Association between birth conditions and glucose and cortisol profiles of periparturient dairy cows and neonatal calves

Abstract

Parturition in cattle is a stressful event for both the dam and the offspring. Stress and pain can alter the energy profile of calves and calving cows, producing a metabolic imbalance at birth. This study aimed to assess the effects of dystocia and oxytocin and calcium infusion on metabolic homeostasis in dairy cows and calves. Thirty Holstein cows and their calves were divided into three groups: an eutocia group (n=10), in which no calving assistance was needed; a dystocia group, which required mild-to-severe obstetric assistance (n=10); and a uterine inertia group, which was treated with oxytocin and calcium (n=10). To assess serum cortisol and blood glucose levels, blood samples were collected during the peripartum period from cows and during the first hour since birth from calves. All groups were hyperglycaemic following parturition. Infusion of oxytocin and calcium resulted in lower maternal glucose concentrations and lower levels of stress than in cows in the dystocia group. Birth condition was significantly associated with blood glucose and cortisol concentrations in calves. Glucose concentration was lower in calves born with oxytocin and calcium infusion than those born with fetal extraction. In conclusion, assisted calving with fetal extraction causes important metabolic changes for the dam and calf. Conversely, the practice of oxytocin and calcium infusion for hypotonic cows has no harmful effects on metabolic balance and can be safely employed as a medical treatment.

Prevalence and risk factors for stillbirths in Holstein cows in a hot environment

“…In cattle, dystocia has been found to be related to several negative outcomes, such as survival of newborn calves (Eriksson et al, 2004;Bicalho et al, 2008;Barrier et al, 2013). This is so because dystocial calves normally experience higher physiological stress, acidosis and hypoxic state which result in lower vigor (Barrier et al, 2012;Kovács et al, 2016) and consequently in reduction in the transfer of passive immunity, as well as important metabolic changes (Barrier et al, 2013;Vannucchi et al, 2015). Stillborn calves from dystocic parturition not necessarily exhibit specific types of trauma, but do exhibit larger lesions than their eutocic counterparts, indicating that they experienced greater trauma during delivery (Barrier et al, 2013).…”

Oxidative stress and acid–base balance during the transition period of neonatal Holstein calves submitted to different calving times and obstetric assistance

“…The higher catecholamine production during prolonged calving may be responsible for the increased vascular flow to the brown adipose tissue, and, consequently, for increased heat production (Bellows and Lammoglia, 2000). The higher neonatal stress observed in dystocic calves (Vannucchi et al, 2015c) may corroborate this finding, favoring the organic response to adverse extrauterine conditions. Also, in this study, we observed that obstetric assistance favored thermal maintenance only in prolonged calving (>4 h).…”

Endocrine And Metabolic Adaptations Of Calves To Extra-Uterine Life

“…Morbidity and mortality remain high during the neonatal period (from day 2 to day 28 of life) and then decline as calves develop and gain in body weight [3]. metabolic pathways during the transitional period from intra-uterine to extra-uterine life [13].…”