Cortisol levels in skimmed milk during the first 22 weeks of lactation and response to short-term metabolic stress and lameness in dairy cows

Abstract

BackgroundCortisol is secreted into blood in reaction to acute stress, but also in phases of diminished feed intake and changed animal behavior. As cows do not always show clear signs of discomfort, reliable diagnostic markers could be used to provide information regarding individual cows’ distress. The objective of this study was to establish an ether free immunoassay for the detection of cortisol and to determine values during the first 22 weeks of lactation. Furthermore, the response in milk cortisol levels was assessed during times of metabolic stress and pain associated symptoms of lameness.MethodsMilk yield and composition, blood serum glucose, NEFA and BHBA as well as milk cortisol were determined in 24 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows over the course of the first 22 weeks of lactation. Animals were further checked for signs of clinical diseases on a daily basis. Two feed restrictions over three days (FR; 70 % of precious ad libitum intake) were performed during the 4th wk and the 21st wk, respectively. An ELISA for cortisol measurement in easily accessible bovine skimmed milk was established and applied.ResultsOn the last day of FR in early lactation, a reduction in milk yield and changes in serum metabolites compared to respective previous values were detected. The FR in mid-lactation resulted in no changes in milk production and serum metabolites. Milk cortisol was highest during first wk of lactation and remained on comparable levels thereafter. Milk yield and composition were not influenced by FR. Lameness resulted in enhanced milk cortisol levels.ConclusionMilk cortisol could be used as an indicator of painful symptoms such as lameness. Higher values of milk cortisol levels during first wk of lactation should be taken into account for interpretation.

Hair cortisol concentration in pre‐ and postpartum dairy cows, and its association with body condition, hock health, and reproductive status

“…and subsequent decrease appears to be typical of healthy postpartum cows, and agrees with the results from other biological samples such as milk (Fukasawa et al, 2008;Gellrich et al, 2015). In this study, such a typical pattern was observed in the normal cows with a peak cortisol concentration at L1.…”

“…This study revealed that hair cortisol concentrations were significantly associated with hock health status. Hock scores are often correlated with lameness (Kester, Holzhauer, & Frankena, ), and lame cows were reported to have higher cortisol concentrations in hair (Comin et al, ) and milk (Gellrich, Sigl, Meyer, & Wiedemann, ). To our knowledge, this is the first report showing that hock health assessed by a visual scoring method is associated with hair cortisol concentrations.…”

The effect of post-calving pain management with carprofen on stress, reproduction, and milk yield in cattle

“…High circulating cortisol concentrations were reported to be linked with reduced milk TG -treatment group (animals injected with carprofen); CG -control group (animals injected with 0.9% NaCl); *P < 0.005 yields. Gellrich et al (2015) found that correlation analyses indicated a significant negative association of milk cortisol and milk yield and milk yield-dependent variables (i.e. protein yield and fat yield).…”

The Impact of Lameness on Dairy Cattle Welfare: Growing Need for Objective Methods of Detecting Lame Cows and Assessment of Associated Pain

“…In response to pain, the physiological activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and the autonomous nervous system is activated resulting in the release of cortisol; the main glucocorticoid hormone [64]. Accordingly, a significant increase in the plasma concentration of cortisol was reported in clinically lame cows compared to non-lame groups [65,66]. Similar results were observed in lame cows compared to the untreated group after inducing lameness using oligofructose approach [54] and evaluation of cortisol level in the milk of lame cows [66].…”