Comparison of Enzyme Activity in Order to Describe the Metabolic Profile of Dairy Cows during Early Lactation

Abstract

Enzymatic diagnostics have practical applications in diseases of the liver, heart, pancreas, muscles, blood, and neoplastic diseases. This study aimed to compare enzyme activity to describe dairy cows’ metabolism during early lactation. Based on their general health symptoms, the cows were assigned to one of three groups: acidotic, healthy and ketotic. Samples of milk, blood and rumen fluid were collected at 12 ± 5 days postpartum. Ketotic cows were characterized by the highest malondialdehyde (MDA, 76.098 nM/mL), glutathione reductase (GluRed, 109.852 U/L), superoxide dismutase (SOD, 294.22 U/L) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP, 71.175 U/L) activity. In comparing ketotic and acidotic cows, MDA, GluRed, SOD and GGTP activity were higher by a factor of almost: 1.85, 1.89, 0.79 and 2.50, respectively. Acidotic cows were characterized by the highest aspartate aminotransferase activity (AspAT, 125.914 U/L). In comparing acidotic and ketotic cows, AspAT activity was higher by a factor of almost 1.90. The use of enzymatic markers could limit the frequency of sampling for laboratory analyses and may result in a faster diagnosis of metabolic disorders. AspAT activity in blood serum seems to be a good indicator of acidosis; GGTP may participate in the pathogenesis of ketosis.

Blood parameters as a possible indicator of feed efficiency in Nellore bulls

“…Enzymatic diagnostics have practical applications in liver, heart, pancreas, muscle, blood, and neoplastic diseases (Puppel et al, 2022). Increased plasma enzymatic activity aids in identifying the location and degree of cell damage, given the organ-specific nature of many enzymes.…”

Interaction between the Concentration of β-Hydroxybutyric Acid and the Content of Long-Chain Fatty Acids in the Early Stage of Lactation––Comparing Multiparous and Primiparous Cows

“…Fatty acid methylation was performed according to the trans-esterification method EN ISO 5509 [26]. Individual fatty acids were identified in crude fat using an Agilent 7890A GC (Agilent, Waldbronn, Germany) according to Puppel et al [9]. Each peak was identified using pure methyl ester standards: FAME Mix RM-6, Lot LB 68242; Supelco 37 Comp.…”

“…It is considered a complete food, having more than 250 different constituents, such as complete protein, fat, lactose, micro-and macronutrients, and water-and fat-soluble vitamins [3,5]. The composition of milk is the result of the actions of many factors, among which should be mentioned genetic factors (breed, individual characteristics), environmental factors (nutrition, climatic conditions, season), and physiological factors (the age of the cow, stage of lactation, health status) [6][7][8][9][10]. One of the most sensitive and complex milk fractions is fat, which affected by all the above-mentioned factors.…”

“…During the transition period (late pregnancy and early lactation), there is stress associated with the intense hormonal changes accompanying the birth of the calf and the entry into lactation. In the case of some diseases, e.g., post-partum paralysis, there is a risk of cow death, while other diseases, e.g., ketosis or acidosis, cause significant production losses, such as reduced milk yield, deterioration of the chemical composition of milk and higher somatic cell count, deterioration of reproductive indices, the occurrence of hoof problems (laminitis), and, as a result of these issues, higher veterinary and herd repair costs [9]. Therefore, it is far better for breeders to take measures to prevent the occurrence of these diseases.…”