“…A similar kind of reduction in body weight after parturition was reported in primiparous and multiparous cows (Řehák et al., 2012; Roche et al., 2007). Lactating cows mostly experience a negative energy balance due to insufficient dietary intake to meet the required energy demands for milk production during early postpartum (Konigsson et al., 2008; Paiano et al., 2020a; De Vries & Veerkamp, 2000); as a consequence, the postpartum reproductive events are compromised with the increased risk of developing uterine infections and metabolic diseases, particularly in higher yielding animals (Butler & Smith, 1989; Kawashima et al., 2012; Paiano et al., 2020b,2021; Paiano, Camila, et al., 2019; Shrestha et al., 2005). Therefore, to accommodate the increased energy demand, internal body reserves are mobilized to provide NEFA partly as a direct fuel or partially oxidized by liver into ketone body, mainly BHB (reviewed by Abdelli et al., 2017; McArt et al., 2013; Ospina et al., 2013; Wathes et al., 2013).…”