Associations between serum haptoglobin concentration and peri- and postpartum disorders, milk yield, and reproductive performance in dairy cows

• Published in: Livestock science Vol. 213; pp. 14 - 18
• Main Authors: Shin, D.H., Jeong, J.K., Choi, I.S., Moon, S.H., Lee, S.C., Kang, H.G., Park, S.B., Kim, I.H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-07-2018
• Subjects: Blood metabolite; Dairy cow; Disease; Haptoglobin; Milk yield; Reproductive performance; Dairy cow; Blood metabolite; Haptoglobin; Disease; Reproductive performance; Milk yield
• ISSN: 1871-1413; 1878-0490
• DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2018.04.015

•Serum haptoglobin correlates with health and performance in dairy cows.•High haptoglobin is associated with peri- and postpartum disorders.•Haptoglobin concentration is associated with milk yield and reproductive performance.•High haptoglobin concentration relates to energy deficit and impaired liver function.
We determined the associations between serum haptoglobin concentration and peri- and postpartum disorders, milk yield, and reproductive performance in dairy cows. Furthermore, associations between haptoglobin and some blood metabolites were also investigated. We collected blood from 112 Holstein cows 1 week postpartum to measure serum haptoglobin and metabolite/enzyme (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], total bilirubin [T-bilirubin], total cholesterol [TCH], non-esterified fatty acids [NEFA], and β-hydroxybutyrate [BHBA]) concentrations. Cows were divided into two groups based on their haptoglobin concentrations: a low-HP group (<100 µg/mL, n = 72) and a high-HP group (>100 µg/mL, n = 40). The incidence of peri- and postpartum disorders (dystocia, retained placenta, metritis, and endometritis) was higher (P < 0.05–0.01) in the high-HP group than in the low-HP group, whereas milk yield during the first 2 months postpartum was lower (P < 0.05–0.01) in the high-HP group than in the low-HP group. Moreover, the probability of conception by 210 days postpartum was also lower (hazard ratio: 0.55; P < 0.05) in the high-HP group than in the low-HP group. Serum AST, T-bilirubin, NEFA, and BHBA concentrations were higher in the high-HP group than in the low-HP group (P < 0.05–0.01), whereas TCH concentration was lower (P < 0.01) in the high-HP group than in the low-HP group. In conclusion, our results indicate that high serum haptoglobin concentration 1 week postpartum was associated with a greater incidence of peri- and postpartum disorders, and reductions in milk yield and reproductive performance, in dairy cows. It was also associated with high serum AST, T-bilirubin, NEFA, and BHBA concentrations, but low TCH concentration.