The transition period for dairy cows is generally defined as the time period from three weeks prior to parturition through three weeks after parturition. It is now recognized that defining and meeting the nutritional requirements of the transition dairy cow can greatly impact animal health, production in the ensuing lactation, overall longevity, and animal well-being (NRC, 2001). Nutrition and ...

Changes of serum LH (HCG) and FSH, and their response to LH-RH during pregnancy and puerperium were studied by radioimmunoassay. There was little change in serum FSH level due to progression of pregnancy, and the serum FSH level of pregnant women was almost unchanged after injection of LH-RH. Serum LH (HCG) which decreased rapidly after delivery returned at about 15 days after parturition, and ...

Dairy cow health is multifactorial and complex. High producing dairy cows have been described as “metabolic athletes,” but 30 to 50% of cows are affected by a metabolic or infectious disease around calving (LeBlanc, 2010). Cows are highly susceptible to metabolic and infectious disease during the transition period, or the period from 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after calving (Huzzey et al., 2007,...

The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the effect of providing additional prepartum concentrate on the occurrence and severity of ruminal acidosis (RA) and lactational performance during the periparturient period in primiparous cows; and 2) to characterize the occurrence and severity of RA during the periparturient period. We hypothesized that providing additional concentrate prepar...

The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic and biochemical changes in plasma that occur in the reproductive rabbit doe close to the parturition, as well as if the number of offspring affects the metabolism and the health status of the doe. At -3, 4 and 12 days from parturition (-D3, D4, and D12, respectively) nine rabbit does at their third parity from a commercial hybrid line (HYPL...

Negative dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) diets fed prepartum induce a compensated metabolic acidosis, which stimulates Ca flux before calving and decreases clinical subclinical hypocalcemia after calving. Effects of low or high in these are unclear. Our objective was to determine the effects inducing acidosis amount on urinary mineral excretion serum concentrations during transition peri...

The present study was conducted with the objective to the iron, copper and zinc variations in serum of Nili-Ravi buffaloes during pre and post partum periods determine. The study was carried out on 35 pregnant Nili-Ravi buffaloes during June 2008 to October 2008 at Buffalo Research Institute, Pattoki, District Kasur. Blood samples were taken from these buffaloes during three, two and one week b...

Preterm birth remains the most serious complication of pregnancy and is associated with increased rates of infant death or permanent neurodevelopmental disability. Our understanding of the regulation of parturition remains inadequate. The scientific literature, largely derived from rodent animal models, suggests two major mechanisms regulating the timing of parturition: the withdrawal of the st...