Prepartal standing behavior as a parameter for early detection of postpartal subclinical ketosis associated with inflammation and liver function biomarkers in peripartal dairy cows

Abstract

A degree of negative energy balance is commonly experienced by cows during early lactation. This physiological state, if pronounced or prolonged, leads to partial oxidation of nonesterified fatty acids as an energy source and, consequently, increasing blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations and potentially development of ketosis in postpartal dairy cows. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows received a common prepartal and postpartal diet. Cows were fitted with an accelerometer mounted laterally on the distal left hind leg using vet wrap from -30 to 15 d relative to parturition. A retrospective analysis was performed using the postpartal BHB data at 8 time points from 0 to 15 d in milk measured with the Precision Xtra (Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, CA). Cows with an average blood BHB <1.4 mmol/L were designated nonketotic (NONKET; n = 12), and those with ≥1.4 mmol/L were designated ketotic (KET; n = 12). A total of 8 samples per cow were used for this analysis. Subsequent analyses of behavioral patterns and blood biomarkers were performed using this group effect. On average, blood BHB reached subclinical levels (1.4 ± 0.3 mmol/L; mean ± standard error of the mean) at 3 d postpartum for all cows in this study. Behavioral patterns were obtained from accelerometer data, and correlation analysis was performed between these behaviors such as standing and lying time from -30 to 3 d relative to parturition and blood BHB concentration at 3 d postpartum. The strongest correlation was obtained between standing time at 3 d before calving and blood BHB at 3 d postpartum. Dry matter intake was greater (ca. 3 kg/d) in NONKET cows than in KET cows. An interaction of group × time for milk yield resulted in an overall increase of 5.7 kg/d in NONKET cows in comparison with KET. The blood concentrations of biomarkers for liver function (γ-glutamyltransferase and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase), inflammation (IL-6), and metabolism (nonesterified fatty acids) were increased at various time points in KET cows in comparison with NONKET during the transition period. Overall, lower bilirubin in NONKET cows than in KET further confirmed an impaired liver function in the latter group of cows. Our findings revealed the potential for establishing correlations between prepartal behavioral patterns derived from accelerometer data and postpartal subclinical ketosis, and further confirming the latter by physiological alterations in biomarkers related to inflammation and liver function. Our data also indicate that cows with a predisposition to postpartal subclinical or clinical ketosis will remain standing for fewer hours during the days leading to parturition, which decreased DMI, and this condition was further reflected in lower milk yield.

Hepatic pyruvate carboxylase expression differed prior to hyperketonemia onset in transition dairy cows

“…In this experiment, the decreased prepartum DMI of HYK cows caused a slightly less positive EB prepartum compared with their nonHYK herd mates, but HYK did not significantly affect EB postpartum. The decreased DMI in HYK cows agrees with previous research [29,30], although due to the difference in BW between HYK and nonHYK cows in this study, we did not observe differences between DMI per BW of groups. It is evident that even when offered similar prepartum diets, cows will naturally differ in their propensity for postpartum HYK onset.…”

Administration of an Immune Stimulant during the Transition Period Improved Lipid Metabolism and Rumination without Affecting Inflammatory Status

“…These compounds are known to exert antioxidant activities: Albumin has a role in ligand binding and free radical trapping [58]; blood SHp mainly reflects albumin, lipoic acid, glutathione, and cysteine concentration; and FRAP provides a measurement of antioxidant power via blood concentration of bilirubin, uric acid, proteins, and vitamins C and E [59]. As antioxidant capacity directly depends on liver activity [15,60], dysregulation of the liver functions involved in controlling blood concentrations of such compounds could account for their post-partum trends with OAF; however, the lack of an effect on the concentration of bilirubin or enzymes related to amino acid metabolism in the liver (AST-GOT, GGT, ALP) refute the occurrence of any impairment of liver function [61]. Thus, we may hypothesize that the depletion of antioxidant systems observed with OAF in early lactation could arise from weak antioxidant activity of the product.…”

Monensin controlled-release capsule administered in late-pregnancy differentially affects rumination patterns, metabolic status, and cheese-making properties of the milk in primiparous and multiparous cows

“…In our study, the higher concentration of ceruloplasmin, the lower concentration of PON and the larger GGT in PR cows receiving monensin suggest a heightening of the inflammatory condition and a tendency to impair the liver function. GGT is a liver enzyme related to the utilisation of amino acids, and its increase in plasma is related to the impairment of liver function (Rodriguez-Jimenez et al 2018). The greater level of inflammation seen in PR cows treated with monensin was also supported by a greater activation of neutrophils in these animals, as suggested from their higher concentrations of both myeloperoxidase and ROMt.…”