Changes in clinical and blood lipid metabolism parameters in Holstein dairy cattle during the transition period

Abstract

The transition period is a critical period in the production cycle of the dairy cow. This study aimed to describe the clinical and biochemical changes, particularly lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and apolipoprotein B-100 (ApoB-100), during the transition period in dairy cattle. It was conducted on Holstein dairy cattle (n=80) classified into control cows (n=61) and diseased cows (n=19). They belonged to dairy farms in Ebetsu city, Hokkaido area, Japan. Body condition score (BCS) was significantly reduced in postfresh control cows when they were compared to those of close-up control group. Serum LCAT and apoB-100 were remarkably increased (P<0.05) at close-up period control group when they compared with those in close-up period diseased one. LCAT activities were also remarkably increased (P<0.05) while apoB-100 showed no significant changes at postfresh control cattle when they were compared to their values at post-fresh diseased cattle. Although apoB-100 was within the normal physiological reference values in the control and diseased cattle, it was lower than physiological reference values in 9.83% of the control cattle and in 26.32% of the diseased group. Blood glucose and packed cell volume were still within the physiological reference range in all cows. The study concluded that LCAT activities were a highly sensitive diagnostic marker of the transition period and of higher predictive value and diagnostic significance than the other lipid profile indicators of transition period disorders.

Keywords

• dairy cattle
• fat metabolism
• lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase
• transition period