• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2008

Eighty-four Holstein cows were used to evaluate effects of feeding two diets that differed in dietary cation-anion difference (cationic; +28 or anionic; -138 mEq/kg DM) on prepartum and postpartum dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), serum Ca concentrations and on subsequent milk production and composition. Treatments were in a $2{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial arrangement that included prepartum diet, dry period length (30 d dry, 30 d dry+estradiol cypionate (ECP), and 60 d dry), and prepartum and postpartum bST ($POSILAC^{(R)}$ 10.2 mg/d). No interaction of prepartum diet with dry period length or bST supplementation was detected for any measure evaluated either prepartum or postpartum. No significant effects of prepartum diet on prepartum DMI, BW or BCS were observed. Mean DMI during the first 28 d postpartum were similar for cows fed the cationic or anionic diets prepartum (25.5 vs. 26.1 kg/d). During postpartum wk 1 to 14, no differences in mean BW or BCS were detected due to prepartum diet fed but decreases for both groups were observed during the first 6 wk postpartum. No differences due to prepartum diet were observed for mean milk or 3.5% FCM yields or for milk composition during the first 10 wk of lactation. Similarly, mean milk yield of cows during the first 21 wk did not differ significantly due to prepartum diet fed (38.5 vs. 38.6 kg/d). Overall, cows fed the prepartum cationic or anionic diets had similar mean postpartum serum concentrations of Ca (9.34 vs. 9.35 mg/dl). Subsequent milk production, milk composition and concentrations of Ca did not differ. Importantly, the two prepartum diets were equally satisfactory in minimizing incidence of milk fever and in supporting initiation of lactation, irrespective of dry period length and supplemental ECP and bST.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.32-41
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• 1979

A series of experiment was conducted to determine the concentrations of progesterone and estradiol and metabolite contents in the serum of 26 Korean native cows raised at Alpine Experiment Station during the period of late pregnancy. Blood samples were collected by jugular puncture from individual cow at 5 day intervals from 30 days prepartum to 5 days prepartum and daily collected from 5 days prepartum to the day of parturition. Progesterone and estradiol concentrations in the serum were analyzed by Radioimmunoassay (R.I.A) method and serum metabolite contents were analyzed by autoanalzer MT II system. The following are summary of the results obtained: 1. Progresterone concentrations during the late preganacy were maintained at high level (5.12-11.70ng/$m\ell$) from 30 days prepartum to 8 days prepartum and fell rapidly from 5.12$\pm$1.07ng/$m\ell$ at 2 dyas prepartum to 1.48$\pm$0.32ng/$m\ell$ at 24 hrs prepartum. 2. Estradiol levles during the late pregancy increased gradually from 33.76$\pm$13.64pg/$m\ell$ at 30 days prepartum to 92.15$\pm$11.91pg/$m\ell$ at 11-15 days prepartum and increased thereafter sharply to a ranges of 161.76-238.4pg/$m\ell$ and were maintained at this increased levle until 24 hrs prepartum and decreased to 91.40pg/$m\ell$ at the parturition. 3. The correlation coefficients were found to be 0.2440 for cholesterol-progesterone relationship and -0.2552 for cholesterol-estradiol relationship, but there were statistically insignificant. 4. The changes in total protein contents during the late pregnancy were similar patterns to those of globulin and were maintained at high level only from 15 days to 5 days prepartum. 5. Glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) levels were increased from 59.80$\pm$3.56u/$\ell$ at 90 days prepartum to 93.32$\pm$7.27u/$\ell$ at the day of parturition, but alkaline phosphatase levels were remained steady. 6. The levels of blood urea nitrogen, glucose and calcium remained almost constant during the late pregnancy. However, glucose concentration increased around the time of parturition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.784-793
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• 2004

Major objective was to evaluate three doses of bST (POSILAC(R)) injected into Holstein cows during the transition period and through 56 d of lactation for potential to improve DMI, BCS, BW, metabolites, hormones, IGF-I and milk production. Biweekly injections of bST (0, 5.1, 10.2, or 15.3 mg bST/d) began 28 d before expected parturition and continued through 56 d postpartum. Twenty-three of the 25 multiparous Holstein cows assigned randomly to four groups completed experiment (7, 5, 6 and 5 cows/group, respectively). The DMI, BW and BCS were recorded weekly throughout the prepartum and postpartum periods and blood samples were collected thrice weekly for analyses of ST, insulin, $T_{4}$, $T_{3}$, IGF-I, glucose and NEFA. Milk yields were recorded daily through 60 d postpartum and milk components measured once weekly. Mathematical model for data analyses for prepartum and postpartum periods included treatment, calving month, and the two-factor interaction. Cows injected with 10.2 and 15.3 mg bST prepartum had greater mean prepartum concentrations of ST and IGF-I. Prepartum injections of bST did not affect prepartum BW or BCS. On average, cows injected postpartum better maintained their BCS during first 60 d of lactation (3.15$\pm$0.06, 3.12$\pm$0.007, 3.20$\pm$0.006 and 3.58$\pm$0.009). Treatments did not affect mean prepartum DMI but cows injected with 15.3 mg bST/d had greatest DMI and greatest mean daily MY during the first 3 wk and tended to be greater during first 60 d of lactation. Cows injected with two highest bST doses (10.1 and 15.2 mg/d) had greater mean postpartum concentrations of ST and $T_{3}$, but IGF-I, $T_{4}$, glucose and NEFA did not differ across groups. No adverse effects of bST treatment were observed.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.280-285
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• 2008

This study evaluated the correlation between the body condition score (BCS) during prepartum, calving and postpartum periods and the reproductive performance of Korean brown cattle. The BCSs of 33 cows who underwent 73 calvings over a two and a half period [the parities of the cows ranged from 1 to 4 ($mean{\pm}SD,\;2.0{\pm}0.9$)] were scored at months 2 and 1 prepartum, calving, and every month postpartum until month 7. A marked prepartum loss of BCS in the month preceding calving was noted. The correlations between the interval from calving to conception and the month 1 prepartum, calving and months 1 and 2 postpartum BCSs were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. The correlation between the interval from calving to conception and the prepartum body condition loss was also evaluated. The interval from calving to conception correlated positively with the month 1 prepartum BCS (r = 0.389, P = 0.0007) and the prepartum body condition loss (r = 0.488, P < 0.0001) but did not correlate significantly with the BCS at calving (r=-0.070, P=0.56) or months 1 (r=0.107, P=0.37) or 2 (r=0.102, P=0.39) postpartum. The prepartum body condition loss correlated positively with the month 1 prepartum BCS (r=0.587, P<0.0001). In conclusion, the month 1 prepartum BCS may be a good criterion for predicting subsequent reproductive performance. Moreover, the prevention of obesity and/or excessive prepartum body condition loss may result in higher fertility in Korean brown cattle.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.404-413
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• 2008

Major objectives were to evaluate effects of three schemes of bST-supplementation of Holstein cows (142.8 mg/14 d, POSILAC) during the prepartum and/or postpartum periods through 63 d (${\pm}3d$) of lactation. Measures evaluated the potential of treatments to improve body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS), provoke changes in plasma concentrations of somatotropin (ST) and IGF-I, and improve milk yield, milk composition (percentages of protein and fat, and somatic cell counts), and several calving variables. Multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement of treatments (TRT) to give four groups (I = no bST, n = 26; II = bST postpartum, n = 25; III = bST prepartum, n = 27; IV = bST prepartum and postpartum, n = 25). During the prepartum period, cows in groups I and II were not supplemented but those in groups III and IV were supplemented every 2-wk beginning 21 d before expected calving date through calving. During the first 63 DIM only cows in groups II and IV were supplemented with bST. From 64 DIM through the end of lactation cows in all groups were supplemented with the full lactation dose of bST (500 mg/14 d). The BW and BCS were recorded weekly throughout the prepartum and postpartum periods and every 2-wk beyond 70 DIM. Blood samples were collected 3-times a week for analyses of ST and IGF-I. Milk yields were recorded daily though 150 DIM. Prepartum supplementation of bST did not affect BW or BCS, but mean concentrations of ST were increased 12.2% and were 15.5% greater at calving. Overall, mean concentration of IGF-I was not affected by treatment but concentrations were greater at 1 and 2 wk before calving in bST-supplemented cows. During the first 63 DIM the BW and BCS were not affected by treatment. Significant effects of bST-supplementation were detected on concentrations of ST, IGF-I and on milk yield compared to non-supplemented cows in group I. Postpartum concentrations of ST were greater in bST-supplemented cows (TRT II and IV; +41.9 and 54.6%). However, concentrations of IGF-I were greater only in cows in group IV (+25.9%) during the postpartum period. Overall, the three bST-supplemented groups had greater actual milk yield than the control group (I) during the first 63 and 150 DIM. The actual milk yields during 63 and 150 DIM were 6.5 and 4.6 kg/d greater for cows in group IV than cows in group I and the 305-d ME milk yield also was 15.6% greater. No adverse effects of TRT were observed on calf birth weight, colostrum immunoglobulins, ease of calving or other measures evaluated.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.944-951
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• 2024

Objective: Parturition is crucial for dams, their calves, and cow managers. The prediction of calving time, which assists cow managers to decide on the relocation of cows to maternity pens and necessity of human supervision, is a pivotal aspect of livestock farming. However, existing methods of predicting calving time in dairy cows based on hormonal changes and clinical symptoms are time-consuming and yield unreliable predictions. Accordingly, we investigated whether heart rate variability (HRV) which is a non-invasive assessment of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and behavior during the prepartum period would be useful for predicting calving time in dairy cows. Methods: Eight pregnant cows were surveilled under electrocardiogram and video recordings for HRV and behavioral analyses, respectively. HRV parameters in time and frequency domains were evaluated. A 24-h time budget was calculated for each of six types of behavior (standing and lying with or without rumination, sleeping, and eating). Results: Heart rate on calving day is considerably higher than those recorded on the days preceding calving. Low frequency power declined, whereas high frequency power escalated on the calving day compared to the period between 24 and 48 h before calving. The time budget for ruminating while lying decreased and that while standing increased markedly on the calving day compared to those allocated on the preceding days; nonetheless, the total time budget for ruminating did not differ during the prepartum period. Conclusion: We elucidated the ANS activity and behavioral profiles during prepartum period. Our results confirm that HRV parameters and behavior are useful for predicting calving time, and interestingly indicate that the time budget for ruminating while standing (or lying) may serve as a valuable predictor of calving. Collectively, our findings lay the foundation for future investigations to determine other potential predictors and formulate an algorithm for predicting calving time.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 1981

The Purpose of this study was to determine the serum content of LH, FSH and prolactin. Blood samples collected from day 20 prepartum to 20 postrtum in 8 sows. LH, FSH and prolactin were assayed by radioimmunoassay methods. LH levels increased from 2.3 mIU/$m\ell$ day 6 prepartum to 5.8 mIU/$m\ell$ by day +2 and remained quite constant thereafter. The mean serum FSH increased from 7.5mIU/$m\ell$ day 6 prepartum to 10.0 mIU/$m\ell$ at the time of parturition, but the difference in LH and FSH patterns reported here provide further evidence that the controlling mechanisms for the two gonadotropins are independent. Prolactin reached a peak mean level of 68.5ng/$m\ell$ at day 0.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1519-1524
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• 2015

It is well known that prepartum sows have an innate motivation to build a nest before parturition. Under commercial conditions, however, the farrowing crate, which is widely used in modern pig husbandry, inhibits this innate behaviour through the lack of space, materials, or both. Thus, restriction of nest-building behaviour could generate increased stress, resulting in a decrease in maternal endogenous hormones. Hence, it could lead to detrimental effects on farrowing and lactating performance. Here we review interactions between prepartum nest-building behaviour, stress and maternal endogenous hormone levels, and discuss their effects on parturition, lactation, and welfare of sows and offspring.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.272-280
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• 2019

The present study was designed to determine the effect of barn or cycle of grazing on changes of biochemical metabolites in prepartum and changes of milk composition in postpartum of dairy cows. For this purpose, a total of sixteen 25 months old Holstein primiparous dairy cows were allocated in two groups (n=8) with an average body weight of 571.61 ± 35.30 kg (Barn) and 578.10 ± 39.20 kg (Grazing). The study was conducted from June 2018 to October 2018. Results revealed that barn raised dairy cows had a higher increase in their serum albumin and calcium level on day 14 prepartum. However, the level of palmitic acid, saturated fatty acid increased significantly, and the level of fat, oleic acid, γ-linoleic acid, arachidonic acid and unsaturated fatty acids decreased significantly in barn raised dairy cow's milk on day 14 postpartum. There were no significant differences observed with respect to all other biochemical metabolites, fatty acids and minerals between barn raised and cycle grazing dairy cows during prepartum and postpartum. Our study results could serve to a better understanding of barn raised cow with respect to changes of biochemical metabolites in prepartum and changes of milk composition, fatty acids and minerals content in grazing dairy cows in postpartum for estimating their physiological status.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.648-656
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• 2019

Objective: An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of reduced energy density of close-up diets on metabolites, lipolysis and gluconeogenesis in cows during the transition period. Methods: Thirty-nine Holstein dry cows were blocked and assigned randomly to three groups, fed a high energy density diet (HD, 1.62 Mcal of net energy for lactation $[NE_L]/kg$ dry matter [DM]), a medium energy density diet (MD, $1.47Mcal\;NE_L/kg\;DM$), or a low energy density diet (LD, $1.30Mcal\;NE_L/kg\;DM$) prepartum; they were fed the same lactation diet to 28 days in milk (DIM). All the cows were housed in a free-stall barn and fed ad libitum. Results: The reduced energy density diets decreased the blood insulin concentration and increased nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration in the prepartum period (p<0.05). They also increased the concentrations of glucose, insulin and glucagon, and decreased the concentrations of NEFA and ${\beta}-hydroxybutyrate$ during the first 2 weeks of lactation (p<0.05). The plasma urea nitrogen concentration of both prepartum and postpartum was not affected by dietary energy density (p>0.05). The dietary energy density had no effect on mRNA abundance of insulin receptors, leptin and peroxisome proliferator-activated $receptor-{\gamma}$ in adipose tissue, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated $receptor-{\alpha}$ in liver during the transition period (p>0.05). The HD cows had higher mRNA abundance of hormone-sensitive lipase at 3 DIM compared with the MD cows and LD cows (p = 0.001). The mRNA abundance of hepatic pyruvate carboxy-kinase at 3 DIM tended to be increased by the reduced energy density of the close-up diets (p = 0.08). Conclusion: The reduced energy density diet prepartum was effective in controlling adipose tissue mobilization and improving the capacity of hepatic gluconeogenesis postpartum.