Association of dry matter intake and energy balance prepartum and postpartum with health disorders postpartum: Part Ⅰ. Calving disorders and metritis

摘要

The main objective of this study was to determinethe association of dry matter intake as percentage ofbody weight (DMI%BW) and energy balance (EB) prepartum(−21 d relative to parturition) and postpartum(28 d) with calving disorders (CDZ; dystocia, twins,and stillbirths; n = 101) and metritis (n = 114). Forthis, DMI%BW and EB were the independent variablesand CDZ and metritis were the dependent variables.A secondary objective was to evaluate prepartumDMI%BW and EB as predictors of CDZ and metritis.For this, CDZ and metritis were the independentvariables and DMI%BW and EB were the dependentvariables. Data from 476 cows from 9 experiments werecompiled. Cows that developed CDZ had lesser postpartumDMI%BW from d 3 to 12 and lesser energycorrectedmilk (ECM) than cows that did not developCDZ. Dry matter intake as percentage of BW and EBprepartum did not affect the odds of CDZ. Cows withmetritis had lesser prepartum DMI%BW and EB. Each0.1-percentage point decrease in the average DMI%BWand each 1-Mcal decrease in the average EB in thelast 3 d prepartum increased the odds of having metritisby 8%. The average DMI%BW and EB duringthe last 3 d prepartum produced significant cut-offsto predict metritis postpartum, which were ≤1.6%/dand ≤2.5 Mcal/d, respectively. Cows that developedmetritis had lesser overall postpartum DMI%BW andECM and lesser EB from d 2 to 5 and from d 7 to11 than cows that did not develop metritis. The mainlimitation in this study is that the time-order of diseaserelative to DMI%BW and ECM is inconsistent suchthat postpartum outcomes were measured before andafter disease, which was diagnosed at variable intervalsafter calving. In summary, prepartum DMI%BW andEB were associated with and were predictors of metritisalthough the effect sizes were small for metritis,and calving disorders and metritis were associated withdecreased DMI%BW and ECM postpartum.