Insulin resistance in divergent strains of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows offered fresh pasture and increasing amounts of concentrate in early lactation

The objective of this study was to determine whether the physiological response to an intravenous glucose challenge would be affected by genetic strain or concentrate supplementation in grazing Holstein-Friesian cows in early lactation. North American (NA; n = 30) or New Zealand (NZ; n = 30) cows were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 feeding treatments. All cows were offered a generous pasture allowance, and 4 of the 6 groups received either 3 or 6 kg of dry matter (DM)/cow per day of concentrates. During wk 5 of lactation, all cows underwent an intravenous glucose challenge. Cows of NA origin produced more milk than NZ cows, but there was no significant strain effect on milk fat or protein yield. Milk yield and the yield of individual components increased with increasing level of concentrate eaten, but there were no significant strain x diet interactions. During wk 1 to 6, mean body weight and body condition score decreased in all treatments. Average body weight was greater in NA cows, but body condition score was greater for NZ cows. There was no strain or diet effect on the length of the postpartum anovulatory interval, with cows ovulating before 40 d postpartum on average. Glucose fractional turnover rate was greater in NZ cows compared with those of NA origin and in all cows receiving 6 kg of DM concentrates, indicating a less severe insulin resistance in those treatments. Consistent with this, the time taken to dispose of half the peak glucose concentration was less when 6 kg of DM concentrate was fed, and tended to be less in NZ than in NA cows. There was no effect of genetic strain on glucose area under the curve (AUC) at 60 or 120 min, but AUC at both time points was less in cows receiving 6 kg of DM concentrates per day. Neither genetic strain nor nutrition affected basal or peak insulin concentrations, insulin increment, or insulin AUC, and there were no strain x diet interactions for any of the glucose challenge response variables measured. In conclusion, differences in milk production between NA and NZ cows in early lactation can, at least in part, be explained by the greater degree of insulin resistance in the NA cows, and this insulin resistance can be overcome by supplementing grazing cows with 6 kg of DM concentrates.

Effect of restricted feeding and monopropylene glycol postpartum on metabolic hormones and postpartum anestrus in grazing dairy heifers

This study was designed to determine the effects of feed restriction and monopropylene glycol (MPG) supplementation on the reproductive, milk production, and somatotropic axes in dairy heifers postpartum. At calving, 49 Holstein-Friesian heifers were allowed either unrestricted (UNR; n = 18) or restricted access to pasture with (RES+MPG; n = 13) or without (RES; n = 18) MPG supplementation (250 mL drenched twice daily for 150 d). The average body condition score (BCS) of the heifers was 5.3 +/- 0.2 on a scale from 1 to 10 (where 1 = emaciated and 10 = obese). Body condition score and body weight were similar among the groups at calving and decreased after calving for all groups. However, body weight loss was around 10% greater for the RES and RES+MPG groups from wk 3 to 12 compared with UNR group. The length of the postpartum anestrous interval was similar for all groups (47, 51, and 45 +/- 5 d for the UNR, RES, and RES+MPG, respectively). Average milk production, protein, fat, and lactose yields during the first 12 wk postpartum were greater in the UNR group than in the RES and RES+MPG groups. Feed restriction affected plasma concentrations of insulin, with lower concentrations in the RES group compared with the UNR group. There were no differences in plasma concentrations of insulin between the RES+MPG group and the UNR or RES groups. An effect of feed restriction was observed on insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations and also a treatment by time interaction with a changing pattern through time as concentrations in the UNR group increased relative to the RES and RES+MPG groups. There were no differences in growth hormone concentrations among the groups. Glucose concentrations were lower in the RES group when compared with RES+MPG and UNR groups and this difference lessened over time. Plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids were greater in the RES group compared with the RES+MPG and UNR groups. Leptin concentrations in the UNR group were greater than in the RES and RES+MPG groups. Hepatic growth hormone receptor 1A, total growth hormone receptor, and insulin-like growth factor-I relative mRNA expressions decreased postpartum with no effect of feed restriction, MPG supplementation, or interaction between time and treatment. During a challenge with MPG, insulin secretion was stimulated but no effect on postpartum anestrous interval in the treatment groups was observed. It was concluded that restricted pasture availability postpartum in dairy heifers calving in optimal BCS had no effect on the postpartum anestrous interval. It did however decrease milk production; thus, we can infer that monopropylene glycol supplementation does not act to prevent loss of milk yield.

Metabolic adaptations associated with irreversible glucose loss are different to those observed during under-nutrition

In this study the hypothesis that irreversible glucose loss results in an 'uncoupling' of the somatotrophic axis (increasing plasma GH levels and decreasing plasma IGF-I) was tested. During periods of negative energy balance the somatotrophic axis respond by increasing plasma GH and decreasing plasma IGF-I levels. In turn, elevated GH repartitions nutrient by increasing lipolysis and protein synthesis, and decreases protein degradation. Irreversible glucose loss was induced using sub-cutaneous injections of phloridizin. Seven non-lactating cows were treated with 8g/day phloridizin (PHZ) and seven control animals (CTRL, 0g/day), while being restricted to a diet of 80% maintenance. PHZ treatment increased urinary glucose excretion (P<0.001), resulting in hypoglycemia (P<0.001). As a response to this glucose loss, the PHZ treated animals had elevated plasma NEFA (P<0.005) and BHBA (P<0.001) levels. Average plasma insulin concentrations were not altered with PHZ treatment (P=0.059). Plasma GH was not different between the two groups (P>0.1), whereas plasma IGF-I levels decreased significantly (P<0.001) with PHZ treatment. The decline in plasma IGF-I concentrations was mirrored by a decrease in the abundance of hepatic IGF-I mRNA (P=0.005), in addition the abundance of hepatic mRNA for both growth hormone receptors (GHR(tot) and GHR(1A)) was also decreased (P<0.05). Therefore, the irreversible glucose loss resulted in a partial 'uncoupling' of the somatotrophic axis, as no increase in plasma GH levels occurred although plasma IGF-I levels, hepatic IGF-I mRNA declined, and the abundance of liver GH receptor mRNA declined.

A Comparison of Three Strains of Holstein-Friesian Cows Grazed on Pasture: Growth, Development, and Puberty

With the introduction of a protein milk payment system in New Zealand in 1988, there was an influx of North American (NA) Holstein-Friesian (HF) genetics into New Zealand (NZ) dairy herds, leading to an increase in the average percentage of NA genetics in NZ HF cows--from 2% in 1980 to 38% in 1999. Of interest has been the effect this change has had on farm profitability and on the management required for these animals, as well as the phenotypic changes that have occurred within the national herd under the breeding programs operated in NZ from 1970 to 1990. The objective of this study was to quantify differences in body dimensions, body weights, and puberty-related parameters among 3 strains of HF, representing animals of NZ origin representative of the genetics present in 1970 and 1990 and of NA origin with 1990s genetics. A total of 172 animals born in 1999 were compared. The strains were 1) NZ70, a strain of NZ Friesian (average 7% NA genetics) equivalent to high-genetic-merit (high Breeding Worth) cows farmed in the 1970s; 2) NZ90, a strain of HF of NZ origin (average 24% NA genetics) typical of the animals present in the 1990s; and 3) NA90, a strain of HF of NA origin (average of 91% NA genetics) typical of animals present in the 1990s. The differences in BW among all strains were significant at 6 and 12 mo of age. At 15 and 24 mo, the 2 NZ strains were significantly lighter than the NA90 animals. At 24 mo of age (i.e., prior to first calving), the NA90 strain animals (BW = 515 kg) were 22 and 34 kg heavier than the NZ90 and NZ70 strains. The body length of the NA90 strain was greater than either of the 2 NZ strains; the differences among the NA90 strain and the 2 NZ strains varied from 2 to 6 cm, with the differences generally being greater at older ages. The trend in heart girth difference among strains was similar to that observed for body length. The wither height of the NA90 animals was greater than that of the NZ strains by 1 to 7 cm, although there was no significant difference between the NA90 and NZ90 strains at birth. At puberty the NA90 heifers were 20 d older and 20 kg heavier than the NZ90 heifers, which in turn were 25 kg and 25 d older than the NZ70 heifers. The NA90 strain had a heavier mature body weight, and their older age at puberty suggested either that they mature later or that, under pastoral conditions, their growth rate is limited by their inability to consume sufficient metabolizable energy as grazed pasture, with a consequent delay in puberty. Results from this study will be useful in revising target BW in growing heifers of different germplasm.

Effect of Monopropylene Glycol on Luteinizing Hormone, Metabolites, and Postpartum Anovulatory Intervals in Primiparous Dairy Cows

This study examined the effect of monopropylene glycol (MPG) supplementation on LH secretion, postpartum interval to first ovulation, and milk production in heifers calving with poor body condition score (BCS). Forty-seven heifers were allocated to 3 treatments: 1) heifers with high BCS (BCH; n = 13) that calved at a BCS of 3.4 (BCS scale of 1 to 5); 2) heifers with low BCS (BCL; n = 17) that calved at a BCS of 2.8; and 3) heifers with low BCS that calved at a BCS of 2.8 and were assigned to receive MPG supplementation (BCL + MPG; n = 17) and grazed pasture ad libitum. Monopropylene glycol was drenched (250 mL) twice daily for 16 wk after calving. Patterns of change in plasma LH were measured at 2 and 5 wk after calving. Pulsatile release of LH at 2 and 5 wk was greater in BCL + MPG and BCH cows compared with the BCL control cows. The BCL + MPG cows had lower NEFA concentrations than did the BCL cows during wk 1 to 6 after calving. At 12 wk postpartum, the proportion of cows cycling was 77, 82, and 28% for the BCH, BCL + MPG, and BCL treatments, respectively. Mean milk fat yield was greater for the BCH treatment during the first 12 wk postpartum compared with the BCL + MPG or BCL treatments, which did not differ from each other. Results of this study indicate that MPG supplementation reduced the interval from calving to first ovulation in heifers having poor body condition at calving.

Precalving Effects on Metabolic Responses and Postpartum Anestrus in Grazing Primiparous Dairy Cows

The effect of increased access to pasture feeding during the last 6 wk of gestation on metabolic responses and postpartum anestrous interval was investigated. Heifers with a body condition score (BCS) of 5.0 (BC5+FF; on a 1-to-10 scale, US = 1.5 + 0.32 x New Zealand) were offered unrestricted pasture, and those with BCS 4.0 were fed either pasture unrestricted (BC4+FF) or restricted (BC4+RES) for the last 6 wk of gestation. After calving, all groups were offered unrestricted pasture. Mean BCS at calving for BC5+FF, BC4+FF, and BC4+RES were 4.7 +/- 0.1, 4.3 +/- 0.1, and 3.5 +/- 0.1, respectively. At 35 d postpartum, LH pulse frequency was lower in BC4+RES than in BC4+FF and BC5+FF, which were similar. At 77 d after calving, 8% of BC4+RES cows had ovulated compared with 75% of BC4+FF and 69% of BC5+FF cows. Metabolic hormonal differences between BC4+FF and BC4+RES were not reflected in the differences between BC4+FF and BC5+FF for LH pulse frequency or ovulation. Unrestricted access to pasture during the final 6 wk of gestation for BC4 heifers reduced the risk of prolonged postpartum anestrus. Systemic factors, tissue sensitivity, and critical developmental set points are probably involved in the integrated control of ovulation by body condition.

268. Experimentally induced hypoglycemia: a model to examine the effects of lactation on reproductive function in dairy cows?

The metabolic changes subsequent to lactogenesis have been associated with poor reproduction in high-producing dairy cows.1,2 Periods of hypoglycaemia reflect severe energy deficit and are associated with changes in plasma levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth hormone-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth hormone-II (IGF-II). Somatotropic activity has been shown to influence reproductive functions.3–5 This study evaluated the effects of experimentally induced hypoglycaemia in seven non-lactating cows, over a 7-day period. Phloridizin treatment (8 g/d) resulted in urinary glucose loss (control: 3.5 ± 1.0 g/d and phloridizin: 468 ± 46 g/d) and decline in plasma glucose (control: 60.6 ± 0.6 mg/dL and phloridizin: 71.8 ± 0.4 mg/dL; P < 0.001). Treatment increased plasma beta hydroxybutyrate (BOH), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and IGF-I concentrations (P < 0.001). Plasma insulin and GH concentrations did not differ. During treatment, expression of mRNA for total growth hormone receptor (GHR(tot); P = 0.012) and GHR(1A) (P < 0.001) in liver tissue declined. Luteal and follicle diameters in ovaries recovered after treatment did not differ. Expressions of mRNA for IGF-I (P = 0.052) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in corpus luteum and for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydroxyenase (3β-HSD) within dominant follicles were significantly elevated, while mRNA for GHR(tot), cytochrome P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (P450-SCC), and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) tended to increase (P < 0.1) with treatment. The treatment resulted in changes similar to those of nutritional stress or the initiation of lactogenesis. Phloridizin-induced hypoglycaemia may be a model to investigate mechanisms linking glucose metabolism, and the somatotropic axis to reproductive function. The advantages of such a model, is that it allows for strict control of the level of hypoglycaemia. The use of non-lactating cows also removes the feedback mechanisms that modulate mammary gland requirements, and therefore will minimize the between cow variance when using lactating cows. This work was completed with the help from Dexcel Farms and the Dairy Cattle Fertility team. This study was funded by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (DRCX 0202). (1)Roberts et al. (1997) Journal of Animal Science 75, 1909–1917.(2)Thatcher et al. (1996) Reproduction, Fertility and Development 8, 203–217.(3)Royal et al. (2000) Animal Science 70, 487–501.(4)Butler (2000) Animal Reproduction Science 60, 449–457.(5)Lucy (2000) Journal of Dairy Science 84, 1635–1647.