Association between body condition score change during the dry period and postpartum health and performance

Genetic potential for milk production has increased rapidly in the Holstein-Friesian breed and there is concern that this might be causing an increased incidence of health problems. We have recently (Ingvartsen et al., 2002) reviewed the inter-relationships between lactation performance and health, demonstrating the importance of considering effects on/of body reserves as well as effects on/of milk production. Whilst we identified mechanisms whereby body reserves can have a direct effect on susceptibility to disease, disease also affects body reserves making it difficult to study their inter-relationships. The dry period is a particularly interesting period in this regard, because additional nutrients are directed towards reserves, whilst it is followed by a period (early lactation) of high disease incidence. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of body condition score (BCS) at calving, as well as the effects of dry period diets designed to alter BCS, on disease incidences in the first 100 days of lactation.

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Relationship between serum adiponectin concentration, body condition score, and peripheral tissue insulin response of dairy cows during the dry period

Domestic Animal Endocrinology ◽

10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.12.004 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 59 ◽

pp. 100-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

J. De Koster ◽

C. Urh ◽

M. Hostens ◽

W. Van den Broeck ◽

H. Sauerwein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Body Condition ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Insulin Response ◽

Peripheral Tissue ◽

Serum Adiponectin ◽

Dry Period ◽

Adiponectin Concentration ◽

Condition Score ◽

Serum Adiponectin Concentration

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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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Relationships between body condition score change, prior mid-lactation phenotypic residual feed intake, and hyperketonemia onset in transition dairy cows

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2016-12085 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 100 (5) ◽

pp. 3685-3696 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Francesca M. Rathbun ◽

Ryan S. Pralle ◽

Sandra J. Bertics ◽

Louis E. Armentano ◽

K. Cho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Body Condition ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Residual Feed Intake ◽

Score Change ◽

Transition Dairy Cows ◽

Condition Score

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Association of Body Condition Score and Score Change during the Late Dry Period on Temporal Patterns of Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Concentration and Milk Yield and Composition in Early Lactation of Dairy Cows

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11041054 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 1054

Author(s):

Zelmar Rodriguez ◽

Elise Shepley ◽

Pedro P. C. Ferro ◽

Nilon L. Moraes ◽

Acir M. Antunes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Body Condition ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Dry Period ◽

Fat Reserves ◽

Condition Score ◽

Beta Hydroxybutyrate

Monitoring the body condition score (BCS) of dairy cows is a management strategy that can assist dairy producers in decision-making. The BCS and its variations reflect the level of body fat reserves and fat mobilization throughout the different stages of lactation. Cows that mobilize excessive amounts of fat reserves in response to the increased energy requirements of the transition period are more likely to have higher beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in blood, leading to a higher incidence of hyperketonemia postpartum. In this study, our main objective was to evaluate how both BCS (at 21 d prior to the expected calving date, −21 BCS) and change in BCS during the late dry period (−21 d to calving, ∆BCS) are associated with temporal patterns of blood BHB concentrations during the first two weeks of lactation. Our secondary objective was to characterize the relationship between the change in BCS in the late dry period, and milk yield and milk composition in the first milk test postpartum. In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed BCS at 21 (±3) days before the expected calving date and within three days after calving. Blood BHB concentration was measured at days 3 (±1), 7 (±1), and 14 (±1) postpartum. Hyperketonemia (HYK) was defined as blood BHB ≥ 1.2 mmol/L. To evaluate how −21 BCS and ∆BCS during the late dry period were associated with BHB in early lactation, linear mixed-effects regression models with an unstructured covariate matrix were performed. The association between ∆BCS and incidence of postpartum HYK were determined using a multivariable log-binomial model. A linear regression model was used to evaluate the association between ∆BCS and milk yield and milk composition in the first monthly test-day. Covariates used for model adjustment include parity, season, and baseline BCS. We observed that cows with BCS ≥ 4.0 at 21 d before their expected calving date had the highest BHB concentration postpartum, but no evidence that BCS ≥ 4.0 at 21 d was associated with fluctuations of BHB over time. Cows that experienced a large BCS loss (larger than 0.5 units) during the late dry period had a 61% (95% CI: 1.04, 2.50) higher risk of developing HYK in early lactation and had higher BHB concentrations during early lactation compared with cows with no ∆BCS prepartum. These associations were observed independently of the BCS at −21 d prepartum (baseline). In addition, cows that lost more than 0.5 BCS unit in the late dry period produced 3.3 kg less milk (95% CI: −7.06, 0.45) at the first milk test compared to cows that had no ∆BCS during the late dry period. No evidence of an association between −21 BCS and ∆BCS in the late dry period and milk composition was observed in our study. These results suggest that dynamic measures of BCS during the late dry period, such as ∆BCS, are better at evaluating blood BHB patterns in early lactation than BCS measured at a single time point. Cows with larger BCS loss during the late dry period and with greater parity are more likely to have higher concentrations of blood BHB postpartum, with the highest concentrations reported at 7 d post-calving.

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Changes in body condition of high-yielding dairy cows

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry ◽

10.2298/bah1202179n ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 179-194 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Z. Novakovic ◽

Lj. Sretenovic ◽

D. Ostojic-Andric ◽

M.M. Petrovic ◽

S. Aleksic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Level Structure ◽

The Body ◽

Production Cycle ◽

Dry Period ◽

Body Regions ◽

Target Values ◽

Condition Score ◽

Body Condition Scores

Objective of the research was to investigate the level, structure and variability of realized differences between average values of body condition scores in high-yielding cows during most critical phases of production cycle. Realized differences were used as criterion for assessment of changes occuring in the cows? energy status through the level of increase or decrease of body condition. Realized average values of body condition scores, for individual and all body regions, within all studied phases of production cycle, deviated statistically very significantly (p?0,01) from target values. Differences between average values of body condition scores according to phases of production cycle, for individual and all body regions, were statistically very significant (p?0,01). Optimum body condition in dry period was realized by 48,76% cows, at calving 53,61%, in the lactation peak 24,41% and in mid lactation 21,12%. Average value of body condition scores at calving was higher by 0,18 (-0,01 to 0,72) units compared to beginning of dry period, whereas at the lactation peak it was by -1,26 (-2,75 to - 0,41) units lower compared to calving, and in mid lactation compared to lactation peak it was higher by 0,18 (-0,94 to 0,85) units. Within the distribution of achieved differences in body condition scores in the time from the beginning of dry period to calving in 346 cows or 96,11% of total number of animals (n=360) increase of body condition score was realized ranging from ? 0,25 units. Distribution of differences in body condition scores between calving and lactation peak showed that 243 cows or 71,48% of total 340 cows realized loss of body condition score of >1,00 units. Within distribution of differences in body condition scores between the lactation peak and mid lactation, 261 cows or 81,06% of total number of scored animals (n=322) increased the body condition score in value of ? 0,25 units. Study showed that, except in the dry period, changes of the body condition during other phases of production cycle weren?t within the limits of optimum values. Realized results clearly showed the possibility of incidence of various production disorders, health issues and reproduction problems. Consequences are reflected also on longevity, life production and genetic progress. Realzied differences in average values of body condition scoreswere important basis for anticipation of potential problems. In that regard, there are significant reserves in improvement of efficiency of management of body energy reserves in high yielding cows.

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Influence of body condition on incidence and degree of hepatic lipidosis in cows

Veterinarski glasnik ◽

10.2298/vetgl0802003s ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 62 (1-2) ◽

pp. 3-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Horea Samanc ◽

Velibor Stojic ◽

Danijela Kirovski ◽

Milijan Jovanovic ◽

Horia Cernescu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Lactation Period ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Dry Period ◽

Hepatic Lipidosis ◽

Condition Score ◽

On Farm ◽

Average Body ◽

Body Condition Scores

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of energy status of cows, estimated by body condition score, on the incidence and the degree of hepatic lipidosis during the early stage of lactation. Cows were divided into four groups: dry, early puerperal, early lactation and late lactation period. Each group consisted of 60 cows. Body condition was scored by the method established in Elaco Animal Health Buletin Al 8478. According to this method, body condition score is represented numerically from 1 to 5 points. Liver samples for pathohistological analyses were taken by biopsy from early lactation cows (60. day of lactation). Fat content in hepatocytes was determined morphometrically and results were compared with criteria based on total lipid and triglyceride content in liver tissue. On farm A, average body condition scores were in a range from 3.31, at sixty days of lactation, to 3.86 points in the dry period. Nevertheless, the range was wider on farm B, and was from 2.18 points at sixty days of lactation to 4.15 points at the dry period. Besides, differences in average body condition scores were higher than 1 point, and in some cases (between late lactation or dry period to sixty days of lactation) were almost 2 points. The incidence and the degree of hepatic lipidosis strongly differ between the two examined farms. On farm A the incidence of hepatic lipidosis was 18.33 percent, while on farm B that percent was much higher (43.32). A significant difference was established in the degree of hepatic lipidosis between those two farms. On farm A diffuse hepatic lipidosis was determined in 5.0 percent of cows, while on farm B that percent was 18.33. According to these results, most of the cows on farm B had uncontrolled lipomobilisation and severe fatty liver during the early lactation period, probably due to the obesity of these cows in late lactation and the dry period.

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