Assessment of Fatty Liver Syndrome and Its Predisposing Factors in a Dairy Herd from Venezuela

Abstract

The present on-farm research evaluated the occurrence of fatty liver syndrome and its predisposing risk factors for multiparous dairy cows from a commercial herd in Venezuela. Liver biopsy samples were collected at 35 days (d) prepartum (Holstein, n = 14; Holstein × Carora crossbred, n = 17) as well as 1 to 7 d (Holstein, n = 8; Holstein × Carora crossbred, n = 11) and 28 to 35 d (Holstein, n = 6; Holstein × Carora crossbred, n = 14) postpartum in order to analyse hepatic triacylglycerols (TAG, % wet basis) and glycogen concentrations. At postpartum, an occurrence of 72.0% for severe fatty liver along with 73.5% of subclinical ketosis (SCK) was found. The multiple regression model that best explained the association between milk production in the previous lactation (MYP) and TAG at first week postpartum was as follows: TAG, % = −11.2 + 3.16 (prepartum body condition) + 0.0009176 (MYP) (R² = 0.36, P < 0.05). Logistic regression indicated that Holstein × Carora crossbred cows tended to have 27% higher relative risk than Holstein to experience SCK, whereas prepartum liver TAG greater than 3% tended to be associated with a higher relative risk for SCK compared to cows with TAG ≤3%.

The effect of different treatments for early-lactation hyperketonemia on liver triglycerides, glycogen, and expression of key metabolic enzymes in dairy cattle

“…The concentration of liver glycogen of approximately 1% wet weight (after control of baseline glucose content) is consistent with previous reports in the first week postpartum (Pickett et al, 2003b;Gonzalez and Rosendo, 2013). None of the treatments altered the liver glycogen content in comparison with the untreated control.…”

Plasma metabolic profiling of dairy cows affected with clinical ketosis using LC/MS technology

“…However, acetyl-CoA could not enter the Krebs cycle obviously because of the decrease in oxaloacetic acid that resulted from the low glucose concentration, ultimately leading to a marked increase in ketones, such as BHBA, acetyl acetate, and acetone (Grummer & Carroll 1991). In addition, triglycerides may accumulate in the liver with lower levels of very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) from fatty acids, which may cause a disorder in gluconeogenesis, increased lipolysis, and excessive ketones (Gonzalez & Rosendo 2013). Previous studies have shown that the concentration of glycocholic acid increases when the liver is damaged (Woolbright & Jaeschke 2012).…”

Associations between ultrasound hepatic measurements, body measures, and milk production traits in Holstein cows

“…Negative nutrient balance in early-lactating cows often leads to the hydrolysis of TAG in body adipose tissue to counteract the acute energy deficit. Lipolysis induces a distinct increase in circulating nonesterified fatty acids, and if their concentrations in the blood remain elevated for prolonged periods, they may accumulate after re-esterification as TAG in the liver (Yue et al, 2017;Shen et al, 2018), causing liver dysfunction and ketosis (Bobe et al, 2004), and giving rise to a generalized lipid mobilization syndrome known as fatty liver syndrome (Gonzalez and Rosendo, 2013). At the herd level, aside from health issues resulting in high culling rates and elevated Associations between ultrasound hepatic measurements, body measures, and milk production traits in Holstein cows treatment costs, the occurrence of even mild fatty liver syndrome in early lactation not only may affect milk production in the ongoing lactation period but may also reduce reproductive performance, resulting in considerable economic losses (Carpenter et al, 2016;Carvalho et al, 2019).…”