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Plasma hormones and metabolites in Piedmontese cows during late pregnancy: Relationships with calf birth weight¹

F. Abeni^*, G. Bergoglio^*,2, G. Masoero^*, G. M. Terzano and S. Allegrini

^* Section of Torino, Istituto Sperimentale per la Zootecnia, I-10151 Torino, Italy and and Section of Breeding Technology, Istituto Sperimentale per la Zootecnia, I-00016 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy

² Correspondence: Via Pianezza 115 (phone: +39 011 731689; fax + 39 011 731689; e-mail: giuseppe.bergoglio{at}isz.it).

Abstract

Relationships among plasma hormonal and metabolic variables in the last trimester of gestation in 59 Piedmontese dams (n = 15 heifers, n = 44 cows) and the calf birth weight (BWT) class of their offspring were investigated in seven herds. The BWT data were categorized as follows: >50 kg (BWT-A), 46 to 50 kg (BWT-B), 41 to 45 kg (BWT-C), and <41 kg (BWT-D). Blood samples were collected at 33, 36, and 39 wk of gestation. Packed cell volume (PCV) and plasma concentrations of insulin, estrone sulfate (E₁SO₄), NEFA, and creatinine were determined and correlated to BWT class. Creatinine:E₁ SO₄ ratio also was calculated. Duration of gestation was greater for dams producing a BWT-A calf than for the other BWT classes, and calf BWT was heavier (P < 0.001) for calves in the BWT-A vs. BWT-D class. The heaviest calf in BWT-A was associated with the highest calving difficulty score. Insulin and PCV values were not affected by week of gestation, whereas plasma E₁SO₄, NEFA, and creatinine content increased (P < 0.001) and creatinine:E₁SO₄ decreased (P < 0.001) during late gestation. Calf BWT class did not affect PCV value. Plasma E₁SO₄ concentrations were lower (P < 0.01) in BWT-D dams than the other dams, showing the greatest difference at 39 wk of gestation. At 36 and 39 wk of gestation, dams bearing BWT-C and BWT-D calves had a higher (P < 0.01) plasma insulin concentration than those bearing BWT-A and BWT-B calves. Plasma NEFA concentrations at 39 wk of gestation were higher (P < 0.05) in dams of calf BWT-A than in the other dams. We conclude that plasma E₁SO₄ level is a variable that can be used to monitor problems related to a small size calf. Conversely, the forthcoming birth of a calf with a heavy BW seems to be preceded by a pronounced increase in plasma NEFA level in the dam just a few days before calving.

Key Words: Beef Cow • Fetal Development • Hormones • Metabolites • Pregnancy