Original scientific paper

Annual changes of some metabolical parameters in dairy cows in the Mediterranean area.

Giuseppe Piccione ; Department of Experimental Sciences and Applied Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Polo Universitario Annunziata, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
Vanessa Messina ; Department of Experimental Sciences and Applied Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Polo Universitario Annunziata, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
Salvatore Scianó ; Department of Morphology, Biochemistry, Physiology and Animal Productions, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Polo Universitario Annunziata, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
Anna Assenza ; Department of Experimental Sciences and Applied Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Polo Universitario Annunziata, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
Tiziana Orefice ; Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
Irene Vazzana ; Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
Alessandro Zumbo ; Department of Morphology, Biochemistry, Physiology and Animal Productions, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Polo Universitario Annunziata, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

Abstract

The seasonal rhythms reflect the ability of the endogenous adaptive mechanism to react in advance to the regular environmental changes associated with the seasons. It seems that these biochemical parameters are often influenced by a change in physiological status. The aim of this study was to assess the trend of annual variations of some biochemical parameters in dairy cows. The experimental subjects were ten dairy cows and the start of the experimental period coincided with the last month of pregnancy. These animals were monitored for one year and blood samples were collected every month. From the obtained sera, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), tryglicerides, β-hydroxybutyrate, total proteins, calcium and phosphorus were assessed by means of an automated spectrophotometer. All the results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Data were normally distributed (P<0.05, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). One method of repeated measurement, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), was applied to determine the effect of time during the experimental period (12 months) and P values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Using cosinor-rhythmometry, three rhythmic parameters were determined: mesor (mean level), amplitude (half the range of oscillation) and acrophase (Φ, time of peak). A significant effect of time (P<0.0001) was shown for all the parameters, except for NEFA. After application of cosinor rhythmometry, only total bilirubin, creatinine, triglycerides and β-hydroxybutyrate showed a seasonal rhythm. In conclusion we can affirm that our results supplement the current information available about the circannual changes in the metabolic activity of these animals and help us to evaluate the adaptation of these animals to environmental changes, together with the metabolic effect of calving and lactation.

Keywords

metabolism; dairy cows; annual rhythm, blood parameters; pregnancy; lactation

Hrčak ID:

80558

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/80558

Publication date:

27.4.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 1.610 *