The association between serum ß-hydroxybutyrate and milk fatty acid profile with special emphasis on conjugated linoleic acid in postpartum Holstein cows. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Melendez, Pedro; Pinedo, Pablo; Bastias, José; Marin, Maria; Rios, Carolina; Bustamante, Consuelo; Adaro, Natalia; Duchens, Mario
• Is Part Of: BMC veterinary research. Volume 12:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 5
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Ketone bodies -- Conjugated linoleic acid -- ß- hydroxybutyrate; Veterinary medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; 636.0890724
• DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0679-7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-6148

Abstract

Abstract Background Ketogenesis is a secondary metabolic pathway to provide energy to dairy cows during early lactation; however when the production of ketone bodies (acetoacetate, acetone, ß- hydroxybutyrate) is above certain levels a subclinical disorder may appear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between serum concentrations of ß- hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and fatty acid (FA) profile of milk with emphasis in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in a population of early lactation Holstein cows. Fifty cows between parity 1 and 5, ranging from 14 to 21 days in milk, were randomly selected from 3 farms of the central area of Chile for determination of serum BHBA concentrations, milk fat content, and milk FA profiles. Results Cows were divided in low (n = 26) and high (n = 24) BHBA groups considering the median value of the serum concentration of BHBA (0.7 mmol/L) (SEM = 0.094). Mean milk fat % was 3.45 % and 3.60 % for cows in the low and high BHBA groups, respectively (P = 0.15). Concentrations of several FA were significantly different between both groups. Specifically, mean CLA concentrations were 0.40 % (4 ± 0.03 g/kg) and 0.33 % (3.3 ± 0.03 g/kg) for the low and high BHBA groups, respectively (P = 0.05). Conclusions It is concluded that early postpartum cows with serum BHBA > 0.7 mmol/L tended to have higher milk fat % and had significantly lower concentrations of CLA than early postpartum cows with BHBA ≤ 0.7 mmol/L.