EXTREME METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND METABOLIC PROFILE IN HIGH YIELDING HOLSTEINFRIESIAN DAIRY COWS
Keywords:
dairy cows, heat stress, energy balance, corrective actions in feeding practice and remodelingAbstract
The impact of two years (2002 and 2003) with different summer temperature extremes on
variation in metabolic profile was analyzed in blood and urine samples taken from healthy,
primiparous (n = 371) and multiparous (n = 795) high yielding Holstein-Friesian dairy
cows. In this study main focus was lead on three most critical physiological phases, thus
cows were assigned into three groups as follows: (1) dry cows for 10 days prior to
calving; (2) cows 1-30 days after delivery, and (3) cows with more than 31 days post
partum. Findings reveal clear response of the cows to heat in selected blood (hemoglobin,
plasma aceto-acetic-acid, FFA, AST, glucose, urea) and urine (pH, NABE and urea)
parameters. In the majority of cows, glucose and hemoglobin level, one of the most
significant blood parameters, indicated symptoms of insufficient energy supply. Further
metabolic indicators differed more or less from reference values depending on actual
condition. Due to heat load dry matter intake has been decreased even by 10-15 per cent in
primiparous cows. They were expected to increase body weight and size and
simultaneously produce attain at large milk yields. In doing so that cows would have
require large amount of nutrients. Out of parameters such as hemoglobin, glucose, FFA,
AST and blood-urea differed from the reference values in most cases; however, this
phenomenon seemed to be present in almost every case for hemoglobin and glucose.
The lack of energy caused by heat stress can be contributed to the decrease of dry
matter intake which has been indicated by the urea levels and pH both in blood and
urine prevailing unfavorable and insufficient feeding practice. The results reconfirm
the need to reconsider both the actual feeding practice (e.g. to increase of nutrient
content in rations, reduce the intake of soluble proteins in rumen, pay attention of
crude fiber in Total Mixed Rations (TMR), NDF and ADF, avoid overfeeding of
inorganic buffers, to control moisture content in TMR, increase of Na and K intake),
and construction of cowsheds with ample airspace, good ventilation and cooling
system by remodeling of existing dairy operations.
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