Abstract
One objective was to evaluate the association of dry matter intake as a percentage of body weight (DMI%BW) and energy balance (EB) prepartum and postpartum, and energy-corrected milk (ECM) postpatum with digestive disorders postpartum. For this, ANOVA was used, and DMI%BW, EB, and ECM were the outcome variables, and left displaced abomasum (LDA), indigestion, and other digestive disorders (ODDZ) were the explanatory variables. The main objective was to evaluate prepartum DMI%BW and EB as predictors of digestive disorders. For this, logistic regression was used, and LDA, indigestion, and ODDZ were the outcome variables and DMI%BW and EB were the explanatory variables. Data from 689 cows from 11 experiments were compiled. Left displaced abomasum was not associated with prepartum DMI%BW or EB. Postpartum data were normalized to the day of the event (day 0). Cows that developed LDA had lesser postpartum DMI%BW on days −24, −23, −12, −7 to 0 and from days 1 to 8, 10 to 12, and 14 and 16, lesser postpartum EB from days −7 to −5, −3 to 0, and 12, and lesser postpartum energy-corrected milk on days −19, −2, −1, 0, 7, 9, 10, 15, and 17 relative to diagnosis than cows without LDA. Cows that developed indigestion had lesser prepartum DMI%BW and EB than cows without indigestion, and lesser postpartum DMI%BW on days −24, −1, 0, 1, and 2, and greater DMI%BW on day 26, lesser ECM on days −24, −2, −1, 0, 1, and 2 relative to diagnosis. Postpartum EB was not associated with indigestion postpartum. Cows that developed ODDZ had lesser prepartum DMI%BW on day −8 and from days −5 to −2, lesser prepartum EB on day −8 and from days −5 to −2, and lesser postpartum DMI%BW than cows without ODDZ. Each 0.1 percentage point decrease in the average DMI%BW and each Mcal decrease in the average EB in the last 3 days prepartum increased the odds of having indigestion by 9% each. Cutoffs for DMI%BW and EB during the last 3 days prepartum to predict indigestion were established and were ≤1.3%/day and ≤0.68 Mcal/day, respectively. In summary, measures of prepartum DMI%BW and EB were associated with indigestion and ODDZ postpartum and were predictors of indigestion postpartum, although the effect sizes were small.
Highlights
The transition period in dairy cows is characterized by changes in the dry matter intake (DMI)
We showed that cows that developed LDA, indigestion, and ODDZ had decreased DMI as percentage of body weight (DMI%BW) or energy balance (EB) during the transition period
The average DMI%BW and EB in the last 3 days prepartum were predictive of indigestion, the effect sizes were small
Summary
The transition period in dairy cows is characterized by changes in the dry matter intake (DMI). There is an increase in DMI during the first weeks postpartum, it does not meet the energy requirements for maintenance and milk production; dairy cows experience a negative energy balance that leads to an increase in non-esterified fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate in blood [4,5,6]. Indigestion (described later) has been associated with loss of BCS during the dry period [18]; it is likely that cows with digestive disorders postpartum would have experienced a more severe drop in DMI and EB prepartum. One objective was to evaluate the association of DMI%BW and EB prepartum and postpartum, and energy-corrected milk (ECM) postpatum with digestive disorders [indigestion, LDA, and other digestive disorders (ODDZ; described later)]. The main objective was to evaluate the use of prepartum DMI%BW and EB as predictors of digestive disorders postpartum
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