Decline of serum albumin concentration at calving in dairy cows: its relationship with age and association with subsequent fertility.
Blood samples were collected weekly from Friesian cows between five weeks before and 10 weeks after calving in three consecutive years, and analysed for serum albumin (using two methods: a hydroxyazobenzene benzoic acid [HABA] dye-binding method and a bromocresol green [BCG] method), and serum bilirubin. At calving the decrease in HABA albumin concentration in cows was twice that for heifers but corresponding decreases in BCG albumin were similar. Bilirubin concentrations increased near calving, more so in cows than in heifers, and maximum post partum values were inversely correlated with minimum values of HABA albumin (r = 0.40) but not with BCG albumin (r = 0.01). Albumin concentrations were lower between zero and two weeks (P = 0.03 HABA, P = 0.13 BCG) and between seven and nine weeks (P = 0.07 HABA, P = 0.06 BCG) in cows requiring four or more services than in cows which conceived at first service. Over the three year period the repeatability of post partum albumin concentration was low. However, cows which were hypoalbuminaemic in the first year showed higher repeatability in subsequent years than those which were not.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001391:Azo Compounds; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001961:Bromcresol Green; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000032:analysis*
D001391:Azo Compounds; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; C002437:2-(4'-hydroxyazobenzene)benzoic acid; D001961:Bromcresol Green; D001663:Bilirubin