role of nutrition and metabolism on fertility in dairy cows

Role of nutrition and metabolism on fertility in dairy cows

Matt LucyF21C Animal Reproductive Biology

Division of Animal SciencesUniversity of Missouri, Columbia, USA

Lactose (milk sugar)

A disaccharide composed of galactose and glucose

Lactose (milk sugar)

Two molecules of glucose are used in the production of one molecule of

lactose

Ever-Green-View My 1326-ET Waldo, Wisconsin USA February 2010

32,805 kg of milk* 1,267 kg fat974 kg protein365 d lactation

*3-times average US cow in 2010

How much glucose per day?72 g of glucose to produce 1 kg milk100 kg milk per day7.2 kg glucose per day

Glucose synthesisHealthy later lactation or dry cow

Drackley (1999) J. Dairy Sci. 82:2259-2273.

Glucose supply and demand: Prepartum and early lactation

Overton (2001) Proceedings of the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar

Glucose synthesisCow in negative energy balance

Drackley (1999) J. Dairy Sci. 82:2259-2273.

Bovine embryonic and fetal development depends on glucose

Photo courtesy of The Drost Project (University of Florida)

The Warburg EffectMetabolic Requirements for Cell Growth

Vander Heiden et al. (2009) Science 324:1029-1033

Plasma GH concentrations in postpartum dairy cows

0

5

10

15

20

-20 0 20 40 60 80 100

Days Relative to ParturitionPl

asm

a G

H (n

g/m

l)

Kobayashi et al. (1999) Endocrinology 140:3947-3954.

GH, GHR, IGF1, and insulin in Postpartum Cows

GH

IGF1

Liver

HypothalamusPituitary

GHR

Stimulatory actionInhibitory action

Nutrient PartitioningMilk Production

Insulin

Journal of General Physiology (1931)

GH/Insulin Antagonism

Insulin

GH

IGF-I

GlucoseNEFA

GHR

IR

Mammary

Liver

Pancreas

Adipose

HypothalamusPituitary

IR

GHR

Glucose

Stimulatory actionInhibitory action

Lucy 2004 (NZSAP Proceedings)

75th Annual Hoard’s Dairyman Cow Judging Contest

Glucosesupply

Glucosesupply

Insulin

GH

IGF-I

GH/Insulin antagonism during lactation

Dexcel Strain TrialHamilton, New Zealand 2001-2003

• Three strains– NA90– NZ90– NZ70

• Two different feeding levels– Low– High

Milk energy production and body condition score 2003 Strain Trial Cows

Lucy et al. (2009) J. Dairy Sci. 92:526-539.

Dexcel Strain TrialHamilton, New Zealand 2001-2003

Lucy et al. (2009) J. Dairy Sci. 92:526-539.

Theoretical model of milk production, energy balance, and body condition score

Lucy (2009) Proceedings of the 44th Annual Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference

Liver

Uterus

Ovary

GH

IGF1

AdiposeGlucose

NEFA

Insulin

Embryonic loss for heifers and cows

Santos et al. (2004)

Methods• Pregnant Holstein dairy heifers (n = 43) were

randomly assigned to one of two groups. • After calving:

– One group was dried off immediately (not milked; nonlactating).

– The other group was milked normally (twice daily; lactating).

– Slaughter at 28, 35, or 42 d of pregnancy.

Green et al. (2012) Reproduction (in press)Lucy et al. (2012) J. Dairy Sci. (submitted)

Postpartum Glucose

Trt P < 0.001Status P < 0.090Trt*Status NSDPP P < 0.070Trt*DPP NSStatus*DPP P < 0.007T*S*DPP NS

Green et al. (2012) Reproduction (in press)

Postpartum insulin

Trt P < 0.001Status NSTrt*Status NSDPP NSTrt*DPP NSStatus*DPP NST*S*DPP NS

Green et al. (2012) Reproduction (in press)

Postpartum IGF1

Trt P < 0.001Status P < 0.019Trt*Status NSDPP P < 0.001Trt*DPP P < 0.001Status*DPP NST*S*DPP NS

Green et al. (2012) Reproduction (in press)

Postpartum NEFA

Trt P < 0.001Status NSTrt*Status NSDPP P < 0.001Trt*DPP P < 0.001Status*DPP NST*S*DPP NS

Green et al. (2012) Reproduction (in press)

Day 28 bovine fetuses

7 mm

Cow 15 Cow 34 Cow 39

Green et al. (2012) Reproduction (in press)

Effect of lactation on fetal wt (g)

Lact NonlactDay 28 fetus 0.11 + 0.15 0.12 + 0.11

Day 35 fetus 0.61 + 0.11 0.80 + 0.15

Day 42 fetus 1.64 + 0.10 2.02 + 0.11

Treatment P < 0.06Day P < 0.001Status P < 0.005

Green et al. (2012) Reproduction (in press)

Effect of lactation on placental wt (g)

Lact NonlactDay 28 placenta 1.1 + 2.2 1.2 + 1.6

Day 35 placenta 8.1 + 1.7 13.2 + 2.2

Day 42 placenta 16.8 + 1.5 25.0 + 1.6

Treatment P < 0.01Day P < 0.001

Green et al. (2012) Reproduction (in press)

Fetal tissues and cavities

Drawing from:University of GuelphDepartment of Animal and Poultry Science

Maternal and fetal glucose

Maternal plasma Fetal fluids

Treatment P < 0.001Slaughter NST*S NS

Treatment P < 0.002Slaughter P < 0.001T*S NS

Lucy et al. (2012) J. Dairy Sci. (submitted)

Effect of status on fetal wt (g)Pregnant to

1st AIPregnant to 2nd

or 3rd AIDay 28 fetus 0.14 + 0.10 0.08 + 0.13

Day 35 fetus 0.91 + 0.08 0.49 + 0.16

Day 42 fetus 2.05 + 0.10 1.61 + 0.11

Day P < 0.001Status P < 0.005

Green et al. (2012) Reproduction (in press)

Day 35 bovine fetuses

Cow 15 Cow 34 Cow 39

Lactating;Pregnant at 2nd AI

Not lactating;Pregnant at 1st AI

Green et al. (2012) Reproduction (in press)

Waldron study cowsPostpartum uterine weight

Lucy and Waldron (unpublished)

Day 3

Day 25

Day 25

Luminal Epithelium of the bovine uterus at 25 dpp

Lucy and Waldron (unpublished)

Glucose infusion0.695 g/min (1 kg/d)

Lucy (unpublished)

Glucose

Liver

Insulin

“Life on the Knife”

UterusOvary

Hypothalamus and Pituitary

Growth hormone

Immune cellsNEFA

Mammary Gland

MuscleAdipose

IGF1

AA

Glucose

Liver

Insulin

“Life on the Knife”

UterusOvary

Hypothalamus and Pituitary

Growth hormone

Immune cellsNEFA

MuscleAdipose

Inflammation

Cytokines

Inflammation

IGF1

AA

Mammary Gland

Glucose

Liver

Insulin

“Life on the Knife”

UterusOvary

Hypothalamus and Pituitary

Growth hormone

Immune cellsNEFA

MuscleAdipose

Inflammation

Cytokines

Inflammation

IGF1

AA

Mammary Gland

Unhea

lthy l

iver

Glucose

Liver

Insulin

“Life on the Knife”

UterusOvary

Hypothalamus and Pituitary

Growth hormone

Immune cellsNEFA

MuscleAdipose

Inflammation

Cytokines

Inflammation

IGF1

AA

Mammary Gland

Glucose

Liver

Insulin

“Life on the Knife”

UterusOvary

Hypothalamus and Pituitary

Growth hormone

Immune cellsNEFA

MuscleAdipose

Inflammation

Cytokines

Inflammation

IGF1

AA

Mammary Gland

Glucose

Liver

Insulin

“Life on the Knife”

UterusOvary

Hypothalamus and Pituitary

Growth hormone

Immune cellsNEFA

MuscleAdipose

Inflammation

Cytokines

Inflammation

IGF1

AA

Mammary Gland

Glucose

Liver

Insulin

“Life on the Knife”

UterusOvary

Hypothalamus and Pituitary

Growth hormone

Immune cells

MuscleAdipose

IGF1

Mammary Gland

Liver

Uterus

Ovary

GH

IGF1

AdiposeGlucose

NEFA

Insulin

Solutions: