Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of body condition score on dynamics of hemogram in periparturient Holstein cows

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Comparative Clinical Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to show the effect of body condition score (BCS) on dynamics of hemogram in periparturition Holstein cows in a dairy environment. Sixty-seven Holstein cows from a commercial dairy farm were allocated in three—under, moderate, and over condition—groups. They were sampled and were hematologically analyzed every 10 days from 30 days to calving until 30 days postpartum. Values were compared among groups and within each group by one-way and repeated measure ANOVA, respectively. Correlation of BCS and parameters were measured by Pearson’s method. Hematocrit, erythrocyte counts, and hemoglobin (Hb) values significantly declined after calving (P < 0.05). Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) showed higher values than normal reference values. Leukocyte and neutrophil counts were within normal limits but inclined at calving. Lymphocyte counts declined at calving. Total plasma solids were within normal values, except on calving days, which the values declined. Fibrinogen values were within normal limits throughout, with a tendency to increase in postpartum period in moderate and over condition cows. BCS values showed significant correlations with hematocrit (r pre = 0.318, r post = 0.357), Hb (r pre = 0.276, r post = 0.295), MCV (r pre = 0.371, r post = 0.304), MCH (r pre = 0.355, r post = 0.184), leukocyte (r post = −0.148), lymphocyte (r post = −0.160), and fibrinogen (r pre = −0.175) (P < 0.05). A trend to a normocytic normochromic anemia was seen after calving, contributed to possible metabolic impairments and nutritional deficiencies. Leukocyte alterations on calving day showed the stress leukon pattern. Higher BCS values showed a positive effect on erythron and negative influence on leukon and vice versa.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ametaj BN, Bradford BJ, Bobe G, Lu Y, Nafikov R, Sonon RN, Young JW, Beitz DC (2002) Acute phase response indicates inflammatory conditions may play a role in the pathogenesis of fatty liver in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 85(suppl 1):189

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauman DE, Currie WB (1980) Partitioning of nutrients during pregnancy and lactation: a review of mechanisms involving homeostasis and homeorhesis. J Dairy Sci 63:1514–1529

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bell AW (1995) Regulation of organic nutrient metabolism during transition from late pregnancy to early lactation. J Anim Sci 73:2804–2819

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bernabucci U, Scalia D, Franci O, Ronchi B, Nardone A, Lacetera N (2004) Effects of nonesterified fatty acids on lymphocyte functions in dairy heifers. J Dairy Sci 87:1012–1014

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Contreras GA, O’Boyle NJ, Herdt TH, Sordillo LM (2010) Lipomobilization in periparturient dairy cows influences the composition of plasma nonesterified fatty acids and leukocyte phospholipid fatty acids. J Dairy Sci 93:2508–2516

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Da Silva FM, Burvenich C, Massart-leen AM, Bros L (1998) Assessment of blood neutrophilis burst activity in dairy cows during the period of parturition. J Anim Sci 67:421–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drackley JK, Dann HM, Douglas GN, Janovick Guretzky NA, Litherland NB (2005) Physiological and pathological adaptations in dairy cows that may increase susceptibility to periparturient diseases and disorders. Ital J Anim Sci 4:323–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Edmonson AJ, Lean IJ, Weaver LD, Farver T, Webster G (1989) A body condition scoring chart for Holstein dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 72:68–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esievo KAN, Moore WE (1979) Effect of dietary protein and stage of lactation on the haematology and erythrocyte enzymes activities of high producing dairy cattle. Res Vet Sci 26:53–58

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fürll M, Deniz A, Westphal B, Illing C, Constable PD (2010) Effect of multiple intravenous injections of butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin on the metabolism of periparturient dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 93:4155–4164

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • George JW, Snipes J, Lane VM (2010) Comparison of bovine hematology reference intervals from 1957 to 2006. Vet Clin Pathol 39:138–148

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert RO, Gröhn YT, Miller PM, Hoffman DJ (1993) Effect of parity on periparturient neutrophil function in dairy cows. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 36:75–82

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grummer RR (1993) Etiology of lipid related metabolic disorders in periparturient dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 76:3882–3896

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones ML, Allison RW (2007) Evaluation of ruminant complete blood cell count. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 23:377–402

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kida K (2002) The metabolic profile test: its practicability in assessing feeding management and periparturient diseases in high yielding commercial dairy herds. J Vet Med Sci 64:557–563

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klinkon M, Zadnik T (1999) Dynamics of red and white blood picture in dairy cows during the periparturient period. Comp Haematol Int 9:156–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lacetera N, Scalia D, Bernabucci U, Ronchi B, Pirazzi D, Nardone A (2005) Lymphocyte functions in overconditioned cows around parturition. J Dairy Sci 88:2010–2016

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mallard BA, Dekkers JC, Ireland MJ, Leslie KE, Sharif S, Lacey Vankampen C, Wagter L, Wilkie BN (1998) Alteration in immune responsiveness during the peripartum period and its ramification on dairy cows and calf health. J Dairy Sci 81:585–595

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meglia GE, Johannisson A, Peterson L, Persson Waller KP (2001) Changes in some blood micronutrients, leukocyte and neutrophil expression of adhesion molecules in periparturient dairy cows. Acta Vet Scand 42:139–150

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meglia GE, Johannisson A, Agenas S, Holtenius K, Waller KP (2005) Effects of feeding intensity during the dry period on leukocyte and lymphocyte sub-populations, neutrophil function and health in periparturient dairy cows. Vet J 169:376–384

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miglior F, Muir BL, Van Doormaal BJ (2005) Selection Indices in Holstein cattle of various countries. J Dairy Sci 88:1255–1263

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moorby JM, Dewhurst RJ, Tweed JKS, Dhanoa MS, Beck NFG (2000) Effects of altering the energy and protein supply to dairy cows during the dry period. 2. Metabolic and hormonal responses. J Dairy Sci 83:1795–1805

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris DD (2009a) Alterations in the erythron. In: Smith BP (ed) Large animal internal medicine, 4th edn. Mosby Elsevier, Missouri, pp 400–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris DD (2009b) Alterations in the leukogram. In: Smith BP (ed) Large animal internal medicine, 4th edn. Mosby Elsevier, Missouri, pp 405–410

    Google Scholar 

  • Nazifi S, Ahmadi MR, Gheisari HR (2008) Hematological changes of dairy cows in postpartum period and early pregnancy. Comp Clin Pathol 17:157–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohtsuka H, Kase H, Ando T, Kohiruimaki M, Masui M, Watanabe D, Hayashi T, Kawamura S (2008) Changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after calving in lactating cows with serious decrease of body weight before and after calving. J Vet Med Sci 70:153–158

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quiroz-Rocha GF, LeBlanc SJ, Duffield TF, Wood D, Leslie KE, Jacobs RM (2009) Reference limits for biochemical and hematological analytes of dairy cows one week before and one week after parturition. Can Vet J 50:383–388

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Radostits OM, Gay CC, Hinchcliff KW, Constable PD (2007) Veterinary Medicine 10th edn. Elsevier, Spain, pp 1417–1450

  • Roche JR, Friggens NC, Kay JK, Fisher MW, Stafford KJ, Berry DP (2009) Invited review: body condition score and its association with dairy cow productivity, health, and welfare. J Dairy Sci 92:5769–5801

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rubini ME, Wolf AV (1956) Refractometric determination of total solids and water of serum and urine. J Biol Chem 225:869–876

    Google Scholar 

  • Saad AM, Concha C, Astrom G (1989) Alterations in neutrophil phagocytosis and lymphocyte blastogenesis in dairy cows around parturition. J Vet Med 36:337–345

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sato S, Suzuki S, Okada K (1995) Suppression of mitogenic response of bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes by ketone bodies. J Vet Med Sci 57:183–185

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor JA (2000) Leukocyte responses in ruminant. In: Feldman BF, Zinkl JG, Jain NC, Schalm OW (eds) Schalm’s veterinary hematology. Blackwell, Iowa

    Google Scholar 

  • Thrall MA, Dale C, Baker E, Duam L (2004) Veterinary hematology and clinical chemistry. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, London, p 195

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker HA (2000) Hormones, mammary growth, and lactation: a 41-year perspective. J Dairy Sci 83:874–884

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wood D, Quiroz-Rocha GF (2010) Normal hematology of cattle. In: Weiss DJ, Wardrop KJ (eds) Schalm’s veterinary hematology, 6th edn. Wiley-Blackwell, Iowa, pp 829–835

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Azadi Street, Tehran, Iran, 14155-6453

    Saman Rafia, Taghi Taghipour-Bazargani, Zohreh Khaki & Saied Sattari Tabrizi

  2. Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, 14155-6453

    Saied Bokaie

Authors
  1. Saman Rafia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Taghi Taghipour-Bazargani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zohreh Khaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Saied Bokaie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Saied Sattari Tabrizi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saman Rafia.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rafia, S., Taghipour-Bazargani, T., Khaki, Z. et al. Effect of body condition score on dynamics of hemogram in periparturient Holstein cows. Comp Clin Pathol 21, 933–943 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-011-1204-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-011-1204-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation