title: Metabolic adaptation recorded during one lactation does not allow predicting longevity in dairy cows.
abstract: Metabolic and health disorders account distinctly for culling in dairy cows. This study investigated if metabolic status obtained once in life during a negative energy balance in early lactation allows to predict age and lifetime performance animals achieved at culling. Metabolically stressed cows entering at least their 3rd lactation (n = 200, parity: 5.0 ± 2.1, mean ± SD) were selected from a field study conducted in Switzerland. Age of cows at culling ranged from 4.7 to 20.2 years with parities from 3 to 17. From cows with known reasons of culling, 28.4% were culled because of fertility, 16.4% due to udder health, 15.5% due to high age and 10.4% because of claw health/lameness. A retrospective classification of the one-time recorded metabolic adaptation in week 4 post partum did not differ between animals of different parities at culling. Furthermore, there was no relationship neither between the metabolic adaptation recorded in a preceding lactation and the number of lactations achieved, nor to the lifetime milk production. Contrary to the wide spread assumptions, an inadequate adaptation due to a high metabolic load in early lactation may not result in an earlier culling of dairy cows, although they are more prone to metabolic disorders.
authors: Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Gross
authors: Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Grossen-Rösti
authors: Swissgenetics, Zollikofen, Switzerland.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Schmitz-Hsu
authors: Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Bruckmaier
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland
keywords: Langlebigkeit; Milchkuh; Robustheit; Stoffwechsel; dairy cow; longevity; metabolism; robustness