Metabolic adaptation during early lactation: key to cow health, longevity and a sustainable dairy production chain

Ariëtte, T.M.; van Knegsel, ATM; Hammon, HM; Bernabucchi, U; Bertoni, Giuseppe; Bruckmaier, Rupert; Goselink, RMA; Gross, Josef Johann; Kuhla, B; Metges, CC; Parmentier, HK; Trevisi, E; Tröscher, A; van Vuuren, AM (2014). Metabolic adaptation during early lactation: key to cow health, longevity and a sustainable dairy production chain. CAB Reviews, 2014(002), pp. 1-15. CAB International 10.1079/PAVSNNR20149002

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Enhancing longevity by reducing involuntary culling and consequently increasing productive life
and lifetime production of dairy cows is not only a strategy to improve a farm’s profit, but is also
related to improved animal welfare. High rates of involuntary culling in dairy cows are currently
attributed to fertility problems, mastitis and locomotive disorders. Disease incidence is high in
particular in the early-lactation period. The high disease incidence in early lactation has been
attributed to metabolic stress related to the high metabolic priority for lactation and the inability
of the cow to adapt effectively to the new lactation. Several biological mechanisms interact in the
peripartum period of dairy cows and can result in this inability to adapt effectively to lactation.
Biological mechanisms reviewed are metabolic adaptation, oxidative stress, immune function and
inflammation, and feed intake capacity. Although relationships between these mechanisms become
increasingly clear, these relationships are complex and not yet completely understood. Appro-
priate management of dairy cows in the peripartum period can facilitate cows to adapt to a new
lactation. Nutritional and management strategies to ease adaptation are divided into strategies to
restrict energy intake in the dry period, to improve energy intake in early lactation, alter repar-
titioning of energy between milk and body tissue, and strategies to support fat or carbohydrate
metabolism. The success of various strategies, however, is often hampered by the complexity of
interactions and high between-cow variation. We advocate for a multidisciplinary approach to
understand and manage adaptation to a new lactation aiming at an improvement of cow welfare
and longevity

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