Facilitating metabolic adaptation in cows
Negative energy balance (NEB), occurring around parturition, is the most common metabolic disorder in dairy cows. Researchers and nutritionists associate NEB with increasing energy demands, connected with milk production, surpassing energy intake from feed rations. Supplementing cows with a yeast probiotic during transition can lead to increase in feed intake and improve rumen health.
Figure 1 - Evolution of haptoglobin (g/L) content in blood over transition period.
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
–21 * P <0.05 –14 –7 Control Actisaf Sc 47
BY VALENTIN NENOV, PHD, GLOBAL RUMINANT MANAGER, PHILEO BY LESAFFRE & MOHAMED MAMMERI, PHD, GLOBAL PRODUCT MANAGER, PHILEO BY LESAFFRE.
P * * 0 714 Days from calving 21 28 Figure 2 - Blood BHB (mmol/L) content at 28 DFC.
0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0
0.2 0
Control * P <0.05 Actisaf Sc 47 *
Innate immune system An important, but commonly ignored, factor is that the in- nate immune system contributes to NEB after calving. Several researchers have published data showing that the immune system is often altered dramatically during the transition pe- riod, leading to substantial immune depression. At the same time, increased levels of circulating biomarkers of systemic inflammation have been observed. Inflammation is an im- mune response and is beneficial in recruiting innate immune cells for the inhibition of bacterial growth, but they come at a high energy cost to the animal. Importantly, inflammation can occur in the absence of a true pathogen challenge and can also occur without the traditional signs of focal pain, swelling, and redness. When inflammation blood markers are elevated, in the absence of clinical signs, this is often referred to as subacute inflammation. The triggers of systemic inflam- mation around calving are not entirely understood but are as- sociated with parturition and the beginning of labour, pla- centa release, possible digestive disorders, leaky gut syndrome, and other high stress conditions.
Causes of NEB and subclinical ketosis Subacute systemic inflammation comes at a high cost to the cow. The immune system is highly energy demanding and
26 ▶ COW HEALTH | AUGUST 2020
rior to calving, the cow has a low dry matter/low en- ergy diet to cover maintenance needs and foetus development. However, immediately after calving, energy demands increase at a faster rate than ener-
gy intake, leading to NEB, a condition that can result in sub- clinical ketosis. To meet increasing energy demands, and to facilitate metabolic adaptation after calving, nutritional strat- egies are focused on high energy diets, using high quality for- ages to maximise dry matter intake. It is very common to sup- plement postpartum cows with additives, providing additional energy in the form of propylene glycol, protected fat, and calcium propionate to meet increasing energy de- mands. The main focus, as nutritionists, has always been on delivering more energy to help the cow cope with increasing milk production and to prevent a loss of body condition.
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