Abstract #M84

Section: Animal Health
Session: Animal Health I
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Monday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Exhibit Hall B
# M84
Association of colostrum Ca concentration at first and second milking with postpartum serum Ca concentration.
J. Chiozza-Logroño*1, A. Valldecabres1, R. Rearte2, A. Lago3, N. Silva-del-Río1, 1Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, University of California Davis, Tulare, CA, 2Cátedra de Higiene, Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (FCV–UNLP), La Plata, Argentina, 3DairyExperts Inc, Tulare, CA.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if the concentration or the amount of Ca excreted in colostrum harvested at first and second milking was associated with postpartum serum Ca concentration on multiparous Jersey cows. Colostrum samples and weights were collected at first (n = 134) and second (n = 68) milking at 9 h 36 min (±3 h 36 min) and 21 h 21 min (±3 h 14 min) relative to calving, respectively. Colostrum samples from first and second milkings were analyzed for Ca concentration (CCac). Blood samples for serum Ca concentration analyses were collected from coccygeal vessels within 6 h after calving before first milking (SCa1), and 43 min (±28min) after second milking (SCa2). Total Ca excreted in colostrum (CCag) was calculated as CCac × colostrum weight. The CORR procedure of SAS was used to evaluate the association among SCa1, SCa2, CCac and CCag. To study explanatory variables of SCa2 a linear regression model with repeated measurements was fitted using the MIXED procedure of SAS including CCac, milking time, and colostrum weight. There was not an association between SCa1 and SCa2 (r = 0.23; P = 0.06), CCac1 (r = 0.09; P = 0.45), or CCag1 (r = −0.05; P = 0.53); nevertheless, SCa2 was associated with CCac2 (r = −0.32; P = 0.007), but not with CCag2 (r = 0.02; P = 0.85). At second milking, we observed a decrease in SCac2 as CCac increased. No effect of colostrum weight was detected on SCa2. Our results indicate that postpartum calcemic status might be affected by concentration of Ca in colostrum.

Key Words: hypocalcemia, colostrum, Jersey cow