Associations between lameness and the metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cows

Dairy cows lameness represents a significant welfare issue for the dairy industry. The aim of this study was to investigate metabolic and hormonal parameters associated with lameness in cows. The study included two treatment groups of 10 multiparous Holstein–Friesian dairy cows each. The control gro...

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Main Authors: Daniel-Catalin Necula, Eliza Simiz, Nicolae Corcionivoschi, Igori Balta, Marioara Nicula Neagu, Helen Elizabeth Warren, Jules Taylor-Pickard, Lavinia Stef
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Italian Journal of Animal Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2387182
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author Daniel-Catalin Necula
Eliza Simiz
Nicolae Corcionivoschi
Igori Balta
Marioara Nicula Neagu
Helen Elizabeth Warren
Jules Taylor-Pickard
Lavinia Stef
author_facet Daniel-Catalin Necula
Eliza Simiz
Nicolae Corcionivoschi
Igori Balta
Marioara Nicula Neagu
Helen Elizabeth Warren
Jules Taylor-Pickard
Lavinia Stef
author_sort Daniel-Catalin Necula
collection DOAJ
description Dairy cows lameness represents a significant welfare issue for the dairy industry. The aim of this study was to investigate metabolic and hormonal parameters associated with lameness in cows. The study included two treatment groups of 10 multiparous Holstein–Friesian dairy cows each. The control group consisted of cows with locomotion score 1 and in the experimental group cows with locomotion scores 3 and 4 were included. Milk, urine and blood samples were collected to determine the fat, protein, urea, creatinine, electrolytes and copeptin vasopressin (AVP) content. The milk fat, protein and energy-corrected milk (ECM) levels were higher in lame animals compared with non-lame cows. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and BUN/serum creatinine ratio were lower at the start of the trial in lame animals suggesting a metabolic acidosis state. There were significantly lower serum Na levels in the lame cows, from the start until the end of the trial (p < 0.011), as well as between lame and non-lame groups at the end of the trial (p = 0.041). A lower copeptin AVP was detected in lame compared with non-lame cows at the end of the trial (p = 0.004). The decrease of serum Na levels as the comfort improves indicates that the animals started to recover from the effect of cortisol on mineralocorticoid receptors. Our data also indicates that the BUN and BUN/serum creatinine ratios are associated with lameness. Further investigations involving a larger number of cows would be recommended to confirm these results and to evaluate these parameters in the early stages of lameness.
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spelling doaj-art-19fb5d7c78ca41e0b5450419f58c540f2025-08-20T02:42:53ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2024-12-012311181119310.1080/1828051X.2024.23871822387182Associations between lameness and the metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cowsDaniel-Catalin Necula0Eliza Simiz1Nicolae Corcionivoschi2Igori Balta3Marioara Nicula Neagu4Helen Elizabeth Warren5Jules Taylor-Pickard6Lavinia Stef7Faculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I from TimisoaraFaculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I from TimisoaraFaculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I from TimisoaraFaculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I from TimisoaraFaculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I from TimisoaraSolutions Deployment Team, Alltech Bioscience CentreSolutions Deployment Team, Alltech Bioscience CentreFaculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources, University of Life Sciences King Mihai I from TimisoaraDairy cows lameness represents a significant welfare issue for the dairy industry. The aim of this study was to investigate metabolic and hormonal parameters associated with lameness in cows. The study included two treatment groups of 10 multiparous Holstein–Friesian dairy cows each. The control group consisted of cows with locomotion score 1 and in the experimental group cows with locomotion scores 3 and 4 were included. Milk, urine and blood samples were collected to determine the fat, protein, urea, creatinine, electrolytes and copeptin vasopressin (AVP) content. The milk fat, protein and energy-corrected milk (ECM) levels were higher in lame animals compared with non-lame cows. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and BUN/serum creatinine ratio were lower at the start of the trial in lame animals suggesting a metabolic acidosis state. There were significantly lower serum Na levels in the lame cows, from the start until the end of the trial (p < 0.011), as well as between lame and non-lame groups at the end of the trial (p = 0.041). A lower copeptin AVP was detected in lame compared with non-lame cows at the end of the trial (p = 0.004). The decrease of serum Na levels as the comfort improves indicates that the animals started to recover from the effect of cortisol on mineralocorticoid receptors. Our data also indicates that the BUN and BUN/serum creatinine ratios are associated with lameness. Further investigations involving a larger number of cows would be recommended to confirm these results and to evaluate these parameters in the early stages of lameness.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2387182lamenesscopeptin avpureacreatinineelectrolytes
spellingShingle Daniel-Catalin Necula
Eliza Simiz
Nicolae Corcionivoschi
Igori Balta
Marioara Nicula Neagu
Helen Elizabeth Warren
Jules Taylor-Pickard
Lavinia Stef
Associations between lameness and the metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cows
Italian Journal of Animal Science
lameness
copeptin avp
urea
creatinine
electrolytes
title Associations between lameness and the metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cows
title_full Associations between lameness and the metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cows
title_fullStr Associations between lameness and the metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cows
title_full_unstemmed Associations between lameness and the metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cows
title_short Associations between lameness and the metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cows
title_sort associations between lameness and the metabolic and hormonal profiles in dairy cows
topic lameness
copeptin avp
urea
creatinine
electrolytes
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2387182
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AT igoribalta associationsbetweenlamenessandthemetabolicandhormonalprofilesindairycows
AT marioaraniculaneagu associationsbetweenlamenessandthemetabolicandhormonalprofilesindairycows
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