Peripartal Propylene Glycol Supplementation and Metabolism, Animal Health, Fertility, and Production in Dairy Cows

Abstract

The effect of peripartal supplementation with concentrate enriched at 10% propylene glycol (PG) on metabolism, animal health, fertility, and milk production was studied using 234 cows from 8 dairy farms with production averages of 8019 to 10,656 kg/yr. The feeding schedule for the PG group (n=117) was as follows: 13 d antepartum: 1.5 kg/d (= 150 mL PG); 12 d antepartum until parturition: 3 kg/d (= 300 mL PG); 1 to 12 d postpartum: 1 kg/d (= 100 mL PG). Control cows (n=117) received the same concentrate without PG. From a subset of cows (PG: n = 43; control: n = 40), blood samples were collected at 6, 3, and 1 wk antepartum, 3 d antepartum, on the day of parturition, and 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 wk postpartum for the determination of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, and activities of aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) and glutamate-dehydrogenase (GLDH). From another subset of cows (PG: n=11; control: n=10), blood samples were collected 1 wk antepartum, on the day of parturition, and 1 wk postpartum to determine immunophenotypical and functional parameters of blood neutrophils. From 1 wk antepartum to 1 d postpartum, concentrations of NEFA were significantly lower in cows receiving PG compared with controls. Also, concentrations of BHBA in cows receiving PG were significantly lower from 1 wk antepartum until 7 wk postpartum. Concentrations of IGF-I were significantly higher in the PG group, from 1 wk antepartum until 1 wk postpartum than in the control group. Activities of AST and GLDH did not differ between groups. Immunophenotypical and functional characteristics of blood neutrophils were not influenced by treatment nor were animal health, reproduction, or milk production. Although indicators of metabolic status were improved by peripartal use of PG-enriched concentrate, economic benefits are questionable for dairy farms with good nutritional programs, as economically important factors such as milk production, animal health, and fertility were not influenced.

Effects of feeding dry propylene glycol to early postpartum Holstein dairy cows on production and blood parameters

“…Hepatic uptake of plasma NEFA is proportional to the concentration of NEFA in plasma (Heimberg et al, 1974); therefore, a reduction in hepatic uptake of NEFA results in a reduction in hepatic ketogenesis (Brockman and Laarveld, 1986). The effects of PG supplementation on reducing plasma NEFA and BHBA concentrations were reported in various studies via drenching (Studer et al, 1993;Juchem et al, 2004) or feeding (Fisher et al, 1971;Sauer et al, 1973;Hoedemaker et al, 2004) PG to cows in the transition period or early lactation. In the current study, concentration of plasma NEFA was not affected by treatments.…”

“…PG applied by feeding instead of routine oral drenching may be better accepted by dairy producers as a supplement to alleviate negative energy balance and subsequently prevent subclinical ketosis that often occurs during the first month of lactation. Periparturient supplementation of PG by incorporating it into the concentrate, has been shown to decrease blood concentrations of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and b-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) (Fisher et al, 1971;Hoedemaker et al, 2004), and increase blood concentrations of glucose and insulin (Sauer et al, 1973;Patton et al, 2004). Currently, the method of treating clinical or acute ketosis in dairy cows is to administer an oral drench of liquid PG (Herdt and Emery, 1992).…”

Efeito da administração de propileno glicol e cobalto associado à vitamina B12 sobre o perfil metabólico e a atividade enzimática de ovelhas da raça Santa Inês no periparto

“…Ao longo de todo o período do periparto não foi observado efeito de momento na atividade sérica de AST, FA e CK (Quadro 4), permanecendo os valores destas variáveis situadas dentro da normalidade para a espécie ovina (Kaneko et al 2008), caracterizando não haver comprometimento celular hepático (Wierda et al 1985, Contreras et al 2000, Cal et al 2009). Outros autores, avaliando a influência do propileno glicol sobre os valores enzimáticos de AST em cabras e vacas no período de transição, não evidenciaram alterações na atividade sérica desta enzima (Hoedemaker et al 2004, Mikula et al 2008, Chiofalo et al 2009). …”

Effect of dietary energy source on energy balance, production, metabolic disorders and reproduction in lactating dairy cattle

“…The minimum number of days until first AI seems particularly important in this aspect. A part of the presented studies in Figure 4b do not specify the determination of timing of AI [65,118,119,121]. Most studies applied a waiting period till first AI ranging from 39 to 90 DIM [15, 62,105,126], other studies inseminated the cows after synchronization with a prostaglandin analogue [104,132].…”