J Vet Sci.  2018 May;19(3):462-467. 10.4142/jvs.2018.19.3.462.

Ultrasonographic ovarian dynamic, plasma progesterone, and non-esterified fatty acids in lame postpartum dairy cows

• Melendez P
• Gomez V
• Bothe H
• Rodriguez
• Velez J
• Lopez H
• Bartolome
• Archbald L

• KMID: 2412137
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2018.19.3.462

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare ovulation rate, number of large ovarian follicles, and concentrations of plasma progesterone (P4) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) between lame (n = 10) and non-lame (n = 10) lactating Holstein cows. The study was conducted in an organic dairy farm, and cows were evaluated by undertaking ultrasonography and blood sampling every 3 days from 30 days postpartum for a period of 34 days. Cows which became lame during the first 30 days postpartum experienced a lower ovulation rate determined by the presence of a corpus luteum (50% presence for lame cows and 100% for non-lame cows, p ≤ 0.05). The number of large ovarian follicles in the ovaries was 5 for lame cows and 7 for non-lame cows (p = 0.09). Compared to non-lame cows, lame cows had significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) concentrations of plasma P4. Furthermore, NEFA concentrations were lower (p ≤ 0.05) in lame cows than in non-lame cows. It is concluded that lameness in postpartum dairy cows is associated with ovulation failure and lower concentrations of P4 and NEFA.

Keyword

lameness; non-esterified fatty acids; ovulation; postpartum dairy cows; progesterone

MeSH Terms

Agriculture
Corpus Luteum
Fatty Acids*
Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
Female
Mortuary Practice
Ovarian Follicle
Ovary
Ovulation
Plasma*
Postpartum Period*
Progesterone*
Ultrasonography
Fatty Acids
Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
Progesterone

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Progesterone (P4) concentration in lame (n = 10) and non-lame (control; n = 10) postpartum dairy cows. Interaction days by group was significant (p ≤ 0.05).

• 

  Fig. 2 Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration in lame (n = 10) and non-lame (control; n = 10) postpartum dairy cows. Interaction days by group was significant (p ≤ 0.05).

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