Short communication: Concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate in dairy cows are not well correlated during the transition period

Abstract

The objective was to use longitudinal data of blood nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations to describe the relationship between NEFA and BHBA in dairy cows during the periparturient period. Blood NEFA and BHBA concentration data collected from d 21 prepartum to 21 postpartum for 269 multiparous Holstein cows were selected from 4 different studies carried out within our research groups. Overall, NEFA concentrations were increased beginning near parturition with a relatively steady elevation of NEFA through d 9, after which concentrations gradually decreased. Prepartum BHBA concentrations began to increase beginning several days before parturition, continued to increase during the first week after parturition, and remained elevated through d 21 postpartum. Of the 269 cows included in the data set, 117 cows (43.5%) had at least one postpartum hyperketonemic event (BHBA ≥1.2mmol/L), and 202 cows (75.1%) had at least one event of elevated postpartum NEFA concentrations (≥0.70mmol/L) between 3 and 21 d in milk. Area under the curve (AUC) was used to investigate relationships between metabolites over time. Overall, the correlations between transition period NEFA and BHBA AUC were weak. We detected a negative correlation between prepartum BHBA AUC and postpartum NEFA AUC (r=-0.26). A positive correlation existed between postpartum NEFA AUC and postpartum BHBA AUC; however, the correlation coefficient was low (r=0.26). Large variation was found between the day of maximum NEFA concentration within the first 21 d in milk and day of maximum BHBA concentration for the same period. The mean and median times of maximum NEFA concentration were 6.8 and 6 d, respectively, whereas the mean and median times of maximum BHBA were 9.6 and 8 d, respectively; however, the range in days for both the mean and median day of maximum concentrations was very large. Overall, our data set indicates a weak relationship between blood concentrations of NEFA and BHBA during the periparturient period of dairy cows, suggesting that elevated concentrations of one should not be extrapolated to suggest elevated concentrations of the other metabolite.

Concentrate supplementation of a diet based on medium-quality grass silage for 4 weeks prepartum: Effects on cow performance, health, metabolic status, and immune function

“…As both serum NEFA and BHB concentrations are measures of adipose tissue mobilization (Otter, 2013), these 2 serum concentrations theoretically should be consistent. However, this discrepancy in serum NEFA and BHB concentrations preceding calving is consistent with McCarthy et al (2015) who demonstrated a weak relationship between serum NEFA and BHB concentrations and concluded that a higher concentrations of one metabolite does not necessitate a higher concentration of the other.…”

Prediction of metabolic clusters in early-lactation dairy cows using models based on milk biomarkers

“…The correlation between FFA and BHB is especially difficult to explain. Although some cows with normal BHB levels have high FFA levels, other cows with normal FFA levels have high BHB levels, demonstrating unexplained interindividual variability within a group of cows McCarthy et al, 2015). This interindividual variability represents the interindi-vidual ability of cows to adapt to the altered metabolic challenge of lactation and demonstrates the limitations of monitoring metabolism based on a single metabolic indicator (Ingvartsen et al, 2003;Bjerre-Harpøth et al, 2012;Moyes et al, 2013).…”

Effect of Parenteral Antioxidant Supplementation During the Dry Period on Postpartum Glucose Tolerance in Dairy Cows

“…Conversely, regarding the response of NEFA to the IVGTT, no differences in the metabolism of BHBA after glucose infusion were observed between the 2 groups. However, concentrations of NEFA and BHBA do not correlate well, because the synthesis of ketone bodies does not depend only on energy balance. Therefore, the greater decrease in serum NEFA may not directly translate to a greater decrease in the concentration of BHBA.…”