The Influence of Energy Balance, Lipolysis and Ketogenesis on Metabolic Adaptation in Cows Milked Twice and Three Times Daily

Abstract

Increasing milk production requires increasing milking frequency (MF) from two times daily (2X) to three (3X) or more. High milk production leads to negative energy balance (NEB) and homeorhesis, characterized by lipolysis, ketogenesis, and endocrinological changes. The relationship among energy balance (EB), lipolysis, and ketogenesis with endocrine and metabolic parameters in blood of cows milked 2X and 3X daily was studied. Holstein Friesian cows milked 2X (n = 45) and 3X (n = 45) were analyzed, with approximately 50% of cows in each group in positive EB (PEB) and 50% in NEB. After determining EB, blood samples were collected from all cows and blood serum was analyzed for non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose (GLU), cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TGC), total bilirubin (TBIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphate (P), total protein (TPROT), albumin (ALB), urea, insulin (INS), T3, T4, and cortisol (CORT), and the RQUICKIBHB index of insulin resistance was calculated. Cows milked 3X in NEB represent a special cluster that partially overlaps with cows milked 2X in NEB and has no contact points with cows in PEB. Cows milked 3X had higher levels of NEFA, BHB, AST, GGT, TBIL, and CORT and lower levels of GLU, Ca, INS, and T4. Cows milked 3X in NEB had higher levels of NEFA, BHB, AST, GGT, TBIL, and CORT and lower levels of GLU, CHOL, TGC, TPROT, P, INS, RQUICKIBHB, and T3 compared with cows milked 2X in NEB and cows in PEB. In cows milked 3X, lipolysis and ketogenesis were much more prominent, and EB levels were lower, implying a pronounced shift in homeorhesis. Metabolic and endocrinology parameters were determined mainly by the values of EB, NEFA, and BHB in cows milked 3X in NEB compared with other categories of cows. The results confirm the peculiarity of metabolic adaptation in cows with increased MF, characterized not only by differences in the concentration of metabolites but also in their interactions.

Influence of Heat Stress on Body Surface Temperature and Blood Metabolic, Endocrine, and Inflammatory Parameters and Their Correlation in Cows

“…In dairy cows, P concentration decreases with the increase in glucose and insulin concentrations [62]. In cows in early lactation, significantly higher values of eHsp70, TNFα, NEFA, AST, and GGT are determined, as well as lower values of INS, RQUICKI, Ca, TGC, and CHOL compared to cows in mid-lactation, which is consistent with previous results and the presence of metabolic stress in early lactation [63][64][65]. Cows calved under heat stress exhibit lower values of NEFA, BHB, CHOL, and TGC during early lactation compared to cows calved in the thermoneutral period, which is confirmed by previous studies [66].…”

Relationships between milk ketone bodies and selected milk indicators during conventional and extended lactation

“…A metabolically highly demanding early lactation is characterized by high milk performance and high levels of ketone bodies, as documented Krnjaić et al (2022). The high contents of BHB and acetone in milk (Santschi et al, 2016;Benedet et al, 2019) are related to increased body energy reserve mobilization (De Koster et al, 2018;Ha et al, 2023).…”

Salvia miltiorrhiza ameliorates endometritis in dairy cows by relieving inflammation, energy deficiency and blood stasis

“…Excessive NEB may lead to metabolic disorders and impaired fertility ( Churakov et al, 2021 ). NEB reduces the cow’s immunity and causes lipolysis, ketogenesis and endocrinological changes, which can lead to more severe endometritis, especially in high yielding cows ( Cheong et al, 2011 ; Krnjaić et al, 2022 ). The NEB can be determined using plasma thresholds of β-hydroxybutyrate, non-esterified fatty acids and glucose ( Macrae et al, 2019 ; Churakov et al, 2021 ).…”