Relationship between pre-partum body condition score changes, acute phase proteins and energy metabolism markers during the peripartum period in dairy cows

This study evaluated the relationship of pre-partum BCS variations on the acute phase response around parturition and milk production of dairy cows. The animals were divided into two groups: cows that gained BCS from the third to the first week pre-partum (GBC=n 11) and those that lost BCS (LBC=n 9) in the same period. Blood samples were collected pre and post-partum to determine serum concentrations of glucose (GLU), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), insulin (INS), albumin (ALB), paraoxonase (PON), haptoglobin (HP) and blood cell counts. The GBC group showed higher PON concentration in the postpartum (p < .05) and higher ALB concentration both pre and postpartum periods (p < .05), whereas the LBC animals showed a higher HP concentration in both periods (p < .05). Milk yield increased 3kg/cow/day in the group that increased their BCS (p < .03). The LBC cows showed increased monocyte counts (p < .03), in addition to having a greater number of animals with the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio higher than 1 (p < .03). The remaining parameters did not differ between groups. In conclusion, animals that lost BCS during the pre-partum period demonstrated to have a higher inflammatory status around parturition and lower milk production.