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

Abstract

The objectives of the current study were to determine the association between body condition score change during the dry period (ΔBCS) and postpartum health and reproductive and productive performance of Holstein cows. Data from 16,104 lactations from 9,950 parous cows from 2 dairies located in the San Joaquin Valley of California were used. Within dairy, cows were scored for body condition at dry off and parturition by the same herd workers, who were trained by veterinarians from the Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center of the University of California Davis. Cows were classified as having excessive loss of BCS (ΔBCS ≤-0.75; n = 1,604), moderate loss of BCS (ΔBCS = -0.5 to -0.25; n = 6,430), no change in BCS (ΔBCS = 0; n = 4,819), and gained BCS (ΔBCS ≥0.25; n = 3,251). Data regarding morbidity, mortality, and reproductive and productive performance were recorded until 305 d postpartum or until cows were dried off or left the herd. Loss of BCS during the dry period was associated with greater incidence of uterine disease and indigestion. Additionally, loss of BCS during the dry period was associated with greater likelihood of treatment with antimicrobials, anti-inflammatories, and supportive therapy. Loss of BCS during the dry period was associated with reduced likelihood of pregnancy after the first and second postpartum inseminations. Cows that gained BCS during the dry period had greater yield of milk, fat, and protein and had reduced somatic cell linear score in the subsequent lactation. In the current study, loss of BCS during the dry period was a predisposing factor associated with health disorders and reduced productive and reproductive performance in Holstein cows.

The relationship between transition period diseases and lameness, feeding time, and body condition during the dry period

“…Lines represent the linear relationship between the variables, splitting average feeding time into 2 categories: high (red) and low (blue). Chebel et al, 2018), which in turn is associated with BCS around dry-off (Chebel et al, 2018). In addition to corroborating previous findings that changes in BCS are associated with BCS at dry-off (Hoedemaker et al, 2009;Chebel et al, 2018), we were able to evaluate the association between lameness and body condition loss during the dry period; surprisingly, lameness was not associated with body condition loss.…”

“…Chebel et al, 2018), which in turn is associated with BCS around dry-off (Chebel et al, 2018). In addition to corroborating previous findings that changes in BCS are associated with BCS at dry-off (Hoedemaker et al, 2009;Chebel et al, 2018), we were able to evaluate the association between lameness and body condition loss during the dry period; surprisingly, lameness was not associated with body condition loss. Some have suggested that cows naturally change BCS through homeorhetic mechanisms (Bauman and Currie, 1980;Roche et al, 2009), which, we speculate, may have had more influence on body condition changes than lameness.…”

“…Increased liver inflammation has been linked to higher occurrence of TD (Bertoni et al, 2008). This may explain the observed association between body condition loss during the dry period and the occurrence of uterine diseases (Chebel et al, 2018) and SCK (Kaufman et al, 2016;Rathbun et al, 2017). Although the etiologies of infectious and metabolic diseases differ, it seems that DMI and body condition loss The relationship between transition period diseases and lameness, feeding time, and body condition during the dry period underpin some of the mechanisms that contribute to disease vulnerability.…”

Short communication: Effects of body fat mobilization on macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue of early lactation dairy cows

“…This reduction in BCS may have predisposed HBCSL cows to disease as it was observed in epidemiological studies (Chebel et al, 2018). Macrophages are the predominant immune cell type in AT of cattle (Ampem et al, 2016).…”

Automated body condition scoring of dairy cows using 3-dimensional feature extraction from multiple body regions

“…It varies throughout lactation and is a net result of fat storage and depletion. Abnormal and sudden variation in body condition can be a sign of metabolic failure caused by disorder, disease, or improper management (Rathbun et al, 2017;Chebel et al, 2018). Therefore, dairy farmers are advised to assess their cows' body condition regularly to prevent metabolic failure and maintain individual cow welfare.…”