INFLUENCE OF BODY CONDITION SCORE ON BLOOD METABOLITES AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN PRE- AND POST-CALVING OF FRIESIAN DAIRY COWS IN EGYPT

Abstract

This experiment aimed to study the relation of body condition score (BCS) with blood metabolites in dairy cow. At 8 weeks before expected parturition, 90 multiparous Friesian dairy cows were divided according to their body condition score into 3 groups: Group1: low body condition score (n=30, BCS≤2.58, thinner cows); Group2: medium body condition score (n=30, BCS≤3.12, medium BCS cows); Group3: high body condition score (n=30, BCS≤4.75, obesity cows). The cows BCS, weight and back fat thickness were recorded at -60, -21, -14, -7, 0, 7, 14 and 60 days related to calving time. Blood samples were taken at the time of BCS measurement for determination of β hydroxy butyrate, non-esterified fatty acid, haptoglobin, glucose, triglyceride, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, cholesterol, superoxide dismutase and malonaldehyde. The results showed a significant decrease in body condition score, body weight and back fat thickness throughout the experimental period accompanied by an increase in β hydroxy butyrate, malonaldehyde and cholesterol. The correlation analysis showed that changed body condition score positively allied with cow weight (r=0.860, P<0.01), back fat thickness (r= 0.977 P<0.01), malonaldehyde (r=0.445, P<0.01) and cholesterol (r=0.342, P<0.01) and was negatively correlated with β hydroxy butyrate (r=0.416, P<0.01), haptoglobin (r=-0.232, P<0.05), non-esterified fatty acid (r=-0.457, P<0.01), albumin (r=-0.133, P>0.05) and aspartate aminotransferase (r=-0.361, P<0.01). Concisely, body condition score loss before and after calving may have significant consequences for blood metabolites, oxidative stress and body condition score profile in dairy cows.Key words: BCS; calving; blood metabolites; Friesian cow