Biochemical profile and productive performance in dairy cows with lameness during postpartum period

ABSTRACT

Background: Lameness in dairy cows is classified as a gait change caused by multifactorial process. The phase of theperipartum causes intense physiological changes for the adaptation of late gestation and onset of lactation. The aim of thisstudy was to characterize the changes in the biochemical profile and productive performance in dairy cows with lamenessduring postpartum period.Materials, Methods & Results: This study was conducted at the University of São Paulo farm, in Pirassununga, São PauloState, Brazil, from January to March 2017. A total, of 48 multiparous (2 to 3 lactations and 3-4 years old) dairy cows,that had the milk production of 9,200 kg/ dairy cow in a period of 305 days in the previous lactation, were included in thestudy. All cows were managed under the same conditions and nutritional regimen. Evaluation of body condition score wasperformed by a single person on -18, -12, -8, -5, and -2 days before parturition, at parturition, and on days 1, 7, 14, 21,30, 45 and 60 after parturition. Milk production was recorded on days 7, 14, 21, 30, 45 and 60 after parturition and savedin the software program. Blood samples were performed on -18, -12, -8, -5, and -2 days before parturition, at parturition,and on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 30, 45 and 60 after parturition. Blood samples were assayed for albumin, calcium, cholesterol,triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, urea, creatinine, gamma-glutamil-transferase and total proteinconcentrations. Dairy cows were divided into a lame group (11) and normal group (37) based on locomotion score fromparturition to seven days postpartum. Lame cows was classified if their score was > 2, and normal cows was classified iftheir score was ≤ 2 and free of any disease. Dairy cows that suffer by any health disorder other than lameness were excludedfrom this study. Cow diagnosed with lameness outside the diagnostic period were excluded from this study...