Relationships between changes in Holstein cow's body condition, acetone and urea content in milk and cervical mucus and sperm survival

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationship between changes in Holstein cow's body condition score (BCS), acetone and urea content in the milk and cervical mucus (CM) and sperm survival in CM. At insemination, samples of milk and CM were collected from 64 Holstein cows. Content of acetone and urea were determined. Sperm motility was assessed subjectively at the beginning and a er 30, 60 and 90 minutes of the short-term heat test in CM. Data about evaluation of cow's BCS were taken from farm evidence. The data set was analyzed using SAS/STAT so ware. Eff ect of change in cow's BCS one month before insemination was signifi cant only in relation to the acetone content in milk (P < 0.05). Higher values of acetone and urea content were found in the CM compared to milk. Higher levels of both metabolites were detected in primiparous cows and in cows on the third and subsequent lactation, resp. in cows inseminated 3 times and more. The highest values of both metabolites negatively aff ected sperm survival during the short-term heat test, especially a er 90 minutes (P < 0.05-0.01). Signifi cant decreases (P < 0.05-0.01) were detected in cows with the highest level of acetone and urea.

Development in Indirect Infra-red Determination of Milk Acetone

“…Milk samples can be attend fast, regularly and cheaply. That is reason why already previously the various methods with diff erent efectiveness, advantages and disadvantages of ketone determination in milk has been developed (Mottram et al, 2002), from stable tests (relatively cheaper (Geishauser et al, 1997;Hanuš et al, 1999;Carrier et al, 2004)) to direct (colorimetric with salicylaldehyde, with vanillin, fl ow injection analysis with hydroxylamine and gas chromatography, relatively more expensive (O'Moore, 1949;Majewska and Rybczyňska, 1975;Vojtíšek, 1986;Hansen, 1999;Mottram et al, 2002;Heuer et al, 2001;Baticz et al, 2002;Roos et al, 2007;Beran et al, 2012)) and indirect (infrared spectrometry, relatively cheap (Hansen, 1999;Roos et al, 2007;Knegsel et al, 2010;Dri et al, 2012)) laboratory analytical methods. Whole raw of semiquantitative stable tests exists for ketones in urine (for instance Ketophan (Hanuš et al, 2001)) for quick diagnosis but there are only three (Carrier et al, 2004) good usable tests for work with milk.…”

“…The next way for more eff ective diagnosis of ketosis was beside existence of more expensive (because of labour costs) direct methods for ketone determination in body liquids (O'Moore, 1949;Vojtíšek, 1986;Baticz et al, 2002;Beran et al, 2012) also looking for ways of using of indirect methods (Hansen, 1999). The replacement of direct methods by tests or indirect methods could save the labour costs and open possibilities how to do the regular diagnosis of ketosis more frequent in practice and contribute positively to dairy cow health.…”

“…Its occurrence is also associated with higher ketone levels in all body liquids (Steen et al, 1996;Enjalbert et al, 2001;Beran et al, 2012;Januš and Borkowska, 2013), mostly of acetone (AC) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) as products of fat catabolism when an animal solves its energy defi ciency by destruction of body fat reserves (Manzenreiter et al, 2013) along body condition score and reproduction performance losses (Beran et al, 2012). The AC values highly correlate among these body liquids (Enjalbert et al, 2001).…”

“…Also genetic, lactation and milk yield impacts on milk acetone content and linked energy balance of dairy cows or other animals were evaluated (Miettinen, 1994;Heuer et al, 2001;Janů et al, 2007;Hanuš et al, 2011 b, c). The interpretation procedures of ketones in blood, urine, milk and/or cervical mucus were described in previous papers (Gustafsson and Emanuelson, 1996;Enjalbert et al, 2001;Heuer et al, 2001;Hanuš et al, 2001Mottram et al, 2002;Knegsel et al, 2010;Beran et al, 2012).…”

Effects of eCG in Milking Dairy Cows with High Levels of BUN and Synchronized with Ovsynch Protocol

“…The CM during estrus shows a fern pattern of crystallization showing the best time for AI 25 . Toxic metabolites such as urea can accumulate in CM as an indicator of a cow's metabolism intensity and can negatively affect the survival and/or fertilization ability of sperms 3 . High concentrations of urea in CM can cause decreased sperm motility and survival.…”