Effects of Lameness, Stage of Lactation and Body Condition Score on Some Blood Parameters in Holstein Cows

An objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between body condition of the dairy cow and susceptibility of milk to rancidity. Initial milk samples were obtained from 166 cows in Spring, 1969, and all animals were retested after an interval of two months. Additional observations included the effects of stage of lactation, level of milk production, and herd effects. Each cow was evaluated for body condition, at the times when milk samples were obtained, by a method based on measures of weight and skeletal size and by a subjective scoring system. Spontaneous rancidity of the milk fat was allowed to develop upon storage for 48 hr; and induced rancidity was brought about by controlled agitation. As measured by acid degree values (ADV) the treatments imposed on the milk samples were successful in simulating development of spontaneous and induced lipolysis of the milk fat. However, the magnitude of the ADV was not related to body condition score. It is concluded that in well-fed herds, such as those used in this experiment, body condition of the cow does not influence the susceptibility of her milk to rancidity. These data may not apply under conditions of poor feeding and management. Advancing stage of lactation was associated with increases in both spontaneous and induced rancidity. This was indicated by positive correlations between days in milk and ADV, and by significantly higher values in the second sampling period than in the first. There was a negative correlation between the amount of milk produced and ADV. This may have been related to the decline in milk flow which accompanied advancing lactation. An unexplained herd difference existed with respect to the susceptibility of milk to induced rancidity.

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Principal Descriptors of Body Condition Score in Holstein Cows

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(94)77212-x ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 77 (9) ◽

pp. 2695-2703 ◽

Cited By ~ 709

Author(s):

James D. Ferguson ◽

David T. Galligan ◽

Neal Thomsen

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Holstein Cows ◽

Condition Score

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Embryonic mortality in Holstein cows on one’s farm

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis ◽

10.11118/actaun201159010211 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 211-218 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Petra Puklová ◽

Jan Šubrt ◽

Dušan Skrip ◽

Radek Filipčík

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Body Condition ◽

Dairy Cow ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

The Body ◽

Embryonic Mortality ◽

Holstein Cows ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Condition Score ◽

Positive Effect

The objective of our research was to evaluate the effect of some factors on the embryonic mortality of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in a herd. Monitoring was conducted in the course of three years (2006–2009) at a level of (9330–8970) kg/dairy cow per lactation. We monitored the reproduction parameters of 209 dairy cows (1st to 8th lactation). Ultrasonography was used to diagnose gravidity, and/or embryonic mortality, in each cow 6 times, at regular 4-day intervals between days 22 and 42 after insemination. We analysed the effect of 3 factors on embryonic mortality: age, body condition score and season of the year at the time of insemination. Embryonic mortality relative to the age of the female was significantly the lowest (20.69 %) in cows aged 42 to 47 months (3.5–3.9 years); high embryonic mortality (45.46 %) was recorded in the youngest females of 24 to 29 months of age (2.0–2.4 years). The results indicated that the body condition score of the cow at the time of insemination had a statistically significant (P > 0.01) effect on embryonic mortality (EM). Embryonic mortality was the lowest when the body condition of the cow was “ideal”, i.e. 5 points of the BCS (at the most 9 points). The season of the year when insemination was carried out had a positive effect on embryonic mortality.

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Influence of blood metabolites and body condition score at parturition on fertility and milk yield in Holstein cows

Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Pecuarias ◽

10.17533/udea.rccp.v34n4a06 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Edir Torres ◽

José E García ◽

Francisco G Véliz ◽

Carlos Leyva ◽

Ulises Macías-Cruz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Body Condition ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Holstein Cows ◽

Blood Metabolites ◽

Condition Score

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Effects of parity order on performance, metabolic, and hormonal parameters of grazing beef cows during pre-calving and lactation periods

BMC Veterinary Research ◽

10.1186/s12917-021-03019-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Matheus Fellipe de Lana Ferreira ◽

Luciana Navajas Rennó ◽

Isabela Iria Rodrigues ◽

Edenio Detmann ◽

Mário Fonseca Paulino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Metabolic Profile ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Beef Cows ◽

Lactation Period ◽

Stage Of Lactation ◽

Esterified Fatty Acids ◽

Condition Score ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract Background Metabolic profile evaluation is a tool widely used in ruminant nutrition as metabolic cues that relate nutrition to physiology. Metabolic and hormonal traits change during pre-partum and lactation according to parity in dairy cows, but studies of beef cows under grazing are scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate how metabolic and hormonal traits change over time, their relationship to performance, and determine if these factors differ according to the parity order of grazing beef cows. Thirty-six pregnant Nellore cows (12 nulliparous, 12 primiparous, and 12 multiparous) were used. The study started at 60 d prepartum until 203 d of lactation. Results The initial body weight (BW) and final BW were higher for multiparous cows (P > 0.05). An interaction occurred between parity and day (P < .0001) for body condition score. Nulliparous and primiparous body condition score were reduced from − 60 prepartum to 30 postpartum, then stabilized 60 postpartum (P < 0.05), while multiparous maintained body condition score from − 60 days until 60 days postpartum (P > 0.05). Calf BW, final BW, and average daily gain did not differ between parities (P > 0.05). Effect of day (P < 0.05) was detected for non-esterified fatty acids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL, progesterone, and insulin. An interaction was observed between parity and days for glucose, HDL, β-hydroxybutyrate, creatinine and IGF-1 (P < 0.05). Parity affected serum urea nitrogen, total proteins, albumin, and globulins (P < 0.05). Parity and day relative to calving did not impact total T3 and T4 (P > 0.05). Conclusions Hormonal and metabolic profile is strongly influenced by the stage of lactation. Time effects (pre-partum and lactation period) were more pronounced in nulliparous since they displayed more unbalanced metabolic and hormonal traits and lowered BCS pre- and postpartum.

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