Original Research
Influence of peripartum on the erythrogram of Holstein dairy cows
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, BrazilDaniela 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.
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Crossref Citations
1. Metritis in dairy cows is preceded by alterations in biochemical profile prepartum and at parturition
Renan Braga Paiano, Daniela Becker Birgel, Jeannine Bonilla, Eduardo Harry Birgel Junior
Research in Veterinary Science vol: 135 first page: 167 year: 2021
doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.01.015