title: Interactions between negative energy balance, metabolic diseases, uterine health and immune response in transition dairy cows.
abstract: The biological cycles of milk production and reproduction determine dairying profitability thus making management decisions dynamic and time-dependent. Diseases also negatively impact on net earnings of a dairy enterprise. Transition cows in particular face the challenge of negative energy balance (NEB) and/or disproportional energy metabolism (fatty liver, ketosis, subacute, acute ruminal acidosis); disturbed mineral utilization (milk fever, sub-clinical hypocalcemia); and perturbed immune function (retained placenta, metritis, mastitis). Consequently NEB and reduced dry matter intake are aggravated. The combined effects of all these challenges are reduced fertility and milk production resulting in diminishing profits. Risk factors such as NEB, inflammation and impairment of the immune response are highly cause-and-effect related. Thus, managing cows during the transition period should be geared toward reducing NEB or feeding specially formulated diets to improve immunity. Given that all cows experience a reduced feed intake and body condition, infection and inflammation of the uterus after calving, there is a need for further research on the immunology of transition dairy cows. Integrative approaches at the molecular, cellular and animal level may unravel the complex interactions between disturbed metabolism and immune function that predispose cows to periparturient diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Institute of Food, Nutrition and Well-being (IFNuW), University of Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Institute of Food, Nutrition and Well-being (IFNuW), University of Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Pete C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Irons
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Institute of Food, Nutrition and Well-being (IFNuW), University of Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Edward C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Institute of Food, Nutrition and Well-being (IFNuW), University of Pretoria, South Africa. Electronic address: chapwana@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Aspinas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chapwanya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D003612:Dairying; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Endometritis; Metritis; Negative energy balance; PUFA; Transition cows