Composition of milk fatty acids as an indicator of negative energy balance of dairy cows in early lactation

摘要

Most dairy cows experience negative energy balance (NEB) in early lactation because the energy demand for milk synthesis is not met by energy intake. Excessive NEB may lead to metabolic disorders and impaired fertility. Therefore, it is useful to detect NEB in early lactating cows to optimize herd management. However, direct calculation of NEB is not feasible in commercial herds. Alternative methods rely on fat-to-protein ratio in milk or on concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and B-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in blood.