Risk factors for clinical ketosis and association with milk production and reproduction variables in dairy cows in a hot environment

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to investigate (1) the risk factors that influence the occurrence of clinical ketosis (CK; blood β-hydroxybutyrate > 3.0 mmol/L) and (2) to determine the influence of subclinical ketosis (SCK; 1.2 ≤ β-hydroxybutyrate ≤ 2.9 mmol/L) and CK on reproductive performance and milk yield in high-yielding Holstein cows in a hot environment. Cows (n = 345) were blood sampled from 6 to 15 days postpartum for β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) determination with a hand-held meter. Cows calving in spring had 3.7 increased odds of having CK (20.7% incidence) than cows calving in summer (3.9% incidence) and autumn (9.4% incidence). Temperature-humidity index < 83 was associated with 1.6 times higher risk for CK compared with cows calving in warmer days. First-service conception rate was 12 and 16 percentage point higher (P < 0.05) in nonketotic cows compared with cows with SCK and CK, respectively. Actual 305-day milk yields for healthy, SCK, and CK cows were 9991 ± 1411, 10,123 ± 1442, and 10,386 ± 1435 kg (mean ± SD), respectively, with no difference (P > 0.05) between groups. In conclusion, this study documented that ketosis was seasonal with lower incidence of this metabolic disease during hot seasons and with increased ambient temperature at calving. Also, 305-day milk yield of Holstein cows was not related to blood BHB content early in lactation in this hot environment. However, elevated circulating BHB was negatively associated with conception rate at first service and fetal losses.

Influence of blood metabolites and body condition score at parturition on fertility and milk yield in Holstein cows

“…Although circulating ketone bodies can be used to a certain extent as energy source by mammary tissue and other organs, excessive blood ketone bodies negatively affect the reproduction function. In line with the results of the present study, Rutherford et al (2016) and Mellado et al (2018b) also found that low blood BHBA levels shortly after calving had a positive effect on the establishment of pregnancy at first service.…”

“…In the present study, high serum BHBA concentrations were associated with a higher number of services per conception, which is in line with other studies with dairy cows experiencing ketosis shortly after calving (Gillund et al, 2001;Mellado et al, 2018b). Considering de AUC (0.64), blood BHBA concentrations one-week post-calving presented a moderately accurate discriminating ability for cows requiring more than two services to become pregnant.…”

Proanthocyanidins Protect against β-Hydroxybutyrate-Induced Oxidative Damage in Bovine Endometrial Cells

“…Moreover, numerous publications reported the association of ketosis and fertility traits in dairy cows. One study found that circulating BHBA was increased the conception rate at first service and fetal loss was decreased in cows [15], and the calving-to-first-service interval and the calving-to-conception interval were prolonged with subclinical ketosis [16]. It was also found that a combination of NEB and reduced dry matter intake reduced fertility and milk production in dairy cows [17].…”

Integrating diverse data sources to predict disease risk in dairy cattle

“…Two studies report a negative association between high ketosis incidence and high ambient temperature-humidity index 87 at calving or high temperature 79 at calving, respectively. This contradicts our findings, which show an association of high mean yearly temperature (OR=1.23 [1.11; 1.35]), temperature deviation (Or=1.89 [1.71; 2.09]) and high mean relative humidity (OR=1.39; 1.26; 1.54) with increased clinical ketosis risk.…”