Prolonged, low-grade inflammation in the first week of lactation: Associations with mineral, protein, and energy balance markers, and milk yield, in a clinically healthy Jersey cow cohort

Our objectives were to perform a proof-of-concept study assess the association of prolonged inflammatory state (based on continually elevated haptoglobin concentration at end first week after parturition) with mineral, protein, and energy balance markers in 2 wk parturition, milk production 60 d lactation clinically healthy cows. We conducted cohort 1 herd west Texas that was milking Jersey Jersey–Holstein crosses. Only multiparous cows eligible for enrollment. Cows classified as having or not concentrations based plasma evaluated 4 7 postpartum. used median reference population (i.e., before exclusion diagnosed clinical diseases) limits categorizing into groups: greater than values both (0.49 g/L) (0.35 had (with eHp); lower equal did have (without eHp). Next, diseases postpartum period excluded, so 233 remained final analyses. Evaluated outcomes average daily across lactation, Ca, Mg, glucose 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14 postpartum, ?-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), fructosamine, albumin, urea, creatinine Rectal temperatures measured 10 also analyzed. performed statistical analyses using linear mixed models while accounting repeated effect sampling time (plasma analytes rectal temperature models) weekly test (milk model). eHp Ca calving, but no differences BHB, NEFA, glucose, compared without eHp. urea time-dependent manner. They (2.3 kg/d less DIM). demonstrated 25% disorders parturition relative suggestive prolonged, low-grade systemic state. More observational studies are needed more fully characterize duration subclinical inflammation diseases, well its long-term effects, evaluate use other potential describe this disorder.