Metabolic profiling of crossbred dairy cows during the periparturient period

Abstract

Periparturient period is critically important for dairy cows, for subsequent health and reproductive performances as marked alterations occurs in various metabolic parameters during this period. Thus, establishing the base line values for various metabolic parameters (haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leucocyte count (TLC), total plasma protein(TPP), albumin, plasma urea nitrogen (PUN), creatinine, glucose, Beta- hydroxyl butyric acid (BHBA), non esterified fatty acid (NEFA), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), plasma inorganic phosphorus (Pi), sodium (Na), potassium (K), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) during this period will help in the future for differentiating between the healthy and diseased animals and also for the advanced prediction of various metabolic diseases. A total of 37 crossbred cows were sampled thrice during the transition period. A decrease was noticed in the Hb, PCV, TEC, TPP, albumin, glucose, Ca, Na, K, Fe and Zn, where as a increased was observed in TLC, PUN, BHBA, NEFA, Mg and Cu levels from the preparturient to the postparturient levels. Proximate analysis of feed, fodder and wheat straw samples from various farms revealed a poorer crude protein levels in two out of three farms and also the fodder mineral analysis revealed lower copper level in the fodder samples.