Relationship of BCS prepartum with reproductive performance and lipomobilization in Holstein dairy cows

Body condition score (bcs) changes and non-esterified fatty acids (nefa) are good indicators for measuring lipomobilization during the transition period. the aim of this study was to establish the possible correlation between cows with a higher bcs during this period and their reproductive performance postpartum. a total of 47 holstein dairy cows were randomly allotted into two groups according to their prepartum bcs,including: g1 (bcs 3.5 to 3.75,n = 20) and g2 (bcs > 3.75,n=27). moreover,another two groups were established at 14th day postpartum: g3,37 cows lost more than 0.75 points of bcs and g4,10 cows lost 0.75 points or less. blood samples were obtained from 10 to 7 days before expected calving,and 14 days postpartum in all groups and serum concentrations of glucose,ß-hydroxybutyrate,nefa,urea,calcium and hepatic enzymes,and reproductive parameters were determined. nefa values showed that cows of g2 and g4 had a higher lipomobilization than g1 and g3. moreover,cows with a bcs of more than 3.75 and nefa values of more than 495 μmol/l prepartum had a higher risk of non-pregnancy at first ai,and there was an increase in the number of open cows at 150 dim,this being the reason why the elimination rate due to non-pregnancy increases (20%) and their reproductive lives shorten. © 2017 pvj.