Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8kt4b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-22T20:20:37.087Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Prediction of energy status in first lactation dairy heifers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. J. Ducker ,
Rosemary A. Haggett ,
W. J. Fisher  and
S. V. Morant
M. J. Ducker
Affiliation:
Department of Dairy Husbandry, National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT
Rosemary A. Haggett
Affiliation:
Department of Dairy Husbandry, National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT
W. J. Fisher
Affiliation:
Department of Dairy Husbandry, National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT
S. V. Morant
Affiliation:
Department of Dairy Husbandry, National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT
Get access

Abstract

Data from a large controlled experiment to investigate the effect of level of nutrition on reproductive performance were used to assess the value of production and blood measures as indicators of energy status in lactating dairy heifers. Live-weight change showed the strongest and most consistent relationship to mean energy balance (the difference between metabolizable energy intake and that used for milk production and maintenance) (P < 0·01 to P < 0·001). Body-condition score at a particular time was more closely related to mean energy balance in the preceding 4-week period (P < 0·05) than current energy balance. There was also a lag in the relationship between energy balance and live-weight change and mean body-condition score. Ultrasonic back fat measurements were significantly correlated with both loin and tailhead body-condition score (P < 0·001) but were more strongly related to mean energy balance in the preceding period (P < 0·05 to P < 0·001) than the body-condition scores.

Blood samples were taken from all heifers 2 weeks before calving and 1, 5, 9, 13 and 18 weeks after calving and were analysed for 13 constituents. Concentrations of blood metabolites did not show consistently strong correlations with mean energy balance. The only blood metabolite to be measurably affected by the nutritional treatments applied in lactation was β-hydroxybutyrate.

At best, combinations of production measures and blood metabolites were only able to predict the mean daily energy balance with a 95% confidence interval of ±20 MJ for an individual animal although this confidence interval was reduced to ±3 MJ for 100 animals.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 41 , Issue 2 , October 1985 , pp. 167 - 175
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Avidar, Y., Gordin, S., Davidson, M., Francos, G., Mayer, E., Israeli, B. and Bogin, E. 1980. The possible relationship between feeding, fertility and blood parameters of milking cows. Proc. 11th int. Congr. Diseases of Cattle, Tel-Aviv, pp. 823–833.Google Scholar
Baird, G. D. 1982. Primary ketosis in the high-producing dairy cow: clinical and subclinical disorders, treatment, prevention and outlook. J. Dairy Sci. 65: 1–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bowden, D. M. 1971. Non-esterified fatty acids and ketone bodies in blood as indicators of nutritional status in ruminants: a review. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 51: 1–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ducker, M. J. 1980. The effect of feeding strategy on the reproductive performance of dairy cows. In Feeding Strategies for Dairy Cows (ed. Broster, W. H., Johnson, C. L. and Tayler, J. C.), pp. 13.1–13.2. Agricultural Research Council, London.Google Scholar
Ducker, M. J., Haggett, Rosemary A., Fisher, W. J., Morant, S. V. and Bloomfield, Glenys A. 1985a. Nutrition and reproductive performance of dairy cattle. 1. The effect of level of feeding in late pregnancy and around the time of insemination on the reproductive performance of first lactation dairy heifers. Anim. Prod. 41: 1–12.Google Scholar
Ducker, M. J., Morant, S. V., Fisher, W. J. and Haggett, Rosemary A. 1985b. Nutrition and reproductive performance of dairy cattle. 2. Prediction of reproductive performance in first lactation dairy heifers subjected to controlled nutritional regimes. Anim. Prod. 41: 13–22.Google Scholar
Herdt, T. H., Stevens, J. B., Linn, J. and Larson, V. 1981. Influence of ration, composition and energy balance on blood β-hydroxy-butyrate (ketone) and plasma glucose concentrations of dairy cows in early lactation. Am. J. vet. Res. 42: 1177–1180.Google Scholar
Hove, K. and Halse, K. 1983. Energy metabolism in ruminants with special emphasis on ketosis and fertility. Proc. 5th int. Conf. Production Diseases in Farm Animals, Uppsala, pp. 115–123.Google Scholar
Jordan, E. R. and Swanson, L. V. 1979. Effect of crude protein on reproductive efficiency, serum total protein and albumin in the high-producing dairy cow. /. Dairy Sci. 62: 58–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kempster, A. J., Cuthbertson, A., Jones, D. W. and Owen, M. G. 1981. Prediction of body composition of live cattle using two ultrasonic machines of differing complexity, a report of four separate trials. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 96: 301–307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kronfeld, D. S. 1972. Diagnosis of metabolic diseases of cattle. J. Am. vet. med. Ass. 161: 1259–1264.Google ScholarPubMed
Mulvany, P. M. 1977. Improving cow fertility. Better Management (MMB) 29: 3–4.Google Scholar
Parker, B. N. J. and Blowey, R. W. 1976. Investigations into the relationship of selected blood components to nutrition and fertility of the dairy cow under commercial farm conditions. Vet. Rec. 98: 394–404.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Payne, J. M. 1977. Metabolic Diseases in Farm Animals. Heineman, London.Google Scholar
Payne, J. M., Rowlands, G. J., Manston, R. and Dew, Sally M. 1973. A statistical appraisal of the results of metabolic profile tests on 75 dairy herds. Br. Vet. J. 129: 370–381.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Payne, J. M., Rowlands, G. J., Manston, R., Dew, Sally. M. and Parker, W. H. 1974. A statistical appraisal of the results of the metabolic profile tests on 191 herds in the BVA/ADAS joint exercise in animal health and productivity. Br. vet. J. 130: 34–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roberts, C. J., Reid, I. M., Dew, Sally M., Stark, A. J., Baird, G. D., Collins, R. and Mather, Denise.. 1978. The effects of underfeeding for 6 months during pregnancy and lactation on blood constituents, milk yield and body weight of dairy cows. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 90: 383–394.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rowlands, G. J., Little, W., Manston, R. and Dew, Sally M. 1974. The effect of season on the composition of the blood of lactating and non-lactating cows as revealed from repeated metabolic profile tests on 24 dairy herds. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 83: 27–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rowlands, G. J., Manston, R., Pocock, Rita M. and Dew, Sally M. 1975. Relationships between stage of lactation and pregnancy and blood composition in a herd of dairy cows and the influences of seasonal changes in management on these relationships. J. Dairy Res. 42: 349–362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russel, A. J. F. and Wright, I. A. 1983. The use of blood metabolites in the determination of energy status in beef cows. Anim. Prod. 37: 335–343.Google Scholar
Zivin, J. A. and Snarr, J. F. 1973. An automated colorimetric method for the measurement of 3-hydroxybutyrate concentration. Analyt. Biochem. 52: 456–461.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed