Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXVI, Issue 2
Written by Cezar Mihai BERCEA-STRUGARIU, Nicolae Tiberiu CONSTANTIN, Dragoș POPESCU, Dragoș BÎRȚOIU, Constantin VLAGIOIU
During the last decades breeding dairy cows has severely affected the fertility of this species because this is a multifactorial objective that can involve genetic, environmental and managerial factors. The main purpose of this review is to describe the modification of different metabolites and hormones that are involved in cow’s fertility after calving. High milk yield during the fresh period predispose dairy cows to enter in negative energy balance (NEB). This happens because of fat tissue is mobilised faster than the liver is able to metabolize it. For a normal metabolize, the liver needs glucose. Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) offers an alternate source of energy but in the same time it can lead to liver accumulation of ketone bodies (acetone, acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate). A small quantity of ketone production is normal for dairy cows but high amounts can lead to clinical and subclinical ketosis. Such diseases can predispose to a decrease milk production, a low fertility, and even culling.
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