engleski

Energy metabolism during the early postpartum period in cows and calves kept in a beef suckler system

Background. The early lactation and early neonatal period are characterized by intense changes in energy metabolism and the aim of this study was to evaluate blood biochemical parameters of energy metabolism. Methods. The study was carried out on 13 Simmental cows and 13 beef suckler calves in cow-calf operations. Blood samples were obtained at 6, 12 and 48 h (hours) and 7, 14 and 30 d (days) postpartum (pp). Concentrations of glucose, total protein, albumin, urea, triacylglycerols, total, HDL (high density lipoproteins) and LDL (low density lipoproteins) cholesterol, BHB (beta- hydroxybutyric acid) and NEFA (non-esterified fatty acids), insulin and IGF-I were determined. Results. In cows, glucose concentration was lower at 30 d pp than at 6 h pp (P<0.001). Triacylglycerol concentration was lower at 48 h pp than at 30 d pp (P=0.05). Total and LDL cholesterol concentrations were the highest at 30 d pp (P<0.02). Concentrations of HDL cholesterol and BHB were higher at 30 d pp than at 48 h pp (P<0.03, P<0.01). Concentration of NEFA was lower at 30 d pp than at 48 h pp (P=0.02). Albumin and urea concentrations were lower, while globulin concentration was higher at 30 d pp than at 6 h pp (P<0.03, P=0.03, P=0.02). Insulin concentration was higher at 7 d pp than at 6 h pp (P=0.008). In calves, glucose concentration was the lowest at 6 h pp (P<0.001). Concentrations of total, HDL and LDL cholesterol as well as BHB were higher at 30 d pp than at 6 h pp (P<0.03, P<0.02, P<0.03, P<0.01), while concentration of NEFA was lower (P<0.01). Concentration of albumin was higher, while concentration of globulin was lower at 30 d pp than at 6h pp (P<0.01, P=0.008). Urea concentration was higher at 7 d pp that the other points of measurements (P=0.003). Concentration of IGF-I was lower at 12 h pp than at 14 d pp (P=0.04). Conclusions. In cows investigated period is characterized by rapid and significant changes in energy metabolism, and in calves by more intensive energy metabolism and greater substrate requirements at a later stage. The measured parameters, especially in the first hours after birth, are valuable indicators for future research of energy metabolism, as they are, to our knowledge, not currently available in the literature

energy metabolism, blood biochemical parameters, cow, calf

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