Increased dietary calcium inclusion in fully acidified prepartum diets improved postpartum uterine health and fertility when fed to Holstein cows

• Published in: Theriogenology 2020-01, Vol.142, p.338-347
• Main Authors: Ryan, K.T., Guadagnin, A.R., Glosson, K.M., Bascom, S.S., Rowson, A.D., Steelman, A.J., Cardoso, F.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: amyloid; animal ovaries; artificial insemination; binding proteins; blood serum; Calcium; calving; cows; dietary calcium; dietary cation anion difference; E-cadherin 1; endometrium; enzyme activity; epithelial cells; epithelium; glutathione peroxidase; haptoglobins; Holstein; immune response; lipopolysaccharides; Negative DCAD; Occludin; occludins; ovulation; oxidative stress; superoxide dismutase; tight junctions; Uterine health
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.10.014

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of prepartum negative dietary cation-anion difference diet (DCAD) fed at two dietary Ca inclusion rates on postpartum uterine health and ovulation dynamics of multiparous Holstein cows (n = 76). Treatments began at 28 days before expected calving until parturition and were: CON: DCAD = +6 mEq/100g of DM with low dietary Ca (46.2 ± 15.2 g Ca/d; 0.4% DM; n = 26); ND: DCAD = −24 mEq/100g of DM with low dietary Ca (44.1 ± 16.1 Ca/d; 0.4% DM; n = 24); NDCA: DCAD = −24 mEq/100g of DM with high dietary Ca (226.6 ± 96.0 g Ca/d; 2.0% DM; n = 26). Vaginal discharge was evaluated through the fresh period via Metricheck (MC) for presence of purulent material. Polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell concentration in the uterus was evaluated at 15 and 30 days relative to calving (DRC). Endometrial tissue was harvested at 30 DRC for glandular morphology, presence of tight-junctions and adheren-junctions proteins, as well as assessment of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity. Blood plasma and serum samples were harvested in the prepartum and postpartum phase and were assessed for concentrations of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and haptoglobin (HP). Ovarian dynamics were assessed through the fresh period until first timed artificial insemination (TAI). Cows fed CON had a lower MC score (P = 0.06) than the average of cows fed ND and cows fed NDCA. Cows fed ND had a higher MC score than cows fed NDCA. Cows fed NDCA had greater uterine gland epithelial height (P = 0.02) than cows fed ND. Cows fed NDCA also had a greater number of epithelial cells per gland (P = 0.05) than cows fed ND. Cows fed NDCA had greater intensity of occludin expression (P = 0.15) than cows fed ND. Cows fed NDCA had increased activity of SOD (P = 0.05) and decreased activity of GPX (P