Effects of Body Condition and Concentrate Proportion of the Ration on Mobilization of Fat Depots and Energetic Condition in Dairy Cows during Early Lactation Based on Ultrasonic Measurements

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate energy metabolism and lipid mobilization via ultrasonic measurements (USM), considering inner fat depots, in lactating dairy cows differing in body condition score (BCS) and fed rations with low (35% at dry matter basis; C35) or high (60% at dry matter basis; C60) concentrate feed proportions postpartum. Sixty pluriparous German Holstein cows were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design from d 42 antepartum (relative to calculated calving) until d 120 postpartum. Animals were divided into a group with a lower (initial BCS = 3.1 ± 0.38 SD; BCSL) and a group with a higher (initial BCS = 3.83 ± 0.41 SD; BCSH) BCS. Due to higher dry matter intake C60 groups reached the positive energy balance earlier, whereas C35 groups had a more pronounced negative energy balance. Although this would suggest a more pronounced mobilization of C35 groups the USM revealed no differences between feeding groups. Differences in BCS between both BCS groups remained almost the same over the trial. This was not reflected in ultrasonic data, as lipid mobilization was higher in higher conditioned cows. These findings demonstrate the extended possibilities of USM to depict metabolic processes.

Relative Late Gestational Muscle and Adipose Thickness Reflect the Amount of Mobilization of These Tissues in Periparturient Dairy Cattle

“…Although HM cows mobilized more backfat, this was not realized in NEFA concentrations during the four postpartum time points. All cows experienced a significant loss of BCS and bodyweight between 0 and 30 DIM, which is consistent with the timing of adipose mobilization in the literature [ 2 , 30 , 31 ]. Overall, approximately 15.2% of BFT was lost from 21 d BEC through 30 DIM.…”

The Effect of Feeding Management and Culling of Cows on the Lactation Curves and Milk Production of Primiparous Dairy Cows

“…Metabolic processes increase if milk productivity increases in dairy cows. Metabolization of body energy reserves during the early lactation enables the cow to close the gap between the alimentary energy intake and its loss through milk production [41]. Since the alterations in energy reserves have a considerable influence upon the productivity, health, and reproduction of dairy cows [42], the monetarization of optimal management of energy reserves is obviously needed.…”

Modeling reticular and ventral ruminal pH of lactating dairy cows using ingestion and rumination behavior

“…It was approved by the Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES, Oldenburg, Germany) in consultation with an independent ethics committee (AZ 33.19-42502-04-15/1858). Further results of this experiment have been published by Bünemann et al (2019), who investigated the effects of BCS and concentrated feed on energy metabolism of dairy cows.…”

“…Fresh feed was provided once a day between 1100 and 1200 h. Information on the diets is given in Supplemental Table S1 (https: / / doi .org/ 10 .3168/ jds .2020 -18195). Further experimental details can be found in Bünemann et al (2019).…”