Animal Health: Transition Cow 2

摘要

During the periparturient period, dairy cows mobilize stored nutrients tosupport fetal development and milk production. The objective of the presentstudy was to determine the relationship between the serum lipid-solublevitamins of dairy cows and calves with health status of the cowsduring the periparturient period. Blood samples of cows were obtainedfrom early Spring to Winter of 2018 for a total of 645 periparturient cowson d −21, d −7, d 1, d 7 and d 14 relative to calving. Blood samples ofcalves were obtained (n = 459) within the first 4 d of life. Sera were analyzedfor lipid-soluble vitamins (α-tocopherol, β-carotene, and retinol)via HPLC. Health records were categorized based on the occurrence ofpostpartum diseases (lameness, mastitis, pneumonia). The data were analyzedusing linear mixed models and correlations in SAS with significancedeclared at P ≤ 0.05 and tendency when P < 0.1. Results showed that cowswith mastitis had greater serum retinol compared with that of healthycows postpartum (P < 0.01). There was some evidence of a serum α-tocopheroltime × mastitis interaction (P = 0.08). There was a significantinteraction between the time relative to calving and season on serum α-tocopherol,β-carotene, and retinol concentration regardless of health status(P < 0.001). For mastitic cows, there were negative correlations for serumretinol and β-carotene between cows and calves on d 14 postpartum. Inaddition, negative correlations were observed between cows and calvesfor lameness (β-carotene) and pneumonia (α-tocopherol) on d 14 postpartum.In summary, disease affects the lipid soluble vitamins status of periparturientcows, and consequently calves may experience health issues.