strategies. Phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase was increased in early lactation vs. late lactation (P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with PC mRNA levels. The positive association of gluconeogenic genes with proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PPARGC1A) hepatic expression supported the importance of this transcription factor in glucose metabolism. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARA) mRNA was increased during early lactation (P < 0.05), and was positively associated to PPARGC1A, carnitine palmitoyl-transferase 1, and hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2) mRNA expression. Alongside, hepatic mRNA expression of FABP was decreased for G1 vs. G0 cows (P < 0.05), possibly linked to impaired fatty acid transport and related to accumulation of liver triglycerides, evidencing G1 cows fail to adapt to the demands of early lactation. In sum, our results showed that metabolic adaptations related to early lactation negative energy balance can be affected by feeding strategy and might be regulated by the metabolic sensors AMPK, SIRT1, and coordinated by transcription factors PPARGC1A and PPARA.

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