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Luke TDW, Morton JM, Wales WJ, Ho CKM. Associations between serum health biomarker concentrations and reproductive performance, accounting for milk yield, in pasture-based Holstein cows in southeastern Australia. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:438-458. [PMID: 37690712 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-23006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
In this single cohort study, we investigated associations between the concentrations of a suite of serum biomarkers measured in the first 30 d of lactation and subsequent reproductive performance measured as mating start date to conception intervals, in pasture-based Holstein cows. A secondary objective was to examine associations between biomarker concentrations and 305-d milk yield to assess whether any positive associations between biomarker concentration and reproductive performance were explained by reduced milk production. The data used had been collected as part of an ongoing project from 2017 to 2020 to compile a data set from a large population of lactating dairy cows. Biomarkers measured were those associated with energy balance (β-hydroxybutyrate [BHB] and nonesterified fatty acids [NEFA]), protein nutritional status (urea and albumin), immune status (globulin, albumin to globulin ratio and haptoglobin), and macromineral status (calcium and magnesium). Associations between biomarker concentrations and mating start date to conception interval were investigated using Cox proportional hazard models, using between 634 and 1,121 lactations (varying by biomarker) from 632 to 1,103 cows and 11 to 17 mating periods from 10 to 13 herds. Based on hazard ratio (HR) estimates and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI), hazard of conception on any particular day of the herds' mating periods was positively associated with the concentrations of albumin (HR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.05-1.12), albumin to globulin ratio (HR = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.66-4.79), calcium (HR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.18-3.43), and magnesium (HR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.01-4.66), and negatively associated with globulin concentration (HR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.00). There was also some evidence that NEFA concentration was negatively associated (HR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.57 to 1.01), and urea concentration positively associated (HR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.11), with reproductive performance, but no evidence that BHB and haptoglobin concentrations were associated with reproductive performance. Except for NEFA, presence and direction of the associations between the biomarker and milk yield were not discordant with that for reproductive performance. Also, except for NEFA, we found no substantial evidence of nonlinear relationships between biomarker concentration and either reproductive performance or milk yield. Correlations between biomarker concentrations were generally weak, indicating that multibiomarker panels may collectively predict reproductive performance better than any single biomarker. We noted substantial variation in the concentrations of all biomarkers within, and for some biomarkers, between herd-year groups. Collectively, these results indicate that there may be scope to improve biomarker concentrations through nutritional, management, and genetic interventions, and by association, reproductive performance and milk yield may also improve.
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Affiliation(s)
- T D W Luke
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - J M Morton
- Jemora Pty Ltd., East Geelong, Victoria 3219, Australia
| | - W J Wales
- Agriculture Victoria Research, Ellinbank Centre, Ellinbank, Victoria 3820, Australia; Centre for Agricultural Innovation, School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - C K M Ho
- Agriculture Victoria Research, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.
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Seely C, McArt J. The association of subclinical hypocalcemia at 4 days in milk with reproductive outcomes in multiparous Holstein cows. JDS COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 4:111-115. [PMID: 36974225 PMCID: PMC10039242 DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2022-0279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Delayed or persistent episodes of subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH) have been associated with reduced milk production and feed intake and they put cows at risk for additional disease development. However, little is known about the effect of delayed or persistent SCH on reproductive outcomes. The objectives of our study were to describe the association between SCH status at 4 d in milk (DIM) with the odds of pregnancy to first service and time to pregnancy through 150 DIM. Data were collected from multiparous Holstein cows (n = 697) from 4 farms in New York State that did not receive supplemental Ca during the first 5 DIM. Cows were classified into 1 of 2 SCH groups based on blood total Ca (tCa) at 4 DIM: normocalcemic (NC; n = 515) if tCa >2.2 mmol/L at 4 DIM or SCH (n = 182) if tCa ≤2.2 mmol/L at 4 DIM. We created a multivariable logistic regression model to assess the association between SCH group and pregnancy to first service and a time-to-event analysis to evaluate the effect of SCH group on the hazard of pregnancy by 150 DIM. Cows that were SCH at 4 DIM had lower odds of pregnancy to first service [odds ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.61 to 0.93, incidence = 18.1%] compared with their NC counterparts (incidence = 27.4%). Similarly, SCH cows tended to have a lower hazard of pregnancy by 150 DIM (hazard ratio = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.67 to 1.01, incidence = 65.4%) than NC cows (incidence = 70.7%). Our results indicate that delayed or prolonged reductions in blood Ca in the early postpartum period, resulting in SCH at 4 DIM, were associated with reduced reproductive outcomes in multiparous cows. Our findings, in conjunction with previous reports of the negative associations of delayed or persistent SCH on health and production, suggest that reductions in blood Ca beyond the first day of lactation might be indicative of maladaptation to lactation, and the ramifications can persist beyond the immediate postpartum period.
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Deniz A, Metin M, Aksoy K, Pekmezci A. Validation of a blood gas device for ionized calcium analysis in Holstein cows. Vet Clin Pathol 2023. [PMID: 36849715 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.13233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate analysis of ionized calcium (iCa) is critical for the detection of hypocalcemia or subclinical hypocalcemia. The Edan i15 Vet (EDAN) blood gas device has not been validated for iCa in dairy cows. OBJECTIVES We aimed to validate the EDAN blood gas device against the Gem Premier 3000 (GEM) analyzer by measuring iCa concentrations and evaluating the ability of these measurements, compared with serum total calcium (TCa) concentrations, to diagnose subclinical hypocalcemia. METHODS iCa concentrations were measured with the EDAN and GEM devices, and serum TCa concentrations were measured with a wet biochemistry method with blood from 125 lactating Holstein cows between calving to day 27 postpartum. RESULTS Bland-Altman plots showed a mean and total bias of 0.05 and 0.24 mmol/L for the EDAN device, respectively. The intercept did not include zero, but the slope included 1.0 in the Passing-Bablok regression. The sensitivity and specificity (Se/Sp) of the EDAN device were 93/94%, 93/90%, 91/93%, and 85/95% for iCa cut-off values of <1.00, 1.05, 1.10, and 1.15 mmol/L, respectively, as determined with the GEM device. The Se/Sp were 57/82% and 72/80% for EDAN and 57/80% and 72/79% for GEM at serum TCa cut-off points <2.15 and <2.00 mmol/L, respectively. The average iCa concentrations analyzed with the GEM and EDAN devices were 1.04 ± 0.18 and 1.09 ± 0.17, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The EDAN device did not have satisfactory agreement with GEM and could not be used interchangeably, but it had satisfactory Se/Sp to diagnose subclinical hypocalcemia compared with the GEM-derived iCa cut-off points. Serum TCa concentration cut-off values were not suitable for diagnosing subclinical hypocalcemia because of unsatisfactory Se/Sp compared with iCa concentrations analyzed by the GEM and EDAN devices. The iCa values analyzed using the EDAN and GEM devices were consistent with previously reported data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mert Metin
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Milas, University of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman, Muğla, Turkey
| | - Kemal Aksoy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Milas, University of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman, Muğla, Turkey
| | - Aytaç Pekmezci
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, University of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman, Muğla, Turkey
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Joo SS, Lee SJ, Park DS, Kim DH, Gu BH, Park YJ, Rim CY, Kim M, Kim ET. Changes in Blood Metabolites and Immune Cells in Holstein and Jersey Dairy Cows by Heat Stress. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11040974. [PMID: 33807443 PMCID: PMC8065422 DOI: 10.3390/ani11040974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary As global temperatures rise, thermal stress can be a major problem affecting cows. If they are subjected to heat stress, they are likely to exhibit abnormal metabolic reactions and affect their immune system. However, the relationship between metabolism and immunity during thermal stress and these crosstalk mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the changes in blood immune cell response with the physiological metabolism changes of Holstein and Jersey cows through the biochemistry and flow cytometry branches under thermal stress conditions. We found that various blood metabolites were reduced in both Holsteins and Jerseys by heat stress conditions. There were breed-specific variations in the immune cell population in Holstein and Jersey cows under different environmental conditions. The main findings of this study provide information on the metabolism and immunity changes of two types of cow under heat stress, broadening the potential relationship of these changes. Abstract Owing to increasing global temperatures, heat stress is a major problem affecting dairy cows, and abnormal metabolic responses during heat stress likely influence dairy cow immunity. However, the mechanism of this crosstalk between metabolism and immunity during heat stress remains unclear. We used two representative dairy cow breeds, Holstein and Jersey, with distinct heat-resistance characteristics. To understand metabolic and immune responses to seasonal changes, normal environmental and high-heat environmental conditions, we assessed blood metabolites and immune cell populations. In biochemistry analysis from sera, we found that variety blood metabolites were decreased in both Holstein and Jersey cows by heat stress. We assessed changes in immune cell populations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using flow cytometry. There were breed-specific differences in immune-cell population changes. Heat stress only increased the proportion of B cells (CD4–CD21+) and heat stress tended to decrease the proportion of monocytes (CD11b+CD172a+) in Holstein cows. Our findings expand the understanding of the common and specific changes in metabolism and immune response of two dairy cow breeds under heat stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Seok Joo
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources & Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea; (S.S.J.); (S.J.L.); (D.S.P.); (Y.J.P.); (C.Y.R.)
| | - Sang Jin Lee
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources & Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea; (S.S.J.); (S.J.L.); (D.S.P.); (Y.J.P.); (C.Y.R.)
| | - Da Som Park
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources & Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea; (S.S.J.); (S.J.L.); (D.S.P.); (Y.J.P.); (C.Y.R.)
| | - Dong Hyeon Kim
- Dairy Science Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Cheonan 31000, Korea;
| | - Bon-Hee Gu
- Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea;
| | - Yei Ju Park
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources & Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea; (S.S.J.); (S.J.L.); (D.S.P.); (Y.J.P.); (C.Y.R.)
| | - Chae Yun Rim
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources & Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea; (S.S.J.); (S.J.L.); (D.S.P.); (Y.J.P.); (C.Y.R.)
| | - Myunghoo Kim
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources & Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea; (S.S.J.); (S.J.L.); (D.S.P.); (Y.J.P.); (C.Y.R.)
- Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea;
- Correspondence: (M.K.) and (E.T.K.); Tel.: +82-55-350-5516 (M.K.)
| | - Eun Tae Kim
- Dairy Science Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Cheonan 31000, Korea;
- Correspondence: (M.K.) and (E.T.K.); Tel.: +82-55-350-5516 (M.K.)
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Kadwa AR, Brown GJ, Buck R. Anaesthetic management of a bovine for ventral midline coeliotomy approach to hysterotomy. VETERINARY RECORD CASE REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/vrc2.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Abdur Rahmaan Kadwa
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria South Africa
| | - Geoffrey James Brown
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria South Africa
| | - Roxanne Buck
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria South Africa
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Roberts KI, McDougall S. Risk factors for subclinical hypocalcaemia, and associations between subclinical hypocalcaemia and reproductive performance, in pasture-based dairy herds in New Zealand. N Z Vet J 2018; 67:12-19. [DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2018.1527732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- KI Roberts
- Cognosco, AnexaFVC, Moorhouse St, PO Box 21, Morrinsville, New Zealand
| | - S McDougall
- Cognosco, AnexaFVC, Moorhouse St, PO Box 21, Morrinsville, New Zealand
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Stambuk CR, McArt JAA, Bicalho RC, Miles AM, Huson HJ. A longitudinal study of digital cushion thickness and its function as a predictor for compromised locomotion and hoof lesions in Holstein cows. Transl Anim Sci 2018; 3:74-83. [PMID: 32704780 PMCID: PMC7200577 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txy107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lameness is a major animal welfare and economic issue for the dairy industry and is a challenge to overcome due to multifaceted causes. Digital cushion thickness (DCT) is a strong predictor of lameness and is phenotypically associated with incidence of claw horn disruption lesions (CHDL; sole ulcers and white line disease). We hypothesized that DCT varies between digits and across lactation within the cow. This variation could be characterized to predict the occurrence of CHDL or compromised locomotion. BCS, visual locomotion score (VLS), DCT, and presence or absence of lesions were collected at 4 time points: <40 d prepartum (DPP), 1 to 30 d in milk (DIM), 90 to 120 DIM, and ≥255 DIM for 183 commercial Holstein cows enrolled in the study. Cows underwent digital sonographic examination for the measurement of DCT evaluated at the typical sole ulcer site beneath the flexor tuberosity for the right front medial and lateral digits and right hind medial and lateral digits. Factors such as parity number and stage in lactation were obtained from farm management software (DairyComp 305; Valley Agricultural Software, Tulare, CA). Cows were grouped by parity: primiparous (parity = 1) or multiparous (parity ≥ 2). The prevalence of CHDL among time points ranged from 0% to 4.2% for primiparous cows vs. 2.5% to 25% for multiparous cows, whereas the prevalence of lameness based on VLS of 3 to 5 ranged from 1.7% to 8.3% for primiparous cows vs. 12.7% to 33% for multiparous cows. DCT varied within primiparous and multiparous cows based on stage of lactation and digit (P < 0.05) and was thicker for both parity groups prior to dry off (≥255 DIM) and thinnest prior to calving (<40 DPP) and after peak lactation (90 to 120 DIM). The DCT of the front medial digit was thickest for primiparous heifers, whereas the hind lateral digit was thickest for multiparous cows. The DCT of the hind medial digit was thinnest for both parity groups. Parity group and DCT of the hind lateral digit <40 DPP were important predictors of CHDL (P < 0.05), whereas parity group and DCT of the hind lateral digit and front lateral digit at 1 to 30 DIM were key predictors of VLS lameness (P < 0.05). These results may help identify animals with higher odds of developing these diseases by highlighting key time points and specific digits of importance for monitoring. In addition, it improves our biological understanding of the relationship between DCT and lameness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica A A McArt
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Rodrigo C Bicalho
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Asha M Miles
- Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Heather J Huson
- Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
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