Intravenous Administration of Butaphosphan and Cyanocobalamin Combination to Late-Pregnant Dairy Cows Reduces Their Insulin Resistance After Calving

Effects of intravenous butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin to late pregnant ewes on the metabolic indices around parturition and weight gain of their lambs after birth

Background

Management and control of metabolic disorders in sheep around parturition is important. and various researchers have suggested different managerial solutions. Butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin are widely used for curing metabolic disorders resulting from poor nutrition, inadequate management or diseases.

Objectives

It was hypothesised that butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin could improve the metabolism of ewes around parturition.

Methods

Twenty‐eight clinically healthy 3‐year‐old pregnant Afshari ewes from 21 days before parturition were enrolled into four equal groups: control (Ctrl), B+C1, B+C2 and B+C3. The Ctrl group only received intravenous normal saline and B+C1, B+C2 and B+C3 ewes, respectively, received an intravenous combination of 10% butaphosphan and 0.005% cyanocobalamin at 2, 4 and 6 ml/ewe, on Days 19–21, 10–12 and 1–3 before parturition. Blood samples were taken from all the ewes on Days 21, 12 and 3 before lambing at parturition day and on days 3, 12 and 21 after parturition. A body condition score of all the ewes was assessed at blood sampling days, and lambs born from the ewes were weighed at birth and every 2 weeks up to 3 months. Serum concentrations of glucose, cortisol, non‐esterified fatty acids, beta‐hydroxy butyric acid, triglyceride, cholesterol, high‐, low‐ and very‐low‐density lipoproteins, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were measured.

Results

This drug combination decreased circulating glucose, cortisol, lipid profile and hepatic enzymes via dose‐dependent manner, 6 ml of this drug compound/ewe was more potent than 4 and 2 ml/ewe. The lambs’ weight from mothers receiving 6 ml of this combination was significantly higher than those of the others.

Conclusions

It may be suggested that the intravenous administration of 6 ml/ewe of this combination for 3 consecutive days in three states before parturition had prophylactic effects on metabolic disorders of ewes and enhanced the lambs weight gain after birth.

Effects of dietary antioxidants on glucose and insulin responses to glucose tolerance test in transition dairy cows

Oxidative stress occurs during the transition period and causes insulin resistance, which may be reduced by the use of antioxidants in this period. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein dairy cows, at 8 wk before parturition, were divided into 4 equal groups, namely control (Ctrl), vitamin E (VE), selenium (Se), and vitamin E plus selenium (VE + Se) groups. On a daily basis, VE and Se cows received dietary 1.5 IU vitamin E/kg BW and 0.3 mg/kg DM selenium, respectively, from 8 wk before to 3 wk after parturition. Vitamin E plus selenium group received doses similar to VE and Se groups. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated through intravenous glucose tolerance test (ivGTT) at weekly intervals from 3 wk before to 3 wk after parturition. Serum concentrations of total antioxidant status (TAS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), and beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) were assayed weekly before the commencement of ivGTT. Based on the results of ivGTT, the lowest and the highest degrees of insulin sensitivity were detected in Ctrl and VE + Se groups, respectively. The highest and the lowest concentrations of NEFA and BHBA were observed in Ctrl and VE + Se groups, respectively. Total antioxidant status, SOD, and GPx values were significantly lower in Ctrl cows and significantly higher in VE + Se-received cows compared with other groups. However, MDA values in Ctrl and VE + Se cows were significantly higher and lower than the other groups, respectively. Collectively, our results show that dietary administration of vitamin E and selenium ameliorates oxidative stress and lipid mobilization and increases insulin sensitivity in transition cows.