Ultrasonographic ovarian dynamic, plasma progesterone, and non-esterified fatty acids in lame postpartum dairy cows
10.4142/jvs.2018.19.3.462
- Author:
Pedro MELENDEZ
1
;
Veronica GOMEZ
;
Hans BOTHE
;
Francisco RODRIGUEZ
;
Juan VELEZ
;
Hernando LOPEZ
;
Julian BARTOLOME
;
Louis ARCHBALD
Author Information
1. College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. melendezp@missouri.edu
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
lameness;
non-esterified fatty acids;
ovulation;
postpartum dairy cows;
progesterone
- MeSH:
Agriculture;
Corpus Luteum;
Fatty Acids;
Fatty Acids, Nonesterified;
Female;
Mortuary Practice;
Ovarian Follicle;
Ovary;
Ovulation;
Plasma;
Postpartum Period;
Progesterone;
Ultrasonography
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science
2018;19(3):462-467
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
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.
