Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias (Apr 2020)

Use of a glycogenic precursor during the prepartum period and its effects upon metabolic indicators and reproductive parameters in dairy cows

  • Carlos Leyva Orasma,
  • Jesús Jaime Benitez-Rivas,
  • Juan Luis Morales Cruz,
  • Cesar Alberto Meza-Herrera,
  • Oscar Ángel-García,
  • Fernando Arellano-Rodríguez,
  • Guadalupe Calderón-Leyva,
  • Dalia Ivette Carrillo-Moreno,
  • Francisco Veliz Deras

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v11i2.5685
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 2
pp. 408 – 420

Abstract

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The aim was to evaluate if 1-2 propanodiol plus calcium propionate (glycogenic precursor) supplementation during the transition period in high yielding dairy cows reduces metabolic and reproductive dysfunctions during early lactation. Cows (n= 202) were divided into two homogeneous groups regarding number of lactations and body condition score. 1) Treated group (GG; n= 112) received 60 g/cow/dfor15 d of a glycogenic precursor during the transition period. 2) Control group (GC; n= 90) received no treatment. Postpartum levels of beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB) (GG= 0.9 ± 0.2 mmol/L vs GC =1.3 ± 0.2 mmol/L; P<0.05), and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) (GG= 0.6 ± 0.1 mEq/L vs GC = 0.8 ± 0.1 mEq/L; P<0.05) were higher in the GC-group. Similarly, GC-cows had a higher percentage of retained placenta (23 % vs 13 %; P≤0.06) subclinical ketosis (GG= 10 %, GC= 56 %; P<0.05), and mastitis (GG= 8 %, GC= 16 %; P<0.05). Metritis, dystocia, abortions, clinical ketosis, hypocalcemia and ruminal acidosis showed no differences between groups. Administration of a glycogenic precursor during the transition period demonstrated a positive effect upon BHB and NEFA blood levels during early lactation, with parallel decreases of subclinical ketosis and retained placenta; this could be an alternative to enhance the dairy herd reproductive efficiency.

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