Metabolic Disease and the Role of Nutrition Robert J. Van Saun, DVM, MS, PhD Professor/Extension Veterinarian Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences Pennsylvania State University Presentation Outline Overview of meeting the transition challenge historical perspectives on possible causes and solutions Our goal for today is to address role of key macronutrients relative to transition metabolism o Energy metabolism carbohydrates and lipids o Protein metabolism the missing link? Set stage for guiding principles in formulating macronutrient components for a successful transition 1
The Transition Challenge The transition from the pregnant, nonlactating state to the nonpregnant, lactating state is too often a disastrous experience for the cow... J.P. Goff and R.L. Horst. JDS 1997;80:1260-1268 The Transition Problem Economic strain on dairy herds due to: o Milk losses o Milk composition alterations o Treatment costs o Death and increased involuntary culls o Impaired reproduction More than 50% of all calvings experience one or more health events during transition highly variable between herds 2
Transition Period Goals Support high (efficient) milk production Minimize loss (<0.5 units) or maintain BCS postpartum Low prevalence of postparturient diseases Maintain immunocompetency to pathogens Control/decrease days to first ovulation and maintain/enhance fertility Low stillborn rate and healthy calves Identified Nutritional Control Points in Managing Transition Success Minimize drop in prepartum DMI o Improved postpartum DMI o Minimize increase in NEFA Adequate dietary supply of ME and MP o Based on observed intake and accounts for variation Minimize risk of hypocalcemia o Hypocalcemia gateway disease o Compromises immune cell function Maintain the immune response 3
What are the impediments to a successful transition? Intake variation Grouping strategies Feeding management Environmental stressors Transition Cow Problems 4
Transition Cow Problems Nutritional causes have only been attributed to 15% of problem situations (Nordlund, U. Wisconsin) What are the major causes of transition cow problems? o Impeding normal cow behaviors o Excessive stocking density o Too many pen moves Historical Perspectives To understand where we are going requires we know were we have been. 5
Grouping Management Approaches Management by neglect - Out on the back 40 No separation fed with low lactation group Multiple grouping strategies o Far off / Close-up o Parity o Special needs Limited dry period (30-40 days) No dry period between lactations 30 Dry Matter Intake (kg/day) 25 20 15 10 5 0-8 -6-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Week Relative to Calving Heifer Single Twin Van Saun, 1993 6
Intake and Energy Approaches Maximize intake to ensure adequate energy intake (Bertics et al., 1992) Increase dietary NFC content to maximize feed intake (Minor et al., 1998) Minimize drop in DMI, restrict rate of feeding (Holcomb et al., 2001) Meet, but not exceed energy requirement in far off dry period (Controlled Energy diets; Drackley and Janovick-Guretzky, 2007) Metritis Effects on Intake Healthy Sick Dry matter intake, kg 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 Wk x Health P=.02 186 kg -0.72 BCS 382 kg 4% Milk P=.0002 8-5 -4-3 -2-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Week relative to calving Van Saun et al., 2006 7
Protein Feeding Strategies NRC (1989, 2001) requirement < 12% DM Maintain minimum of 12% to ensure fiber fermentation (9.5-10.5% RDP) Is additional dietary protein advantageous? o Many studies show no effect for mature cows o Higher protein (14.7%) for heifers o Why the differences? o What was study end points? Need to formulate for metabolizable protein (MP) Daily Intake Variation 25 20 Median : 13.5 kg/d STD: 3.1 kg/d Percent 15 10 10.4 34% 5 0 7.3 14% Van Saun, 1993 Dry matter intake, kg/d 8
The Transition Challenge The well being and profitability of the cow could be greatly enhanced by understanding those factors that account for the high disease incidence in periparturient cows. J.P. Goff and R.L. Horst. JDS 1997;80:1260 1268 Productive State Prioritization Homeorhetic Regulation Maintenance Pregnancy birth weight Lactation Frame Growth Minimal Nutrient Reserves Reproductive Cyclicity Immune Function Mature Cows Heifers Metabolic and Infectious Diseases 9
Metabolizable Energy Models ME requirement, Mcal/d 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 Moe&Tyrell, 1972 NRC, 1978 NRC, 1989 NRC, 1985 CNCPS NRC, 1996 NRC, 2001 45 kg Birth Weight 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Gestation week Metabolizable Protein Models Metabolizable Protein (g/day) 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 NRC, 1978; 1989 NRC, 1984 NRC, 1985 CNCPSv3 NRC, 1996 NRC, 2001; CNCPS v4-6 CNCPS/.33 45 kg Birth Weight 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 Gestational Age, days 10
Periparturient Disease Inciting causes: o Negative energy balance o Excessive fat mobilization o Inflammation? Confounding issues: o Excess body condition o Insulin resistance (?) o Environmental stressors o Inflammation? NEFA (meq/l) Disease Incidence (%) 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 Control High Dyk RUP et al,, JDS 1995 Twin Low NEFA (741 cows) P=.03 Medium NEFA (435 cows) High NEFA (380 cows) P<.01 P<.01 P<.01 P<.01 P=.9-8 -7-6 -5-4 -3-2 -1 0 Week Relative to Calving Periparturient Disease Uptake, g/day Homeorhetic Adaptation from Pregnancy to Lactation 2,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 Uterine Mammary Glucose Amino Acids Fatty Acids Calcium (x 10) Glucose o Energy currency o Insulin regulation of tissues o Regulator of ketogenesis Fatty acids o Excessive mobilization o Hepatic processing o Insulin sensitivity & stress factors Amino acids o Gluconeogenesis o Hepatic lipid transport o Immune function Calcium o Intake controller o Disease contributor Bell, JDS 73:2804; 1995 11
Dietary Reserves Gluconeogenesis Propionate Amino Acids Lactate Glycerol Others Homeostatic Regulators Glucose Maternal Tissues Homeorhetic Modification Uterus Energy Mammary Gland Lactose Microbial Protein Body Protein Immune System Immunoglobulins Acute Phase Proteins Cytokines Other mediators RUP Endogenous Protein (uterus) Amino Acids TCA Intermediates Export Proteins Milk Protein Enzymes Hormones Tissue Proteins Synthesis Turnover Energy Gluconeogenesis NH 3 Urea 12
Adipose triglycerides Insulin +Cortisol Tissue Oxidation Mammary Gland Milkfat Lactose Glycerol Inflammatory Cytokines NEFA VLDL Cholesterol Lipogenesis Ketone Bodies Insulin Glucose Amino Acids Propionate Oxidation Liver Gluconeogenesis Acute Phase Proteins Uterus Energy Maternal Tissue Nitrogen Partitioning in Pregnant Ewes Wool Mammary Organs Carcass Nitrogen Accretion (g) 60 b a ab 40 a ab 20 a a ab 0-20 -40-60 -80 Low CP Mid CP High CP Lamb BW: 7.5 kg 8.5 kg 8.7 kg b McNeill et al., 1997 13
Nutrient Intake Comparisons McNeil et al., JAS 1997;75:809 Low Protein Mid Protein High Protein DMI, kg 1.02 1.16 1.37 % of BW 1.65 1.87 2.21 ME, Mcal/kg 2.7 2.7 2.7 Mcal/day 2.2 2.7 3.3 Crude Protein, % 7.9 11.6 15.7 g/day 81 141 215 NDF, % 42.9 41.5 39.3 % of BW 0.71 0.78 0.89 NRC Requirement 1.7 kg DMI 3.94 Mcal ME 183 g CP 2.6% BW 2.32 Mcal/kg 10.8 % The Transition Challenge So, where does this leave us? 14
Transition Triad Management Body condition, hygiene Grouping strategies Pen moves Feeding management Animal evaluations Feed bunk space Stall design, comfort Social disruption Heat abatement Overcrowding Pathogen exposure Environment COW DMI Ca homeostasis Energy density MP adequacy Nutrient balance Micronutrient status Water Nutrition Transition Formulation Guidelines Ensure all transition cows have sufficient opportunity to consume a properly balanced diet Formulate dietary nutrient density for observed dry matter intake and compensate for variation o Increase MP content at average intake Formulate dietary carbohydrates to meet but not exceed energy needs (<120% Requirement) especially in far off diet o Dietary NDF intake (0.6 0.9% BW prefresh); 0.8 0.95% BW far off) o Do not increase dietary starch from prefresh to fresh diets by more than 10% Minimize dietary lipid content (<5% DM) 15
Consider the following issues: Minimize stressor factors o Heat stress heat abatement necessary for dry cows o Overcrowding ensure adequate feed bunk space (30 in+/cow) o Social interactions water #s, regrouping, cow space o Cow comfort stall size, bedding Body condition score management o Minimize (<10%) fat (>3.75 BCS) and thin (< 3.0 BCS) cows Minimize the opportunity for the cows to make decisions on what to eat as their diet What s to come? Provide more detailed information on specific nutrient issues for transition cow diets o Carbohydrates energy delivery and intake limitation o Lipids roles in intake regulation, physiologic functions related to inflammation o Proteins integrative role in metabolism and inflammation o Minerals calcium homeostasis and hypocalcemia control o Trace minerals and vitamins roles in fetal and maternal metabolism, immunity Diagnostic approaches to transition cow programs to define role of nutrition 16
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