Original Research

Influence of peripartum on the erythrogram of Holstein dairy cows

Renan B. Paiano, Daniela B. Birgel, Eduardo H. Birgel Junior
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 91 | a1975 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v91i0.1975 | © 2020 Renan B. Paiano, Daniela B. Birgel, Eduardo H. Birgel Junior | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 02 April 2019 | Published: 17 June 2020

About the author(s)

Renan B. Paiano, Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Daniela B. Birgel, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Eduardo H. Birgel Junior, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Background: Peripartum is a challenging phase for the health of cows.

Objectives: This study analysed the haematological profile of Holstein cows during peripartum.

Method: Blood samples were collected on days 18, 12, 8, 5 and 2 before calving, at parturition, and on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 30, 45 and 60 postpartum. Analyses of red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and RBC distribution width were performed; body condition score (BCS) and milk yield were evaluated.

Results: Red blood cell (the highest value was 6.10 × 1012/L at parturition and the lowest recorded value was 5.03 × 1012/L 21 days after parturition), haemoglobin and haematocrit (the highest values were 10.48 g/dL and 33.47% at parturition, respectively and the lowest values were 8.28 g/dL and 26.13% on day 30 after parturition, respectively); BCS (the highest and the lowest values were 3.50 points and 2.73 points on days 18 before parturition and 45 after parturition, respectively) and milk production (the lowest and the highest values were 21.48 L and 27.02 L on days 7 and 45 after parturition, respectively) were significantly different (p < 0.05) during the peripartum period. Of the total cows (n = 48), 41.7% had RBC, haemoglobin and haematocrit below the reference intervals during at least one collection point during the postpartum period.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that dairy cows included in this investigation suffered alterations in select haematological variables during the postpartum period.


Keywords

haematology; body condition score; milk production; lactating Holstein dairy cows; veterinary

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