Postparturient Dairy Cows Research Articles

The Relationship between Endogenous Cortisol, Blood Micronutrients, and Neutrophil Function in Postparturient Holstein Cows

Neutrophil function, blood micronutrients, and cortisol concentrations were measured in 43 clinically healthy postparturient Holstein cows. Estimated 305-day mature equivalent milk production and neutrophil function were related to results of the blood micro-nutrient concentrations and neutrophil function tests. Cattle had low to normal zinc concentrations; normal to high selenium, vitamin E, and cortisol concentrations; and normal copper concentrations. Blood selenium (P= .03) and zinc (P= .027) concentrations were both significant predictors of neutrophil adhesion, and selenium (P < .001) was a significant predictor of neutrophil cytochrome C reduction (superoxide production). Fourteen of 20 (70%) cattle with blood selenium concentrations >300 ng/mL had neutrophil adhesion, and 15 of 20 (75%) had cytochrome C reduction above the mean value for this group. There was also a significant correlation (r= 0.331; P= .037) between cytochrome C reduction and estimated milk production. These findings suggest that neutrophils from postparturient dairy cows with higher blood concentrations of selenium have greater potential to kill microbes, and that cattle with greater superoxide production may have higher milk production.

Seroprevalence of an Endometriotropic Bovine Herpes Virus-4 in a Georgia Dairy

The University of Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has now confirmed more than 60 cases of suppurative, ulcerative endometritis associated with Bovine Herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) in postparturient dairy cows. These cases have a clinical pattern of metritis that occurs 3 to 28 days postpartum. Beginning at 3 to 7 days postpartum, the uterus is characterized by necrotic, ulcerated endometrial mucosa with only mild inflammation in the lamina propria and submucosa. Over the ensuing 21 days, the ulcers become confluent/diffuse and epithelium is replaced by fibrinonecrotic, suppurative mats resulting in severe bacterial pyometra by day 24, usually involving Arcanobacterium pyogenes or Escherichia coli. In addition to the gross pathology, histopathologic evidence demonstrates viral inclusion bodies and virus detection techniques yield positive results for BHV-4.3 Before 1999, BHV-4-associated endometritis had rarely been recognized in the United States,4 but a syndrome of epizootic metritis similar in timing, course and outcome attributed to BHV-4 was reported in Europe in the 1980s.1,2,6 Significant seroconversion to BHV-4 occurs in affected herds. The viral sequence of this endometriotropic strain of BHV-4 differs from the BHV-4 strain that is associated with mild respiratory disease (DN599).3 Herds affected by this endometriotropic strain of BHV-4 have experienced high morbidity and mortality rates.3 One endemic dairy herd had a period mortality rate of 70% due to BHV-4- associated metritis (7 of 10 dead in one two-week interval). Due to concurrent or subsequent bacterial metritis associated with this viral infection, large economic losses are incurred from death, delayed breeding and infertility, discarded milk from antibiotic therapy, and decreased milk production from systemic effects of the metritis. Similar reports from other diagnostic laboratories indicate BHV-4 appears to be an emerging cause of endometritis in cattle throughout the southern and midwestern United States.

Seroprevalence and comparison of isolates of endometriotropic bovine herpesvirus-4.

Sixty-eight cases of suppurative, ulcerative endometritis associated with Bovine Herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) in postparturient dairy cows (62 Holsteins and 6 Jerseys, mean age 4.2 years) were confirmed by a combination of histopathology, fluorescent antibody assays, electron microscopic evaluation of uterus, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All cases occurred in the 3- to 28-day postpartum period, and histologic lesions among various cows were consistent when compared with postpartum interval. The endometrial lining epithelium was necrotic and ulcerated from 3 to 7 days postpartum, with only mild inflammation in the lamina propria and submucosa. From 1 to 4 weeks postpartum, the ulcers were confluent to diffuse. Epithelium was replaced by fibrinonecrotic, suppurative mats, resulting in severe bacterial pyometra by day 24. Seroprevalence to BHV-4 in one dairy with a history of 18 mortality cases was 36% (107 of 296). In a random sample of 8 cows from this herd, none had serologic titers in blood sampled 2 weeks prepartum, but 3 of 8 seroconverted with significant titers of 1:8 to 1:16 at 2 weeks postpartum. By 10 weeks postpartum, all 8 cows returned to negative serologic status. Two of 6 cats from the premises also had positive titers. Random serum samples taken from 480 dairy cattle at sale barns indicated 76 (16%) were positive by serum neutralization. Clinical signs, postparturient timing, and histologic lesions were very similar to those previously reported in Belgium with BHV-4. But sequence analysis of PCR products of the glycoprotein B region of 4 separate field isolates of endometriotropic BHV-4 suggests these field isolates were more closely related to the North American nonvirulent strain DN-599 than to the endometriotropic European strain V.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein in the colostrum of paretic post parturient dairy cows.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein in the colostrum of paretic post parturient dairy cows.

Isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility of obligate anaerobic bacteria recovered from the uteri of dairy cows with retained fetal membranes and postparturient endometritis.

The uteri of 77 postparturient dairy cows were sampled. Samples were cultured aerobically and anaerobically, and the nature of bacterial growth was identified. A mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacterial infection was found in 55% of the samples. Actinomyces pyogenes was the predominant aerobic species; it was found in 70% of the samples, whereas Bacteroides melaninogenicus was the most frequent anaerobic species isolated. Altogether, 16 species belonging to the genus Bacteroides were identified with variable frequencies. It appears that more than one Bacteroides species colonizes the uterus of a given cow postpartum. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of clindamycin, metronidazole, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin for 83 anaerobic isolates were determined. All isolates were susceptible to clindamycin (MIC90 of 0.064 microgram/ml) and all but two to metronidazole. Susceptibility to ciprofloxacin was variable, with a bimodal distribution of MIC values. The MIC of tetracycline for 90% of the isolates was > 256 micrograms/ml.

Effect of exogenous prostaglandin F2α in clinically normal postparturient dairy cows with a palpable corpus luteum

Summary In 228 clinically normal cows with a palpable corpus luteum 20 to 40 days after parturition and a mean 305-day mature equivalent milk production of 8,970 kg, prostaglandin F2α was administered in a randomized, controlled clinical trial to determine whether such treatment enhanced their subsequent reproductive performance. Although the treatment reduced median time to first breeding by 4.5 days (P = 0.0025) from 57.0 days, median time to conception was not significantly different between the treatment and nontreated control group (87.0 vs 88.5 days) and conception rate by 110 days after parturition was not significantly different (64.7 vs 69.6%). Use of prostaglandin was associated with a significant (P = 0.0459) decrease in conception rate at first breeding from 42.0 to 29.3%. This study suggested that prostaglandin treatment of cows with a normal reproductive tract and a palpable corpus luteum at a median of 25 days after parturition does not enhance their reproductive performance and thus is not cost-effective.

Effects of sodium monensin on reproductive performance of dairy cattle. II. Effects on metabolites in plasma, resumption of ovarian cyclicity and oestrus in lactating cows

A randomised trial was conducted to determine the effects of sodium monensin on plasma metabolite concentrations, resumption of cyclicity and oestrus and milk production and milk composition of postparturient dairy cows. Cows treated with sodium monensin in a controlled-release capsule had significantly lower plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations (P = 0.006) and tended (P = 0.07) to have significantly higher plasma glucose concentrations than untreated cows. Treatment did not significantly influence plasma free fatty acid, urea nitrogen or cholesterol concentrations. Despite higher plasma glucose concentrations and lower plasma BHB concentrations, periods from calving to first ovulation and oestrus were not reduced by treatment. This observation, with limited numbers of cows, is not consistent with a hypothesis that glucose or ketones are important metabolic regulators of pulsatile release of luteinising hormone and consequent resumption of cyclicity. While milk production and milk protein concentration did not significantly differ between groups, milk fat concentration was significantly lower for treated cows. Treated cows probably had lower dry matter intake than untreated cows as they produced 67 litres less milk per head and lost more weight than untreated cows during the study period, although weight and body condition score were not significantly affected by treatment. The lack of significance of these latter observations probably reflects the low statistical power of the study.

Effects of oral administration of a calcium-containing gel on serum calcium concentration in postparturient dairy cows

Summary: Various nutrious nutritional-supplement gels are being marketed for use in veterinary medicine. This study was designed to determine whether serum calcium, phosphorous, or magnesium concentrations were different between cows given a gel containing calcium chloride as its active ingredient (treated) and cows given inert carrier gel (control). The study revealed a significant (P &lt; 0.01) increase in serum total calcium concentration within 5 minutes of administration of a calcium gel given to cows within 1 hour of parturition. Serum total calcium concentration had returned to baseline value by 24 hours after calcium gel administration. Serum inorganic phosphorus concentration also increased significantly (P &lt; 0.05) after treatment. Significant changes in serum magnesium concentrations were not detected.

Haemoglobinuria and hypophosphataemia in postparturient dairy cows without dietary deficiency of phosphorus

Postparturient haemoglobinuria occurred in 11 Holstein-Friesian cows in 8 dairy herds in East Gippsland, Victoria. The affected cows had a wide range of ages, body condition and production level. Seven of 9 cows sampled were hypophosphataemic, 4 of 8 cows examined had Heinz bodies present in erythrocytes and strong ketonuria was present in 6 of 10 urine samples tested. Herdmates having similar calving dates had mostly normal serum phosphorus levels and none had Heinz bodies. There was no evidence for dietary phosphorus (P) deficiency, hypocuprosis or excessive P drain from high production being predisposing factors. There were no cruciferous plants in the diet. Haemolysis persisted in 4 cows despite treatment to raise serum P levels. An hyposthesis is proposed for the sporadic nature and clinical manifestations of the disease. This is based on mechanisms of hypophosphataemia occurring in man and mechanisms of Heinz body formation and haemolysis in other circumstances. We suggest that hypophosphataemia occurs following recovery from preparturient keto-acidosis caused by undernutrition in late pregnancy and then becoming nutritionally replete in the early postparturient period. Circulating oxidants may cause erythrocyte damage which may be predisposed to by hypophosphataemia.

Effect of feeding silage with high butyric acid content on ketone body formation and milk yield in postparturient dairy cows.

SummaryA study was made during the first eight weeks of lactation in 26 cows fed silage which often had a high butyric acid content (maximum value 0.98 per cent). The mean daily milk yield, energy intake, energy balance and butyric acid intake during a week were evaluated together with the milk acetone plus acetoacetate concentration on the last day of the week. Energy balance was positive already in the second week of lactation, mainly because of relatively low milk yield. Butyric acid intake and ketone bodies were significantly positively correlated, as were energy intake and butyric acid intake. Milk acetone plus acetoacetate on the first day of the week was significantly negatively correlated to mean daily milk yield but not to energy intake during the succeeding week. An increase of milk acetone plus acetoacetate of 1 mmol/l decreased milk yield by on average, 4.9 per cent. It can be concluded that hyperketonaemia can arise solely after consumption of silage with a high butyric acid content.ZusammenfassungEinfluß von Silage mit hohem Buttersäuregehalt auf die Bildung von Ketonkörpern und die Milchleistung von Kühen post partumDie Untersuchungen erstreckten sich auf die ersten acht Laktationswochen von Milchkühen, denen Silage mit einem hohen Buttersäuregehalt (maximal 0,98%) verabreicht wurde. Folgende Parameter wurden analysiert: tägliche Milchleistung, Energieaufnahme, Energiebilanz und Aufnahme von Buttersäure während einer Woche sowie die Konzentrationen von Aceton und Acetessigsäure am letzten Tag der Woche.Die Energiebilanz wurde bereits in der zweiten Laktationswoche positiv, vor allem wegen der relativ niedrigen Milchleistung. Signifikante positive Korrelationen bestanden zwischen der Buttersäureaufnahme und den Ketonkörpern sowie zwischen Energieaufnahme und Buttersäureaufnahme. Aceton plus Acetessigsäure in der Milch am ersten Tag der Woche waren negativ korreliert mit der mittleren täglichen Milchleistung, jedoch nicht mit der Energieaufnahme während der nachfolgenden Woche. Eine Zunahme von Aceton plus Acetessigsäure um 1 mml/l bewirkte einen durchschnittlichen Milchrückgang von 4,9%.Es wird geschlossen, daß allein durch Verzehr von Silage mit einem hohen Buttersäuregehalt eine Hyperketonämie entstehen kann.RésuméInfluence de l'ensilage avec un taux élevé en acide butyrique sur la formation des corps cétonés et la production lactée des vaches post partumLes recherches se sont étendues sur les huit premières semaines de lactation de vaches qui recevaient du silo à haute teneur en acide butyrique (maximum 0,98%). Les paramètres suivants ont été analysés: production laitière journalière, absorption d'énergie, bilan d'énergie et absorption d'acide butyrique pendant une semaine et les concentrations d'acétone et d'acide acétique pendant les derniers jours de la semaine.Le bilan énergétique fut déjà positif dans la seconde semaine de lactation, avant tout à cause de la production laitière relativement basse. Des corrélations significativement positives existaient entre l'absorption d'acide butyrique et les corps cétoniques et entre l'absorption d'énergie et celle d'acide butyrique. L'acétone et l'acide acétique dans le lait furent négativement corrélés les premiers jours de la semaine avec la production laitière moyenne journalière, mais pas avec l'absorption d'énergie durant la semaine suivante. Une augmentation d'acétone plus acide acétique de 1 mml/l a provoqué une diminution moyenne du lait de 4,9%.On a conclu que seule une hypercétonémie peut apparaître avec une consommation d'un silo contenant un taux élevé en acide butyrique.ResumenEl efecto de la alimentación de ensilaje con contenido elevado de ácido butírico sobre la formación de cuerpos cetónicos y la producción de leche en vacas post partumLos estudios se extendían a las ocho semanas primeras de lactación en vacas lecheras, a las cuales se administraba ensilaje con un contenido elevado de ácido butírico (como máximo 0,98%). Se analizaron los parámetros siguientes: producción diaria de leche, incorporación de energía, balance energético e ingestión de ácido butírico durante una semana así como las concentraciones de acetona y ácido acetacético el día último de la semana.El balance energético ya se tornó positivo en la semana segunda de lactación, sobre todo debido a la producción de leche relativamente baja. Correlaciones positivas significantes existían entre la incorporación de ácido butírico y los cuerpos cetónicos así como entre la incorporación de energía y la idem de ácido butírico. Acetona más ácido acetacético en la leche correlacionaban negativamente con la producción diaria media de leche, aunque no con la incorporación de energía durante la semana siguiente. El incremento de acetona más ácido acetacético en 1 mmol/l disminuía la producción media de leche en un 4,9%.Se saca en conclusión que solo por el consumo de ensilaje con una tasa elevada de ácido butírico puede aparecer una hipercetonemia.

Effect of energy balance on plasma glucose and ketone bodies in blood and milk and influence of hyperketonaemia on milk production of postparturient dairy cows.

Effect of energy balance on plasma glucose and ketone bodies in blood and milk and influence of hyperketonaemia on milk production of postparturient dairy cows.